Chapter 10
Leaning against the stone wall to the left of the door of the Museum of History Rachel dug a pack of cigarettes out of her pocket and tapped the pack on her palm.
Willow wandered over to the little red head and, having nothing better to do, she leaned against the same wall next to the smoothskin. Rachel silently offered over a cigarette that Willow gladly accepted, followed by the light the girl held out.
Rachel popped her own cigarette into the open flame of her lighter and pulled, sighing pleasantly as she blew the smooth smoke out through her nose. They there together in a comfortable silence for a moment, both Willow and Rachel looked out over the mall.
She took another drag and it was Rachel who spoke first. "So, anythin' exciting happenin'?"
"Not really, those Brotherhood assholes take the occasional pot shot at me but their aim is terrible." Willow took another drag of her own cigarette and added, "Thanks for this thing," she held up the smoke, "I ran out this morning."
"No problem, I'm bored anyway. I tried to have a drink in The Ninth Circle, but the owner's a creep and the only other person in there not entirely cocked was the bouncer. He didn't seem interested in chatting either."
Willow snorted, "That would be Charon, Ahzrukhal keeps him on a leash so short it's a wander he hasn't hung himself with it."
"You'd think he'd say fuck it and quit," Rachel mused, flicking ash to the ground.
"He can't, Ahzrukhal mentioned a contract a couple times when he first got ahold of Charon. Makes him loyal to the holder, I don't know the detail though." Willow took a final drag and flicked her butt off into a nearby pile of rubble.
"Hmm," Rachel mused and Willow raised the reminisce of an eyebrow, "What are you thinking Smoothskin?"
"I'm thinking I've got some caps saved up and I could use a bodyguard, I'm new to the area and all that." She told the sentry and the ghoulette laughed.
"Good luck with that tourist," she snorted, than thought for a second before she spoke again, "You're alright, for a human. If you do manage to get him off that wall loosen it leash yeah?"
"Yeah," She agreed, turning to head back inside after flicking her own spent cigarette to the ground.
As Rachel left Willow shook her head, "Hope that kid knows what she doing, hope she's as alright as she seems."
Rachel headed into the decrepit rotunda bathroom before going back into Underworld. She looked in the cracked mirror, wicked eyes looking back as she worked out the details of the plan in her mind. So Charon was a slave and he did have a contract.
She unbuckled her armor, setting it on a sink to the right. Rachel striped out of her dirty, stained white tank top and used a rag to clean the dirt from her skin. Next she pulled a clean-ish sleeveless black V-neck top that fit snuggly to her curves.
She shimmied out of her ripped and dirt streaked pants, switching them from a pair of tight tan cargos. The shirt wasn't long enough to reach the low waistline of her pants, leaving a two and a half inch swath of exposed waist. It showed off a bit of the black vine tattoo crawling from her right hip, wrapping around her body to blossom black lily like flowers on her left shoulder blade.
She checked to make sure her boot knife was securely hidden before stowing her armor in her pack along with her dirty cloths. She looked at her Pipboy and shrugged, she didn't actually know how to take if off and besides, him thinking she was recently out of a vault might work in her advantage. It might make her seem more naive, less threatening.
Flipping a side pocket of her pack open Rachel pulled out an eye pencil she'd found in a crumbling gas station. There was only about an inch left to it so she only used it for special occasions. Rescuing a slave with a honey trap was most certainly a special occasion. Rachel gave each eyelid a dark line right behind her eyelashes, blinking and check it's even-ness before putting it away.
Rachel shook the dust out of her red hair and wet her hands in the water, she frowned as the Pipboy on her arm started to tick, warning of the radiation she was absorbing. She turned the knob to lower the volume and promised herself to take some Radway later.
She used her wet hands to spike out the ends of her hair and shook it again, smiling at the thousand little spikes sweeping away from her head. For a minute the girl thought about putting her beret back on but stowed it in her pack instead. She didn't want to give her target any reminder that she was an experienced wastelander and dangerous.
Rachel finally pulled her modified 9mm pistol out of her bag, it was beautiful and had Maria engraved into the pearl handle in scrawling letters. She thrust Maria into the special holster attached to her leg, the barrel extended just on inch over her boot and was easily hidden under the wide bottoms of her cargos.
Rachel inspected her reflection in the grimy mirror, nodding in satisfaction. She slung her pack over her shoulder, strolling in the direction of The Ninth with her bag of caps tucked into a pouch on her leg.
Rachel sauntered through the concourse, the corner of her mouth ticking up as a few heads turned to watch her walk by and a couple men made appreciating sounds. Of course there were also a few whispers about uppity fucking smoothskins but that didn't bother her at all as she climbed the stairs.
Charon grumbled under his breath, the patrons tonight were pathetically dead to the world and it didn't look like he would need to toss anyone out on their sorry ass. The thought was incredibly depressing, maybe if he was lucky patchwork would come in later and cause a scene.
The only other time he got to move off the dammed wall was the few short hours the bar was closed and he was allowed to sleep on the floor, tucked into a far corner. Because somebody needed to guard the bar after closing. Ahzrukhal claimed with that nasty smirk on his ugly mug.
Charon shifted his weight from one foot to the other and glared at the drunks in the bar. Fucking well behaved dead beats, it's been to fucking long since those Talon assholes tried to attack.
The door opened quietly, Charon's eyes flicking in the direction of the movement. His breath caught in his throat for a full second when the smoothskin strode in, tight clothes and fiery hair a stark contrast to her pale skin. She'd been fresh from the ruins when he's seen her earlier, apparently she'd found a place to clean up.
Her eyes swept the room and landed on him, the look she gave him ratcheted her threat level up several steps from the low rank he'd given her before. He growled, not liking the way she'd caught his, and every other person in the rooms, attention.
She went to the bar, his employers eyes fixated on the girl exposed chest. Charon growled again but stayed where he was. He was under strict orders to stay put unless Ahzrukhal verbally called. Besides, dressed like that the girl was in more danger then his employer was.
He tightened his arms a crossed his chest and shifted his weight back from one foot to the other, very purposely avoiding looking at her. It was going to be a long ass night.
Rachel scanned the room as she slipped into The Ninth Circle, giving the bounce a wolf's grin when their eyes met. He'd scowled at her and she had to bite back a chuckle, privately glad she was about to play her game with his boss. Rachel got the feeling Charon would be much harder influence. She stepped up to the bar and slid onto a bar stool, twisting slightly so she could cross her legs and as she smiled up at the man behind the counter.
"Well hello," Ahzrukhal purred, leaning down infront of her. "My, my don't you look lovely,"
Rachel sweetened her smile, idly reaching up to play with a lock of her hair, "You're just saying that, all I did was find a sink I could freshen up with."
"You don't realize your own strength then, is there something I can get for you? Scotch is your beverage of choice I believe?" he smirked at her, Rachel not missing the way his eye kept flicking down.
"Scotch would be lovely," she giggled, it sounded fake in her ears and she scolded herself for being so out of practice but the man was eating it up. "I finished my last bottle just a few minutes ago and it's far too early to not have anymore."
Ahzrukhal's smirk broke into a full on grin as Rachel smiled back. She kept the flirtatious look locked on her face as he poured the amber liquid into a glass, this is going to be too easy, "Thank you,"
"So what is it that brings you to Underworld?" he asked, clearly not intending to leave her. Hook. She thought, delighted it was going so smoothly.
"A courier job, I was hired to deliver a letter." She lifted her glass, letting half slide down her throat.
"Oh? Might I ask to who?" he refilled her glass and poured one for himself as she giggled again, shaking her head slowly back and forth.
"No, I operate with a certain discretion, I used to also operate with a certain speed but I'm afraid I'm new to this side of the Wasteland, I'm from New Vegas you see."
"New Vegas?" he asked, impressed, "That's a long way to come, did you travel alone?" he asked.
She took another long swig of scotch and nodded, "Yes, but I have to admit something to you, and I hope you think less of me for it."
"Oh I'm sure I won't my dear, what is it? I promise I won't think anything bad about your pretty face." his gaze was turning hungry and she supposed she was getting points for being so friendly with a ghoul. Personal she didn't have anything against most ghouls, although this one was making her skin crawl. Line.
"A little birdy told me that your bouncer in the corner might be just man I need for a guide. Perhaps even occasional protection, I don't suppose you would be willing part with him?" she asked and he laughed, greed snaking into his eye along with the desire she already saw there.
"Charon is a valuable employee with a special contract that makes him unable to disobey my commands. He can't bother me with that pesky sense of morality so many people are affect with these days. He is loyal to me exclusively; as you can imagine that makes him incredibly valuable. Just what did you have in mind to trade?"
She swirled her glasses and sipped it, thinking. So he is a special kind of slave. That's intresting. What would make him unable to disobey, fear? That seems unlikely, the guy is huge.
"Oh ...one thousand caps?"
"I paid quiet a good deal more and I won't be able to replace him, that being said a single thousand caps does sound low, don't you think?" he raised an eyebrow and almost drained his glass.
Rachel looked up at him from under her lashes, idly sliding one finger along the neckline of her tight shirt like she was thinking. His eye tracked the movement.
"I'm sure we can think of…something on top of the caps, don't you?"She lifted the finger, brushing a few stray locks of hair from her eyes, letting them fall right back where they had been.
Ahzrukhal took the bait, reaching a cross the bar and tucking the strands behind her ear. "Perhaps," He offered, licking his lips, "we can go somewhere a bit more private to discuss the details of what that might be?"Sinker.
Rachel tipped her glass up and drained it, smiling prettily at him, "My thoughts exactly."
She slid from her barstool as Ahzrukhal grinned; leading her through a door that led to the room that served as both his office and bedroom.
Rachel kept her smile in place as he pulled another bottle of scotch out of a cabinet and pulled out the cork, offering it to her. She took it and tipped the bottle up, but she didn't drink. She was starting to get buzzed and knew it was time to start faking.
He grinned; not realizing that she hadn't pulled any liquor from the bottle. He took it back when she offered it and he plopped down on the bed, patting the place next to him.
She moved to stand between his legs instead, needing to stay in control of the situation, "Have you settled on some agreeable terms for the contract? I want to make sure I can get back Underworld alive."
With the thought of having her not just now but the next time she returned planted firmly in his mind he nodded, "Of course my dear, I think a thousand caps and a night or two with you is more than enough." he chuckled when she laughed softly.
"I'm glad you think my body it worth so much," she moved forward again, leaning toward him and taking his tie in her left hand, putting her right hand one his thigh. Ahzrukhal leaned back to give her room to come up onto the bed.
Rachel kept her left leg planted on the floor between his knees and slid her right leg up onto the mattress. Ahzrukhal put one hand on her ribs and used the other to balance as he leaned back, gazing up at her with lust filled eyes. Gotcha you son of a bitch.
Rachel's smile turned predatory and she slid her right hand quickly down her raised leg, slipping her fingers up her pant leg and pulling Maria from its holster. In another quick movement she yanked his tie forward and jammed her 9mm into his mouth, cutting off his yelped.
He tried to snarl curses at her but quieted suddenly she pushed the gun further into his mouth. "Sshhh, you should have just taken my caps." she tsked.
He tried to speak again, the fingers of his free hand digging into her skin while the other one strain to hold him up, he really didn't want to be on his back and at the crazy bitches mercy.
Rachel hushed him again, talking softly. "Now, I'm a reasonable person. But I have a low tolerance for people how keep slaves, hush," Rachel demanded, jerking his tie. When he tried to speak around her gun again. "I've been asking around and it seems to me like you treat him little better than a junk yard dog. Now one of two things is going to happen in the next five minutes. You are going to take my thousand caps and tell me where the contract is, or I'm going to shoot you and pick it off your body."
Ahzrukhal looked at her, fear in his wide eyes. "Nod if you understand," Rachel whispered and he nodded. she kept going. "Was I right in saying it was on your person?" he nodded again.
"Good, is it in your pants pockets?" he didn't move.
"Your jacket?" another nod. Rachel transferred his tie into the fingers holding the gun handle and reached into both outside pockets, next she moved to the inner ones most suit jackets had and she smiled when her fingers touched paper. She drew the folded yellowing sheet out and shook it open, scanning it quickly. It was incredibly faded but Charon's name could be made out at the bottom.
"Very good," keeping the gun in place she tucked the paper into her bra, then reached down, undoing his belt, yanking it free. Now he really looked worried but she rolled her eyes. She yanked his arm out from under him; amazingly the gun didn't leave his mouth as he fell back. She shifted, straddling him and quickly tied his hands together with his own belt, then tied his already bound hands to the steel bed frame over his head.
Satisfied that he was stuck she whispered, "I'm leaving now," she dug out her bag of caps and dropped it onto his chest. "Here's you're payment, make any sound all in the next hour and I'll blow head off." she warned, slowly removing Maria. She made a note to give the 9mm a good cleaning later as Ahzrukhal worked his sore jaw.
As Rachel got to her feet he hissed at her softly. "You crazy fucking bitch," and he spat in her direction, missing entirely. She regarded him for a long moment and then nodded, holstering her weapon. "Yeah," she whispered as she stood, flashing him a final dark grin "I am, but I'm okay with it."
Rachel put her hand on the door knob and twisted, sliding out of the room she purred, "Pleasure doing business with you,"