Blake had just poured himself a bourbon in his own apartment that he hadn’t seen in about two months, when the doorbell rang. He looked at his phone to see who was at the door.
“Huh.” Blake padded barefoot across the apartment to the door, unlocked it, and threw it open. “Mike,” he said.
“Hey,” Mike said. He looked contrite, which was an unusual look for him. “Scott here?”
“No. I just got here myself. Come in?”
“Yeah, sure,” he said. Mike came into the room. “You haven’t been here for a while.”
“I’ve been trying to save one of your teens’ skin. By the way, the charges dropped to manslaughter in the second degree and he has three years of probation.”
“Oh. Oh, great.”
“And Scott’s his liaison between him and the court.”
“Really? That’s good, isn’t it?”
“If you want to be a baby sitter, I suppose it is. Drink?”
“What’re you having?”
“Bourbon.”
“I’ll try it.”
Blake poured him a finger’s worth of the special stock that Scott had gotten him for Christmas. It was a lot smoother and sweeter than what he was drinking. “He’s also got 300 hours of community service.”
“He and Swoop will get along, then. I’m already approved for that.” He took the drink. “Thanks.”
“Cheers,” Blake said, raising his glass. They clinked, Mike sniffed it before drinking it. “This isn’t bad.”
“It better not be. It’s one of my best. So you still pissed off that Scott raised your arch-enemy from near death?”
“Scott, you know, sometimes, he’s too good for his own good.”
“Do tell,” said Blake, sitting down in a chair.
“You know what I mean. He thinks the damn Technomancer’s going to redeem himself.”
“That happens sometimes.”
“He’s a Technomancer.”
“I’m sorry, but could you explain what that means?”
“He can manipulate machines and –”
Blake waved a hand. “I understand that part. What I need to understand is why you think he can’t redeem himself.”
“Because they don’t give a shit about anyone else but themselves. All they care about is getting more and more power for themselves. They step over people to do it. You know what he did to Scott? He tagged him. Tagged him! So he was addicted to sex, especially with him, and we had to get another technomancer to stop it.”
“What makes this technomancer different than the one you hate so much?”
“Because Reynard’s part of a Brotherhood.”
“You were part of a Brotherhood as well. Circle, was it?”
“Yes, but – ”
“And I remember Scott telling me once that you collected all those books because you wanted power, too, isn’t that right?”
“Yes, but – ” Mike stopped. “I see what you’re doing. His brotherhood hurt my best friend.”
“Where’s your best friend now?”
“Dead.”
“So why are you carrying a torch for him?”
Mike drank the bourbon fast.
“With all due respect, Mike, and I’m no psychiatrist, but I think that this Technomancer-with-a-capital-T reminds you too much of your past. You’re the type of man who has a lot of anger and hate from things in your past. You have to let it go.”
Mike narrowed his eyes. “What do you know?”
“You’ve presented me with certain evidence, and this is the conclusion I come to.”
“You have no idea.”
“You’re right. I don’t have any idea of the depths what this man has done to you and yours. But when a man faces the Grim Reaper, he changes.”
Mike looked steadily at him. “He tries to.”
“And at least one succeeded.” Blake saluted Mike with his glass. “Don’t you think?”
He shrugged. “I keep trying every day.”
“So I suggest you let go of your past. Let the man live his life. But if he does hurt one of yours, then I think I’d join into the fray myself.”
“There won’t be anything left.”
Blake smiled. “He has a business entity. Ever want to be a CEO?”
“No, I have enough trouble being a leader of wayward sons.” Mike turned from Blake. “Thanks for the drink.”
“If I see Scott, I’ll tell him you’re looking for him.”
“Thanks. I’ll find my way to the door.”
Blake sighed after the door shut. He swirled his drink around. “Giving up your past is easier said than done, Mike. Easier said than done.”