"Date Night and Neck Lifts." Gems for Fools. Part 4
29 Jul 2016Stryker Aune
<<Part 3]Phiagre, Greeboski's Outpost
Personal Log: Well, doesn't this beat it all. Did a bit hacking, pulled some shenanigans and now I'm standing here looking at “Dark Lord”, “McDeath”, “Deathity Death Death's” ship… Yup, it’s a Vulture alright. Nope… It’s nowhere near outfitted to do any kind of combat, whatsoever.
I mean, the pulse cannons on the thing aren't even real… They emit a laser like pulse, but the frequency is all off. Not enough “Oomph” to even vaporize a gnat. This man is obviously lying… The stupid name, the eye patch, the fake ship… But, the real question is, why?
Stryker strode leisurely along the bright and cheerfully lit corridor, in the Commerce section of the outer ring. It was place of action. People meandering around, window shopping and pointing at various merchandise. The noise and light was all bit overwhelming to the large man, but at least the place was clean. He looked up and saw a bright neon sign flashing in the distance. The Afterburner. In his opinion not a very creative name for a night club, but what did his opinion matter anyway? He pushed open the door, and was greeted by the bouncer. A big hulking, giant of a man, who immediately asked him for his Pilot Federation License…
As he rounded a corner and entered into the main establishment, the first thing he recognized was how dark and hazy it was. The acrid fumes of thick smoke swirling and dancing through the air, catching the bright colors from the lights above. Many private booths dotted the perimeter. He took note of the vibrantly lit dance floor, before he found the bar...
The bartender was a young man. Maybe no older than 23. He smiled as Stryker approached, "Hey big guy, what can I get ya?" He stood opposite of Stryker, hands on the counter leaning in.
"Make it a shot of vodka." Stryker said.
"Nice and simple eh?" He wrapped his knuckles on the counter, and turned away to pour the drink. Stryker sat there for a moment, watching the dancers. A few more people entered the establishment and made their way to the watering hole while others found booths. He heard the rap of a shot glass hit the counter and turned.
"There ya go." The bartender said with a wink before resuming his work.
Stryker shook his head with an amused expression. He took the shot glass and knocked it back. The fiery liquid accosted his throat and exhaled. "Pah!" As he set the glass down he noticed Evy walk in and raised his hand to wave her over.
"Hi." She said buoyantly, swinging herself over the seat Stryker offered her…
"So, care to tell me what the hell is going on?"
The bar tender returned. "And what can I get you, m'lady?" he said, grinning.
She returned the question with a smile "A cosmo... No, make it a whiskey sour." and faced Stryker. In a sing song voice, asked "So... what’s this all about?"
Stryker's response was cut and dry. "I think our hired gun is a farce."
She snorted. "Really?"
"Yes, I do." He said.
"Tell me something I don't know." Evy shot back.
Stryker gave her a quizzical look.
"Oh come on." She said matter of factually. "It's so blatantly obvious. The eye patch. Scratchy forced voice. The terrible pick-up lines. He's playing the part."
"What part?" Stryker asked.
"What Madam Tri'qua said...." She took a sip of her drink. "The charming rouge..." Evy shrugged, "No idea why though..." and took a sip of her drink, then paused.
"...How did you figure it out?" she asked.
"Well, the stupid name for one, and his eye patch… I noticed the eye under it. It seems fine. Prompted me to do a bit of Sherlock Holmesing... That's a thing by the way, Holmseing... "
Evy laughed.
Stryker continued. "I… Uh... Granted, myself access into his ship. It has no weapons on it. Actually it’s pretty much out of the box. Nothing on it that would indicate that it has ever seen combat."
Evy giggled. "Not surprising..." and looked out across the dancehall. Suddenly she got up, and in the same motion took Stryker's large, calloused hand, tugging him towards the dance floor.
"Jeesh, your frikken' heavy." She exclaimed as he shifted his weight rather reluctantly, but with an amused expression on his face. She led him to the center of the room, and placed her hands on his broad shoulders. Stryker smiled awkwardly, then he placed his hands on her hips and started to slowly turn…
"I didn't know you knew how to dance." She said.
"Surprised?" He grinned.
"To say the least."
"Holy..." she muttered to herself.
"I thought you didn't like guys like me." Stryker said.
"I think…” She said, “…I could learn to like this..."
Stryker’s thoughts and emotions were in a whirl, punctuated by the confusing flashing lights and discord of music in the atmosphere.
She peeled her eyes away from him for just a moment… but then looked back at the imposing man who was still leading her in dance. She smiled and after a few moments said, "I think we could have fun with this..."
"Wha... What do you mean?" Stryker said, a little uneasily.
She turned and nodded over towards the door. Commander Death was standing there looking around rather stupidly. After a moment he spotted the dancing couple and raised his hand. Evy quickly reached up taking Stryker’s face in her hands, and kissed him.
After a few moments she broke it and whispered. "Let’s go have some fun with him..." She bounced off across the dance floor in some sort of girlish skip saying, "Oh, yoo-hoo! Commander Death!" Then, glommed right onto him.
Stryker chuckled to himself. “…Madam Tri'qua was right…” he thought, “…Evy really is entertaining...”
He adopted a sour face, and stalked up to the couple. "You!" He pointed at Commander Death. His voice a low menacing growl. "That's -my- girl." He jabbed his finger into the man’s chest. "I'll break every bone in that -scrawny- vampires’ body of yours. Outside! Now!"
Evy mused. "Stryker honey, you’re being a tad possessive..." She gently ran the back of her hand over man’s cheeks and chin. "He's such a doll. All roguish and cunning. He did say he wanted to get to know me better..."
Commander Deaths face was paralyzed with fear.
The bouncer materialized out of the black cracking his thick knuckles. "Either one of you throw a punch, I'll break both your heads. Take this outside, now."
Stryker growled. "I'd like nothing better....."
Evy squealed. "Oh E’m Gee! This is like, my most favorite fantasy coming true!" She bit her nails in ecstatic joy jumping up and down. "Two men fighting over my affection!"
They were roughly shown out of the establishment by the bouncer through a side door into a dark service corridor. Stryker's bulk and inertia allowed him to keep level footing. However commander Death staggered, and was recovering when he found his neck within the grip of Stryker's right hand and suddenly hoisted off the ground…
Commander Death was gasping for breath, spittle foamed at the corner of his mouth, and his legs wind-milled. Desperately trying to support his weight, he grabb onto Stryker's burly forearm. "Ack....grruup meesh goosh!"
Stryker continued to suspend him in the air for a few more moments. Somewhere deep within the abyss of his psyche a welling of satisfaction and hatred sprung up. Commander Death’s face dissolved and was replaced with “Grunt’s” horrible pudgy red visage. The budging bloodshot eyes taunting him, Grunt’s hoarse voice filling his mind. "Boy, you’re a worthless piece of shit. You'll never amount to anything but garbage. You hear boy? Garbage!" He saw in his mind’s eye, the back of Grunts hand smacking him in the head, and then heard his sister's uncontrollable sobs from the bedroom and knew what Joe had done her. He wanted to avenge her. The spring of anger erupting forth, and forcing Stryker to tighten his grip. He was enjoying the sensation of extracting retribution on his former caretaker. A slow painful asphyxiating death....
"STRYKER STOP!" Evy's panicked voice pulled him back to his senses and shook the experience from his mind.
He growled releasing his grip. Commander Death unceremoniously crumpled to the ground with a thud.
"Big bad bounty hunter, eh?"
Commander Death whimpered in protest rubbing his throat "H… Hey man! Just... Just..."
Stryker cracked his neck rounding his shoulders. "Just, what?" he said.
Evy stood paralyzed, terror on her face.
Commander Death scramble backwards, dread in his eyes "I'm... I'm an actor!” he squealed, “…Here, just... just let me go!"
As Stryker took a step forward glaring down at him, Evy cautiously placed herself between the two trying to calm the situation down
"An actor?" Evy asked.
"Ya, Ya... We were paid..."
Stryker interrupted. "Paid? For what? By whom!?"
Evy tilted her head up and made eye contact with him. "Take a deep breath big guy… And let him finish..." Then returned her softening gaze to the scared man. "Please, continue..."
They didn't have much of a chance to continue their conversation…
"HANDS UP! PUT E’M WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!" A team of five security officers stood in formation, their weapons raised at the two…
[Part 5>>
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