7th March, 2086. Late afternoon
As Singkut grew closer to Levana, he grew more distant Huren.
She once talked to him about the Apaimanee that caused huge disturbances in the city. One of her subordinates got caught in the second attack at Yaowarat, and could not get his limbs to function normally after that. He shrugged, saying that he knew nothing about it.
time, she was talking to him about gardening when an emergency call came in Nil.
“Khun Levana! I’m in a big, big pinch here. I barely managed to get my comms back online, and, oh, I don’t know where to start!”
She furrowed her brows. Singkut caught the gesture, said goodbye, and left with a smile.
“Nil? What’s going on? I thought you were lost at sea.”
“I’ll explain the ‘lost at sea’ bit later. I have two agents Crystal on my tail, and a whole hoard on their way. I need help, and fast.”
“Send your location.”
“I can’t do that!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll try and track you down.” Levana got up and made a beeline for her personal office, then sat down and contacted the intelligence unit. “Find Nil. I could hear the sea, so he should be along the shore somewhere. Find a location where Crystal’s people are gathered, and send help ASAP, whoever’s on standby.”
Nil hid in a building half submerged under the sea. Their body was covered in scratches and damages. Sud hugged his knees, staring out the horizon. The boy shivered for no apparent reason, and so Nil nibbled on his hair.
“We’re safe here. Somebody will come pick us up later.”
“Nil, are you retarded?”
The cyborg horse froze, the boy’s hair falling out of their mouth.
Sud continued: “You said there’s no guarantee that Malee person won’t be a tyrant, but what’s the guarantee that your buyer person won’t be one as well? It’s all weird and I hate all . I just wanna see dad so I can go home!”
“Hey, at least Khun Levana guarantees us protection, okay? She’s not your brother’s people. He tried to kill us.”
Sud sprang up and went to the edge of the floor, where the cement had broken off into the sea.
“I’m going home!”
“I don’t care if you grew up by the sea, you’re not jumping in there! Listen here, boy. Khun Levana’s people are on their way to pick us up. She’ll never hurt you, or me, or whoever, and is all to make sure that the data in my head doesn’t fall in the wrong hands. You have to trust me. Please, Sud. You’re my last ally.”
The boy broke down crying. Nil did not get up where they were sitting with their legs tucked under their body.
“…Haschai was right. Outside research stuff, I can’t do anything right. I can’t even buy my own food properly. But at least I want to do something.”
Chan and Sin were no longer after them. The two were fighting against Langka’s people on the shore.
Madame Butterfly happened to be stationed in the area. Chan engaged her in knife combat, neither’s scramblers working on each other.
“You’ve gotten better since the last time we sparred.” Madame Butterfly chuckled. “But I’ll make you get out of the way. I’ll test my son.”
“You’re not my mother.” Sin said in a low voice.
“Your father brainwashed you.” She replied.
“Hey, quit getting distracted. I’m your opponent!” Chan swung his knife at her.
Madame Butterfly chuckled, dodging the attacks. Both of them took out their guns, and their bullets struck each other mid-air every time they shoot.
Chan clicked his tongue, returning to close combat once more. They exchanged blows with their bare hands, but then a kick Madame sent the smaller cyborg flying off to the side.
Alarms went off in his head. Madame Butterfly was way stronger than the first time they fought, and Chan knew he could no longer slice her limbs off like he did before.
“Chan!” Sin attacked his mother the side, and she blocked with a knife, but with his other hand, he shot her abdomen. Madame Butterfly staggered backwards, laughing.
“You’ve grown.”
“Shut up.”
“How’s your father doing?” She arched backwards to dodge an attack. “We could’ve been happy, you know, but your father just had to ruin it all. What did I ever do to you? You father was a liar and a manipulative freak, but of course you know that.”
A face flashed through his mind: the woman on the island, forever waiting for her emotionally dead husband to return.
“I wanted to love you, Sin. You’re my flesh and blood. Langka and Crystal are allies. We don’t have to do .”
It was a mere fraction of a second that Sin let his guard down. The next moment, he was on the ground, staring wide-eyed at the grey sky above. The storm clouds were building up, and he felt a dull pain in his stomach.
“Huh?”
“Sin!!!”
He could hear Chan’s scream. The next moment, he saw Su’s rainbow tail fluttering about. Blood was coming out his abdomen, and Su was applying blood-stopping tape on the wound. He could register Chan fighting Madame right in front of him, but could not remember what made hole on his body.
“Should I tell you something?” His mother spoke in her alluring voice. She was in a deadlock with Chan. “Your twin sister Su. It was my mentor and I who took her apart. We took her brain out and put someone else’s brain inside her body. The horror in her eyes was just splendid.”
“You what…?” Chan’s eyes widened, maybe in disbelief, maybe in rage.
“No, Chan… don’t listen…”
“Bitch, don’t listen!!!”
“The client was very happy with her body after cosmetic surgery. Too bad there was an accident, and we had to leave your sister’s brain in a jar while we made our escape. We were going to modify her and turn her into our combat cyborg, given that she’s still your father’s daughter and all, but we had to let her go.”
“You fucking monster!!!”
Both of their figures became a blur, and when it was all over, he could see that Chan made a slit in Madame’s throat. She did not topple over. She just stood there, vital fluids dripping down the front, and smiled. The wound pinched itself closed.
“Monster… is a nice word. Very fitting.”
A kick sent Chan flying backwards, crashing into a rental bicycle stand. Chan could swear he felt his brain bob around inside his skull the impact. Madame approached him like a cat toying with its prey, her hips swaying as she walked.
Chan fiddled with his knife, fitting something on its edge. When Madame was close enough, he plunged it into her thigh.
No reaction. She simply swatted him to the side, and he barely managed to grab onto the curb before falling off into the sea.
Madame pulled the knife out and threw it aside. She grabbed Chan by the hair and swung him onto the curb, then stomped on him repeatedly with her heels. Finally, she crushed her feet onto his crotch.
“It’s funny how both you and your sister had to get entirely new bodies because of me. Did you like playing house with my son? See what you did to him? He would never end up weak if he was with me. You’re weak, all of you. Family makes you stronger, my ass! It’s pain that makes you stronger! Where did all your rage go, Chan? I ruined your sister, and is all you’ve got to avenge her?!”
“Stop…” Sin pleaded.
She did stop, and approached Sin. The woman grabbed onto Su and snapped the bird’s neck with her thumb. He watched in horror as the bird fell to the ground.
Sin recalled his time with her at the apartment. She was a distant mother, but she provided for him and taught him many things, one of which led to the escape. A drop of tear fell down the corner of his eye.
“You’re…horrible…”
“Don’t you have a better word for me than that?” Madame knelt down and tried to slap him on the face, but the young man caught her wrist.
“Mom…”
Madame’s face contorted into an array of horrid expressions.
“Lies! You’re only calling me mom because it’s convenient! Other times, I’m just the bitch that made you miserable!”
“You’re lonely, right, mom? I’m sorry… I was too young to see that… I’m so sorry, I should’ve been your son, we could’ve been a happy family…”
“Yeah, your father was—”
Madame Butterfly felt something in her stomach. Vital fluids were dripping down her legs.
She looked down and saw Sin’s hand stuck into her abdomen, and he was grabbing on to her vitals and twisting them. She realized that man really was her son, to pull a trick like .
“But you’re right about one thing…they were all lies. You and my father, drowning in the attachment that you mistook for love.”
“What…do you even know…?”
“I know. Because Chan and Su and Khun Malee are my family. And I want Sud to be as well. I love them. I loved you and papa too, at one point. But that’s over now.”
Madame Butterfly toppled over, and Sin stood up, reaching for his gun.
“Goodbye, flowery refuge.”
A gunshot followed, but it was not his. Sin dropped the gun, blood streaming his hand. He simply stared at it.
“It’s been a while, little boy.” Huren held his e-cigarette in one hand and his gun in the other. “I can’t even get a peaceful lunch with my clients these days, hmm?”
“Khun Huren.” Sin slowly straightened up. Huren blew a plume of white vapor and sighed.
“I don’t want to get in trouble with Malee’s adoptive son, so how about we call it quits for today? Whatever the matter is, I will sort it out with Levana. I heard she was the one who ordered Madame here.” The man pocketed his e-cig. “Get your people treated, boy. Don’t make me repeat myself.”
Sin bit his lower lip. He took one last glance at the vulnerable Madame, then scooped Su up and picked Chan the ground. He left without turning back.
At the abandoned submerged building, Sud yelled out as he saw a boat approaching. Nil came out and saw a handsome man. It was Huren.
Both Chan and Su made it out alive. After running an analysis of the battle, they still could not figure out how Madame could fight with such intense speed. It was as if she surpassed human limits.
“She’s a killing machine. I’m putting my hopes on the satellite to stop her.” Chan bit his lower lip, his fingers toying with the cord dangling his collar. “Did Apai give the satellite a name yet?”
“Demon Pacifier. I think it is fitting for its purpose.” Malee sighed as she watched Su, still in a rehab tube. “I will check on Sin.”
“He really needs a hug and I can’t give him one. Please do so on my behalf, milady.”
“You need one too, Chan.” She gave him a hug, and he bit his lips.
Malee went and saw Sin, sitting up on the hospital bed, staring at his injured hand.
“I’m sorry. I failed.”
She hugged him, slowly stroking his hair, and the young man trembled, trying to hold back his tears.
“I will negotiate a way out of . I promise.” She said.
“Please don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You have us… mom.”
26thMarch, 2086
Suwan waslocked up in a guest room after pulling a stunt against Chan. Cut off theworld, he resorted to studying every object in the room to calm his frazzledmind. He found hidden cameras and microphones among them.
The man finallysat down and thought about the recent events. He and Walee were investigatingApaimanee, the mysterious oboist who caused major disturbances downtown. Apaimanee could be his long-lost brother, and they found a lead that led themto Malee, Crystal’s current boss and backer of the current regime. However, hemessed up, and now both him and Walee were imprisoned in Malee’s mansion.
He sighed as hefiddled with his thumb.
He let emotionsand ego take control. He should not have said anything, but even so, there wasno guarantee that he would not land himself in mess. It was alright if hewas here alone, but he ended up dragging Walee into it as well.
“Ugh… I’m aterrible boss.” He rubbed his face.
There was aknock, and Malee entered.
Suwan shot up where he was sitting. He could see Chan escorting her, but the young manquickly closed the door and stood guard outside.
“Where’s Walee,my partner?”
“She is safe.We had a nice chat and I lost track of time.”
“I hope youmeant that literally.”
“I do. You havean interesting subordinate. If she was not an investigator, I would recruit herinto Crystal so she could work alongside Chan and Su.”
“Well, I’m gladshe declined your offer.”
“She said shewill give it some thought.”
The two staredat each other.
Suwan clearedhis throat and offered Malee a chair. The woman sat down and crossed her legs,while Suwan sat on the bed, hands clasped in front of him.
“So? What doyou want me?”
“I will be theone asking questions.”
“I’m sorry.Please go ahead.” Suwan quickly gestured for her to keep going.
“What do youintend to do after you have found your brother?”
Suwan thoughthe had an answer, but he could not put the words together.
Malee observedhim quietly for a few seconds before asking another question.
“What will youdo with the information that I can give you?” She blinked, slowly, almost likea doll. “And what do you know about me?”
“I have to besure we’re on the same page before I answer any of that, ma’am. Please justtell me one thing: Apaimanee the prankster is the Apaimanee both of us aretalking about, correct?”
“Correct.”
“That makesthings easier.” Suwan lifted a corner of his mouth into a smile. “I’ve beenrewinding our conversation earlier in my head, and I found something quiteinteresting. Khun Malee, how many of those things have you been sending tospace recently?”
Malee narrowedher eyes. The air grew tense.
“There’re a fewyears gap between the time that project was announced until year, whenApaimanee appeared, so I didn’t connect the dots at first.” Suwan rested hiselbows on his knees. “But the power outages and the signal disruption were notApaimanee’s doing. You’re the one behind it.”
Malee tiltedher head slightly to one side, and Suwan took it as a sign that he was right.
“What’s yourmotive?”
“So? Are yougoing to report me to the authorities?”
“Crystal isbacking the current government, so that will not do me any good. I simply wantto know for my own peace of mind, investigator shtick and all that.”
“You actuallywant to understand what your brother is doing, do you not?”
Suwan’s smilefroze. He wanted to deny that just so that she would be wrong for once, but shewas right.
“It is not thetime. You will know soon enough. After that, whetherApaimanee returns to you or not is solely his choice.”
“It’s not thetime, it’s not the time… When is the time, then? When he’s caused a few morepower outages? When I become an adult capable of handling the truth of theworld?”
“When cityis mine.”
“Come again?”Suwan heard her clearly the first time, but he wanted to make sure that was reallywhat she said.
“I will end endless battle of factions fighting over the city. Whoever controlsBangkok controls the whole country, so if I have to be a tyrant to lead country to peace, then so be it.”
Suwan furrowedhis brows. He rubbed his chin.
“Don’t youalready own the country, though?”
“There arecomplex internal struggles at play here. I do not wish to disclose all of thedetails, for they are exceedingly boring.”
“I see. Will Iknow when the time comes?”
“We will see.”
“Fair enough.”
Malee got upand left the room.
“Oh, one morething, Khun Malee.” Suwan got up. “Can I at least see if Walee is alright? Howlong do you intend to lock me up in here?”
“I will connectyou two via an internal line. As for your latter question, we will see.”
The doorclosed, and Suwan was left alone in the room with his thoughts. Soon, the emptypicture frame on the wall lit up, and Walee’s face was projected on it.
“Walee! How’syour fish doing?”
“Bloopy isdoing fine, thanks for asking.” Walee sighed. The name of her Siamese fightingfish was his way of confirming that it was really her. “I’m fine as well, boss,but not sure about you. Why did you lose your cool back there?”
“I might’vegotten too emotional about my brother. Or maybe I was too hasty.” Suwan sighed.“That woman is really something. Now I know why she kicked all her siblings outof the way, and took over Crystal even after Khun Silrach tried to marry herinto Langka.”
Walee nodded. “Anyway,something big is about to go down, boss. We can’t just sit around here.”
“What’s thatsomething? Did Khun Malee tell you about how she plans to take over the countryas well?”
“Yes.”
“And we have tostop her?”
“Maybe. I, forone, wants to see how she’ll succeed.” The woman nodded to herself. “Anyway, firstorder of business is getting out of room. I am certain that somebody islistening to our conversation right now, so you have to figure out an escape onyour own, boss. I will as well. Goodbye.”
“Wait,Walee…and there she went.”
If only hecould just waltz out of here.
Suwan walked tothe door and touched the knob. It was locked, as expected. He did not have anyenhancements or any fancy equipment on him, so he sat down to think. The onlychance he had would be if someone opened the door the outside.
Then, it reallydid happen.
“Hello, boss.I’m here to bail you out.”
“Walee?!”
“Khun Maleeintentionally left my room unlocked. We have to move fast, before any of herminions discover us.”
An off-seasonmonsoon was blowing outside. Suwan and Walee stole a small boat and escapedusing a small canal outside the mansion’s backyard.
The wind andrain batted against them as the boat went through the black canal water. Theycould barely open their eyes, and were soaking wet head to toe, butsomehow, they made it to a hostel’s back entrance and went inside.
The managerquickly gave them towels and ushered them to a shower room for the staff, butby that time, their skin had already flared up in red rashes.
When Walee cameout of the shower room, she saw that Suwan had already arranged for lodgings.
“You reallyshould put on some medicine, boss. You look like a tomato.” She said, handinghim a tube.
“Thanks, butlet me get dealt with first.” He bit the inside of his cheeks. “I’m goingto contact HQ.”
“I’ll look intothe satellites, then.” Walee reached inside her bag and found her tablet.Luckily, her bag was water-proof. “Apaimanee’s mysterious musical ability isnow solved, but we still have a lot to do…”
“What?” Suwannoticed her trailing off, and went to look over her shoulder at the screen.
“Khun Maleeleft a date in here. I don’t know what for, but looks important.”
“When?”
“April 13th,two weeks now.”
730
