BANG! BANG! BANG!
Malik jumped in his chair when he heard the loud thumping on the garage door. Maybe it’s Coach O? Malik, Magaly, and Tony made their way out of the office toward the garage door entrance, where Vau was already standing.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
“What if it isn’t Coach O?” asked Malik.
“What time is it?” Vau said, looking at Tony.
“Not the time we want it to be,” Tony said. “It’s a quarter till three.”
The pounding on the door sounded again. BANG! BANG! BANG! This time it was more forceful. Vau and Tony looked at each other.
Malik felt his panic returning. What if it’s tracers again?
Vau looked at him and said, “Just sit tight and be quiet.”
The banging stopped, and the group waited patiently to see if it would return.
Tap… tap… tap. Everyone but Tony made a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn back toward the office.
“Where is that coming from?” Magaly asked.
“It’s coming from the back door,” Tony said.
Malik stared down the hallway, and just as he was ready to turn away, he saw a dark figure. He took a step back until he recognized his former mentor. He sighed with relief. “Coach O!” Malik walked over to the man and shook his hand happily.
“Are you okay?” Ori asked.
“Yeah, I’m good.” Malik looked back at Magaly. “Coach Ori, I’d like to introduce you to Magaly. We work together at the doctor’s office.”
“Nice to meet you,” Magaly said with a smile.
“It’s a pleasure,” Ori said with genuine warmth. “I believe I’m acquainted with your aunt and uncle. It’s good of you to still visit your aunt.”
Malik watched Magaly, who appeared as stunned as he was.
“Malik, I’m glad you called.”
Malik shook it off, focusing on the matter at hand. “Coach, I need your help.”
“I’ve heard,” Ori said.
“You’re early,” Vau said, looking at Ori.
“I know,” Ori said. “That was not my intention.”
Now Malik was confused again. Do they know each other too?
“What are you doing here now, then?” Tony asked.
Ori gave Tony a side glance and then shook his head.
BANG! BANG! BANG! It started again.
Malik looked around. So was that not Coach O?
Ori smiled at Tony and Vau and said, “Two for the price of one?”
“Technically, we do have two,” Tony said as he tilted his head at Magaly and Malik.
“All right,” Vau said, “ready?”
“Yeah,” Ori said. “Open it up.”
Tony checked his watch. “Five till,” he said, looking at Vau. “Ori, I don’t think—” Tony started to say, but Ori interrupted.
“It’ll be all right,” Ori said. Ori nodded his head at the door. “Go ahead; open it.”
The sliding garage door at the front opened, and Vau quickly walked toward the office and vanished in the back of the building. Malik’s eyes followed the bottom of the garage door as it rolled up, looking for a clue as to what stood on the other side. He expected to see several pairs of black boots, followed by tactical gear. To his surprise, it was a small woman, dressed in dirty, ragged clothes. She was quiet and still, hands resting on a shopping cart in front of her.
“Please, come in,” Malik heard Ori say.
The lady smiled, and Malik recognized her. She was the homeless woman from the club parking lot earlier in the evening. He felt like he’d seen her before then as well. She pushed her cart into the garage.
“Do you know her?” Malik asked, looking at Ori.
Ori didn’t answer him.
“I figured that you were in town,” the woman said.
“How did you figure that?” Ori said.
She eyed Malik. “This young man’s ideas and designs were…” the woman paused, “of another world.” She reached inside a plastic bag from her grocery cart and pulled out one of his atomizers.
“Inspiration comes from everywhere,” Ori said.
“This is true,” the woman said. “There’s been a lot of commotion lately about what he possesses, so I had to see it for myself.” The woman observed Malik’s face. He kept looking back and forth between her and the door that was still slightly ajar.
“Don’t worry,” she said, giving him a devious look, “everyone scatters when Wen Shen comes around. Everyone except Ori.”
Wen Shen? Malik said, “Dr. Wen Shen? Did you work with Dr. Patel?”
The woman smiled. “Something like that.”
“Would you like some tea?” Ori asked.
“I would love a cup of tea,” Wen Shen responded.
Ori looked at Tony. “Do you mind?”
“I’ve got you,” Tony said. “Standby.”
Malik blinked and couldn’t believe his eyes. The woman’s appearance had transformed. Dr. Wen Shen was now attired in a beautiful red silk robe with golden lace detailing. Her black hair was now as elegant as her dress, pulled back at the base of her neck with a jade comb. A table was between them, set with a porcelain teapot with two matching cups.
Ori motioned his hand to the two empty chairs, and Wen Shen nodded. Malik wanted to say something, but he just stood there, frozen in place, as the two took their seats.
“So, Ori,” Wen Shen sat down and placed the atomizer on the table, “how do you know this young man?”
Ori leaned back. “How do you think I know him?”
“I think that he has a gift that you want to be realized on Earth,” Wen Shen said.
Ori didn’t reply.
“Is this true?” Wen Shen asked.
“Now, you know the work we do,” Ori said.
“Hmmm,” Wen Shen said, “but why would direct interference be permitted?”
“Let me ask you something. Why did you show yourself to Malik?” Ori said. “He saw you at the office and in the parking lot.”
“He interests me,” Wen Shen said.
“Why’s that?” Ori asked.
Wen Shen got quiet and looked at Tony. Vau walked back into the room and leaned against the far wall. Wen Shen smiled and returned her attention to Ori. “You’re not here for the boy, are you?”
Ori smiled in return. “Why would you think that?”
Wen Shen sighed. “You’re here for me. What do you want?”
“We need you to lay off a bit,” Ori said.
“Now you know this is a necessary part of the balance,” Wen Shen said.
“We understand, trust me, we do,” Ori said. “But, you must admit that the viruses and diseases that you command are getting out of balance.”
“What makes you say that?” Wen Shen asked.
“They are claiming too many lives,” Ori said.
“Humanity needed to be reined in,” Wen Shen said. “The virus knows it can’t survive without hosts though. It will prioritize survival.”
“That’s true, but we’re coming up on the reset,“ Ori said. “I’ve been sent to represent the whole.”
Wen Shen leaned back. “Aja?”
“That’s right.” Ori nodded.
“But she’s been silent for a very long time.”
“Oh, I know, which is why I’m here.”
“You have my attention.” She leaned back in.
“The system is at risk,” Ori said. “Earth is shifting, and the humans aren’t ready. All must move, or none will move. They must move forward with a common goal.”
“I’m fully aware of this. They always come together in times like these though.”
“They typically have, but right now, they are more divided than ever, and it’s getting worse. People are fracturing into smaller groups in an attempt to preserve what little they have.”
“That’s their choice.”
“True. The issue is that they think that’s their only choice. Malik has been matched with a gift that could allow the human body a chance to coexist with the virus.”
“I’m aware,” Wen Shen said as she held the atomizer up, inspecting it. “But this is impossible. He won’t be able to reach the number of people needed in time.”
“I know, that’s why I’m here. That’s why we need your help.”
“If they find a way to coexist, then who’s to say that they’ll miraculously come together and do what’s needed?”
“Don’t worry about that. For now, we just need to slow this virus down, if you’ll allow it.”
“You said that you have Aja’s support?”
“That’s right.”
“Then why are you asking me?”
“We need to work together on this. Aja wants your support.”
“I can’t show them the source. Not this time. We’re not talking about rats and fleas like the plague. This is different. This virus is quite keen on surviving.”
“I know. We just need the mutation to slow down. Aja has agreed on an expedited delivery of an antidote.”
“So you just need me to slow the mutation. That I can manage.”
“Well, we also need you to help him see.”