Shadowrun: A Kiss To Die For

A Shadowrun Novella

Jennifer Brozek

For Rich Taylor, my first Shadowrun GM.

I still miss you.

One

Sartorial’s heart and feet both stumbled when he saw her across the dance floor. Long-limbed with short, black hair, she moved with a surety that spoke volumes of her love of dance. He wanted to dance like that. With her. More than anything else in the world.

A message from BlotterBabe popped up on his smart glasses. All that was within was an image of him staring at the girl. His eyes had been turned into hearts that pulsed in time to the music as steam poured out of his pointed ears.

With a laugh, he flicked the image away. More because it was true than it was false. “You could just talk to me, you know.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” This time, the words were whispered in his comm. “Besides, can’t hear anything over the music.”

“You can hear me.”

“I’m reading your lips. Her name is Kintsugi.” More hearts danced across his smart glasses. “I’ve done some business with her. Wanna meet her?”

“You’re a fixer. You do business with everyone,” he scoffed. “But, yeah, I’d like to meet her.”

“Good. She caught you looking.”

Sartorial blinked. He’d been staring right at the girl, and now she was headed his way. He watched her weave through the dancing bodies with impossible grace. It wasn’t often that a human made him feel clumsy. Right now, he felt like the most ungraceful dolt in the world. All he could do was smooth over his BleedingEdge shirt and hope he hadn’t spilled anything on himself.

She stopped in front of him and offered him her hand.

Jabbers were the hottest thing going. It didn’t matter if you were a street rat or just slumming. They’d replaced the “raves” that were so last century. No one did chemical drugs as they danced. No one chill, that is. It was all about the input sensations from the local hardwired servers. If you weren’t here, didn’t have a datajack or a robust AR system, you missed out on most of what a jabber was good for—beyond being seen by the right people while watching a wiz augmented reality show. Right now, video game characters from all over were dancing in rotation on the dance floor. Those who had an AR overlay running could, and did, dance with them.

Straightening up, Sartorial smiled at Kintsugi, thankful that the music was too loud to talk. At this point, he couldn’t think of anything to say. Nothing good, that is. More likely he’d come off looking like an idiot. Instead of trying to speak, he took her offered hand and followed her into the middle of the mass of dancers. From there, neither of them needed words to tell the other what they were feeling as they both fell into the dance.

Sartorial moved with the fluidity and grace he was born to while Kintsugi’s style was harder, more martial. As they danced, their styles shifted more in tune with each other, his style hardening and hers softening until they moved almost in sync; hard and soft, together and apart. They lost themselves to the music and each other until they were a small bubble within the whole of the dance floor.

As the song ended, they looked each other in the eye and smiled, exhilarated. It was a perfect moment and the perfect meeting. The kind that never happened except in the trids. This was something they’d both have forever. At least, he would.

As the music shifted to the next song, Kintsugi nodded toward the quieter server room. Sartorial nodded back. This time, he offered her his hand and she took it, letting him lead the way.

The room they headed toward was on the far side of the warehouse. It was filled with comfortable cushions surrounding several computer server towers. The lights were muted, and half of the circles already had people filling them. Off to one side, a couple minders watched the jabbers and glassers as they jacked in, making sure those who still moved in meat space while connected to the local Matrix stayed within their cushioned circle.

Sartorial led Kintsugi to one that was empty. “I’m Kintsugi,” she said as they sat down.

“I know.” Sartorial put a hand to his face. “I mean. Yes. BlotterBabe told me when you caught me looking. I’m Sartorial.”

“‘You’ve a certain sartorial eloquence, and a style that’s almost all your own...,’” she quoted. “I love that Skylar! song, but are you going old school? Elton John? I don’t know how old you are.” She gestured at his pointed ears.

Touching an ear self-consciously, he shook his head. “Recently born. Sixteen. You?”

“Good. Same here. Though I don’t suppose you have to ask many humans that.” Kintsugi dug into her pocket and pulled out a computer cord.

“You’d be surprised. Magic has a way of disguising age.” He saw what she was doing and dug into his pocket for his own cord. The best jabber parties had cords available for those who didn’t bring them, but you could never be sure of the fidelity of the experience with a strange connection.

She smiled. “Magic. Aren’t we a pair?” Flushing, she gestured to the computer tower. “‘Elemental’. What do you think that means?”

“Don’t know. Looking forward to finding out.” He paused, then touched his smart glasses. “Glasser. Not jabber. That chill?”

Kintsugi gave him a slow look up and down. “Magic or elf?”

He knew she was asking if he was without a port because he was an elf or because he had a magical talent he didn’t want to have interfered with by implants. Sartorial gave her a sly smile. “I’ll let you guess.”

“Magic…”

He nodded.

Her eyes sparkled. “Interesting. Wanna show me?”

“Maybe on our first date.” His heart pounded, and he cursed himself for moving too fast. Then he flushed at her intrigued smile.

“Maybe. See you inside.” She slid one end of the cable into the computer port, then pulled back her hair to reveal a discreet port, slid the other end of the computer cable home, and closed her eyes.

Sartorial settled deeper into the cushions, making sure he had plenty of room to move—he wouldn’t have the same simsense tactile sensations as her—but he did have small sensations in his smart gloves. Also, he would have to make small physical gestures for anything he couldn’t think his way through. After plugging in his smart glasses, he turned them onto full AR mode and appeared in ELEMENTAL.

All around him, the world exploded in a primordial landscape of erupting volcanos, a roiling sea, the shaking earth, and tornados in the distance. None of it frightened him, but it was almost overwhelming, and he was glad to have come into the scene sitting. Music swelled. It was familiar and not at the same time. Then five metal pillars burst from the ground, each with a member of Bang! Bang! Bang! on it.

Sartorial gave a cry of joy and pumped a fist. The j-pop band was leaking their newest single to the people who cared most: their fans. As he danced, suspended within the elemental world, he saw his form burst into flame. In the distance, another form swirled as water and danced with a tornado. That had to be Kintsugi. With a thought, he was there at her side.

She waved. “It’s Bang! Bang! Bang! I love it! Dance with me.” She reached a hand to him.

He grasped her hand in his. There was a sizzling sound, and his smart glove tingled all the way up his arm. It didn’t hurt. Far from it. It was the kind of tingle he wanted more of. They looked at where their hands had been, but nothing remained. “Are you hurt?”

Her eyes wide, she shook her head. With an experimental gesture, she touched her diminished arm to his chest. The same sizzling and steam rose. This time, her arm disappeared from the wrist to mid-forearm and a small hole, the width of her wrist appeared in his chest. At the same time, both is hands and arms shuddered in that pleasant sensation.

“Oh my…” she breathed. “Where do you feel it?”

“My hands. It’s the only thing that has any feedback sensors.”

Kintsugi glanced at him with a shy smile. “You’re really missing out.”

“What do you feel?”

“Maybe I’ll tell you on our first date.” She laughed and danced away from him, looking over her shoulder.

It was a clear invitation to chase, and chase he did. They danced together, darting and whirling in the impossible elemental land, listening to the novahot new release from one of their favorite bands. The whole time, there was a sense of danger. The more they touched, the less of their bodies remained and the greater the sensation. It was the forbidden nature of it that made the act of touching that much more enticing

By the time the first song ended and the second song—this one an older hit—began, only half of each of them remained. They stopped dancing to settle among the primordial trees, centimeters from each other; close but not touching. They both instinctively knew that when they lost all of their virtual body, their time in ELEMENTAL would be done.

“Slumming, or from around here?” Kintsugi asked.

He shrugged. “You know. Same as you, I think.” He’d seen her clothing. It wasn’t cheap. He hadn’t dressed down. He hadn’t dressed up, either. He’d worn something comfortable and stylish. It was what he was known for.

“Yeah.” Silence descended. Not uncomfortable. Anticipatory. She danced one liquid hand through the grass. “So, first date?”

Sartorial swallowed hard. She was so beautiful it was impossible to think straight. “Yeah. If you want to go out with me. What do you want to do?”

“Surprise me?” Kintsugi stuck a truncated leg out toward him and bit her lip.

He moved his own truncated leg toward her. Flames licked the ground, but didn’t touch her. Not yet. “Wiz. I’ll come up with something.” He offered her his hidden contact information. There was no need for her to know who he really was. Just be Jabber friends. This was much better.

Kintsugi accepted the data and returned the same in kind. “Can we stick to…these names? For now?”

Relief flooded him. “Jabber names? Yeah. That’s good. For now. I want to get to know you. Not who…the world thinks you’re supposed to be.” Even as he said the words, meaning them, he meant them for himself, too. It was hard to trust people in this world. Especially when you had something someone else wanted and could be used for it.

“I—” She stopped as a bing sounded in the air around them.

They both floated up, looking to see what interrupted their Matrix session. A bright ball of light bounced through the air towards them. When it stopped, it became a 2D, yellow smiley face. “Sorry to interrupt you two—”

Sartorial relaxed. It was BlotterBabe.

“But I’ve got business with Kintsugi that can’t wait.”

Kintsugi looked startled. “So soon?”

“I’m good. What can I say?”

“That we have five more minutes,” Sartorial said. He worked hard to keep the irritation out of his voice. He didn’t want his time with Kintsugi to end.

The smiley face waggled back and forth. “No can do. Now or never.” She turned toward Kintsugi. “Jack out and meet me. You know where.” The smiley face shrank into a pinprick of light, then disappeared with a pop.

Kintsugi gazed down. “I’m sorry.”

He hid his disappointment. He was good at that. “Hey, it’s all good. I’ll comm you.”

She glanced up. “You’d better.” Then she threw herself at him, kissing him on the lips. The full body contact between water and fire shocked his system, making him gasp as they were both ejected from the VR system. It didn’t hurt, but it stunned and stung with a pleasant, lingering sensation.

By the time Sartorial unplugged and pulled himself together, smiling in the lingering aftereffects of what could’ve only been small electric shocks through the smart gloves, Kintsugi was nowhere to be seen. That didn’t matter. He had her comm data and he was going to use it. The next day. None of that drek about “make ’em wait” and comm three days later.

With a light heart and a silly smile he didn’t know he had plastered all over his face, Sartorial returned to the dance floor and joined the dancing mass there, losing himself within the music. The memory of his time with Kintsugi danced along with him as he occasionally touched his lips, wondering what it would be like to kiss her in meat space, and what she had felt when she kissed him.

Two

The sound of alarms cut through the music and Sartorial’s buzz. Gunfire punctuated the klaxons as the music screeched and the bellow of Knight Errant bullhorns began. Cloudy, noxious tear gas exploded into the room.

The music cut off as the jabber dissolved into chaos—one half slash-and-burn of equipment while experienced parties took pre-planned escape routes; one half panicked fleeing and screaming of the unprepared as the Knight Errant and warehouse security personnel rounded up trespassers.

Sartorial was a mix of both. He’d been to busted jabbers before, but now he wanted to know where Kintsugi was. He knew she had to have been through something like this before—it was in the way she moved, her familiarity with the jabber stations, and doing biz with BlotterBabe. Still, he wanted to make sure she was okay.

He rushed back toward the server room, figuring if they were doing business, it would be where the back rooms, relative quiet, and Matrix power was. So intent on his goal, he didn’t see the black-clad warehouse guard until it was too late. The man hit him with a glancing blow across the jaw, snarling, “Where you going, leafeater?”

Sartorial stumbled backward, hit the wall, and slid to the ground, dazed. He tasted blood as he bit back a cry of pain. On instinct, he threw a stunbolt at the guard. While he specialized in illusion magic, a person of his status needed to know how to defend himself.

The guard shook his head, then focused on Sartorial again, this time with murder in his eyes. As Sartorial looked for escape, an angel appeared: Kintsugi. Moving faster than humanly possible, the girl interposed herself between Sartorial and the guard. She hit him two times before the man could react, disarmed him, and struck him with his own baton. The man slumped to the ground.

Sartorial struggled to his feet as Kintsugi rushed to his side. “Are you all right?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Thanks to you.”

She looked around. “We’ve got to get out of here.”

“I know the way. Come on.” Taking her hand, he led her against the wall back toward the side door he’d scoped out earlier.

They fought off several more black-clad sec men before reaching their destination. Kintsugi was way stronger than Sartorial expected. At one point, they were rushed by three guards. He stunbolted the first guard, swept his feet out from under him, and finished him by bouncing the guy’s head off the concrete floor. Meanwhile, she handled the other two, throwing the second guard a good four meters to crash against the wall, then blocking the third guard’s punch and following up with a debilitating shot to his solar plexus that left him wheezing on the ground. She was fast, vicious, and more than a match for the warehouse guards.

Knight Errant officers might be another story—not one he wanted to know.

As soon as they made it into the alley, Sartorial stopped and motioned her to stand behind him and stay quiet. He gestured and muttered a couple of words under his breath.

Knight Errant officers marched down the alley toward them. Sartorial remained calm and still even as Kintsugi put an arm around his waist and tensed. The officers split up, a group moving into the warehouse through the open side door and a group that continued down the alleyway.

An officer with the name tag of Gorski stopped right in front of them. She called to one of her peers. “Sundown, stay here. Catch anyone coming out this door.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The officer took up a guard position facing the door, baton in his hands. He was so close the two of them could’ve reached out and touched him.

<Hold on. I’ve got this. If I don’t, I’ll need you to do your thing.> Sartorial texted over the commlink.

<So ka.> Kintsugi let go and set her stance.

With a small gesture, Sartorial cast the spell and spoke. Rather than hearing his own voice, Officer Gorski’s voice called out from the darkened warehouse doorway. “Sundown! Get in here. I need you.”

Officer Sundown didn’t hesitate. He bolted into the warehouse. Neither Kintsugi nor Sartorial hesitated either. They ran down the alleyway. Sartorial gestured to the iron ladder moments before he leaped for it. The two of them didn’t say anything as they climbed to the top of the building next to the warehouse. From there, they ran to the other side, grinning at each other.

Sartorial didn’t stop at the edge and didn’t wait for Kintsugi. He knew she could make the jump. From the way she’d danced, moved, and fought, he knew she had the cybernetic enhancements to do it. He was right. She leaped higher and farther than he did, landing in front of him in time to keep him from stumbling. She grinned as she steadied him. “Where to now?”

“Over there.” He pointed. “That building, down the fire escape and into an alley next to a café.”

Kintsugi nodded and ran with him.

They paused in the alleyway and laughed with each other now that the danger of being caught was over. When Knight Errant raided a jabber, it was low-level at best, looking to catch the uninformed or buzzed to fill quotas.

“What did you do? How did you hide us?” She wasn’t even breathing hard.

“Illusion. A good one. We looked like a couple of garbage cans. And you…I’ve had some self-defense training, but man, you’ve got skills.”

She shrugged. “Comes with the package. Best money can buy.”

The two of them stood there, awkward and exhilarated, smiling at each other, until they both blushed and turned away.

Kintsugi shrugged one shoulder. “I should be going. It’s getting late.”

He nodded. “Me, too.” He wanted to walk her home, but knew that was out of the question right now. “Meet up in the Matrix tomorrow noon?”

“Yeah. I’ll comm you the address. It’s a private server. Only for the invited. You have to be vouched for. I’ll get you in.”

“Wiz. I’ll be there.” He wanted to kiss her. She turned away as he reached for her. As she glanced over her shoulder, he morphed the reach into an awkward wave.

She waved back. “Tomorrow…”

Watching her go, he wanted it to be tomorrow already. Once she was out of sight, he ducked into the café through the side door, waved at the barista, and walked out through the front door. With a quick comm call, his grid-controlled car arrived. He got in and set it for home. The whole time, he thought about the girl he’d danced with, and hoped he’d see her again soon.

Kintsugi walked to another all-night café where she’d left her motorcycle in the tender care of friends. While her heart had stopped pounding, she couldn’t stop smiling. That fight had been so much more than she’d expected. Theory and training was one thing. Practical experience was another thing entirely. It was even better because she’d been able to show off for Sartorial. The memory of throwing those goons around made her feel powerful and in control—a feeling she didn’t want to ever go away.

With a grin and a wave of her hand, she was on the bike and headed home. On the way, she messaged her best friend, Rachel. <I’m on my way home. I was there all night, right? Anything I should know?>

<Right. We binge-watched Thirteen Crosses and ate wasabi soy-pop.>

<Wiz. I’ll comm you when I get home. I’ve got news.>

<Can’t wait!>

Her alibi secured, Kintsugi, otherwise known as Sumiko Tsung, returned to real life. The whole way there, she replayed the night in her head—catching Sartorial watching her, them dancing together, the two of them in the server, and her impulsive kiss. Blood rushed to her cheeks and her stomach filled with butterflies as she remembered each moment. The elf boy was amazing and wonderful and handsome, and she couldn’t wait to meet up with him again.

Sumiko took a couple of breaths to steady herself as she parked her motorcycle. She didn’t hide herself or try to sneak in when she got to the house. Either her parents would be busy or in bed, or they’d make polite small talk before going back to what they were doing. The only time they really paid attention to her was when they wanted something, or they knew she’d done something in direct violation of being the Perfect Obedient Daughter™.

“I’m home,” she called. There was no answer. She preferred it that way, though part of her was disappointed. She had her alibi all set up. Rachel would cover for her, and she’d already binge-watched Thirteen Crosses. She would’ve been able to talk about the show in exhaustive detail until her parents made polite noises and dismissed her.

Still, it was better to be on her own.

As soon as she closed her bedroom door, she opened a Matrix connection, then settled into her favorite floor cushion before she went full VR. Sumiko’s personal overlay kept the Matrix path bright and fairytale-like. Her avatar was of a broken porcelain doll, mended with gold and silver metal, and dressed in a lavish ballgown.

When she arrived at The Hollow, she pressed on different parts of the tree’s trunk, then stood back until it let her in. Within, The Hollow’s décor superseded her environmental preferences. The main interior great room—so much bigger on the inside—included a bar, a dance floor with sound dampeners, and a series of round tables surrounded by pillows.

Rachel, in her rose-thorn cat avatar, waved a tail at her from one of the tables. “So?” she leaned forward. “How’d it go?”

“That part went fine. Just as I expected until the jabber got cracked.” Sumiko waved a hand, gold dust streaming from it. “That’s not my news. I met someone.”

Rachel’s avatar sprouted red roses in excitement. “Tell me?”

“His name is Sartorial. He’s an elf, and he does magic.” Sumiko let out a dreamy sigh. “And he can dance.”

“Blond hair?”

She nodded.

“OoooOoooh. He’s a good one.”

Sumiko sat up. “You know him?”

The roses disappeared and Rachel stretched. “Not really. I’ve just seen him around at jabbers and cafes. He keeps to himself. Usually. He likes to watch, and to dance, and then he leaves.”

“He gave me his comm data.”

“You know who he really is?”

Sumiko shook her head. “I didn’t want him to know my parents own NeoNET. Or anything that the world has gossiped about me as a rich kid. We’re sticking to jabber names for now.”

“Good idea. But he’s rich too. I know he has his own car. I’ve seen him get in it. And he knows fashion. Like really knows it.” She touched a paw to Sumiko’s gown. “So, what happened?”

“We danced. And we jabbed together, though he’s a glasser. Because of the magic. Oh! We heard the new Bang! Bang! Bang! song, ‘Elemental’! Let me share it with you.” She offered her hand, wrist up. Rachel put her paw on Sumiko’s hand, and a vine grew out of the paw to plug into the port that appeared in Sumiko’s wrist.

As the song transferred, Sumiko murmured, “I kissed him.” She touched her lips, remembering the sensation.

“What? Really? Is he any good? What was it like?”

“It was in VR, we had fire and water bodies. Every time we touched, it was like lightning and part of us disappeared. It was amazing.” She cupped her cheeks and grinned. “I want to kiss him again. Real time.”

“Oh my days! I didn’t think either of you were ever going to be caught, but you two caught each other!”

Sumiko flushed, her pale porcelain skin going rosy. “We’re going to meet up tomorrow. I’m taking him to PFEM. It’s private enough for me to spend time with him, but not too private, you know?”

“Want me there? I mean, just around. I can hang in the main room. ‘Elemental’, by the way, is double-G!”

“I know! I love that they think of their fans first. I heard Makoto was thinking about leaving because the company wanted to delay the newest release until the holiday season. I think it was supposed to scare him.”

“As if. He could launch a solo career in a pico, and be number one within an hour.”

Sumiko nodded, but she wasn’t completely sure. If someone had enough money and could bribe enough of the right people, Makoto could find that the Matrix didn’t like him or his songs and all of it—his songs, his fans, his fame—would disappear. So much of today’s media was just a switch away from being rerouted into a black hole, and most people had no idea. “I’m sure everything will be fine tomorrow. I’ll comm you after.”

Her next thought was interrupted by one of her alerts. “Hold on. I think my parents are home.” She opened a window and patched into the house’s security camera. She watched as her parents, Kimberly and Mitsuo Tsung, walked in. Her mom looked like a fashion model, but that beautiful face hid a heart of ice. Her father looked like any salaryman out there, except for the exacting cut of his suit in expensive, bulletproof fabric. Her mom smiled, and her father looked like his usual stoic self.

Kimberly glanced at the kitchen ceiling. “Alfred, is Sumiko home?”

“Yes ma’am. She is in her room.”

“Let her know we’re home.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Sumiko made a face. “They’re home, and they just told the house AI to inform me. That means they want to see me. I suppose to make sure I still exist as one of their assets.”

Rachel waved her tail. “Go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Sumiko exited the Matrix as Alfred binged politely in her ear. “Miss Tsung, your parents are home.”

“Gotcha. I’m on my way.”

“Yes, Miss.”

She stretched and looked at herself. She hadn’t changed out of her jabber clothing. Muttering at her stupidity, she pulled her jumpsuit off in a hurry and shoved herself into silk pajamas.

Just as she belted her robe, Alfred binged in her ear again. “Miss Tsung, your parents no longer require your attention. Something has come up. They will see you at breakfast at 08:00, and wish you a good evening.”

“Figures.” It was just as well, she was tired. “Tell them I’ll be there and wish them a pleasant sleep.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Three

Dressed in comfortable but appropriate clothing, Sumiko made certain she walked through the dining room door at 07:59 and sat down as the mantle clock rang 08:00. Both her parents were already there.

She put her napkin in her lap and gazed at the array of silverware on both sides of her plate. Suppressing a grimace, Sumiko knew her mother was testing her—again—on proper western style table manners. She picked up the grapefruit spoon as soon as Francesca placed the fruit in front of her.

“Good morning.” Kimberly nodded to the maid who brought the next course to the table.

“Good morning, Mom, Dad.” Sumiko knew this game well. Or thought she did. The table manners test usually came with news she didn’t like.

Mitsuo grunted, glancing up from his electronic paper. “Morning. How are your studies?”

You already know. Why do you ask? Sumiko covered her annoyance with a bite of the bittersweet fruit. “They are well. I just got an A on my history test and an A+ on my math test.” Her father didn’t answer. She didn’t expect him to. Not with him deep into his news.

“And your defense classes?” her mom asked.

“My punches are good, and so are my falls. Sergeant Tucker still thinks my kicks are too low.” She hadn’t been enrolled in a martial arts class or anything that could be considered typical or beautiful. No, her defense training was in the hands of a grizzled, old special forces human who taught her to fight with vicious efficiency. Her future depended on it. She didn’t enjoy the training, but it did come in handy.

Suddenly, Sumiko knew what this morning was about. She didn’t acknowledge the maid as the woman took the half-eaten fruit from in front of her and replaced it with a plate of eggs, salmon, and rice. Not looking at her mother, she ate without tasting a thing. Instead, she waited, her stomach roiling.

“Tonight, we’ll be going to a cocktail party. An important one.” Kimberly looked at her husband.

He put down his electronic paper and gazed at Sumiko. “You, of course, will accompany us.”

“While there will be many important business contacts from the Americas and Japan, Hisahito and Mako Owada will be there.” Kimberly gazed at her daughter. “I believe you should wear the green outfit I bought you.”

“I don’t want to go.” The words tumbled from Sumiko’s mouth without warning.

Both her parents ignored her. “We’ll leave at 18:15,” Mitsuo said. “I’ll brief you in the car on the way there. That way you won’t forget who is who.”

Sumiko put her fork down. “I said, I don’t want to go.”

Kimberly frowned. “Are you well? This isn’t like you.”

“I’m fine. I just don’t want to go to some boring business party to stand there and be an ornament.”

“It’s important that Hisahito and Mako see you. It’s important that the Owada family know who you are.”

“Why? I’m not joining their family for two years. Why do they need to see me now?”

Mitsuo’s eyes narrowed. “You have picked up the bad American habit of questioning your elders. Perhaps I should send you to an appropriate school in Japan. Something to make you a proper member of the Owada family.”

Sumiko stared at the table and swore she wasn’t going to cry. “No, Father. Please. I just have a lot of homework and I…. The business parties are awkward and long.”

“You will spend many an hour at long, dull parties or meetings in your future, dear.” Kimberly dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. “It’s best to learn how to deal with them now. Let’s see. Yes, the green outfit I just bought you.”

“Be ready at 18:10.” Mitsuo returned to his electronic paper without waiting for his daughter’s cursory “Yes, sir.”

Clenching her hands together under the table, Sumiko grappled with the threat to send her to Japan. It was the first time her father had made the threat, and it shattered her confidence. Things must be dire for him to be so cruel. She would have to move quicker than she’d planned.

“Finish your breakfast, dear.”

Sumiko nodded to her mother. She picked up her fork and ate in silence, concentrating as hard as she could on keeping her face calm and her tears at bay.

Sartorial sent the commlink ping and waited. He’d spent the morning tweaking his Matrix avatar, hoping to impress Kintsugi. His connection was only AR, but hers was VR. She’d be able to tell if he’d been sloppy.

While he waited for her to respond, he looked at himself with a critical eye. He wore the same high court gear in blue and gold he’d worn in Tír Tairngire—not that he thought Kintsugi would recognize it as anything other than beautifully appointed, quality garments. His face was covered with a veil from his hat that he could remove at will, but would allow obscurity while traveling the Matrix. He wasn’t sure where Kintsugi would take him, and until he had the lay of the land, he needed to keep his wits—and his anonymity—about him.

A window opened in his smart glasses with a digital address. Settling in, Sartorial dove into AR, following the directions Kintsugi had sent.

In the blink of an eye, he was on one side of a bridge. The other side was shrouded in fog. He knew Kintsugi as soon as he saw the broken porcelain doll in a gown. The streaks of gold and silver through her pale skin made her that much more beautiful.

She offered him a hand. As soon as he took it, the market on the other side of the bridge came into view. It was filled with bright lights, colorful tents and shops, smoky bars, and fantastical people of every stripe.

“Welcome to the Permanent Floating Eclectic Market. There will only be a couple of places you can go into—until the denizens get to know you.”

“As long as I can be with you.” He bent over her hand and kissed her knuckle, then let himself be led across the bridge. He couldn’t see into any of the shops, and all of the people’s faces were blurred, showing just how private the server was and how limited his access was. Still, Sartorial didn’t care.

They entered a small building with couches around a fire pit and twinkling fairies in the rafters. It was rustic, dim, and perfect in its imperfections; so unlike the real world he lived in. “I like this.”

“Thank you, I made it.” Kintsugi gestured to the couch. “Please sit.”

As he did, he took his hat off, revealing his face. He’d worked hard to make it as realistic as possible.

“You look like you.” She sounded surprised.

Sartorial shrugged to hide his sudden panic. “I thought it would be nice. It’s chill, right?”

“Double-G.” With a shimmer, the broken porcelain doll became Kintsugi in the same gown. “Sometimes it’s nice to just be you, even in the Matrix. Except for the hair.” She gestured to her long, elaborately fixed hairdo. “Too much trouble in the real world.”

“You look amazing either way.”

Silence descended and grew. He glanced at her then away, unable to think of a single thing to say. He glanced at her again, and she grinned at him. The two of them broke into chuckles. “I’m sorry, I’m usually more, you know, talkative.”

She shrugged. “No worries. So, is this our first date?”

“No way.” Sartorial straightened. “When I take you out, you’ll know it. I want to do something special. Something interesting. Something…”

“…private,” they both said.

He nodded, then shrugged. “I get the feeling we’re in the same boat, family-wise.”

Kintsugi sighed. “Probably. I want…” She stopped and shook her head. “I have family duties and stuff to maintain. I rarely get to be myself.”

“Only at jabbers where no one cares who you are.”

“You can dance or jab or drink or just people watch.”

Sartorial reached out a hand and touched her arm. “Will you tell me about your name? I know we were going to wait, but you did get to see my magic already.” He hoped he wasn’t moving too fast, but she was unlike any other girl he’d met.

“Do you know what ‘Kintsugi’ means?”

“It’s the art of fixing something that was broken, making it better than before. Right?”

She nodded. “Kinda. It’s a way of acknowledging the flaw or history of something. I was…hurt…very badly in a car accident a couple years back. When your family has money and connections, anything can be fixed. Most of my body is cybered.”

“I could tell a bit. You move so gracefully.” He remembered her ability to fight. “And you’re strong. Fast.”

“Deltaware goes a long way.”

He blinked at her and moved his estimation of her family rank up in his mind. “Wiz.”

“Wiz, yes. But it comes with a price.”

“I guess if you had any magic ability, it’s gone now.”

Kintsugi frowned. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I’m sorry.” He wanted to kick himself. Of course she wasn’t into magic. He’d made it about himself when she was trying to open up to him. “What did you mean?”

“It doesn’t matter.” She looked away.

Sartorial grimaced in the silence. He racked his brain for something to say to make it better. “Ah, do you know when the next jabber is? I’d like to meet you there.”

She glanced off to the side in a way that said she’d opened a window and was reading. “It’s next week at the abandoned school.”

“Next week’s forever away.” Realizing what he’d just said, Sartorial buried his face in his hands. “I am the dullest of the dull.”

“No. It’s chill. I understand.” She patted his arm.

He looked up and a wild urge took him. “Let me take you out. I know a couple of places.”

She smiled at him. “Yeah? Like what?”

“What do you like to do? I know dancing, but there’s more. You like museums or fairs or…?”

“I like a lot of things, but I’d rather do something you’d like to do. You know? What’s your favorite thing?”

“I like to eat and dance and go to private places. There’s a maze…” He nodded to himself. The hedge maze could be perfect. Ten-feet-tall, plenty of private areas, reservations required to limit the number of people in the maze at any one time. “My best friend could get us in.” Didn’t hurt that Brice’s family owned the Mystery Maze and all the attractions attached to it.

“A maze?” Kintsugi tapped her fingers together. “That sounds interesting. And new.”

“Tonight then? Tell me where to pick you up. It shouldn’t be at your house. Just some place near…it. What?” His heart sank as she shook her head.

“I can’t.” Kintsugi shrugged as she gazed at her hands. “Not tonight. I have stuff—homework and things—to do. I’m sorry.”

Sartorial nodded. “Oh, right. Wiz. Another time.” He tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice, but it still sounded like whining to him.

Taking his hand in hers, she squeezed it. “I’m not blowing you off. I really do have stuff to do tonight. But I’ll message you when I get free. It might be late.”

He squeezed her hand. “It’s never too late for me.”

“Then we can talk about when you’re gonna take me to this maze of yours.” She glanced off to the side. “I’ve got to go. ’Rents are calling.”

“Okay. I’ll talk to you soon.”

Kintsugi raised a hand then snapped her fingers. In the blink of an eye, they shifted from the rustic room to the other side of the bridge. The market was shrouded in fog again. She kissed him on the cheek and disappeared.

A moment later, he jacked out of the Matrix, still holding the cheek she’d kissed. He hadn’t felt it, but he had a very good imagination.

Sumiko stood in front of the mirror, scowling at her reflection. It wasn’t that she looked bad. In fact, she looked good. Really good. The emerald green blazer and matching pants fit like a glove and set off her pale skin. They matched her cosmetically enhanced eyes—a fact that wasn’t coincidence since her mother picked out the outfit. The white silk blouse and high collar made her feel ten years older.

I don’t look like a teenager; I look like a corporate doll.

That was the crux of it. If her parents had their way, this was her future. The perfect adornment to Akihito Owada. She scowled. Not if she had anything to say about it. She wondered what Akihito thought of all this. He was probably the Proper Obedient Son™ and would go along without a quibble. And why not? It wasn’t his life being enslaved. He would expect her to be the Proper Obedient Wife™ and bodyguard because that’s what Mother and Father had decreed.

Soon, she thought at her reflection. Soon you’ll be dead.

Alfred chimed politely in her ear.

“What is it, Alfred?”

“It is 18:10 hours. Your parents have gathered in the foyer.”

“I’ll be right there.

The three of them sat in the back of her father’s limo; Sumiko next to her mother with their father across from them. Two of the house guards followed in a second car.

Mitsuo began as the car pulled out of the garage. “The Owadas will need your utmost attention. Be polite and courteous. After that, the Meydenbauers, Gowdas, Seeds, Asakas, and Nashimotos will be there. I believe all of them who have children of appropriate age will bring them. You may spend time with each. It would be good for you to know more than your school friends.”

“Yes, Father.”

He didn’t acknowledge her words. “This party is hosted by Tomohito Nashimoto. He’s known to bring enemies together in one place to see how these things play out. Of the ones I know will be here tonight, you may not spend any time with the Louschers, Telestrians, Kirilenkos, Klinemeiers, or Nakadas. Each of these families has a vested interest in making sure I do not succeed in my endeavors.”

Sumiko nodded again. “Yes, sir.” Again, he did not acknowledge the fact that she spoke. That was fine. He spoke to hear himself speak. She’d gotten good at tuning him out and making the appropriate noise of agreement when it appeared it was needed.

As he droned on, talking about different corporations that “opposed” him and his own—stated as “were in competition with”—she thought about Sartorial, and wished she’d been able to go out with him tonight. Seeing him would’ve been so much better than a boring corporate party with corp kids who wanted to be nothing more than clones of their parents.

With a sigh, she turned her attention back to her father and plastered a polite, appropriate smile on her face. She wouldn’t have to do this for much longer. Not if things went her way.

Four

The Meydenbauer Building in downtown Bellevue was as beautiful as it was posh. White gloved valets waited on limos as attendees of the Nashimoto party arrived within a specified window of time. The Tsungs were in the middle of the pack—not important enough to be in the first set of party goers, but important enough not to be in the last wave. That suited Sumiko just fine. It gave her time to scout out the party floor and find the right place to be out of the way and still be seen.

The party took up the second penthouse floor. There were three such “penthouse” floors in this building. Penthouses two and three had their own elevator. A servant with a key took them up in the mostly private lift. The actual penthouse floor didn’t share its elevator with anyone. Sumiko didn’t know who owned it. Could’ve belonged to a dragon for all she cared.

The elevator opened on a grand circular foyer filled with art niches and hallways headed in different directions. It was designed to impress, and even she had to admit it succeeded. As they were directed toward the great room where the majority of the party was held, it felt bigger than her house, even though it was a condo.

As was her habit when she arrived at one of these things, Sumiko stayed with her parents while she watched the room, looking for people she recognized. It was required as introductions were made. For most of these introductions, Sumiko the Proper Obedient Daughter™ trailed in her parents’ wake, making small talk and putting on a pleasant face. It was easier that way and saved her from lectures or punishment when she got home. Also, the threat of being sent to Japan still weighed over her like the Sword of Damocles.

Unlike most of these parties, it was more than one giant room mostly empty of furniture, requiring the guests to stand for the whole night. This one was filled with a series of conversational areas both small and large. The largest one was in the middle. It could seat ten without issue. Most of the rest could seat four to six, with one or two corner areas seating two. A large buffet of appetizers and finger foods with intricate designs dominated one end of the room. The other held a bar, complete with bartenders and what looked like hundreds of bottles of alcohol.

At first, Sumiko stuck near her parents, picking out the rare teenager. There were some she knew and some she didn’t. Of those she knew, she liked—at least casually—most of them. She gave a couple of them a small wave. They returned it in kind with a look like “please shoot me now.” It made them all smile. Sumiko mouthed, “Parents. What are you gonna do?” to Raven, a girl she attended school with.

Just as Sumiko relaxed into the normal, dull circulation of the corporate party, a familiar profile caught her eye. Oh, no. No. Oh drek. No! How can he be here? Her mind whirled with the implications of seeing none other than Sartorial walking in with a gorgeous group of elves. She wanted to see him tonight, but not like this. She didn’t want him to know who she actually was. How could he do this to me?

She looked around the room, seeking a place to hide, but there were none. Not here, in this Look-at-me-See-me party. Every spot was well lit with small spotlights. Sumiko felt someone’s gaze burning into her. Glancing back to where Sartorial was, their eyes met, and she felt his shock. He seemed to handle it better than she did with a graceful half-turn as he almost collided with another person who’d come to greet the elves.

All Sumiko knew was that she didn’t want to talk with him right now. She had no idea what to say. Even as she moved to keep the entire room between them, part of her was also angry that he didn’t immediately comm her a “Hello.” She turned her face from him and sought her parents.

They, of course, were speaking to Hisahito and Mako Owada.

That would not do. She was too flustered to make polite noises at the one family her father wanted her to impress above all else. Instead, she continued to circulate, keeping as many people between her and Sartorial as she could. Though, she had to admit, he looked wonderful. The party wasn’t black tie, but it was dressy. He wore a navy-blue suit with a pale purple shirt that had a mandarin collar. It set off his blond hair and blue eyes wonderfully. Even his hair was stylish. He looked more like a pop star than a corp kid.

“Sumiko. We need you over here now.”

She could not disobey her mother’s summons, no matter how much she wanted to. It was time to get to work, as Sergeant Tucker would say when she didn’t want to do something that he thought needed doing.

“Yes, ma’am,” Sumiko subvocalized over the family comm connection. “On my way.” For the moment, as hard as it was to do, she had to put Sartorial out of her mind.

Focusing on her family and the Owadas, she repeated silently to herself over and over, “This is what I want. I am happy. Let it show in my face.” More of her mother’s etiquette training. Convincing your body to lie for you.

Mitsuo nodded to her as Sumiko joined their group. “Sumiko, meet Hisahito and Mako Owada. They’re here to see what Seattle is like.”

The mixture of western and eastern cultures in a family like hers made such greetings difficult. If they were in Japan, she would’ve only bowed. If the Owadas were non-Japanese, she would’ve offered her hand. Instead, she had to fall back to her father’s cue of speaking English and the fact that neither of the Owadas offered their hands. Sumiko bowed politely to each, then offered her hand to Mako, who stood closer.

Both Hisahito and Mako bowed in return, and Mako shook Sumiko’s hand. Hisahito did not offer his hand. Instead, he nodded to Mitsuo. “Well mannered.”

Mako looked her up and down with an appraising eye that made Sumiko drop her eyes to the woman’s expensive shoes. “She is growing into the appropriate look and stature.” The woman shifted and tensed as if she were going to strike Kimberly. It was subtle but definite to trained cyber eyes enhanced with a combat analysis program.

Sumiko had no idea what the woman was actually doing, but her combat program evaluated Mako’s posture and muscle tenseness and indicated an 80% likelihood of attack. It wouldn’t go well to have her mother struck in front of these guests. She shifted closer to her mother in a defensive pose. It was an automatic reflex beaten into her by training. She watched Mako, keeping her blocking counters ready—sweep the feet, block the strike and parry, or full body blocking.

<Calm.> Kimberly sent over the commlink. <She’s testing you.>

Mako’s mouth twisted into something that could’ve been both a half-smile and a frown. “Good reaction. Not subtle enough, though. She’s young yet.”

Hisahito gave Mitsuo a nod of approval. “Who do you favor in the upcoming World Series game?” The two men shifted closer together, to speak more on the matter of sports than Sumiko’s appearance and training, but didn’t leave their group.

Sumiko tilted her head and asked, “Do all the Owada women protect their men?”

Kimberly gave a small sound of shock, but Mako waved it off. “We want to know about her. It is natural that she would want to know about us.” Mako regarded Sumiko. “The short answer is yes. There is a much longer answer and explanation that you will learn in a couple of years. But tell me, what do you think my relationship to Hisahito is?”

Sumiko thought the two were married, but based on the question, she glanced between the two of them. There were no wedding rings present. That didn’t mean anything in particular except that they did not wear rings. They did have the same shape to their nose. She had to guess. “You are siblings?”

“Close. Cousins. When he is married, his wife will take over my job. She has already been chosen, and is in the final stages of training.”

“Then what will you do?”

“That remains to be seen.” Mako leaned close. “While we work for the Owada men, never believe that we are subservient. We have our duty and our power. Who knows what is happening within a powerful family better than the one who is always present, but often forgotten?”

Sumiko nodded, dropping her eyes to the floor again to hide her confusion. It was almost as if Mako was trying to reassure her that her fate was not as bad as it seemed. This was not what she’d expected from any member of the Owada family.

“Ah,” Kimberly interrupted the two conversations. “It appears that we now have Tomohito’s attention. Look who he’s bringing to meet us.”

Sumiko looked up and saw their host, a short, rotund Japanese man, surrounded by a small group of tall, blonde-haired elves, including Sartorial. They walked straight for them. Sumiko’s eyes met Sartorial’s and she knew she had no place to hide.

“Mitsuo, ah, my friend. Let me introduce you to Roland Telestrian and his retinue, Cedric, Silas, and Jocelyn, all from the Telestrian corp.” Tomohito gestured like a showman towards the group of elves at his side. “This is Mitsuo Tsung, his wife, Kimberly, both from NeoNET, their daughter, Sumiko as well as Hisahito and Mako Owada, visiting from Japan.”

“We know who they are,” Mitsuo responded and turned toward the man at his side with a sneer. “These are the ones I told you about.”

Tomohito was having none of it. He stepped to the side. “Oh, you have met Aldric Telestrian? He is a foster from the court of Tír na nÓg, newly arrived. Only in the last six weeks?”

Roland gave a curt nod as all eyes turned to Aldric.

Sartorial, who had been trying very hard not to stare at Kintsugi, realized he was now on display. Falling back to his instincts, he gave the most courtly bow he knew. While it was directed at the entire Tsung group, he meant it for Kintsugi…Sumiko. Even her name was perfect.

Sumiko bowed back, even though her parents did not move.

“Hmm. At least one of them has manners,” Roland murmured.

“Because we raise our own children, and don’t shunt them off to others to do our duty,” Mitsuo shot back. “I notice Eva isn’t here. Neither is your wife. Sent to the hive, I suppose?”

Aldric glanced around. Their group was not the complete center of attention, but it did have a lot of eyes watching. He saw Sumiko flush at her father’s insult, and was not completely certain what he was insinuating, but he couldn’t believe someone as perfect as Sumiko came from someone as cold as Mitsuo Tsung.

“Now, now,” Tomohito said. “We’re all here to have a good time.”

Mitsuo nodded to their host. “Of course. I believe my wife would like a drink.” With that, the entire group turned away, Sumiko slower than the rest.

As Mrs. Tsung slipped her hand into the crook of her husband’s elbow, she said, just loud enough for those in the immediate area to hear, “I don’t know why anyone in the Seattle area tolerates a family who will do business with insect spirits.”

Aldric gave his uncle a startled glance. Roland deigned not to notice. “As always, Tomohito, your parties are enlightening and invigorating.”

“I aim to please.”

“Please whom?”

Tomohito’s eyes twinkled. “Me. Always me.”

Roland nodded. “You are refreshingly blunt. I think we need some air.”

“Of course. I need to mix the party up some more. Can’t have anyone getting bored now, can we?” The short, round man trundled off to another group of partygoers.

Roland glanced at Aldric as he led his retinue to another part of the room. “Now you see why I insisted you come? The politics are the same, just cruder.”

“Yes, Uncle.” Aldric was both amazed and appalled.

“Go mingle. Some of the children here are worth meeting. All are worth knowing of. I expect to have an interesting conversation with you about them tomorrow.”

Aldric nodded and turned away. Yes, there were other teenagers here. One or two he’d already met, but the only one he was interested in stood across the room, glancing at him. He watched her say something to her mother, then move away from her family.

As she mingled, talking with different people, he moved too. First, toward the buffet, but his stomach would not allow him to eat. Then back toward the drink table. He paused when he saw the Tsungs still there. He hesitated and turned back to watch Sumiko. She stood by one of the balcony doors, glancing between the outside and him. When their eyes met, she gave him a slight smile, and walked out the door.

If that wasn’t a “come hither” invitation, he didn’t know what was. A quick glance put both families on opposite sides of the room. Neither one looked towards him or the balcony door. Taking two glasses of sparkling wine from a passing waiter, Aldric wove his way towards the balcony door and the girl who’d captured his heart.

Five

Sumiko stood on the balcony wondering if Aldric—what a wonderful name—would come. She wouldn’t have, after the way her parents had treated them. Still she hoped, but did not comm him. In a place like this, you couldn’t be sure who was snooping and how good their technology was against your personal firewalls.

Her heart sped up when she sensed Aldric as he came onto the balcony. As high up as it was, it was still warm and almost windless, thanks to whatever technology the Meydenbauer building used to keep the balconies perfect for watching the twinkling lights of the city.

He didn’t say anything as he moved to her side. He offered her the glass of sparkling wine with a small smile.

She took it. Blood rushed to her cheeks. “I’m sorry.”

Aldric gave a slight shrug. “No worse than where I come from.”

“The court of Tír na nÓg?” She couldn’t look at him straight on. He was so handsome, so perfect. He made the party worth every bit of agony her family put her through.

“Yes.” He lifted his glass. “To family who will never understand the rest of us.”

Sumiko lifted her glass and murmured, “To family never understanding.” She sipped and nodded. “Tomohito brought out the good stuff.” She glanced at him. “So, are you a prince in line for the throne?”

A thousand things flashed through Aldric’s mind, everything from that isn’t how Tír na nÓg is run to flat-out lying to trying to be mysterious. He wanted to impress her so much.

Still, he shook his head. “No. Not a prince. I suppose if a plague took the royal family, I would be among a handful who could be elevated. I’ve had the proper training.” He put the glass of wine on the table. “I guess this is your ‘homework and stuff’?”

She glanced at him through veiled lashes. “I couldn’t get out of it. There are people here my parents needed me to meet.”

“Why?”

Sumiko shook her head, her faint smile disappearing, and turned away. She could never tell him the truth. Not here. Not now.

“You could’ve told me that you had a family party. I would’ve understood.”

“What happened to us just keeping to our jabber names?”

“I meant, you…I mean. No details. Just basics.”

She stared at the lights. “How many families have cocktail parties to go to? Hmm? Since you obviously are here, you knew about it.”

“I only came because I couldn’t go out with you. My uncle wanted to show me Seattle politics.” Aldric grimaced inside. He always seemed to say the wrong thing around her. He wanted to make her smile and laugh again. To forget whatever was troubling her. Because something was. She had a heavy mark on her heart, and it killed him to see her like this.

“Why did you kiss me in ELEMENTAL?” The question was out before he could take it back. It was a question that had been on his mind, but he hadn’t meant to ask it.

Her smile returned and he relaxed. The memory of the jabber took her mind off whatever weighed her down. “I needed to leave the session. That was the only way I knew how. Make my body disappear.” That smile continued to play about her lips as she turned and glanced at him through her lashes.

“Is that the only reason?”

She shook her head and looked him full in the face.

“Tell me?” He bit his lip, shifting ever closer. He could smell her perfume, a lovely scent of vanilla and green tea.

“Because I wanted to.”

“What did it feel like?”

She reached up a hand and stroked his cheek with two fingertips. “I wish you had a full Matrix connection. It’s almost indescribable.”

Pressing her hand to his cheek, he murmured. “Try.”

Sumiko glanced up and over his head towards the stars. “It was like an electrical current striking my whole body. It was sharp at first, just below the edge of pain, then it lingered into a warm rush of pleasure.”

Aldric could imagine what she spoke of, and it was almost enough to make him want to get an implant. Almost. His magic was too important to him and his body had to be pure—even if his mind wasn’t.

She looked back at him. “It was worth it.”

“I wish I could feel that.”

“I know.”

“I want to kiss you.” They were so close, he could already imagine their lips pressed to each other, the taste of her mouth.

“I know,” Sumiko murmured again.

“May I?”

“Yes,” she whispered and drew him close.

Bending, he kissed her, soft and exploratory at first, then harder, tasting the mixture of her lipstick, the wine, and her breath. It made his head spin. Then he pulled back and smiled. “This is not our first date.”

With a laugh, she pulled him close again and spoke in-between tiny kisses. “No. I expect something much more interesting than a dull cocktail party.”

“I promise.”

Leaning in for another long, lingering kiss, they lost themselves in each other, forgetting where they were—

“Get off of her!”

“Get away from him!”

The two strident male voices came from opposite sides of the balcony. Startled, Sumiko dropped her glass as Aldric pulled away from her, whirling. The shattering of the glass heralded the appearance of more house guards from both families.

Aldric moved between Sumiko and Oscar, the main Telestrian family guard, putting a hand up. “It’s fine.”

Sumiko stepped up, putting a protective arm out in front of Aldric and addressed the Tsungs’ head of security. “Mr. Mizuno, what is the meaning of this?”

“Miss Tsung, step away from that creature. You’re not safe.”

“Not safe?” demanded Oscar. “She was attacking my ward!”

Aldric shook his head. “No. Nothing of the sort.” He glanced at Sumiko. “We were…talking. That’s all.”

Sumiko nodded. “Yes. We were talking. Why are you acting like this?”

“Miss Tsung, your parents would like to see you. Now.” Mr. Mizuno stepped forward and gestured toward the door he’d entered through.

“Young master, Mr. Telestrian would like to speak with you.” Oscar stepped forward, eyeing the Tsung family bodyguards.

Aldric and Sumiko exchanged a helpless look. “I’ll comm you,” Aldric whispered, then stepped towards the waiting elves.

She nodded, her hope battling against the dread of what was to come, before she stepped towards Mr. Mizuno.

It seemed like half the party was watching the balcony doors as they entered from opposite sides. Aldric could see storm clouds on his uncle’s face, but it was nothing compared to the anger on Mitsuo Tsung’s face. Even as he walked towards Roland, flanked by two house guards, he watched Mitsuo lean toward Sumiko’s mother. She nodded and strode toward Sumiko. Sumiko’s face was a polite, neutral mask so unlike the girl he knew that it was almost startling. Kimberly gazed at Sumiko without speaking. Sumiko nodded, and the two of them walked off. Mr. Mizuno trailed behind, giving him and his uncle baleful glances.

“Well,” Roland asked. “What did you think you were doing?”

Aldric focused on his uncle and realized the man was actually angry. “I was getting to know Miss Tsung.” He leaned close, “It’s clear the Tsungs don’t care for us. What better way to find out what they’re doing than becoming close to one within?”

“Is that what you were doing?” Roland’s eyes narrowed. “I’m all for information gathering and disgracing the Tsungs, but ‘flirting’ with an engaged young woman has a way of looking very poorly on us.”

Aldric blinked at his uncle. “Engaged?”

“Yes. It’s just been announced that Miss Tsung is to marry Akihito Owada of Japan’s royal family.”

Six

Sartorial: You awake?

Kintsugi: I’m here.

Sartorial: That was

some party.

Kintsugi: Yeah.

Drek sandwich, really.

Bad-good-bad.

Sartorial: Hope I was

the good part.

Kintsugi: You were.

Glad I got to see you.

Sartorial: You in trouble?

Kintsugi: A bit.

Sartorial: So…my uncle

mentioned that you’re

engaged. Was that what

you were trying to tell

me about the “cost” at

the jabber?

Kintsugi: Frag.

Yeah. I wanted to

tell you that myself.

There’s a lot more to it.

It’s complicated.

Sartorial: I understand

arranged marriages.

I’ve seen it happen.

Kintsugi: I don’t want

to marry him!

Sartorial: I’m sorry.

Kintsugi: No one will

listen to me.

Sartorial: I’m listening.

I’m here.

Kintsugi: Why can’t things be

like at the jabber?

It’s not complicated.

There’s no politics.

It’s just people and danger and jabbing.

Frag. I’d take just school over this.

They’ve got my whole life mapped out for me.

Did they ask what I want?

No.

I just want to make my own choices.

Don’t you?

Aldric?

Sumiko scowled as every Matrix signal icon showed “no signal.” She ran a couple of tests and everything came back negative. It was normal for one or two things to go down, but not everything at once. She ran a test of her PAN and she could reach the house just fine. “Alfred?”

“Yes, Miss Tsung?”

“Is there a Matrix outage?”

“No, Miss Tsung.”

“Why can’t I reach the Matrix?”

“I don’t know, Miss Tsung.”

Frowning all the more, Sumiko stormed out of her bedroom and down to the kitchen where the main Matrix hub sat. She stopped as she entered the kitchen and her mom stood there, her arms crossed.

Hesitating, Sumiko said, “My Matrix connection is down.”

“I know. I cut it off. You’re grounded.”

“Why? I’m home. I’m here.”

Kimberly’s lips curled in disgust. “You were talking to that elf after we forbid it.”

Heat flooded her face and hands. “You were monitoring me?”

“It’s for your own good.”

“We were just talking!”

“Oh? Like you were ‘just talking’ on the balcony at Tomohito’s party?”

When Sumiko didn’t respond, her mother gestured to the electronic paper on the kitchen countertop. Heart racing, she moved to it and read. The heat of anger drained at the flickering image and the emblazoned headline: ENGAGED HEIRESS CAUGHT CHEATING. Her stomach dropped to the floor then did a lazy flip-flop as she read the first few lines.

NeoNET heiress Sumiko Tsung, recently engaged to Akihito Owada, royal diplomat of Japan, was caught kissing Aldric Telestrian while at the Tomohito Nashimoto party. Nashimoto is known for bringing together the who’s who of corporate society in order to forge alliances. This time, it seems his magic worked a little too well. While Akihito was not in attendance, members of his family were. No word yet on what they think of Sumiko’s indiscretion…

Sumiko covered her mouth as she looked at the vid-clip of her kissing Aldric, then dropping the glass of wine as their families’ guards erupted onto the balcony. She looked like every disgraced trid starlet ever caught doing something wrong. “How?”

“One goes to a Tomohito party to be seen. You know he alerts the paparazzi. Of course they’ve got drones watching the parties through the window getting pictures. You’ve seen them in your magazines and on the news. How could you be so careless?” Kimberly shook her head and gestured at the vid-clip.

“No. How did they know I’m supposed to be engaged to Akihito? It hasn’t happened yet.”

Her mother paused, face going neutral, as she took a moment to think.

Sumiko didn’t stop the rage that pushed away her fear and embarrassment. “How did they know? Why do they think I’m already engaged?”

“Because it was announced in one of the Tokyo papers yesterday morning.” She had enough shame to look chagrined. “I guess, in the excitement, we forgot to tell you.”

“Are you kidding? It was publicly announced that I’m going to marry someone, and you didn’t tell me?”

“You’ve known for a long time you were going to marry him.”

Sumiko shook her head. “No. I’ve been told it. But I don’t want to marry him. You’ve never asked me what I want.”

Kimberly frowned. “We know what’s best for you. This is the one way to guarantee you a proper position in society, considering…” She shook her head. “You will marry Akihito Owada in two years. It will happen. You may not be happy at first, but you’ll see your father and I were just doing the best we could…especially with how hurt you were.”

“Considering…?” Sumiko didn’t hide her fury at the implications. “What do you mean “considering”?”

“You know what I mean.”

“No, Mother. I don’t. Spell it out for me, since I obviously can’t be trusted to choose my own future.”

“Now you’re just being petty.”

Sumiko grabbed the electronic paper and shook it. “This is petty. I’m talking about my life. I’m surprised they don’t mention I’m mostly made of metal now.” She scanned the article to make sure she was correct. “What would your precious Owadas think of that?”

“They know. They’re the reason you have deltaware and the yearly updates.” Kimberly sighed. “We needed help to fix you. The Owadas…stepped in when they realized you were only a few years younger than Akihito.”

“They bought me?”

“What? No. Of course not.” Kimberly flushed as she turned away.

Sumiko stared at her mother’s back. Her stomach couldn’t decide if it wanted to be sick or just angry. “Was there a contract?”

“A contract?”

She stared at her mother’s back, watching it tense up. “Yes, mother, a contract. One fixed daughter for one marriage into the Owada family. One daughter to play bodyguard for the rest of her life. Was there a contract?”

Kimberly turned around and gazed at Sumiko. It was the kind of look she gave one of the servants when they messed up. “There was a contract, but not those requirements. Your father linked his company with the Owada family in order to save you. You were not part of the deal. How could you be so…crass?”

“I don’t buy it. If there’s a digital contract, promising me to them was the verbal part. Had to be verbal. Slavery isn’t legal.”

“Where did I go wrong with you?”

“When you sold my life away.”

“Well, you may have put an end to that tonight, young lady.”

Sumiko bared her teeth in the parody of a smile. “Good. I hope they all hate me.”

Kimberly mimicked that smile. “They don’t have to like you for you to work with them. Your father is meeting with the Owadas now. I suspect you’ll be sent to Japan within a week. Two years of proper training should wipe that disrespect from your face.”

“You can’t!”

“I can and will. You know, this morning I would’ve fought your father on sending you away to a finishing school, but now I see that that’s exactly what you need.”

“No!”

This time, when Kimberly turned her back it was in triumph. She reached for the drink she’d made herself. “Like it or not, Sumiko, you are our daughter, and we will do what’s best for you. It may take a couple of years, but you’ll thank us in the end. Now, I’m tired and you’re grounded. Go to your room.”

Sumiko clenched her fists and glared at her mother’s back. Without thinking about what she was doing, she activated her combat analysis skillsoft and analyzed her mother.

<Vulnerable: neck, lower back.>

<Lethal: strike the neck at the base of the head.>

<Incapacitate: strike the spine at L4-L5 and L5-L6 vertebrae>

The readout came with quick diagrams overlaying where to punch her mother’s body with her augmented speed and strength.

I could kill you. Right here. Right now. No one could stop me. The thought rang through her head.

Horrified at her anger and desire for violence, Sumiko forced herself to relax. Taking the electronic paper with her, she stalked out of the kitchen and back to her room. She had no idea how she was going to get out of this. Not without help.

We are pleased to announce the engagement of NeoNET heiress Sumiko Tsung to Akihito Owada, royal diplomat of Japan. The Owadas have been long-linked to Japan’s royal family. Akihito, just twenty-three years old, has already made a name for himself within Japan’s diplomatic corps…

“Twenty-three?” Aldric scoffed. “The man is practically ancient.” He pulled his smart glasses off and scowled at the air.

“One day, you will consider anyone under the age of thirty infantile.”

Aldric’s hand twitched toward the Beretta at his waist at his uncle’s unexpected voice. “I almost shot you. You shouldn’t sneak up on me.”

“If I were someone who needed shooting, you’d already be dead.” Roland stalked to the other side of the room. “Were I someone dangerous, this house would be undefended.”

Aldric glared at his uncle. With an effort and years of training, he calmed himself, knowing his anger wasn’t really at the man sneaking up on him. “What do you need?” He almost smiled at the smooth modulation of his voice.

“I need you to stop brooding over the Tsung girl. I also need you to stay away from her.”

“Really? Last night, you all but encouraged it. ‘Anything to upset the Tsungs.’ That’s what you said.”

Roland gazed at his nails, seeming to examine them for imperfections. “Circumstances have changed.”

“Oh?”

His uncle gave him a flat look. “Don’t try court tricks on me, youngling. I invented some of them centuries ago. I’m telling you to stay away from the Tsung girl.”

Aldric stood up. He kept a placid look on his face. “And I’m saying I need to know why. If you’re going to train me in all the things I need to know, I have a right to ask you questions.”

Roland was suddenly there in his face, holding him by the front of his shirt. “You have no rights, boy. I own you, your training, and your debts. Your parents gave me all the permission I need to make sure you don’t disgrace us. You may become a royal in your own right, but for now, you are nothing, and you will not question me.”

Aldric raised both hands in a slow motion to show that he wasn’t going to answer violence in kind. At least not physically. He gazed into his uncle’s eyes and sent the mind probe at him.

Roland’s reaction was immediate. He threw his nephew across the room with a snarl. “What did you see?”

Still reeling from the spell drain, the information gleaned, and the crash against the table, Aldric shook his head. “Enough. I saw enough.”

“Did you?”

Wary of his uncle’s physical adept abilities and his current temperament, Aldric nodded and lied. “Yes. I’ll avoid Sumiko for the sake of our family. I’m sorry I questioned you.”

Roland relaxed only the slightest bit. “Perhaps you have a bit of backbone in you after all. I suppose, if I had your talents and your impatience, I would’ve done the same. I recommend that you do not do the same in public, or at court. Such crass boldness would not be tolerated. However, in private, it is appropriate enough.”

He walked over and offered his hand. When Aldric accepted it, feeling the strength in his uncle’s grip, he did not resist when the older elf pulled him close and spoke, his voice not much above a whisper. “This time. If you ever try to do that to me again, I will have you beaten. This is a true fosterage. It’s about time you realized that.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

Roland let go of Aldric’s hand and straightened his nephew’s shirt. “This is serious business. If you interfere with the Tsungs’ alliance with the Owada family again, retribution will be swift. You will no longer be a member of the Telestrian family. No longer eligible for any of the rights and privileges your august heritage gives you. You will be nothing and no one in the eyes of the royal court. Do you understand?”

Aldric nodded, his mouth dry.

“Good. Go see Verity. Tell her to add ambush training to your schedule. I watched you brood for a full five minutes. I could’ve killed you multiple times over. That won’t do for one of our family.”

“Yes, Uncle.” He paused, then asked, “May I be excused?”

Roland gave him a curt nod.

Aldric walked away with a casualness he didn’t feel. Once he was out of his uncle’s sight, he quickened his step, trying to keep the anger at bay. It was all about business. He couldn’t associate with Sumiko because Telestrian was about to sign a huge contract with the Japanese government…and the Owada family was at the heart of the negotiations. His uncle was selling his freedom, his feelings, for the sake of money.

He had no doubt he’d be disowned as threatened. That was how important this contract was. Telestrian Industries wanted a better, more lucrative foothold into Japan, and his uncle had been tasked with keeping his wayward foster under control. It was enough to make him want to chuck it all.

A thought came to mind. That thought became an idea, then morphed into a plan. No one had to know he was still in contact with Sumiko. Hurrying to his suite, he locked the door. His smart glasses had recorded almost all of the jabbers he’d been to since he arrived in Seattle. All he had to do was watch the recordings to see who Sumiko hung out with as Kintsugi.

Hours later, his eyes burning and his mind numb to the images of thousands of people dancing, he’d narrowed it down to a tall red-headed human girl. A quick reverse image search gave him her name, her public profile, and her commlink. Now, all he had to do was convince her to do what he needed her to do.

Seven

Sumiko sat at the breakfast table with her parents, but she could have been alone for all the attention they paid her. Both parents read their newspapers, ignoring her. Rather than vie for their attention, she remained silent, hoping last night had been all threat and no action.

No such luck.

Mitsuo gazed over his paper at Kimberly. There was an entire conversation in that exchanged look. She nodded. As Mitsuo went back to his paper, Kimberly cleared her throat. “You have a meeting with Mako Owada tomorrow at noon. A lunch meeting. You will go. You will be on your best behavior. She has been given permission to…to…treat you as if you were her own daughter.”

What does that mean? Sumiko wondered. She knew better than to ask.

“Do you understand?”

Sumiko didn’t say anything for a long moment, weighing the consequences of disobedience against her limited freedom. Bend like the willow until it’s time to snap back, she thought, quoting her trainer. “I’ll need a note for school. To get me out of classes.” She’d checked this morning to see if she could get to school. The Matrix block her mom put up the night before had been modified to allow her to go to her virtual classes, but nowhere else.

“I’ll write it, but I expect you to make up the classes from the recording tomorrow night.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Again there was a conversation in an exchanged glance. Kimberly nodded. “Good.” They both went back to their papers.

Sumiko wanted to cry. She didn’t want to hope they wouldn’t send her to Japan, and knew unless she took matters into her own hands, she wouldn’t be able to get out of her arranged marriage. “I’ll need my Matrix connection restored to go to school this morning.” She wanted them to think she hadn’t tried to test the grounding.

Her mother didn’t even look up. “You are allowed to go to school and that’s it. I’ve already contacted your teachers about your restricted access.”

Sumiko searched for something she could say to make everything better. She knew there wasn’t anything to say. Her parents had not only deemed her property of the Owadas, they were going to keep her under lock and key until they handed her over. The only question now was when that would be.

Francesca entered the dining room. “Excuse me, Miss Tsung has a visitor. Rachel Winslow.”

Sumiko looked up, startled as both parents put their papers down and Rachel, a tall, slender redhead with delicate features, walked in.

“Good morning, Mr. Tsung, Mrs. Tsung.” Rachel gave them a wave, then turned to Sumiko. “Why aren’t you answering your comms? We were supposed to meet to work on our Civics presentation this morning. It’s due tomorrow, and we’re first up.”

Sumiko blinked at her friend in confusion. “I…forgot we had it.” She flushed, looking at the table.

Mitsuo picked up his paper. “What’s the presentation on?”

“Which is the most important global treaty within the last fifty years and why.”

“What did you choose?”

Rachel walked to the table and stood next to Sumiko. “The Jetstream Climate Treaty of 2052. Toxic output from one country travels the jetstream and ocean currents to affect another country. Only together can we stop poisoning the earth.”

Sumiko bowed her head. “That presentation.” She gazed up at Rachel. “I’m so sorry. I forgot. Stuff has been…” she glanced at her mom, “…complicated.”

Kimberly’s face was stone. “You mean grounded. I’m sorry, Rachel, Sumiko is grounded and cannot use the Matrix except for schoolwork.” Softening at Rachel’s stricken look, she continued, “However, as you are already here and we’ve allowed Sumiko access to school, you may stay and work on your presentation.”

Rachel nodded, her eyes wide. “Yes, Mrs. Tsung. I’ll comm my mom…. Uh, I’m allowed to use my comm?”

Kimberly nodded. “The only one with restricted access is Sumiko. However, I expect you two to work on your project and nothing else.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Rachel tapped Sumiko’s shoulder. “C’mon.”

Sumiko glanced at her father. He waved a dismissive hand. She got up and headed to her room without a word.

As soon as they entered her bedroom, Sumiko raised her voice. “Alfred?”

“Yes, Miss Tsung?”

“Full privacy mode.”

“Yes, Miss Tsung. I am to remind you that you must press my activation button for me to see and hear this room again.”

“Acknowledged.”

“Full privacy mode on.”

Sumiko put a finger to her lips. Rachel nodded and waited as Sumiko typed out a series of commands on her computer. When she was done, she turned in her chair. “It’s chill. We’re actually in privacy mode. I’ve got an old video of us working at the table running. I don’t trust my parents right now.”

“Are you okay? I tried to comm you last night when I saw the stories about you.”

“Stories? There’s more than one?”

Rachel tilted her head with a smile. “Yeah. So, is Aldric a good kisser?”

The memory of Aldric softened the hurt she was dealing with. Sumiko nodded. “Yeah. Really good. Uh, do we really have a Civics presentation due tomorrow that I’ve completely forgotten about or were you referencing the one we did last year?”

Dropping into the comfy cushions on the floor, Rachel chuckled. “Last year. When even I couldn’t get through to you, I knew I had to come see you in person. How bad is it?”

Sumiko joined Rachel in the cushions. “Bad. Real bad. Worse than before. I’m going to have to escape now or never.”

Rachel took Sumiko’s hand in hers. “I’ll help.”

“They want to send me to Japan to some sort of finishing school jail.”

“No!”

She nodded. “I have a meeting tomorrow with one of the Owadas.”

“Right. What do you need me to do?”

Sumiko paused, knowing what she wanted to do…and whom with. Her original plans hadn’t included someone like Aldric, but now… She didn’t want to lose him. She didn’t want to lose her freedom either. What if he didn’t want to join her? It was one more unknown and possible future hurt. She shook her head and forced herself back on track.

“I need to get a message to BlotterBabe. Can you ferry that for me?” Sumiko stopped, “Wait, ‘even I’? What do you mean? How did you know I needed help?”

Rachel batted her lashes. “A certain someone tracked me down when he got cut off from you.”

A warm happy glow radiated out from her chest. Sumiko was glad she didn’t actually glow with the heat she felt. “Aldric?”

Rachel nodded.

“What did he say?”

“Just that you got cut off and he was worried about you. And to tell you that he didn’t care about any forced engagement, and he’s still here for you.”

Sumiko sat in silence for a long moment, wrestling with too many feelings and too many thoughts. She couldn’t understand how things had gone sideways so quickly. Making up her mind, she squeezed Rachel’s hand. “Will you take a message to BlotterBabe for me? The most important message in the world?”

Rachel, her face somber, nodded. “Is this it?”

“Yes. I think it has to be. Or it will never be.”

“Will I ever see you again?”

“Of course you will. I’ll make sure it happens.” Sumiko paused. “It just might take a bit of time.”

Rachel pulled her friend into a hug. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you, too.” Sumiko pulled back and rubbed her face. “Can you get a message to Aldric, too?”

“Hell yeah. I was wondering if you’d ask. I’m happy to be your courier to a better life.”

Sumiko took a deep breath. “Now to record a couple of life-changing messages.”

Aldric paced his room. He’d hoped to hear from Rachel, or better yet, Sumiko, by now. But if her parents had the same reaction to him as his family had to her, it might be days before he heard from either of them. The longer it took, the more he wondered if he’d done the right thing.

He looked around the sumptuous rooms he’d been given for his stay with Roland. He didn’t know how long his fosterage was supposed to be, but based on everything he’d seen, it would be around five years. He’d be twenty-one before he was considered an adult and fit for proper society on his own.

While the fosterage had been relatively easy in the short time he’d been here—all things considered—it was still not much more than a gilded cage. He could stay within the walls of luxury and privilege of his family’s holdings…wanting for nothing, as long as he obeyed those of a higher station. Which, right now, seemed like everyone in the compound.

Did he think he could fool them? If they caught him, would he be able to survive on his own—without the money and prestige he owed to his family? In the hard light of day, Aldric wasn’t sure. Of course he had his emergency plans, but he hadn’t been in Seattle long enough to feel secure in them.

He headed down to the garage. A drive around the city might clear his mind. He was drawn to Sumiko like no one he’d ever met. He needed time. Truth be told, he wanted to chuck it all—family, money, privilege—but he really wasn’t sure he could do it. But it all came back to wanting to be with Sumiko.

When he arrived at the garage, he was surprised to see that the car he’d been gifted when he arrived was gone. Then his eyes landed on the empty spot his motorcycle, a Suzuki Mirage, had claimed since he’d arrived.

As he stood there, dumbfounded, trying to figure out what that meant, he heard a step behind him. Whirling, he got his hands up in a defensive block, as Verity, one of the house guards and his personal trainer, threw a punch at his head. She threw three more punches—all of which he managed to block, then swept his legs out from under him.

“Pitiful,” the dark-haired elf said as she put her hands on her hips. “No wonder Roland wanted to include ambush training. I followed you through the house from the library on.”

“The house is supposed to be safe. Also, I’m not the only one who lives here. I can’t assume everyone’s out to get me.” Aldric pushed himself to his feet.

“The house is where you’re most vulnerable. You need to learn the difference between someone walking around and someone sneaking. Two very different feels. Also, everyone is out to get you. Remember that.”

He gestured to the empty parking spot in the garage. “What happened to the car I’ve been using, the Honda Spirit? I thought it was mine for the time I lived here.”

“It’s in the shop for routine maintenance. Besides, you’re not supposed to leave.”

“I’m not?”

Verity tilted her head. “No. Orders from your uncle.”

“And my motorcycle? Routine maintenance, too, I suppose?”

She ignored his questions as she glanced at her watch. “Training in ten. Get yourself ready. We’ll be doing blind attacks and disarms.”

Aldric bit his tongue and nodded. He watched her leave because he didn’t trust himself to move or speak. Uncle Roland had grounded him without giving him the courtesy of saying so? Was this what life would be like going forward? To be treated as if he were incompetent?

He didn’t feel the anger he thought he should be feeling. He didn’t feel anything, and that meant he was feeling too much right now. It was something he’d trained into himself when he discovered too much emotion could block his magical ability. He’d delayed the impotent rage he knew was inside.

The buzzing of his commlink startled him out of his furious self-reflection. His heart leaped, thinking it was Sumiko. It plummeted as he touched his smart glasses and saw that it was Rachel.

“Hello. Did you find…it?” Aldric couldn’t be sure that he wasn’t being watched right now. He was in the garage filled with expensive vehicles. He eyed the spot where his missing motorcycle should’ve been. It was one more thing someone would pay for.

“Uh, hi. Yeah. I found…it.”

“Hold on, I’ve got static on this end.” He hurried out the side door and into the backyard. With a glance around, he walked toward the hedge maze. “It should be safe to talk here. Did you get my message to Sumiko?”

“I did. I’ve got one for you. She’s pretty locked down. Lemme send it.”

“Thank you.” He paused. “I…I’m not locked down like she is, but it seems like the entire world is against us ever seeing each other again. My family is angry. More than I’ve ever seen them to be so.”

“That really sucks.”

“Yeah. Would you let her know that I’m thinking of her, and that I’ll watch this as soon as I get off the comm with you?”

“Sure. No problem.” She hesitated, cleared her throat, then added. “Listen…after you watch the message, call me if you want. Especially if you have any questions. I know some things, but not all. I don’t know what your answer will be, but know that I’m on Team Sumiko.”

Aldric swallowed hard. He didn’t know what that meant, but said, “Okay. I will. Thank you.”

“Good luck.”

He had a bad feeling about things as Rachel disconnected, leaving him with the waiting message from the girl who’d stolen his heart without trying.

Eight

Sumiko waited in the foyer for Miss Mako Owada. She wore a black pantsuit with a crisp white blouse. She looked like she was about to go job hunting. In a way, she was. In this particular case, she didn’t know what would happen if she failed—to her, or the business agreements her father made.

In truth, she didn’t know much these days. She didn’t know if Aldric had gotten her message. If he had, what he would think of it? She didn’t know why she was meeting with Mako, or what was supposed to happen during it. All she knew at this point was the fact that her parents were both at work, and the servants were scarce.

Mako didn’t knock when she arrived. She walked into the house like she owned it. She might well.

Startled, Sumiko jumped to her feet and gave the older woman a deep bow. “Kon’nichiwa, Owada Mako-sama.”

“Hello, Sumiko. We’ll stick to English. I know that’s what you grew up with, and I want there to be no misunderstandings between us. Later, we’ll see…”

“Yes ma’am. Tea? Coffee?”

“No. Let’s get down to business, you and I.” She took a seat on one of the couches and indicated the spot next to her with a nod of her chin.

When Sumiko sat, Mako gazed at her. “Through this entire conversation, I want you to tell me the truth. Your family isn’t here by my request, and Hisahito thought it would be best if this were one of those private conversations he didn’t need to know about.”

Sumiko tilted her head. “But you’ll tell him about it.”

It wasn’t a question. Mako answered it anyway. “Yes. The high-level version.”

“What does that mean?” She crossed her arms, hugging herself as she looked away.

Mako reached out and took Sumiko by the chin in a gentle move, forcing her to look the woman in the eyes. “It means when you do something disrespectful and I correct you, I will gloss over the details. For example, your current posture and tone of voice. What I will tell him is that you were reluctant at first, but I showed you the error of your ways. Do you understand?”

Sumiko forced herself to relax. She nodded when Mako let her go. “I understand.”

“Good. We don’t have to be enemies, you and I. I’d prefer not to be if I am to train you. I’d rather harness your spirit than beat it out of you.”

A sigh escaped Sumiko’s lips before she could stop it. She tensed, waiting to see what “correction” Mako would give.

The older woman ignored the perceived slight. “You don’t want to marry Akihito, do you? Is that why you were with the Telestrian boy?”

“No! And no.” The difference between the two negations spoke of her whole life in sound and tone. The first one vehement. The second sad at all the choices taken away from her.

It was Mako’s turn to sigh. “Destiny is sometimes a hard path. You will marry Akihito, and you will be a good wife, bodyguard, and confidant. It will happen. That is your path. Whether or not you make it more difficult than it needs to be is up to you. As for Aldric Telestrian…the future is nebulous, and open to those who know discretion. If you understand?”

Sumiko flushed, then nodded and gazed at her clenched hands. She made them relax. She hated this woman in front of her. “This is because of the contract.”

“Contract?”

“The business contract between my family and yours. Oh, they didn’t sell me into slavery—”

Mako cupped Sumiko’s chin and made her look up again. This time the gesture was still gentle, but firm. “That is a term I don’t want to hear again. This is why I am here. You think of your chosen profession and path as a life sentence. It’s not.”

She let go of Sumiko’s face. “You will have power beyond your imagining. You will run Akihito’s business. You will determine who stays and who goes. You will be the one with the information others come crawling to. You will be a princess in all ways but name. You are being given everything people out there want.”

Everything but a choice, Sumiko thought. She was smart enough to keep that thought to herself. “Are my parents really going to send me to Japan this week?”

“It depends on you. Your parents wanted me to take you to Japan tomorrow. It’s clear you need more training than you’ve received so far. Social training.” Mako considered her. “What would you do in my position?”

“Ask me what I want. No one has asked me what I want to do with this whole situation. Everyone is making plans about me, but no one is talking to me.”

“I see. I am talking to you now. Remembering what I have already told you—and that will not change—what do you want?”

Sumiko thought for a moment, choosing her words with care. “I want to finish out this quarter and school year at home. Then, since it’s been deemed I need to go to Japan for—” she glanced at Mako, “—social training, spend the summer break in Japan. Then, return home for my final year of school.” She took a breath. “And to say good-bye to everyone.”

“That is a much more reasonable request. At least the first half of finishing out your school year in a comfortable and familiar environment. Even though you could attend your school from Japan just as easily.”

“Except for the time difference.”

Mako smiled. “Ah, there is that. For you to have the exact same classes with the same professors and peers, you do need to be in this time zone. Well, perhaps you’ve given me the answer I need to at least grant you the first half of your request—to finish out the school year at your parents’ home. Beyond that, we’ll see. I suppose it will depend on your actions.”

“You mean, you’ll tell my father I should stay here?” Sumiko couldn’t believe her thought might work. All she needed was a little more time to enact her plan. Just a little more time until she could be free.

“I told you, we don’t have to be enemies. You and I are going to have a long working relationship. I prefer to be allies. It’s better for the family and the family business. Also, in truth, I haven’t begun to figure out the training you’ll need. Assuming Hisahito and your father agree, you’ll spend the rest of the school year here, then I will evaluate you over the summer. That will determine the rest. Is that acceptable?”

Sumiko nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”

“Well then, I think we’ve come to an understanding. You will behave as expected for one of your station, and I will advocate on your behalf.” Mako stood. “I have much to do and little time to do it in.” She offered her hand as Sumiko stood.

Sumiko shook it, feeling the strength within. There was no doubt in her mind that that gentle hand could strike with stinging pain. “What should I tell my parents about this conversation?”

“Very good. Already thinking like an Owada.” The older woman nodded with approval. “When they ask, tell them that I prefer to give them my report first. You can fill in the details later.”

“Yes ma’am.” Sumiko walked Mako to the front door and held the door for her. She watched until the car headed down the driveway and out the front gate. Closing the door, she gave a sigh of relief.

Pretty lies, she thought. Pretty, pretty lies with a grain of truth. There was no doubt Mako had lied to her. About which thing, she couldn’t be sure. But since Mako had left and no one was home, she’d have a chance to enact her plan.

Sumiko wrinkled her nose. She didn’t have the time she wanted. All she had was now. Part of her felt guilty. It did seem as if Mako was trying her best to make things easier for her, but there really was no choice. It was slavery of the worst kind—genteel and legal. Sumiko shuddered at the thought of how bad it could get.

Hurrying to her room, she went to her computer and set off the first part of her escape plan—the program that would make it look like all was normal on the house security cameras. This program would run for three hours or until someone turned it off.

Then she pulled her packed grab-and-go emergency backpack from her closet. Living in the Seattle area, you never knew if a big earthquake would hit or if Mount Rainier would finally blow its top. She’d repacked the bag to hold only the things she couldn’t live without. Surprisingly little in the grand scheme of things. Sentimental jewelry and a small plushie. The rest of the bag had the necessities of life. Most of her beloved things were digital and safely stored in an internal hard drive.

Sumiko left the backpack on the bed and headed downstairs to her father’s den. It was a “proper” man’s room with a library of paper books on one wall, a bar on another, and a sitting area against the third wall. All of these were arranged around her father’s desk. That was her target. The “recorded” footage would show it empty and hide what she was about to do.

Digging through the drawers, she found what she was looking for: certified credsticks. There were more there than she expected: a dozen standard, three silver, four gold, and two platinum. She stared at the wealth contained in those small credsticks and wondered why he had so much cash on hand.

That wasn’t important now. She took a selection of the credsticks and set about breaking each one open. Six months ago when she’d decided she needed to escape, she’d begun planning this. The standard credsticks were only passcoded with her mother’s maiden name. Sumiko unlocked them and relocked them with a new passcode. The silver were locked with her father’s fingerprint. Easy enough to forge when you had time, technology, and access. She unlocked each of those and relocked them with her own fingerprint. The gold credsticks were unlocked with the recording of her father’s voice speaking her mother’s full name. The platinum credstick was unlocked with the house record of her father’s eye overlaid on her own.

After she unlocked and relocked the credsticks she was taking—stealing—she placed them in a secured, concealed internal compartment in her arm. It was one of the very few things she’d had modified after her last hospital visit. If nothing else, she’d have some money to see her and, hopefully, Aldric, through their escape. She refused to think about how it would feel if he denied her.

After that, it was a matter of returning to her room, changing into something more normal and durable, putting on her backpack, and climbing out the window. The Tsung estate wasn’t huge, but it was big enough to make her take a running leap to get from the roof to land far enough into the backyard so the servants who were still around, but making themselves invisible, wouldn’t see her.

As she leaped the wall separating the estate from the outside world, her Matrix connection bing-ed into life. She made three calls: one to BlotterBabe, one for a taxi, and one to Aldric. He didn’t answer.

After a moment, she left him a message. “I hope Rachel got ahold of you. I’m sorry, but the plan, my plan, has to happen now. Today. I’ve been planning this for months. I’ve got everything in place. I…I don’t know your exact circumstances. I just know that things aren’t good where you are now. Rachel told me. I still want you to come with me. I’ve talked to the right people and they can fit you in. Please…let me know one way or the other. I’ll send you coordinates as soon as I have them.”

Nine

Sumiko got out of the taxi three blocks away from where she was to meet BlotterBabe. She walked the street, keeping a wary eye out around her. While she was certain her parents didn’t know about her escape—at least, not yet—it paid to be careful.

A beat-up Ford Americar pulled up next to her when she got to the spot near to where the meeting was supposed to take place. A black teenage girl sat in the driver’s seat. “Kintsugi, it’s me, get in.”

“I thought we were meeting at the warehouse?”

“Better to meet on the way.” BlotterBabe beckoned. “Get in. Time’s wasting.”

While Sumiko had met BlotterBabe many times in the Matrix, she’d only met the girl once in the flesh, and that had been interrupted by the jabber getting busted. Truth be told, she couldn’t be sure it was the same girl. “Once upon a time…”

The other girl grinned white teeth against umber skin. “…there was a broken doll made up of more than the sum of her parts.” She beckoned again. “Good. You’re being careful. You can’t always trust your eyes. Now, get in, frag it. Time’s wasting. Especially since we’re going to have to wait on your Romeo. Assuming he’s on board.

Sumiko got into the car and was surprised that BlotterBabe drove the car manually.

“Can’t always trust the Grid, either,” she said to Sumiko’s unasked question. “Right. We’re going to a new location. If Sartorial meets us, we have plan B. If he decides not to, we’ll go with plan A. You got the nuyen?”

“I do.”

“If he doesn’t join you, there’s still the fixer fee.” BlotterBabe shrugged as she navigated the streets. “Love ya, kid, but this is biz, and people got to get paid.”

Sumiko nodded. “I have the money. Where are we going?”

Instead of answering in words, BlotterBabe sent Sumiko the address of Northgate Library.

“There? It’s gonna happen there?”

“Stop trying to teach me to do my job. That’s where you’re gonna meet Sartorial—if he decides to join you.”

“He will,” Sumiko said, sounding more confident than she felt. He may have had some of the same restrictions and family anger, but he was from the royal court of Tír na nÓg. That was not something to walk away from without second thoughts. Or third. Part of her thought she was stupid for wanting to bring him with her. Part of her couldn’t help but believe he would. She sent him the address with the single word: <Now.>

There was still no answer.

Aldric pressed his advantage, punching past Verity’s block with muscle and striking her on the chin hard enough to see anger spark in her eyes. She gut-punched him, then followed through with a shoulder slam he almost didn’t block. She grabbed his wrist, pulled him off-balance, and swept his feet out from under him.

Verity followed him down to the floor and stopped herself from pummeling him again. With bared teeth, she pulled herself together and stood, breath coming in soft pants. “Good. You’re getting into the spirit of the spar.” She offered him a hand up.

Accepting it, he groaned, his own breath coming in ragged gasps. “Did you have to hit me so hard?”

“Gave as good as I got.” She turned her back. “Go get a slap patch to numb you up.”

“We’re not done?” Aldric stumbled off to the dojo catch-all closet where weapons, tools, mats, and the medkit lived. He dug through it for what he wanted, opened it, but didn’t slap it.

“We can be. You did good today despite the slow start.” She turned and tossed him a towel as he walked up behind her. She did a double take. “Lemme look at that eye. I hit you a good one.”

Aldric nodded. “You did. We fought hard today.” With that, he struck her with a stun bolt. In her already weakened state, she stumbled, her eyes rolling in their sockets. He followed it up with the sedative slap patch he’d retrieved from the medkit. “I’m sorry,” he murmured as her mouth went slack and she collapsed.

No longer moving like he was as tired as he seemed, Aldric carried Verity to the dojo closet, and tied her hands. He knew once she regained her senses, it wouldn’t hold her long. All he was doing was buying time. One more thing he had to do. He touched her face and cast the spell that would make him look exactly like her.

Closing and locking the closet, Aldric, as Verity, hurried to his prepared duffle bag. Everything he actually cared about in Seattle was in that bag. It wasn’t much—smart glasses, smart gloves, Beretta from his father, credsticks, a holo of his parents, and some clothing. Everything else could be replaced.

He changed into a generic set of black clothing that didn’t look out of place on either Verity or him—although, somewhat plain, but very good quality—and set off for the garage. On the way, he comm’d Rachel, hoping she would be there for him again.

She was.

Ten minutes later, he was at the chosen café, waiting for Sumiko’s best friend. As soon as she drove up and parked, Aldric got into her car, still looking like Verity. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Rachel’s eyes went wide, and she didn’t say anything.

“It’s me. I’m disguised. I’ll drop the spell as soon as you drive away.”

“Oh yeah? What’s my favorite avatar?”

Aldric frowned. “A rosebush fox? It’s the only thing I’ve seen you in.”

She grinned and set the car in motion. “Wiz! I’ve never seen a spell like that in action. Right. Turn off all your comms. Every last one. All the way off. Not just in private mode. I did that as soon as I agreed to take you to the library.”

“Why?”

“It’s something Sumiko once told me. They can track you that way. If you power everything down, there’s nothing to follow. Like you ditching a car.”

He did as he was told. Once they were on the road, she connected the car to the grid and turned to watch him. Aldric let the mask spell go with a sigh of relief. It wasn’t a hard spell to sustain, but it still took effort.

“Double-G! That was neat. Like watching something happen in the Matrix, but in real life. Who was that?”

He shook his head. “Someone who’s going to be very, very angry at me. If you see her, disappear. Yeah?”

Rachel nodded, still grinning. “I’m glad you decided to go with Sumiko.”

“You know about that?”

“Known for months.” She glanced at the look on his face. “She’s been planning to go for a long time. It wasn’t just you. But….” Rachel shook her head. “Don’t hurt her. She’s been hurt enough.”

“I swear upon my name, everything I’m doing is to make her…both of us…happy.”

“Good.”

Aldric glanced at the time. “How fast can this car go?”

As soon as BlotterBabe parked the car, she turned to Sumiko. “Cash up front. You’re doing this whether or not Sartorial arrives on time.”

Sumiko pulled the silver and gold credsticks out of her backpack. She reset the security on both. “And one more silver when Aldric arrives.”

The fixer didn’t say anything. She coded the credsticks to herself and set a timer counting down.

Sumiko synced a timer and sent that off to Aldric’s private comm, hoping he was receiving her messages. Hoping he wasn’t locked down like she had been. Hoping more than anything that he would meet her.

Time and time again, she had to stop herself from messaging anyone she knew. Her own internal timer was counting down the minutes until the house security system resumed its normal function and someone realized she was no longer on the premises.

“Seriously, can’t this thing go any faster?” Aldric wanted to blast every car in front of them off the road, clearing the way. At this rate, Sumiko was going to leave without him. It was the last thing he wanted to have happen.

“Sure, if you want to get every cop with a quota to pull us over. Better to let the Grid get us there in a safe and sound speed.” Rachel touched the controls. “Grid Guide says we’re almost there.”

“I do appreciate this. I’m sorry if I sound like I’m not grateful. I’m just…”

“Afraid?”

Aldric nodded.

“Of what?”

“Everything. I’m not in control. I don’t have a plan. It’s all Sumiko.”

Rachel glanced at him. “There’s still time to back out.”

“No. Absolutely not.” Aldric glared at her. “Why would you say such a thing?”

She shrugged. “To see what you’d say.” Gesturing toward the parking lot, she added, “We’re here. Now or never.”

Aldric smiled as he saw Sumiko in the passenger seat of the Americar. “I choose forever.”

BlotterBabe furrowed her brow as Rachel and Aldric approached the car. “I didn’t make plans for three.”

“Neither did I.” Sumiko took out the last silver credstick and reset the security.

“What are you doing here?” BlotterBabe’s face was neutral, and she had a hand in her bag.

Rachel pointed at Aldric. “Someone needed a ride. That’s me. I’m just here to help out and say good-bye.”

Aldric raised both hands. “I needed help. I want to go with Sumiko.”

“That’s me. I’m a helper.” Rachel rested her chin on the back of her hands and smiled. “I can go now…”

“No. No.” BlotterBabe relaxed. “So, you’re a helper, eh? You want to help this pair one last time?”

Rachel nodded, her eyes sparkling.

Aldric and Sumiko glanced at each other, shy and besotted.

“Right. Here’s what I need you to do. Rachel, I want you to drop our Romeo and Juliet off at the front of the Northgate Mall. Like a friend doing the pair a favor. No long good-byes, no tears. Nothing dramatic. Can you do that?”

“Sure can.”

“Good.” BlotterBabe shooed Sumiko. “Out of the car.”

Sumiko handed over the last credstick. She joined Rachel and Aldric. Aldric offered her his hand. She accepted and squeezed it.

“Okay. Cutesy stuff later.” BlotterBabe made the credstick disappear. “You two go into the mall. Browse. Window shop. Do normal stuff for about thirty minutes or so. Then go get some bubble tea from the place near the south exit. We’ll take it from there. Whatever happens, just roll with it.” She shook a finger at the two of them. “No heroics. Just let it happen. Got it?”

Aldric nodded, not understanding but agreeable.

“Got it,” Sumiko said.

BlotterBabe tipped them a pretend hat. “Well then, see the two of you on the other side.” She rolled up her car window and left them there.

The three of them got into Rachel’s car, Sumiko in the front with Rachel and Aldric in the back. Sumiko leaned over and hugged Rachel tight. “Thank you.”

“I’m going to miss you.”

“Not for that long. I promise. We’ll figure out a way to send you a message.”

Aldric agreed. “Between the two of us, we’ll figure something out. We couldn’t have done this without you.” He paused. “You know they’re going to question you, right? My family?”

Rachel laughed. “I’m just a friend ferrying the two of you around. Yeah, you may have been grounded, but who hasn’t helped their friends sneak out of the house? Besides, I’m only dropping you off at the mall, remember?” With that, she put the car in gear and drove out of the parking lot. She didn’t bother with Grid Guide as she had before.

As ordered, Rachel pulled up to the front of Northgate Mall and smiled at the two of them. No one but her passengers saw the suspicious shine in her eyes. Aldric and Sumiko got out of the car. Sumiko waved at Rachel, then took Aldric’s hand. Hand-in-hand, the two of them walked into the mall.

Ten

Aldric and Sumiko didn’t have to work hard at acting like teenagers in love. They held hands, kissed, and stopped from time to time to look at something in a storefront. Sumiko pulled away from Aldric to look closer at a shirt on a mannequin. In response, the mannequin executed a series of poses to show off its wares in their best light while the AR glass pointed out its specific details.

“Are you nervous?” Aldric asked, ignoring the mannequin as he leaned close to her.

Sumiko nodded. “You?”

He returned the nod. “But I’m with you. So, it’s chill. You know?”

“I know. What do you want to do?”

“Run and go get bubble tea.”

She consulted her internal clock. “Can’t do that. Not yet. A few more minutes.”

Aldric offered her is hand again. “I guess it’s too late to ask you for details about the plan, huh?”

Sumiko smiled and took it, shrugging. “No. You can still back out…”

“Never.” He squeezed her hand.

“Wiz.”

The two of them laughed and turned away from the storefront they’d been ignoring. They took two steps and Aldric stopped, recognizing the dark-haired elf who was glaring at them. “Oh frag….”

Verity moved faster than he’d seen her move before. She stiff-armed him into the glass storefront, gripping his shirt, her lips curled back in a snarl. Before she could say anything, Sumiko hammered Verity’s arm downward to break the hold and shoulder slammed the older woman to get her away from Aldric.

“Don’t kill her!” Aldric raised his hands, trying to calm, but ready to sling magic.

Both Verity and Sumiko looked at him with identical looks of irritated confusion on their faces.

Aldric spoke directly to Sumiko. “She’s from my uncle’s household. Please don’t kill her.”

Verity rolled her eyes. “Augmented girlfriend or not, you’re coming home.” She shifted her attention to Sumiko. “And, like it or not, you have a marriage to prepare for.” The elf didn’t wait for Sumiko’s or Aldric’s comeback. She advanced on the two of them, fists at the ready.

It was a punch, block, and parry fight between Verity and Sumiko, both augmented—Aldric thought she must be a physical adept like his uncle or augmented like Sumiko. Either way, she’d never shown her true skill during any of their training bouts. Sumiko and Verity both moved faster and hit harder than normally possible.

Aldric had been taught to get out of the way and avoid fights, but as Verity’s experience started to overcome Sumiko’s enhancements and talent, he moved in and threw a stun bolt at Verity. His trainer’s response was immediate: she disengaged from Sumiko long enough to punch him hard in the stomach and, as his breath rushed out, she slammed his head against the storefront, cracking the glass.

He saw stars as he slid to the ground. Sumiko jumped on Verity’s back and punched her shoulder with a deliberate strike. It was a move born of fear and exhaustion. Verity flung Sumiko to the floor. Sumiko popped up again, but stayed near Aldric. She was bleeding from the corner of her mouth. Verity had a bloody nose and a fierce grin filled with bloody teeth, but she favored the shoulder.

“You can’t win,” Verity said. “I’d rather not actually hurt you. Give it up. Go home. Do what you’re supposed to do. All can still be forgiven.”

She spoke to Sumiko, but her words were also for Aldric and he knew it.

Sumiko shook her head and advanced. The two women exchanged another series of fast, hard punches and blocks. First Sumiko beat back Verity, then the older, more experienced, fighter turned the tide and a couple of her punches got through.

Sumiko glanced at Aldric. To him it was a plea for help. He did what he could. Shifting in his spot on the floor, he aimed a kick at Verity’s knee from the side. It was comparatively weak, and he grimaced even as he heard the crack. Verity hadn’t seen it coming, but Sumiko had. As the elf cried out, Sumiko punched her a hard one to the face, and there was another cracking sound as blood flew.

Aldric stunned Verity again as she reeled away. Sumiko finished the fight by picking Verity up and throwing her toward the watching crowd, where she tumbled out of sight. She turned back to Aldric and offered him a hand up. “Good knee shot.”

He took it. “You were amazing.”

“Come on. We can’t be late. If we miss our meet, it’s over.”

The two of them sprinted through the mall, looking over their shoulders, looking to see if Verity had recovered enough to come after them. As they reached the bubble tea stand, they heard a commotion behind them. Two gangs of teens converged on each other, shouting and waving weapons. Shoppers scattered as the melee began.

“Drekballs,” Aldric breathed. “Now what?”

“I think this is part of it.” Sumiko looked around for a safe place for them to hide.

Aldric shook his head. “No—there. Verity.” He gestured back the way they’d come.

“There they are!” Verity pointed at them from one end of the mall. She and Oscar had most of the house guards with them.

“That woman just doesn’t stay down, does she?” Sumiko muttered.

“No. No, she doesn’t. I think we have to run.” Aldric turned the other way.

Sumiko stopped him. “We can’t. That’s Mr. Mizuno.” On the other side of them approaching at a dead run, was the Tsung house guards and mall security. “This isn’t supposed to be happening. They weren’t supposed to know. How’d they find us?”

Sumiko and Aldric were trapped between a gang fight and two angry families. They looked at each other, fear and despair mirrored in their eyes. Neither of them knew how they were going to escape. They shifted closer, trying to protect each other from the rest of the world.

The crash of a gunshot momentarily halted the cacophony of noise. Sumiko looked down at her bloodied chest. She dropped to the ground, still reaching for Aldric. The world resumed its outrage, this time the two families pulled weapons on each other.

Aldric fell to his knees and cradled Sumiko to him. He ignored the fight that converged toward and around him. He patted her face. “Sumiko? Sumiko? C’mon, we’ve got to go.”

Something struck him in the side, and he was kicked as more of the gang fight surrounded them. Aldric flailed an arm out to protect Sumiko. Then pain exploded in his head, and he knew no more.

Eleven

Sumiko watched Aldric as he slept. She smiled when he turned over. He would be as good as new.

“If I were BlotterBabe, you’d have an image of yourself staring at me with hearts for eyes,” Aldric said, then opened his eyes and smiled at her. “You’re alive. I thought I’d lost you.”

“No.” She leaned down to kiss him, sweet and gentle. “It was part of the plan. It hurt. It did damage me some. But it was mostly the follow up spell that knocked me out. I’m all fixed up now. In truth, I think you got the worst of it.”

Aldric let her help him sit up. His head hurt something fierce. Touching the bandage that covered the back of his head, he asked, “What happened?”

“They left us a recording from the mall security feed.”

“They?”

Sumiko shook her head. “No names. Our…not rescuers. Our extraction team.” When he was settled, she opened a laptop. “This isn’t connected to the Matrix. Nothing we have is. In fact, we can’t leave this room. It’s warded.”

Aldric looked around. “We’re on a boat?”

“Yep.” She clicked on a video. It was silent. They watched as the camera picked up the gang fight, Sumiko and Aldric sprinting in from the side, then the converging family guards. Even with the lack of resolution, it was clear that the fleeing teens had already been hurt before they arrived in the middle of the gang fight. They both winced as Sumiko was shot in the chest.

“That looks really bad.”

She nodded. “Convincing.”

They continued to watch as the gang fight enveloped them on the ground. “Was the fight planned?” Aldric grimaced as he was bumped then bashed from behind.

“Yeah. Either I was going to be kidnapped from the mall or get hurt in the fight. No one expected you and me to have to fight that woman.”

“Verity. How did they get the gangs to fight each other?”

Sumiko shrugged. “I don’t know. I know the one gang member wasn’t supposed to hit you. But what I want to know is how your family found us. I know how mine found me.”

Aldric tilted his head in a question.

“There was an implanted tracker in some of my deltaware. They told me when I woke up. They removed it.”

“Oh.” He thought for a moment. “Well, they could’ve tracked the car. Probably did. Saw “Verity” get into Rachel’s car, then followed where Rachel’s car went. Verity escaped faster from the dojo than I anticipated. That’s my best guess.”

Suddenly, there was a parting of people from the south exit as DocWagon members came in, armed and dangerous. Even the gang members had enough survival instinct to get out of the DocWagon team’s way. Both unconscious teens were put on a cart and moved out of the scene even as the two families converged on the gangs, still fighting. Neither side made a move toward the DocWagon team that extracted the two injured teenagers.

Aldric watched, fascinated. “How did we get away from the hospital?”

Sumiko shook her head. “Hospital?”

He gestured to the screen. “DocWagon took us to the hospital?”

She laughed. “They weren’t a real DocWagon team. That’s our extraction team.”

“Huh. Makes sense. What happened to the real DocWagon team?”

“No idea. Probably weren’t called or the call was blocked. By the way, congratulations, we’ve both succumbed to our injuries.”

Aldric looked alarmed. “What do you mean?”

“This morning’s paper had a big exposé on it. I’ll let you read it later, but, and I quote, “Aldric Telestrian and Sumiko Tsung caught in the crossfire of gang violence.” And “Tragically, they both died of their wounds.” No mention of either family having been on the scene. Interesting, eh?”

“Yeah. Interesting.” Aldric grinned at her. “I think I’m going to declare this the best first date a guy could ever have.”

“Oh?”

He hugged her with one arm. “Yeah. I can’t see how we’d top that. You did your fight stuff. I did my magic stuff. And we died. Best date ever…as Aldric and Sumiko.”

She chuckled and snuggled in beside him. “I guess you’re right. So, Sartorial—if that is your name—we’re currently on a boat in the middle of the ocean in a magically warded room with no Matrix connection. What do you want to do for our second date?”

He gave her a kiss. “I’m sure we can think of something. The question is, what do we do after that?”

“Oh, I have a plan or two tucked away in my back pocket.”

“Good. So do I, but I can’t wait to hear yours.”

About the Author

Jennifer Brozek is a Hugo Award finalist and a multiple Bram Stoker Award finalist. Winner of the Australian Shadows Award for best edited publication, Jennifer has edited seventeen anthologies with more on the way, including the acclaimed Chicks Dig Gaming and Shattered Shields anthologies. Author of Apocalypse Girl Dreaming, BattleTech: Iron Dawn, The Last Days of Salton Academy, and the acclaimed Melissa Allen series, Jennifer’s short form work has appeared in Apex Publications, Uncanny Magazine, and in anthologies set in the worlds of Valdemar, Shadowrun, VWars, Masters of Orion, and Predator.

Jennifer is a freelance author for numerous RPG companies. Winner of the Scribe, Origins, and ENnie awards, her contributions to RPG sourcebooks include Dragonlance, Colonial Gothic, Shadowrun, Serenity, Savage Worlds, and White Wolf SAS. Jennifer is the author of the award winning YA BattleTech novel, The Nellus Academy Incident, and Shadowrun novel, Makeda Red. She has also written for the AAA MMO, Aion, and the award winning videogame, Shadowrun Returns.

When she is not writing her heart out, she is gallivanting around the Pacific Northwest in its wonderfully mercurial weather. She shares her husband, Jeff, with several cats and often uses him as a sounding board for her story ideas. Jennifer is an active member of SFWA, HWA, and IAMTW. Read more about her at jenniferbrozek.com or follow her on Twitter at @JenniferBrozek.

LOOKING FOR MORE SHADOWRUN FICTION, CHUMMER?

WE’LL HOOK YOU UP!

Catalyst Game Labs brings you the very best in Shadowrun fiction, available at most ebook retailers, including Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and more!

Novels

Never Deal with a Dragon (Secrets of Power #1) by Robert N. Charrette

Choose Your Enemies Carefully (Secrets of Power #2) Robert N. Charrette

Find Your Own Truth (Secrets of Power #3) by Robert N. Charrette

2XS by Nigel Findley

Changeling by Chris Kubasik

Never Trust an Elf by Robert N. Charrette

Shadowplay by Nigel Findley

Night's Pawn by Tom Dowd

Striper Assassin by Nyx Smith

Lone Wolf by Nigel Findley

Fade to Black by Nyx Smith

Burning Bright by Tom Dowd

Who Hunts the Hunter by Nyx Smith

House of the Sun by Nigel Findley

Worlds Without End by Caroline Spector

Just Compensation by Robert N. Charrette

Preying for Keeps by Mel Odom

Dead Air by Jak Koke

The Lucifer Deck by Lisa Smedman

Steel Rain by Nyx Smith

Shadowboxer by Nicholas Pollotta

Stranger Souls (Dragon Heart Saga #1) by Jak Koke

Headhunters by Mel Odom

Clockwork Asylum (Dragon Heart Saga #2) by Jak Koke

Blood Sport by Lisa Smedman

Beyond the Pale (Dragon Heart Saga #3) by Jak Koke

Technobabel by Stephen Kenson

Psychotrope by Lisa Smedman

Run Hard, Die Fast by Mel Odom

Crossroads by Stephen Kenson

The Forever Drug by Lisa Smedman

Ragnarock by Stephen Kenson

Tails You Lose by Lisa Smedman

The Burning Time by Stephen Kenson

Born to Run (Kellen Colt Trilogy #1) by Stephen Kenson

Poison Agendas (Kellen Colt Trilogy #2) by Stephen Kenson

Fallen Angels (Kellen Colt Trilogy #3) by Stephen Kenson

Drops of Corruption by Jason M. Hardy

Aftershocks by Jean Rabe & John Helfers

A Fistful of Data by Stephen Dedman

Fire and Frost by Kai O'Connal

Hell on Water by Jason M. Hardy

Dark Resonance by Phaedra Weldon

Crimson by Kevin Czarnecki

Shaken: No Job Too Small by Russell Zimmerman

Borrowed Time by R.L. King

Deniable Assets by Mel Odom

Undershadows by Jason M. Hardy

Shadows Down Under by Jean Rabe

Makeda Red by Jennifer Brozek

The Johnson Run by Kai O’connal

Shadow Dance by Aaron Rosenberg

Identity: Crisis by Phaedra Weldon

Anthologies

Spells & Chrome, edited by John Helfers

World of Shadows, edited by John Helfers

Drawing Destiny: A Sixth World Tarot Anthology, edited by John Helfers

Sprawl Stories, Volume 1, edited by John Helfers

The Complete Frame Job, edited by John Helfers

Novellas

Neat by Russell Zimmerman

The Vladivostok Gauntlet by Olivier Gagnon

Nothing Personal by Olivier Gagnon

Another Rainy Night by Patrick Goodman

Sail Away, Sweet Sister by Patrick Goodman

The Seattle Gambit by Olivier Gagnon

DocWagon 19 by Jennifer Brozek

Wolf & Buffalo by R.L. King

Big Dreams by R.L. King

Blind Magic by Dylan Birtolo

The Frame Job, Part 1: Yu by Dylan Birtolo

The Frame Job, Part 2: Emu by Brooke Chang

The Frame Job, Part 3: Rude by Bryan CP Steele

The Frame Job, Part 4: Frostburn by CZ Wright

The Frame Job, Part 5: Zipfile by Jason Schmetzer

The Frame Job, Part 6: Retribution by Jason M. Hardy

Tower of the Scorpion by Mel Odom

A Kiss to Die For by Jennifer Brozek

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the authors’ rights is appreciated.

SHADOWRUN: A KISS TO DIE FOR

By Jennifer Brozek

Cover art by Peter Tikos

Design by Matt Heerdt and David Kerber

©2020 The Topps Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Shadowrun & Matrix are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of The Topps Company, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries. Catalyst Game Labs and the Catalyst Game Labs logo are trademarks of InMediaRes Productions LLC. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the Copyright Owner, nor be otherwise circulated in any form other than that in which it is published.

Published by Catalyst Game Labs,

an imprint of InMediaRes Productions, LLC

7108 S. Pheasant Ridge Dr. • Spokane, WA 99224