Tangled Currents - Lady Tanya, Stormy Waters subthread Options

[Mercy]

Friday, 22 November, 2075, 1910, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex


Tanya has to make two transfers on the bus to get to the stop at the entrance to Chinatown. The ride has given her time to think and she walks with a sense of purpose through the Chinese arch into the part of the city controlled by three Triads, each competing for control of the lucrative drug and sex industry. It is said that more porn tri-vids are filmed here than in Los Angeles. Tanya passes a number of businesses that are still open for the busy tourist trade, including two restaurants that advertise "Authentic Chinese Cuisine" as well as more neutral western dishes, as well as a number of gift shops and one brothel. She turns in at the store front featuring "Antiques from China". She nods and greets the large man standing outside the shop by name as she goes through the door. The inside of the shop smells of things old and foreign and she notes that there are several customers milling about the tastefully arranged shelves and furniture on display.

Tanya walks up to the front, where the clerk recognizes her and lifts her 'link to make a call. In less than a minute, Ni Ni Xiaolu, the owner of the shop appears through the beaded curtain that separates the front display room from the rest of the building. The two embrace as the very good friends they are and Ni Ni leads Tanya into the private area she uses as an office, calling for tea. After the two are seated and tea is delivered, Ni Ni looks at her friend with a question on her face. In carefully cultured tones, she asks, "To what do I owe this visit?"

Tanya sips at her tea and smiles back. "I need a favor. I want to disappear in Chinatown for about a month, maybe more. I need...........something.........something different to learn from. I have just experienced something that has pointed out some weaknesses in my skill set. I have too long been serene in my own abilities and now realize that I need more training. I want you to fine me a job here in Chinatown."

Ni Ni looks surprised. "A job? Here? Tanya, dear, you are far from needing a job in a shop, so why?"

"I need to improve my language skills and my skills to be someone else. I want to immerse myself in your culture for a while. Can you help me?"

Ni Ni sits back and looks at her friend and lover and nods. "Yes, I can do this, but if you want immersion, it must be total. I can find you a job and set you up in an apartment. It will be nothing like your home and there will be hardships. Are you ready for that?"

Tanya smiles and bows her head. "I am ready for what comes at me." She sends a series of commands to her implants and her face, body, and hair begin to change. Her features become ethnically Chinese and her hair lengthens to waist length and takes on a black hue. In a minute, she looks nothing like the woman who had walked into the shop.

Ni Ni shakes her head. "I still don't know how or why you put yourself through that. Doesn't it hurt?"

"It does a little, yes, but I am used to it now. I will change my walk and my body movements, but I want to live in the area and see if I can learn to fit in."

Ni Ni nods and rises from the table. "Let's get you started, then."

[adamu]

Friday, 22 November, 2075, 1939, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex

“Your timing is excellent,” the antique dealer continued. “I was just commiserating with the proprietress of a shop across the road. She has a couple of girls that are always late for work, or not showing up. She blames it on the new generation. But whatever the cause, it’s costing her business. If I can promise her you are reliable….”

She paused expectantly, not questioning Tanya’s ability to be reliable, but unsure of whether her plans would allow such a promise. The girl before her with the newly Chinese face and much smaller breasts assured her she was fully committed and would not cause Ni Ni to lose face by failing to live up to any recommendation.

“All right then,” fence replied, one eyebrow arched quizzically. “She’s desperately short-handed at this very moment - if I introduce you right now, she may not question her good fortune too closely. Leave your things here - if she starts you immediately this evening, I will try to get you a place to lay your head once you are off work.” And with that she moved close to Tanya and took her in her arms. Tanya could feel the heat of the woman’s breasts on her own as Ni Ni’s lips enveloped hers, tongue taking unspeakable liberties with the inside of her mouth.

Then the Chinese woman broke the embrace and, now speaking in Chinese, said, “That will be the last of that for as long as you are seeking to immerse yourself here. Ni Ni doesn’t do the help.” And she led the way out the front of the antique shop. Her assistant was just getting ready to close up. Outside it was dark but garishly lit by the neon of a dozen Chinese eateries, acupuncturists, bookshops, and herbalists. But mostly eateries. Most of which had second floors or basements involved in all sorts of other pursuits.

It had rained briefly while they conversed, and though it had already stopped, the streets were wet enough to reflect the neon colors back at the sky, adding to the kaleidoscopic atmosphere. The sidewalks were flush with local Chinese, tourists, and mostly just Seattleites out for dinner.

The shop across the street was called Madame Wen’s Esthetic Wonderland. AROs and writing in English and Chinese on the windows touted laser tattoo removal, Thai massage, laser resurfacing, eyebrow threading, penis enlargement therapy, liposuction, aromatherapy, organic aphrodesiacs, Chinese chakra acupressure, waxing, hair relaxing, microdermabrasion, oxygenation facials, vajazzling, and manicure/pedicures.

Dodging cars, they made their way across. Before going in, Ni Ni gave final instructions. First culture lesson - keep your eyes on the floor and don’t speak unless spoken to.” And in they went. A thickset Chinese woman - Madame Wen? - came out from behind a polished chrome counter awash with scented candles to exchange greetings with Ni Ni. They made small talk for a full minutes, never acknowledging Tanya’s presence. But when at last the conversation turned to Madame Wen’s travails with her worthless help, Ni Ni said, “And when I heard of your plight, this worthless one came to my mind. Her Chinese is dreadful, and she’s completely unskilled. But she is my fourth cousin-Grace’s step daughter by her second husband - once a widow now blessed by good fortune - and she will work hard and learn fast for she knows if you send her back to me I’ll have her whipped to within an inch of her life.”

Madame Wen made quite a fuss about being unable to take anyone on without the proper cosmetological certifications but that was all forgotten when she discovered that Ni Ni was arranging housing for her poor relation herself. With a dramatic sigh at the struggle she would now have to face training a new girl, the woman oozed faux reluctance as she finally addressed Tanya.

“So what are you called?”

[Mercy]

Tanya relished the kiss from Ni Ni, drawing it out as long as she could. She accepts that this is the last act of intimacy she will have from her very close friend for some time. That thought alone is almost enough to give her second thoughts about her plan. Almost. She steps away from Ni Ni and bows her head as she she has seen others do in her presence. Her Chinese is good for a foreigner, but not good enough to pass as fluent and she wants to grow in the culture before she moves on to her next task.

She smooths her long hair and modulates her voice to be completely different from what it is naturally. "You will not lose face from my actions. I will do as required in every way and pay attention to my mistress."

The puddles of water on the road reflect the bright neon lights above her as she walks behind Ni Ni to the shop across the wide road. Ni Ni gathers attention from the passers by, but Tanya is almost invisible to the many Chinese in the streets, who are trained from birth to ignore those things and people who are unimportant, and there is little as unimportant as an obviously subservient woman walking in the wake of someone of Ni Ni's stature. Tanya keeps her head down and remains quiet, barely even breathing so as not to get the attention of the two women as they talk of small things for several minutes. The aroma of the candles on the counter vies with some sort of incense burning in a small pot on a shelf to Tanya's left. From the corner of an eye, she can see several shelves against the walls that hold an array of products that she cannot quite make out at this time. Reaching out with her enhanced senses, Tanya's radar picks out a number of rooms above her on the first floor (Even after several years of exile in the UCAS, she cannot bring herself to refer to the second level as the second storey. Confounded colonials can never get some things right.) Three of the small rooms there are occupied by couples engaged in various forms of sex activities. Below her, she can see a number of people lying about on the floor, apparently not moving about much. As she watches, the form of what might be a man walks to a vacant spot on the floor and lies down, soon not moving much.

She is waiting to be spoken to and lifts her head only slightly to acknowledge that she has heard Madame Wen. In her best Chinese and in what she hopes is a suitably subservient tone, she replies, "I am called Ai, Madame Wen."

[Mercy]

The heaviset Chinese woman steps forward and puts a hand to Ai's face, lifting her chin to get a better look at her. Her eyes wander down the front of the clothes Ai is wearing and she expresses a bit of displeasure. "Her clothes are completely inadequate for working here. The stupid tourists expect to see the shop girls in "traditional" Chinese clothing. I might have some that will fit her from what was left when that worthless girl, Fulong left this morning without giving any notice. They will come out of your wage, girl, do you understand?"

Ai nods briefly, correctly reasoning that a verbal answer was not necessary or expected. The woman releases Ai's face and she casts it downwards again. Madame Wen lets out a small sigh, "At least she knows something about being respectful to her superiors. Not that that alone will get you a job here, but it helps. Turn around so I can see you."

Ai obeys without hesitating, slowly turning in place. The woman places her hand on Ai's firm butt and gently squeezes it then lets it go. "Nice, firm ass; her looks might make up for a lack of experience. So, Ni Ni, my good friend, what are you asking here? I might give her a try, but do not expect her to stay long if she is a slacker. I will not allow friendship to sway me to keep her if she does not work out."

Ni Ni gives an exasperated cough. "I would not expect you to keep her if you find she is not capable. She is only the step daughter of my fourth cousin and so means little to me other than to placate a relative who has been bothering me for several months to take her."

Wen smiles broadly. "So you have no issue with her doing the work here?"

There is the slightest hesitation then Ni Ni replies, "I would rather she does not become one of the mindless idiots that gets hooked on the stuff some people use and I think that her mother would object if she returned home with lash scars. She is, after all, a relative, even if mostly worthless."

"You take some of the fun out of this, Ni Ni, my friend, but I think that we are in agreement. I will take her on a one-week trial. Good enough for you?"

Without looking at Ai, Ni Ni nods and walks from the shop, leaving Ai standing in front of Madame Wen.

[Mercy]

Friday, 22 November, 2075, 1959, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex



Madame Wen looks carefully at Ai and has her turn around twice more as the girl keeps her head lowered. "Are you a virgin?"

Ai shakes her head.

"Good, virgins are useless in this trade. Too much fumbling around and the customers are paying by the hour to be satisfied, not to have to teach virgins how to fuck. That may be your primary assignment until you get some experience in the other services we provide. Unless you happen to have some skill in acupuncture? Manicures and pedicures? Aromatherapy?" At each question, Ai shakes her head and Wen gets a bit more frustrated, finally breaking out with, "Well I guess we do know what your primary job here will be. Curse me for wanting to be kind to my friend. And double curse those two girls for running off like they did. I have decided that I want you to stay here and will put you in the room Fulong was sharing with Xuan. I will let Ni Ni know and send her a bill for the room, which I am sure will set her mind at ease a bit. Did you bring any luggage?"

Another shake of the head, but this time Madame Wen does not growl. "Good, then I will see that you are provided for, but at your expense, understand." This time the response is a nod. "Good, Xuan will be finished in about eight minutes and I will have her show you around the shop and then take you to your room. It is too late for dinner, so I hope that you ate. Xuan will explain the meal times here. Listen to what she has to say and learn from her. I will give you a week to let me know if you are worth keeping longer. For now, go stand behind the counter and smile at the customers who come in. Let me do the talking to start with as I do not need some hopeless girl putting the customers off and sending them away."

Ai nods and follows the older woman to stand behind the counter where she is coached on how to stand and is told that she may lift her head. With a slight tremor in her voice, Ai asks, "May I have permission to walk among the shelves so that I may learn where everything is?"

Madame Wen looks a bit surprised but recovers quickly. "Yes. Yes you may. That is good thinking."

[Mercy]

Friday, 22 November, 2075, 2000, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex


Ai nods and begins wandering through the shop, looking at everything to set their locations into her photographic memory. She sees aromatherapy products that she never knew existed, incense and candles. One entire shelf is devoted to a wide range of sex toys guaranteed to bring new and exciting experiences to liven up a tired sex life.

Two male customers come in and look around before one of them goes to the counter and talks softly with Madame Wen, who nods several times and mutters in sympathy to whatever the man is telling her. Finally, she takes the man by the arm and leads him through the beaded entryway into the back. Two minutes later, she pops her head back into the shop and calls for Ai to attend her. Moving past the beads, she is taken to a small dressing room-sized office and sees the customer standing to the side. Wen motions Ai to stand near a stool and goes to the desk to pull a tape measure from a drawer. In English, she asks the man if his normal penis size is usually enough to satisfy his wife and the man blushes and nods. "It does indeed, Madame Wen, but what has that to do with looking for a vibrator?"

Wen shakes her head and smiles. "You want your wife to be satisfied, right? Then you need to have the right dimensions for the vibrator, and that means giving you one close to your own size." She holds up the measuring tape. "Please let your pants down and this pretty young girl will bring you to an erection."

The man looks perplexed and Ai does her best to keep from running from the room as she smiles at the man. He looks at Wen's glower and quickly undoes his trousers, letting them fall to the floor. The shop proprietor looks at Ai and changes to Chinese to say, "Come suck this man to an erection so I can measure its length and girth for the right vibrator."

Ai swallows hard then moves to kneel before the man, taking him into her hands and gently blowing on him before taking him into her mouth. The man moans loudly and takes very little coaxing to achieve an erection. Madame Wen directs Ai to go stand by the stool while she measures the man's erection. She makes appreciative noises then goes to a shelf, removing a box from it. Opening the box, she reveals a longish tube and holds it up to compare it to the man's hard member. "Perfect! Now have you ever used one of these on your wife?"

The man blushes again and shakes his head, to which she responds, "Well we cannot have you take one of these and use it improperly. Ai, remove your pants and sit on the stool so I can demonstrate the proper use of this fantasy device."

Again, Ai swallows hard, trying to remember why she is doing this and almost leaving, stopping only when she remembers how much shame she would bring to her friend. She bends and removes her pants and underwear and takes a seat on the stool. Madame Wen subjects her to the use of the toy for several minutes, eliciting soft moans that grow louder. At some point, Ai is barely aware that Wen has the man move closer and take the toy in his hand to use it on her. The result is as expected and the man steps back, a bit red in the face, but not looking away from her. The elder woman instructs Ai to leave her pants off for a moment and takes the man aside. Ai can hear little of the conversation except when Wen says, "But because you are buying the fantasy toy, I can offer you a twenty-five percent discount on taking the girl upstairs, but you have to decide right now as the offer is limited."

The man looks over at Ai standing with her pants and panties in her hand and shrugs in agreement. He slips a credstick into a reader that Madame Wen produces and smiles over at the girl. Wen takes a number of keys from another pocket and hands one to Ai. "Second floor, room four, dear. Make sure that you treat him nice." Aware that she asked for this, Ai takes the hand of the man and leaves the office, following Wen, who goes to the stairs and points up. The room is large enough to hold a bed and a small washstand with a sink and not much else. The wall are thin enough that both Ai and the man she is with can hear the couple in the next room. The man smiles a bit shyly. "I have never done this sort of thing........."

Ai steps forward and puts a finger to his lips and begins undressing him. Fortunately for her, and the man, she has had a lot of practice having sex and the experience goes well for both parties. When finished, she washes herself off in the sink and they get dressed, returning to the ground floor. They find Madam Wen in the shop and she asks how things went. The man is effusive in his praise of Ai's ability then asks where his friend is, to which Wen replies that he has taken advantage of his friend's absence to get an hour's worth of stress relief for himself. Soon enough, the second man emerges, also smiling, and they bid the woman farewell, with the first asking if he could come back and perhaps look at another toy on another day. Wen smiles and assures him that is possible. After the men leave the shop, the proprietor looks to the girls. "Well done, Ai. I am pleased with your willingness so far. This is Xuan. She will show you to your room and give you a tour of the premises. Xuan, give her one of Fulong's dresses and then both of you return to the floor to help with customers. Ai will be shadowing you until she learns some of your duties. And do not take too long showing where things are, understand?"

[adamu]

Friday, 22 November, 2075, 2000, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex

Xuan led Ai to the space they would share. Once alone, her smile disappeared, replaced by a polite wariness. The other young woman watched Ai furtively but intently.

"This is my room," the girl said, clearly a native Cantonese speaker. "This is yours." She indicated a door, and pushed it open. "No locks. But I brace mine with a chair every night."

She directed Tanya into the room and followed her in, shutting the door behind her. It was even smaller than the service room, the bed barely large enough to accommodate a single person. "The bathroom is down the hall - we all share."

She opened a tiny closet. "These are Fulong's things. I doubt Madame will let her have any of them back now, so they are yours. The size is the same. The short ones will make Madame happy. But they will also cause you to work more." She blushed, and Tanya saw that the girl's own dress stretched to the floor.

"I will leave you to change." And the girl left.

Once Tanya had changed and opened the door, Xuan looked at her for a moment, and seemed to decide something. Decided to take a chance. She smiled shyly, then took pushed back into the room and took a small vial out of the left sleeve of her dress. She took a hand mirror from beside the sink and tapped some white powder onto it from the container. Not bothering to put it into lines, she pinched some between thumb and forefinger and snorted it. Then proferred the mirror to Ai with a timid smile. "Come, let us be friends."

[Mercy]

Friday, 22 November, 2075, 2010, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex



Al listened to everything Xuan told her and lets the other girl know that she understands her with quick nods of the head. After all, there is a pecking order even in a place like this and Ai knows that she is at the very bottom and her silence shows that she knows her place. Once alone in the tiny room, Ai looks at the clothes in the small closet and sighs. She has been here a scant few minutes and has already committed to being a sex worker, probably for as long as she is here. She smiles, as the sex itself does not bother her and may actually work in her favor. Ai puts a hand on the various dresses, remembers what Xuan said, and takes out a short dress, with the intent of letting Madam Wen see that she is willing to work hard to pay off the debt of the clothes. She strips down and slips the dress on, only to realize that although she is wearing no bra, her panty line is quite visible, so she shrugs and reaches under the dress to slip her panties off. She smooths the fabric down and tries to see what she looks like, but there is only a hand mirror on top of the small bureau that is to hold her folding clothes.

Ai leaves the room to find Xuan waiting for her. The other girl looks her up and down and shrugs. "You will see. You fit that very well, but she will give you more men at night if you look like that. But you look nice. Very sexy."

Ai looks at Xuan and smiles back at her. "Madam Wen said I owe her for the clothes so I will need to work a lot to pay for them then can start to get my own clothes."

She does not resist when the girl pushes her back into the room and places the thin line of what Ai believes to be some sort of drug on the small mirror. She looks at her new friend and smiles but lifts a hand. "Thank you very much, but no thank you. I would like very much to be friends without that." She notes that Xuan frowns at her and quickly adds, "If I come across some of that, would you like me to give it to you?" Xuan's eyes light up and the frown changes to a grin as she nods.

Friends again, the two go downstairs, where Ai is inspected by Madam Wen. The shop proprietor looks at Ai in the short dress and smiles. "Yes, Ai, you look very nice in that. Much nicer than Fulong did. I thin............"

She is interrupted by the door opening, which sets a small bell to tinkling. Two men walk in and Ai instinctively drops her head to gaze at the floor, noticing out of the corner of her eye that Xuan has done the same. Madam Wen moves forward and greets the men as old and important customers. She hears one of them say, "Madam Wen, Fu Shing is entertaining an important guest tonight and he desires some company. I thought of you."

Ai can almost feel the older woman blush and fawn over the man. "Thank you Hai Cheng, you do me a great honor. I have..............."

One of the men walks to where Xuan and Ai are standing and uses a hand to lift Ai's face to eye level. "Is this one new? I do not remember her."

"Yes, Hai Cheng, she started just today. But I hav..................."

"I will take her. Fu Shing has already seen the others and this one's newness may please him. What is her name?"

"Of course, Hai Cheng. Her name is Ai and she is an excellent choice."

"Yes, I certainly hope so or both of us will be punished and she will be punished more, but honor will come to your house if she is satisfactory. She will be returned in the morning." He lets Ai's head drop again and motions to the other man, who comes up and takes her elbow then guides her to follow Hai Cheng out the door and onto the street.

[adamu]

Friday, 22 November, 2075, 2000, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex

The ride was quick and uneventful. Fu Shing's penthouse was in a building not two blocks distant. It almost would have been quicker to walk. But the men she was with obviously enjoyed driving - and being seen in - their shiny new BMW X89. And although parking was impossible, there was a space open for them right at the front door.

She was walked like a grocery deliver through a marble-finished lobby and up a private elevator, armed men within and without. The one called Hai Cheng pushed no buttons, and the indicator light that finally lit at the top had no number or label. The elevator opened onto a private lobby at the top floor. More armed men stood within, among what looked like priceless Asian ceramics and arrangements of exotic cut flowers.

She was led to a door. Hai Cheng knocked softly, and there was an "Enter" called from within. As he opened the door for her, Hai Cheng gave Ai a single painful squeeze, a silent reminder of what was as stake for all of them.

The space she entered was vast, with huge blazing fireplaces burning real wood on either side. Beside one, three Dobermans gnawed on meaty bones. At the far end, backed by a floor-to-ceiling window offering a scintillating view of the Seatle skyline, was a raised portion of the room where what looked like a piasma skin served as throw rug between two wing-backed leather chairs. In each, a man sat sipping brandy. They did not stand, but an almost imperceptible nod from the one on the left signalled for her to approach.

"I am Fu Shing." He said it as though there was no other communication needed. He was grotesquely overweight, with cruel eyes. Pudgy fingers were festooned with huge gems, corpulent form shrouded in traditional silk robes - jet black with red chrysanthemums.

"And this is my honored guest David Han." The man was ninety if a day, so frail-looking it was a wonder he could hold his snifter. But there was a bright light in his eyes as he looked at eye. The left half of his face was almost not there - a mass of scar tissue stretched over what appeared to be an absence of cheekbone and mandible.

[Mercy]

Friday, 22 November, 2075, 2010, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex


On the ride over, the two Triad men remain silent, allowing Ai to search her mind for references to Fu Shing. She knows that he is the head of the 88s, having replaced Rick Wu about three years ago in a power struggle eventually brokered through the Red Dragons of Hong Kong. The 88s are very into technology and many members are 'wared up. It is said that their Spirit Master is a technomancer of great ability. She also knows that this Triad is a competitor of the Octagon, the Triad that Ni Ni belongs to. If she can stay alert and survive this encounter, she may learn more about how Fu Shing operates, which is always a good thing.

Part of Ai's mind slips to another life as she tries to calculate the value of some of the art and pottery items she passes in the lobby. The totals she comes up with are mind boggling and she files this away as something she can look into later. Right now, she is Ai and needs to keep her head in the game or risk losing it as these guys play for keeps and she is in the heart of the Triad. She is slightly surprised to find that there are only two men in the large room, having somewhat expected a small party. She walks forward when Fu Shing motions to her, keeping her head canted downward in a show of subservience and respect, stopping when she get to within five feet of the table. The rather obese leader of the 88s makes the introductions then his guest asks asks her name. Keeping her tone as respectful as she knows how, she replies, "I am called Ai, master."

David Han responds. "Lovable. How appropriate. Where are you from, Ai?"

Still keeping her face downward, Ai responds. "I am from Seattle, master. My family emigrated three generations ago."

"Look up, Ai. Ah yes, you are very pretty. Is she not, my friend?"

Fu Shing nods, his beady eyes glancing over Ai's figure in her dress, stripping her naked in his mind. She has already resigned herself to doing everything these men want and meets his look. The fat man speaks to his friend. "A beauty she is, my friend, and bold, too. See how she meets my eyes?" Turning his attention back to Ai, he continues. "Remove your clothes, girl. Two old men would like to gaze on the beauty of youth and imagine what we were once like and able to do."

As Ai slips out of her dress, Fu Shing's guest laughs. "Speak for yourself. I am not yet past my time when a pretty girl can excite me to do at least a couple of times what I could do all night in my youth."

Both men laugh as Fu Shing motions for Ai to turn about. Both men comment to each other on the various parts of her anatomy that pleases them. Another motion from the pudgy hands and Ai walks closer to the table; close enough for Fu Shing to reach out with a massive hand and stroke her soft skin. Her body reacts appropriately and she sucks in a breath at his touch as a finger runs across hardening nipples and another hand grabs at her shapely ass. David Han smiles from the other side of the table and murmurs appreciatively at the sight of the girl being handled by his host. Fu Shing looks over at his guest and says, "My honored guest, would you care to partake of this beautiful fruit?"

"Thank you, my friend, I would indeed. Come here, Ai."

Ai walks around the table to the older man, who reaches out to touch her, running a bony finger from the curve of her neck to below her waist, where he inserts it into her, causing Ai to react with a slight arch of her back. The man grins. "You like that, don't you?"

Ai nods. "Very much, master."

The man smiles again and opens his robe, revealing that he is surprisingly quite large and is already hard. He pushes his chair back and stands, bringing Ai around to lean on the table in front of him. Her eyes are caught and held by Fu Shings as the man behind her penetrates her body and begins fucking her. His strokes are not particularly gentle, but certainly not the worst Ai has ever experienced and her soft moans become louder as her own body reacts to the stimulus. Her smallish breasts move provocatively to the rhythm of the man behind her and she sees that Fu Shing is staring at her with what she supposes is desire. She gives him a smile as she grips the expensive linen tablecloth in both hands and pushes back against the man inside her, matching his strokes. For his part, David Han is in ecstasy as he has his way with the young girl spread on the table in front of him. His vocal comments are wordless, but certainly let the others know he is having a good time. Ai has no trouble letting the men know that she is aroused and enjoying what is happening and she is actively involved in the experience. Han gives a short warning that he is at his end and slams into Ai as he explodes. Ai's body exults in her power to do this and she shudders in an orgasm of her own as the man behind her keeps stroking until he softens and pulls out. He exclaims his satisfaction to his host as he collapses onto his chair and slaps Ai's butt. "Magnificent, Ai, magnificent. This was a pleasure, Fu Shing, one I hope to repeat again tonight before you send this one home."

Fu Sing nods. "That can be arranged, my friend. Now come here, girl. I, too, am in need and my desire is great to experience what my friend has."

[Mercy]

Ai walks confidently around the table and kneels in front of Fu Shing, opening his robe to find that he is well aroused by what he has been watching. His obesity makes things a bit more difficult, but she manages to use her hands and mouth to excite him further. He puts his huge hands on her head and urges her to continue her ministrations as he groans with excitement. "My God, you are much better than the last dozen whores I have had here put together. Who would have thought your mouth could be so talented." He manages to smile at his guest. "I think we should keep this one for the night. What do you think, my friend?"

"MmmHmmm. Definitely. I am impressed by this part of your hospitality. Even if I cannot get it up again, just looking at her is an enjoyment I find quite appealing."

Fu Shing's response is broken by his yell as he goes past the limit he can handle and explodes in Ai's mouth. She does her best to catch it all, but some drips out of her mouth. When he is expired, she sits back on her haunches and uses a finger to wiper her chin, smiling at him all the time. The fat man pants a bit then manages to say, "Well done, girl. You have brought honor to the house of Madam Wen and I will be sure to reward her. There is a bathroom behind that door. Go clean yourself and return. You will be of further use tonight."

Ai, nods and goes to the bathroom, marveling at its opulence. Gold-plated fixtures and marble counters are the least of the extravagances available in the large room. After cleaning up, she returns to the main room to find that both men are naked and that Fu Shing has pushed a button to reveal a bubbling hot tub in the floor of the suite. He directs Ai to bring more brandy for him and his guest as the pair of men slip into the hot water. Ai takes up the decanter and refills both snifters, placing the brandy on the side of the tub. Fu Shing motions for her to join them in the pool and she steps into the water between them. The men talk among themselves, almost ignoring the whore between them. Almost ignoring her. Both men place hand on her under the water, eliciting soft moans and smiles as they allow their hands free reign of her.

After she demonstrates quite loudly that the men have succeeded in bringing her to another climax, Fu Shing rises to a standing position, his arousal quite evident. Directing the girl to lay on her back at the edge of the tub, he enters her. The years have long passed when he would be capable of lasting in this position for any real length of time and he finishes quickly, only to have his place taken by his friend, who seems to have been reinvigorated. She moans loudly as David reaches his second orgasm of the night, letting both men know that she has enjoyed the experience.

Afterwards, both men rise from the water and put their robes on, apparently finished for the night. Fu Shing nods to his friend then to the girl. "Thank you. You have done well. I will have Hai Cheng return you to your home. I may call on your services again."

Ai considers this high praise and an indication that she will be returning to Madam Wen in one piece. She puts the dress back on and waits near the door to the lobby as the men disappear through doors leading to what she assumes are bedrooms.

[adamu]

Before the outer doors opened, though, the door through which Fu Shing had disappeared opened again. A man emerged and walked leisurely toward her. "One more thing," he said.

The voice.

She looked again. The same robes Fu Shing had worn, the same rings. But this man, while thick and barrel-chested, was a good four or five stone lighter. The hair was the same, but the facial features were completely - no, in her minds eye she layered rolls of fat over the cheeks and neck...This was Fu Shing, now a much fitter man in his fifties, moving lightly on his feet. Quite attractive, actually.

Seeing her face, he smiled. There was no trace of apology, but he explained, "Sometimes the Halloween show amuses us. Your resolve is impressive."

He handed her something. "Now I will test it further. Along with your sense of self-preservation. Place that in that Wen whore's office. I expect you know how to do so properly. Then retrieve it after a day. Bring it with you next time I summon you."

Tanya didn't have to look down at the tiny device to know it was an audio sensor. A bug.

[Mercy]

Saturday, 23 November, 2075, 0110, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex



Al lowers her head but Fu Shing reaches out a hand to raise it again. "You are very pretty and seem to have a great deal of common sense. Do not fail me. I reward success so you could go far if you obey me, but I also punish failure. I leave it to your imagination what sort of fate you would have if you fail."

Ai is shaking a bit, but forces herself to remain calm and nods. "I will succeed, master."

The powerful Triad boss looks closely at the girl and nods before releasing her. He turns away and is gone before the elevator cab door silently opens, revealing Hai Cheng. The gunman looks at Ai and nods. "I see that you are still in one piece. I have been informed that Fu Shing is impressed with your performance and that I am to reward you and Madam Wen appropriately." He motions to Ai to get into the cab and it drops silently after she obeys him. Once on the ground floor, Hai Cheng escorts the girl out of the building, choosing to walk back to Madam Wen's establishment. Ai falls in behind him for the short walk. It has rained again while Ai was up in Fu Shing's penthouse apartment and the street is puddled with the water that has not drained away yet. A thin cloud cover partially conceals the waning moon and allowing only a bit of natural light to filter through. The street lights, never good even in the best of times, are not up to the task of chasing away the darkness of the night and Hai Cheng and Ai walk in shadows, avoiding what puddles they can see. A slight breeze blows down the nearly deserted street, swirling under Ai short dress and bringing a slight chill to the early morning air.

Hai Cheng pulls to a stop in a deeply shadowed alcove on the street, concealed from observation by even the drunks a block away, which are the only people Ai can see on the darkened street. He pulls her into the alcove and gropes for abreast as he whispers in a cruel tone. "I want some of what the boss got. He would not have let you walk out of there if you did not please him." He holds up a small bag that she can barely see and continues. "I can pay you extra for a bit of it. What do you say?"

Ai shakes her head and tries to move from the man's grip, failing because she does not want to reveal her strength. "No, Hia Cheng. You would betray your master for a bit of time with me?"

"You are a whore and I am offering to pay well for a whore's services."

Ai pushes against him and manages to wriggle free of his grasp. "Yes, I am a whore, and I will have sex with other men, but that is business. What you are doing is trying to take what your master owns and use it without his permission. I will not risk his wrath for what you have in the bag, or for what else you might offer."

Hai Cheng leans close enough that Ai can smell what he had for dinner and growls in a sinister voice. "And if I threatened to kill you, you worthless tramp whore?"

Ai mentally readied herself, dropping her whip from her finger in preparation for wrapping it about the man. "You may try, Hai Cheng, but if he were to find out, he would certainly have me tortured and killed. I will take my chances that you are not able to kill me."

She stares into Hai Cheng's eyes and for a moment, she is concerned that the man is angry enough to attempt to kill her anyway and is relieved when he seems to deflate a bit and backs off, tossing her the bag. "Here, this is yours anyway. I was supposed to give it to you as part of your payment for your services." Ai catches the bag and nods, backing away from the man and watching him closely as he leaves the shadowed alcove and continues down the street. Sighing inwardly, she spools the whip back into her finger and follows behind him.

[Mercy]

Saturday, 23 November, 2075, 0115, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex



Hai Cheng walks as if angry; Ai following close behind him. A light sprinkle begins to fall, only serving to make the man's mood more foul and he curses loudly at the folly of deciding to walk and the stupidity of Chinese whores. He pushes at the door to Madam Wen's shop with a great deal more vigor than required and curses again when he finds the door is locked. He bangs on the door several times before a light comes on from the area of Madam Wen's rooms. An inside door opens and the elderly proprietress carefully walks into the shop, moving more quickly when she sees who it is. Opening the door, she moves aside to let Hai Cheng and Ai into the shop then closes it again.

The Triad gunman begins to lay into her and Ai can only make out every third or fourth word, but she can tell he is angry. After a short tirade, Madam Wen nods and turns an angry look on Ai. "Worthless girl! I warned you about this. Go to my office and await my wrath. I will be in shortly." Ai keeps her head down and nods before walking silently to the office. She hears Hai Cheng start yelling again and Wen trying to reassure him that she will whip the girl for her impudence. Ai takes the opportunity to quickly look around for a place to slip the bug she had been given. She discards several ideas before finding a spot on the third shelf of the bookcase in the room; a place conveniently out of sight unless someone climbs up to look. She slips it against the edge of the shelf, where it should go unnoticed even if Madam Wen has a particular desire to get a book down from there. The amount of dust on the lower shelves would indicate that the woman has little interest in anything on the shelf.

Once the bug is in place, Ai goes to stand in front of the desk with her head canted towards the floor, waiting for Hai Cheng to finish with Madam Wen. After several minutes of one-sided shouting, Ai hears the outer door of the shop open and slam shut again, followed by a deafening silence broken by the measured footsteps of the shop's owner. The door to the office opens and closes and Madam Wen comes into view, giving Ai no warning of the slap that sends the girl reeling. Ai has been ready for it and manages to resist sawing the woman in half. "You ungrateful bitch! You thrice cursed daughter of a whore and a jackal! I warned you. I had high hopes for you and look at what you have done. Hai Cheng says that this shop is off limits to the 88s and it is your fault. Until you came into my shop I had a delicate balance between all three Triads and was pleased to have their business. This may ruin things between me and the other Triads as well." The woman rants for several minutes then opens a drawer in her desk and pulls out a short whip before moving behind Ai. "Take off the dress. I do not want to get blood on it. I will punish you for what you have done and if I cannot mend things, I will whip you again and send you back to my friend in shame."

Ai complies with the woman's demand and strips the dress off, then stands still as she receives several lashes. She is able to avoid crying out for the first five strokes, but cries out at each of the next five, feeling tiny rivulets of blood course down her back from where the whip cuts into her. When she is done, Madam Wen returns the whip to her desk and orders Ai to go to her room, but stops her at the door to the office. "Clean yourself up. In the morning I will whip you again so you do not forget. I can be generous, though, and that will be the last of the lashes if I can correct what you have done. I wish I had never seen you. You have turned that pig Fu Shing against me and now that jumped up puppet of Hong Kong will have my shop and all in it to give to Hai Cheng, who has been wanting it for years. You stupid girl; you may have cost me my livelihood here, but I will get something from you if that is so. Do you understand me?"

Ai nods and leaves the office, headed for her room. Several of the other doors are opened a crack, but no one comes out to see her until Xuan pokes her head out of her room and fearfully comes to take Ai's hand. She leads the injured girl to her own room and has her lay on the bed. Xuan gets a cloth and cold water from the small sink and begins gently wiping the lash marks, eliciting moans and gasps of pain from Ai. She goes to the door and calls out and another of the girls appears with a small bottle of a salve that Xuan puts on the cuts. One by one, the other girls all come to the room to give Ai a comforting touch and a whispered word or two of compassion before returning to their rooms. Xuan finishes with the salve and tells Ai to remain on her stomach for a while to let it do some healing. Ai stops Xuan as she gets up to leave. "Hey, look in my bag. All for you."

The other girl opens the small purse and squeals in delight as she removed the small bag of drugs from it. She leans over and kisses Ai on the top of the head and silently leaves the room. For a long time, Ai lies still and contemplates why she is doing this in the first place.

[Mercy]

Saturday, 23 November, 2075, 0537, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex


Ai wakes to Xuan shaking her. "Come on, Madam Wen is calling for you." Ai painfully rolls over to sit up and notices the look of sorrow on Xuan's face and sees that the girl has been crying.

"What is the matter, Xuan?"

"She is going to beat you again and then you will leave, just like Fulong did." She leans closer and whispers. "Except that I am not sure that she just left. I think Madam Wen had her taken away. And now she will do it to you."

Ai tries to smile, nut it comes off as a grimace, and not a very nice one. "She can try, Xuan. But I am tougher than I look. I can take the whipping."

Xuan gives Ai a doubting look and signals for her to come with her. Ai stumbles to the door and holds onto the wall for balance then goes into the hallway and down to the toilet room. She is not surprised to see how minimalistic the place is, containing just one toilet and a small shower stall bearing a prominently displayed sign indicating that hot water is strictly rationed to five minutes per person. The single sink's ceramic is cracked in several places and there is a puddle of water on the floor that seems to defy the drain near it. Ai quickly uses the toilet, finding that the simple actions of sitting down and getting are quite painful. Finished, she washes her hands and face and carefully begins the walk back to the front lobby. The shop has not opened as yet but Madam Wen has all six of the girls waiting for her and motions all of them to follow her into the office, which seems to crowd it.

When everyone is in the room, the older woman closes the door. "Ai is being punished because she has brought great shame to the shop and the rest of you by defying Master Fu Shing. Such things cannot and will not be tolerated. After the beating, I am going to call the master and beg that he forgive the rest of us for the affront of this worthless girl. I may be able to save all of your lives in the process, for which you will all owe me." She turns to Ai. "Now, remove your clothing, you ungrateful wretch. There will be some other girl who will need to wear what you have on and I do not want to spoil it."

Ai removes the dress exposing the ugly welts from the earlier whipping and Madam Wen starts then looks closer. "Someone has tried to apply something to reduce the pain." She rounds on the other girls and berates them all, threatening to whip all of them.

Xuan steps forward a step and with a tremor in her voice, says, "I helped her, mistress."

Wen looks at her in full fury. "How dare you! How dare you! For that you will also be whipped."

At that moment, another girl steps forward and says, "No, Xuan is covering for me. I put the special salve on Ai's back."

After that, Wen looks almost apoplectic as, one after the other, all of the girls confess to being the one who helped Ai. A furious Wen looks at all of them and orders them to watch. She turns to the now naked Ai and says, "I do not know how you got all of them to do this, but I will not tolerate it. I cannot have all of them out of work for the day, so I will give you extra strokes to make up for it."

Ai is dangerously close to fragging her cover and killing the woman, but realizes that will do little good and might indeed do more harm than simply taking the lashes. She grits her teeth and tries not to cry out as the whip lashes against her already torn skin, opening new wounds even as it re-opens the earlier ones. She stumbles against the desk at the eighth lash but manages to straighten up for the ninth and tenth. The next stroke sends her to her knees in an agony she has not felt since her body was torn to shreds by the explosion of her auto when she was eighteen. Wen does not seem to care that her foe is now kneeling and applies several more strokes. Ai does not feel the last three as she falls unconscious to the floor, but even that does not seem to deter the furious and sadistic Madam Wen. It is only when Xuan steps forward and grabs her whip arm that she stops. "Mistress, she cannot feel the pain any more. Do you want to give a dead body to Fu Shing?"

Wen looks at the girl and looks about to strike her as well then calms down. "No, you are correct. I want to give that bastard the privilege of killing her. Thank you, Xuan, there may be hope for you yet. Now get her out of here and make sure that she can walk later. And clean up the blood in here."

[Mercy]

Saturday, 23 November, 2075, 1137, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex


Ai swims out of unconsciousness to find herself in her very small bed in her very small room. She feels out with her sensors and finds no one near her, although there is some activity in two of the upstairs rooms. Satisfied she is alone, she tries to sit up......three times. Her body is wracked by spasms of pain each time and she is forced to lay down to gather her strength. Finally, on the fourth try, Ai manages to sit up and move her legs to hang over the side of the bed. After a few minutes in that position, she gingerly tries to stand and immediately collapses to the floor in pain. She feels a darkness closing in on her and her vision narrows to a tunnel that cannot seem to focus on anything.

Ai crawls the few feet to the small chest of drawers against the wall and uses it to pull herself to her feet, each movement an exercise in pushing pain away; forcing her body and her mind to overcome her agony. **Come on, Tanya Astasia, we have been hurt worse. That woman took small bits of flesh, but the car took entire portions of our body. THAT was pain; this is much more bearable. Gut it out.** Once on her feet for a bit, Ai turns and walks, OK, stumbles, to the closet, where she manages to pull one of the dresses off a hanger an slips it on. The very act of putting the dress on tenses the muscles and abused skin and she cries out softly several times before she finally manages to dress herself.

She opens the door to her room and steps out into the hallway, placing a hand on the wall to support herself as she walks out into the main shop area. Once there, she finds Xuan behind the counter talking to a customer while another of the girls, she thinks it is Ling, is tending to another customer on the floor. There is not sign of Madam Wen, but Xuan gives Ai a startled look before going back to helping the customer with his purchase. Ai waits near the hallway entrance until both customers leave, then walks unsteadily over to stand behind the counter. Xuan gives her a worried look. "What are you doing out of bed?"

"My job, Xuan. Where is Madam Wen?"

"Are you crazy? You are in condition to be working out here. Wen is in her office. She called Fu Shing earlier and then went into her office and shut the door. I think that she has been drinking."

Ai gives the other girl a somewhat crooked smile. "I want to learn to do the things you do in the shop. Teach me. Please."

Xuan looks at her closely then nods, motioning for her to stand close, and begins showing her the ins and outs of working in the store.

[Mercy]

Saturday, 23 November, 2075, 1425, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex


Ai works closely with Xuan and finds that she quickly grasps the concepts. All of the merchandise is simply scan and sell, meaning that there is a code printed on each package that is scanned into a reader at the counter and the total cost is displayed to the customer, who provides cash or cred stick to complete the purchase. Some customers come in for a "special penis enlargement therapy" and the girls working in the shop rotate through providing sex for cash. "That part of what we do here is pretty slow during the day, as most of the tourists and locals that seek that sort of thing come in the evenings. Still, it is not unusual for two or three men to come in for it before the evening trade picks up."

It is early afternoon when Madam Wen opens the door to her office and looks about. Her voice is slightly slurred as she says, "Xuan! Xuan! Send someone up to fetch that bitch of a girl, Ai. I want.....oh, there you are. Come into my office."

Ai walks slowly to the office as ordered. The activity of the past couple of hours ahs held, but she still walks slowly. Too slowly for madam Wen. "I mean sometime today, you wretched girl." Once in the office, Wen goes to her desk, which has three empty and one partially full bottles on it. She does not indicate that Ai should sit as she takes her chair. "I hope you know that what I said for the other girls might not include you? I have finally managed to get an audience with that pig Fu Shing this evening. I will plead for my life and for the others, but I will gladly let him do as he pleases with you. He may be generous, but he has a reputation for being a fragging beast. I would not be surprised if he even tries to talk to the Octagon about Ni Ni, who is no longer a friend of mine after what you have done. It would serve her right to be tossed on her ass or, worse, turned over to Fu Shing as an example. In any case, you have done her no favors." She fills a glass from the open bottle and drinks from it. "I might be lucky to escape with my life and the lives of the other girls, but I will not hesitate to toss them to that bastard if he wants them. It is time I retired from this work anyway. That fragger Hai Cheng can have the business and the headaches it brings. How could you refuse Fu Shing? How? I was glad yesterday, but you fragged it all up last night." Another drink. "I should whip you again, but I need you to be able to walk tonight. I have been told to be at Fu Shing's at seven. Wear the short dress just in case I can get him to go easy on us. Now get out and be ready to leave by six. I do not want to be late."


Ai nods to the woman and leaves the office, where she lets Xuan know what was said. The other girl motions her behind the counter, where she shows Ai a battered suitcase and hands her an envelope. "You should leave, Ai. We packed a few things for you and we all chipped in to give you some money. I am sorry that we do not have more, but it should get you away from here. But you should leave her now, while she is too drunk to notice that you are gone."

Ai is truly touched that these girls would want to help her and tears come to her eyes at their gesture, but she shakes her head. "Thank you, Xuan, but I cannot do that. There is no honor in running away, and where could I go that Fu Shing could not find me? And in his anger, he would to things to you and the others. No, I cannot do that."

[Mercy]

Saturday, 23 November, 2075, 1430, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex


Ai returns the envelope and smiles at Xuan, touched by the generosity of these women who have so little of their own. She takes the battered suitcase back to her small room and unpacks it before returning to the floor to help with the afternoon sales.

[Mercy]

Saturday, 23 November, 2075, 1530, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex


Ai pays careful attention to how Xuan and the others handle the merchandise and talk to the customers who come into the shop. Most are tourists looking for souvenirs but some are looking for the special Penis Enlargement service advertised and those are assigned one of the girls, who takes the man upstairs for an hour of exercise guaranteed to lengthen the penis. Needless to say, none of these men complain or ask for a refund. Xuan manages the rotation of girls and keeps things moving while Ai is assigned the duty behind the register due to her injuries. Her photographic memory is put to good use as she learns about the products they sell and there is certainly a wide range of products available. Madam Wen comes through the shop twice, but does little except glower at Ai and demand to know how the sales are going.

[Mercy]

Saturday, 23 November, 2075, 1645, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex


On Madam Wen's third trip through the shop, she chastises Ai for not being dressed yet and slaps her across the face before sending her to her room to change into another of the short dresses that Ai's predecessor had left behind. "And hurry, you useless slut. We do not want Fu Shing to be kept waiting and I need to talk to you before we leave. Now hurry, unless you want some more of my hand."

Ai trembles a bit and bows her head in acquiescence before moving quickly back to her small room to change. When finished, she returns to the main room to hear Madam Wen berating Xuan from inside her office. 'You useless pig of a girl. On what authority did you keep Ai from servicing any of the clients to day? She should have been in the rotation." Her voice calms a bit as she continues. "Still, not that it matters much, I suppose. I fully expect that Fu Shing will have her dealt with this evening. I greatly doubt that even that pig of a bastard will have any patience with her."

Madam Wen notices Ai standing at the open door and calls her into the office even as she sends Xuan out. "Come here, girl. My, you do have a sense of youth to you, don't you? Listen, your only chance of survival is to do exactly as I say, do you understand?"

Ai replies, "Yes, Madam Wen."

For the next half hour, the older woman gives instructions to Ai on how to behave in front of Fu Shing, reminding her several times that she should not refuse any advance from the man. Ai holds her head down and nods at the appropriate times as she listens, wondering how she is going to get the listening device from the bookshelf. Finally, an opportunity presents itself when Madam Wen is called out to the shop to talk to a customer that is asking for her. Ai waits until the woman leaves the office then quickly retrieves the small device, returning to her seat before the woman returns.

[Mercy]

Saturday, 23 November, 2075, 1715, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex


Madam Wen commands Ai to follow close behind her and leaves the shop precisely at 1715, so as to give her enough time to walk to the club that Fu Shing uses as his headquarters. There has been little rain today at all and the shy is mostly clear of clouds. The street is full of people trying to get something out of their visit to Chinatown and the small tourist shops were doing a booming business. As were the various restaurants and brothels. As the women neared the club, Madam Wen turns to Ai. "You useless pig of a girl. Be sure that you mind your manners. Remember what I said about people just disappearing from here. Keep quiet and do not refuse Fu Shing anything he wants. Degrading is better than dead."

Ai nods and follows her mistress into Fu Shing's club.

[Mercy]

Saturday, 23 November, 2075, 1720, Fu Shing's Club, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex


Al simply nods and keeps her head down. Madam Wen leads her into the club past two well-dressed men who are quite obviously guards. Inside, they pass through the main room and Ai can hear the myriad noises associated with a busy casino. It seems like every slot machine is busy and that the several craps, roulette, and blackjack tables are doing a brisk business. Madam Wen goes up to a suited man and explains in a low voice that she has an appointment to see Fu Shing. The man uses his 'link to check with someone then motions to the nearby private elevator. The women enter the cab and push the only button available, zipping smoothly to the top floor. Ai, despite what she thinks is about to happen, is still a bit nervous. After all, Fu Shing is one of the chief lieutenants of the 88s and is not known for his mercy. He may decide to get rid of the girl with the evidence as well as Madam Wen. It would make things just a bit tidier.

She holds her breath a bit as the elevator come to a stop and the doors open for them to step onto the marbled entryway she had left just a day ago. The thought of the danger she is stepping into sends adrenaline through her in a familiar rush. She could be safe in someone's bed or at a party, but this is the sort of risk that makes life worth living and she would not want to be anywhwere else right now.

[Mercy]

Saturday, 23 November, 2075, 1725, Fu Shing's Club, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex


Ai recognizes Hai Cheng waiting for her in the large marble foyer that leads to Fu Shing's private suite. The man waves the escort away and the guard steps back into the elevator for the trip back to the main lobby. Once alone with Hai Cheng and Madam Wen, Ai notices an expression of some kind pass between the other two. Hai Cheng tells Madam Wen to let him do the talking when they get in to see Fu Shing. madam Wen nods and casts a scathing look at Ai, who lowers her head and follows the two out of the foyer and into the suite proper, smiling just a little when remembering her activities here the previous night and how she had been pretty much completely fooled by Fu Shing and his friend. Bringing herself back to the present, she walks between pottery and artwork that she would conservatively value at a large number of millions of nuyen.

Hai Cheng leads the women into the main living area and has them stop about fifteen feet in front of the man Ai recognizes as Fu Shing as he had revealed himself to her. He is sitting on a large chair looking out into the room and another man is standing to his right and behind him, causing Ai to wonder if this is the true form of Fu Shing's friend, David Han. There are no introductions made before Hai Cheng takes a couple of steps forward and bows to his master. "Fu Shing, the woman known as Wen has begged the opportunity to appear before you to receive judgement upon the whore Ai. She is under the impression that the girl has disappointed you and begs that your punishment falls solely upon the whore and not on her."

Fu Shing looks from Hai Cheng to Madam Wen and back then talks to the woman. "Is this true, Wen?"

Poor Madam Wen is so distressed that her voice quavers a bit as she answers. "Yes, gracious Master. I have brought the girl with me that you have found disappointing. I beg you to take her and give her another chance to please you and punish her appropriately if she fails again."

Fu Shing nods and strokes his chin as he contemplates his response. He finally nods and looks at Ai. "Look up, girl." When Ai obeys the command, the Triad lieutenant holds out a hand and motions for her to approach him. When she is standing just in front of the man, he holds out a hand. "Do you have the device, girl?"

"Yes, Master." Ai digs the bug out of her pocket and hands it over to Fu Shing, who in turn gives it to the man standing near him. The Triad boss looks past Ai to the other two. "Far from being disappointed in Ai last night, I very much enjoyed her company. She performed admirably, Madam Wen, and should have been a blessing on your house. You are supposed to be neutral when it comes to dealings with the Triads, but little things have been coming to my ears that you might be conspiring behind my back. I provided a small device to Ai and asked her to secret it in your office so that I might learn the truth. I am about to play the recording that was made today. Do you have any words to say before I do?"

David Han connects the bug to a larger device he takes from a pocket and begins to replay the recording of everything that had gone on in Madam Wen's office during the day. The woman pales as her words deriding the Triad lieutenant are plainly heard by all in the room. Fu Shing glowers at Wen and the temperature in the room seems to drop several degrees. Suddenly, a man's voice is heard and Ai recognizes Hai Cheng as he shares confidences with Madam Wen about his boss, apparently over drinks. They both laugh as the man chortles over how he is cheating Fu Shing of the true proceeds from their operations in the neighborhood. Even Fu Shing is surprised at the revelation that his chief enforcer has been plotting against him and stripping far more than his meager share off the top and his eyes go hard as he looks at Hai Cheng.

Madam Wen opens and closes her mouth several times without uttering a word. Hai Cheng pushes her to the floor as he yells at her. "You stupid cow of a woman! How could you have not known? You have killed us both, but I will not go to my ancestors alone!"

With the speed of a striking snake, his hand is inside his jacket and pulling out his large pistol. He starts to bring it up in the direction of Fu Shing when Ai steps in front of the Triad lieutenant and flips her hand, sending a single filament of ultra sharp wire out to wrap around the man's gun arm. A slight tug and the whip cuts through bone, blood vessels, and flesh; separating the arm from the rest of the body just above the elbow. As Hai Cheng screams in shock and agony, a panicked Madam Wen grabs at the dropped handgun, fumbling to get it free of the fallen man's death grip. Ai does not hesitate, but lets the adrenaline flow through her as she continues her movement as if it were an intricate dance step, sending the wire to encircle the woman near the waist. This time the tug is only slightly harder than the first one, but the effect is far more dramatic as the woman's body is sawn in half. Ai knows that she could finish here by killing both of the other men before they could get a warning off, but decides to do something else, dropping to her knees at the feet of Fu Shing and lowering her head to look at the floor near his shoes.

Her ultrasound sensor shows her what her eyes cannot see, and she notes that David Han has barely cleared his pistol from the holster concealed in his fancy suit jacket. He is bringing the gun up to aim at her but Fu Shing says a word and the man points his weapon at the ceiling. The Triad boss is quiet for a few seconds then says, "Why did you not kill me as well, girl? Are you, then, a secret assassin come to end my life? It is painfully obvious that you could have done so easily.

Ai considered her words carefully, knowing that the wrong ones would bring even more blood in the room. She is confident that she can beat both men, but that will not accomplish what she has come here to learn. "No, Master. I am not here to kill you, but to aid you. I have protected you and would like nothing more than to do your bidding for a time. Would you allow me to serve you?"

Fu Shing looks at her and then laughs. "I think I would be ill-advised to refuse you. What is your name and who sent you?"

"My name is Ai, Master. No one sent me. I came here to learn and serve."

The elevator pings and men emerge with drawn pistols in their hands, aiming them at the girl kneeling on the floor in front of their boss. Fu Shing waves them to put their pistols away. "If I had to rely on you three, I would already be dead and my assassin long gone. Get this mess cleaned up and send me some food. Enough for three. I am suddenly hungry. And have one of the hostesses get Ai here some clean clothes." When the men hesitate, Fu Shing tells them his desires in a more commanding tone, one not to be disobeyed, and the men vanish quicker than they had appeared. He holds a hand out and says, "Stand, Ai. You have earned the right to stand in my presence without looking down. After all, how is my new bodyguard supposed to protect me while gazing at her feet?"

[Mercy]

Saturday, 23 November, 2075, 1755, Fu Shing's Club, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex


Thirty minutes later, there are four of the club staff cleaning the carpets of blood and body parts, although there had been a slight delay when two of the men could not help themselves and threw up, adding to the mess. They were quickly replaced by others less queasy and the work is getting done under the watchful eyes of two security men. One of the casino hostesses has proven to be just about the same size as Ai and some clean clothes have been provided and the dress she had arrived in have been taken away to be burned. In the meantime food was brought and a meal set up at the small dining table. Ai had waited to join her new master until she had changed. David Han had looked at her critically then turned to Fu Shing then back to Ai. "My dear, that looks better on you than it ever did on the hostess. I cannot wait to see what you do to clothes tailored to you."

Ai still cannot quite believe her fortune at not being dead right now and smiles a bit nervously. Fu Shing motions for her to approach him and she does, standing close to him for him to run his eyes appreciatively over her body. "He is quite right, Ai, you do look delectable. I can still see you as you were last night at this very table and am having a bit of trouble reconciling your naked body to the display of violence I witnessed less than an hour ago. You are clearly full of surprises and I am still a bit unsure if you will be the death of me yet. Why do you wish to work for me?"

Ai has known the question would come and she has an answer ready. "Master, I wish to learn how to live and work within the Triad. I have other concerns, but your aims and mine would seem to be along similar paths at the moment. I cannot guarantee how long they will stay converged, but I can promise loyalty and advice for the time they last together."

Fu Shing gives the girl a sharp look. "And what happens when our paths diverge?"

Ai shrugs but smiles. "That depends on you, Master. We can part friends and both of us live to perhaps meet another day, or we can be enemies, in which case one or both of us will die. For myself, I have no reason to suspect I will become your enemy unless you deem it necessary that we are."

Fu Shing looks over his shoulder in the general direction of where people are cleaning up a rather obvious example of what happens to Ai's enemies and shivers a bit in spite of himself. He turns back with a laugh. "I think we can avoid that situation, Ai. Now as to your duties, what do you want out of this?"

"I had not really put too much thought into that question as yet, Master, but my initial idea would be to assume some or all of the duties of the late Hai Cheng, but I know that I am unfamiliar with the people he had working for him or, indeed, the entire structure of your part of the Triad and would need some time to work into such a position. Until I get a better feel of what is going on, I would be willing to act as your bodyguard.................and lover."

Fu Shing glances at his friend, who nods and then looks back to Ai. "My very good friend thinks that this is a very good idea and I am in agreement. You have demonstrated the rare common sense to not overreach for your goal at the beginning. Very well, I accept your offer. I will have you talk to the rest of my guards, most of whom are probably still wondering what the frag happened up here. The basics have been disseminated, but not the details. We will have to make sure that happens. But I have a question that only you can really give me the best advice. The death of Wen leaves the ownership of her shop in some doubt. I am tentatively of the belief that her people might share the issues she had with me. Do you recommend cleaning house there and putting new people in charge? It has been a relatively lucrative business that has provided an income for all three Triads."

Ai carefully considers what she knows of Xuan and the others and shakes her head. "No, Master, I would instead recommend that you allow her main assistant, Xuan, to take over the shop. She is a hard worker and has the respect of the others. She will do fine in that position."

Fu Shing thinks on this then nods. "So be it. I will recommend this to the others, but she will need to prove herself."

[Mercy]

Saturday, 23 November, 2075, 1756, Fu Shing's Club, Chinatown, Seattle, Seattle Metroplex


Ai smiles at Fu Shing. "Thank you for your consideration, Master. I am sure that Xuan will do better than Madam Wen has done in years."

The Triad lieutenant motions for Ai to sit next to him at the table and join them in the meal. The girl does as requested and begins to eat, pleased but not surprised at the quality of the food. Fu Shing slips his hand along Ai's thigh and gently rubs it through the dress, letting her know that he was interested in more than her skills as a bodyguard. She smiles to herself and turns to give him the same smile, wondering for a moment if Hai Cheng had ever been invited to dine with his boss. Fu Shing smiles back at her, saying, "Yes. I can see a certain benefit to this arrangement." Ai reaches under the table and squeezes the hand on her leg before continuing to eat.

David Han looks on and gives a slight frown. "Let us not forget that Ai's primary purpose is to keep you alive, my friend."

"Do you have any criticism of how alive she made you feel last night, David?"

The two men start to laugh and Ai joins in before David brings a solemn note to the occasion. "She will still need to go before Ruibai Dong in order to be accepted."

Fu Shing nods and looks at Ai. "Yes, he is right. The Incense Master will need you to undergo the initiation rituals. These will ensure your loyalty and set you as my second. Without the rituals, you will never be accepted."

Ai looks at both men and nods. "I am ready, Master. Will someone tell me what I am to do?"

Motioning to David, Fu Shing says, "David will coach you on the rituals, but I have to warn you that the Triads take these very seriously and betrayal to those outside the organization is punishable by a very prolonged and painful death. Will that be an issue for you?"

Ai considers the statement and the implications and gives some thought to what she is getting into, realizing that this is going from something that had been a spur of the moment adventure to something far more serious. She carefully examines her motives and feelings then nods. "No, Master, I can do this and not betray my greater purpose."


After the meal, Fu Shing summons all of his guards together, even bringing those who are off-duty up to the suite. There is a shared hierarchy within the Triads that tries to ensure that no single or even pair of lieutenants has the personal power to supplant his superior. Each of the four lieutenants is allowed no more than fifteen personal guards, while the boss himself has a small army of fifty and can call on his loyal lieutenants in the case of a power play. Hai Cheng had organized Fu Shing's guards into three shifts of five men, each on duty for eight hours. Fu Shing introduces Ai to the other fourteen men and the girl would not need to be a mind reader to know that there is a good bit of dissatisfaction with the announcement. No one challenges Fu Shing, but there are glares of resentment along with some looks of outright curiosity. Ai had known that this transition would not be easy, but she has a plan.