The Drowned Rat (L 1.9)

Location: The Drowned Rat
Time: evening


Litch,

Javan led you and Merlin from the Belly across the murky waters of the Downtown Archipelago to the area once known as Dinkytown. After stowing your crafts at Doyle Dock, you step onto what was once a balcony but is now the entrance to this dive bar. You stroll past some scallywags smoking ganja on the balcony and enter the din of the Drowned Rat.


For a smelly, damp bar, it's quite full. And loud. A punk band is scream-singing some hateful vitriol and you recognize a few Sipps (Bristol, Karo, and Hedges) in the crowd as everyone bounces to the beat and scream-sings along with them. There are no empty tables, and a couple of stools at the bar look unattended.

What do you do?

I'm not sure which of my senses is offended most. Smell? There's an odor of stale beer, fried food, all sorts of smoked substances, sweat, and other bodily secretions. Sight? While there are a handful of lookers, it's too difficult to appreciate any beauty with the colors and frenzied motion of people dancing or simply jumping in place. It's overstimulating. Might be the reason for the joints being so popular. Calms things the frell down. Hearing? Is this even music? Taste? In a manner of speaking, we might have a winner.

As we pause to look around, it gives me time to ponder our next move. I could approach the trio of Sippians directly - either with a bribe or a threat. I'm not sure which would be more persuasive. The Rafter mentioned the low collective IQ of at least two of them, making me think flashing more coin or working out some sort of deal would be the most effective method. Alternatively, we could post up on the empty stools and observe them, though with their backs to us, I'm doubtful we would find anything useful.

I glance over at Merlin. Of the three of us, he looks most at home in this environment, though I'm confident he's on the same page regarding the quality of the performers. I lean over to him, raising my voice so he can hear me above the din. "Mingle with the crowd. I want you to try to isolate either Karo or Benson. I want one separated from his mates so we can have a little chat."

Javan slips into the crowd in an unassuming way while Merlin moves aggressively into the folks dancing and hopping around. You know they'll work one of the Sipps into a vulnerable position, it's just a matter of time.

Do you wait patiently and watch or decide to pursue another goal here?

As my birds wing out to encircle our targets, I shuffle and shove my way through the crowd over to perch on an empty stool. It's not a comfortable seat, but commandeering a table from other patrons is an unnecessary conflict to start. Plus, from the slightly elevated sitting position, I can both watch and spring into action if neccessary.

As you watch and try to ignore the assault on your senses in the Drowned Rat, you are removed enough to notice the arrival of Amazon. Amazon is one of the heavies of the Rafters. She was raised by them and feels an unswerving loyalty to her family, which you can respect, right? Here she is:

(note - she isn't carrying her machine gun - but you know she's armed)

As you can see, Amazon has had "some work done". Over her years of brutal conflict, she's taken some heavy wounds. Mekong, the Rafter techie, has been more than happy to fashion and build replacement parts for Amazon to keep her in fighting shape. Amazon thinks it's a blessing. The Gray Wing does not like something so unnatural.

If Amazon is here, Litch, violence is sure to happen. Soon. She is a walking hammer, and most of the people here aren't Rafters - so they're all nails.

What do you do?

The thickly-packed bodies suddenly part, people pushing past each other to make room for a new figure to wade onto the scene. As she moves through the crowd, they rejoin together like the sea. I can't help but glance over to see who is being given such physical respect. My heart rate spikes momentarily and I feel the itch to pull out my blades and immediately go on the offensive.

Amazon. The girl is almost more machine than human being - figuratively and literally. The one Rafter who places value on complete and utter loyalty. Despite my anathema to her metal attachments, as well as her affiliation, I cannot help but hold begrudging respect for her character, as well as her ability.

My eyes flick back over to the Sippian trio. Do they know she's here? Are they her target? Are we?

Amazon hasn't noticed you yet because she's focused on Javan. She's here because of the speedboat the Talons took from her people, Litch. She doesn't plan on hurting Javan, she's here to deliver a message. But Javan is a nail.

As she surges through the crowd towards your son, he turns to see her approach and starts checking for you and Merlin, as well as the exit.

What do you do?

Like a phantom, I glide from my stool and through the crowd. My presence is unfamiliar to the denizens, so they don't part for me like they did for Amazon. But I'm adapt at judging the rhythmic hopping that is what qualifies as dancing here. Three or four bodies are unsteady with drink, but I catch and release with ease, my eyes fixed on my target.

Her eyes are on Javan, his are on me. I gesture for him to keep his hands off of his weapons to keep her from grabbing hers. My own are loose and within easy reach. If she makes a move toward violence, it'll be her blood that carpets the floor.

You move closer as Amazon approaches your son. Javan turns to face her, standing with hands open as people jostle him while dancing and jumping around. Amazon recognizes that Javan is offering her peace, so she strides up, shoving someone out of her way, and grabs his shirt to pull him close. She speaks loudly into his face, loud enough to be heard over the music. "I want our speedboat back, Talon!" She demands with a metallic rasp.

Javan shakes his head no, shouting back, "Won it in battle, Amazon. Laws of the waves! It's ours!"

You see Merlin has moved from his spot on the dance floor to be ready to back you up. He makes eyes with you, he knows the score and will follow your lead. Amazon's eyes narrow. "That was MY boat, Talon! I demand it or blood will be spilt!"

Your son flicks a glance at you, Litch. Amazon isn't actually attacking anyone yet, but you've got numbers on her and could take care of this problem if you're willing to land the first blow. But you know the Sipps will scatter when a fight breaks out. They aren't that dumb.

What do you do?

I move within striking distance, close enough that I could reach out with my blades to cut her neck, give her a reason to complete her bionic symmetry. I don't yet pull out my hatchets. My arms are free to disarm her. My proximity makes me a danger to her, but I attempt to calm the conflict before it can escalate. "You are outnumbered and surrounded, Amazon." I murmur to her. "I know you aren't a fool, but I can make you look foolish. The boat was indeed won fairly...but I can give you an opportunity to win it back. I have need of your skills."

"I believe you. Your loyalty is..." Misplaced. Wasted. Your one redeeming virtue."...Commendable. I wouldn't waste my breath asking you to hurt your people." I pause and step closer, lifting my hands to lower my apparent threat-level. "I need you to find and...retrieve someone for me. She's with the Sippians, so you get to stick it to them for a bonus pleasure."

I nod, understanding the need to adjust my language. "Rather, she is a captive held by the Sippians." I don't quibble with her regarding the value of the Sippians. I'd easily take one of them over five Rafters, present company excluded. Hard Strike's people are crass and brutal, but solid in a fight. Though, it remains to be seen if Lucky Strike holds the same influence over them.

"Her name is Helix. Long, dark hair, slim and petite build, pale skin, lots of makeup...clean." I rattle off her physical identifiers. "She also wears a a black collar with a ring attached." I add, thinking about her attire the last time I saw her. The night Kiwi was murdered. "I need her alive. You bring her to me at the Roost, I'll return your boat to you. I'll even clean and fuel it up for you. Do we have a deal?"

"If it's the..." I have to halt as the reveler who bumped me loses their balance and careens into my shoulder again. I reach out one hand to steady them, though I maintain eye contact with Amazon. "If it's the medicine your people stole from us, the answer is no. That's non-negotiable. But if it's something else, then you will have it back. Though...it would certainly help if I knew the specific contents you wanted. Helix is more important to me than whatever item you're after and I don't go back on my word once it's given." It's a dig at the Rafters, though perhaps too subtle and without enough context to be picked up.

"That's right. She was a server there." I don't know what she means or why the Rafters honored Helix. For all I know, it merely means they paid their tab instead of scuttling off after finishing their drinks.

I don't want to believe that she didn't know about the theft, but her physical reaction gives me pause. I can feel my eyes squint with doubt, but I steel my mouth and jaw to not react, to continue to look back dispassionately. She mentions the lockbox and I move my gaze over her shoulder at Javan, clocking that he's still following the conversation. I don't know who all rummaged through the boat prizes, but he might. "Boat and box, for the girl." I don't spit in my own palm, but I grasp hers firmly, focusing on the touch of her flesh, while trying to ignore the inhuman pieces.

Deal in place, I gesture again to my Talons. Time to go. Then I turn my back to the dangerous Rafter and begin to swim through the crowd towards the exit.

Your son and lieutenant fall in behind you as you head for the exit. Bristol watches you closely, but hangs back - she'll tell the others later what she saw.

End Scene