Would be redunance to post another log , so here some art, since it been awhile The
Doggie Bag
I
have always admired the standard Styrigian’s response to a conflict
situation. First they bluff, then they bargain and finally if the
odds are against them they run. Artemis was not the standard
Styrigian. As the five glitter dome gang bangers emerged from the
shadows to ambush us as we left the air car parking lot at the sky
port. She headed straight into their midst, which was unfortunate for
them.
She
gutted the first of them to reach for her, with a vibro blade that
she drew from a hidden pouch in her riding boots. I had thrown one of
the two on me to the hard asphalt floor, an received a nasty shock
from stun rod set to stun, lucky that I had a No Shock implant, a
precaution that I had embedded in me when the Neon Tigers were
investigating our class mates disappearances caused by the Blue Boys.
In
the time that it took me to disarm the Glitter boy with the stun rod,
Atremis was engage in a knife fight with the second of the bangers
that headed for her, A lone gang member who chose not to close
started to drew an auto pistol from his waist band so I threw the
stun rod with all my might at him. It connected with a loud snack and
the banger went down.
I
finished the banger on the floor with a snap kick to the face and
grabbed the one that had the stun rod into a head lock. Artemis was
by my side in a moment, the blood of her last opponent splash over
her outfit. I let go of the remaining Glitter banger, who threw up
his hand.
“So
do we kill him now?” Artemis asked, waving her vibroblade.
“No
we take him with us; I hate to run into another ambush, so our friend
here is going to be our guide!” the Glitter Banger, nodded at my
suggestion. Turning to him I added, “If we run into any more of
your friends tonight, I will break your neck. So lead the way.”
Our
captive guide lead us safely to the crowded street below, where we
stood out with Artemis bloody outfit. So we hit the first fashion
boutique, dragging our glitter banger with us. The store clerks (it
was hard to tell whether they were male or female) hover over us like
Timeon’s humming birds. They bought both of us the latest in
Glimmer dome’s fashion (Artemis comment on how tacky my civilian
Skein suit was in comparison to the flood of color and styles that
adorn the inhabitants of the dome.) They even had a medic that trend
to any visible bruises and wounds that were now exposed by our new
threads, and an expect in make up to cover them up. When we done my
credit stick were a little lighter but Artemis seem pleased.
“This
is the most I seen of you for a while.” Artemis commented as she
ran her palm across my six pack laid bare by the open midriff of my
new outfit, it was a little uncomfortable; I have not worn anything
but skein suits (civilian or military) in public for months. I felt
vulnerable without my protective gear. This only made me clamp down
on our hostage, my right hand grabbing onto his ear as we left the
shop.
“Where
to my love?” I asked Artemis, while I scanned the street.
“I
feel like dancing!” she replied as she twirled around, her arms
sweeping the street around her.
“So
where a good place to go. One where we won’t run into any of your
friends, with good music and a lively crowd.” I asked as I pulled
the banger close.
“I
know just the place!” he said attempting to nod but found his
moment restricted by my lock on his ear lobe.
We
found ourselves maneuvering down a series of winding twisting
streets, till we came to a club in middle of dirty garbage filled
alley. Loud pounding music came flooding out the door, as we approach
a large heavy muscle doorman peered at us. He looked at me and banger
who smile widely and for a moment it seem like he was going to turn
us away and then his eyes locked on Artemis and he moved aside.
The
club was a cornucopia of sound and light, the crowd populating the
dance floor was slightly younger than Artemis and myself, a few turn
and look at us. Compare to their slight youthful frames, Artemis and
myself were heavy muscular, and battle harden. It was obvious we were
not prey and they turn back to their dancing.
We
force our way into the crowd, pushing people aside to make room. Once
we cleared a spot, I let our banger hostage go and we began to dance.
I always prided myself good dancer, but Artemis far out class me. As
a little girl her dream was to be a professional dancer, and that
dream was snuffed out with the death of her father. The music tempo
rose and I struggled to keep pace. I turned and saw Artemis was
matching its pace with ease, like a wild maenad drunk on the music
itself. People began to stop, starring at the sight.
Our
hostage turn to me, “Who are you people.”
I
smiled, “That lady over there is Artemis, leader of Valkyrie. As
for me, I her humble lover, Rodworth Shimout.”
I
watch as the blood ran from his face, he began to stammer about how
sorry he was, but I waved him off. The crowd went wild, aping Artemis
on. I was in awe, and when the music stopped, Artemis was showered in
applauses.
Eventually
Artemis became sate of dancing, as we left her admirers begging her
to stay, she simply nodded and gave faint mummer promises of another
time. She turned to me smiling and pronounce. “I’m starving,
Rodworth.”
I
turn to captive, “Well where we can get finest meal.” And off we
were again. After another series of winding turn we found ourselves
outside a small dinner. The maître d lead us to a table, I had him
place our hostage to separate table within arm shot , the menu was
filled with foods from all over the frontier. I order the Dixon trout
and Artemis a quarter house steak, when our food arrived the plates
were filled with assortment of fresh vegetable that ring our fish and
steak. I motion the waitress over and said.
“Wine,
your best bottle.”
“Our
best bottle of wine is a thousand credit, sir.” she said with a
tone that carried the disbelief that we couldn't afford it.
I
flash a credit stick and threw it at her, “Ring it up and bring me
the bottle with three glasses.”
When
she brought the wine she also came with hold no persona, gone was the
reserved server, instead she engage me in small talk. Her flirtation
caught Artemis attention and she stared at the waitress. The waitress
then made the mistake of glaring back. The two women became lock in a
starring content that could end in only one way. Artemis possess the
power that I only saw in one other person, my grandmother, that of a
glaze that could drive the strongest person to their knee or fill a
person with fright, and the waitress fled our table, like she was on
fire.
I
made the error of smiling and Artemis turn her attention on me.
“That
amuses you, the flirtation of an obvious gold digger.” Artemis tone
was low and threatening.
“It
wasn't the waitress that amuse me it was you.” I retorted.
“What
do you mean.” Artemis blurred, placing her hands on the table.
I
cover her hands with mines and said softly, “ I love seeing you
jealous, it reminds me that you care. Some time you make me wonder,
when ever we're In public, you are always so formal. Even talking on
the chronocom, you call me Rodworth, no pet name, or a dear. Red...”
“I
hate that name.” she said turning away.
“I
know, but I love calling you that. Anyone else would even dare to
whisper it, you would gut them and hang them out to dry. But you let
me call you it, and it show that you care.” I said with a smile.
Artemis
pull her hands out of mines, and for a moment I through she would
slug me. Instead she grab my shirt and pull me to her, and landed a
kiss on my lips.
“So
what should I call you, Roddy Poo ?...” she utter as we broke the
kiss to catch a breath.
“Maybe
that was a bad idea.” I said with a smile.
Eventually
the meal ended and we stagger slightly tipsy from the wine into the
street with our guide. As we walk away from the restaurant I notice
his down cast expression.
“What
up with you?” I asked.
“You
two are going to kill me when this is over. Aren't you?”, he ask
shifting away.
“Well
of course....” Artemis start to reply but I cut in. “ No you can
go.”
Artemis
turn to look at me, her eyes shinning with anger.
“Red,
why spoil a perfect good date. Sure we started out on the wrong foot
with the kid, but it turn out right. I know you were thinking of
bringing the kid back to your girls like a doggy bag, but really if
that your idea, I'll kill him right now to spare him the pain of a
long and horrible death at their hands.” I pause, the glitter boy
was staring in horror, and Artemis expression was filled with doubt,
so I continue. “ We're better than that, honey we are legends. You
let the kid go and he will tell his friends about tonight, when he
old and gray he'll tell his grand kids about how he met the legendary
Artemis. He'll paint you as a goddess, an avatar of the goddess of
the hunt.
What
do you say my love? Let the boy go, your girls can do without a treat
for once.”
Artemis
turn to boy, “Get out of here, quickly before I change my mind...”
He
fled down the street and I flagged down a ground taxis, and when it
pulled to curb I motion to Artemis to get in.
“Were
are we going now?”, she asked, her mood flavor by her act of mercy.
“You
know where we're going!” I said as I leered at her while I opened the cab
door.
She
push me into the back seat of the cab and leap on top of me, “You
know I going to hurt you when we are alone. Hurt you badly.” she
whispered as she bit my ear.
