It had been years since Jung had last ventured into space. Readjusting to artificial gravity was difficult on his brittle bones and there were a few cases where he almost threw up on the poor sod next to him. There is almost a silver of regret coming up here after all these years.
Just outside the shuttle’s porthole Jung can confirm what Keane said earlier that day; there were hundreds of ships of various sizes cruising around at most Lagrange point Clusters—all heading for the one closest to Lübeck and Jung—Side Brunsbüttel.
Jung leans forwards in his seat and wonders if there are even enough ships available throughout the Mafia that could be scrambled together to fight the Federation in the Rouen corridor; two-thousand ships. It’s not a number to take lightly and Jung finds it almost unbelievable. This force sounds almost twice as big than what the Federation was capable of mustering at Abassi in 216.
A ringing sound overhead snaps Jung out of his thoughts. Keane emerges from the cockpit leaving the rest to his co-pilot. “We’re heading towards theDon’s Montepuez and will be there innabit. You’re all free to move around freely until we start docking on the runaways.”
“Simon…” Jung interjects “is he at the Montepuez? Or at Li’s Castelforteperhaps?” Keane looks at him dumbfounded but shakes his head.
“Can’t say he is. The Don ordered him to stay behind at Brunsbüttel…”
“What?” Jung almost jumps up from his seat “how prosperous. What is the Don doing?” Kean only offers a shrug in response.
“Supposedly Madame Hwang wants him to save-face in the capital… if the civvies see all the Mafia folks leave, she and the Don fear that there might be attempts at a civil uprising… so he is staying behind with most of theDon’s elite honchos to ensure there is public order.”
“Just my luck…” Jung groans with his head hung low “with Li I have no qualms with…” Jung sighs and scratches his stubble “but with no real mediator between Zhui and us, it will be several times more difficult to coordinate with that wretched man.”
“What do you intend to do, captain?” Jean asks while stroking Jung’s head. Kean crosses his arms and leans over to a porthole to glance at the assembling fleet.
“Frankly, there is nothing I can do…” Jung responds with a discouraged sigh “and since Simon isn’t tagging along I want to make one little detour before we head for the Castelforte…”
“—Not the Montepuez?” Kean interjects looking back in surprise. Jung only shakes his head.
“I’m not setting foot anywhere near that ogre. It’s better if we stick with the Scarface and coordinate our defenses together,” Jung says before pausing “anyway, re-navigate the shuttle for the Brunsbüttel. I want to pay a visit to my old friend before we join the fleet.” Kean nods with a sigh and heads back into the cockpit.
After communicating with the harbor’s tower, the shuttle touches down gently at one of the designated landing pads assigned to it. When the coast is clear and permission is given to unfasten from their seat-belts many get up for much-needed stretches. Jung does not participate, however, and he quickly activates the escalator and waits for it to roll out. A tap from behind makes him turn around; Jean, of course.
“The one you’re visiting… Simon, right?” She asks, peering out of the adjacent porthole. “Do you want me to tag along, or…?” Jung follows her gaze and finds the harbor mostly empty by now—there are occasional trucks, unused barges, and empty crates here and there. One similar vehicle catches Jung’s eye—a dark-blue automobile with a taste in design that makes Jung roll his eyes.
Jung only shakes his head. “Sorry to say, but I’d appreciate it if Simon and I have some alone time for now. I’ll join you guys the moment we finish business. Just a little catching up, I won’t be long.” Jean nods and steps aside for Jung to make his way down the esculator.
A tall figure emerges from the backseat of the vehicle. Jung is a little surprised he is even here—truthfully Jung expected to find him at his residence and spend a little longer on his detour to locate the man. Perhaps Simon was expecting him? Jung wouldn’t put it past the man if he happened to overhear that the man sent by Hwang is returning so soon to theBrunsbüttel.
A puff of smoke from the man’s lips materializes with the overcloud mist procured from the shuttle’s engines. It provokes Jung into coughing into his arm because of the strong smell. It’s been too long since he felt agitated by such toxic fumes. The air in Brunsbüttel is so suffocating that it instantly makes Jung homesick for Lübeck’s clean air. Here, his lungs burn from agitation.
“Jun…?” Simon utters—to Jung’s surprise—and the cigarette he held in his hand drops to the floor. “I don’t believe my eyes… am I finally going mad from space radiation? Am I seeing a dead man walking?” Simon blinks rapidly. Jung can only surmise that walking through the misty air gives the impression that the Wulf is a ghostly figure. In some ways, he is a dead man walking all things considered. It is rare for one to simply walk out of the Mafia, and even rarer to be welcomed back into it. But this is what the Hwang wanted, and so it is what the Hwang gets.
“I’d be more worried about the nicotine going to your head,” Jung answers matter-of-factly. Simon can’t help but lightly scoff and place his hands on his hips.
“Word must spread fast about the Federation sniffing their nose around, huh?” Simon asks “is it me? Am I doing a horrible job at suppressing rumors?” Jung only shakes his head.
“One of Kamon’s men went out of his way to comb Lübeck looking for me. Sad to say, but I didn’t do a good enough job of keeping a low profile,” Jung grimaces, realizing that he had been ratted out by a civilian of all things. “A part of me hoped it was some young-gun looking to avenge one of the hundreds of people I’ve murdered,” Jung says with a contorted face again “it beats being in this situation… I’m impressed that slipped past you of all things.” When Jung finishes, Simon only scratches his head.
“I knew she sent men out for something… but she wouldn’t tell me why. The old hag never likes to tell me anything. She’s so discrete and I can never read into her motives…” Simon’s arm drops to his side “if I had known the true purpose of his departure, I would’ve stopped him in his tracks…” Simon stares at Jung with narrowed eyes “I would’ve never allowed it if I had found out sooner. To rip a man from his honest living for such selfish reasons makes me sick—not even Zhui would stoop that low.” Simon clenches his fists.
“I knew that this day would come eventually,” Jung says with a sigh “it would have made no difference either way—even if I refused to fight, if the Federation bring the Mafia into a pitched battle—it won’t be another Abassi—no” Jung shakes his head “it will be worse than Abassi. We have nowhere else to run—and they say the Frankish Realms are armed to the teeth with their Side defenses. We have to make a stand here,” Jung slaps his chest “Ihave to fight here—for my life—and my wife and son’s future.”
Simon raises his head in shock, “Frau… she’s pregnant?” Jung nods his head.
“Since November…” Jung says in a lower voice and clears his throat.
“Which means she’s due next month…” Simon’s eyes close shut and he lets out an agonized sigh “what awful circumstances you’re in, Jun… I had no idea… I suppose it would be too late to say congratulations.”
“It’s all the more reason to fight,” Jung responds.
“Never in a million years would I ever think to hear those words coming from you of all people,” Simon remarks “so… what compelled you to come out and see little old me? Wanted to make sure I wasn’t in a cemetery yet, eh?”
“Well… you are not half wrong… I was concerned you weren’t going with the fleet… it must be rough not being able to watch over Li—but thinking about it now, it does make sense why they would drag me out of retirement… Simon, do you believe she is capable of fending off the Federation by her lonesome?” Jung has been looking back at the shuttle and glances over at Simon who continues to enable his distressing habit of smoking “also, I thought you would’ve quit by now.”
“The day I stop smoking is the day I drop dead,” Simon states in a dry manner “it upsets me too—I still don’t know what the hell Dong is doing. He’s sending Che out to Valspon and waves it off as good training for him…” Simon rips the burnt-out cigarette from his mouth and smashes it into the dark tray next to him. “He’s risking our behind with such an appointment—even sending Li over there would be more beneficial—I suggested Che remain here, and me accompanying Zhui instead, but he wouldn’t let me have a word in,” Simon says bitterly as he puffs rings of smoke through his nose.
“Che?” Jung folds his arms and leans against the hood of the car “what an odd choice…”
“Zhui digs deeper in pursue of his paranoia, he can’t trust Li alone,” the lighting of another cigarette “rambles on that she might plot against him at Valspon.”
Jung always knew that Li had increasing influence particularly in the aftermath of Abassi. Few men could claim to accumulate such power and even fewer live long enough to harness it. It’s one of many reasons why Jung bowed out of the Mafia—his fiery youth was spent fighting and raiding—petty Mafia affairs were beneath him, and even he recognized that opposing the Don in any capacity is a one-way ticket to having your whole family slaughtered. He knew one too many disgruntled compatriots who have gone missing after seeking to conspire against the Don— particularly after Abassi and the decision to abandon their criminal enterprises in Merica and Ruthenia.
“Li must be twenty or so by now…” Jung remarks stroking his stubble “to be constantly under the looming wrath of Zhui must take a strain on her,” Simon only shake his head.
“She often confides in me she pays no mind to Zhui, and knows better not to overstep her bounds…” Simon takes a particularly long drag from his cigarette “…the only reason he has her around is because of her capacity for situations like this.”
Jung only replies with a heavy sigh. “The poor girl… if you weren’t around I shudder at the thought of what he might do with her… Simon, you better make sure you live longer than that oaf—for Li’s sake.”
“Speak for yourself,” Simon retorts as he crumbles up an empty carton and slips out a new cigarette to smoke “you better damn well survive through this mess and return home to be a family man.”
“We could go back and forth with this… but isn’t it about time for you to do the same?” Jung states—but he has a nagging hunch that it was insensitive and sinks teeth into his lower lip “—sorry, that was…”
“—Hitting below the belt?” Simon says with a slight cackle “I tried that once… and it didn’t work out too well…” Simon stops to take a prolonged huff from the dwindling cigarette—and then a hard tap on the ashtray. “I’ve always been shackled with responsibilities… and I believe I told you before—no matter what, I will uphold my oath to Zhui… and I must be there for Li…” Simon’s voice drops as he crushes what remains of the cigarette between his thumb and index finger “…it’s the most I can do as atonement for her family.
“In a way, with Li…” Simon trails off with an open mouth flowing with purplish fumes “I don’t need anyone but her—and she has always relied on me; being there for her is what I do best. I’ll never let anyone lay a finger on her so much as I breathe. But this time…” Simon partially taps another cigarette out of the carton “she’s on her own—and that frustrates me greatly… so with that said, Jun,” Simon gets up from the car and turns to face Jung “I have to ask a favor of you—as a selfish old man to another, please, do whatever it takes to ensure Li returns safely,” the two lock eyes “it’s all I will ask of you—and nothing more.”
Jung only scoffs, “that’s an easier task than promising my wife to stay alive,” but his slight grin only disappears “if by chance I don’t return—please do what you can to ensure my wife has an easy life. I’m sure you can send some freeloaders off to her on our farm, or perhaps money stipends…”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Simon sternly interjects, but blinks and forces a cough, “I will do what I can… but it won’t be necessary, I’m fully confident you will come back to me in one piece—alive, so don’t go all sentimental on me already” Simon steps toward Jung and gives him a hard pat on the shoulder.
“You got this, Jun, you and Li will be unstoppable together; give them hell for me, will ya?” Simon asks with a grin “I’d love to catch up with you more—maybe over some drinks even—but I’ll save talking your ear out until you get back—until that time comes, take care in the meantime, Jun. Do it for your wife—” Simon pulls Jung closer by the collar “—and for Fa.”
“I’ll hold you to that, and speaking of which,” Jung snatches the carton out of Simon’s other hand. He slips one stick out and lights it from Simon’s still-burning one. With a single huff, Jung pollutes his senses with the rancid odor that overwhelms him with thoughts of sewage. The bitterness of the drag makes him nearly gag as the smoke runs coolly down his throat and burns his lungs like none other. Jung snorts out a cloud of smog that is not quite opaque—and observes as the purplish cloud of toxin swirls upward before curling into nothingness.
Simon looks at him in curiosity, and only offers a scoff. Jung steadily crushes the cigarette into the ashtray and walks toward his shuttle. “I’ll simply never know how you became so fascinated with that substance of death,” Jung turns around to shout “such a poisonous weapon! I can only feel sympathy for Li.”
“I’ll lay off it when we meet again,” Simon shouts back “I’ll be clean as a celebration—I think you’ll deserve that much.”
The two men grin, and once again, the two depart from each other’s lives.
The voyage to the Castelforte is spent in silence as it slips through past the much-larger vessels. It’s not long before the shuttle comes to a halt, and Jung and the others a slight jerk as their craft is lifted by mechanical clamps into the mothership. The creaks and moans of the mechanical arms cease, and the silence resumes—interrupted only by faint muffling that Jung barely makes out outside.
Jung leads the way to the door, and after confirming that everyone is ready punches into the door panel to activate it. The door slowly slides open—revealing a misty fog that obscures Jung’s vision. As the fog slowly subsides, Jung can make out a dozen silhouettes standing before the craft. One of them steps forward and cuts through the dry mist wall.
And for a split second Jung’s heart skips a beat. His brain stops thinking—and he basks in the realization that the figure presenting themselves before him is Fa… but there must be a mistake—a figment of his imagination?
“F…a…?” Jung utters, rubbing his eyes despite the burning sensation brought about by the engine smoke. He takes a step forward out of the shuttle—closer to the one he perceives as his lost love.
And then rescinds once the mist finally clears.
“Jung… Lee, was it?” A dark-haired maiden with unkempt beauty and a distinctive facial scar-like no other asks with curiosity.
His mind was playing tricks on him after all. Years ago, he had asked Simon if he saw Li in Fa—but perhaps it was Jung who saw that spirit in her. Jung can’t help but brush off his embarrassment with a scoff. How envious he is of Simon. She had grown into being a beautiful woman; the disfiguring scar notwithstanding. If Jung were still younger he would’ve found such a defacement more attractive. “Is something the matter, Jung?” Li asks with sincerity in her voice and slightly burrowing her thin brows. Jung only casually shakes his head.
“I was merely taken back after seeing you after all these years, Li.”
“Likewise, it is quite a shock to see you again—” Li tilts her head and gently strokes the chin-point of her scar “if memory serves me correct… you settled down with your wife a few years ago? I understand we are in a precarious situation… but aren’t you risking your life when you have so much to live for now?”
Jung chuckles and again shakes his head. “It’s a necessary decision I’m content to live with. If we lose here—all my hard work will be for nothing. I fully intend to retire for good—no matter what. If they have to drag this feeble wulf by the tail back through the fires of hell—then I shall put up a stubborn resistance all the same,” Jung finishes with a weak smile.
Li nods, behind her the cadre of men clack their feet together and pump a fist to their chests; the typical salute of the Year 217 Mafia. Li then steps forward with an extended hand. Likewise, Jung reaches out with the opposite hand and clasps hers for a firm handshake. “Although it may not be in the best circumstances…” Li grimaces with a slight grin “it is good to have you back, Jung Lee.”
“I place myself in your care, Li,” Jung says reflecting her grin, “let’s get through this together.”
