"The bike drivers could ferry two people in, then cycle back to pick up the odd person."
Figment nods, "That'd work for now."
Raptor grunts. He doesn't particularly like leaving 0nyx on her own. "You be careful then," he says to 0nyx. "Stay in a well-lit area, and..." He trails off realizing that this speech is not needed. He nods and gets ready to roll.
"Jay, you want me to come with you for backup? I'll keep my trap shut - just stand there and try and look tough."
"Perfect. You're my guy."
Figment chuckles, "Right, right, let's go."
....
The two motorcyles and four men drive through the streets without much incident - at least, not anything out of the unexpected -- torn up asphalt and ferrocrete, rubble, a need to detour around a make-shift barricade.... ...making the trip to Finnegan's Wake take 10 minutes, rather than 3. Still, you made it.
The bar's part of a three-storey grey brick building, the sort that probably used to have a dozen or so apartments on each floor above... And a storefront or two on the ground floor -- these days, the bar -- though, from the pulled down metal door and grate to the right, there may still be some sort of shop here too - though there's no sign to indicate what it might be.
Three large bikes, each about twice the weight of Figment's Rapier, are parked on what was probably once the sidewalk about 4 meters from the door to the bar. Someone's painted lines in lime green, marking off spots on the road - diagonal parking.
The bar itself, from what you can see, doesn't look like much - its facade's got about half the charm of the run-down Stuffer Shack you just visited. What used to be a painted sign extends above a large clouded window, but the letters are worn and faded in the sun. Instead, only a single green faux-neon sign -- blurry against the smoked glass -- announces "Finnegan's Wake", with a four-leaf clover beneath it, though this hardly seems the sort of place blessed by good luck.
Jay examines the building facade. "Enchanting."
You catch a flash of movement on the top of the building, with a long barrel tracking Figment, then shifting to Raptor.
Jay says softly to the others, "Stay icy. Sniper on the roof. Seems to think Raptor and Figment are the big threats, or maybe he doesn't like the bikes. Hopefully by the time you return, he'll be expecting you peacefully."
He announces more loudly, shouting to be easily heard over the engine noise. "Thank you for the rides. See you soon."
Raptor, clearly more focused on parking his bike, looks somewhat alarmed to have missed what Jay is pointing out. He nods. "I was gonna head back for 0nyx - will you lot be okay here?"
Figment shrugs, "I reckon we can avoid starting a bar brawl for at least half an hour."
Raptor nods and hops on his bike to head back for 0nyx.
The gun barrel rises, pointing up into the sky as Raptor drives away.
About 5 seconds after Raptor pulls away, two long bursts of fire ring out from above.. followed by a rapid explosion in the sky.
Raptor grunts to 0nyx. "They seem like they're ready for anything there. Could be ugly. I wanna get back quickly."
Jay brings his gaze back to earth and smiles at Figment and Danny. "Whatchoo think that was? Triad drone got too close? Ace gunner up there, if that be."
He motions toward the door. "Maybe we hop inside and ask the powers not to target Raptor when he comes back."
Jay squeegees the water from his hair and flicks it away with a quick swipe of his hand. He wishes he had worn weather appropriate clothing. Dress for business indeed.
"No point standing out here. Let's go in."
Nodding to 0nyx, Raptor revs the engine on his bike and speeds away. He is trying to make good time, but that is difficult in this area, with the streets in such disrepair. Dodging potholes and debris, he calls back to 0nyx. "Any trouble back at the Shack? Those gangers seemed on the up and up."
Figment nods, "Makes sense. Figure they'd not like us just loiterin' about. Reckon somebody might think we're casing the joint."
"You want me to go first?"
Figment nods, "Makes sense. Figure they'd not like us just loiterin' about. Reckon somebody might think we're casing the joint."
Jay nods to Danny. "Better you than me, omae."
The door swings open, bringing with it a burst of classical music, "---I was only joking when I said by rights you should be bludgeoned in your bed---", and a hint of stale beer.
Looking in, the room is dimly lit by overhead, hanging lights in green and yellow shades, the strange colours reflecting off a number of mirrors -- and surprisingly well-polished wood paneling on the lower half of each wall.
A group of three men are standing around a large green table, passing a long wooden stick and taking turns impaling a number of balls, pushing them into pockets. They don't react to your entry, but the middle-aged behind the bar does. You can see the beauty that even a hard life couldn't strip from her as she looks up from wiping down the bar and pushes black hair streaked with silver out of her face. There's a quick flash of surprise at the sight of you, or at least you think you saw one, before her eyes narrow and she growls in a gravelly tone that seems at odds with her soprano, "Well get in before you start letting in the rain, or I'll be getting you a mop."
Jay steps quickly through the doorway to allow his friends room to come in behind him. He glances at the pool players, observes their tats and colors. He moves directly to the bar, smiles at the barkeep.
"Two whisky's and a tonic and lime, po' favore," indicating himself and Figment for the whisky's.
Jay announces, "And a round for these good gentlemen. We are looking for a friendly chat with the Chromed Skulls."
Jay waits for the drinks, and when they come says softly to the barkeep, "We are looking for a friendly chat with the Chromed Skulls. I was told we might find them here. "
The bartender nods in satisfaction as you enter and the door closes, and looks to be about ready to start ignoring you when Jay orders. She nods, "Guess someone's driving," she chuckles, then pauses and takes a second look at Figment. "Don't get a lot of your kind here," she says, her tone matter-of-fact.
Now inside the bar, you scan the room again, taking a better look, and see note three shining chrome helmets on a second rectangular table about 2 meters from the one where the three men -- no, two men and the tallest dwarf you've ever seen, probably almost 150 cm -- are hitting balls with that stick.
As you're looking, the bartender calls over your shoulder, "Oi, Stretch, this lot wants to talk to you, and they're willing to wet your throat to do it."
Back at the table, the dwarf takes the stick, lines up a shot and hits a ball, causing it to hit others, knocking them into holes and dropping them out of sight. He smiles and laughs as the other two groan, and says, "That's game.... so I'll take all three beer these guys just bought as a downpayment on your 250," and starts walking toward the bar.
Jay steps off the barstool, offers a hand. "Stretch is it? That's some swag shootin' there. I'm Jay Gould. First thing, two more of my chummers will be showing up soon. Can you let your man on the roof know they're coming in?
"Second thing, I'd like to talk to Rhino -- or -- Triceratops. It's a sensitive matter that needs to be kept quiet."
Working for Fallen Star
Chromed Skulls:
1. Rhino 2. Triceratops, heir apparent 3. Stretch - pool shooter
Raptor calls back to 0nyx, "The place seems on edge. Gunner on the roof. Hope our new friends aren't getting themselves shot before we even get there."
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The dwarf takes the first beer from the bar, and throws his head back, draining it in a few short seconds before putting it down. "Yup, it's Stretch. And don't worry about the lads on the roof, they won't shoot unless your chummers are about to start some drek. If their guns stay in their holsters, our bullets stay in our clips, right?"
He lifts the second beer, and raises it, drinking it a hair slower than the first, then puts it down, saying, "What's your biz with the boss? Think maybe you should talk to me, and we'll see just how far we need to escalate."
He raises the third, pausing briefly to salute the three of you, before finishing it off, placing the empty on the bar. "Pick a booth and order another round and I'll come join you, after I prevent those two fools from warping my cue."
He starts to step away, then turns back and says, "Siobahn, before you pour me three more, be a dear and turn up the Trid. Let's make sure any drone or shotgun mic only get the 'brawl and not whatever this lot of squishies is lookin' for."
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Jay points a finger to the ceiling and whirls it around. Then he slides into a booth where he has a view of the door. When Stretch sits down, Jay opens with, "No disrespect, omae, but I'm gonna be blunt. We've been hired to recover some goods stolen from a safehouse that the Chromed Skulls were keeping safe. We're not here to point fingers. Our Johnson just wants their stuff back.
"As a mark of respect, we're here to let you know that we'll be working on your turf.
"We also want to learn all we can from you about the break-in. Who was hanging around. Who's come into some cash.
"Our Johnson is a long time customer of the Chromed Skulls. It's in everyone's best interest if we can tie this up quick."
Stretch starts to redden when Jay starts, but seems to quickly calm as he realizes there's no accusation. He nods a few times, then sighs, "Look, I can get you a pass to move on our turf while you're looking about? I'll need a description of your incoming chummers, though, and you'll want to keep together in teams as much as possible."
He pauses for a moment, his eyes evaluating, before saying simply, "Things are a little tense right now, and random individuals wandering about might be treated poorly... I can't have the guys taking a minute to compare against a photo instead of reacting to a potential threat. But I'm sure I can make sure everyone knows that the blue fuzzy and his pals are on the up and up... 'specially if they're hanging about Star's place, it's not the crooks back to the scene, as it were."
He says, "As for the rest, well, to be honest, we're a little focused on a specific group lately, so I don't know that I'd have any data about hangers-about... Doesn't mean it didn't happen, or that it didn't get seen, just that it probably wasn't shared. But, it'd be up to Rhino to ask the boys to take a minute to talk to you."
He smiles and says, "What do you say to a third and final round to keep my throat wet while I talk to him?"
Raptor grins faintly. "When'd you get to be such a hard-ass? Not wrong, though."
He continues to weave his way through the battered streets.
..."Look, I can get you a pass to move on our turf while you're looking about? I'll need a description of your incoming chummers, though, and you'll want to keep together in teams as much as possible."
...
He smiles and says, "What do you say to a third and final round to keep my throat wet while I talk to him?"
"My chummers are a big orc with swords and a bow, and a tall dark lady elf. They're coming in on his bike. "
Jay catches Siobahn's eye and twirls his finger at the ceiling again. "Dude, you can sure put it away."
Stretch laughs, "What can I say? Natural resistance. Still, nine pints in, I'm going to have to make a pit stop before I start making calls."
Jay shakes his head. "Nine pints in, I'd be drooling on the floor."
When the tall dwarf departs for the bathroom, Jay moves to the bar and orders beers for the dwarf's two friends.
He turns to Danny and Figment. "Nobody's shooting so far. I hope he can get us a meet with Rhino. What do you think?"