Zhihao woke up at dawn. At least, what his body thought was dawn. Travelling between planets meant terms like dawn and dusk were relative. Pulling himself out of bed, he looked out the window. There were only stars in the deep purple sky. “Well, crap,” he muttered to himself. Grabbing the half empty glass from before he went to sleep, he drank what remained. Then he walked over to the window out of the fancy hotel Andrew had them holed up in. After opening the window, he hopped out of the tenth story window like it was on the second floor.
Zhihao let his legs absorb the impact, letting out air from his lungs as he hit the ground. Then, taking a deep breath, he started his morning jog. It mattered little that it was nighttime. He’d woken up, so he had a jog to do.
No one bothered the man during his jog, partly because it was a ridiculous hour to be running, and partly because no one wanted to mess with the more than two and a third meter tall figure moving like a truck. Either way, thirty minutes later, he was back at the base of the building, looking up at the open tenth floor window.
Backing up slightly, Zhihao took a running leap at the building. He made it up around four stories or so and shoved his hand into the wall. The metal crumpled slightly, allowing purchase. Using that hand, he swung himself around and with a push, made it to the sixth-floor windowsill. There were two people in the room, entwined and asleep. Zhihao sighed. He’d need another drink. He jumped up from the windowsill, and stretching out his hands, caught his own room’s sill. One pullup later, he was inside. He let out a quiet sigh as he walked across the room to the minibar and pulled out a whisky. Pausing to look at the small bottle, he sighed again and pulled out a second. Pouring both into the now empty glass at his bedside, he took the glass into the bathroom with him. Turning on the shower to as hot as it could go, he took a drink and stripped off his hooded outfit. All across his body lay reminders of the very thing he wanted to forget. He’d had some cosmetic work done, but his companion didn’t want him to forget. Even left in idle, the bastard kept working him over.
The bing of the shower broke him from his self-pity session. Taking his glass with him, Zhihao walked into the shower. The water burned into his skin, washing over his body. He could feel it. The feeling felt good. It took his mind off of the rest of the universe. Brought him back into the moment. Every minute, on the minute, he took a sip from his whisky. On the fifteenth sip, he spun the temperature down from forty-five to fifteen, and let the cold water close off his pores. Thirty seconds later, he pressed the button to shut off the water. Climbing out of the shower, he didn’t even bother with the dehydrator.
Naked, he walked out into the hotel room and drank whisky. He was in no rush. He wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep, and there was nothing urgent for he and Andrew to do. They were here for a nice gambling weekend. Opening up the tablet on the room’s desk, he inquired about bars that were near him and open. There were several, as he’d expected. What would society be like without the ability to drink away one’s problems, he pondered, a smile crossing his face. He turned around and approached his closet. Clothes are key to first impressions, he mused, and he didn’t want to give off the wrong first impression. Shifting through the clothes, he finished off the glass of watered-down whisky, leaving the glass on a table. His hairless body had dripped itself dry enough to put on clothes. Pulling out a nice dark grey suit, he got dressed. He left the tight white dress shirt open at the top, so the tension would be more evident. Before leaving, he pulled out the hotel stationary and wrote a quick note for Andrew: ‘Woke up far too early. Heading for the bar. If I’m not back, I’ll meet you at the Seastone at eight.’ He walked out of his room and to Andrew’s. He cursed his good hearing. There were two distinct breathing patterns in the room. Andrew had done an Andrew in the seven hours since they’d landed, while he’d slept. Sliding the note under the door, Zhihao walked over to the elevator and pressed the call button.
“What was that?” a voice asked from the corner of his vision. He turned to face the sound. It was a relatively young woman, probably a scientist of some kind, who had clearly just finished a bout of poor decision making. He began to slouch, trying to make himself as unintimidating as he could manage.
Zhihao smiled. “Had to leave a note for a friend. Wouldn’t’ want him worrying about me, you know?”
The woman nodded. “I suppose I understand. But if you’re actually staying here, what has you up this early?”
Zhihao shook his head. “Couldn’t sleep. Me and my friend just got in this evening, and I was exhausted.”
“Clearly not as much as he was,” she remarked, “After all, he’s the one who’s still asleep.”
Zhihao’s smile shifted into a smirk. “Oh, I think he had some help in that department.”
The woman laughed at the implication. “I see. You’re not like that then?” she asked.
“Depends on how drunk I get,” he joked, then added, “But my body needed to sleep the moment we got in.”
Behind them, the elevator doors slid open, and the two made their way inside. “You know,” the woman remarked, “You’re slouching pretty bad. Standing up straight generally makes people more attractive.”
“Are you saying I’m unattractive?” Zhihao joked.
The woman held up her hands in mock innocence. “Nothing of the sort. I’m just saying that you’re slouching.”
“For most people, I’d agree with you,” Zhihao replied, “Unfortunately, most people aren’t quite my height.”
“Which is?” the woman asked. An innocent enough question.
Zhihao gave her an inquisitive look. “You sure?” She rolled her eyes at him, which meant something along the lines of, ‘yeah, idiot.’ With a sigh, Zhihao stood up, rolling his shoulders back and stretching. Towering about two thirds of a meter over the woman, he shrugged. “And now you see why I slouch.”
She smiled. “I prefer people who’re honest about who they are. I’m Paula.”
“Zhihao. Pleasure.” He extended his hand. She shook it.
“Well, now that we know each other, what do you do, Zhihao?” Paula asked.
Zhihao laughed. “You’re going to need to put some alcohol in me before I reveal my secrets, Paula,” he joked, “I’m pretty much sober right now.”
The elevator opened on the ground floor. “Well,” she remarked, “I have tomorrow off. Where are you heading?”
“Fifth Daemon. It’s nearby and cheap.”
“It’s the crappest tourist bar around. Let me take you to the Polished Nail,” Paula remarked.
“I didn’t see that on the list I looked up?” Zhihao remarked.
She smiled. “That’s because it doesn’t really advertise for your type. It’s a local joint.”
Zhihao thought a moment, then shrugged. He had nothing better to do. “Where is it?” he asked Paula.
“Nope,” she said, “You’re coming with me or you can go to the crap bar you were planning on hitting up.”
He shook his head at the scientist. “Fine, but I get to complain at how slow you’re driving.”
She furrowed her brow at him. “What makes you think I drive slow?” she asked.
He smiled. “Oh, you don’t, undoubtedly. Just slower than I usually travel.”
They walked into the parking lot, to a super-car. She liked cars then. Seeing the man doing math in his head, she asked, “Rethinking you’re position?”
“Hmm?” he remarked as he stood by the passenger side door. “Oh, no. Still slower than me. Just not as much slower.”
“Really?” she asked, unlocking the car. They both clambered in, and she added, “Because this is the fastest car on the market right now.”
He simply smiled and shrugged. Best keep the air of mystery. Paula drove them quite fast over to what appeared to be a warehouse. He had to admit, he’d underestimated the amount of work the woman had put into her car. It would’ve been a fun race. He still would’ve won, but it would be close enough to be entertaining. They walked out of the car over to a side door on the warehouse. There was a bouncer outside the bar, and Zhihao didn’t want him or her to have to deal with that, so he stood straight and walked with purpose behind the woman. The man let her in, instantly recognizing her. He looked at Zhihao and seemed like he wanted to say something to her, but also was afraid of the guy who was a third of a meter taller than him and built like a wrestler. Walking past, Paula remarked, “Usually he makes an effort to stop newcomers.”
Zhihao chuckled. “Have you seen me, though?” he mused. She laughed at that as they approached the bar.
The bartender looked at him, then asked Paula, “You’re back. Who’s your new friend?”
“Zhihao. I’m plying him with liquor to get his secrets.”
The bartender gave him a onceover, then asked, “My friends have told me about a Zhihao travelling around these parts. You him?”
“Depends. If I am, will you still serve me?”
The bartender smiled. “With a bulk discount, if they’re right.”
“Then yeah, I probably am. And to get ahead of the question, no, I’m alone currently,” Zhihao answered. They always followed up with a question bout Andrew. People were suspicious of him, probably because he insisted on being so damned suspicious all the time.
“Alright,” the bartender said, then leaning in, she added, “You hurt her, I don’t care what the rumors say, you’re dead.”
Zhihao shook his head and replied, “I’d never. Now get me the strongest drink you have.”
“You sure about that?” Paula asked.
The bartender answered for Zhihao. “Yeah, he is,” she said, as she poured him a glass of clear liquid.
“Alright, I guess,” Paula replied, “I’ll just have a beer. The moonshines a bit much for me.”
Together, they went over to a table, and sitting down, Zhihao asked, “So, what kind of scientist are you?”
“I think I asked you first,” Paula shot back, then added, “And I never said I was a scientist.”
“Fine,” Zhihao said, taking a drink of the moonshine. It was enough to give him a buzz, at least, “I’m a PA. For that friend I slipped the note to.”
“Really?” she mused out loud, “I had you pegged for a soldier of some kind, or a boxer.”
“In a past life,” Zhihao replied, then added, “Your turn.”
Paula nodded. “Sure. I’m a physicist, working on superluminal communication.”
Zhihao chuckled. “How’s that going? Any advances this century?”
Paula made a disappointed clicking noise with her mouth, then said, “Unfortunately, it’s possible but really expensive. We’ve gotten it down to nearly affordable for an entire section budget, though, so maybe in a decade or so, it could be in use corporately.”
Zhihao nodded. “That’s actually really impressive. From what I’ve heard, you’re years ahead of everyone else right now.”
The night continued with the two of them chatting. Zhihao went through fifty glasses of the moonshine in the four hours. Paula went through ten pints of beer. As Zhihao looked at the time, he realized he had to get going if he was to make it to the Seastone in time. “I’ve had a lovely time, but work is calling.”
Clearly intoxicated, Paula slurred back, “How the hell are you so functional? You’ve been drinking more than me, and you’re not that much bigger.”
Zhihao laughed. “Oh, I’ll be sober in no time,” he said, helping her up out of the booth, “And you need to get somewhere to sleep.”
“So, you’ve got a good ma-me-metabolism?” She slurred.
He smiled. “Something like that.” Then, to the bartender, he asked, “Anywhere she can sober up?”
The bartender nodded. “The apartment building next-door will let her stay. Won’t let you in, though.”
“Alright,” he said, and he helped her out to the street, propping her up near the building. “You just need to go in there,” he told her, keeping his voice measured and kind.
She looked up at the man. “I still think I could’ve won that race,” she murmured as she started to make her way towards the door.
“Don’t be so certain,” Zhihao said with a smile, and as the door was opened for her, he took off, sprinting full speed towards the Seastone Casino. He was running late as is, but at least he was dressed properly enough.
Paula turned to make her retort and watched as one moment he was standing there beside her, and the next there was just a blur as he past. That did a number to help sober her up. “The hell just happened?” she spat out. The landlord, who hadn’t seen the man, shook his head at the drunken woman and helped her inside.
Feeling the air through his hair, Zhihao ran. Hopefully the casino’s bar had something near as good as the underground joint had offered.