Six Years before the Storm
Theseopolis, Scorpia
Outdoor beer garden, Alexander Danby's Bar, ten days prior to the gas attack.
David Dedrick leaned back, the wicker chair creaking as he did. "Kenny! It's your buy!" As he spoke, Dedrick tugged at his friend's sleeve, while at the table beside him Dalton Trager held up the empty beer pitcher. A slight breeze whispered through the beer garden, carrying the scent of salt air from the nearby ocean, mixed with the smell of steak kebabs slipping out from the restaurant next door.
Kenneth Kirimijian turned, digging a paper bill out of his pocket and stuffing it into Dedrick's hand. "I'll buy," he acquiesced, "but I'm calling it a night."
Dedrick passed the cash to Trager, who turned to flag down one of the waitresses, scantily clad in tropical prints and strategically-located flowers. From across the table, Ryan Stuckey called out, "Whatsamatter, Kenny? You muster out and allovasudden you can't handle yer beer?"
"Same old story," Mike Mitchell added in, "Ever since he and Maria split… he searches for the wellspring, but is too parched to drink." Mitchell shook his head as he looked toward Kenny, then drained his beer glass.
"Damn, Sandman!" Stuckey interjected, "Do you have some wise-ass clan shit for every occasion?"
As Stuckey and Mitchell launched into their usual banter, Dedrick looked back at Kenny, only to find he was already working his way through the crowd to the exit.
Rising from the chair, Dedrick followed him, catching him by the arm. "Where'd that girl go? The one you've been mooning over all night?" Dedrick asked, "Did you ever go talk to her?"
"They left - her and her friend."
Dedrick sighed. "Alright," he said, knowing there was no way he'd talk Kenny into staying now. "Give me a ride back, it's late and we have to report tomorrow."
"What's up?" Kirimijian asked as they walked to his car.
"You been watching the news?" Dedrick asked. "That zealot, Melendi… he's taken up residence in the old El Akeem fortress. Been running raids against the borderland settlements. The Quorum's putting pressure on the Colony to take care of this mess, or they will. Looks like Bat 5's getting the call."
"Don't take this the wrong way, David, but I'm glad I'm not going out there with you."
The two got into Kirimijian's car, and headed home. A few minutes later, while they waited at a traffic light, Dedrick spotted something in the car ahead of them.
"Kenny! Check it out!" he said, pointing at the brownish-gold sedan. "Isn't that the chick from the bar?"
Kenny peered into the other car, still waiting in the turn lane. "Yeah, that's her… why?" He turned toward Dedrick, the look on his face revealing he already knew his friend was about to do something rash.
"Hang on," Dedrick said, and he jumped out of the car. Traffic in the lanes beside him had begun to move again, but the turn lane was still waiting for the light. Dedrick crossed in front of Kenny's car and quickly reached the driver's window of the sedan. He tapped on the window, and a brief conversation with the girl followed. Then he ran back, climbing into Kenny's car just as the signal changed.
"Well?" Kenny asked, his face a mixture of surprise and anticipation.
"Tower Apartments, number 22-C!" Dedrick grinned. "Oh, and that's for not telling me…" he said, thumping Kenny on the shoulder, hard, "… for not telling me her friend is hot."