Local Hero Pt. 2

Posted on Sun Jun 13th, 2021 @ 3:57am by Civilian Xiulan Song & Plexie Zane Ryan & Black Market Arturo Rosso

Mission: This Week's Special
Location: Clay Pidgeons

from part 1

Zane watched as Mack rapidly headed out the door. He sighed a little. At least the wildly awkward part of the evening was done. His mother could go back to her usual waitress mode and stop trying to impress Mack. Now things could be normal. It was just him and ...Xiulian. The blind girl certainly did not see him suddenly blush. He looked over at her. She was beautiful... in a different way than Nat had been, but still. The silence suddenly stretched for a bit. He caught himself staring at the girl as he held his fork half lifted to his mouth with a bite of Muskrat. "uh.... so.... like you hungry? looks like we got plenty of food." he mumbled awkwardly.

There were few things in life that Xiulan appreciated more than a good meal, and one was good company. Mack was gone, but she still had Zane, which gave her the unique opportunity to get to know him better in a setting where he could be relaxed. She didn't often get the chance to ask him many questions about himself during lessons because those were lessons and he needed to focus during his lessons. But now, they were free to just be themselves, not teacher and student.

"Yeah, pass me some of whatever you got over there, it smells good," Xiulan said, waiting a tick as Zane pushed the plate closer, to which she offered a quick 'Thanks'. After a moment, she spoke again. "So, how are you coping with the leg?" she asked, somehow managing both blunt and gentle in one sentence.

Zane pushed back his plate of Muskrat. They were eating for a group of four with only the two of them. "I still hate the thing. I guess its better than like, not having legs at all, but I miss being able to run and climb. I hate to ask this, but were you born, you know, blind? Or do you remember what it was like to see?" Zane asked awkardly, but genuinely wanting to know.

"You'll re-learn how to do those things, it's just a matter of time," Xiulan assured him before gnawing at a piece of muskrat. "As for myself, I was born this way, or near enough; I was born early and not enough care was taken to protect my delicate eyes, they were damaged by all the light. So no, I don't remember what it was like to see."

Zane pouted a little. "That's gotta suck. But I guess you don't miss what you didn't have. I miss my leg... I miss... being normal." Zane pushed at the food on his plate with his knife making quick scratching noises. "I was going to ship out on a freighter after I graduated from the center. Anything to get off the Plex. Guess that's not happening. I think my mom is secretly thrilled. Instead of having to get me out of the house, she's stuck with me now. I guess I could learn some sort of job here, but I don't do numbers much and frankly it bores the gorram hell out of me."

"It's natural that you miss your leg, but who says you can't hop a freighter and get out of here now that you've lost it? Need I remind you that you are talking to a blind girl who still managed to find her way across the 'Verse. There's no rule that says you can't travel now. I'd still recommend sticking around until you're a bit more sturdy on the new leg, but once that's done, nothing stopping you from leaving if that's what you really want," Xiulan said.

"That took some guts. You know, heading out in the black when you can't see. That's pretty cool. I suppose. Yeah, I could still jump a freighter. I mean.... there's really nothing for me here anymore." The sparkle in his eye faded and his face dropped. He tried not to think of Nat or the Plexies, but everywhere on the station was their turf. Pretty much everything reminded him of her. "I mean there's no one to impress or anything."

"What, you got nothing, absolutely nothing here? Nobody? No dojo, no art for the dojo, not tryna impress me or Arturo at all, not one bit?" Xiulan asked teasingly. "Well, stay or don't stay, but whatever you do, do it for you not for anyone else. Do what makes you happy, not what makes other people happy."

There was a commotion outside and then Arturo burst into the cafe. "Orchidea!" he called out and then went right to her table. "The visiting Alliance Minister, Signor Carnahan, there was an attempt on his life! His Companion was shot, and your sister... she has been arrested! They are saying that she was somehow involved!"

Zane looked at the big Italian oddly. Mack had just been toasted by everyone in the diner. There were few people on the plex thought of as well or were just plain cool as Mack. "What are you saying Arturo? She just had a call she ran out of here to respond to. There's no way she tried anything on Minister Douche."

"I believe you, of course, Orchidea!" Arturo said. "But I do not think the Pance Viola will be so open-minded, or concerned with facts!"

"Where is she?" Xiulan asked as she wriggled out of the deep diner bench. "Is there anyway you can take me to her, I need to talk to her!"

"I will take you to Security," Arturo said. He reached out and took Xiulan's hand. "We can try to get into see her. But Orchidea, I don't think her people are in charge there at the moment."

"If they won't let me see her, then I have my own way in," Xiulan said adamantly as she hooked her arm in with his. "Kid, you coming?"

Zane looked at Xiulan for a moment, processing if indeed she was talking to him. "...me? Hell Yeah!" He immediately pushed himself up in the booth, almost locking his prosthetic leg under the table. "Are you gonna go and knock on the door? I mean security is a tough place to get in and out of without purple bellies... but it's not impenetrable."

"I don't know..." Xiulan said aimlessly. "I just... need to talk to her, I need to know how I can help her. If the guards won't let me in, well, that tells me something too, and it helps me decide what to do next." She took a deep steadying breath. "There's no way she shot anyone, she'd never risk this gig..." she said under her breath as they walked.

"No, she wouldn't," Arturo said. They arrived at the lift, entered, and Arturo hit the button for level 6. "If this is a set up, is this Carnahan setting Mack up? Why would he would do that? Is there someone else on the station that would have reason to do such a thing?"

"Last I heard, she was on good terms with the stationmaster and she just made nice with the local mob family, everything points to this being a setup from outside, not within," Xiulan replied. "This has to be Carnahan, but why? Just general dislike because of Mack's past or is there something personal to it?" This was why she needed to talk to Mack.

As the lift opened to deck 6, the passageways were deserted, and the red flashing alert lights were on at each corridor junction. The station had not suddenly exploded, so whatever folks were having an emergency over was certainly not public knowledge. The normally open doors to the station security reception area were closed and shadows of armed soldiers could be made out through the smoked windows.

Zane strayed cautiously behind his companions. "This don't look good."

"What are you seeing?" Xiulan asked, and as Arturo described the conditions, Xiulan sighed. "Alright, take me back to my apartment, time to do this my way," she said with determination.

"Of course, Orchidea," Arturo said as he led her away. He knew what Xiulan's way meant. He'd never seen Xiulan in action in that way, but he knew she was good at what she did. If Carnahan thought doors and guards could protect him and his secrets, he had another thing coming.

As Arturo led Xiulan away, Xiulan called out for Zane, waiting for the boy to meet her at her side before speaking. "Zane, I'm about to do something wholly illegal and unethical. Since I'm trying to be a good influence on you, I'm gonna give you this opportunity to leave so you don't have to see me being a bad influence."

Zane smiled slickly. "You've known me long enough to know I have no issues about breaking rules." he smacked his prosthetic while he spoke. "I wouldnt have this if I did. You tell me where you want me, and we can make this happen." he stated with the boldness of a rebellious teenager that had no idea what he was talking about.

"Don't be so quick to jump into trouble, young blood," Xiulan cautioned, but smiled all the same, "but just the same, I'll take whatever help I can get, for Mack..."