Celebrate Success

The smell of burning solder filled the air in the room and a slight haze hovered over the workbench.

“That should cover the circuitry, now all I need are some optics and a thermal sensor.”

Ian sat back and admired his work. The workbench was covered in a wide variety of projects, all in some stage of confusion. The latest project that held his imagination was some sort of tubular circuit board that he was now encasing inside a slightly larger metallic tube.

“Hey Ian!” the sudden interruption of his concentration caused Ian to snap his head around, and his hand slipped causing a drop of solder to fall onto the workbench.

“Cacee, you scare the… what is it?”

“Come on, you and I are taking Renold out to celebrate. He’s a full fledge member of the ‘Spiders’ now.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Ian double checked his latest project to make sure his jolt did not ruin any of his work. Once he was satisfied he set his tools down and picked up his kit bag.

“We need to stop by the Guilder’s corner too,” Ian said as he headed for the door. “I need to pick up a couple of supplies.”

“I’m comin’ too,” Boanerges voice came from his workshop across the hall. “I need to pick up a few parts myself.”

-=-=-=O=-=-=-

The four men went to the market first. The one thing most hivers have learned, especially the further one journeyed from Hive City was that beauty was in the eye of the salesman. In order to get the optics Ian wanted he had to buy two very damaged telescopic sights, and the thermal sensors were another matter entirely. When he walked away he had a small bag full of what most would consider to be junk. One thing they all agreed on was a new Las Pistol for Renold to celebrate him winning his colors. The kid wanted to use a brace of Las Pistols instead of a rifle. Said he wanted to be able to use his hands more readily while walking around. At least they were refined. Not as vulgar or bulky like a stubber.

“What are you going to do with that scrap Ian?” Boanerges asked him Ian.

“I’m not just good at patching people up ‘Bo’. I’m working on a few projects. With these scraps I should be able to finish up a sight for my new Las.”

“You boys are little far from home aren’t ya?”

The four Van Saar men stopped dead in their tracks. Three Escher women stood at the other end of the small market lane and blocked their way.

“You can’t hide behind Chigger now, can ya boys!”

Their colors showed they were part of a local Escher gang known as the ‘Black Cats’. Boanerges moved to ready his Heavy Stubber but Cacee put a hand on his shoulder. Looking over Cacee shook his head at the heavy.

The one with a stark white Mohawk smiled. “That’s right boys. No fighting. You have to play nice out in public.”

“You can’t talk like that to us,” it was Renold’s turn to step forward.

Cacee grabbed his arm, “not here” was all he said.

Another Escher, this one with Blue hair, took another step forward, readied a shotgun and said, “Aw, the little old Van Saar are afraid!” The Escher were now slowly moving forward and spreading out slightly to give each other room to maneuver.

Cacee motioned for the four of them to also spread out some. “You girls seem a little lost. The Steel Spiders run the Bifrost, and therefore you are stepping on our turf.”

“You Scrap Bugs aren’t long for this place,” this taunt came from the woman with a dark brown complexion. “The ‘Black Cats’ are moving in.”

Ian could tell that Renold was getting riled up. The guy kept inching his hands closer and closer the holsters of his pair of Las Pistols. Ian could feel his own blood begin to heat up as well.

“Come on girls, you don’t want any of this pain tonight. Why don’t you all just stand down and let your betters pass.”

This last statement from Boanerges got the women’s attention and they went silent for the moment, all the while the two sets of gangers drew ever closer.

“Your time is up, might as well face it. It would be a shame to embarrass you boys in front of your clientele like this.”

The adversaries were almost on top of each other now.

The woman with the dark complexion let a set of chains drop from her hands as she stepped forward and called out, “Come on now… can’t the little Van Saar come out to play?”

That was all that Renold could stand. Before anyone could blink Renold had both Las Pistols out snapping shots as fast as he could. His compatriots realizing that there was no turning back each drew their own weapons and joined in.

It was a blur to Ian. The din of Cacee’s Autogun and Boanerges’ Bolt Pistol just added to the confusion. Snapping out his own Las Pistol Ian threw his arm out towards the Blue haired vixen, shooting even as he brought the weapon up to bear. He couldn’t be sure but it looked like at least one of his shots had found the mark as the woman screamed out and dropped her shotgun as she slumped to the floor.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, stop shooting!” Cacee’s call interrupted the flood of gun fire coming from his fellow Van Saar. All three of the Escher were down. Ian chanced looks at each of his fellows to see if anyone had caught a round No apparent injuries.

“Maybe you girls will think…”

Blaring whistles echoed through the now empty market square interrupting Cacee and his victory speech. All four of the Van Saar put away their weapons as a local patrol of Enforcers rushed into the lane.

“Don’t move!” An Enforcer with large shield and Bolt Pistol called out. “You wouldn’t want to get my little friend here agitated.” With a quick motioned he drew their attention to a mechanical construct that resembled a massive dog.

Ian had no desire to tangle with the Enforcers, let alone one of their Cyber Mastiffs and he raised his hands slightly to indicate he was unarmed. Looking around he noticed that both groups of gangers did the same thing.

“What seems to be the trouble?” said another Enforcer as he stepped around the one with the dog. This one had the familiar armor and gear of the Enforcers, but also wore a coat to indicate his rank. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Boanerges stepping back slightly.

“These Van Saar ambushed us as we were heading to the trading post!”

“You lie bi…”

The one with the dog stepped in between the two gangers before it could escalate further. The Sergeant reached up and took off his helmet and stepped towards Cacee. “You first,” was all he said.

Cacee looked over at the now injured trio of Escher. We came around the corner, saw that they had… slipped,” heavily accenting that last word, “and had tried to come to their aid. You showed up just as they… refused... our assistance.”

“Riiight,” was all the Sergeant said. “What about you?” he said as he turned to address the Blue haired woman, now getting to her feet.

The woman sneered at Cacee. “They Lie!”

The Sergeant looked back over his shoulder at the Van Saar interim leader. “Well?”

“We didn’t want to disparage these poor women but… the truth is they jumped us. It’s not our fault they couldn’t hit the broadside of a bridge. We merely defended ourselves.”

The Enforcers now circled both groups of gangers, weapons at the ready. The Sergeant and the Cyber Mastiff’s handler remained in the center between the two groups. The Sergeant looked over at the three Escher.

“How is it they are the only ones injured while you and your friends here are not?”

“I guess they’re just bad shots. Maybe they ended up shooting each other as they tripped?”

“AHHHH!” The Escher woman screamed out in anger and tried to charge the Van Saar.

“You see! They’re barely house broken, let alone a serious threat to us.”

The Enforcers chuckled under their helmets. The Sergeant silenced them by raising his hand. Looking between the two gang leaders, who were now glaring at each other with contempt, The Sergeant stepped in between them once more.

“Gun play within the settlement – which is under OUR jurisdiction (he said looking at Cacee) – is strictly forbidden,” he paused for effect as he looked back and forth. “It is impossible to tell who drew first as I don’t have the time to investigate this any further. “If we should have to address this issue again… sanctions will be imposed. Do I make myself clear?”

“Perfectly.”

“Yes.”

Came the replies from both the leaders.

“Now move along.”

Cacee motioned for the Van Saar team to move around the Escher who were now dusting themselves off.

“You have been served Van Saar, the Cats are here to play,” whispered the Escher leader.

“I’d be more respectful if I were you little pussycat,” Cacee whispered back as he chuckled to himself. “You kittens need to find another hole to play in. The Steel Spiders are the ones who watch over the Bifrost. It would serve you well to keep that in mind.”

The Escher leader just spit on the ground in front of Cacee. Ian noticed that he didn’t even look down.

Working Man

“It’s time you started earning your keep kid.”

For a moment Ian just stared at Dyrke, his gang’s leader. Just two days earlier he had quite possibly saved the life of a fellow team member, what more could possibly be expected of him?

“I need you to go upstairs and collect our cut from Chigger, the owner of the Bifrost.”

“But… I’m barely out of the trials… and I need to keep an eye on Rogers.” Ian replied.

“You need to do what I tell you to do kid. You’ve passed the trials and you’re a full member of this team now. I appreciate your kissing Roger’s boo-boo but if you don’t get a move on before I shove a boot up your fore-quarter contact I’ll get me someone who’ll follow orders and you’ll be back out on the streets. You get me?”

Ian nodded his head, picked up his kit bag, and rushed pass Dyrke who was still standing in the doorway of his room. He had not intended to come across so insubordinate. It was just that he was still trying to gauge his place within the gang and collecting of protection money from the Bifrost definitely felt above his station. He had not even seen combat with the team yet. Well, not counting the retreat from the hive wall a couple days back. But that would come, he was sure of that.

“Hey kid!”

Ian turned around to see Rogers walking up the passageway towards him.

“You should still be resting. That was no carrion bat sting.”

“I’m alright… now. I just wanted to thank you. I want you to have this.” In Rogers’ outstretched hand he held a lasgun by the barrel.

Ian’s eyes widened. This is no clumsy shotgun or autogun. This was tech, and he preferred tech. “I… I couldn’t… that’s your rifle. I’ll earn my own.”

“That’s just it kid,” a second voice came from behind Rogers. It was Dyrke. “You have earned it. Rogers here has been thinking about swapping out his weapons for some time anyway.

“And I wanted to thank you for patching me up,” Rogers added.

Ian accepted the offered weapon. Emotions ran rampant, but pride was the most predominant. Looking back up to Rogers, “I don’t know what to say. Thanks.”

“No kid, thank you for patching me up.”

“You need to change uniforms too.” Dyrke tossed a blue, grey, and black pixeled bodysuit past Rogers at Ian. “Now you best get a move on before my boot catches up with you!”

Ian couldn’t help but smile as he turned. He stuffed the bodysuit into his kitbag, and slung his new lasgun over his shoulder. He felt like he belonged now.

-=-=-=O=-=-=-

The Bifrost was quiet. At least quieter than the last time he had been here. There was no band playing in the back and the video monitors were black. The patrons that were there barely looked up from their drinks or conversations. Walking up to the bar Ian called out, “Barkeep! Where can I find Chiggers?”

A bald head with dark goggles popped up from behind the bar. The man wore a vest akin to what House Orlock might wear and a Van Saar cybernetic hand held a hefty stub gun. Dropping the pistol heavily on top of the bar he leaned forward.

“What do you want?” The man was more articulate than Ian anticipated.

“Dyrke sent me to see Chigger. I need to make a collection.”

“You‘re not sporting Dyrke’s colors, and I’ve not seen you around here before.”

“Are you going to take me to see the man or not?” Ian was beginning to get irritated.

“I cannot just take anyone to see the man. Prove to me you speak for Dyrke and his team and I will take you to see Chigger personally.”

Ian pulled out the new bodysuit and held it up. “Are you satisfied?”

The bartender was about to argue some more when he caught sight of Dyrke standing in the shadows behind Ian. Dyrke just nodded and the man’s resistance faded.

“Alright kid, follow me.”

The barkeep led Ian up a small spiral staircase behind the bar which led to a trapdoor. Beyond the door was small office with windows that held a commanding view of the bridge’s ‘common area’. The furnishings were sparse but business like. A small desk with a data terminal (inferior Delaque design Ian thought to himself), a bookcase filled mostly with odds and ends, and a small safe, but no one else but the two of them.

“Where’s Chigger?” Ian demanded.

“You’re looking at him kid. Wait right there.” Chigger stepped around the desk, and knelt next to the small safe. Once he was sure he sufficiently blocked Ian’s view he turned the dial. With a creak the small hefty door opened up. Chigger pulled out a small bag and shut the door.

Tossing the bag across the desk Chigger said, “Here you go kid. It was a pretty decent week, but you need to let Dyrke know. The Black Cats have been making noise again. Fushia’s telling me she can take better care of the trash.”

Ian turned to leave. “Thanks Chigger, I’ll let him know. Wait… what do you mean?”

“I mean that the Black Cats are telling me that they are looking to make a change around here, and you and Dyrke’s boys are standing in their way. You get me?”

Ian nodded and then left the room. His mind was deep in thought about what Chigger had told him when he bumped into a woman as they both crossed the floor, an amazing feat considering the sparse clientele present.

“Watch where you’re going!”

Ian stepped back. He recognized the woman from somewhere. She was almost a full two meters tall and wore a ponytail tied tight that swept up and back – dyed a deep green. Her eyes glared and her face was taut. She didn’t look like she wanted to chat.

“It’s a big room. You should have been more careful.”

The woman snarled and moved her right foot back and out while reaching for the pommels of two very fine looking swords over her shoulders. Although neither ganger noticed, the conversation in the room ceased as all attention was drawn to the pair.

“Not in here you don’t Jade!” Chigger said as he entered the room, and emphasized his point by chambering a round in his shotgun.

“Easy Chigger, I was just going to teach this boy some manners.”

The woman splayed her fingers wide to demonstrate she was standing down. She slowly lowered her arms and began to move across the floor once more. As she did so she intentionally drew close to Ian and whispered only loud enough for him to hear.

“Your time is drawing to a close around here Van Saar. Scurry on your way now.”

Ian stood his ground so that she could not help but bump into his shoulder as she passed. He did not move. Not even to watch the tall woman leave the Bifrost. His heart was pounding in his chest, and he could feel his hands beginning to sweat. Glancing down at his hands he headed on out. He wanted to get back to Dyrke and report this. It looked like the Black Cats were taking aim at their territory.

Home Turf

Illy risked a glance over the low girder wall. What arrogance! “Those Van Saar boys actually think they can stroll right on into her turf!” She thought to her self. Glancing at Eve she made a sign to wait until they were in the open.

Shifting her feet Illy tried to see where the rest of her “Harlequins” had taken up their postitions. Yona and Dona, twins, had taken up a good hide position on a bridge a little bit further down. Prima was nowhere to be seen, but knowing her she was on ground level ready to swoop right in for a kill or two of her own.

Glancing back down their targets were just getting into the killzone Illy had picked out. Eve was already sighting down the barrel of her plasm gun. Illy tapped Eve on the shoulder and she slowly stood up to get a better angle on the Van Saar gangers below.

Eve let loose a full burst from her gun sending shots of super charged plasma into the gangers below. Before the Van Saar leader could even react two of his men were down and screaming.

Yona and Dona added their own automatic rifle fire from the bridge and the Van Saar began to try and return fire. But it was too late. Shouting to his men to pull back Illy signaled her girls to cease fire.

“Thanks for the dance boys,” Illy shouted. “Come on back anytime you want to play with the Harlequins again!”