Chapter 4
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Harper bounced from one foot to the other to jittery to stand still.
Tyr stepped into the room unflinchingly. He returned the angry glares for a moment before making his way towards the bar. He could hear Harper's heart beating loudly in his chest. The boy was afraid .and he should be. Many of the Nietzscheans in the room were from slaving prides. Though no Nietzschean looked favourably on humans some were more severe in their ideals then others.
Tyr stepped up to the bar and ordered two drinks. The silence in the air hung so think it felt like gravy and was nearly palatable.
"We don't serve his kind here he'll have to wait outside." Grunted the barkeep.
"Hey! .ompff" Harper had started to protest but The boy's air flew from his lungs as Tyr elbowed him in the stomach.
"We have travelled a long way is there water?" Asked Tyr sounding almost bored. "Out back." The barkeep motioned with his head. "Now get him out of here before he infests the place with fleas."
Harper who was still gasping for breath and holding his stomach only mustered a small frown at the remark. Tyr pulled him to the side. "I need you to wait outside."
Harper had finally managed to get some air in to his aching lungs. "This is insane!" He hissed. "He thinks I'm your slave or something and I haven't had fleas for years!"
Tyr sighed. Harper's bruised ego was rebelling in full force. "Listen, when we go for parts you can make the rules but this is not your place little man. They won't tell us anything if they think I am associated with."
Harper looked at him coolly. Tyr quickly re thought his words.
"With non Nietzscheans."
"All right." The small human finally muttered "But, don't be all night and try to smuggle me a beer okay?"
Tyr gripped Harper's shoulder in thanks then gave the boy a small shove for show and Harper made his way out the door. Things were still far from friendly between the two.
The minute Harper left the room filled with noise. It was as if some one turned on a switch as the proprietors returned to their own business. Tyr settled on to a stool at the bar and eyed the room with only slightly less wary.
After about fifteen minutes two members obviously from Simba pride made there way over to Tyr.
"You look familiar!" One asked falsely jovial.
Tyr shrugged his shoulders uncommitted. "You don't."
"What pride are you from?" questioned the other.
"What concern is it to you." Tyr challenged.
They did not back off but they did not push forward. "We simply have not seen you here before yet I know you from some place."
"I am from Bolivar's pride and I am travelling." Lied Tyr.
The one that seemed to be the leader laughed whole-heartedly. "I have not heard that name in some time. You don't look like you're from his stock."
"I am courting his sister."
They seemed to accept this and even seemed to commiserate. "Ah, they are a spoiled bunch. Any of his sisters would be a great achievement. Where do you travel?"
"I am looking for parts and possible some information."
++++++++++++++++
Harper stood in the damp alley and shivered. It had started to get cool and he had left his jacket on the Maru. He glanced around nervously. He had thought of drinking some water but when he saw the drippy rusted tap he thought better of the situation. Harper had thought no place in the world could be creepier then a back alley on earth but after another glance around he was starting to change his mind.
He shivered again and squinted in to the darkness. He was watching for intruders but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe he would get Trance to check out his eyesight when he got back.
Drip.
Harper glared at the annoying leaking tap.
He tried to stand on his tiptoes and look in the back window but the glass was painted and he couldn't see anything. He was starting to wonder what was taking so long it felt like he had been outside forever.
Drip.
It suddenly came apparent to Harper why the tap was bothering him so much.
Drip.
The combination of the dripping tap and the cool air soon made it apparent that he had not visited the little boys room in quite some time. He pranced back and forth on the spot for a few minutes more.
Going back in to the bar was out of the question Tyr would slaughter him. There were no public rest rooms apparent outside either. He finally gave up. He used to do it on earth all the time.what was the big deal?
He faced the wall just under the window and unzipped his pants.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The one Nietzschean kept looking at Tyr suspiciously. He didn't quite believe the story Tyr was telling. Tyr was on guard but had to take the opportunity to get why he was really here out in the open. Tyr assumed these two were the town's gossipers and would use them as such.
"What kind of information.trading?" asked what seemed to be the stupider of the two Simba's.
"Yes, and news of the war."
The smarter one's interest was peaked. "What war. I know of no war."
"I heard of a war between the Drago's and the new Common Wealth I hoped to offer my ship as a cargo vessel to the Drago's and hopefully earn some revenue."
"Revenue!" Snorted the smarter one. "You sound like a Nightsider. Heeeeeeeeeey! That's where I know you from."
The Nietzschean pulled a portable database out of one of his pockets.
Tyr tensed nervously but was careful not to let it show.
The Smarted one scoured over the data stream. "Here... Your name's Tyr Anasazi and you work for a Nightsider named Gerentex. That slime bucket owes my alpha a lot of money!"
Tyr raised an eyebrow menacingly. Their data was sadly out of date but in this case it may have saved his life.
The rest of the patrons were starting to eye him suspiciously. Enough he decided. He was looking for information and everyone knew it. Time to put on a show. Time to prove his worth to all the other's in the room. Time to go find Harper.
Tyr face clouded in such faux fury that he should have won an award. "I have not now or ever worked for someone such as the likes of that creature." He spit on the floor to show his disgust.
"Really?" Smirked the smarter one. "Then why does it say so on my Data stream?"
"Yeah!" the dumber one chimed in.
"Well it seems obvious to me. You and your Data are inferior." Replied Tyr as his true rage built. The muscles in his jaw twitched with anticipation.
"Your pursue a prudish Bolivar female and call me inferior!"
With that Tyr reached behind and grabbed a mug from the bar and slammed it against the somewhat smarter of the two upside the head. The Nietzschean fell to his knees. He clutched his head in an attempt to staunch the flow of blood. The dumber one then lived up to Tyr's expectations and leapt at Tyr. Tyr grabbed him by the neck and the groin. The smaller Nietzschean then sailed neatly over the bar and out the painted window.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Harper stood near the wall and was just about to start relieving him self when he let out a scream. Glass shattered and a very large Nietzschean fell from the sky. The over sized body hit him and forced him to some near by garbage. Recovering quickly he pushed the great lug off and looked through the broken glass. The man that had tackled him wobbled to his feet. Harper grabbed a broken board absently and took a quick swing at the Nietzschean's head. The dumb looking Nietzschean fell face first on to the damp concrete and showed no signs of moving any time soon. Harper's gaze through the window never broke.
He could see Tyr through the window and a regular old bar brawl had broken out. Harper leapt through the window screaming obscenities that sounded like a war cry. He never let go of the board from the alley. He started to swing at everything that moved and something's that didn't.
Blood splattered everywhere.
Some one grabbed his arm. He swung automatically but it was blocked.
"It's me little man. let's retreat." And Tyr steered him away from the raging battle.
The two ran for four blocks before Harper was forced to stop and catch his breath. The desert, the fight and the run had worn him out.
Harper leaned against a wall and slowly sunk to the ground gasping for breath in large mouthfuls. Tyr sat on the ground beside him.
They sat in silence for a moment. Then a snicker from Tyr broke the quiet.
"What?" Asked Harper suspiciously.
"Were you expecting company in the alley while you waited?"
Harper was confused for a moment until he realized his zipper was still down. His face felt suddenly hot. "No!.shut up!" He quickly turned and fixed his pants. Tyr laughed softly beside him.
After a moment Harper laughed to. "My momma always said, never get caught with your pants down."
Tyr continued to chuckle. "What an odd saying.but none the less sound advice."
Harper remembered his mother. Her light blond hair her quick smile .He remembered her lying in a pool of blood. He remembered Rommie lying lifeless on his workbench. His felt his skin grown suddenly cold. He quickly got to his feet. "Yeah well.what the hell would you know?"
He walked quickly away from Tyr. He walked quickly away from stupid Nietzs- ville and he walked quickly away from his memories.
When he saw the Maru he started to run.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TBC
Tyr stepped into the room unflinchingly. He returned the angry glares for a moment before making his way towards the bar. He could hear Harper's heart beating loudly in his chest. The boy was afraid .and he should be. Many of the Nietzscheans in the room were from slaving prides. Though no Nietzschean looked favourably on humans some were more severe in their ideals then others.
Tyr stepped up to the bar and ordered two drinks. The silence in the air hung so think it felt like gravy and was nearly palatable.
"We don't serve his kind here he'll have to wait outside." Grunted the barkeep.
"Hey! .ompff" Harper had started to protest but The boy's air flew from his lungs as Tyr elbowed him in the stomach.
"We have travelled a long way is there water?" Asked Tyr sounding almost bored. "Out back." The barkeep motioned with his head. "Now get him out of here before he infests the place with fleas."
Harper who was still gasping for breath and holding his stomach only mustered a small frown at the remark. Tyr pulled him to the side. "I need you to wait outside."
Harper had finally managed to get some air in to his aching lungs. "This is insane!" He hissed. "He thinks I'm your slave or something and I haven't had fleas for years!"
Tyr sighed. Harper's bruised ego was rebelling in full force. "Listen, when we go for parts you can make the rules but this is not your place little man. They won't tell us anything if they think I am associated with."
Harper looked at him coolly. Tyr quickly re thought his words.
"With non Nietzscheans."
"All right." The small human finally muttered "But, don't be all night and try to smuggle me a beer okay?"
Tyr gripped Harper's shoulder in thanks then gave the boy a small shove for show and Harper made his way out the door. Things were still far from friendly between the two.
The minute Harper left the room filled with noise. It was as if some one turned on a switch as the proprietors returned to their own business. Tyr settled on to a stool at the bar and eyed the room with only slightly less wary.
After about fifteen minutes two members obviously from Simba pride made there way over to Tyr.
"You look familiar!" One asked falsely jovial.
Tyr shrugged his shoulders uncommitted. "You don't."
"What pride are you from?" questioned the other.
"What concern is it to you." Tyr challenged.
They did not back off but they did not push forward. "We simply have not seen you here before yet I know you from some place."
"I am from Bolivar's pride and I am travelling." Lied Tyr.
The one that seemed to be the leader laughed whole-heartedly. "I have not heard that name in some time. You don't look like you're from his stock."
"I am courting his sister."
They seemed to accept this and even seemed to commiserate. "Ah, they are a spoiled bunch. Any of his sisters would be a great achievement. Where do you travel?"
"I am looking for parts and possible some information."
++++++++++++++++
Harper stood in the damp alley and shivered. It had started to get cool and he had left his jacket on the Maru. He glanced around nervously. He had thought of drinking some water but when he saw the drippy rusted tap he thought better of the situation. Harper had thought no place in the world could be creepier then a back alley on earth but after another glance around he was starting to change his mind.
He shivered again and squinted in to the darkness. He was watching for intruders but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe he would get Trance to check out his eyesight when he got back.
Drip.
Harper glared at the annoying leaking tap.
He tried to stand on his tiptoes and look in the back window but the glass was painted and he couldn't see anything. He was starting to wonder what was taking so long it felt like he had been outside forever.
Drip.
It suddenly came apparent to Harper why the tap was bothering him so much.
Drip.
The combination of the dripping tap and the cool air soon made it apparent that he had not visited the little boys room in quite some time. He pranced back and forth on the spot for a few minutes more.
Going back in to the bar was out of the question Tyr would slaughter him. There were no public rest rooms apparent outside either. He finally gave up. He used to do it on earth all the time.what was the big deal?
He faced the wall just under the window and unzipped his pants.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The one Nietzschean kept looking at Tyr suspiciously. He didn't quite believe the story Tyr was telling. Tyr was on guard but had to take the opportunity to get why he was really here out in the open. Tyr assumed these two were the town's gossipers and would use them as such.
"What kind of information.trading?" asked what seemed to be the stupider of the two Simba's.
"Yes, and news of the war."
The smarter one's interest was peaked. "What war. I know of no war."
"I heard of a war between the Drago's and the new Common Wealth I hoped to offer my ship as a cargo vessel to the Drago's and hopefully earn some revenue."
"Revenue!" Snorted the smarter one. "You sound like a Nightsider. Heeeeeeeeeey! That's where I know you from."
The Nietzschean pulled a portable database out of one of his pockets.
Tyr tensed nervously but was careful not to let it show.
The Smarted one scoured over the data stream. "Here... Your name's Tyr Anasazi and you work for a Nightsider named Gerentex. That slime bucket owes my alpha a lot of money!"
Tyr raised an eyebrow menacingly. Their data was sadly out of date but in this case it may have saved his life.
The rest of the patrons were starting to eye him suspiciously. Enough he decided. He was looking for information and everyone knew it. Time to put on a show. Time to prove his worth to all the other's in the room. Time to go find Harper.
Tyr face clouded in such faux fury that he should have won an award. "I have not now or ever worked for someone such as the likes of that creature." He spit on the floor to show his disgust.
"Really?" Smirked the smarter one. "Then why does it say so on my Data stream?"
"Yeah!" the dumber one chimed in.
"Well it seems obvious to me. You and your Data are inferior." Replied Tyr as his true rage built. The muscles in his jaw twitched with anticipation.
"Your pursue a prudish Bolivar female and call me inferior!"
With that Tyr reached behind and grabbed a mug from the bar and slammed it against the somewhat smarter of the two upside the head. The Nietzschean fell to his knees. He clutched his head in an attempt to staunch the flow of blood. The dumber one then lived up to Tyr's expectations and leapt at Tyr. Tyr grabbed him by the neck and the groin. The smaller Nietzschean then sailed neatly over the bar and out the painted window.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Harper stood near the wall and was just about to start relieving him self when he let out a scream. Glass shattered and a very large Nietzschean fell from the sky. The over sized body hit him and forced him to some near by garbage. Recovering quickly he pushed the great lug off and looked through the broken glass. The man that had tackled him wobbled to his feet. Harper grabbed a broken board absently and took a quick swing at the Nietzschean's head. The dumb looking Nietzschean fell face first on to the damp concrete and showed no signs of moving any time soon. Harper's gaze through the window never broke.
He could see Tyr through the window and a regular old bar brawl had broken out. Harper leapt through the window screaming obscenities that sounded like a war cry. He never let go of the board from the alley. He started to swing at everything that moved and something's that didn't.
Blood splattered everywhere.
Some one grabbed his arm. He swung automatically but it was blocked.
"It's me little man. let's retreat." And Tyr steered him away from the raging battle.
The two ran for four blocks before Harper was forced to stop and catch his breath. The desert, the fight and the run had worn him out.
Harper leaned against a wall and slowly sunk to the ground gasping for breath in large mouthfuls. Tyr sat on the ground beside him.
They sat in silence for a moment. Then a snicker from Tyr broke the quiet.
"What?" Asked Harper suspiciously.
"Were you expecting company in the alley while you waited?"
Harper was confused for a moment until he realized his zipper was still down. His face felt suddenly hot. "No!.shut up!" He quickly turned and fixed his pants. Tyr laughed softly beside him.
After a moment Harper laughed to. "My momma always said, never get caught with your pants down."
Tyr continued to chuckle. "What an odd saying.but none the less sound advice."
Harper remembered his mother. Her light blond hair her quick smile .He remembered her lying in a pool of blood. He remembered Rommie lying lifeless on his workbench. His felt his skin grown suddenly cold. He quickly got to his feet. "Yeah well.what the hell would you know?"
He walked quickly away from Tyr. He walked quickly away from stupid Nietzs- ville and he walked quickly away from his memories.
When he saw the Maru he started to run.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TBC
