Tina Chan - imperfect

“We’re getting nowhere,” Jaiden stated the obvious.

“Go shower. You smell.” Kristi pushed her brother in the direction of the bathroom.

Then she wandered around the room, picking up different objects and examining them. There was a map tacked up on the wall. On the desk was a cup holding a bunch of pens and pencils. She picked up an album off the desk. Ghost looked up from cleaning his whiskers and growled softly.

She ignored him and flipped open the book. The first page showed a younger Chelsa standing in front of a man and a woman. Her parents. Chelsa had her mother’s hair and nose; from her father, she inherited his high cheekbones and green eyes.

She flipped on to the next page. Chelsa was much older now, perhaps twelve or thirteen years old. Beside her was a boy a few years older. The boy had light, curly hair and impish eyes. They were playing with Ghost beside a lake.

Kristi turned the page. The picture showed an even older Chelsa (fifteen, or sixteen years old?) being hugged by the same boy in the previous picture. Over the picture, someone had scribbled “Chelsa + Alex” in permanent marker. Kristi wondered how things stood between them now.

Ghost growled softly once more and Kristi realized with a start she was snooping through Chelsa’s private stuff without her permission. What a great friend I am , she thought, replacing the album as she had found it.

Ghost stared at her, as if to say, “You should’ve known better than to do that.”

The doorknob jingled and the door was flung open. Chelsa returned with her purchased goods. At the same time, Jaiden stepped out of the bathroom, toweling off his wet, dark hair.

“I got you new clothes,” Chelsa said, tossing Jaiden a stuffed bag.

He caught it one-handed. “Thanks. I’ll go change into them now.”

“I got you some, too,” Chelsa said and passed another bag to Kristi.

“Is there any way I can repay you?” Kristi didn’t want to become a burden to Chelsa.

“How about making breakfast tomorrow?”

“Deal.”

She helped Chelsa take out the rest of the purchases from the bags. All the food was stored in a plastic bin and the sleeping bags were kept underneath the bed until needed.

“Did you find any news about Maria and Don?” Kristi dumped a container of water-purifying tablets into a bin.

“They’re being held in a high security prison until their trial takes place. As for the spy group Maria and Don work for, all I know is that they work for the South Union, but I can probably find more information given some time. Here, you can check the news on my electro-slate for more information.” Chelsa removed the slate from her shoulder bag and pitched it onto the cot.

Kristi pulled up the NRN website on the electro-slate and browsed the headlines until she found one that read: Officials Uncover More Information About Shea Spies. The article read:

After breaking into the electro-slates of the two convicted spies, Shelly Smiths and Kyle Rogers (cover names: Maria and Don Shea), government officials have concluded they were working for a South Union spy network known as the Revealers. Further evidence suggests that their primary purpose of being stationed in the United Regions was to smuggle top-secret information to the coordinator of the Revealers. When questioned, both spies refuse to cooperate and all they would say is “follow the truth hunter”, which the officials theorize to be the Revealers’ motto.

“Follow the truth hunter.” That phrase stirred something deep inside Kristi, but she just couldn’t put her finger on why .

“How do I look?” Jaiden asked. He stashed his old clothes in a biodegradable plastic bag and indicated to his new clothes.

“Very nice,” said Chelsa. She sounded like she meant it. Even by a Perfect’s standards, Jaiden was very good looking.

“Jaiden, does the phrase ‘follow the truth hunter’ sound familiar?” Kristi asked.

“Isn’t that the name of the poem Maria used to read to you when you were little?”

She sat upright. “Yes, I remember it now.” She closed her eyes and recited the poem:

“It’s the Revealers,” Chelsa said. “The ‘truth hunter’ is the Revealers.”

“The Revealers?” asked Jaiden.

Kristi briefly gave Jaiden an update about Maria and Don’s case.

“I feel like I don’t know my parents—Maria and Don—anymore. They were freaking spies for the Revealers and I never knew it,” Jaiden said. “And now they want you to contact the Revealers. Does this only sound crazy to me?”

“Makes sense to me,” said Chelsa. “Yeah, maybe a little crazy, but overall, everything makes sense.”

“Chelsa, do you think you can snoop around town for any other information involving Don and Maria? I’ll do more research on your electro-slate,” Kristi said.

“I know just the place to go. But it doesn’t open for another two or three hours.”

“Where exactly is the place you’re talking about?” Jaiden asked.

“Troll’s Tavern. You can get almost any information there at the right price.”

“You’re not planning on going there alone, are you?” He cast Chelsa a questioning look.

“No, Ghost will be with me. I’ll be fine.”

“Ghost is a cat. ”

Ghost shot Jaiden an evil look.

“I’ve been to plenty of pubs before. This one will be no different,” said Chelsa.

“Except for the fact you’re looking for undisclosed information this time. At least let either me or Kristi come with you.”

“Have you already forgotten? You two are wanted people.” Chelsa spoke the last part slowly, making sure Jaiden didn’t miss her point.

“I refuse to let you go by yourself to a shady sounding saloon.”

“Don’t tell me what I can and cannot do,” Chelsa said. She drummed her fingers against the desk. “I’ve been living on my own for long enough to know what I am capable of.”

“You just saved Kristi’s life. Do you really think I’m going to allow you to risk your life for some stupid task Maria and Don left behind?”

“Fine. Kristi, will you come with me?” Chelsa asked.

“Okay,” Kristi said. “Jaiden, will you stop shooting daggers at Chelsa?”

Jaiden dropped his gaze. Kristi handed Chelsa’s electro-slate back to her, but she refused to take it. “Use it to do some more research.”

They had pathetically little information to show for the three hours of hard-core research. Sadly, all of their notes about the Revealers combined barely filled half a page.

• Established for 15 years

• Declared that they are an independent spy network that only has their headquarter located somewhere in the South Union—not part of South Union

• There has only been two public case in which the Revealers were directly involved:

• The United Region government accuse the Revealers to be a spy group for the South Union in disguise as a do-good organization

“The tavern should be busy now,” said Chelsa once they finished reviewing the notes. “Here, wear this and keep your head down.” Chelsa dug through some clothes and offered Kristi an oversized hoodie.

Kristi pulled it on and drew the hood over her head. “Can you see my face?”

“Only if you tilt your head,” said Jaiden. “Just keep your eyes on the ground and you should be fine.” He spoke to Chelsa, “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”

“ Yes .” Chelsa made an impatient sound in the back of her throat. “You’ve just broken out of jail; the local law enforcers are going to be on the lookout for you.”