I have read the file. This one will be more work than you think. The Quasing is Tao. Several in the Genjix Council have a vested interest in him. They would love to get their claws around that troublemaker.
“Sounds like my kind of Quasing.” Sonya got out of the car and walked into the building. Tao sounded familiar, like a name she heard in the distant past. “Did Tao work with Mother before?”
Dania was Tao’s previous host’s mentor. They worked together for many years. I believe you two met when you were very young.
Sonya chuckled. “And now I get to mentor his new host. How poetic.”
Let us just hope things turn out better for both of you than it did for Dania and Edward.
“I’ve heard of Edward. I think Dania and he did pretty well for themselves in the organization.”
I was referring to both of you living a long life.
The elevator dinged and opened onto the twentieth floor. Sonya walked out and looked around. “So what’s the scoop on this trainee? We can’t just send him to our boot camp? Is he police or National Guard?”
Worse. The Keeper’s report says he’s a civilian, an unimpressive one at that. Your main focus will be physical readiness at first, followed by hand-to-hand combat, then firearms, then squad tactics. The Keeper stresses that he needs to be up to speed quickly. Someone in the Genjix hierarchy is willing to spend significant resources to find him.
Sonya smiled. “Ooh, nice. A complete build from scratch. I’m going to enjoy this. Will he require a protection detail?”
You are it. This unit on the right.
“Still doesn’t seem too bad. He shouldn’t take up more than half my time. I guess a vacation in Chicago is as good as any.”
Chicago is a hotbed of Genjix activity. There will be more work here, I am sure.
Sonya checked her watch and then knocked on the door. There was a rustling sound on the other side. She waited another second before knocking again. If she had to cancel a two-week beach vacation, the new host would have to deal with waking up early. Finally, the door opened and a tall thin man with brown hair and a pretty face appeared.
“Not our host?”
The roommate. Antonio Desilarez.
“Too bad. He’s kind of cute.”
“Hi.” Sonya smiled. “I’m sorry to bother you at this hour, but…” She stopped. Antonio was gaping at her as if she had suddenly grown elf ears. There were a few uncomfortable seconds before he seemed to finally collect himself. Sonya paused and waited; it was early after all. Maybe he was still getting the cobwebs out of his head. He swung the door open all the way and leaned against it. She saw his eyes check her out, lingering a little longer on her chest than the rest of her.
“I’m sorry, can I help you?” He stuck out his hand. She could swear he lowered his voice. “Hi, I’m Doctor Antonio Desilarez. My friends call me Antonio.”
Ooh, a doctor.
“Ooh, a douchebag. I wonder how many times this week he’s used that line.”
He seems quite practiced at it.
“I’m looking for Roen,” Sonya said. “He’s not expecting me, but he’ll want to see me.”
“Of that I have no doubt.” Antonio studied her face and pointed at her forehead. “You have a nasty abrasion there. Do you want me to take a look? I’m a doctor.”
“I think we already established that,” Sonya replied sweetly. “Thanks, but I’ll be all right. Is Roen in?”
Antonio stepped aside and magnanimously waved her in. “Of course. How rude of me. Can I get you something to drink? A beer, water? I can make some eggs for you if you like. I’m sorry, you’re very distracting. What was your name again?”
“Sonya,” she replied. “And just getting Roen will be fine.”
Persistent, isn’t he?
“I find it quite flattering. Girl likes a little attention once in a while, even if it’s from a douchebag.”
Doctor Douchebag.
Antonio finally seemed to get the picture and his face fell. “Sure thing,” he said. “Roen’s still asleep. The last door on the right. Are you sure I can’t get you anything?”
“Quite,” she said and glided past him to Roen’s room. Sonya stopped at the open doorway and looked around. The room was neatly organized, with stacks of paper sorted in bins on the desk. The laundry was in a hamper in the corner sorted by color, and clothes were folded in the open closet divided by seasonal wear and utility. She went to the bookshelf and glanced over the books, which were arranged in alphabetical order. “Tao or the host?”
According to the evaluation, this is all Tao.
“He’s left his mark on the new host already then. Roen Tan is that malleable?”
It would seem so.
She walked over to the bed where several blankets were rising up and down. Roen was snoring somewhere in that mound. There was an arm exposed hugging a pillow. She sat down next to him and leaned in close, walking two fingers up the arm. “Wake up, sleepyhead. It’s time to lose the donuts,” she cooed.
Roen yawned and turned over. Sonya grinned and tapped him harder. “You’ll be a fun one to take on field missions. Get up, or I might have to get a little rough.”
Roen awoke groggily and turned to face her. His eyes widened; he looked puzzled, as if unsure what was happening. Finally, he whispered, “Are you real?”
Sonya laughed and blew into his face. “Do I feel real? I’m Sonya, and I came to ask you for something.”
“Um… huh… ask what?” he stammered.
She chuckled. “Quite the glib tongue you got there. Baji wants to know where those two million rubles Tao owes her are. It’s been fifteen years now, and she’s adding interest.”
CHAPTER TEN: FIRST LESSON
Even at an early age, I sensed greatness in Temujin. He was strong and cunning, able in the ways of war. I was his noble ancestor, and I trained him in the ways of politics and battle. For on the harsh steppes, war must be waged and blood must be shed before there could be peace. And in Temujin, I had the perfect weapon. The question is, can the weapon be sheathed after it has drawn blood?
Roen still couldn’t wrap his head around the vision that was hovering over his bed – a pretty girl. She was curvy and muscular, yet slender, with large luminous blue eyes, pale creamy skin, luxurious long black hair, and a whole list of other adjectives that currently escaped him. He gaped, mouth wide open. His brain didn’t seem to be working right. The sounds coming out of her mouth sounded like Charlie Brown’s teacher in a Peanuts special. All he heard was wah, wah, wah.
You sly dog. You never told me about her.
Roen could’ve sworn he detected amusement in Tao’s voice. “You think I would keep HER a secret?”
“Well,” the vision of beauty said petulantly. “Where’s my money?”
She is such a riot.
“Who?”
Baji. Say hello. I have not seen her host Sonya since she was a little girl.
“Sonya, Baji, hi! It’s so good to see you.” Roen spoke as if they were old friends, and as he did with old friends, he hugged her. Later on, he would stand by that reasoning and vehemently deny that he hugged her because she was pretty. Sonya laughed and hugged him back, not missing a beat. She smelled very good, he noticed.
Tell her I lost those rubles playing craps.I think the dice were rigged. Roen conveyed the message.