Hangover
Nancy Mukahari moaned in pain as a hangover stabbed into her brain. She buried her face in her pillow to try to kill the light, but she knew that there was no escaping the morning. With a groan she rolled over onto her back, trying to remember what had happened last night.
They had exchanged Christmas greetings with Joker, then Nenene had showed up. She and Yomiko handled that, then she and Yomiko talked about that. They had drank a bit, then had cuddled on the couch while drinking eggnog with rum. Obviously Yomiko had done the mixing, as the drink had hit Nancy hard enough to knock her on her ass.
"Morning," Yomiko said cheerfully, trotting in while carrying a cup of orange juice and some Asprin tablets.
"Oh, thank you," Nancy sighed gratefully as she took the pills then washed them down with the orange juice.
"Are you all right?" Yomiko asked gently, sitting down beside her on the bed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for the rum and eggnog to be that strong..."
For a book lover Yomiko had a annoying tolerance for booze, since she mostly looked bright eyed and bushy tailed. "It's okay," Nancy said, shaking her head. She at up more fully, her odd purple-black hair standing on end.
"Do you want some toast?" Yomiko offered mildly, "I don't think either one of us are up to a full breakfast."
Nancy went a bit green at the idea of eating a full meal. "I think toast would be good," she decided, getting up. Nancy swayed a bit as a sudden burst of vertigo hit her, but she shook it off.
Yomiko offered a steadying hand, and the two headed into the kitchen. Nancy got the tea going, and Yomiko lightly toasted several pieces of bread. "Did you want jam?" she asked curiously.
"No, not today," Nancy said ruefully as they settled down at the table. She ate several pieces before finally noticing something. "Where's Shane?" she asked, their roommate noticeably absent.
"He phoned earlier," Yomiko looked amused, "apparently he's crashed on someone's couch. He says it reminds him of his old university days."
"Somehow I can't imagine him having a wild and crazy university life," Nancy noted thoughtfully, munching on toast. The man seemed far to stiff to be the type to crash in other people's couches and such.
"People have hidden depths," Yomiko shrugged as she ate her toast, "a professor I worked with on one of my substitute jobs was a former British SAS, a insurance investigator and a archeologist."
"Seriously?" Nancy blinked.
"Yes," Yomiko smiled, "Taichi Keaton."
"Huh," Nancy blinked, remembering the name from somewhere. She shook her head, deciding it wasn't important right now. "Do you have to go into work today?" she asked sipping some tea.
"Oh, no," Yomiko shook her head, "though I think Shane said he was going to check on his library."
"HIS library?" Nancy looked amused.
Yomiko shrugged eloquently and they both exchanged smiles.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The library was open, Shane noted, frowning slightly as he tried to get his hung over brain running. He felt like someone was trying to drill a mine in the top of his head, and the pain killers he had taken hadn't made a dent yet. He finally remembered that yes, some of the volunteers and check out girls had promised to open up today.
He ran a hand through his messy hair, realizing he was still in yesterday's clothes. And unshaven. Shane wanted to just go inside, but honestly he thought he might scare the kids. Turning away he walked from the library building, debating if he should go home or just try to find some place to clean up.
Shane was also wondering what happened to Revy. They had actually been having a good time at the dorm party, when Revy got a phone call. Whatever she heard was bad news, he was pretty sure, and she had excused herself and quickly fled. He hadn't been able to get away for various reasons, and Revy hadn't answered his calls.
"Gah," Shane groaned, ducking into one of the university buildings. He was pretty sure one of the professors might have a razor he could borrow or something. Sadly his optimism was misplaced, as apparently no professors were in and only a few grad students were working on last minute projects.
"Merry Christmas," the students working in the science lab waved as he went by.
"And right back at you," Shane nodded, recognizing Koyomi, Kelly and several members of the robotics club. He wandered in, looking at the robotic arm on the table as he asked, "Still improving your robot?"
"Fine tuning mostly," Koyomi admitted, "Kelly is plugging in the programs and we're seeing how well it works."
"I suppose I couldn't borrow something to shave with?" Shane asked hopefully.
Kelly Miles looked amused as the young woman noted, "I thought you looked a bit more rakish than usual, sir."
"Even old fogies get out occasionally," Shane shrugged.
"I think we can rig up something," Koyomi said, looking thoughtful.
Instead of building something from scratch the team remembered that one of the professors usually did shave in his office. Then of all people Dan demonstrated he knew how to pick a lock. Having liberated the razor they presented it to Shane, who felt just a tad hypocritical to criticize their methods. He did make a note to ask Dan how he learned to do that...
Cleaned up, shaved and after returning the stolen razor Shane felt somewhat more presentable. He was still in his one day old clothes, but he wasn't going to bring that up. Besides, his students might decide to break into someone's office and get him clothes too! He thanked them and headed out, once more into the cool late morning air.
Shane maintained a confident stride, and tried to project confidence as he went into the quiet library. If working for the British Library had taught him anything, the secret to getting by was to be entirely sure you belonged, even if you didn't. Like on his usual workday mornings Shane walked the book cases, moving between the stacks as he made sure everything was neat and in their place. Satisfied they were fine, he headed up to the front desk.
"Good morning sir," Nodoka smiled at him warmly, "I wasn't expecting you today."
"Meaning you saw me get falling down drunk last night," Shane noted with a grin.
Nodoka blushed charmingly, "No, no! I mean..."
Shane laughed, "It's fine, I figure I'm showing you kids what adults are really like." He leaned against the desk as he noted, "I'm actually a bit vague on everything that happened. You were there at the dorm party I trust?"
"Yes," Nodoka said, covering her mouth to hide a smile.
"Ah, I was embarrassing I see," Shane shook his head, "what did I do? Lampshade on the head? Bad singing? Random hugs?"
"Singing," Nodoka actually laughed quietly then added reassuringly, "but you weren't that bad. No one ran out of the room at least."
"Well, thank goodness for that," Shane shook his head, smiling.
"You actually have a very good singing voice," another girl noted, smiling faintly. Yue looked amused, "Did you really have to come into work today?"
"Probably not," Shane conceded, sighing. He looked at Nodoka, "Are you and the others going to be okay closing up?"
"I don't see any problems," Nodoka promised, smiling. "And if something comes up, I'll call."
"Fair enough," Shane agreed, then said his goodbyes. Heading outside he took a deep breath, then against all common sense decided to try to find out where Revy had disappeared to.
It didn't take that long to find her, honestly. First he phoned up Rock, and mentioned how Revy hurried off last night. Mentioning that he was worried about her did the trick, and Rock revealed that Revy had gotten some bad news about a friend. He didn't know exactly where she was but Rock suspected she was drowning her sorrows.
There were a couple of decent pubs on the campus itself, intended for the university students pretty much. Shane checked those out first, then went out into the city itself to see the real bars. He found Revy in the seedier of the two bars, the sort of place you went in for serious drinking rather than to have a party.
Surprisingly Shane recognized the woman sitting by Revy, the two of them apparently matching each other drink for drink. "Hey Shane!| Rin Asogi waved breezily, getting glares from the serious drinkers up by the bar.
Shane walked over to the back table, nodding a greeting as he took off his coat. Revy had red cheeks but her eyes seemed clear, indicating she wasn't too drunk yet. "You all right?" he asked as he sat down.
"I'm just fine," Revy said as she poured a glass of rum and pushed it towards him.
Rin's long black hair shimmered as she shook her head, "Don't believe her, Shaney." She burst into giggles, "Shaney! I like that!"
Shane rolled his eyes, praying to god that it doesn't become his nickname. He sipped from his rum, then put it down. "I think I had too much to drink last night," he admitted.
"Oh?" Revy looked curious.
Seizing the moment to try to cheer her up I weave a slightly exaggerated version of what I recall of the night after Revy left. I added in a few bits including wearing a lampshade, and I managed to get a somewhat more natural smile on Revy's face. As I finished up, Rin stretched and yawned.
"I gotta get going," Rin admitted, "Mimi's probably wondering where I am. Take good care of Revy Shaney." She staggered off, giggling, "Shaney! Hah!"
"I hope like hell she forgets about calling me that," Shane sighed.
Revy snickered softly, then looked down into her nearly empty glass. "You ever think you've known someone for years, only to have them betray you?" she asked sadly.
"Once or twice," Shane admitted, "it sucks."
"Yeah, it does," Revy finished her drink with a sigh. "And you can never get back the trust you once had..."
"No," Shane agreed. He watched her sadly, figuring that last night's call had been security related. And from the look on her face and what she said, it wasn't good. "I'm sorry," he said, putting his hand over hers.
"Thanks," Revy sighed, squeezing his fingers firmly.
To be continued...
Note: Taichi Hiraga Keaton is in fact the main character of Master Keaton, a japanese manga and anime. Sadly only the anime has been translated into English, and it's out of print. Still, if you can find it the series is quite a treat.
Edit: Viz has recently picked up the manga, in the same oversized books they do Black Lagoon in.
Seventeen
Balalaika felt a pang of regret as the white blond watched the younger woman being hustled on the boat. One upon a time she would have had Greenback Jane killed for what she had done, attempting to hack into the island and pass data to a enemy. Now? They were letting her off with a warning, though admittedly a quite severe warning.
"I still think breaking both her hands was a bit much," Rock noted, the black haired younger man dressed in a white shirt, tie and black pants.
"We should have killed her," Balalaika said dryly as the woman with white plaster casts on both her hands stumbled out of their sight, glaring at them furiously. While Balalaika had not broken her hands personally Jane KNEW she had ordered it.
"Balalaika...," Rock started.
She held up a hand, stopping him. "I know that she was a friend, and I know Benny was in love with her," Balalaika said frankly, "but what she did was not just endangering us. I could forgive that. What she did was attempt to put all those we are responsible for in danger."
"Huh," Rock nodded, acknowledging the point.
"Besides, I dislike leaving live enemies behind me," Balalaika added reflectively, "then tend to come back at distressing times."
Rock sighed at that. Balalaika, at times, could be distressingly practical about such things. He suspected it came from her Russian heritage. And it was distressing, mostly, because too often Balalaika was right about this sort of thing.
"Do you think she'll cause Dutch any trouble?" Balalaika asked as the Lagoon pulled away from the dock and headed out to sea.
"She's not that dumb," Rock said as they walked away from the dock. "SEARRS is after her for divulging they hired her, so she needs Dutch to get her back to Roanapur safely. No way she'd be dumb enough to screw with him."
"True," Balalaika said as they reached her silver coloured Bentley. She opened the car door as she added, "I noticed Benny wasn't aboard. With Dutch be all right without him?"
"He got a local expert to fill in," Rock noted as he got in with her, "considering the circumstances I don't blame Benny sitting this one out."
"True enough," Balalaika nodded. She had also provided two troopers as guards, as Revy was also staying in town, though for different reasons. Revy was less concerned with Jane as finding out what SEARRS might have wanted the data for.
"Captain," Boris said from the front seat, "shall I take you back to town, or...?"
"Back to the school," Balalaika ordered and they were off.
She was a busy woman, and annoyingly little of it had to do with running the school itself. The previous governor of the islands had run the place into the ground, and much of Balalaika's efforts were devoted to rebuilding it. As well, there were growing indications that there were dangerous secrets under this island.
"Did you read the latest report from the soldiers I have exploring the tunnels?" Balalaika asked Rock curiously.
"They found another biology lab," Rock nodded, frowning. "And Captain Hicks did not sound happy about their progress."
"The island appears riddled with a tunnel network, much of it man made," Balalaika agreed. "We've mapped a section of it, but it's a maze. It could be weeks before we have a section completely mapped out."
"And the technology we're finding down there is DAMN odd," Rock made a face.
The biology labs were disturbing, Rock had found. Massive tubes and conduits, old brass and thick crystal, and tools that looked over a hundred years old at least. And preserved in a odd... slime were life forms, experiments of various types. Animals, mostly, but a few men too. And it you disturbed them, somehow some of the creatures would begin to move, despite being long dead!
There had also been mechanical labs, with strange and exotic machines of mostly unknown purpose. They didn't want to try starting anything up, not being sure what they DID, but they were incredibly complex for something so old. There were steam powered engines, a small train and other items, all waiting to be studied.
"Indeed," Balalaika agreed, "we're looking for a expert in exotic technology to study what's under there, but we must be descrete."
"Do you think we should bring in a professional to investigate the tunnels?" Rock asked, even as he wondered where she was looking for a expert in lost steampunk technology.
"I think Captain Hicks can manage, though I am considering bringing in a professional archeologist," Balalaika conceded, "a old friend, so to speak."
"Hmm," Rock nodded as they drove through town. Hesitantly he asked, "Do you think that Librarian knew how extensive the tunnels would turn out to be?"
"That is a very good question," Balalaika admitted.
They had first found out about the tunnels under the island when Revy, following the oddly dressed Shane Llewellyn, had discovered clearly man made passages. Worse, she had encountered what she colorfully described as 'a fucking demon dog' and killed it, with a bit of help.
After a bit of thought Balalaika admitted, "You know, I don't think so. Revy noted that he seemed as startled as her about what they found."
"Well, let's hope he stays out of trouble," Rock sighed as they reached the school's main offices, "we have enough problems."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"How the HELL did I get talked into this?" Shane complained bitterly as he was lowered by a rope into a dark hole.
Amusingly, this was not because of any of his planned explorations. No, this was a student project, and he had been caught up in it. The robe gradually lowered him into the large chamber, even as the sound of dirt shifting echoed worryingly.
"You okay, sir?" Dan Wisner asked as the younger man helped belay the rope along with a engineering team.
"I'm just dandy," Shane answered dryly.
A group of students had been running tests on a walking machine, a big, bulky mecha designed to copy human movement which were working on for the science fair in a few weeks. Sadly, the field they were running the mobility tests on had turned out to have a fundamental weakness, being the 'roof' for a underground cavern.
Now, in theory they should have ran to school authorities, rather than asking Shane. However, they hadn't actually got permissions to test their mecha out in the fields, and there was some concern they might get in trouble. So instead they went and got a teacher they HOPED would not rat them out.
Koyomi Kishiro knelt by the hole their mecha had opened up in the turf, even as Dan and the other club members slowly lowered the teacher. "Can you see the machine?" she called.
"I'm about half way down," Shane answered, "and it's pretty dim. Not yet."
"Ease him down slowly," Koyomi instructed the others.
Shane dropped down pretty smoothly, the brown haired man's overcoat flapping around him. The chamber was large, at least twenty or so feet high he guessed, and the light from the hole shafted downward at a angle, only illuminating part of it. About half way down he saw the edges of the mech, which looked like it had taken damage from the fall.
"I see it," he called as he dropped a bit more, "looks like it took some damage in the fall."
Kelly Miles cursed softly, the programmer standing up near the hole. She had helped the group design the software, and it would be very frustrating to see that work wasted.
"Let go of the rope, I think I can drop the last bit," Shane called.
Adam, one of the stronger guys, kept a grip on the rope while letting it quickly play out. They heard a thump, then he called, "You okay?"
"I'm down," Shane called back.
The machine, which was about seven feet tall and heavy looking, had apparently crashed through the roof, hit the floor then rolled a bit. It was sitting off to the side, sideways, and was pretty badly banged up.
As Shane called up with details on the busted mech he also took the opportunity to check out the chamber itself. Like the caves he had explored a few weeks ago it appeared man made, with smooth walls. The floor was also quite even, at least where the robot hadn't dinged it. There were also at least three passages branching out of the room.
'Damn it,' Shane thought ruefully, 'how big IS this tunnel network anyway?'
"Coming down!" a voice yelled and Shane barely had enough time to move aside before Koyomi slid down the rope. She hit the ground with a thump and looked around, blinking as she asked, "What the hell...?"
"Looks like your robot fell into this underground chamber," Shane stated the obvious, trying not to look like he knew what they were dealing with.
"Wow, this is clearly man made," Koyomi looked around, "and there are other tunnels! We should get the club down here, go exploring..."
"No, bad idea," Shane said quickly. As Koyomi looked at him curiously he added quickly, "WE have no lights, and we'd need cave diving gear, maybe. And what if there's a cave in?"
Koyomi looked like she wanted to protest, then sighed. "You're right, of course." She looked at the robot next, circling it as she mused, "Now, how the heck do we get it out of here?"
"I hate to say it but I think we're gonna have to call in the authorities," Shane noted. "AT least, if you know someone with a crane... and can judge where it would be safe to park it considering the unstable ground?"
Koyomi digested that a moment and sighed. "We are in SO much shit..."
It did indeed take a crane and nearly half a day to get the mecha out of the cavern. And about the same time the Island Security forces were all over them, swearing everyone to secrecy about the hole, cavern and tunnels.
Revy ended up down the hole as her squads of troops began to move deeper into the tunnels. "Why the heck do I keep running into you in places like this?" she asked Shane dryly.
"Just lucky I guess?" Shane shrugged slightly. "Besides, I got asked by my students to help. It's not like I could just ignore it..."
Revy gave him a look, "You're the librarian. You could have just gotten a staff member..."
Shane shrugged. "Any sign of those things we ran into before?" he asked, changing the subject.
"No," Revy answered flatly, "and I hope we don't see them again."
"Seconded," Shane agreed.
To be continued...
