Chapter 14: Unexpected Company — Part 7
Rather than follow his instincts to make a fair attempt at killing Quet, Chen rose, bowing to Pearl respectfully. “Pearl, Orchid. I am an obligate of duty and concern. I will do whatever I can to help you recover those you most cherish.” Chen said, stepping through a Snap, leaving Quet to stare at him in bafflement.
“That you are here further justifies my having come.” Quet said to Pearl, leaving before the savage emotions previously present on his face could rise back to the surface.
“I wonder,” Jun said, “Why Chen, after searching so hard for her, left so quickly.”
“I doubt even Chen knows the answer to that.” Yap said.
Elec’s messenger cube had been waiting, apparently, in the shadows, for the others to leave, making its presence known only in the absence of Chen and Quet. Orchid turned to it, the cube spinning on a point, broadcast a holographic message into the air. The Cube’s behavior was neither threatening nor acting in a manner that could be considered self-aware. Elec’s message, however, was clear, her expression quite readable, and her words easy to understand.
“Master Bamboo, Miss Orchid, and Mistress Nikkei. It sickens me that I cannot come forward directly to help Yap in her time of need. Within twenty four hours of this communication, an associate who owes me a favor will be arriving at your door to assist you by whatever means necessary in your hunt for your children. Though your failure to anticipate this attack further strengthens my doubt in your ability to govern exclusively the resources surrendered to you by your mother, I am putting my faith in your keen intelligence and dogged ability to exact vengeance on the truly deserving.”
Elec’s pale and aged visage vanished, and the cube drifted out of the manor, leaving Orchid to contemplate Elec’s odd expression of affection.
“The abductions must be a means to an end.” Yap said what nobody wanted to voice aloud.
“To what end?” Bamboo bit his lip momentarily. “No demands have been made.”
“This may be a simple matter of revenge.” Jun said.
“There is nothing simple about this.” Orchid said quietly, returning to her work.
Pablo arrived at the mansion humble and cautious. Frank, always at his side, pulled the bell rope, signaling their arrival. Orchid, blood weeping into bandages over her gut wound, answered the door, surprised to see him. He bowed his head, obviously terrified of the upcoming encounter with Orchid and her brother. Bamboo, after all, had been hurt most by his attempt to salvage his machismo and pride after Jake’s capture. That Jake had not been killed in prison further complicated matters.
“Miss Bizaar, I and my associate Frank Latoya have come at Elec’s request to serve you in any capacity necessary for the reclaiming of your children.” Pablo said, smiling broadly with what he hoped would pass for intense sincerity.
Orchid took a moment. Her expression was completely unreadable. Her pause for consideration was shorter than most, given her tendency to make quick decisions. In this case, the pause turned a little sticky, especially for Pablo and Frank, both of whom knew exactly what Orchid was capable of. She sounded courteous enough, but when she spoke Orchid did not smile.
“I had not expecte two guests.” Orchid said. “A master suite has been prepared upstairs for you, though I was expecting only one guest. Shall I turn down a second bedroom for Frank?”
“That won’t be necessary.” Pablo replied. “I wouldn’t want to put you out.”
“It would be no bother, really.” Orchid responded quietly, now the dispassionate host. “We have ample space and resources.”
“Miss Bizaar, please, it would be more of a bother to both of us to have separate rooms.” Frank said with some bit of distraction.
Orchid smiled for a moment, noting for the first time how Frank and Pablo stood close to each other. “Come in then, boys, and join the fun. Miss Nikkei will see that you are settled. In two hours there will be a meeting, please be present and ready to contribute to the plan of action.”
If she were telepathic, Orchid would have sensed the relief shared by both Frank and Pablo. Not being telepathic, she knew the debt these two owed Elec must have been massive for them to risk their lives coming onto Orchid’s step. Despite this, Orchid was happy to have them. Their connections, their keen criminal minds, and their loyalty, after all would be unquestioned, because if anybody in the galaxy was to be feared more than Orchid, it was Elec.
