Wen's eyes roved the dark streets as she followed the familiar daily path of false memories. Even so early in the night, windows were shuttered, and doors were locked. With their memories returned, the people of Grim Aegis appeared to be playing it safe.

"Not that I can blame them." Wen sighed. "They were given a second chance with no explanation."

Part of her was glad she had this assignment. Alex had a hard job ahead of him. He had to convince the people to do more than remain docile. They had to risk it all if they wanted true freedom. She just had to recruit an old woman.

'Green Tea' Kageken was an outlaw. Her name was only part of her origins. While it suggested a love for a particular kind of tea, that was just part of the story. She came from a family steeped in shipping, and they did ship tea across the Fringes. However, the reason she was an outlaw and the reason for her name was the real family business. In her tea shipments, she shipped weapons, explosives, and armor hidden in bags of tea leaves.

While guns weren't outright banned across the Fringes, the Military Police liked to keep an eye on stockpiles. A sudden shipment of guns a government or a rebel group ordered would raise eyebrows. Not all governments on the Fringes were that nice about gun ownership, either.

Even though guns were only useful on the weak.

Wen's hand rested on her hip, where her revolver was tucked into its holster. She had a second one on her left hip and a rifle somewhere back on the ship. She was allowed that much armament because she was a bounty hunter. She even had her certificates for it, though it rarely came up and would less now that she was an outlaw herself.

In the Core, on the other hand, guns were only allowed in the hands of certain people: bounty Hunters, the Military Police, and the guards and armies of the nobility. It was better to keep even the idea of revolution out of people's hands, if not the means. Hunters were necessary, and the Military Police and guards kept any yipping dogs down low.

She paused as she entered the final street. At the next turn, she would be at the cafe where she had worked in her false life. She didn't know where 'Green Tea' might be. However, she had a hunch. A cafe would be a good base of operations for a large group, and that was Kageken's real power.

A light glowed through the windows as she turned the corner, one of the few lights she had seen out in the night. It spoke of the meeting taking place inside. Wen frowned. Now, she had another problem. How did one go up to a meeting of outlaws in the middle of the night? She needed to get in without being shot at the door.

However, there weren't that many options.

She started across the street and toward the door.

Knock. Knock.

She stepped back after knocking on the door, holding her hands up and away from her revolvers. However, she didn't leave herself defenseless. Wen sucked in a breath and opened her gate.

Icy wind blew through her limbs, spinning a vortex from her heart and down her entire body. A white plume escaped her lips as she released her breath. The cold northern wind of winter, ice, and death escaped her lips.

She was ready when the black-suited man walked through the door. She didn't understand how a person could see anything when wearing sunglasses at night, but he managed. He cracked the door open, revealing the orange light within as he looked out, pale-faced with short-kempt black hair.

Click.

"Your business?" The question came with the click of a revolver on the other side.

Wen formed the image of a wall in her mind. She was ready because she didn't know the correct answer. She only had the answer that made sense.

"I'm here to speak to 'Green Tea,'" she said. "About my last paycheck."

The man looked down at her, his glasses slipping down his nose slightly. His mouth was open like he didn't know how to respond. Wen just waited. Perhaps she had surprised him.

"One moment," he said, closing the door.

Thud. Thud.

He stepped away, and Wen heard the rumblings of raised voices inside. She waited, holding the aether still in her mind and her body. She only needed to release it the moment she sensed hostility.

Thump. Thump. Click. Click. Click.

Wen grimaced. Several boots approached the door, and she heard the click of the same number of hammers right behind. They weren't going to make it easy. Her fingers twitched, but she didn't hear the guns go off.

Would she be fast enough if they did?

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Repeat yourself," an old woman's voice cracked through the door. "Why are you here, girl?"

"To see you, Tomeka," Wen said, narrowing her eyes. "To give you an offer to get out."

Click. Errn.

Orange light washed over her, illuminating the mist around her body as more cold seeped through her limbs. Wen didn't falter. She didn't move. She kept her eyes locked ahead on the door. An old woman stood surrounded by gun barrels, rifles, and pistols held by ten men in the same identical black suit and sunglasses.

It was a standoff, but she didn't have her gun out.

"Don't think I don't notice that cold aura around you." 'Green Tea' Kageken Tomeka leaned on a wooden cane, a frail old woman by all accounts. "But I'll also thank that you haven't attacked yet. You clearly aren't here to claim a bounty, 'Cold Shot.'"

"I'm not a bounty hunter anymore," Wen said. "However, I wasn't going to enter this conversation without taking precautions."

"Hah." Kageken laughed, shaking her head until she began to cough. "I knew there was a reason, even in my addled state, I hired you, girl. You know how to make an entrance."

"Does that mean we can talk?" Wen asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Guns down, boys." Kageken raised her hand, palm facing Wen. "And make a fresh pot of tea. We have a guest."

Clack.

In unison, the men in suits lowered their weapons, releasing the hammer on their guns and tucking them away. They retreated down the hall, leaving Wen and Kageken standing together at the entrance.

Wen released her hold on her gate, and the icy temperature around her faded. The cold mist disappeared, and warmth returned to her fingers. A tingle spread down her arms and legs as she regained feeling in them again.

"Well, don't just stand there. Come in."

The cafe looked the same at night as in the day, with no customers or employees. However, the suited men were fulfilling the role. The few seats inside the building could see inside the kitchen, and all ten men were at work.

Chop. Chop. Chop. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Grumble.

They were preparing a full meal despite Kageken only asking for tea. Wen's stomach couldn't help but grumble. They hadn't had time to stop for a meal since they broke the entire operation.

She was starving.

"You know, you're still young and growing." Kageken tapped on the table. "You should eat as well. I wouldn't want to deny you the courtesy to another from September."

"September." Wen raised an eyebrow.

"Or are you an off-worlder? There are plenty of those running around. Based on your name and complexion, I just thought that you were from there."

"I've never been," Wen said. "I first showed up on April, and most of my old work was out in the Fringes."

"You should go; there are a lot fewer August natives there."

Wen knew a little of it. People from August were often the most populous across the Erth. Even before the exodus after August's destruction, they had the most territory and were roughly equivalent to Caucasians or Europeans.

Which honestly made their crew odd. Alex was from Buenos Aires. She was from England, but her family was Chinese. Erin looked Irish but was from an entirely different world, Erys. Sayed could be nothing but a Middle Easterner, but he was from Hajh. On Earth, Jean would be African, but he was a native of the nightsea, specifically April.

Mari, of course, wasn't human at all.

Tap.

"Tea." One of the suited men leaned over and placed a tray with two cups and a white teapot on it.

The cups were white and cast in pewter, but they had no handles like English cups. The teapot reminded Wen of drinking tea in small cafes near the campus. It was very traditional and proper.

The man poured an equal measure into both of their cups and soon after, a minty fragrance wafted out in steam. Kageken reached for her cup, and Wen picked up her own. Together, they sipped the tea.

"So, you're with Ortega now, correct?" Kageken asked.

"I am."

"Why did you join up with that crew?" Kageken raised an eyebrow. "If you were going to throw everything away, there are stronger groups you could find. I don't see how he's worth the effort."

"I didn't choose to throw it away," Wen said. "A lot happened, and I got caught up on the wrong side of a noble family. I don't think word has fully returned yet, but when it does, I'll have a bounty on my head."

"Wrong side of nobles is bad business." Kageken sighed before sipping her tea again. "However, that's also what makes outlaws more often than not. What kind of deal is Ortega offering me?"

Wen pursed her lips, thinking through her words. A deal was the wrong way to think about it. However, considering Kageken's business, it made sense.

"An alliance," Wen said. "If we want to get out of Grim Aegis, we'll need all the help we can get. You want to get out of here just as much as we do, and you don't want to get caught here if anyone decides to take extreme measures."

"Ho." Kageken smiled. "A very straightforward offer that doesn't beat around the bush. Hardly any room to haggle left in there."

"Alex is very straightforward." Wen grinned. "Either you'll help us or you won't, he'd say. 'Simple as that.'"

"You're right that we don't want to be stuck here longer than necessary, and with this whole memory debacle, we've been here too long already." Kageken sat down her teacup, cushioning the drop with her pinky. "However, we would accomplish just as much by doing nothing as doing something in this case. Either you will all succeed or fail. A few guns won't make a difference in that."

"Not if your help is the key to success," Wen said.

"Then I should demand more for my assistance." Kageken pointed at Wen. That's just good business sense."

Wen understood then. She had the idea of Kageken being a businesswoman, but she didn't really understand how much it influenced her perspective. Her eyes were always directed to how an action might be turned into profit.

"You want a reward for helping." Wen nodded.

"That in the least." Kageken lowered her finger. "I'm already losing money by dragging my feet getting to the Dark Meridian. My employees need to be paid, and my business needs new buyers. I've got stock to move to keep the ship going."

"Then you would be interested in this," Wen said, taking a calculated sip of her tea.

Kageken leaned forward as she did. Wen couldn't help but smile. She had the woman's attention. Now, she just needed to sell Kageken on helping out. Thankfully, she had an out.

"Go on, girl," Kageken said. "Don't keep me in suspense."

"We're not going into this just for ourselves," Wen said. "A member of the Lopold family is asking for us to assist them. Anyone who helps the family in this dire time will be rewarded. He's even offered to open up the family treasure vaults to gain anyone's assistance."

"Now, that's speaking my language." Kageken smiled, raising her teacup. "To a profitable alliance."

Wen raised her own in return. Overall, her job had been easier than she expected. Now, they just needed to bring everything together.

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