The assailant’s fist landed like a hammer blow on Ian’s right cheek and his vision filled with stars as his head began to swim.
“Where did you take him?!?”
Another hammer blow to his stomach took all of the wind out of him making it impossible to answer. It also caused all of the strength to evaporate from his legs and he collapsed in a heap to the floor, gasping, desperately trying to refill his lungs with air.
“Stop it!” a voice cried out from somewhere at the edge of his vision.
“Shut up bitch! Unless you want the same,” his assailant replied.
Ian lay bent over his knees with his forearms on the ground trying to regain his breath. He didn’t dare look up, but he could make out at least six pairs of boots ringing around him and Dyrke, the leader of the Steel Spiders.
“I escorted him to the Enfor…” Ian tried to gasp, but a heavy booted kick to his left side crushed his bicep into his ribs. The blow took the wind back out of him and rolled him over onto his back.
“He was the property of the Spiders Ian! You had no right to escort him anywhere!”
The last sentence was emphasized by another kick, this time to his right side.
“Please!”
THWACK!
Somewhere in the shadows Ian heard the meaty thud of someone else taking a blow, followed quickly by the sound of a collapsing body. Nobody else spoke up or moved to help Ian or his unseen advocate.
“Pick him up!”
Two sets of hands reached down and hauled him to his feet. Once vertical they had to support him because his legs were barely responding to his efforts to stand. He tried to lift his head to look Dyrke in the eyes. By now the swelling on the right side of his face was making it difficult to see out of his right eye.
“I took you in!” another hammer blow, this time to his left cheek.
“I gave you shelter!” another blow to the right.
“And this is the thanks I get!” a piston blow to his stomach. Now all strength left him, but the powerful hands held him in place.
“Do you have any idea what you have done to the reputation of the Steel Spiders?!?” This time his assailant gave him a two fisted backhand that landed hard enough to cause his restrainers to lose their grip and he collapsed to the floor once more. By now blood was dribbling out of his mouth at a steady rate into a pool on the floor.
Ian tried to stand up on his own but collapsed in a heap twice more before he got his knees under him, but as he rallied the strength to push up the rest of the way another hammer blow drove him back down. This time he just stayed down.
“Bring ‘em to the deck of the Bifrost. We’re going to make examples of them. Show the others what happens when you cross the Spiders.”
Two pairs of hands reached down once again and brought him to his feet. He had no strength in his legs and so he was dragged more than carried up the several ladders and decks until they reached the deck of the bridge that connected this part of Hive City to the Under Hive. It spanned a chasm a half a kilometer deep.
“What are we going to do with them Dyrke?”
Ian tried desperately to identify the voice of one of those he had called friends.
“We toss them over,” came the leader’s reply.
Ian tried desperately to rally his strength, but it was hopelessly inadequate. His escort’s grip held firm. What little vision he had through the swelling in his face he could see the abyss beyond the edge of the bridge and fear welled up in his throat.
“Can the Spiders come out and play?”
The procession to his doom stopped dead in their tracks. Ian could hear a lot of shuffling feet, but could not identify the voice.
“You’ve got no say in this Bounty Hunter! Best to leave now lest you get taught a lesson you won’t soon forget.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. I am not here for them Dyrke. I’m here for Jakob. I heard tale that you had him. I want him. You wouldn’t even have been on his trail if it weren’t for me!”
“You can’t have him. It’s our bounty. We went and got him, and I aim to be the one to bring him in.”
“I kind of thought you’d say somthin’ like that.” The Bounty Hunter put two fingers in his mouth and brought forth a piercing whistle. On cue a dozen Escher stepped out of the shadows. “And I take issue with it.”
The vice grip that held Ian upright released their hold on him and he collapsed in a heap. Looking up Boenerges was placing a long boxed cartridge into the belly of his heavy stubber and was fixated on the new threat.
Ian looked around and saw that Gelder had released his grip on Amber as well. She stirred as she hit the deck, but slowly. Continuing to take in the situation he noticed that the Spiders were taking cover to face off against the Black Cats and the unknown Bounty Hunter. Dyrke was not currently interested in exacting his justice on Ian at the moment. He knew that would not last and that he and Amber would only have a few moments to affect their escape. Amber looked up and made eye contact with Ian. It was clear she was as scared as he was. With little effort Ian communicated that they needed to crawl back the way they had come.
They pair had not gone far when the fire fight erupted between the Steel Spiders and the Bounty Hunter’s crew. Without a word between them they both got up and ran as fast as they could back to the relative safety of the Chigger’s Bar. Ian glanced back out on to the deck and could tell that Dyrke and the Spiders were making head way against their attackers. Looking around the bar it was empty, the last few patrons fleeing out the front door to escape the combat outside. Chigger waved them over.
“Take your old room Amber,” he glanced back at Ian. “It’s my hide if Dyrke catches you two here. Get up to that room and stay there until I give you the all clear.”
“Come on Ian. It’ll be OK.” Amber gave Ian a reassuring tug on his right arm to pull him up the stairs behind the bar. They stumbled to the last room on the right. Once they were inside Amber slid the door shut and pushed it slightly forward. “If this works right, it will look like just another panel in the wall outside.”
They could hear the staccato of the heavy stubber through the walls, but it was apparent that the battle was waning.
The wounded pair collapsed on the unmade bed, exhausted. Amber had a welt growing on her cheek, but Ian was in obvious pain and having to take shallow breaths in order to not agitate his probably broken ribs. Amber tried to take stock of his wounds but he waved her off, and she was too tired and sore to protest. They both drifted off to sleep.
-=-=-=0=-=-=-
Ian jolted awake to the sound of men and women screaming in the hall outside. The effort to stand made him catch his breath and pain stabbed through rib cage, but he readied himself to defend himself and Amber.
“Over here you thick headed sump spider.”
Turning around Ian saw Amber had pivoted the dresser out to reveal a dark chamber beyond. He hesitated a moment.
“Search all the rooms!” they both heard Boanerges bellow from the hallway.
That was all the encouragement Ian needed and he ducked into the small doorway. Amber quickly followed and pulled the dresser back into place with an attached cord. Once the dresser pulled tight darkness washed over them. They sat together in the darkness barely wanting to breathe lest they give themselves away.
A crash rumbled through the little door and they both instinctively shuffled back away from the door. Ian’s eyes had not quite adjusted to the complete darkness and he found himself wishing he had his visor with him now. It was then that he realized that neither he nor Amber had any of their kit. He fought the urge to panic.
Chigger’s voice boomed through the wall and door, “I told you they weren’t here Cacee! You didn’t have to go and bust down the door!
“It’s good for you that they aren’t Chigger,” came the familiar voice of the Spider Ian had once called friend.
Next followed a lot of shuffling of feet and whispers. Ian tried to press his ear against the door to hear what was going on. The shuffling lasted for a few minutes. Much longer than he had thought it should, especially thinking that once they did not find what they were looking for they would just leave. Finally the voices and the noises from the room beyond faded. Ian moved to try and push the door but Amber grasped his arm. Looking over she was shaking her head as if to say ‘not yet’. Ian nodded in acknowledgement and there they stayed. After fifteen minutes Amber pressed her shoulder against the door and it opened a few centimeters. She waited to see if anything responded from the room beyond. When nothing happened she opened it the rest of the way slowly.
From their hide the room looked turned upside down, and the once concealed door lay smashed and hanging from only one hinge. Looking around once more before they stepped back into the room memories flooded both their minds. Many a liaison between the two had been spent in this room after they had first met. Back then Ian believed their trysts to be out of bounds, he a member of the Spiders and House Van Saar, and she a member of the Black Cats and of House Escher.
“I don’t think we are going to be able to stay here much longer,” Ian said out loud.
Amber nodded her head in silent agreement. Ian moved to the smashed doorway to look down the now silent hallway that led back to the public room of the ‘Bifrost’. It was filled with debris and broken furniture, but no people. When Ian turned to signal that it was all clear Amber gasped.
“Look!” she said pointing to the bed.
Poking out from underneath the displaced mattress was the pommel of Amber’s sword. Ian helped her lift the mattress the rest of the way off. Underneath they found Ian’s tinkering and medical kit bag and Amber’s sword. Ian opened up his kit satchel to see what was in there. All of his basic tools that he had used on his workbench along with his basic medical supplies. Right on top of it all was a small bag with a few guilders and his visor.
“It’s not much, but better than nothing.”
Amber agreed. “Look, a note” she pointed to piece of paper sticking out from an interior pocket.
Ian, you saved my life once. Dyrke is on the warpath for your hide and for anyone who helps you. He’s taking us out towards the sump. I highly recommend you make a break for it once we leave. It will be best for everyone. This makes us even. ~ Cacee
Ian just stared at the slip of paper for several long moments. Cacee had been instrumental in bringing him into the Steel Spiders. How long had that been? Flashbacks of the battles and off duty times in the Bifrost ran through his mind.
A gentle hand from Amber on his arm brought Ian back to the here and now.
“Come on, we need to put some distance between ourselves and Dyrke, the further, the better.”
Ian nodded his head and shouldered his kit bag. Peering down the hallway from the edge of the doorway Ian tried to see down the stairs to see if any of the Spiders were in the common room. He couldn’t tell, so the pair crept down the hallway sticking close the wall. When they reached the top of the stairs they stopped to listen for a few more minutes. Only the regular clanking of stoneware and hum of indistinct chatter between patrons met their ears. With a silent glance between each other they started down the stairs and tried to look like any other couple returning from a tryst in the upper rooms. When they reached the bottom of the stairs the two hesitated long enough to look around the room. No spiders in sight.
“Psst! Ian”
The startled pair jumped where they stood. Ian spun around while Amber took a step slightly in front of Ian and readied her sword.
“Easy! Easy!”
From behind a small stage where acts came to entertain the patrons Chigger was waving them to follow him.
“Dyrke has taken the spiders out onto the bridge span. You won’t get far if you head out the front doors. Follow me.”
Behind the stage Chigger led them into an old utility room. In the floor was a metal trap door with a thick chain and padlock holding it in place.
“This leads to an old cable conduit that runs the span of the bridge to the far side of the Enforcer precinct. It’s how I get some of my goods past the tolls imposed by the Guilders. Not all of it, just the more lucrative items," he said with a grin.
“Thanks Chigger. We can’t repay you for this.”
“It’s alright kid. Maybe if it is ever safe enough for you to come back this way we can settle up.”
Ian nodded his thanks and looked down at the door.
“Before you go though, I want you to have this.”
Ian looked back up at the bartender. In the man’s hands was a slightly battered single barrel semi-automatic shotgun. This was a typical Van Saar model with a seamless hand grip and receiver that could be fed with either a small drum magazine, currently missing, or single rounds could be fed into a line feed below the barrel. The stock was folded up and over resting neatly on top of the receiver while still allowing the smooth discharge of spent shells from the chamber.
“The mag is full Ian. Sorry I don’t have any extra shells to hand you. Had to… well… leave the front in a hurry. Half a click out the other side you will run into a small Holestead. A prospector named Goreman. Tell him Chigger sent you and he will be able to point you in a safe direction.”
Reaching down he punched in five numbers into the keypad on the lock and it clicked open. He gently pulled the chain through the handrail and then opened the door.
“Now, get!”
Ian grabbed Chigger’s forearm and thanked him silently. Amber dropped down the dark hole and reached up to grab the shotgun to help Ian through as he winced from the pain in his ribs as he lowered himself down. Chigger wasted no time. As soon as Ian’s head cleared the hatch the door shut over them and they were swallowed up in darkness once again. Only a few of the old maintenance lights were still functional, but it was enough for them to find their way.
Amber and Ian glanced at each other.
"Let me take a look at that," Ian said reaching into his bag. Pulling out a noxious smelling ointment he rubbed it on Amber's swollen cheek. He then had her do the same to the welts on his face. It burned slightly and penetrated deeply. Once that was done she applied the ointment to the massive bruise now encompassing his ribcage and wrapped them up with the few strips of cloth they had. Once that was done he put away the remaining supplies.
“Well, come on… no time like the present.” Ian said. With that the pair headed off to their new life.
