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[ New Kunlun ]
Digital rain dispersed itself over the glass canopy that made up the sky of the Four Seasons Pavilion. Yi sat outside as if to guard both it and its occupants sleeping inside. He brought out his pipe, inspected it contents, and with a pleased nod pressed it to his lips. A soft orange glow illuminated his miraculous white fur. With each exhale he watched the windless environment carry the loud-smelling smoke up towards the ceilings. Where, if one watched just close enough, vanished through a small vent within it.
“So the White Demon doesn’t sleep now?” Shennong’s deep and raspy voice carried through the sound of the rain, “why are you up?”
“I’m thinking.”
“Well what about? You’re an odd one, you know that? Always scurrying around in and out, never talking unless you’re drinking…” the great man’s face heaved into a large grin, “… or teaching that boy tricks about your demons’ culture.”
“I’m just thinking,” Yi replied, flat, “it doesn’t concern you.”
“But it’s bothered you enough t0 keep you up. I know a thinking man when I see one,” Shennong responded, “I’m not a dumb man. I see that pipe. Huh. Even smells like a plant we grew in the village.”
Yi closed his black almond eyes. He took in patient, measured breaths. Without thinking he took another few careful puffs off his pipe. Upon exhale he opened his eyes again. He turned his head to Shennong.
“You know those plants aren’t even remotely similar, don’t you? You could be allergic to this for all I know.”
“Look, demon… you’ve fed me poisons. And we’ve drunk them together. There’s no way a burning plant could do me in.”
“… if you insist.”
Yi extended his arm from his hanfu. Four precious claws clutched the slender pipe. With the mouthpiece aimed at Shennong, the man took it, examined it, nodded, and with an expert-like motion inhaled for several long seconds. The man’s massive chest deflated on exhale and he handed the pipe back to Yi.
“Yup,” Shennong coughed, “that’s close enough alright. So. Now that you’ve got a smoking buddy… what’s got you up?”
“It doesn’t concern you, apeman,” Yi demanded, “you’d barely understand if I told you. Let alone about my species. It’s - it’s something only Hen - ahem… someone I knew a long time ago would understand.”
“Well whatever it’s about… you’re right. I’m probably not your guy.”
“Good. Then why are you still here?”
“To see if you’ll talk about it. That moon’s not even real. The sky’s not even real. There isn’t even wind. You’re out here looking for answers that won’t find you. So - try me again, devil.”
“Ugh,” Yi pinched the bridge of his nose with two claws, “… alright. Fine. I guess it’s about morals. How… I handled something. With another of my species. I… feel regret.”
“Regret, huh?” Shennong sat down on the grass and urged Yi to do the same, “well I guess that’s something we both share in common, don’t we? We’re really not so different. Why the regret?”
“I… butchered an earlier Sol. Cut off her legs. Stuck one of her own monstrous collars on her. She’s probably still alive. Barely, likely. But… alive. All this time I’ve spent with the boy - and dare I say you - it’s… taught me some things. Softened me, maybe.”
“Well then. Nothing bad about being soft. If another of one of you devils is still alive like you said…” Shennong pressed the pipe into Yi’s paws, “the real question is - do you want to make it right?”
“There’s… plenty of things I’d like to make right,” Yi’s voice bled a little with dying grace after he’d hit the pipe, “… I don’t know if I can.”
“Of course you can. You wanna make it right, white demon? You’re a long way from that mysterious traveler persona you paraded around my village. You’re not really even a demon anymore. You bring her back. Show her some grace,” Shennong paused and a gravely tone took him over, “… the same kind you’ve shown me, Yi.”
Yi paused. He stared up at the moon. One of the panels in the sky glitched in a spectacular blast of colors and lined patterns. The longer he stared the more Shennong’s words buried themselves deep within his brain. After several minutes of silence, Yi pocketed his pipe into his hanfu. He turned to the large man and bowed.
“Thank you, Shennong.”
And without another word Yi darted through the Pavilion on a journey down to the Agriculture Centers.
* * *
[ The Agriculture Center ]
Yi’s paws splashed through dozens of puddles as he raced towards Goumang’s chambers. The rich and heady smell of plant life mixed with the chemicals responsible for New Kunlun’s overgrown flora filled his nostrils. He opened his mouth as the smells grew in intensity. More smells. Stronger, now. Even stronger than before. Every scent entering his mouth had him tuned into wherever Goumang’s body could be. After several more same hallways and paneling he approached her chambers proper.
Large doors shut and closed.
Yi propped himself up on his two legs and walked up to the doors. They opened at his presence. Both doors squeaked open with the grace of ten-thousand squealing mice. Somewhere in the faint light and bloodied carpet sat Goumang’s body. Even in the dimness her body twitched. A frantic feathered arm seized in uncontrollable fits. Her eyes vacant and glassy. Mouth foaming marked with the occasional unintelligible cry.
“So you are still alive…” Yi said as he approached Goumang’s body, “learned your lesson yet, Goumang?”
He stared down at the genetically-modified Solarian. She returned his look, but with no sense of life in her eyes. Yi sighed. He knelt down on one knee and examined Goumang closer. The lithe creature’s chest still rose and fell. Hot air exhaled itself from her nose. Even the blood still oozing from her shattered legs appeared red and oxygenated.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Yi muttered with a shake of his head, “damn you, Heng…”
One hand grabbed Goumang’s feathered arms and he slung them over his shoulders. Slow, but steady, he dragged the body with him out of her chambers. In a long streak of blood they went into the elevator - and together back to the Four Seasons Pavilion.
* * *
[ Four Season Pavilion - The Next Morning ]
“Y-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I!!!!!…” Kuafu’s usual gentle voice now boomed through the Pavilion the next morning, “is - is that who I think it is!? I - I thought you killed her!”
“Would you quit shouting?…” Yi groaned as he woke up. He propped himself up on his front paws once he’d seated himself from the floor, “you’ll wake the others.”
“But Yi!” Kuafu’s wide eyes peered over at Goumang’s body. His voice dropped to a whisper, “… it’s Goumang! If she wakes up here she’ll kill us!”
“Not us, you buffoon,” Yi replied in his normal, flatter tone, “just me. Which is why I need you, round one.”
“For what?…”
“Deprogram that collar for me, would you? And go bother Abacus if you need help. I need you two to draft up some prosthesis for her.”
“Where’s all this coming from?…” Kuafu tilted his head, “you seemed so pleased when you’d finished her off.”
“Yeah?” Yi shook out his limbs as he stood up, “I was. First Shaunshaun, and then that fool Shennong showed up, and… well. Maybe I’ve learned some things.”
“Are you getting sentimental on me, Yi?” Kuafu leaned his massive frame forward on his floating chair, “how very unlike you!”
“Can you just do what I told you?” Yi barked, “I’m sure once Goumang gets settled she’ll be able to reproduce that bubble milk tea you love so much.”
“Bubble milk tea?!” Kuafu’s eyes widened, “you got it, Yi! Aba-a-a-a-c-c-c-c-u-u-u-u-u-s-s-s-s-s-s!…”
Kuafu disappeared down the elevator to the ground floor. His voice carried through the entire pavilion. Even when he disappeared into Abacus’ chambers his excited voice still echoed throughout the grounds. Yi just shook his head. Before he turned around to keep an eye on Goumang he heard a young boy’s voice.
“Yi?” the voice called out. It sounded full of inquisitive thought, dancing with a light and curious nature, “is this the one that got Gee-Em’d?”
“Shaunshaun!” Yi shouted. He dashed across the room, leaped over Goumang’s body, and tackled the boy just before his fingers could grace the body’s dark blue fur, “you stay away from her. You understand me?”
“But why?… she looks harmless, Yi! Look at her!”
“She is not harmless,” Yi snapped as he kept a paw grasped to Shaunshaun’s shoulder, “she’s dangerous. Who knows what she’d do when she finally wakes up.”
“… Then why’d you bring her here?”
“I…” Yi narrowed his eyes, “ugh. You’re too smart for your own good. Go… go bother Uncle Chubby, alright? I’ll keep an eye on this one.”
“No. I want to stay here, Yi. What if something happens to you when I go bother Uncle Chubby?…”
Yi blinked a couple of times. He felt his grip loosen on Shaunshaun’s shoulder and the two creatures sat down on the couch.
“Alright… but no - touching. Understand?”
Shaunshaun nodded. Within a few minutes Abacus’ voice hovered in the air.
“Lord Yi. I see you’ve brought a guest into the Pavilion. … How quaint. Sol Kuafu and I have calculated a way to fully deprogram her collars. After searching New Kunlun’s databases we stumbled upon Sol Goumang’s archives. We should be able to safely deprogram and release the collar without harm. As for the… prosthesis… you requested, Lord Yi - Kuafu can print the parts. When she wakes, however… Are you sure about all this?”
“Yes,” Yi replied, assured, “I’m sure. Are you and Kuafu ready?”
“Yes, Lord Yi. Shall we begin?”
“Do it.”
Kuafu soon returned with a small screwdriver-like device. His giant paws quivered as he approached the Sol of Equality. Round eyes stared at Yi.
“Yi?… are you sure about this?”
Yi nodded.
Kuafu nodded, quivering paws turning to a steady and practiced steadfastness. A sharp whine emitted from the device that pitched up in an almost insufferable pitch. Then, in a split second, the noise quit. And a loud clang noted the collar coming free and lose off of Goumang’s neck.
For a second, her vacant eyes remained glassed over. Her body twitched. Everyone held their breath. Slow, her irises glazed over her fellow Sols and settled upon Shaunshaun. Goumang raised a long, slender arm out towards the boy. Large feathers splayed out in their desperate attempt to reach at him. Yi glared. A Talisman faded into his curled claws, ready to be plastered to the genetically modified Sol and detonated if necessary.
“A pet,” Goumang’s now-raspy voice wheezed, “an apeman? Here?… so - so outlandish to be killed for less. Who’s the hypocrite now, brat?”
Her gaze swiveled back to Yi. Tired eyes narrowed at him. She scoffed at the green Talisman sending soft rays illuminating blood-stained fur.
“I’m surprised you’re not trying to kill any of us.”
In reflex Goumang tried to flex her prosthetic claws. The muscles and tendons above the knee contracted. But with nothing to move they just sent small dribbles of blood down the stumps of her legs.
“The things I’d do if I still had my pets,” Goumang spat her words as she retorted, “why bring me here at all if not to finish the job?”
“I’ve had my share of time to think,” Yi allowed his Talisman to dissipate in a sign of trust, “you deserved better. … dare I suggest grace.”
“Grace? Grace from the Sol of Innovation? Ha! At what cost?” Goumang’s face retorted into what could have been laughter, “you’re no fairer than I. Keeping these pets around, letting them run free. I should” -
- “that collar’s been deprogrammed. You won’t be leashing any apemen any time soon. And especially not ” -
- “I like your wings, lady!” Shaunshaun knelt down by Goumang’s arm and with an investigatory finger touched the ends of frayed feathers, “is this what Yi meant by Gee-Em ’d? Where are your legs ?”
“… Shaunshaun… What did I tell you about ‘no touching’?” Yi sighed, “… I guess it’s too late for that now. Yes, Goumang’s been ‘GM’d’.”
“You gave it a name?…” Goumang stared with immense interest at the young boy, “who else knows of this disgrace?”
“Nobody outside of this Pavilion.”
In the silence Kuafu raised a single claw as if to signal his turn to speak.
“G - Goumang!… I - I’ve done the job of printing some new prosthesis for you. Abacus and I ran the numbers. They - they should fit just like your old ones!”
“Ah, so the lovable idiot finally built something useful for once, did he?” Goumang huffed, “I’m surprised.”
“… or I’ll just have Uncle Chubby here cancel those prints and you’ll stay crippled forever. Like a useless bird that can’t even fly.”
“…” Goumang glowered at Yi and her face relaxed into a gentle scowl, “fine.”
Goumang propped up her lithe frame against the couch and stared up at everyone surrounding her. Her gaze left the group and settled soon on the large tree just outside the Pavilion. Both eyes softened as she spotted it.
“One of my plants…” she tilted her head, “one of… my plants... here. Who planted it?”
“I did…” Shaunshaun piped up, fingers still examining one of the Sol’s feathers, “why? Did I do a good job? Is it healthy? Is there more? What kind of plants do you like? What’s your name?”
“So inquisitive, this one…” Goumang raised an eyebrow towards the young apeman, “so lively. I’m Goumang. The Sol in charge of the agricultural center here in New Kunlan.”
Shaunshaun's hidden eyes widened. He plopped himself down and looked up at Goumang with a sense of great admiration.
“… Oh. You’re… waiting for more, aren’t you, young one?…” Goumang tilted her head back until it rested against the couch’s cushions, “my favorite plant, you said? With my precious work I brought a plant back from the brink of extinction. Optoberries. Quite the delicious treat. And enough of it to feed everybody.”
“Wo-o-o-o-o-o-o-ow…” Shaunshaun grinned wide, “Yi, did you hear that? Bird lady brought back plants from x-sticks-shin!”
“Extinction,” Yi replied, “Goumang here did plenty to prevent that. … Almost too much.”
“Maybe she can grow us some food once Uncle Chubby finishes her legs! Yeah! Yi, can I help Bird Lady? Ple-e-e-a-s-s-s-s-s-e-e?”
Yi and Goumang locked eyes. One glared hard at the other. Goumang, defeated by Yi’s stare, shut her eyes and tilted her nose up at him.
“My precious bell’s shattered anyway. And besides, with that the collar’s quite useless anyhow. However… seeing as how you fools barely have much to call a garden in this little paradise…” Goumang batted her eyelashes at Yi, “… the help to cultivate one would be awfully nice.”
“Try anything remotely funny and I’ll hack off your second pair of legs too,” Yi stated, firm. He outstretched a hesitant paw, pipe in claw, “… here. Smoke this. It’ll help your wounds close up before you drown us all in blood.”
Goumang did as instructed. She let the hazy smoke drift out and off the balcony. Both eyes watched the digital moon disappear into the sun’s rising.
After the sun had risen in full to cast golden rays through the Pavilion, Kuafu floated over into Goumang’s space. Kuafu peered down at her. Several of her lengthened feathers draped themselves over Shaunshaun like a precious bundled blanket. She dared not to move a muscle. Despite the encumbrance of the young boy her demeanor had softened to a noticeable degree.
“So the apeman’s not bothering you, huh?”
“No. The apeman just… fell asleep like that. He…” Goumang sighed, “reminds me of two apemen I had on the farm after Eigong had found me. The two twerps followed me everywhere. Helped me with everything. Boundless curiosity. They were almost more than… just pets…”
“He’s a bright kid,” Kuafu nodded to Shaunshaun, “when Yi brings him gifts he picks them up almost right away. Smartest apeman I’ve ever seen. Oh! I almost forgot - your legs finished printing.”
Goumang just nodded. She managed to lift a stump up towards Kuafu. Kuafu grabbed the parts he needed and he breathed out.
“This is probably going to sting… a lot, a lot…”
“I did it once already, didn’t I? What’s a second time” -
Kuafu nodded. He connected a series of studded nodes to the stump. Goumang’s eyes twitched as the nodes clamped deep into the flesh. Small hisses escaped from between her lips. Next, Kuafu heaved two metal legs and placed them to the ground. Within them he clutched some wires with plugs on their ends. With expertise he plugged them into the nodes. Again, Goumang hissed at the piercing pain that shot up her leg.
“S - Sorry!…” Kuafu apologized as he worked, “I told you this was going to be painful!”
Goumang grimaced. Her mouth half opened to reveal two small rows of fine, pointed fangs. And through squinted eyes she spotted the fake bubble milk tea floating in Kuafu’s cup.
“The sooner - you - finish - nnngg - the sooner - you’ll - have - real - bubble milk - tea again!”
With renewed pride in his work, Kuafu did as commanded. He plugged in the rest of the plugs and then worked on fitting the leg to the remains of Goumang’s previous set of legs. Soon a bundle of plugs, intricate mechanics, gears, and even pneumatic pistons worked the leg.
“It… might need some calibration and some careful fine-tuning, but…” Kuafu gave a single, solitary nod at his craftsmanship. In triumph he made a subtle bow, “they’re expertly machined by your one and only! I hope they’re up to your standards…”
Goumang stretched out her leg in full. Three shiny new claws each closed in tandem with a mechanical clinks and whirs . When she attempted to stand she half collapsed to the ground. She groaned as she propped herself up with her arms.
“It’s a miracle those paws can do anything with fine motor control,” Goumang hissed. Seeing Kuafu’s ears flatten she twitched a feather on one of her arms, “… I mean… they’re fine. … no thanks to your scruffy paws, anyway.”
When all parties dispersed Goumang managed to get herself onto the couch in the upper pavilion. She stayed there through the day and into the evening. As the morning came again she noticed Shaunshaun still nestled in one feathered arm. Her slitted eyes stared at the sleeping creature. So full of curiosity, and wonder, and delight. So much personality tucked away between its ears.
Goumang sighed. She stared down at her own arm as if she’d debated removing it entirely. She raised a metal claw towards the feathers at the end of their arm. Little heartbeats of mechanical life whirred and clinked as the prosthetic moved. Careful, gentle, caring, Goumang preened her arm until all the feathers carrying Shaunshaun’s weight had been freed. Now truly free from her apeman encumbrance she set both clawed feet on the ground.
Legs tumbled beneath her. Her lengthy wingspan reached out to try and give her some lift. But exhaustion had other plans. She came down easy, and collapsed against the couch again. Up she rose again. And another fall. Again, she braced as she stood up. Shaky, like a newborn calf, she wobbled on legs that felt more like stilts.
Goumang’s legs carried her out to the grounds beyond the pavilion. Eyes peered at the soft dirt and grass. The sun kissed the earth in a gentle orange glow. She raised her feathered arm and reached into her clothes. Out came a small packet of seeds.
“First generation Optoberries,” Goumang snorted as she eyeballed them. Tiny, hand-written print done by young apemen adorned its surface, “… they always were my favorite of the bunch.”
She reached out a clawed foot and scraped it into the earth. Before she could resume the process she heard the grass ruffle behind her.
“Bird lady?” Shaunshaun tilted his head, “I thought you were gonna wait for me!”
“And so I preened myself for nothing, I see…” Goumang shut her eyes. Breathed in. And let it out in a mighty sigh, “… here. Let me till the soil for you.”
With surprising balance – done with a great amount of effort – Goumang pressed a single claw into the softened earth. She nodded down to it and after removing the claw, Shaunshaun placed a couple seeds into the ground.
“Now cover it back up with some dirt – but not too much, otherwise they won’t be able to come up through the surface. And not too dense, boy.”
Shaunshaun did as he had been told. He scooped dirt over the hole, patted it once or twice – and once more for good luck . The two repeated this process through the morning and into the afternoon. And even then the new crops got watered and the two returned to the pavilion.
“I see you two were busy,” Yi called out to the pair as he played a game of Go against Kuafu, “teach him anything?”
“What’s there to teach?” Goumang narrowed her eyes, “the little brat just did as he was told – like a good pet” – her words stopped cold as Yi’s dead-eyed glare met hers - “… helper should, of course.”
“Good,” Yi swiveled his head back to his game. He tilted his head at the board. Kuafu stifled a chuckle, “… before Uncle Chubby here decides to consume all our improvised Go pieces.”
“It’s a matter of territory, after all!” Kuafu beamed with pride, “and I think I’ve got you – hey! – Yi-i-i-i-i-i-i! That’s not fair!”
“And this is what happens when you lose sight of the bigger picture, oh snackish one,” Yi smirked as he gathered up a majority of Kuafu’s candied pieces in his paws. He plopped some into Shaunshaun’s hands and popped one into his own mouth, “your turn.”
* * *
The days turned to weeks as Goumang became integrated into the Pavilion’s general routine. Abacus shared data with her about crops and how to best recreate them within the Pavilion’s walls. A soon boundless garden grew just outside. Rows of optoberries and oats and strange meat-like substances sprouted. Shaunshaun’s curiosity grew tenfold. From dawn till dusk he peppered Goumang with questions and folly and unfettered wonder. And each question Goumang felt herself soften, and loosen, and relax.
By what the digital weather displayed as Winter came around, Goumang and Shaunshaun’s garden had come to a beautiful harvest. As dinner had itself served by all Solarians and two apemen present Goumang sat herself just in front of the fireplace. She gazed into the Primordial Roots.
“You’ve integrated well,” Yi said as he approached her, “can’t say I’m not a little surprised.”
“Well,” Goumang turned her nose up at Yi yet again, “at least you haven’t the nerve to touch my garden.”
“I’m not Eigong,” Yi said, cold, “I wouldn’t dare. Your purpose did help all of Penglai, after all…”
“Powered by that rotund mechanic’s power grid, of course…” Goumang smirked, “oh, how little things change…” she paused, stared into the roots once more, then turned her head to Yi, “… I have a gift for the fat one. I’ve cultivated a few plants in secret, and with that creepy digital you’s help I found a way to make some of that bubble milk tea he loves so much.”
Yi’s face shifted into a subtle smirk.
“Huh. You’ve done well here.”
Goumang turned her head away and shooed Yi away with some brushes of her feathers.
“No thanks to you. Now scuttle off. I can already hear his excitement.”
And, just as she thought, Kuafu’s excitement exploded. At the dinner table later, he beamed at the small brick wrapped in delicate paper and string.
“You did it!” Kuafu grabbed the tiny brick and turned it over in his paws, “you really did it! I thought I’d never lay eyes on this stuff again! You’ve outdone yourself, Goumang!”
“It was quite the project,” Goumang squinted into a brief – but proud – smile, “with some help and some Sol ingenuity.”
“Since it’s a whole brick… who wants some?...” Kuafu asked as he began to break off some chunks into milk-derivative, “it’s… it’s been awhile since we’ve all partook.”
Everyone at the table nodded. All those seated took a sip. A collective sigh rang out from each of the Sols.
For a moment, peace washed over them. A sense of mercy taken by a former master and mentor returned even if just for a spell. Goumang felt herself relax, and the pain in her legs lessened. She peered around the table. The familiar faces of her peers sprung a pang within her chest. Even the young apeman, so full of wonder, and love, and genuine aspiration – had wormed his way into the loose feathers of her arms. She draped one over the boy and she stared back at Yi.
They shared a single nod.
* * *