AN: Sorry this is so delayed I've not had much access to a computer for a couple of months.
A special thank you to reviews Narus Felgrand, Nightmaster and Spartan Grey really appreciate it.
Chapter 4: "Friends"
The canine picked himself up from the sidewalk, physically unharmed beyond a minor headache and a couple of bruises, although his ego was another story. Miles was kicking himself for his failure. He may have spent ten years looking after himself in exile but deep down he remained a deeply self-conscious fox with a threadbare ego whose confidence would easily rout if things went awry. He'd underestimated the threat, made a fool of himself and now he had to fix it. But first he had to admit his failure to his handler who'd relish his misfortune, Oh well, better get this over and done with.
"Ah Double Tail" Jack's voice answered as he opened the communication channel, "Target dealt with?"
"There's been a situation."
"You mean she got away from you?" he said with a distinct note of triumphant jeering audible in his voice, "She was right within your grasp for Chaos sake."
The vulpine didn't reply.
"But then again you always were very good at letting things slip, through those fingers of yours weren't you Double Tail."
The vulpine gritted his teeth to ignore the barb, he waited a few seconds and sighed, "is this going anywhere or are you trying to bait me?"
He was met by the sound of chuckling laughter, "ok then foxy how'd you manage to bungle?"
"Well for starters," the fox replied whilst picking up and holstering his pistol, "she's good, very good, superfast reflexes and a crack shot with a crossbow. She could be one of the Robian's Andys."
The line was quiet for a few moments as his handler considered his idea. It wasn't too stupid, 'Robians' were the remnants of the Robotized Mobians left over from the Robotnik war. Most had been de-robotized but a minority had clung to their master's old ways and opted to continue the war. They'd set up their own state out of Robotropolis and inside their domain they continued their master's experiments, eventually creating better machines, the artificial race of Androids. These Androids, called 'Andy' by the Zone Runners, were to the casual observer like Mobians only faster and stronger. As such they posed a serious threat to Mobius and the Zone Runners had taken up the duty of tracking and terminating them. This 'Sonja' bore many of the hallmarks of an Andy
"She could be" came a grudging reply over the communicator, "but I doubt it. There is no reason Knothole would start employing Andys, the Robians hate them as much they hate us."
"I agree but I wanted check it out." The fox lied, "I got too close and she fought back."
Again there was the sound of chuckling, "Double Tail, we've been working together for years."
"It's been too long" Miles replied tartly.
"Oh I agree, but what I mean is; I know you. You're not stupid enough to get close to an Andy. You got close because she was from Knothole and you wanted to find out if you knew her." The hare paused to let his analysis sink in, "and that is why you ballsed it up. Am I right?"
The canine did not respond, but he knew Jack was right and it irked him.
"I'll take your silence as confirmation. Now do you have your head in the game or do I need to call in someone competent to get her?"
"No, I'll track her, I've an acquaintance with contacts on the black markets, they know everything that comes through this city, if she's hiding somewhere they'll know where."
The fox disconnected the transmitter and walked off into the alley, he had no choice to find her he'd have to get into debt to an acquaintance who'd enjoy tormenting him with a life he couldn't have.
It was now nearing midnight, peak time for bars to begin chucking out. Those that wanted to continue their night moved onto one of the city's many clubs. One of the more favoured destinations for those searching for hedonistic escapism was the Bejewelled Bat, a fairly exclusive venue where an astute customer with the right money could acquire nearly anything to while away the hours of the morning in a debouched excess.
The tired vulpine stood outside the venue, his face buried into his coat to mask the night's cold, doing his best to ignore the drunken club-goers around him. Gradually the line of prospective guests moved forward as those waiting were either let in or sent packing. Eventually the canid found himself at the front of the line facing a large brown bear in a suit.
"Name?" the bear enquired without taking his eyes from the clipboard in his hand.
"Miles Prower"
"Not on the list," the bear answered without batting an eyelid. "Next!" he shouted gesturing for the next entrant.
But Miles was not to be fobbed off so easily. He stood his ground, put his hand on the clipboard pushing it down and looked the bear squarely in the eyes. "Listen mate," he said politely but firmly, "I'm not here to get leathered and fritter my time trying to find a girl to screw, I'm here to speak to the boss."
The bear growled menacingly.
The brown furred fox sighed, reached into his pocket and pulled out two large denomination bills which he gently placed on the clipboard.
"Speak to your boss, give her my name and I guarantee she'll tell you to let me in," the fox added with a slightly cocky smile.
"She's indisposed!" the bear replied rather aggressively, "now get lost pipsqueak or you'll be leaving in a hearse." He said as he gripped the fox's wrist.
"Be careful Paddington," the fox warned as he shook himself free. "You really do not know who you're messing with."
With another growl the bear moved to swing at the little fox. However, Miles was faster than anticipated. Ducking beneath the swing he came up behind the bear and gave him a light tap in the back with his foot to knock the bear off balance. The bear turned to lunge again but the fox was again quicker. With surprising ease, using the bear's momentum against him, he grabbed the bear's wrist and spun it behind the bear's back into an arm lock. With one hand securing the bear's wrist, the fox used his other to grab the bear around the back of the neck locking him in position.
"Now, I'll ask you again, do you want to let me in?"
"Fuck you fox!" the bear snarled.
"That's unfortunately the wrong answer Baloo," the fox grimaced as he used all his strength to drive the bear snout first into the wall with a sickening crunch. His attacker neutralised, the vulpine let go and the bear sunk to the floor making a soft mewling noise.
What now? Miles thought as the sound of foot steps behind alerted him to two more bouncers coming to support their co-worker. As the fox turned he withdrew his revolver from its holster and opened his coat to show his zone runners badge.
"Freeze, I'm a zone runner!"
The bouncers; one a large puma and the other a wolf, came to a sudden halt and raised their hands in submission, they had no intention of tangling with the fox who'd just incapacitated their colleague.
"I'm here to see the boss, she in?"
The puma nodded.
"Good, now, are you going to let me see her?"
This time there was no opposition, the fox holstered his pistol and walked past both of the bouncers who were looking down in shock at the whimpering bear.
As he descended the stairs into the club the fox began to shake his head, cursing himself for his short temper. He hadn't meant to hurt the bear, it was just frustration with how the night was turning out and he knew it was unlikely to improve.
The nightclub was multi-layered; the basement was a rather seedy dancefloor. A hot and airless room, perpetually bathed in the smoke from dry ice machines and the condensation from the sweat of hundreds of pulsating revellers, dancing, or more accurately, grinding against one another to the sound of pounding house, illuminated only by flashing strobes. For a shy, anti-social fox this kind of place was close to hell on earth.
However, he would not have to fight his way through the vast inebriated throng. A quick flash of his badge to the coat checker identified him as an agent and he was escorted upstairs into the Bejewelled Bat's executive gambling club. A quiet room of roulette, baccarat and blackjack tables with a number of black leather seats and tables down the side that seemed a world away from the revellers downstairs.
As a staff member went off to inform the manageress, the canid slipped into a booth and began to watch others in the room. They were mostly young men, a couple had women on their arms. All were impeccably dressed, making the fox feel slightly self-conscious of his dishevelled brown oilskin jacket.
After ten minutes, Miles was jarred back to reality by a feminine voice. "Agent Prower?"
The voice caused the vulpine to jump slightly and he turned around quickly to face the source. She was a small, scarlet red furred vixen with auburn coloured, mid length hair and blue eyes. Her accent was distinctly local and she wore a long slender black dress which tightly hugged her figure and Miles found very pleasing to the eye.
"Yes, Uh, Hello miss…?"
'Korsak, Anastasia Korsak,' the vixen replied smiling and extending her long arm towards him in greeting, 'would you like a bit of company?'
"umm" the fox began to mutter as he shook her hand but before had answered, the vixen had parked herself very closely in the seat beside him.
For a couple of seconds Miles was too captivated by her appearance and forwardness to answer. By Chaos, she almost looks exactly like… but his rational mind quickly snapped back, No, he thought, the newcomer was smaller by a couple of inches then a true vulpine, had a much wider muzzle and, Miles could not help but notice, a less bushy tail. She also lacked pale shading of the fur on her chest.
"The boss is a bit busy I'm afraid. She's sent me down to keep you entertained until she is free."
"Look, I'm just here to talk to your boss, I want some information that's all."
The vixen bit her lip, "As I said honey she's going to be busy for an hour or so." She gave a coy smile and flicked her tail at him provocatively, "why don't you talk to me instead. I was told you liked redheads."
Miles knew what was going on now, that's a cheap shot even for the bat he fumed and gave something of a start, "this Rouge's idea of a joke?"
The expression on the vixen's face turned from coyness to guilt, "I was only following instructions."
Miles shook his head and patted the girl on the shoulder, "Sorry, it's not your fault. I'm flattered but I'd much rather have a quiet word with your boss." The vixen gave one last stare at him, shook her head and gestured to a door way which Miles quickly walked through.
The owner's office was a large spacious rectangular room. The room had a distinct grandiose feel to it, the wall colouring was a rather darker shade of deep red and the ceiling was black. The furniture was rather art-deco inspired either ivory black or golden in colour. The bat herself sat behind a large desk in the middle of the room did not seem to be the least bit concerned about her new arrival. Rather she intently read a few pieces of paper that lay strewn across the desk.
"What kind of idea was that Rouge?" the canid asked angrily.
The bat gave Miles the barest of glances, "I'm sorry about that sir, it was hardly my intention to offend you," she gave a conciliatory gesture with her hands, "I just thought you might like a bit of escapism for a while, to take your mind off things and cheer you up."
Ha! More like remind me of things, "Why do you feel I need distraction?"
"Well the fact you incapacitated one of my bouncers. That's usually a sign someone is in a bad mood especially when you consider news that I've heard about what's going on in town?"
Well she knows then, the fox concluded, "So what? You decided to get memories of Knothole off my mind with her?" the kit jeered.
The bat gave a shrug, "I honestly thought that would be what you'd prefer. I obviously assumed wrong. Mea Culpa, Miles."
The bat rose from her desk and pulled a bottle and a pair of glasses from a cupboard, 'drink?'
The fox waved her away. "Suit yourself," she said as she poured herself a small glass, "you're here about the Knothole girl I assume?"
"Yes,' Miles replied stiffly, 'Who is she and where is she hiding?"
Rouge smiled a smug grin, "sorry been paid to keep her identity secret. I don't betray a customer."
"Oh come on Rouge, after all I've done for you. Who helped you out when G.U.N terminated your services?"
The bat stared at him a moment, a distinct look of bitterness in her eyes, 'I remember you standing aside and letting me stay here Miles, that's all, you actively avoided doing anything that actually helped me when I needed it. So no Miles, I'm not selling out her identity.' The bat gave the vulpine a sly look, "however, I didn't promise to keep where she was in the city when I talked to her a secret."
Miles raised an eyebrow.
"It'll cost you, of course."
"Go on?"
Rouge sucked her teeth, thinking, "umm…four grand."
"Credits?" the vulpine almost laughed, that's surprisingly cheap!
"No dear," the smug look was back, "Acorn Crowns."
Miles whistled, that was steeper than he anticipated. He thought about it for a moment, "deal," he said eventually. "But, you'll have to talk to my handler to get the money, where was she?"
"You ever been to those old warehouses by the old river docks?" she enquired almost innocently, "nobody ever keeps anything in those anymore. They're almost the perfect place to lie low if you need too."
The fox nodded his thanks to the bat as he rose to leave. As he got to the door Rouge's voice made him turn, "How much do you know of the situation in Knothole Miles?"
"Not much," the vulpine shrugged, "I usually try and keep out of it. Why"
The bat shook her head, "Because you're about to walk into a whirlpool kid, good luck!"
The canid nodded and left.
Because you're really going to need it, she thought as she picked up the phone on her desk.