Chapter 10

Sunflower walked into the small, smokey room. Candles and incense were burning along every wall, and hookahs with opiates and sweet smelling dried herbs were being lit and imbibed by several limp forms laying on soft, brightly colored cushions on the floor.

The bouncer on the outside of the room, Sunflower thought his name was Roger, had nodded at him with familiarity, allowing him to pass.

The place had been moved since he'd last taken a job from Big Vinnie. The angry little man had doled out the occasional job for him and Rainbow in the past, and it had taken him most of the last day and some of this one to find where their new location was.

He walked up to the small desk at the back of the darkened room, the dark wood's handsome finish covered by a dingy film left by the smoke. The only light in the room being shed by a large tank of water set inside the wall behind the desk, the fish swimming sluggishly inside. There, leaning back in his chair, was a short squat man, his balding head tilted back, his feet up on the deck. He looked like a proper villain in his expensive silk suit and shiny leather shoes puffing thoughtfully on a hookah while looking over a paper.

"Sunflower!" came his raspy, surprisingly deep voice. "My favorite mercenary!"

"I thought Rain was your favorite, Vincent." Sunflower replied.

"Huh. Well then, my second favorite." He laughed, more of a husky cackle then a laugh, but it was also very villainous, adding to the rooms whole mystique. "What can I do for you. Here for some work? I heard about Rainbow. My condolences, friend, I know you two were… close." the way he said that wasn't friendly at all, and Sunflower had to force his muscles to loosen and for him to take a relaxed stance, and even force a smile.

"Yeah. Thirty-one hours in surgery." he hoped his gritted teeth didn't give away his feelings. This kind of banter was Rainbow's forte, not his, and he found himself missing her terribly right then.

"Sorry to hear that, kid. She was a good one."

"Listen, She was working a job, said it was going to pay out huge. I want in. Even if it's off this fucking shit hole."

Vincent gave him an appraising look, "That's a pretty dangerous job. And uh," he glanced Sunflower up and down, "It's not one you'll come back from. I'm not dealing with him anymore, anyway, bad for business. I can find a few smaller things for you. Your a good worker, I don't-"

"I said," Sunflower interjected, "even if it takes me off this damned station. I want out of here. There's-" He swallowed, hoping he could make the lie convincing, "There's nothing here for me anymore."

Vincent looked unconvinced, "Your telling me your gonna leave your lady in her hour of greatest need." he said this with a flourish of his hand and a batting of his eyes, imitating more feminine mannerisms.

Sunflower looked at the ground, thinking fast, "They said there was too much damage to her brain and implants. She'll never wake up." That thought was actually terrifying to him, letting it be voiced was difficult to say the least and his throat choked authentically on the words. "I can't stay here anymore, Vinnie. Too many memories of her." He met Big Vinnie's eyes.

There was silence as the two men looked at each other. "Yeah, okay." He finally said to the Sunflower's relief. Vincent rooted through some papers on his desk with his little, chubby fingers, copied something onto a piece of scrap, and held it out to Sunflower. "Transport leaves tonight. Pack light. It meets up with a fighter in two days that'll have your contact on it."

Sunflower reached for it, but Vincent moved his hand swiftly just out of reach, giving the larger man a stern look as he did so. "I mean it Sunny, this guy's bad news, stay here and I'll take care of ya. Maybe we can figure out something for Rainbow, too."

But Sunflower snatched the paper from Vincent, and tossing a, "thanks" over his shoulder, hurried out of the heavy air inside the small, four room, closed storefront to the stations open, less oppressive streets. His heart was pounding in his chest and he felt faint, he'd been convinced that the small man was going to see through his lies.

Pulling the collar of his long, brown coat up he headed back to the hospital to deliver his intel to the waiting inquisitor.