Ian was disappointed. Dyrke had been dismissive of his report about the Black Cats having an eye on taking over things around the Bifrost. Oh Dyrke had been happy to get the money Chigger had handed over; he just did not seem concerned about anything else. One odd thing did happen. Dyrke forked over a handful of credits. ‘Profit Sharing’ he called it. Ian had expected to be paid as a full member of the gang and all, but this seemed a little generous. He bit his lip, nodded his thanks, and left the room before he asked any stupid questions.
“Ian! Hey, where headed up to the Bifrost to down a few pints. Wanna tag along?”
Ian looked up and saw Rogers, Cacee, and Boanerges walking towards him. Gripping his pocket now flushed with cash he smiled and nodded his agreement.
“Mind if I come along?” came another voice from behind the group.
Ian turned around and saw the kid he had patched up back when he first came below. He looked pretty healthy now and was jogging to catch up. The group stopped and turned.
“Beat it ‘little rat’. Go sit in your room until you’re called upon to complete your trial.”
“Wait Boanerges. He can tag along,” Cacee said. “But… and I mean BUT, you will be quiet ‘little rat’,” he said addressing the juve.
Ian tried to see how the juve’s ear had healed. There was some scarring, but the area around the ear had healed nicely. Only some minor disfiguration. He was sure the kid could still hear out of it.
“What are you looking at” the juve said turning to Ian.
“Easy, easy… just noticing your ear.”
A look of recognition flashed across the juve’s face, but he said nothing.
“Best mind your manners ‘little rat’. You’re addressing a member of the Steel Spiders, which is more than I can say for you. I don’t care what Cacee here says… you are not welcome.”
The team’s heavy was obviously annoyed to have a juve hanging around.
Ian turned to the juve, “look, you’ll be one of the team soon enough. What’s your name?”
“Renold, my name is Renold,” the juve said. He seemed like he wanted to say something else, but then thought better of it. “Alright… I’ll catch you guys later.” And with that he turned and left.
“Ian! Hey, where headed up to the Bifrost to down a few pints. Wanna tag along?”
Ian looked up and saw Rogers, Cacee, and Boanerges walking towards him. Gripping his pocket now flushed with cash he smiled and nodded his agreement.
“Mind if I come along?” came another voice from behind the group.
Ian turned around and saw the kid he had patched up back when he first came below. He looked pretty healthy now and was jogging to catch up. The group stopped and turned.
“Beat it ‘little rat’. Go sit in your room until you’re called upon to complete your trial.”
“Wait Boanerges. He can tag along,” Cacee said. “But… and I mean BUT, you will be quiet ‘little rat’,” he said addressing the juve.
Ian tried to see how the juve’s ear had healed. There was some scarring, but the area around the ear had healed nicely. Only some minor disfiguration. He was sure the kid could still hear out of it.
“What are you looking at” the juve said turning to Ian.
“Easy, easy… just noticing your ear.”
A look of recognition flashed across the juve’s face, but he said nothing.
“Best mind your manners ‘little rat’. You’re addressing a member of the Steel Spiders, which is more than I can say for you. I don’t care what Cacee here says… you are not welcome.”
The team’s heavy was obviously annoyed to have a juve hanging around.
Ian turned to the juve, “look, you’ll be one of the team soon enough. What’s your name?”
“Renold, my name is Renold,” the juve said. He seemed like he wanted to say something else, but then thought better of it. “Alright… I’ll catch you guys later.” And with that he turned and left.
-=-=-=O=-=-=-
The Bifrost was alive again. This was not a typical drinking hole of the underhive. The Bifrost was more a small community in and of itself. Inside the drinking hole it housed two common rooms as well as several meeting rooms – one for each of the governing Houses of Hive City. It was rumored that Chigger even had some contacts with the Ruling Houses from above ‘The Wall’. Above these rooms were several boarding rooms that Chigger used to produce even more income. But that was only the part of it.
Trading routes funneled across the bridge and there was an area out on the span that housed a small bazaar – and that was sandwiched in between the Bifrost and the local Enforcer precinct house. Adjacent to the precinct house, on the other side, were several ornate Guilder habs. The small little bridge was cramped to say the least, and the Bifrost was the meeting place for it all.
Men and women from all five of the Houses that controlled Hive City crowded the common area. Chigger was behind the packed bar with two barmaids. Together they were busy dispensing drinks as fast as they could dip the cups into the vats of Second Best (or Wild Snake if the pockets allowed).
Some of the patrons were yelling at monitors over the bar. All three of the dingy black and white screens captured images of two pit fighters circling one another. A roar erupted from half the group when one of the fighters, armed with a massive hook instead of a hand, landed a savage blow to the head of his opponent – the other half grumbled curses. From the back room music tried to overwhelm the cacophony up front.
As Cacee led the group to their private room off to the side Ian caught site of Amber. The Escher he had become acquainted with just before his trials. Making eye contact with her he paused for a moment.
“Come on kid. We’ve got some celebrating to do,” Cacee said throwing an arm around Ian’s shoulder and nudging him to the side room.
Ian maintained eye contact with the woman and silently mouthed, “I’ll be back for you later”.
The Escher smiled.
Their room was set up nicely. A dart alley along the back wall, several tables and chairs – enough room for thirty or more, even a monitor to catch whatever vids Chigger could tap into from Hive City. Membership definitely has its privileges.
Trading routes funneled across the bridge and there was an area out on the span that housed a small bazaar – and that was sandwiched in between the Bifrost and the local Enforcer precinct house. Adjacent to the precinct house, on the other side, were several ornate Guilder habs. The small little bridge was cramped to say the least, and the Bifrost was the meeting place for it all.
Men and women from all five of the Houses that controlled Hive City crowded the common area. Chigger was behind the packed bar with two barmaids. Together they were busy dispensing drinks as fast as they could dip the cups into the vats of Second Best (or Wild Snake if the pockets allowed).
Some of the patrons were yelling at monitors over the bar. All three of the dingy black and white screens captured images of two pit fighters circling one another. A roar erupted from half the group when one of the fighters, armed with a massive hook instead of a hand, landed a savage blow to the head of his opponent – the other half grumbled curses. From the back room music tried to overwhelm the cacophony up front.
As Cacee led the group to their private room off to the side Ian caught site of Amber. The Escher he had become acquainted with just before his trials. Making eye contact with her he paused for a moment.
“Come on kid. We’ve got some celebrating to do,” Cacee said throwing an arm around Ian’s shoulder and nudging him to the side room.
Ian maintained eye contact with the woman and silently mouthed, “I’ll be back for you later”.
The Escher smiled.
Their room was set up nicely. A dart alley along the back wall, several tables and chairs – enough room for thirty or more, even a monitor to catch whatever vids Chigger could tap into from Hive City. Membership definitely has its privileges.
-=-=-=O=-=-=-
“I thought I might find you all here… Ian you might be interested in this,” the Van Saar leader said as he sat down. “I’ve just received word that the Nomads that we fought a couple of days back have decided to make life difficult for those down below. Apparently after we pulled back they were not satisfied and have been raising hell in the domes below. Seems they want whatever it is you brought back Ian.” Dyrke turned to look at Ian.
Ian shrugged, “they can have it back for all I care. The slug that sent me to my knees did a work on the firing chamber. Even Boanerges here says he can’t fix that rifle. It’s a shame too, it ‘s a nice looking weapon.”
“Well, you will have the opportunity to return it if you want. I’ve planted some information with the spore farmers down there. Something the Nomads should find… irresistible.” Dyrke paused to let that sink in. “You all get to bed. We leave before the next cycle.” And with that Dyrke left, the four men alone, patting Ian on the shoulder as he went.
“What do you think ‘Cee’”? Roger asked Cacee.
“What are you asking me for? Dyrke’s the boss.”
“Yea but, you’ve got a pretty good head on your shoulders. What do you think?”
“I think you need to mind Dyrke.”
And with that the little party was over. The four Van Saar filed on out to get some sleep. As the group neared the stairs down to their hab layer Ian stopped.
“You guys go on ahead. I forgot to pay for that last round.”
The other three just waved over their shoulders and went on their way.
“Now to have a chat with that lass!”
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