Episode 3
It was well into evening when Grey arrived in Pewter City. The stars were peaking out behind the cusp of Mt. Moon and the streets were empty. It was Friday, 22nd and he was going to be late. Pewter City was a mining town, built after the discovery of the first Moon Stones some time ago. The thick, green underbrush of Viridian Forrest was now replaced with dust and hard dirt. He walked down the vacant streets towards the downtown area. It was the weekend and it was sure to be lively. Roger followed a few paces back.
"Hrurrrm" he grumbled.
"I hear ya" Grey answered. "I'm hungry too."
They walked on, reaching where the buildings became lit with small, cheap neon signs. Grey faced Roger.
"Alright bud, this is far enough."
"Skree!" Roger shook his head and snorted.
"Look, brick brain, you know you can't go in there!"
"Hufferrrrgroof!" Roger stamped the ground.
"I'll bring you something back!"
"Skree!" Roger crossed his arms
"I will NOT!"
"Gruhf!"
"That happened ONE time!"
"GRUFF!"
"ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT! Sorry! Just relax wouldya? I'll be back fast as I can."
Roger sprinted away, daftly scaling a two story apartment building with ease. He stood atop the roof and waved his arms wildly in the air.
"Skreeee!"
"Crazy monkey" Grey mumbled. He walked another block and turned the right corner. He spotted the bar just ahead: "The Cave-Inn", a miner's tavern. One of many like it located in town. Small, dark, dirty places. He walked inside and made for the bar. A large, stooped man with a very noticeable stomach was bartending. He wore a black shirt and dirty denim overalls. Over his head, various bits of mining paraphernalia adorned the walls: a flashlight helmet, pick axes, small shovels, etc. The bartender's left hand was bent oddly and the middle, ring, and pinkie fingers did not move. Grey took him to be an ex-miner.
"Kitchen still open?" Grey asked.
"Whattya want?" The man replied. His voice was rough and deep. He put a hand down on the bar between them.
"Whatever you got" Grey said "I'll take two of 'em." He placed a $20 bill on the bar.
The man took a moment to look Grey over. His breathing was strained, lungs buried in soot for too many years. He caught a glance of Grey's right hand.
"I don't want no trouble, boy." The man said, his other hand came down on the bar. He leaned forward.
"Neither do I" Grey said. He met the man's eyes. They lingered for a moment.
The man held his stare as he swept up the money from the bar.
"Two kabobs!" he yelled to his left. He reached in the register and handed Grey his change. "You do your business and get out."
Grey nodded. He turned around and gazed over the crowd. Loud music blared from a jukebox on the far right wall. Several pool games were in progress in the middle area. He glanced to where a few dingy, round tables stood in a corner and found what he was looking for. At the furthest table, with her back to the wall, sat a girl. Her caramel brown hair was pulled back into a pony tail. She wore a black long-sleeve shirt under a green army jacket, tan pants with various pockets, and black combat boots. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her right fist. On her hand was a black leather fingerless glove with a white square patch on the back. Inside the square was a red symbol that resembled an exclamation point. It was the same glove Grey now wore himself. The girl saw him notice her. She crossed her arms and leaned back in the chair. Grey approached, crossing the smoke filled tavern with singular focus. He took a seat opposite her. Her hazel eyes were squinted slightly against the criss-crossed shadows of the dim bar. Those same eyes were hard-set and seemed to hold a flash deep within them. Her cheek bones were high and well placed and small freckles ran across her nose. He guessed her age to be early-mid 20's. Her skin was tan, a traveller's tan, a trainer's tan. The knuckles of her exposed fingers gave away her strength. Calloused and large for a girl her size, they screamed of manual labor. She was clean to be dressed so roughly.
"What was all that about?" Her voice lacked a woman's inflection.
"Smart bartender" Grey answered. He began to pat his pockets in search of his cigarettes.
"You're just sloppy. I spotted you the second you walked in. He didn't even notice me " She smirked.
"A girl lookin' like you walks in here, believe me, he noticed. They all did." Grey put a cigarette to his teeth and began to light it. She looked over his shoulder. Men caught in conversational lulls, lost poker hands, and missed pool shots glanced at her from each corner of the pub. She straightened her jacket, cleared her throat, leaned forward and raised a middle finger to any and all who happened to catch it.
Grey chuckled, then he coughed and took a drag.
"Spare a smoke?" she asked.
"No" he said, putting the pack back into his pocket.
They sat in silence for a moment. Grey drew from his cigarette slowly. The girl relaxed back into the chair, crossed her arms again and tapped her fingers.
"Well" she said, "I'll just pick some up after I get my 2000 bucks"
Grey shifted, he coughed again and scooted his chair up closer to the table. He took another drag on his cigarette.
"One thousand" he exhaled.
"Are you serious?" she asked. "We agreed on two thousand. That's what you posted on Willow's PC." She scoffed. "I didn't come out here peanuts."
"$1200" he said. "And a poke ball."
She sat quietly for a moment. He finished his cigarette and outed it on the table.
"Order up!" The bartender yelled. Grey rose and left to retrieve his food. He returned with two large meat kabob plates. He placed them on the table and began to eat the one closest to him.
"You shouldn't have" she said, leaning forward and cooly sliding a hand towards the other plate.
"I didn't" Grey replied. He pulled the plate closer to him.
She smiled.
"We have a deal?" Grey asked. He did not look up from his food.
Her face turned slightly away from him. She rapped her fingers on the table top.
"How many partners" She asked.
"Two."
"Hmm." Again, she stared at an angle away from him. "Ok. There's an abandoned bridge on the north end of town. Be there at midnight."
Grey finished his plate. He pushed back from the table and stood.
"Wait" she said. Grey stopped but remained standing. "You show up late to a meeting you set up, you low ball me, and you expect to just leave without telling me your name?" Her eyes were more alight with that odd spark.
"This aint necessary" Grey said. He picked up the second kabob to leave.
"Oh no." She stood up and walked over to where he stood. "No, see, I want you to remember me when this is over." She spoke with a sudden, fierce confidence. She stuck out her hand. "I'm Jade."
He looked at her for a moment then shook her hand.
"Grey" he said.