Aaron and Tulia stalk toward the Grim Grip Bar where there are animated neon figures dancing and it could be any time of day. This establishment is kept in perpetual low light to attract nocturnal revelers. It might seem impossible to hear over all the music and commotion, but the sound of a shattering glass pierces the couple's ears. They both pause while immediately sensing something other than clumsy service.
Momentarily, two mercenaries come rolling out on the ground through the doors. They punch and kick. Patrons circumvent them. Two heavily padded police officers look on with professional interesting (it must be clear that this was not sport to them) and do nothing.
One combatant manages to stand and immediately stumbles back against a parked vehicle. The downed man draws a knife. The standing half draws a sidearm, but leaves it in the holster. Aaron notes the officers rests their hands on their own weapons, but draw no more attention to themselves.
Staring each other down, the man on the ground experiments with rising to his feet. They both gasp, breathless. The man with the knife slinks off and the one with the sidearm lets his weapon rest and returns to the bar. The officers watch them part ways and relax their posture again.
The mechanical bouncer resides within a recess of the wall. On it's skinny head it has a panel of cameras for eyes that attempt to track each person who pass the door. Aaron locks eyes with it and for a brief moment all the little squares are turned to him. Tulia leans to his ear with a brief grasp of his arm.
TULIA: Must be cross eyed
Aaron turns away from it and all the eyes follow him, but then suddenly click back to observing everyone else in the room.
AARON: Just has me worried
that maybe they know we're coming.
TULIA: Why? You a cop?
We're no better than the
mercenaries, Aaron.
AARON: Then what are we?
TULIA: We work from home.
AARON: Janriel isn't home.
TULIA: Then how come you
had a life here before
the blockade?
AARON: Let's go
interview that guy.
She looks over at a man occupying a corner booth
with a large company of guests being entertained
by the hostesses.
TULIA: Sure. I suppose
you like getting shot
from under the table.
AARON: I said let's
interview him. I didn't
say anything about doing
it on his terms.
TULIA: Alright. I'll wait
here while you go find
a dress in your size.
She immediately stomps off and starts chatting
up the first waitress she puts her arm around
and leads the confused woman off.
Tulia returns in the same clothes that she left with (her leather jacket) but has changed into high heels that likely come from the waitress who follows a few paces back. Tulia stops to let her pass and she proceeds on with a single drink on her tray. She whispers in the woman's ear who is sitting at the end of the booth. The waitress indicates Aaron who smiles awkwardly at the provocation.
This woman takes her drink and rises to meet Aaron with a smile. The moment she leaves Tulia slips in and is able to introduce herself with a laugh. She is still wearing the tool pouch on her left hand.
MERCENRY: And just who might you be
in a place like this wearing that?
TULIA: This? (giggle)
Well I'm a working girl.
MERCENARY: A woman like
that could get into trouble.
TULIA: Why else
would I be here?
Aaron is about to speak to the woman
approaching him when she throws
the drink in his face and walks on with
a loud pause in his ear.
WOMAN: Rat.
AARON: That's ok.
Almost had a perfect day.
Aaron locks eyes with the mercenary
who rises from his booth.
MERCENARY: What did you
say to the lady?
AARON: Lady? Well I didn't
come here too concerned about
what was being said to the women
of this establishment. I come on
behalf of a woman I met at
Doc Spencen's.
MERCENARY: Why
should that concern you?
AARON: She says you cut her.
MERCENARY: She must be
the one who got in the middle
of one of my fights.
I think she liked the guy.
Doc Spencen send you to do
his dirty work?
I didn't know he had
it in him.
AARON: The way I heard it
the doctor's already been here.
You threw him out. And now
people are getting hurt worse.
MERCENARY: You're a friend of his?
AARON: Does it really matter?
We both know you're not going
to let anyone leave without a fight.
MERCENARY: Won't be much of a fight.
TULIA: That was the idea.
She puts a stun stick in his back. He falls back in such a way to clothesline her with him. He jumps to his feet and Aaron tackles him to the ground. Aaron delivers one punch and slips a cuff over his right wrist to the back of his pants and jumps back up with a draw of a pistol. Then Aaron draws his left to cover the remaining mercenaries in the booth. An unseen hand slides Tulia's boots and gun belt on a tray.
The mercenary turns back over and looks up at Aaron, enraged. He foams at the mouth with a command to the bouncer robot.
MERCENARY: TI-F7! Get them!
The slender robot disengages from the wall and all the patrons make way long before it takes another step. It pivots and makes that first step, but a large hand is placed on its shoulder.
NICODEMUS: Stand down.
The robot returns to the wall and its eyes proceed to click away as usual.
This man is sleeveless, tattooed, and wears no protective vest like the other mercenaries or the police for that matter. But Aaron can discern a clear gulp from the troublemaker he has subdued.
NICODEMUS: Well, what do we have here?
MERCENARY: Mr. Clemence... they just
came in here and started busting up the place!
I - I tried to stop them-
NICODEMUS: I wasn't talking about them!
And you didn't manage to stop them, did you?
The mercenary falls silent. The room is silent as this man's heavy boots clomp through and passes the standoff taking place. He bends down to pick up the tray and walks back to a dining table where there is the waitress frozen with fear as if in mid service.
NICODEMUS: I believe this is yours.
She solemnly takes the tray from him and he turns back to the mercenary on the floor. Tulia is still trying to slip her second boot on, but watches the new element of the situation cautiously. Nicodemus comes up behind the mercenary and lifts him by the cuffed arm. He rips the pant loop the cuffs are attached to, which leaves the remainder to dangle from the man's wrist.
NICODEMUS: Pathetic.
MERCENARY: Mr. Clemence...
I didn't mean-
NICODEMUS: You don't even understand.
We don't terrorize the weak. There is
nothing to be gained. No honor.
Now, did I just hear that you
have been accused of
cutting a woman?
MERCENARY: Please-
NICODEMUS: Please?
Nicodemus draws a knife and stabs him in the back.
NICODEMUS: My men are beyond reproach.
You are no longer one of mine.
(He looks at Aaron) I trust this
settles your business with him.
Without waiting for an answer, Nicodemus assumes his place at the booth and the other mercenaries settle in their seats making as if nothing happened. Tulia and Aaron stare down at the dead mercenary as Aaron reaches a hand to help her to her feet. The music starts playing again and the two of them quietly leave the Grim Grip.
Once they are alone on the street walking back to the clinic Aaron turns to Tulia.
AARON: Was that how you planned it?
I mean, did you intend for her to
throw that drink in my face.
TULIA: I figured she would.
I wanted to convince him to
go outside and get away from
that bouncer. I wasn't counting
on him to get so chivalrous
about the whole thing.
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