Here's finally the next chapter: Mei was really fun writing, I like her character. There's no real plot with action and reaction, but more an insight into her thoughts - so the jumps from one train of thought to the next one are intended. I mean, how many thoughts you begin every day which you drop then because of another ones? And how many times you think about a special theme again which you already did twice today? This is just the natural way people's minds work.

I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I did and wish you much fun with it.

The usual disclaimer: I do not own any part of the game, only the idea for this story and the preceeding ones written by me.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Meï - Coffee musings

“Loyal citizens of Hillys…”

Meï groaned as she heard General Kheck's voice for the fourth time today. It should be forbidden that a beautiful morning like this was spoiled by his speeches, which were all the same in content, anyway. Besides, she knew as one of few better than to believe him, so she quickly changed the radio channel to shut him up and to look for something good.

At one wavelength caught her sensitive ears a familiar rhythm and she grinned: Just as famous as the Akuda Bar itself, its feature song had for good reason a place of honor in the radio channels play lists. It was ironically fitting that a song which was a parody on the conform cants of the Alpha Section, sported such a title – and was in addition just as successful as the Alpha Section’s public campaign. But this was just “Propaganda” people liked.

With new found contentment sat Meï back and enjoyed a sip from her coffee; she overlooked the newspaper lying next to her on the table, but lost all interest seeing it was the typical nonsense of the rainbow press, and advertisement for products she had never heard about.At least there weren’t any handbills with appeals from the Alpha Section to join them, or rewards for giving information about the IRIS network. There were already enough collaborators out there who just worked together with the Alphas to feather their own nests.
She sighed as she took one more sip of her cup. As much as she believed in what she was doing in IRIS, she sometimes wished she didn’t need to worry all the time of both the Alphas and the DomZ.

The sheets of the newspaper rustled softly. Meï had opened the window to the balcony from where you could see the whole Pedestrian District and the main Canal, and the red curtains hanging on both sides of the window swung back and forth in the wind.

“They look like the anemones swaying underwater I saw yesterday”, Meï thought at the image in front of her. So could only think someone who loved diving in the ocean for hours, but wouldn’t find as much opportunities to do so as they wished.
Due to her underground activity and her “normal” job as a successful freelance author for a newspaper (every IRIS member needed a normal work, since they didn’t gain money in the network), time for hobbies fell by the wayside most of the time. That’s why she had (almost literally) swum in a wave of euphoria yesterday as she finally went underwater again after such a long time (two months exactly). And she still had two more days in which she could go diving and still finish her next “normal” article without problems in time.

This reminded her of why she was actually at home. Because the last IRIS issue about the Nutripills Factory had been such a success (for the most part because of Jade’s photos), Hahn had given them four free days – they all earned a rest for their hard work the last week. Most of all he had thought of Double H, however: They didn’t know if his previous torture had altered or strengthened the DomZ virus’s effects.
But the former soldier recovered earlier than expected and was minutes after the serum’s injection able to think coherent and even walk. Somehow couldn’t the feline woman deny the feeling that Jade had done more about Hub’s recovery than bringing him in time to them. There was just something about her you couldn’t grasp, only guess.

This already showed the way Double H acted around her. Because of Double H’s experiences from his past as soldier, he didn’t trust others fast, even after some had helped him (and in fact even had saved him sometimes), and always worked alone. But to this very woman he had instantly become utterly devoted: Since his rescue he had not a single time left her side. He claimed he had to stay with “Miss Jade” from now on in order to support her, for she needed any help after her uncle had been kidnapped by the Alphas.
“Surprise” wasn’t in any way strong enough to describe the other agents’ astonishment.

Meï had been at first a bit jealous of Jade because of this trust given by Double H – but it soon faded away. After all she somehow understood Hub’s reaction, as she also felt appealed to her. How should she not? Jade was a kind person, caring for the orphaned children she had taken in the Lighthouse; she didn’t hold her doubts and thoughts back if she felt it was necessary; in a fight she was equal to Alpha soldiers, DomZ Sarcophagi and even a Reaper; and she didn’t fear whatever might come when she would enter the Slaughterhouses with Double H. She all but wore a magnetic aura you couldn’t withdraw from.

Besides belonged to the attraction she held on others surely a physical factor as well. Jade was a woman you gazed after, being beautiful in both human and hybrid standards: Slim and well-formed, hair black and thick like raven feathers, even and sun-tanned skin, full, soft lips and eyes which were just as large and green as the gem whose name she shared…

Wait a second- Had she just thought exactly this?
Meï burst out in laughter and nearly choked on her coffee. Oh my god, now she sounded like a passage from one of these kitschy love stories with pretty girls or women always getting the man of their dreams (after the usual kitschy obstacles, of course) or somewhat other cheesy happy endings. Maybe she should change her profession and write such novels instead – she already had some fitting phrases after all. – Nah, better not.

Still giggling, she stood up with the now empty cup in her hands and went to the balcony. The wind was blowing stronger and came from the Southern Bay as it carried the smell of the ocean; the wind from the north never came over the mountains surrounding the city. From above here, you were able to see the hustle and bustle of the Hillyans in the Pedestrian District.

There were Xiao and Ming-Tzu talking with each other in front of Ming-Tzu’s shop; a chat between old friends, since they never discussed business matters in the public. Next to them, sitting on the fountain basin’s walls, took Seven a light bath under the high-standing sun, sunglasses as ever over the eyes. The two Alphas guarding the passages to the quarters surely enjoyed this not so much on the other hand – Meï knew at least nothing from their armors having air-conditioning.

Then she squinted her eyes as she noticed something: There was a third shine on the square to the usual two. Had the Alphas again reinforced their troops in the city? Neither Hahn nor Nino had informed her about any sending for more soldiers. Besides, this one didn’t wear a helmet (he had black hair and talked to one of the Alphas) and was apparently accompanied by someone… she squinted more… being completely in green?

She smiled and shook her head: These two spent even their whole spare time together. When the both suddenly started towards the square’s exit, she quickly went back into the kitchen, fetching keys and wallet as she headed for the door. If she had actually some free days, why not sharing it with some friends on a coffee?