PUER MORTIS (Child of Death)

24: Irritation

“What?!” Leilyn jumps up, her pillow falling to the ground. Her eyes are burning bright with anger, hands balling into tight fist. Unknown to her, her eyes flashes for a second, which has Sensei staring intently at her. “That b***h again?”

Sensei’s eyes twitch into a light frown. “Again?”

Leilyn huffs out an angry breath, fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. “Taesa was experimenting with my incomplete serum, and she used humans to do so. That’s why I left. I’ve always wondered if they willingly volunteered to be experimented on – seeing they all f*****g died, all one hundred of them –, but now, I know the answer. Human trafficking.”

She folds her arms under her breasts and starts to pace. “I know that the woman is an ambitious b***h, but this… this is f****d up. What next? Human engineering?” She pauses and faces Sensei’s holographic form. He has a droll and deadpan look on his face and Leilyn groans in tiredness. “No.” She shakes her head, but his sigh only answers her inquiry. “No! Oh, come the f**k on! Seriously?!”

“The senator, as well as his six cohorts were dealing in human engineering, with Taesa as the figure head.” Sensei says drily, making her to groan again. “They were almost close to a breakthrough too, but our interference stopped them. All they needed were some human parts and more DNA to complete the bio data and they were done.”

Leilyn heaves a heavy sigh. “Oh, for f**k’s sake.” She pinches the bridge of her nose. “Why can’t humans leave shits like this? With what happened to the last attempt at human bio-model experiment, I’ll thought they’ll learn.”

“It seems they learnt from their past failure and have improved the genetics of the models. Increased strength, longevity and many others. So, it is unlikely that these new models will rebel.” He sighs again.

Oh boy. She recognizes that sigh. What is it now?

“Also, it seems some of the higher ups in Ameraetyr are planning to go to war with the other continents.”

Leilyn throws are hands up into the air. “Again?! What the ever loving f**k is wrong with these people?!” She looks at the sky, looking for a divine answer or something. “What is with these people and causing g******e?!”

Leilyn might sound like a hypocrite right now, but both she and Sensei know that their own killings were mostly missions. Sure, the clan don’t draw a line in the ages of their targets, but hey! At least they don’t kill senselessly… well, sometimes.

“Their pride is still bruised from losing the war. They want retribution. And also desire to be the head of the World Council.”

“Oh, for f**k’s sake!” Leilyn’s British accent makes itself known. “I honestly give up on humans. They are going to get themselves extinct. As if the making of Enforcer Robots isn’t enough, they want to create genetically modified humans? Yep, this planet is doomed.” She bates her hands. She heaves a sigh before addressing him. “Have you dealt with them?”

Sensei heaves another put out sigh. s**t… that can’t be good.

“We were interrogating the senator-” Leilyn snorts at the word interrogation. Interrogation? More like t*****e. “- and when he finally caved, he spilled everything. When we asked him who was in with him, he mentioned the names of various politicians and the name ‘Blue Raven.’ When we asked who Blue Raven was, he managed to say the word ‘Taesa’ before he started convulsing. He started to bleed out from every orifice and then, he exploded.”

 Leilyn eyes widen at that. “He exploded?”

Sensei nods. “Ming-Mei and Zack managed to get out just in time, seeing as he took out the entire room with him.”

Leilyn gapes at that. “That must be some powerful nanotech implant for his entire body to go splat. The trigger must have been then her name– wait… did you just say Zack?”

Sensei chuckles richly. “That boy is an excellent student in the acts of t*****e. He’s in his element when deep in the guts of someone or bathing in their blood and causing them untold pain. His smile is so refreshing, just like when Shinji and Ogushun are in their hunting spirits or when Ying is in a bubbly mood. He and Ming-Mei will make a perfect duo, if only she’s not glued herself as Jinsei’s partner.”

“Wow… that means I never really knew the boy then.”

“It seems he has caught you in his trap. He seems all sweet and unable to hurt an insect, but that boy is a bloodthirsty little monster. Shinji and Ogushun have both taken a liking to him and are planning to train him personally when I’m done. I fear for our future targets when they’re done with him.”

Leilyn couldn’t help but shiver, internally doing the sign of the cross. Dear Cosmos… that will be a disaster. She could already see the bloodbath from here.

“So, back to our discussion.” Leilyn shakes her head, folding her arms under her breasts once again. “What about Taesa?”

“As you have already figured out by now, she has the backing of the Ameraetyr government. We released the information of the operation to the Enforcement, and all but Taesa are about to be put on trial. Most of the Members of the World Council are calling for death sentences, especially the Presidents of Afriaeuon and Saerion. They’re the most affected out of this incident.”

“Did you tell them about the whole cloning debacle?” She waves a hand.

Sensei c***s an eyebrow at her. “And cause continents wide panic? No. We’ve dealt with that. This just proves that we’re slacking in our mission in keeping the little bit of balance the world needs right now. We’re doubling our efforts and you’re going to help; retired or not.”

“Understood.” Leilyn nods curtly “And what about Taesa?”

“We couldn’t find anything on her. Ming-Mei searched the entire federal and Underground databases of five continents, but nothing showed up. The most vexing thing about all this is that she’s nowhere to be found. As if she disappeared into thin air. Not even my contacts can find her. Well, she can’t hide forever.”

“When you do find her, don’t kill her.”

Sensei c***s a brow. “And pray tell, why shouldn’t I end her measly existence?”

“Because the family of those she hurt should be the one to pass the last judgement. You can expose her a*s, heck, rough her up, but her death should be handled by the families of the victims. I know you hate this Tou-sama, but please, just this once.” 

The two stare at each other, gazes unwavering. The dark haired man heaves a sigh, batting a hand.

“Fine. Only this once.”

Leilyn grins victoriously. “Zoranne is already on the lookout. If she finds anything new, she’ll update you.”

Sensei nods with a light smile on his face. “Now that’s settled, pray tell, how often do you raid your fridge?” He c***s a brow. He’s looking pointedly at Leilyn’s stomach and she follows his gaze. She squeaks, grabbing the pillow and covering he bulge. Sensei’s eyebrow arches higher, surprised by her reaction. “Really, what’re you hiding?”

“Nothing!” Leilyn squeaks out, waving a hand. “Nothing at all!”

Sensei hums, giving her a once over again. “I’m just noticing that you’re glowing, Lyn. Are you pregnant, perchance?”

She sputters, face going red. “What?! No!” She denies hurriedly. Her hurried reply has Sensei narrowing his intense eyes at her. “This!” She removes the pillow and gives her stomach a harsh slap, wincing internally at her action. “It’s just fat! I’ve not been excising much, that’s all.” She chuckles nervously.

“Hmm.” Sensei obviously doesn’t believe her, but he lets it go. “Take good care of yourself, daughter. It will be embarrassing if you die of high cholesterol.”

“Yes sir!” She stands at attention and give a salute.

Sensei chuckles at her antics and is about to say something when he suddenly goes stiff. His head snaps to the left, eyes narrowing and brows furrowing.

“Sensei?”

He stands up, face still tuned to the left. Even through a holographic call, the toned man still tower over her. Being 7’1 – 7’2 or 7’3 when wearing boots or shoes – must be a f*****g blessing. The funny thing about this was that the man wasn’t always this tall. Before, he was 6’5 in height, complimenting R’s 6’3. But after R died, he just grew in height, towering over everybody in the clan.

He and the others are the reason why she built her house as big like a mansion, but it isn’t one. Most of her furniture are mostly gigantic because of them. And with his slightly bulky muscles to add, Sensei makes a terrifying, yet ethereal picture. She wonders how he does missions without people recognizing his height. Hmm… well, the world is filled with tall people, so that won’t be a problem… maybe?

“I have to go. Something just came up.” He turns his face to her and gives her a warm smile. “Take care of yourself, Lyn. I’ll call you soon.”

“Uh… o-okay. Bye Tou-sama.” She gives a small wave, face still filled with confusion.

With a nod, the holographic call ends. Leilyn stands there for some few seconds, looking at the spot were Sensei was a moment ago.

“Well… that was strange.” She muses. She holds her stomach, looking down at it. “I’m so sorry, little guy.” She caresses her bulge.

Leilyn decides to leave the reading for later and goes back inside with her book in hand. She drops said book on the living room table and she heads over to the kitchen. Feeling a little craving, she starts preparing a light snack. She tells Zoranne to warm the remaining roasted chicken while she goes to the pantry to get a fresh cabbage.

While the chicken is being heated, Leilyn prepares the cabbage and mixes the bowl of perfectly sliced up cabbage with mayonnaise (made with pasteurized eggs). She also slices up some fresh berries and adds them to the mix, along with the roasted chicken, cut into huge slices. She grabs a whole sliced bread and a bottle of mango juice and digs in. She never knew how hungry she was until she finished all twenty-five slices and the entire bowl of salad.

Full and satisfied, and also done with cleaning the dishes and kitchen, she heads over to the living room with a bottle of chilled water to relax. For the next twenty minutes, she watches a movie – well, she tries to. She becomes drowsy with sleep. Her journey into dream land is halted by Zoranne announcing that her orders were here. Leilyn groans, slowly getting up.

“Let them in.” She sighs out.

It takes thirty minutes for everything to be done. The juices are dropped into the dry storage room, while the fruits – dried and fresh – are kept in the walk in fridge and the ice creams – a whole two dozen of them, in different flavors – in the deep freezer section of the walk in fridge. Leilyn, once again, gives the workers hefty tips, getting exclamations of gratitude. She watches at the truck belonging to two companies – one of them being the company, Lucien Best Makes Ltd, which manufacture her favorite drinks, juices and ice cream; and a local company growing fruits and supplying them – leave. She puts three, large ice cream tubs and some washed fruits into the kitchen fridge, popping five blackberries into her mouth.

Leilyn gives a small stretch, grunting non-committally in tiredness. She makes her way to her bedroom, nap in mind. The balcony catches her attention and she pauses. Her face pinches in pain; her chest constricting. She breathes out shakenly before slowly making her way to the balcony.

“Wow… I didn’t know I did this much damage.” She mutters as she sees the state of the baluster. It’s c***k and chipped, some of the debris on the floor.

Unknown to Leilyn, it wasn’t only the baluster her flight into the woods affected. Part of the balcony is now cracked and unstable. So when the pregnant dark-red-copper head stepped close to the baluster, the floor gave way, and Leilyn suddenly finds herself falling, along with the baluster.

It’s so sudden that she didn’t have time to react, much less think of a way to stop herself from descending. She could hear Zoranne yelling in her ear, voice filled with dread. Leilyn finds herself falling face first, and she closes her eyes shut when she sees that she’s about to make impact with a baluster debris in a second. Her entire body goes stiff in dreaded anticipation for the life ending impact.

Fuck. Even in her grave, she’ll never live this down.