- Revelation

Hyunji and Jade took the cab all the way to her apartment. They got out of the cab and Hyunji swiped her card on her apartment door, where an open area revealed itself.

"There are drinks in the fridge if you want," Hyunji mentioned.

"Alright!" Jade said, throwing open the door.

"Give me a few minutes to clean up and I'll be back," she said, grabbing a remote from the coffee table. "Watch some T.V. while you wait."

"Thanks."

Hyunji closed her bedroom door behind her, locking it. She began making her way to the bathroom, kicking off her boots and carefully removing her jacket, which had six holes in various spots. She winced in pain as she carefully pulled off her shirt and pants.

Sitting on the edge of her bathtub, Hyunji grabbed her first aid kit. She pulled out a pair of pliers, which she rinsed with rubbing alcohol. Then she set to work, pulling each of the screws from her body. Most of them were wedged in deep. Cassandra hadn't pulled her punches.

After another twenty minutes, she had sewed up her wounds. Walking to the sink, she began to wash the blood from her face. She looked up at the mirror. A pale face, full of new bruises and scratches stared back at her. Hyunji looked unrecognizable.

Putting on a new pair of clothes, Hyunji went back out into the main room.

Jade was sitting down watching a war movie, drinking chocolate milk.

"Haven't had enough violence for the night?" Hyunji asked as she walked over to the kitchen.

"Yeah, you're right," Jade said somberly, clicking to another channel.

"We're now coming to you with an update on the fugitive. A young man, Min-Yun Quon, is wanted by the police after assassinating the Prime Minister of Elendir. A bounty has also been issued, and has since risen to 1.4 million Ƈ." A picture popped up. "Consider this boy armed and extremely dangerous. He is only wanted alive."

Hyunji knocked over a bottle of whiskey and raced over to the screen. She reached out, her finger tracing the picture of her brother. "What did they do to you?" She whispered.

"In other news, Draymond Karneki, famed trillionaire, has plans to fund a project to bring back dragons, mammoths, and the dodo bird. Stay tuned for more developments."

Hyunji stood, a tear rolling down her face. She turned back to the kitchen and snatched up the bottle of whiskey, which had lost over half its contents to the floor. She took a swig. Then another. Then another.

Jade watched in silence.

Hyunji went to the coat rack and snatched up a jacket. "Hey, kid. I'm going. Watch over the apartment for me."

Jade stood. "No way. I'm going too. I'm strong, and you could use the help."

Hyunji gritted her teeth. "Do you understand how many times I've tried to get you off of me? Why can't you just go home? I gave you the money!"

Jade looked hurt. "I don't have a home. And I need to get away from here. Away from Korea. Away from Earth. I hate it here."

Hyunji sighed. Wordlessly, she waved him over.

Jade took one last sip of his drink and followed her out the door.

"Where are we going?" he asked as they walked out onto the sidewalk.

Hyunji adjusted her belt, which held her obsidian dagger. "I have a friend. For the right price, he'll get us to Elendir."

"Why can't we just take the shuttle?" Jade asked. "I'm sure it's cheaper."

"Cheaper, maybe. Safer, not so much. The Federation tolerates bounty hunters. They barely accept us. Besides, I doubt you have identification, do you? They would turn us away immediately. This way, we'll get there quickly with no questions asked."

They were making their way outside of the city. The tall buildings became few in number until only a couple small houses and businesses occupied the land next to the street.

Jade continued to follow Hyunji, yawning. "Are we almost there?"

"Yep," Hyunji said, climbing the front porch of an old bakery. The sign on the door read closed, but the door swung open with ease. "Hey, Kenji. Are you here?"

There was a cough from the backroom.

"Hello?" Jade said hesitantly.

Kenji pushed open the door from the backroom, holding a cup of tea. He looked up. "Hey Pumpkin. What do you need?"

"Transport. I'm sure you've seen it by now," said Hyunji, stepping up to the counter and pulling out her interface.

Kenji looked up at her sadly. "Unfortunately. It's all over the news and everything. I can't believe Cookie would commit such a terrible crime. It's been months since I've last seen your brother. Months since I've last seen you. No time for family anymore, Pumpkin?"

"Can you stop calling me that? And you're not family, Kenji. How much do you want?"

Kenji slammed his fist down on the counter. "Uncle Kenji is how you address me, Pumpkin. And I want twenty thousand, round trip."

A ding sounded from Hyunji's interface. She looked up. "All twenty thousand. See…family wouldn't charge so much, Kenji. Call me Pumpkin all you want, but you're just as greedy as everyone else."

"Whatever. Who's the kid?" Kenji asked, looking Jade over. "He looks like an orphan."

"This is Jade," Hyunji said. "He's gonna help me retrieve my brother."

"This stick? You'd be better off alone," Kenji remarked. "Pumpkin…if you throw in another ten thousand, I'll grab your brother myself."

"I don't need you to fight for me," Hyunji said. "We'll be able to handle anyone who gets in our way."

"Don't play games with me. You're weakened. I saw how you limped over here. Trust me, if you spread yourself too thin, you'll lose it. Everything you've worked for."

"I…don't…need…your…help. Do you need me to spell it out for you?" Hyunji said with disdain.

"Fine," Kenji said, grabbing a ring of keys. "Let's go."

They followed him into the backroom, where a flight of stairs led down into a cellar. Kenji entered a pin into a keypad on the wall, and a door slid open. They followed him through.

Jade watched in amazement as they approached the shuttle. It was small compared to some that he'd seen take off from the airport, about the size of a bus.

Kenji pressed open the passenger door and waved them over. "All aboard."