Chapter 31

"Chug! Chug! Chug!"

Sack-and-sugar slammed down her enormous beerstein onto the bar top, letting out an enormous burp over a storm of cheers.

"Awright…", she said through slurred speech. "Gimme another! If I'm goin' to battle I ain't goin' to battle sober!"

Across from the bar and at a nearby booth, a somewhat boozy Fyewackett laid back on the leather chair.

It was amazing to see: his newly found comrades were not only happy and enjoying themselves, but they seemed to have bonded with the local Sinner population as well...if the number of Sinners cheering on comrade Sack's guzzling of beer and Beelzejuice was anything to go by.

"Holy shit, that dame can put 'em away!"

Angel Dust plopped down next to Fye, the pressure actually lifting the Imp off of the chair.

"Seriously, where you been hidin' these guys?", Angel said as he lazily bent down to the Imp's level. "You shoulda introduced us all sooner!"

"Thank Charlie for providing the funds.", Fye answered back. "Also, thank you for suggesting the meet up spot. Consent really is a neat name for a sex club."

"Yeah, it's the reason I like it so much.", Angel said as he took a swig of his martini. "Bouncers here are real sticklers for that shit. They'll throw your ass out if they think you're coppin' a feel on someone who don't want it…"

Fye looked across the room to another booth, where a Succubi/Incubi couple were leering at him. The Succubi put two of her fingers up to her lips and stuck her tongue between them.

Fye blushed terribly. He still wasn't entirely used to the PC scene.

"S-so, you've been here before?", Fye asked, trying to steer the conversation somewhere else.

"Yeah, a couple o' times.", Angel said. "Around this time last year, in fact. Charlie was off doin' stuff in Heaven so she gave us a bunch of cash to go out and have a fun night. Niffty got really wasted and tried to klep a bunch of cleaning supplies, and Baxter almost got into a fist fight with a couple of Loansharks…"

Fye looked up at the tall Sinner. His eyes were drifting off into the distance, like he was staring at something on the far side of the room.

"Then Val showed up. It got kinda ugly but...it was fuckin' worth it."

Fye looked down at his lap, where a now empty shot glass was being held between his legs.

...Wait, what was that he said about Charlie and Heaven?

"But anyway…", Angel said, seemingly whipping around from one mood to the next, "We're here to party, so let's party!"

One of Angel's lower arms began to snake itself around Fye's shoulders.

"And I don't know if you noticed, but there's a couple of sex rooms in the back…", the tall Sinner cooed. "And those two across the room have been signalin' at you for about an hour now."

Fye gulped nervously.

"Y-Yeah, I noticed that…"

"And ya know, I'm willing to give ya a discount if ya want me to join in.", Angel said with a saucy wink.

Fye's face felt like it was on fire.

"I, uh-"

"What can I say? That nervous little twink energy ya got goin' is kinda workin' on me-"

"I-i-igottagotothebathroomI'llberightback!", he shouted. He leapt from his seat and made a mad dash to the back of the club, leaping over the bar and parkouring his way around the drink shelves. The bathroom door slammed shut behind him.

Angel's eyes traced the smoke trail that Fye left behind him. He couldn't help but laugh.

"Look what your eggs did, Pentious. Look at what they fucking did!"

Vaggie, nearly foaming at the mouth with anger, pointed harshly at the shattered vase on the floor. Two of Pentious's eggbois stood aside, looking shamefully at the carpet with their hands behind them.

Pentious himself was absolutely livid.

"That's preposterousss!" he hissed back defensively. "My idiot minions would never do something so ungentlemanly!"

Hat in hand, he looked down at the eggs. "Right, eggies?"

"We were just trying to move it, boss!" one of them replied sheepishly.

"Yeah!", said the other. "It wasn't very Fung Shoo-ey."

Pentious buried his face in his hat and groaned irritably.

"You idiotic ovary expulsions…" he muffled through his hat.

Lucius and Viola were both sitting in the corner, simply watching the unfolding drama.

"They really should film this shit.", Viola commented. "It'd make a helluva documentary."

"Or a cautionary tale.", Lucius replied.

"It's...fine, Vaggie.", Charlie said as she softly paced around the lobby. "It was just a gift from my Aunt Bee. She can always get me another…"

"Now look at that!", Pentious yelled. "You made Missss Charlie upset!...wait, why do I give a sssshit about that?"

"Because you're a gentleman, boss man!", one of the eggs said.

"Hmmm, yes that is true, I suppose", he said smugly. "Now, clean up that messss and get back to my airssship this insssstant!"

Vaggie stepped in between them.

"No, no no no. No dice. We already have a cleaner. Niffty?"

The pint-sized Sinner dashed into the lobby, broom in hand.

"On it!", she squeaked as she began furiously sweeping the floor. "Sweep sweep sweep…"

The argument was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening, with Lucille, Fern and Shakie walking into the lobby.

"Are we early?", Lucille asked in her thick Southern drawl.

"A little bit.", Charlie answered as she walked over to meet them. "You still have about thirty minutes until the security briefing. I just hope that everyone else will be back by then..."

"Angel said he'd be back in about an hour.", Shakie replied. "Mimzy is already on her way back. As for everybody else-"

"-You have to trust that they'll be back in time.", Chay said as she walked down the stairs, Lester following closely behind her. She flopped down on the couch again.

She turned to the Imps. "You heard from Fyewackett?"

"Just got a text from him.", Viola answered. "He's still out and about with our PC comrades."

"With Angel, right?"

"And Cherri. They're at some place called Consent."

Chay blinked.

She turned to Charlie and Vaggie. "Should I be concerned?"

"Believe it or not, you actually don't.", Vaggie answered. "As far as clubs go in Hell, that one's actually on the safer side. As long as Angel doesn't run into his boss again, everything should be fine."

"Yeah…", Charlie said with a small gulp. "Everything should be just fine. But what are you fixing to do?"

"We are going to get my sister.", Lester said. "We expect much opposition and many obstacles in our path."

Chay sighed. "That's kind of simplifying it, but that's the idea."

"So you're both going to the Vee Tower.", Vaggie replied. "By yourselves."

"Not without a plan we're not.", Chay answered. "First thing we're doing is casing the place just to see what the scene looks like. I know where the tower is, and I know what it looks like, but with WUL involved that means their people are probably crawling all over."

"Stealth will be our greatest tool.", Lester said. "As well as the art of diversion."

"I'm not taking any chances, that much I can promise you.", Chay said. "I've been in a lot of situations similar to this before, and if there's one thing I've learned its that it doesn't take much for everything to go completely sideways."

Vaggie looked at her watch. "Well, you have about five hours before the Extermination starts. I know you're competent but I'm going to tell you right now: we go into lockdown at Eleven sharp. If you're not here before that, I cannot guarantee your safety."

"In that case…", Chay said as she stood up. "We had better get started while we can. What about you, Lester?"

"I am ready.", the short Sinner answered. "Tell me where to go, I shall follow."

Charlie walked over to them, her hands clasped together with worry.

"I guess all I can say is good luck.", Charlie said. "I know you're more than capable Chay, but…"

She bent down to look Lester in the eyes. His gaze shifted to the side with mild discomfort.

"...Just be careful Lester, OK? I want you to be well enough for your sister when this is over."

Lester looked down at the floor for a moment, seemingly trying to muster his thoughts.

He nodded affirmatively.

"I shall.", he answered as he made his way for the door.

Chay slowly trotted behind him as the small Sinner slowly opened the door. She looked back at all of the people in the lobby.

Niffty was still cleaning, even though she had long since swept up the carpet. She was now swishing a duster all over the eggbois.

"Dusty. Dusty dusty…"

"Whoa, look at Frank's shell! It's so shiny now!"

"Yeah, gorgeous!...we have names?"

She chuckled underneath her breath.

This place was a circus.

And honestly, she wouldn't have it any other way.

Shakie met her at the door.

"Hey, Chay?", she asked worriedly.

"Mhmm?", Chay answered.

"Just…"

Shakie reached up and embraced Chay.

"Just be careful out there, OK?"

Chay found herself blushing lightly. She still wasn't sure why.

She patted Shakie on the back. "Don't worry. I've done this kind of thing before."

"I know.", Shakie said as she let go. "But still…"

"I'll see you later.", Chay said. "Promise."

She followed Lester out the door and into the cold PC evening. She tightened her coat around her shoulders and turned up her collar as she and Lester made their way down the street.

Don't worry, I've done this kind of thing before.

That was, of course, a total lie.

BLLLLEEEEGHHH!

You know what can be really humiliating? Climbing onto a toilet that's too tall for you.

That's what Fyewackett realized as he was carefully (very carefully) positioning himself over the bowl as he emptied his bladder.

Fuck, I really am a lightweight.

But for the moment, he had some privacy, and some time to think. The club's thumping electronic music wasn't really good at fostering deep thought.

BLLLLUUURRRGHHHH!

….neither was that.

As Fye scrolled through his phone, he kept hearing the sound of someone apparently heaving their sloppy, greasy guts in the stall next to him. The first time was startling, the second was annoying…

The third time was cadence, and you never want to have your bodily functions happening on a beat.

But whatever: things needed to be decided. The PC branch was going to need guidance from the mother org, as well as much needed supplies. The new influx of cash had given the ILF a new lease on life, but the wealth desperately needed to be spread around.

There was also the question of what they were going to do with their prisoners. Danny-boy was pretty easy: they could just cap him and leave him in a ditch.

But Paizana...that was going to be tough one….

BLEEEEUUURRRRRGGGHH!

Fye rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Hey...uh, you OK in there?"

He knew he probably shouldn't interfere. This was PC after all, and he was just as likely to get cursed out if not outright assaulted.

But surprisingly enough, that wasn't what happened.

"Y-yes, I'm fine.", a soft-spoken voice answered him.

Huh...well that was unexpected.

"I probably shouldn't pry but...you need any help?"

"No, no need. Just having a bit of an anxiety attack over here is all. Your concern is appreciated, however."

Fye reached up and scratched the skin around his horns. They tended to get itchy when he was nervous.

"I guess a lot of you guys are on edge right now, huh?", he said.

"I can't comment on them.", the other voice said. "As for me, I have some serious work ahead of me, and I've been suffering from some stress-related ailments over the last couple of day-BLUUURRRGGH!"

"Huh. To be honest, I'm definitely on edge myself. Even back home we have to deal with the Exorcists but not to the extent that you guys here in PC have to."

"Quite.", the other voice answered as it spit out sputum. "But I've always believed that destruction breeds opportunity. Many will perish, true, but more will grow from the remains. Ashes, after all, are amazing fertilizer."

"Hmmm."

Fye hopped off the bowl and pulled up his shorts.

"Well, either way, good luck to you.", Fye said.

"Same to you.", the voice from the stall answered. "I'll just be here a few more min-BLLLURRRGGG!"

Fye pushed open the stall door and exited to bathroom, back into the thumping club music. They would need to leave soon, if they wanted to get back before lockdown.

And then after that….

So many decisions. So many plans.

About an hour later, the Sinner opened up the stall door with his hellphone in his hand.

He scrolled through his messages, looking for the signal.

The thumping music outside was hard to drown out, but drown it out he had to.

This place was a cesspool, just like home was.

But now the time was nigh.

His phone binged.

He read the text message.

It was time.

He pocketed the phone and made his way through the club, past the drunken degenerates pawing each other as they watched lacivious decadent whores dance for their pleasure. He saw that tall white spider flirting with a Lust folk couple, and a bunch of Imps drowning their fears in liquor.

Let them enjoy it. They wouldn't have much longer….

Flynn went out the front door and made his way down the street.

CHAPTER 31 END