Part 10: Doublecross
Stepping foot outside for a second time wasn't any easier. As soon as I placed my foot outside the safety of the fort, I felt something was wrong immediately. I quickly took a good look around, up and down, to check for any sign of potential danger; I wasn't looking to get stabbed due to my lack of attention again. Fortunately, the coast appeared clear, but I still had to step gingerly. Treading carefully, we both made it back to the Atomic Wrangler to rather reluctantly hand over the funds we already had, to get our thirty percent. But after almost dying, and losing some caps, I wasn't ready to settle on just thirty percent.
Inside the Wrangler, the atmosphere was quiet. People sat and slowly drank their cocktails, the stage was unlighted, with nobody performing, and the general mood was glum. I stepped up to Francine who was busy cleaning the bar's plates and glasses.
"Oh hey, back already with the-" I Cut her off.
"We got two of them to pay up, but doing your job got me cut to hell! I've been in the fort for days getting my stomach sewn back together. I want at least double my cut, sixty percent." I ranted.
"Welcome to Freeside. Did you really expect to get through here, without getting yourself carved up like you're a turkey at Christmas? You fascinate me." She said, coldly.
"You…you're not going to compensate me?" I said in surprise.
"Why the hell do you think that we sent you? Those doors are practically the only things between us and an army of scruffy men with corrupt minds, and makeshift weaponry. You should have already known that Freeside is a shithole."
"Oh, I am not walking away from here without at least sixty percent. Unless you don't want the rest of your funds" I demanded.
"I'm sorry I have to do this. Greg, Phil! Get out here." She shouted, as two burly men carrying sawn off shotguns, emerged from behind the bar.
"What is this bullshit?" I demanded, asking for an answer.
"If you aren't going to keep your thirty percent, I'll ask these two lovely gentlemen to escort you out. Fail to comply, and they'll see to it your guts are spread through the whole of Freeside, for everyone to admire."
"Oh Christ, let's just get out of here while we can Michael." Arcade told me.
"You want me to give up this easily?" I replied "I didn't come this far to take a shotgun shell to the back."
"Actually you did." She said snidely "Keep going on like this, and you'll find yourself carrying shotgun slugs in your arse instead."
"God, you're a twisted woman, I offer to do your job, I get injured, and you don't give me any fucking compensation?" I said, repeating my argument.
"It isn't the 'good old times' anymore. We don't get cars, support from the government or school anymore. We make do with what we have, and like I told you before, we barely support ourselves. I'm sorry to call my guards on you, but I needed you to listen to me." She truthfully said.
I sighed. "Fine, we'll get you the last of your money. Take these two payments, and let us walk without lead in the ass please.
She laughed. "Of course. Come back when you have the payment, and don't run off with our money, because you won't want to find out what happens then.
"We'll be sure to." I said sarcastically, as we both walked out of the bar to get the last payment and get out of here.