Read Like An Open Book (Collab with Jubei Himura (and Kezika))
21 Sep 2021KazukoHimura
Jubei Himura took his credentials back from the customs agent and nodded curtly. The warrior must have rubbed the agent the wrong way, because it took much longer to filter through the gauntlet of questions than at any other station. Once through, Jubei walked to the nearest information terminal and punched up the public address book. He scowled when the information he sought didn’t immediately present itself.The warrior turned his attention to the terminal’s code console and entered a few commands. Soon enough, his top Imperial clearance allowed him to access the exploration records and transactions. Kazuko’s name appeared recently at a terminal in Fire Opal, an island city that hosted CEA’s flagship facility: the Wylair Verdure Center. With a smile, he rented a hover-bike and made for the island.
* * * * *
Kazuko had returned to Fire Opal a day ago from a three month expedition hosted by CEA Psychiatric’s president and founder, called Celebration of Early Astronomy 3. Now back to the human-populated bubble of space, she was early by a couple of weeks and needed some rest and relaxation. In the brief time she was back in the bubble, the lithe woman had dealt with both the post-expedition routine, and some personal matters that involved local raiders. She hadn’t gotten a chance to spend time in her new living quarters yet. So, her plan for the time being would be a few more hours of just resting and playing early 21st century games that used a primitive form of today’s holo-net. They were easy to get engrossed into, at least for Kazuko, as she found it a good way to relax and take her mind off of things.
* * * * *
Jubei stood outside of the CEO’s house thinking about how to best approach the situation at hand. He wasn’t there to apprehend a suspect, hunt down an enemy, or face some unknown terror. Jubei was here to get some background information as to why he was being harassed by raiders looking for someone with the same last name. Thankfully, Jubei stopped and changed into a more suitable attire for the more upscale island. The warrior now sported a pair of dark slacks and a nice buttoned up, sage coloured, dress shirt. However, he still preferred to have the first couple of buttons undone.
The ‘house’ was a veritable mansion, sporting the latest in security devices from cameras to weapon defence systems. For a moment the warrior considered making his way past the security undetected, but quickly reminded himself that he wasn’t here for infiltration. The simple act of ringing the doorbell and announcing his presence would suffice. Thus, he walked up to the obvious front gate and pressed the call button.
“Yes? State your business.” a firm, gritty voice came through the speaker.
“Hello? Yeah, I’m looking for Kazuko Himura.” Jubei replied, matching the firm tone of the guard.
“And who are you?” the guard shot back.
“Jubei Himura, former Imperial agent under the Emperor.” the warrior spoke with authority. “I’m looking for information regarding some unsavory individuals that are mistaking her name for mine.”
“Look sir, I don’t care if you’re the Emperor’s secret lover. Former agent Jubei Himura. There’s a lot of workers on the grounds and none of them go by that name.” The guard’s voice was harsh, challenging any ‘authority’ Jubei had. “Now leave. The CEO is a very busy woman, and won’t be disturbed by the likes of you.”
Jubei smiled dangerously and brought his wrist computer up to his face, tapping a few keys as he did. There was a brief ringing sound before the call was answered.
“Please let your superior know that the Chapterhouse calls.” Jubei stated calmly. “I’m outside the front gate.”
It was a gamble, using his old status as an inquisitor, but every top executive in the Empire knew about the Chapterhouse’s existence. Such knowledge was vital to continue operations in a safe and Imperial maner. If an inquisitor arrives and announces their presence, you were on their good side, for the moment.
A few moments later the gate opened and a suited man in a nearby kiosk stepped out, motioning along the walkway to the mansion, “This way good sir.”
“Thank you.” Jubei replied with a smile. The warrior followed the man in the suit, taking note of every security device, and the layout of the grounds.
“The mistress has been informed by the majordomo of your visit and has already notified she is ready to receive you in Drawing Room Gold right up ahead,” the steward said as he lead the guest to large double doors at the end of a hallway, opening them for Jubei to enter.
Inside, sitting in a black leather chair in a central sitting area was a woman clad in a black and golden gown. She stood as Jubei entered the room, “The visiting Chapterhouse Inquisitor I presume? Patron Kezika Turiel Wylair, it is a surprising pleasure.”
“Likewise.” Jubei nodded. “I assume that you know why I’m here? I’m sure the front guard would have mentioned my asking about Kazuko Himura.”
“Indeed, that was mentioned shortly after Majordomo Amaleigh informed me of your call, is there a concern regarding Kazuko?” Kezika inquired.
The warrior considered making up some cover story, but decided that being direct would be more effective. His gut told him that this CEO was possibly protecting a friend. “I’ve been harassed by a group of raiders looking for her. They think we’re related, or just don’t care which Himura they nab. I believe that her life, or at least her well being, is in danger.”
“Mmm, yes, probably a particular anarchy faction nearby, warning would be prudent indeed, I shall let her know to meet you in one of the private meeting rooms in the estate library. Same steward can show you where, and I shall inform Kazuko,” The CEO explained, standing up and heading towards the door where the steward from earlier awaited.
“Please show our guest to one of the library’s private meeting rooms, and then Kazuko when she arrives, to meet him,” she instructed the staff member.
The grand opulence of the mansion bothered Jubei. The warrior lived a very spartan life, even at the best of times, usually living out of his ship. He shook his head and put that to the back of his mind as they entered the surprisingly small room, where he was to wait for this other Himura.
Kazuko, having finished with her prior activities, had fully intended to get herself a small meal, only to be interrupted by a call from Kezika-she has a visitor in one of the estate library meeting rooms.
“What for?” She thought, half-curious, half nervous at who, or what, could be waiting there for her. Throwing on a simple black dress, a basic flight suit underneath to help keep her warm, and a pair of combat boots, the thin woman practically darted out of her apartment, attempting to find the way to the meeting room herself. She made it to the library on her own without issue, opening the door and coming face to face with one of Kezika’s stewards.
The steward was slightly startled, he had expected to at least make it out the door to wait for Kazuko to arrive before she showed up, “Oh, right this way miss!”
Kazuko gave a small nod, slowly following the steward into the meeting room. A small smile formed on her face, but it seemed partially forced-underneath everything, she was a clear bundle of nerves.
Jubei stood with his arms crossed, looking out the window. Hearing the short interaction, he turned his head. “You Kazuko Himura?”
Kazuko’s eyes fell upon the man who had addressed her as she heard his inquiry. She took a deep breath before answering.
“Yes. I am.”
“Good.” he almost grunted. The warrior turned to face the lithe woman properly, his face stern. “I’m not one to beat around the bush, so I’ll get right to it. There are people looking for you, dangerous people. Unfortunately for them, they found me instead. I need to know why they’re after you.”
Kazuko felt her heart leap into her throat upon hearing Jubei’s statement, the attempted smile vanishing from her face, replaced with an expression of fear. The lithe woman gasped, attempting to explain her situation as best as she could, but no words would come out. The most she could get was an occasional stammer.
“Easy, darlin’, I’m not gonna hurt you.” Jubei said reassuringly. His face softened a little and he sighed. “I may not look it, but I’m one of the good guys. So, take a breath and start from the top.”
The lithe woman took a deep breath, quickly wiping tears from her eyes.
Calm down, Kazuko. She thought. Fear means weakness, and you know what weakness means. Another breath, a firm look on her face, and then she spoke.
“They’re likely after me because I have their blood on my hands.” Kazuko explained. “I don’t like discussing my reasons for killing them, as they are personal.”
“Hm.” Jubei raised an eyebrow. The woman looked like she weighed ninety pounds soaking wet, and the warrior started to question the validity of her killing hardened raiders. However, Jubei knew better than to judge purely based on appearance, he himself was underestimated multiple times due to his height.
“We’ll get into the ‘why’ later,” he continued, “Right now, I’m more interested in the ‘how’. No offence girly, but you don’t look like you’d have an easy time with a two hundred pound fighter.”
“What, you haven’t heard of ship combat? That’s how I did it.” Kazuko stated. She knew very well what Jubei meant in his last statement, but she didn’t wish to discuss that, hoping that her own statement would change the subject enough.
Her statement earned her a smile and a chuckle from the hardened fighter. Even he was not expecting such a simplistic answer. “Fair enough! They never approached me ship-to-ship, it was always face to face.”
“But,” Jubei’s face turned serious once again. “Now the ‘why’. You don’t look like someone who would get caught up with such monsters willingly. So, that leaves the possibility of previous enslavement, and not the Imperial kind. Am I knockin’ on the right door here?”
Kazuko was initially relieved that her answer seemed to have satisfied Jubei, but that relief was clearly not to last since he changed the subject back. Her nerves started to build a bit again, but then the warrior had accurately guessed that she was previously enslaved. The lithe woman didn’t even notice that tears were falling from her eyes until the statement turned into a question.
“I….I….” she choked out, hanging her head and trying to pull herself together. “....yes…”
The warrior nodded. He understood. His eyes narrowed, jaw clenched, and fists balled up tight. It was never enough for the owners, a loss of property had to be found to at least recover the cost of inconvenience, or payback for an upstart. Jubei hated slavers, about as much as he did pirates, and he enjoyed every opportunity he got to end a slaver’s reign of oppression.
It was then that he finally connected the dots, and saw Kazuko’s form for what it was. She wasn’t just thin and lithe, but her body bordered on emaciated.
Jubei spoke again, but his voice was noticeably softer. “Kazuko, you’re very thin despite currently living in such luxury… did they do this to you?”
“Yes…” Kazuko trailed off, whimpering a bit. “I’ve been like this as long as I can remember…”
“As long as you can remember...” he repeated, lost in thought for a moment. Jubei turned to look directly at the woman in front of him, his normally deep blue eyes glowed a soft turquoise for a time. The warrior’s face hardened once his bio-organic eyes completed the scan. “That thing in your guts, that’s the source of your physical issues, isn’t it?”
Kazuko gasped, not having noticed the glow of his eyes, and as a result, unable to determine that she had been scanned. To her, it’s as if Jubei made another ‘wild’ guess and succeeded.
“It’s a Buzhang Flatworm… the first memory I have is swallowing it.” she meekly admitted, sniffling a bit.
“And let me guess… it’s booby-trapped.”
“Altered my genes. Remove it, I’ll die of liver failure. My body produces a toxin, and the parasite produces the antitoxin.”
“Well, ain’t that a bitch.” he said, mostly to himself. “I suppose this is common practice for these slavers?”
“I think it might be…” Kazuko trailed off, wiping additional tears from her eyes. “I was able to find out the exact group behind my enslavement by not just my found location, but by the parasite itself, or at least the exact type.”
Jubei again nodded. “You know that the higher-ups aren’t gonna be flyin’ the ships, right? You shootin’ these ships aren’t gonna mean much to them. They’re just gonna count their losses and get some other sucker to haul their cargo.”
He thought for a moment before continuing. “So, if you want them stopped, you’re gonna have to give me the information you have so I can pay them a… visit.”
Kazuko sighed, finally glancing up at Jubei, her eyes red and puffy from crying. “I just realized that they have their expendable goons flying their ships. I took several of them out, enough to lure out the higher ups. Part of me does want that, so I can go after them, but I don’t think I’m ready to take anyone out on my own outside of ship combat.” A brief pause and a slight wince. “And I’ll gladly hand over any information you wish. I may pay them a visit myself once I’ve got someone to accompany me.” As Kazuko spoke, the frightened look on her face turned into one of determination, a small smirk forming on her lips.
“Oh no, kiddo.” he said with some firmness. “Look, I’m not talking about a fly-by mission here. I’m talkin’ about going in and gettin’ close and personal. No hull to protect you. No void in between to stop you from seeing them die. This is gonna be messy, and make no mistake, this is gonna be murder, pure and simple.”
“I know you’re not talking about a fly-by.” Kazuko replied, her expression hardening. “And I’ve done what you’re talking about, to a degree. Several times, in fact.” The lithe woman was starting to feel like they were talking past each other, so she began to quietly formulate a precise explanation. Kazuko winced a second time as a pang of hunger began to gnaw at her stomach.
“The parasite, eh?” the warrior asked, noticing her wince. His voice was somewhat monotone, but there was a slight pitch to it.
Kazuko didn’t answer, at least not immediately. She only vaguely heard what Jubei asked, completely due to being deep in thought. A low grumble escaped her stomach, easily heard by her-and anyone closeby her-causing her to lose her train of thought and glance up at Jubei, her face tinted rose with embarrassment.
“Can you say that again?” She asked. “I didn’t hear you earlier. Lost in thought.”
“Nevermind, I got my answer.” he said, attempting to suppress a grin. “I take it that the parasite takes a portion of your food for itself and makes it known when it’s wantin’ more.”
“Yep, you guessed correctly.” She bitterly remarked, the blush on her face darkening since it was now apparent that the warrior had both heard and called attention to her stomach’s earlier outburst. “I’m eating for two and I’m not even pregnant.”
“Pfft- heh heh ha!.” Jubei’s stern expression cracked and he chuckled. Whether it was meant as a joke or not, the choice of words got through his normally gruff exterior. He sighed and smiled. “Well, I don’t suppose if I told ya to piss off and eat, I’d be able to take off without you sneaking aboard my ship or following it out. So, I guess you’d better take care of that and I’ll wait here.”
Kazuko smiled slightly upon hearing Jubei chuckle at her quip, feeling a little more comfortable at letting her guard down around him. “Honestly, I can’t do much of anything on an empty stomach, even if I try to seem like I can. You’d be able to leave while I’m eating. As for just waiting here for me? I could have food brought down here instead.”
The warrior raised his chin with a twisted smile. “Oh, pardon me, your majesty!” he replied in a half-mocking high imperial accent.
Now it was Kazuko’s turn to chuckle. “Oh, please. I’m not that high up in society!” She exclaimed. “Excuse me for a moment.” The lithe woman headed for the door, peeking out to see if a steward was around. She glanced around, not seeing anyone other than a librarian, before coming back in. “There’s no one there other than one of the librarians-looks like we’ll have to head to the dining hall. I don’t wish to keep you waiting, so please, come along. Was intending to get myself a meal when I was alerted to your presence.”
“I’m not one to say ‘no’ to food.” he said as he followed the lithe women. It had been some time since he ate, so it couldn’t hurt to have a little pick-me-up.
Kazuko made her way down several hallways, heading straight for the nearest dining hall. Her somewhat melancholy expression lifted upon spotting Kezika already seated at a table, to which she headed straight over.
“Hello to the both of you, joining me for some lunch I presume,” Kezika asked.
“Yeah…we are…” She trailed off, voice a bit sullen.
“News wasn’t too shocking was it,” Kezika said upon noticing Kaz’s eye regions were a bit red.
“I think she took it well enough.” Jubei replied with a shrug. “Kid’s got some fight in her.”
“Indeed she does, anyhow take a seat a waitstaff shall be by shortly to take orders while we chat,” Kezika stated.
“More the fact I was read like an unlocked data slate.” she quipped.
Jubei raised an eyebrow and grinned. “I think I should inform you that it was my job, once upon a time, to punish dishonourable Imperial slave owners. Such was one of my many mandates at the Chapterhouse.”
“Very good, too many of my peers try to game the system for free labour and not put their own return in with skill teaching, etcetera,” the CEO replied.
“Sheesh, Kez, your peers suck.” Kazuko remarked, shaking her head at the fact that some Imperial Slave owners are like her own former masters at worst, and at best, what Kezika said prior.
The warrior smiled dangerously. “Don’t worry Kazuko, punishment was swift, efficient, and effective.”
“Good.” She stated, the firm look on her face giving way to another wince.
“Well, if I’m having company for lunch, might as well modify my order and take you over to the buffet hall then,” Kezika said before making a few hand gestures while her right eye AR lens glowed slightly.
The group moved to the buffet hall, following Kezika’s lead. Imperial hospitality was certainly present and taken seriously in the CEO’s home. The buffet hall was large, with beautiful chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. A long table sat in the middle of the room, topped with all sorts of food from all around the Empire. There were accents of fruit and sweets at one end as well, allowing guests to either be healthy or indulge their sweet tooth.
“Sweet Space-Christ!” Jubei exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Kez, I’m not sure if you got this arranged because of our visitor, or because his visit interrupted a normal mealtime for me, but wow…” Kazuko trailed off, giving an awkward smile as her stomach let out another grumble. She chuckled slightly at Jubei’s exclamation, half genuinely and half attempting to mask the sound of her stomach, a slight blush forming on her face once more.
Kezika chuckled for a moment, “Nope, his visit was a surprise to me as well, I thought I showed you in the move-in tour, this is here every day for staff and residents to peruse,” She said while leading them over to the buffet table.
“Might’ve slipped my mind, given that I was distressed at that time. I’ll probably be here quite often, then,” The lithe-and hungry-woman headed straight for the buffet, piling her plate high with as much food as it could hold, sampling just about everything at the table before finding herself a place to sit and eat.
“I’m also having them bring out what I had ordered as a share plate as well by the way, some locally caught fish and ‘chips’,” she let them know.
Jubei’s stomach rumbled, reminding the warrior that it had been some time since he had a decent meal. “Well, if you insist…”
He gladly fixed a plate with a sizable chunk of meat and made a small bowl of salad before taking a seat to feast.
Kazuko glanced up briefly, giving Jubei a brief wave once he had a plate fixed for himself, as if to invite him to sit with her.
Kezika then sat down with a plate containing a few odds and ends from the buffet and some of the tea, “I figure based on the earlier discussion, there were some issues with the Raiders faction?”
“Yeah, no shit,” Kazuko mentioned, angrily taking several more bites of food before continuing. “I’ve always got issues with them. But it seems like things are escalating more than I thought.”
"The fact that they're coming after me shows that they're getting desperate," Jubei's said, "... and stupid."
“Anarchists seem to just love throwing spaghetti at walls to solve their problems,” Kezika replied with a tone of underlying frustration.
A slight chuckle from Kazuko at that particular euphemism. “Good to know they’re complete idiots.”
“The three of us, plus another ‘partner in hunting’ I managed to ally with, could probably deal with them easily.” she continued. Her expression then changed to something a little more formal. ”With that said, I believe more formal introductions are needed. You may know my name, sir, but you don’t know me. I’m Commander Kazuko Himura, and I am an Imperial Citizen, despite spending more time on my ship than in Imperial luxury.”
Kazuko held her hand out to reveal a medallion, engraved with the Pilot’s Federation ranking emblem-specifically the emblem for Elite rank. Her listed callsign is literally how she introduced herself earlier.
“Ah well, I suppose a Chapterhouse agent is trustworthy enough on this, not like they couldn’t find out if they wanted anyways,” Kezika added after, pulling her own medallion from a pocket, engraved in the coveted ‘Triple Elite’ version of the Pilot’s Federation ranking emblem, and her callsign CMDR Kezika.
The warrior looked up from his plate with a glint in his eye. During the meal he was dignified with his eating, but there was an obvious measure of restraint. Now, there was a hint of that primal instinct deep in his eyes as he smiled. "Impressive baubles, ladies. You've done well. I'm sorry to say that I've not achieved such milestones. However, in my line of work, one cannot advertise achievements."
“Thanks.” Kazuko remarked, having caught the hint in Jubei’s eye, a slight matching one in her own. The lithe woman’s own eating speed was a little rushed, but she, too, was holding back. “I honestly don’t like to advertise my own achievements, either. But I wanted to show I wasn’t as defenseless as you think.”
The medallion was once more pocketed, and Kazuko’s full attention returned to both food and company. “Anyways, I haven’t gotten your name. If I’m going to be giving you information regarding the Raiders, I’d need to know exactly who it is going to.”
“Indeed, if we’re to potentially work together on the matter, this…” Kezika stated while tumbling the insignia in her hand, “is more just to let you know I often handle business a bit more in-person than my public persona would lead people to believe.”
“Didn’t I provide my name already?” Jubei asked, genuinely. “My name is Jubei Himura. Former head of the Chapterhouse of Inquisition. Presently, I’m back to being a field agent where I’m much more comfortable and free to work without the public light on me.”
“Well that explains why the Raiders were after you!” Kazuko exclaimed, smirking slightly. “Same last name, probably thought we’re related. Although I doubt we are, ‘Kazuko Himura’ is not my birth name. I was born as #1515, and chose my name during my rehabilitation with aid from my therapist. And no, I didn’t get your name, but you asked mine.”
“I had a gate guard enter a log shortly after my majordomo informed me of the visit request through the Chapterhouse back-channel, hadn’t read it quite yet though so wasn’t sure if your full name was in his report or not. More personal to ask and all that; any case I believe I introduced myself earlier but if not I am Patron Kezika Turiel Wylair of the Keltim Empire League as well as CEO of C.E.A. Psychiatric Institutions Ltd,” spoke Kezika, “But I also often fly under my Pilot’s Federation registry, my fellow political peers tend to be a bit… vapid for my tastes.”
“Yeah, most politicians can go fuck themselves.” the warrior said without a second thought. “Pompous assholes who should learn that they’re nothing without the people, not above them. …lest they be shown just how weak they really are.”
Kazuko couldn’t help but laugh at the remark, and nod in agreement. She then stopped both actions upon realizing she was in the presence of a politician- Kezika. “I’d have more to say if I interacted with other politicians. The only one, as far as I know, that I’ve met in person is Kezika. I didn’t even know she was a CEO until a couple days after I started flying!”
“Too many of my Patron peers simply hide away, failing to ever even interact with their clientele, business or political,” Kezika added her input.
There was a long pause afterward. Talk of politics had soured the mood for everyone present. Jubei, accustomed to such situations, spoke first. "So, what do we know about the Raiders? Who's in charge?"
“I wish I knew…” Kazuko trailed off. “I have no idea who their leader is, or much of any of the higher ups. All I know is where they’re at and how they’ve treated me. I could check my medical records to see if any additional clues lay in where my escape pod was found all those years ago.”
“Sounds like as good a start as any.” the warrior said as he stood up to leave. “While you do that, I’m gonna do what I do best.”
“Well we could take a few days of research and then reconvene afterwards, see what’s been uncovered,” Kezika suggested.
“Sounds good to me. Got another connection that could help as well,” Kazuko added. “Shall we exchange comms for the sake of easy contact?”
A staff member came by with the fish and chips dish Kezika ordered earlier for the group, and passed a plate to each person.
“Ah thank you,” Kezika said to the staff before turning to Jubei.
“You wish to take some to-go, you seemed a bit hungry earlier,” Kezika asked, remembering his stomach growls from earlier.
Though Kazuko was far enough away that she likely didn’t hear said grumbling, she did nod in agreement with Kezika. “Always good to have food for the road,” she added, keeping her embarrassment on Jubei’s behalf hidden.
"No thanks," he replied as he stopped at the door. "I've had my fill. You'll find secure comms codes already sent to your devices. Happy hunting, ladies."
With a quick wave of goodbye, the warrior left the two women. He made his way back to the front gate thanking the guard as he passed, and headed toward the highway.
Kazuko then turned to Kezika. “I’ll take that extra fish filet if you don’t want it.”