"Bloody hell, that looks depressing." I comment at the station that is both deserted and full of life. It's falling apart but there are signs of living in every nook and cranny. "Keep your guns hidden and bring up your charming smile, Eiger. The one whenever you have when thinking about biting my head off."
"You do know you've guessed what I literally wanted to do?" Troll asks me lightly as we begun to walk forward.
"I can read people well. And you may have a lot of skills but acting will never be your way of life." I reply and Eiger shrugs flippantly.
"That's far enough, freund." Old man working here as a guard probably, stops me on the barricade just around the corner. "We don't get many visitors here and no offense, but you do not look like people who often visit places like that."
Oh boy, it's been a while since I've dusted off Bull-Shitsu...
"I'm visitng from the Rhine-Rhur-Megaplex, my friend Hans said the market here is second to none. I had come to see this myself!" I reply lightly, trying to even look little excited.
"Maybe few years ago it did was something to see...Nowadays it's harder to come by but go ahead. If you're a customer, you're always welcome." Guard relents, his eyes burning with hope I'll leave some nuyen in this dump.
I say thanks to to the guy and trott on, reaching the ladder down underground.
"Can't believe he bought it. What an idiot." Eiger grumbles to me after descent.
"Told ya Eiger, acting will never be your way of life."
"And yours is?"
"When its convenient and saves me from fighting an old man just trying to do his job."
We pass along more makeshift squats set up in every place possible, until a guy tears off the wall and chatters to me, spilling hundred words a minute.
"Guten Tag! I'm Quorin, friend. Can't say I've seen you around these parts before..."
"Sightseeing you can say, a friend of mine told me to come around and check out the market you suppose to have here...?" I theatrically look around, playing harmless tourist to the T.
"Ah, the market! It used to be one of the grandest in the city!. Nearly *anything* was to be found at stalls, for the right price of course...Shame, real shame that little by little things slowed down. Folks stopped coming through this line as much and winds have changed."
"Anything? My friends used to show off this massive revolver he supposedly bought in here. Think I can find any good guns in here?" I try to sound oblivious but get anything out of the guy."
"Guns? Oh my friend, I wish We'd get something like that again! But not anymore..." Quroin saddended.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I'd really like this place to come back on it's feet, get people spinning."
"Me too, freund. Most folks coming around here either try to bum a quick handout or just steal what they can and beat feet back into metro...Your kind words mean a lot."
"You know, I'm not anything special but maybe is there something I can do to help around here? I'm an all-out kinda guy."
"No, I'm afriad if you're not miracle worker, not much can be done to bring us back on the map." Quorin slumped but the lit up a bit. "Have you ever heard about Schinderhannes by any chance?"
"Uh...It doesn't ring any bells, to be honest."
"There was this outlaw, named Schinderhannes, centuries ago. He was athief and a very greedy one. He had a gang that raided Rhine, stealing all they could. But then, something happened. The people of Rhineland...They were inspired by the Schinderhannes. In time, even hailed him a hero...Because he was stealing from the French, you see." Quorin finished with a chuckle. "Legend says, it changed Schinderhannes and he really begun to steal from the rich and give to the poor...Books are murky about it. But the point is, if we'll have anyone inspring hope, maybe people of this kiez will start living more and working towards common goal of bringing Gesundbrunnen back to it's glory."
"...Not to get into your story man, but by Schinderhannes, you meant Robin Hood?" I point out obvious similarity.
"Ha! No...This may sound similar, but that tale is much different altogether. Much more romanticized."
"Now you've given me another thing to look up in the Net when I'll get back home. Thank you for the tale, friend." I part ways with the guy, feeling my bullshit detector once again beeping out alarms.
Things got interesting when I've stumbled upon American woman lounging in the makeshift bar. The markings and fox headress grinning at me meant I have just met one from Sioux Nation. At least at first I thought that because when she looked at me, I knew immediately who she is. Huh, time to work another angle...
"Hey kiddo, share a drink with me?" She quips to me, her eyes sliding up and down me. Blonde hair, dash of fitness from swimming and clubbing and smile that could melt a machinegun barrel.
I feel like I may have met her in the past. Or her type at least.
"Sure thing, if you're buying." I reply in smooth english to her, making her interest immediately pick up.
"Hold on...What's a good guy doing in the kraut country?" She asks while sliding a beer bottle from collection in front of her over the table to me. "Don't drink the gin-an-tonic thing, they've distilled it in propane tanks, making it taste like gasoline."
"Yikes." I reply and take a swig. "So about your question...I'm sightseeing, pal told me there's supposed to be some bomb-ass market around but everyone in here tells me it ain't much so. What about you?"
"Same thing really, wanted to see what the fuss is all about but uh..." She takes a large gulp and then waves her hand around. "Look at this place. Basically it sums up my experiences with Berlin - reality doesn't match the hype."
"There are more colorful places for sure." I offer. "You're from Cali by the way, aren't you?"
"Yeah buddy, Free States all the way." Woman grinned at me. "You? Got a funny accent on you and not german one."
"Seattle, lived there for a long time after moving from Kingdom." I bring up my usual mix leaning more towards London. "Decided to do a little sightseeing, started from Germany. You?"
"You should go to California with that accent and these guns." She points at my arms and smiles. "Catch some sun, it would do good for ya." She finished with a wink.
"Maybe when this is over. But somebody would have to show me around." I felt like I was skirting around being a flirt but hey, Eiger vanished behind the corner and pretends to be a wall decoration and the blonde sitting aross the table was really nice and cheery. I almost forgotten how different yanks are already.
"Yeah, sure it's better to know someone around here too because I'm all about free love and happy anarchy but this Flux State I keep hearing about, they push the line, let me tell you."
"I've also heard about it often. But can't really get a hang of what is it."
"I mean, I've just heard about some racist groups, gang turf wars and a lot of other crazy shit...Unnnn-pleasant." She chirps out. "Beside that, I do like this whole idea of no The Man behind the wheel...You know, we keep talking and drinking and I don't even know your name! I'm Goldfish by the way."
"Rai. But I gota ask the question you must get a lot: why Goldfish?"
"It's a long story I'll tell you under the sun of California, while holding a drink in my hand and sitting on warm sand." She replies with a giggle. "Maybe that'll be enough for you to visit someday. Ask around, I'm coming back there anyway and everybody knows when Goldfish is around and swimming in her tank." She grins at me, now making me see she drank up at least seven beers while talking and I've barely made through one. "You're here for the market too, right? Well, I don't think you gonna find anything in here. Even Robin Hood."
And in that moment, internally I have lost all the cheer and my mind shifted away from chirpy, american party girl. Robin Hood again, huh?
"I think I'm done with this dump, I need some sunlight..." She gets up, pays to the bartender and starts slowly making her way out of the bar. "I gotta photosynthesize..." I catch her mumbling and only hope nothing bad will happen to her.
"Is this what americans are like?" Eiger askes me, eyeing up the blonde leaving down the corridor.
"Not americans. Californians." I reply and chuckle. "It's complicated, don't fuss about it."
"Did you got anything more than a beer and her panties at least?" Troll grumbles, making me want to screw around with her a bit.
"No, but they are really nice, red panties with seams. Very girlish." I retort, making Eiger stare at me. "I bet more ladylike than yours. Actually, I bet ten nuyen you wear military underwear and never even was around lingerie." And here comes shocker when Eiger begins to chortle."What?"
"You can give me these 10 nuyen already, human." Eiger grins at me and stick out opened palm.
"I'll bellieve in a lot but not in you wearing anything sexy." I reply cheekily, yanking her chain.
"Not like I'd show you anyway." Eiger straightens up and shrugs. "But I'll leave it to your imagination..." She adjusts broad belt holding her pants and my eyes catch a flash of purple, lacy waistband.
No way. No fucking bloody way...
Think about cold shower. Baseball! Cold shower! Barbra Streisand naked! Barbra Streisand naked!
Ufff...The last one was bad enough to work.
Feeling I have just seen things than I can never un-see, I've pulled out ten nuyen note and handed it to Eiger then moved on, trying to ignore her grin I could *hear* behind me.
I wonder what kind Glory wears? Oh boy, here we go again...
Barbra Streisand naked!
All of the stupidity disappeared from my mind when I've entered the market. I've walked in straight, playing it Bogart. Taken a look around one stall, another, and all I've seen were shoddy knock-offs, nothing really standing out...
Like crate behind one of the stalls that had 'Kreubasar' label nearly worn off but still readable.
"Oi mate, I got a question for ya." I chat up troll standing in front of the stall. "How's this possible there's a new crate labeled 'Krezubasar' behind your stall, since no merchant throws these crates away and we are not in Kreuzbasar one bit, ay?"
"Crate? What crate-" Troll begun to look around nervously, his stare darting from me, to Eiger standing behind me, then to people around and back to me.
"Do you know how angry I made my friend behind me by bringing her in here? She may get little violent if you'll drag this on for her." I calmly inform the seller.
"Okay, chill out!" Seller raises his hand. "Yeah, Rabengeister came through here yesterday. Asked me to move the rest of these medical supplies. Then they've just vanished, I don't know where...Look man, I'm just trying to make a living, okay? I mean, look around!" Troll waves at the dump surrounding us. "I've sold most of the haul already, plenty of folks around need medicines."
"Yeah, and then you meet with Rabengeister to give back what you've earned by selling cargo they've dropped you off. I'm not born yesterday boyo, I know how gangs work." I pin him down with my stare.
"Christ sake, okay! I uh...I meet them at the information kiosk on the far side of the market. That's all, I don't know how these fucking ghosts show up in there, I swear." Seller completely loses his balls.
"Thank you. Now...I'm not going to skin you back for the merchandise *you* have stolen from *my* kiez. But don't you ever again get your hands on supplies for Krezubasar or I will come back here and I won't be gentle anymore." I finish and storm off.
"Why not take the money?" Eiger asks me on the way.
"The dwarf with katana sitting behind the pillar." I reply without even looking. "He didn't heard what we wre talking about but if he'll see me taking money from the vendor, with poverty around here it would turn into a fight."
"Huh...Smart move, Rai." Eiger agrees finally.
We arrive at the public terminal, set up in charming enviroment of toilet. The floor tiles are old, cracked and nasty.
Which only makes the scuff marks on the tiles more apparent.
"Eiger, can you see it?" I ask, making her run hand along the wall and find the same seam between the tiles, indicating a passageway hidden away.
"No bolt or mechanism. Should we knock?" Eiger suggests but I stop her.
"There's always time for that...We're going to b a bit more subtle first." I finish making a beeline to the kiosk. Old U-Bahn info terminal has little interesting value except command of custom query.
Alright, Robin Hood, show me what you have...
The momen I input 'Schinderhannes' into the terminal, the wall retracts and opens up hidden entrance. Bingo!
Making my way down the ladder leading into a bunker, I feel in my gut this'll be a bit different kind of throwdown and I motion for Eiger to keep her guns hidden. I open the doors and walk into properly lit hideout, with spring step and sardonic expression on my face as I keep hands in my pockets.
Surprise, surprise, overly intelligent and talkative Quorin stands right in front of me, only without the whole 'hello friend' mask.
"You should have stuck to the market, stranger. If Rabengeister would have wanted to be found, we'd open a fucking cafe!" He spits out, almost making me care. "Now what do you want from us? Say your piece."
"I'm from Krezubasar. You stole shipments meant for our kiez. I want that cargo back. Plain and simple." I reply.
Quorin chuckles, feeling all tough and mighty on his own turf. "Guess we got a little careless on that one. I figured, with Schafer dead, the Krezubasar would be an easy score. So that's why you're here? We stole your supplies, now you want them back?"
"That's right, mate."
"Well, as much as I really do understand you, stranger...We need those suplies more than you do. So I will have to graciously decline your offer to relieve us of your property." Quorin finishes with shit-eating grin that irks me but I keep it buried, for now at least.
"I can see things are hard around here, Quorin. But you know, you don't seem to know who I am..." I begun and cross arms on my chest. "My name's Rai and since my good friend Monika died, I've taken over her duties. Do you realize the unfortunate implications surrounding this incident?"
Quorin loses some of that attitude right away, no longer doing his little walk in front of me but now nervously eyeing me up from a distance.
"Look, there's no need for bloodshed, I'll tell you that." He changes tune suddenly. "Since you know what shitty job it is to look after kiez, you know that this is something I just have to do to stop *my* people from starving. These are my people, under my protection and I will do all I can do keep them alive. I suspect you feel the same about Kreuz...So I'll let you just leave this place, no argument or conflict. Just walk away man, and that talk never happened. What do you think...stranger?"
"Really? I mean, after all this, you try to sell me something like that?" I asked rethorically, not moving from my spot. "This is Flux, mate. Were all riding in the same cart around here. Why steal from each other? Why call me a stranger?" I attack the guy's logic and I see his eyelid twitching. "There's always an arrangement to satisfy both of our kieze."
"...I'm listening." Quorin slowly replies, hesitation bubbling in him so loud I can hear it.
"How 'bout a little free information? My dear friend Altug Burakgazi has series of data taps established to...monitor nearby comms. You return our shipment, I'll let you in to these taps. Think of the possibilities, mate."
"That's an insteresting offer...We could scope out what we need in other areas...As long as these taps are reliable."
"I've checked them personally just the other day and they work just fine...You hear it from a decker." I emphasize it with adjusting sling of my deck case.
"Alright...We have a deal. The meds are gone but guns are still in the storage, I'll send them to Krezubasar immediately...And we get on the comm taps?"
"Take the tube to Basar and talk to Altug. He runs Cafe Cezve not far from U-Bahn station. Tell him I sent you and he'll set you up. He's a very good man to have as a friend, I assure you. There's always a job for ghosts you supposed to be."
"Well, well...Never thought it'll be like that but maybe things will start looking up on us at last." Quorin and I shake hands. "But this is Flux."
"It is, and I'll do my best to keep it this way." I finish and leave the homey underground base, back into the shitty station.
"We should just smoke those thieves, Rai." Eiger grunts to me when we wait for the train.
"Maybe. But it would send a message that we're like corporates or gangs, killing off enemies and competition...Do that and you'll always have some enemies, trying to take you on just by principle. Turn them all into your friends, ones that owe you...And you'll never find yourself surrounded by enemies." I reply to her, seeing long ears of troll twitching, giving me answer what she thinks about it.
"That's naive thinking, Rai. That somebody won't shoot you in the back."
"With that attitude why don't you kill everyone in sight to make sure there's nobody to backstab you?" I turn to the sniper. "Talk gently, always offer helping hand...But have the other armed and wear ballistic armor. That's how I worked in England, that's how I've worked in Seattle and that's how I make things go right in here."
"You call it 'right'?!"
"I'm still alive, aren't I?" I grin sheepishly while stepping into the traincar. "Even Glory noticed I like to challenge Grim Reaper."
"Yeah, about her...What's up with you sitting with her for hours?" Eiger's change of subject pricks me with uncomfortable sensation. "Something's going on in there?"
"God I hope it does, I've managed to make her talk and relax instead of staring at blank wall." I shrug, deciding to be honest and merely withhold certain details. "You all should be ashamed for not coaxing poor girl out of the hole she hides in. I just talk to her and things are better."
"...What?" Eiger blinks rapidly from her seat. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that Glory was left to her own fate by rest of you all that time and it made her walk around with dead eyes and cold shoulder. All she needed was a listening ear, to get a bit more human. Same as you are now a bit less of a bitch and Dietrich is less of a drunkard. Jesus, did Monika never talked to you guys?! At all?"
"...Not really." Eiger replies, deep in thought. "She was always running around, patting heads and chatting up people, chasing some leads and connections. She talked a lot about us being her best friends but...It rarely felt like it."
Bollocks, so here's where your fault was, Moni-Schafer.
Something inside me snapped and grimaced, seeing clear distinction between feisty Moni I knew and loved, and Monika Schafer leading Krezubasar. Like staring at evil twin of someone I trusted with my life.
"Well, that explains why everyone on the crew was sitting in different corner of the safehouse, not even once fighting over remote for TV or arguing who's turn for cooking duty." I shrug, feeling wave of nostalgic memories taking my mind off the subject of Monika.
"You know people who do that kind of thing?" Eiger stared at me and suprisngly had no sarcasm in her voice.
"My crew from Seattle for example...Cash was always arguing to never watch anything fresher than from 2012, always go on about how dragons ruined movie industry. Nico was a really good cook, saving us from soy takeout diet. I mean this guy could make a roasted rat and it tasted better than what you buy in a diner these days. And Patch...Patch was always about booze and meeting new people, and pissing me off for making doe-eyes at Monika."
"Do I hear jealousy, Rai?" Eiger for the first time sounded teasingly.
"Not really, Monika had standards and never even glanced at this piece of shit." I reply "Maybe that's why the fucker sold us out to another crew..."
"What?"
"You haven't heard about it before?" I ask and get a headshake from Eiger "Patch was our guy for recon and sometimes done some sniping on the side. He was never in the thick of it but loved to boast as if he was the one leading on the runs, always colouring stories to talk panties off girls in the club. But one he never could get was Monika. My crew didn't liked her being german, being an idealist and being hottest woman in the vicinity while being completely ignorant to advances of anyone else that wasn't me. I loved her for that...But, after we parted ways and Schafer went back here, my crew shrunk after Bludger and Izzy got together and stepped out with Izzy having a baby. That put a strain on us, and Patch caused a lot of tension. Before I knew it, I was running away from hired guns chasing me after ambush that got Nico and Cash killed...Seeing Cash executed by Patch who always hated her for turning him down, I've had no ilusions. So, I've screwed up my cover, lined up my shot and..." I've mimmicked shouldering a rifle and then moved my trigger finger. "I don't leave my friend unavenged if I couldn't save them."
Eiger did not said anything, her face betraying having thousand thought per minute racing through her mind.
"I'll talk to Mettbach, go ahead and go back home." I wave at the troll who leaves quickly the moment we've stepped back onto familiar station.
"I've taken care of Ragenbeister, they won't try to play Robin Hood on us ever again." I announce to Gunari, making the towering man smile faintly, probably meaning anyone else would grin in his place.
"I've barely noticed people bringing these crates in...How did you managed to get it done?"
"I've made an arrangement with the leader, got him to send his men here and give back what they've stolen."
"All of this...through diplomacy? Interesting." Mettbach visibly ponders on the supposedly impossible happening. "Not what I've done but...I guess I have to agree with the chatter that you're not taking over Schafer and picking up her slack."
"Oh?"
"You haven't heard yourself? A lot of people already is sucking up to you, all talking that you're pushing things forward differently but more and better than Schafer. She used to say things people wantd to hear. You make people hear and listen to your words and accept it. That's not something you see everyday in these times."
"Yeah well, this is my home and I like when everything goes well under my roof." I reply. "But since you have guns back, let me see them. With 15 percent discount we've agreed on."
Mettbach groans under moustaches, probably hoping I forgotten about it.
Think again, sunshine.
Gunari opens up the crates and motions for me to browse through the contents and I just feel like kid in a candy store...
Warhawk revolver? Perfect for Glory to replace that Savalette pistol she has. SCK submachinegun, that oughta work for Blitz. Uh-oh-ho-hello there...Assault shotgun with burst fire option and drum mag? It's a sale. The yank in me looks hungirly at M23 Colt rifle but I've already hurt my wallet and since I'm back to short range, I won't lug a rifle with me. Walther WA 2k, that's something Eiger sure could use instead of that Remington...Prompted by sudden gut feeling, I also buy small caliber revolver with short barrel. I don't know what power obligated me to do it but I wasn't going to argue. Gut feeling kept me alive so far so who am I argue?
Doing a mental recount, I already feel I'll be economically sore for this so with that thought in my mind, I've bought an additional armor for myself. A vest of course, sleeves are for losers.
Loaded up, I go back to the safehouse, passing by ongoing construction site but plaque is already put onto the wall.
Rai Civic Center.
Damn that warms me up. Mum would be so proud of me...
I barge into the safehouse and call on loudly for my pack of rascals to gather up. They do, though in different states of mind that I'd like to.
"Christmas came early and I'll be your dirty, gun-running Santa this year." I proclaim and begin reaching out to the bag I've put on the table. "Blitz, switch up and don't you dare pimping out this gun." I warn decker while handing over SMG made infamous by elite death squads from Renraku corporation. "Eiger, enjoy your new little friend." I hand blocky sniper to Eiger and I see her little surprised but immediately invested in precise weapon that used to be a white raven until somebody got schematics onto black market and found a way to mass produce these bad boys. "Glory...?" I look around and see she's nowhere around.
"She's still in her hole, I think." Dietrich said to me, taking large set of new, serrated throwing knives that found its way into the bag.
True to his words, brunette was still back where I've left her, staring at the wall in her self-induced catatonia.
"Glory...I've bought you something. It doesn't smell nice or shines but it should be helpful on the run." I speak to her but she's deaf to my words. Letting out a tired sigh, I slump against the wall and land on my ass right next to her chair.
It feels like breaking point, as if the thin line of connection we had have snapped, and we were back to square one or even further back. She told me so much about herself, opened up with so many mysteries nobody was privy to know. She called me a friend and told me she trusts me...
"I was born in London, first child of medium-class manager and a Better-Than-Life sims creator." I begin, not even thinking or controling myself. Just, opening up. "Mum really loved these interactive books pre-dating BTL and met my dad when he tried to sell some of his own on one of these ComicCon things. He didn't sold even one of his cynical, fantasy stories where dragons win and take over the realms...But he did won my mum over. It didn't taken them long to tie a knot and have me on the way. And five years later, my sister Sarah was born. Funny, I've taken cool head and leading skills after mother while Sarah was the ever-cheerful git like dad was...I remember, when he had writer's block, he made me and Sarah to tell him stories before sleeping, not the other way around." I've stopped to chuckle, recalling that much details for the first time in so many years. "Dad didn't enjoyed family for too long, traffic accident got him killed. Since then, there was much less laughter in our home. It was that time I got interested in decking, procuring from the net things I couldn't buy or just couldn't find anywhere. I've also seen Dietrich's punk band live twice...Can you believe the coincidence?" I ask, turning to Glory who did not responded one bit. "Mum was working hard, always overtime, to pay the bills. So I've started doing things on the side. Usually a bit of harmless decking for people at school, all for a fistful of nuyen...When I turned 18 I've signed up with the army because the pay was good enough. Not with the corporate one, didn't wantd to sign myself forever like mum did working for Ares. Officially, I was a part of the small army of England, assigned to burrough close to Tir na nÓg. But in reality...The commander there wanted special forces fighting outside corporate rings. We've been stationed in old base where Special Air Service trained decades ago. The money was good, and I had a knack for it, 'natural born soldier' they used to say...I just wanted to send money home and make sure mum didn't worried for me. Urban warfare, tracking down gangs and syndicates growing like fungus under coat of protection they've bought from corps, destroying illegal groups like Humanis Policlub, elven supremacists seeking to expand onto England under pretense of being 'the pure and chosen race'...I remember there was a serial killer who moved like a ghost, vanishing in thin air after the kill. Turns out, it was a troll with lot of hardware on him, former expert of special effects that decided that killing is a great spectacle..." I trail off for a while and look at Glory, who still haven't moved but something within told me he ears were catching in every word I'll say. "Six years of service passed by this way. I got scars, I've made a few friends. Grew into size I am now...But when I've came back home, instead of surprise welcome, I saw bobbies on the parking and a psychologist sitting with my sis...Mum didn't made it that night, riding on pills for too long, her heart caved in. She was just so overworked and too smart to believe in my letters that I was just a guard at the outpost. When Sarah saw me, she hit me in the face and yelled at me that this is all my fault...Then she hugged me, crying out apologies and thanking fate that I am alive at least."
That did it. First dark milestone of my life finally made Glory turn her head to me, now with inquisitve expression of her porcelain face.
"Ares didn't gave two shits about my mum, finding a replacement within a day. But since the apartment was loaned by Ares to a worker and neither me or Sarah were working in there..." I've hung my voice for a bit and shrugged. "I've called up my mate Tick and asked for a favour. He said he can land me a job, one good enough for a former soldier that went against a Red Samurai from Renraku and lives to tell the tale...Thing was, the job was in Seattle. Charlie, Tick's younger brother and largest, roughest scottish bastard I've ever seen, hired me with his company that secured convoys for corporate cargo. Wasn't my favourite kind of work but it was enough to settle me and my sister in America."
I've stopped and taken a breath as the easy part just ended.
"...Now it really gets hard, isn't it?" Glory's voice made me look up on her, looking with more emotions and compassion than ever.
"Ay. Sarah had trouble adjusting, she just hit nineteen so she thought she knew everything, just lost her mother and had to leave familiar England alongside friends she had...We've argued a lot, with me trying to be a parent to her and her having none of that. It all ended when I was coming back from the pub with Charlie and we've just saw a van driving off from an alleyway, dumping something that resembled human. Of course I've ran there to see what was goin' on and..." I've had great indicator how Glory felt when she told me her own story. "Thin body of a girl, opened up and missing organs. Missing eyes...On one of the arms, there was a tattoo, freshly stung image of horned skull." I've rubbed my forearm where slightly faded ink was of devilish skul grining it's sharp teeth. "She was really proud of it. She said 'Look Rai, I'm a badass too!'...I remember laughing she'll probably regret getting military tat when she looked so innocent..."
"That's why you've massacred organ peddlers in Des Kesselhaus?" Glory's question brings me back.
"That wasn't massacre...What I'll tell you know Glory, may make you hate me." I've said, seeing her stare changing. "My sister was drugged and torn into pieces, God only knows what else happened before that. I have lost last of my family. I've had nothing, in foreign country and no one to talk me down from this...So I've just asked Charlie to give me a lift to the club my sister frequented. He did, showing up in the car with guns and two people on the back seat who said nothing to me but were ready to kill at moment's notice. Shadowrunners, Charlie told me. The things I've done that night...To the bartender that spiked Sarah's drink, to the security that dragged her out into the van waiting behind the club...To the fucking butchers chopping people up and selling pieces on the black market..." I've raised my stare at Glory, feeling my eyes were getting glossy. "Never, my entire life I did not cause so much pain, hurt so many people at once. I've made them all beg for mercy, beg to spare them and then to kill them and make the pain stop. But I didn't. I wanted them to know with their dying breath that what they all felt was nothing to the hurt they've given me...Bartender got a lethal concoction of drugs, puked his guts out almost literally. Security guys I've tazed to death...And the peddlers ended up on the working end of their tools...I'm not proud of what I've done. Now, I would have done it differently. But hate and violence was all I knew back then. I knew only loss."
Cool, smooth hand touched my cheek, making look at Glory again. Her expression unreadable, but her eyes were telling me all I needed to know.
She understood. She was a similar creature who went through torment as well, much worse than I did really, and she understood me.
"The two guys that my friend brought, that's how I've met Nico and Bludger. That's how I got into shadows...And about year later, I was so drunk in the pub once, that I've gotten into a fight with four cunts harassing girl who had similar laughter like Sarah. That's how I've met Monika Schafer, traveling through the America to learn about 'Land of the Free'. And the rest is void." I finish and take a deep sigh, getting off my ass at last. "For what is worth, Glory...I know how hard it is to face your own demons. And I'd never hate a friend, because if you'd be evil then we wouldn't be talking right now and I would't have trusted you with my own story."
I leave after that, revolver left on the floor next to Glory's chair. I wasn't done for the night though, as Fate just had to drive a splinter under my nail.