Dangerous by Default

39. Dimensions is...

From ear to ear, the whole world smiled back for a change. Never ending stretches of gray sky had a new lining, sharing a hidden richness that made Mina smile even harder. Yes, yes, yes!

Mina stopped at the edge of the bustling Tenderloin sidewalk to take a deep, ecstatic inhale. The tour with Pechaude had changed everything. Months of stress and worry were thrown out the window In less than an hour's time. It had been a wild journey, that was far from over, but it had become much easier to see how lucky she was. All of the pain carried with it lesson after lesson, and she was happy to know how much stronger it was making her. She could fall through the sky with every part of her life in shambles and still live to tell the tale. She felt like Rosie the riveter on steroids.

As she exhaled, the energy of the neighborhood called to her. Ah the Tenderloin, who could ignore its charm? Why notice the abandoned needles and smear of human feces on every sidewalk? That's not what defined its legacy, it's bold and rich history. The air was sweet with the scent of hope. This was where she was meant to be.

It was hard no to think of the ghosts of the countless Transgender women before her, who walked the very same streets. Hell, In 1966, they started the country's first LGBTQ+ riots only a few blocks away. Compton's Cafeteria had been a safe haven for working girls of the time, for both Trans women and Drag queens alike. But the constant presence of the police threatened their sanctuary relentlessly, eventually causing the women to protest ferociously against their mistreatment. Mina just wanted to continue the lineage of those steadfast and resilient humans, to earn her place among the ranks of the great Compton's Cafeteria warriors. Her intuition whispers that she's capable of that and much more. She's about to change the world.

About fucking time!

Mina laughs to herself, realizing how insane she must look. A sleepless woman strutting through the streets with the gigantic smile of a jester. Then again, the Tenderloin had always seen worse. Jumping over a bloodstained mattress, she hums to herself as she enters the nearest bodega.

I can't wait to see the look on Caine's face. 'Honey, I'm home and soon you'll be getting me pregnant!'. Mina jokes as she scans for Caine's favorite bottle of bubbles. She could easily be mistaken for a hummingbird, vibrating with happiness by the time a bottle of champagne chills her arms from its crisp paper bag.

The Venga bus is coming, and everybody's jumping.

A jete over a questionable puddle guides her to the front door of their apartment building. The crumple of freshly vacuumed carpet sing out as she runs up 4 flights of stairs, too jived to take the elevator. Her key's slide into the lock with ease and she enters with just a flick of the wrist, kicking the door open in a brutish fit of joy.

New York to San Francisco, an inner city disco!

"Oh Bubbaaa, I'm hommmme!" no response. Hmmm, now where could he be? Grab one flute, two flute, then check behind that door. Bubbles from the vacant toilet gurgled out a lonely song. No deal. Better try the bedroom. She tip toes, charging up for a big entrance. The morning's forgotten coffee sat alone, but no Bubba.

Now where the hell are you? She fought to ignore the voice in her head that screamed out that something was wrong. She continued to search with silent feet, but her imagination still teased her.

Did Janus have reason to arrest you, are we screwed?

She gently moved aside the tarping that blocked the entrance to the living room, feeling stupid for wanting to entertain the knots that were forming in her stomach. The wreckage from her and Artemis's skirmish had been left neglected, pieces of ceiling and bookshelf still in place. The room felt like an untouched crime scene, and the flashes from that very day made Mina realize how busy they both had been. She had been so wrapped up in all the madness of Dimensions, solving the womb and danger stunts that their nest had been left in shambles. They needed a damn vacation... well, if they weren't going to prison first.

Pulling herself away from these pensive thoughts, there was only one place left to look, and she wasn't about to let anything dampen her good mood. Not yet, anyways.

"Gotcha, bitch!" Mina shouted as she barged through the chunky wood door to Caine's workshop.

Holding the flutes in one hand, she aimed the champagne bottle and a wink at Caine, happy to have found him at last. The room was pitch black, and Caine stood in the center of what used to be his furniture catalogue in a meditative state. A still life. He looked fully petrified by a stream of thoughts. She had to change this. The pop and swoosh of a flying cork reanimated what was once lifeless.

"Ah, just a little redecorating in here to match the living room?" she jested, hoping over bits of splintered wood to shove a flute into his hand.

"Oh hey, baby...Didn't hear you come in." He mumbled. "Just having a cathartic moment, I guess. So what's this all about?"

"Oh you're gunna love this. The most wonderful turn of events has taken place in our hour of need," she cooed, filling both their glasses, "Dimensions is saved! We're fucking saved, the legacy lives to see another day."

"Well I'll drink to that!" Caine forces a smile, "Cheers my love!"

"And you wouldn't believe who our knight in shining armor is, Bubba!"

"Oh yeah? Who?"

"Well, if you must know," She let out a girlish giggle before continuing. "H! It's fucking Pechaude."

A look of fear stared back at her. Caine was frozen again.

"What's wrong, are you feeling ok?"

"Mina, I have something to tell you and I need you to stay calm. At the interrogation today.."

To both their annoyance, His last words were blurred out by the disco beat bumping from her phone. A text message. With the intent of putting it on silent, Mina's focus was redirected once more. Whatever Caine was trying to say would have to wait, it was happening.

"Whaaaaat. Oh my god, Caine. We've gotta go. Now."