Frenzy & Torch

Chapter 51: Element Zero

Elizabeth and Annabelle returned to Naha with the PLA garrison in tow. They immediately brought Mingyu and Fan to Colonel Yamaguchi, who was in a sleek executive office somehow left untouched by the chaos, complete with faux-leather chairs, cracked glass walls, and a paper calendar still stuck on April.

"No way you're his daughter," Yamaguchi said to Mingyu. "How would that even work?"

Mingyu pulled out a giant dumpling and ate it in one gulp. "It just does."

Fan stepped forward, arms crossed and eyes firm. "Yamaguchi, it was hard for me to wrap my head around, too. The daughter thing, I mean. But kicking his daughter out and sending her to an infantry unit because she called him a plutocratic asshole? That's definitely his flavor of petty."

"And I thought I had daddy issues," Yamaguchi turned and looked out the window. He unconsciously tightened his fist and clenched his jaw. "I can sympathize with you for the hands you were dealt. But I lack the authority to change our orders and rally your countrymen against Yin. I'd get shitcanned for even suggesting it to my superiors. Besides, why can't you do it yourselves?"

"Yin is monitoring every comms channel for any kind of dissent now that the galaxy's fracturing," Fan explained.

"My father also has his own people embedded in every unit," Mingyu added. "If anybody thinks about dissent, it gets reported and people are executed."

"If the Chinese can't help themselves, then how can we help you?" Yamaguchi asked.

"Look, I'll assume full responsibility for this. Just let me get a message through!" Fan said.

Yamaguchi slammed his fist on the table. "I already told you it's not happening!"

"I'll do it!" Mingyu said.

Yamaguchi glared at her. "You're not doing anything, kid!"

"I'm not a kid—I turned 19 a week ago! And I survived your men eating each other!"

As the discussion devolved into back-and-forth arguing, Elizabeth quickly glanced at Annabelle and then pushed her forward. "Anne here's got the answer to all your problems!"

They all looked at Annabelle like she was going to juggle grenades.

Annabelle stared back with wide eyes. She glared daggers at Elizabeth then faced the others. "Well, I... uh...."

They kept staring expectantly.

Annabelle sighed and straightened up. "I can communicate with people mentally. I did it with Fan. But I've never done it with more than three people at a time—"

Elizabeth snorted.

Annabelle looked over her shoulder. "Mind out of the gutter, please!" She turned back around. "I can try, but I can't guarantee anything, and I'm worried somebody else might overhear."

Fan and Mingyu were puzzled.

"Who?" The former asked.

"I don't know for sure, it's... I don't even know what," Annabelle said. "I don't know where it's from or how Xitanker and Yin directly met it. But it's here. It told me so, which means we're running out of time."

"You're the sole authority on magic here, so you handle it," Yamaguchi said. "Just don't do anything that'll lead any more of those freaks here."

He turned his back and looked out the window. "Between that cannibal shit and those mutants, I've had my fill of weird for one lifetime."

"Yes, sir," Annabelle said. "Alright, here goes nothing."

Annabelle crossed her legs and levitated, entering her meditation state. A few moments passed, then there were subtle tremors rippling through the room.