Chapter XX Eleven Thirty.
"Eleven thirty" is a Conerian Slang which reassembled the same with English: "party time". Of course, in a bad way. However, there is a downtown bar which opens at the exact same time. And that is-the one which Falco will be investigating.
It was twelve at night. People and animal humanoids are dancing and having fun. Party lights are everywhere. And looks like the only source of light anywhere. Since Falco can only see weak lights from Xenon lamps and Neon lights somewhere here and there. And the rest is just the large, colorful lights from the same origin.
The music is loud. If Falco were younger he would love it. But this had made him feel a bit sick. Sure, it's a mix of electro and punk and whatever it had. He thought. He loves it. But a massacre of it would be not very nice. He would like it loud. But not the fact that, the music is so loud that, the equivalent of one in a construction site, made him feel a bit dizzy. He wondered. Why could he withstand that at the first place?
"Well, in the case of it. But I was thinking why do I have to bring it. The analyzer told me that he is gay, but do I really have to use this to impress him?..." he thought, shifting his backpack to the front. Grabbing hold of it. Looking skeptical.
Falco then proceeded to take a look for the owner of the bar. He could have used his identity card to force the owner out. But there are just too many people who belong to gangs. Everyone has tattoos and rings all over their bodies. And he would be dead if he told anyone that he is a cop.
"So, eleven thirty, eh? So many feathers and tail raising up. What a party!" He is sure that he is being sarcastic. Since that, someone was performing public sex directly inside the bar. Some even performed what Falco liked most: Fellatio. Which made him grin and aroused a little bit. His pants being a little bit too tight at that momment.
Still, he tried to go further inside the club. Trying to find the man he is looking for.
"I wonder..."
It was darker and darker as Falco went in. Even though the party lights are getting much and much stronger. People dance, drink, doing whatever they like.
"When I go back, I must tell Hyacinth to blow this place up. This place is hell!"
He still could not find the person he wanted to find. And, of course, getting more darker and darker, he felt unpleasant.
Fortunately, Falco's eyes adapted the darkness. He could see more clearly. At least what he saw is not a bunch of darkly-colorful stuff. Instead, he could clearly see everyone's faces.
"Ah! Finally!"
He saw that the man he was looking for. The name of the man is Steven Mars. The owner of Eleven Thirty.
However, there was a guard that stopped him.
"Mister, state your business."
"I'm looking for Steven Mars."
The security looked back and looked at Falco.
"You may look pretty, but boss doesn't like to be disturbed."
Steven Mars, who is a homosexual person, likes bizarre and unusual things. Which is the fact that, the analyzer told him. "Found this in Twitter." The analyzer said. Which Falco had shown a disgusted expression when he and the analyzer were digging information about Steven Mars.
"Well, I'm pretty, am bizarre enough, but I may need a little help..."
As he tried to go to the nearest washroom. Trying to find himself a place to replace his suit and tie with something more unusual.
When he went in there, after a bit of time, he found out that the toilet is perfumed. A lavender scent went through the air. The washroom is sanitary enough: no rubbish or droppings on the ground, it was just mopped. Most of all, away from the darkness and music. The washroom is much brighter. And instead of techno, it went in a light rock. Those that belong to Romanism which did not distort too much. With a light piano accompaniment. To be precise, it was the famous song from Richard Clayderman: The Romantic Serenade.
"Ah, I wish to stay here. But I cannot." He thought. As he looked at his backpack and took some clothes out.
He struggled to find the suitable wear when he was in the motel and Fox looked at him suspiciously. He did not know how a shirt and a pair of jeans can help him with his investigation. But Falco told him that he needed it for: "Unconventional issues."
There will be no doubt. That he needed to sexually attractive to the same sex. So instead of having a tailor-made black deluxe suit that attracts the opposite sex, he chose to be a little beach-like, casual taste. Even the analyzer told him: "This looked very good on you."
Taking off his suit, wearing his jeans, and taking on his shirt but without buttoning it, he felt kind of embarrassed.
"Well, I admit I am a bit gay. But does it need to be that?" He thought himself. Looking at his reflection.
However, he cannot admit that he DOES look attractive.
His swimming training had paid off. He has a sexy, V-shaped body that is only a bit muscular. Of course, too much and it will be gross. The red mark on his face had a significant contrast with his blue, feathery body. The yellow beak made a spectacular balance to his deep color. His jeans that look deeper than his color and his shirt that looked lighter reassembled a perfect match. With his casual, well-fitted sports shoes that are light blue on the upper side and white on the lower side, he is enough to arouse anyone up.
Putting his suit in his backpack, his pistol in his suit suddenly fell out.
"My 'Eagle eye'!" He thought. As he quickly took it up and put it in his backpack, then closing it.
Grooming himself a little bit, he went out confidently. Back to the club.
"Seems that I will need a little dance to attract him."
Just then, an animal humanoid, precisely speaking, a Cheetah humanoid who was dancing on a small box-shaped platform was called by Steven. It was empty after that.
"Time to call out the sexy guy." He said.
He then went up. And tried to take the beat with his movements. He failed a couple of moves. But Steven already drooled when he saw him dancing for a while. He told the guard to call him down.
The guard then went up to him. "Hey! You're lucky. Boss tells you to have a chat with him."
Falco then thought: "Great. Let's see what happens next. With this man in a black and white checker jacket. That cow with his mad cow disease is enough to do anything that is crazy."
He acted natural and approached him. Letting go of the Cheetah humanoid, he talked to Falco in a flirtatious tone. Which, Falco wanted to vomit looking at his hideous face.
"You are the prettiest of them all." He said it in a half-drunk voice. "I suppose you know my name. What's yours?"
"I am a Lombardi. Falco Lombardi."
"Oh, Falco, eh?"
Falco spotted his chance. In exchange for putting his pureness at risk.
"Should we continue our conversation in a place more...private?" Said he. Trying to act natural even more.
The man drooled a bit.
"Ok. Falco. Let's go upstairs for a bit of fun."
As they went upstairs, Falco saw more clearly of the club. He thought. The club is a big one. As he could only see the exit quite far away. Down there was quite dark. Still, they reached the top of the staircase. And went into a door. Where a guard kindly greeted them.
Inside is a corridor. A bright and white corridor. Then at the left is another door.
Inside, there is a wall with a landscape background, a couple of sofas, and a lamp on a table beside a small one.
"Welcome to my little heaven!" Said Steven. As he took Falco's bag and put it away. Falco tried to grab it back but it was too late.
Steven told Falco to have a sit. And he sat down. But soon told him to get up again.
He demanded Falco quickly.
"Now, show me what you've got."
Falco sensed danger.
"Um, I think that this is just a misunderstanding. I'll go..."
However, Steven pointed at Falco with his pistol.
"Remember. I do not want to make mistakes and anything else. You. Take it off."
Falco looked at him. Trying to conceal his anger.
"Tell my stupid feathers..."thought he.
As he reluctantly took off his upper unbuttoned shirt.
"Maybe tell him that I'm straight?...no. This is not the time for jokes..."
As Steven demanded Falco to take off more.
Falco then thought of an idea after he took off his pants. While being grateful that he had his red underwear underneath.
"I can stun him with my kicks! But, I have to get close to him. And he should be standing up..."
Falco then tried to seduce the man by acting that he is doing a pole dance. Like those in strip clubs.
"Come on, stand up, stand up and come here so that I can kick your ass..." thought Falco. As he tried to use more to make him up.
That man seemed to be hung up.
"Yes, man. Now we're talking." As he rubbed his hands and stood up.
Falco spotted his chance.
"EAT MY FALCON SKY KICK!"
As he performed a 540-degree kick. The kick directly landed on the man's head. And it, as predicted, knocked him out.
"Well, thank Hyacinth later for teaching me this. Now, now, I have to put my suit back on. Then tie this man up. I looked disgraced in this."
After a few moments, Steven was sleeping but tied. When he woke up, there is a voice speaking.
"He's awake."
"Thank you, analyzer." Said Falco. As he put the electric guitar back down.
"What did you do to it?!" Asked Steven, furiously.
"Nothing. Just played with it." Replied Falco. Who turned his body towards him.
"What do you want?"
"I know that you rent an apartment to someone. Who is it?"
"Apartment? No!"
Then, Falco pointed his M1911 to Steven's head.
"So. You are one of the Federation, right? You federation scums do not scare me!"
Just then, Falco put down his pistol. A voice appeared. Muffled through the door.
"Boss...you alright?"
Falco turned his face to the door, pointing his gun at the man to make sure he doesn't speak a word, and did not do anything. He just started panting as if he were making love.
"Ah, ah, ah, don't do it!...Please, have mercy!...I can't hold on any longer!..."
The guard then said: "Sorry, have fun!" Then left.
Falco continued for a second. Then stopped. Leaving Steven having a puzzled face.
"Now. Tell me."
As he lowered down and put his hand into the man's groin. Then pulled his genitals hard.
"Stop! Stop!..."
Falco then raised his head.
"I'm just getting started. Do you want even more?"As he pulled harder.
"Ok! Ok!" It is a girl. A big girl. A guess it is a man using a girl's voice. He wanted to rent a house. He had...precious UK pounds..."
"Name. What's the name?" As Falco pulled even harder.
"Argh! I still do not have kids yet. Ok! Ok! He used the name of Jennifer Morrigan!"
Falco stopped.
"See. It wasn't that hard. Isn't it? Romeo? I wanted to have a bit of time with you, but I am busy. See you later, my dearest." Emphasizing 'dearest', Falco went out of the room. And went to the washroom to wash his hands, quickly.
When he approached the exit, he noticed a hooded figure going in the opposite direction. Almost at a running phase. He ran up the stairs, and went inside the door.
"The guard did not stop him. He must be that Morrigan guy." Thought Falco. As he walked there.
But when Falco went to the door to Steven's room, the guard went away.
"Maybe to the toilet." He thought.
Just then, a gunshot was heard.
When Falco opened the door to Steven's room, he saw him sitting on a chair. Still strapped. But when he went around, he found that Steven was shot. Directly through the head.
Just before Falco can take out his analyzer, he was hit at the back. He dropped his analyzer, and Falco turned around to fight with the man.
The hooded man is highly skilled. No matter how ferocious Falco's offense is, the hooded man simply blocked, dodged or even countered him. However, the hooded figure doesn't know that the analyzer is recording the situation.
Finally, the hooded figure dodged Falco's jump reverse kick. And Falco lost his balance. And fell onto the ground. The figure stomped on Falco's stomach, and Falco coughed blood.
Falco then used his might to call that man back.
"If this is a fight, then I will fight to death!" He yelled. However, this only made him rip off the figure's coat. And the figure went away.
"Shit. That hurt!" As Falco pressed his stomach in pain, not knowing his mouth has blood on its edges.
He stood up, and started to investigate. Of course, he still can only walk as if he were limped.
"He's good." Said the analyzer. I do not hope you will fight him again.
"I will." As he felt pain when he bowed down to pick the analyzer up.
"Check the man's coat. You ripped it off. There is a large possibility that there is evidence inside the coat."
Falco then picked up the figure's coat. Scavenging the pockets, he found a receipt of rent.
"Now that's a clue." Thought Falco.
The analyzer scanned the receipt. And pinpointed the location where he should go.
"43 Gewehr Road, Coneria City." The analyzer displayed.
"That old street? What a smart way of not being spotted."
The analyzer detected something.
"Please scan the coat."
When Falco put the coat on the analyzer, after scanning it, Falco was quite astonished that there has the fur of his old lover. One he tried very hard to show his compassion into: Katt.
"What's she doing?" Thought him.
"There's a possibility that..."
"No, analyzer. Please don't say things that are already old. Too old to be said. She has another lover already." But a sense of sadness still went out. He misses Katt. He missed her.
"Please scan the corpse." Said the analyzer.
The corpse was scanned. And it was real that Steven rented out an apartment to someone called Jennifer Morrigan.
"So that's no coincidence."
The analyzer then told Falco to scan the coat again, which, has a couple of silver atoms in it.
"It is the same with those in the police station."
"Will it be..." Falco flashed the image of he seeing the watch that meant distinguished service long ago.
The analyzer then said: "There is a one hundred percent possibility that the watch is from the police lieutenants."
"Pigma...that son-of-a-James's-killer..." He went impulsively. And thought that Pigma is the killer.
"Negative, Mr. Lombardi." Said the analyzer. "Pigma is not that slim. Their bodies do not match."
Falco then accepted. But still gross.
"That tub of lard commanded me. What do he think he is? Should I call him General Pigma? Or should I call him the mighty one?! One that killed Fox's father..."
"Mr. Lombardi, getting angry will not solve the problem."
As Falco calmed down, he scanned the area again. But there is already nothing for him to search.
"I think I should leave." Said Falco, to himself.
When he went down the stairs he made sure he wore neatly. Not wanting to let anyone think that he really "did" it.
"This place is making me sick. Better leave quickly." Said himself. While trying to maneuver within the crowd.
Finally, he approached the exit.
"Ok, killer. Let's see who you really are. Next stop, 43 Gewehr street."