17 Mars Tango 2

Red sand everywhere on that reinforced glass dome. Somehow lurking and showing its gracefulness Drunks are going about and Captain is moaning in my ears. It was quite the pain in the ass to drag her back to the Carnifex. Captain's remark was rather surprising no matter what I think about it. Then again, Captain's drunken side differed from her usual stoic side. I had to walk through crowds who had to get back to the brothel that Henry Jims and the Sisters used. The brothel smelled the same. Though none of the sex-stained smell that the other places in Tilt Street had. It was really odd that this place is cleaner than the bars.

"Captain's gone and sleepy?"

Henry Jims observed. His eyes staring at the Captain's drunken state. Captain might be one of the baddest person in the goddamn universe, but damn even Henry Jims looks like he wasn't even going to make a lewd joke knowing that he was talking to her. This was a woman who led slaughter against aliens and won.

"Yeah, she got drunk. Don't let her get near some ladies. Don't want them to fall in love."

"I kinda figured she'd swing that way. She got that soft eye for the ladies. You think she'd appreciate some favors?"

I pointed at the Captain. "Tell that to her."

"Eh," Henry Jims pondered. "You know what? I'm fine not trying to piss her off."

"Can I have a room? Preferably, not where she would wake up with a customer."

"On the staff room. Ask Trixie."

"Got it."

I took the Captain to the backroom where most of the staff. It was through the dressing room where I entered a room of silicone breasts stiffly moving. They looked at the Captain as if they wanted to lick her, but when the Captain half-glares they shrunk like those shelled creatures on mother earth. I think those were turtles. One of them felt like she was just got an orgasm. I guess it's better to enjoy the job rather than give a shit about it.

I returned to Henry Jims, who was arguing to some drunkard whose belt buckle isn't even on. I glared at the bastard with the best glare that I come up with. Bastard seems like he pissed himself as he skitters away from Henry Jims.

"Whoa, quite the glare. I sometimes forget that before this you were a soldier of our glorious humanity."

I crossed my arms. "When you face down bug-like aliens that come in waves. Either you toughen up long enough to get out of that shithole or you'll end up dead like the rest of fucks. I don't know that they think when sending human wave tactics, but that is something I couldn't give a single shit right now. Anyway, what's with that bastard?"

"Bah, nothing much, the usual customer that tried to get more because our ladies are top of the shelf. Quick shots can't handle our best. So, what you going to do?"

"Shoot some people, probably. You got a contract that you want to take care off?"

"Actually," Henry Jims leaned forward. "I got some bastard I want killed. Don't worry, he's some low-level thug on the left of the Tilt Street. What I've been hearing bout is that he's been lurking the street, selling red powder, and have been pissing most of the gangs."

"And why do you want this bastard killed?"

"Because he owes me for one of our girls being drugged. Let me tell you, it was nasty seeing one of our pretties addicted with the red flower. Bastard like this needs catching, but he keeps evading and knows how to hide."

"So you expect me to find someone that some thugs couldn't even find."

"Oh please," Henry Jims smiled like a damn devil. "I know you soldiers have your way of finding people and even aliens. I think finding the aliens is harder than you."

"Aliens are faster to find. They don't have the bullshit that humans have these days. I'll find him. You can pay, right?"

"I'll expect results. I'll send some cash while you find that bugger."

"Do you have any info on this guy?"

"I think you'll find if you see his red hand. He'd been changing faces with good earth plastic surgeries, but that red prosthetic is easy to recognize. I mean, if you don't recognize it, then might as well replace your eyes with optics. Heard the tech street is selling good ones."

"Not military grade-ware, though."

"Sure. Find the bastard, give me his prosthetic alongside a pic of his head with a bullet in it."

It was odd. Seeing someone care about this low-level thug pushing some drug in the street. I had to ask Henry Jims.

"To spend money on this guy. Guess that you and the Twins care about the girls."

"That's right," Henry Jims momentarily looked like an animal. "Every little girlie that becomes a part of this business is family. When they fuck with us, it means that our girls are nothing more than toys. Fuck these retards, and I want that bastard hung for that. You understand?"

"Easy tiger," I said. "I'll get the bastard. You ain't supplying me with anything?"

Henry pulled something out of his desk. Sliding it on the desk. I took the machete and made a few swings before nodding.

"Eh, good enough."

"It's sharp as shit and it stings too. Perfect for the bastard."

"Wow, you really hate this guy."

"Told ya that no one fucks with our girls. Also, see if this guy is working for someone. I know he is, but it irks me that this guy is getting away with no fucking sense."

"You sure he ain't working for some organization?"

"He isn't, and even if he is. He should know that the folks around here don't like it when people overstep on territories. We take that shit seriously."

"Hope he isn't Corpo bitch."

"If he is. Then it would be better if he wasn't. I suspect that this bastard isn't a Corporation lackey. But we know how far up the ass Corporation bitches are."

"Anyway, I'll leave it to you on how to catch this retard. I would like to employ both you and the Captain, but seeing that she's drunk as shit. You had to do it on your own."

***

I left Henry Jims and went to the street where this pusher is dealing. Finding one red prosthetic-arm thug among the crowd would be hard. But from the looks of the street, it seems like we have armed men dealing with customers. Probably a protection racket from the other gangs. I don't understand why they ignore this guy. From what I can gather is that this person has been keeping some of these thugs supplied with red flower. They boil this kind of red flower like hemp. Then they smell it until they are high enough to feel like flying. Even the information about the net has this drug off the list. But if this guy is keeping a steady supply for people addicted to this. Then he's clearly paying them enough or someone is backing this bastard.

Scouring this street for someone with a prosthetic hand would take a lot of time. He could move anywhere, so I just kept asking like a drunkard as well on where to get some fun drugs. Naturally vultures can smell a potential customer from miles away, and my pretend-drunk act caught some of these bastards who sold me some of the most common shit I can buy over a counter. For four hours I had to spend some time around clubs and bars in hopes to find the bastard. It was only when I got myself into the nasty parts of the sector I started getting stares from the others.

Seeing that I was packing heat despite looking like I was about to fall soon. Most of them kept their wits and stayed away while I was reaching to my gun. When I was about to take a turn, I saw a lean man selling something on the streets side. It was dark, and the lighting was awful that it took me seconds before it registered to me I finally found the bastard.

Truth be told, I thought I'd be spending at least a week to find the bastard. Of course, I checked first and seeing that packet of red flowers on the bastard's hand. I know that I had to approach this bastard without clarifying that I was after his scalp.

He stood next to a burning barrel. Seeing him shoo the customer, I strutted to him like a drunk. "Eh, you need some fun flowers, friend?"

"Flowers?" I said as if ignorant. It was when I was five feet away from him I pulled my machete on his prosthetic. Catching his other arm, I kneed on the joint of his elbow. I smashed his augmented head on the wall and cauterized the bleeding on his arm by the barrel. I covered his mouth and dragged him from the main street. My machete still on his neck.

"Who are you working for?" I asked. "Look, I can probably steal some of your shit, but it's best if you just spill it.""

"You got the wrong guy!"

I squeezed his now lumped hand. "I got no time for this bullshit. Tell me, who the fuck are you working for. It's not like you have any chance after this. Seriously, how in the fuck did you piss off most of the gangs in this district?"

"I got them paid. They said that I can handle business here! Now they send someone to take care of me!? Akuma will know that you fuck us over."

"Akuma, you working for them?"

"I am working for them! Do you know why I can strut around like these? They'll have you paid!"

"I see."

I called Henry Jims, just in case. "Henry," I called. "This guy is working for the Akuma's."

"That's right!" the bastard said, seething.

"So before I do anything, I want to hear what you wanted to say."

"Well, fuck me, the Akuma's eh. Hold up, I still have some business partners there." Henry Jims drop off his call. I pushed my hand on this bastard's smug face. My caller rang again, so I brought Henry Jims again.

"So you got something?"

"Aye. I told the Akuma's that their guy was hitting on my girls. They gracefully understood where I was coming from and added that I can deal with him. Take his goods and wait for the runner to arrive. Hell, they are going to be kind enough to offer this man as a peace offering."

Henry Jims probably got some hook on these bastards. Just another one for the collection. I pity this poor fucker who thought he could fuck with Henry Jims.

"Oh, just scalp his head. Make sure you miss the sellable parts. They want his body for payment." Henry Jims said.

"Hey, hey, hey man, let me go." the poor thug said. Brought down my machete on top of his head. I should have missed his cranium, and only the brain shouldn't be functional after this. I guess they have to deal with his innards. Checking on his belongings, he had nothing other than the shit he carried for protection. He placed most of his stuff on the side. Must be quite something working for these gangsters. I wonder what they signed before joining.

Since Henry Jims wanted his prosthetic hand, I kept it with me. I made sure that his body was ready for transport and that the runners coming for him shouldn't have trouble. When the runners finally arrive in a van, they immediately asked where the goods were. I handed them his earnings and the duffel he carried with him. Next, they took his body inside the van. There wasn't really a conversation that would have happened between the Akumas and I. I took care of some business and they got their goods and fresh organs to purify and sell at the market.

With that job done, I headed back to the brothel where Henry Jims was patiently waiting with the Captain. She was holding her head while two girls were fawning over her. Noticing my arrival, the girls kissed Captain on the cheeks and went back to their work.

"Got some fun, Captain?" I said.

"Piss off," Captain said.

I looked at Henry Jims. "What the hell happened?"

"She's a god with those fingers," Henry Jims smiled toothily. "But what you'd expect from the Captain, eh?"

"Herny, I'll be nice, so how about shut up for a second and give me some dam quiet before I break your face?"

"Just trying to be funny, Cap."

Henry Jims raised his hands. Then he looked at the prosthetic I have in me. "Got the job done quickly. That was a marvellous job, I even got some from the Akuma."

��You ain't selling that shit here, right?"

"Of course not. Drugs like this are bad for the business."

"Good," Captain said blandly. "If you do, I'd have an excuse to punch and break every bone in your body. Control your girls, Henry."

Captain walked out of the brothel. I looked at Henry Jims with a question. "The fuck was that?"

"Eh, some girls thought wrongly about the room. They got in and tried to play a prank only to experience some good time. Never seen them fawning like that."

"Good thing she didn't pull a gun on them."

"She went along with them and then after she got out that stupor she's just mad."

"I hope you didn't do it accidentally."

"Nix, most of these girls see her as some goddamn beast of a woman. It's not my girl's fault that her first action when waking up is to make them experience heaven from fingers alone."

I gave up. "Just send me the payment. Captain's probably going back to the ship."

"Got it. Also, I might call you later, Nix."

I went after the Captain. She's probably going to spend time in the Fortuna again.