2 Change in Management

by RJ Johnson

  Meade grinned and doffed his hat with the black braid down the back. “And I don’t doubt you’d be worth every penny.”

  “No charge for you cowboy.”

  Russo cleared his throat interrupting Roxanne and Meade’s flirting.

  “If you two are finished, Laszlo has completed his meeting and I have been authorized to extend an invite to you for his private game.”

  “A private invite to the sanctum sanctorum of E-Block’s most dangerous man...” Roxanne said her left eyebrow arched in surprised. “My my, just who are you Jim Meade?”

  Meade doffed his hat to Roxanne and turned to follow Russo, “Just a Runabout with questions ma’am.” He turned to the red faced Russo waiting for him. “Lead the way hoss.”

  “I hope you find your answers Mr. Meade,” Roxanne called out after him.

  Meade didn’t look back. He wasn’t sure what he was about to walk into, but answers probably wouldn’t be part of it.

  Chapter Four

  Russo led Meade through a door past a rather large and beefy security guard. Meade looked up at the large man a bit alarmed at his size. Growth hormones were outlawed on Mars, but this guy looked like he swallowed steroids for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The imposing security guard looked down at Meade and growled. He decided to give the man a large berth.

  Russo held up his ArmBar to the guard showing him their credentials.

  “Laszlo wants to see him. He’s invited him back to the game.”

  The security guard nodded and stepped aside.

  “Nice monkey suit,” Meade said to the security guard. “Did they cut it from a circus tent?”

  The guard growled at him even louder this time, and Meade grinned. He couldn’t help himself.

  Russo pulled his sleeve before he got crushed underneath five hundred pounds of muscle mass. “If you could come along sir, Laszlo is waiting,” Russo sniffed, “He does not wait for any man.”

  “Lead on my stout little friend,” Meade ordered. Russo’s eyes narrowed and he turned, leading the lanky cowboy down a dark hallway deep inside the guts of the Lady Luck Casino.

  He glanced around the hallway and noticed they had passed beyond the prefab hallway interior and were now surrounded by the dark red rock of the Martian canyon.

  “How far we goin into the interior?” Meade asked. He never got claustrophobic exactly – you didn’t survive long on Mars if you were afraid of tight spaces, but he never liked going into the interior of the buildings carved within the Vallis Marineris walls. He knew it was silly, but he always felt like he could feel the hundreds of tons of rock above his head, waiting to cave in on him.

  “It won’t be far. Mr. Laszlo’s private game room is just down the corridor. If you’ll stay close please, I do not wish to chase after you should you be lost.”

  Russo’s breathing was becoming labored. Meade figured that the walk into the interior of the casino was probably the most physical activity the cashier had seen all week.

  “In fact many of these tunnels were some of the first Coalition forces carved in order to build the New Plymouth Colony. Many of them extend deep within the colony and are connected to all sorts of different places on A-Block.”

  “That so?” Meade asked, uninterested. He wasn’t really interested in a tour, he just needed a distraction from all the different cave-in scenarios still rushing through his head.

  “It is,” Russo said and he paused in front of black door with a small plastic square. Russo waved his ArmBar over it and it flashed green, unlocking the door in front of him. “Mr. Laszlo awaits you inside.”

  Meade pushed his hat up, and nodded his thanks to Laszlo’s assistant.

  He pushed open the door that led into Laszlo’s inner sanctum seeing a bright set of lights halfway down the hallway along with hearing lots of loud and raucous laughter. He moved down the hallway and could smell the acrid smoke of tobacco. He instantly knew this had to be a gathering of some very important (and RICH) people. Most got their nicotine fix from the e-cigarettes that had become so popular. Real tobacco had to be raised carefully back on the Homeworld on whatever patch of land that survived the radiation of the Last War.

  Meade rounded the corner and was greeted by a gathering of seven men and women who surrounded a poker table with heaps of chips scattered between them all. They were all drinking and smoking, with some of those substances more illegal than others. Meade was no prude, but he was surprised to see the high level folk gathered together flouting the laws they so ardently enforced against the rest of the populace.

  “Mr. Meade,” Alexander Laszlo rose from the table and approached him with a sad smile. His white hair was swept back in an attempt to make him look a lot younger than his sixty seven years. The man may have been born long enough ago to see the Last War in action for himself, but his youthful energy belied his age. He offered a handshake to Meade and he took it, his skin crawling as he shook the warlord’s hand.

  “Laszlo, always nice to see you,” Meade said.

  Alexander Laszlo leaned in and patted Meade on his back, “Rough night the other night. I’m sorry the fight did not go your way.”

  Meade shrugged, “I find things generally shake out how they’re ‘sposed to.”

  “I was unable to attend the match personally, but my men tell me that you put on quite the show.” Laszlo grinned, his thin lips spreading against his yellow stained teeth. “I imagine you’ll find yourself inundated with offers to go to work for one of my brethren. Perhaps, even for me?”

  “I like working for myself,” Meade replied evenly. “I’m only sorry I missed out on an epic payday.”

  Laszlo nodded, “Yes, I heard that you took a rather large bet out on yourself. Losing stings twice as badly when it doesn’t pay out. I would imagine that’s quite a difficult prospect for a man in your position.”

  “Runabouts make their way in the world jus’ fine everyday Laszlo,” Meade said.

  “I have to admit,” Laszlo said, making his way back over to his seat. “I did not expect you to pay me off so soon. What I know of you and of Runabouts is admittedly limited, however, as I understand it, there are not many opportunities for you people to make money.”

  “Especially without a SecureCard installed on their ArmBar.”

  This came from the man sitting immediately to Laszlo’s left. Meade recognized him instantly. It was William Hugh, the chief of security for Ambassador Corcoran.

  “I make do,” Meade said to the Coalition officer.

  “Yes, but how exactly do you make do?” the officer’s eyes narrowed, examining Meade.

  “A little of this and that,” Meade replied. “I’m a fair hand at poker myself.”

  “Ahh, we were just about to begin another round ourselves,” Laszlo said. “I may not be the biggest fight fan, but I do enjoy the mental judo required to play cards. I find it to be far more rewarding than two brutes attempting to beat the brains out of each other… with all due respect to your chosen profession of course.”

  “Zero-G fights are a bit more graceful than that,” he replied.

  “Well, you have certainly proven your worth as far as those go,” Laszlo said. “Would you perhaps like an opportunity to regain what you lost and prove yourself in another way?”

  Meade rubbed his neck, and surreptitiously slid the infodrive Sarah had given him into his ArmBar. He tapped a few keys launching the program. He was rewarded with a quiet beep behind him indicating that the process had started. He brought his left arm down and glanced at the display. It indicated that he needed to remain near Laszlo for at least the next few minutes for it to complete its hack. He swore. He didn’t know it would take that long. He had hoped the program would be fast enough for him to get in and out to pay Laszlo what he owed him.

  “I’m not sure I follow,” Meade said, stalling for time.

  Laszlo indicated the poker table in front of him, “You lost out on quite the payday due to circumstances beyond your control. I’d like to give you the
opportunity to win that payday back.”

  Meade cocked his head, “’Lessen you’re willing to extend me another credit line, I’m fairly certain, I ain’t got enough to buy in with you high flyers.”

  Laszlo shrugged, “You still have the fifty thousand I loaned you yes?”

  Meade nodded.

  “Then I see no reason for you to miss out on another chance to win your payday. I believe in rewarding those who work hard, and your fight was one for the ages.”

  “What’s the catch?” Meade asked.

  “No catch,” Laszlo’s eyes gleamed, “If you find yourself stuck for another fifty, I would be more than happy to work with you to find ways to pay it off.”

  “By how?” Meade didn’t like the way the conversation was turning, but he had no choice. He needed time to let his ArmBar do its thing.

  “Runabouts need ways to make money on Mars,” Laszlo said lazily. “Working for me would be an excellent way for you to pay back your debt. Perhaps, even provide a comfortable level of existence after your accounts have been settled.”

  Meade’s eyes narrowed. He could smell a setup from a mile away, but, he didn’t really have a choice. If he said no to Laszlo’s offer to join their game, he’d be quickly ushered out once he paid his debt. If that happened, the download and format wouldn’t finish in time and Sarah would have spent all that money on him for nothing.

  “I keep what I win?” Meade asked.

  “We are all honorable men at the poker table Mr. Meade,” Laszlo said.

  Meade glanced down at the readout on his ArmBar. Still three minutes to go.

  “Deal the cards,” Meade snapped.

  Laszlo crowed in celebration and the people at the table moved their chairs to allow Meade to sit down next to him. He opened his ArmBar display and took out the fifty thousand tossing the display onto the table. Virtual chips began stacking up in front of him and he looked at his pile compared to the rest of the players on the table, it was incredibly small.

  “You really think you can do some damage with that tiny little limp pile?” The woman in green and black scoffed at him.

  “Rule number eleven, it ain’t how much you got, but how you use it… at least that’s what my ex used to tell me,” Meade said with a grin. She scowled at him and paid attention to the dealer who was dealing to the circle of players.

  The first card landed softly in front of Meade and he forewent convention and peeked at it. A king of spades, not a bad start for his first card. The second landed in front and it was another king, a very good start.

  He was first to act, and he decided to open strong. Showing weakness at this kind of gathering might get him killed, or at least gone broke within the first hand. The people at the table glanced at each other, unsure what to make of this Runabout who had raised more money than he probably saw in one year. Two people called including Laszlo and Hugh.

  “Called and called,” The dealer called out. He slapped the top card face down underneath a pile of nearby chips and turned up the next three cards. A queen of diamonds, king of diamonds and the three of spades lay face up on the table for Meade to make his hand. Meade held three kings, an incredibly strong hand.

  “Check it to my new friends,” Meade said, staring at Laszlo’s reaction. Laszlo grinned and grabbed a handful of chips throwing them out there haphazardly.

  “We’ll keep things social and start this round with fifty five hundred.”

  It was a small bet for the size of the pot, so whatever Laszlo held, he was looking for information. Meade wasn’t about to give him the pleasure of bluffing him out. Hugh examined his cards once again and called. Surprised by Hugh’s call, he followed along and threw the necessary chips onto the table. He decided to play it cool and let Laszlo try to figure him for the flush draw instead of his very strong hand.

  The dealer glanced around, and seeing the action complete, pounded lightly on the table twice with his fist and dealt the next card. It was the three of diamonds which meant that he now held a full house. There were also three diamonds on board, so Meade was hoping that one or both of them had a flush, or four to a flush. If he could goose them right, he might be able to leave this table with Sarah’s info AND a nice payday.

  “Check it again,” Meade said, setting the trap. This was where things would get interesting.

  Laszlo reached for his chips, and then smiled, drawing back. He tapped the table, staring Meade down. “I shall check as well.”

  Hugh nodded his assent to the dealer and the betting was complete. The fifth and final card was laid down by the dealer. It was the two of diamonds.

  There were four diamonds on the table, with the Ace of Diamonds missing. Whoever held that ace probably felt pretty good about their hand right now, so Meade decided to delay the action this round to see if he could at least make some money, or get them to try and bluff him out a bit. He looked at his diminishing stack and wondered how much he could bet so he could get Laszlo or Hugh to push in over the top. Better yet, why not let them do the betting for him?

  “You boys got me nervous. I think I’m gonna check it again,” Meade said.

  Laszlo thrummed his fingers against the green felt and rechecked his cards. He pushed a pile of chips into the center without saying anything. The dealer looked at the pile and over to Hugh.

  “The bet is fifteen thousand to you sir.”

  Hugh’s eyes narrowed and he checked his cards as well. He called the bet by Laszlo and looked at Meade.

  Meade felt his insides doing somersaults. This was it. If he pushed all in and got the other two to call, he’d end up ten grand above what he had. He could give the money back to Sarah, pay Laszlo back and have a nice kitty for the next few months to boot.

  “My pap always told me when playing cards to never give up the edge when you got it, so I think I’m gonna push it all in.” Meade said, pushing the remaining pile of chips into the center. He stared Laszlo down, his eyes never leaving the warlord.

  “Strong bet Runabout,” Laszlo said. “Are you sure?”

  “Sure ‘nuff,” Meade said feeling cocky. “You don’t have to come along if you don’t think your cards can stand the heat.”

  Laszlo’s grin disappeared and he leaned forward, pushing his entire stack into the middle, “I am confident enough.”

  Hugh immediately threw his cards in the middle folding. One of his cards landed face up, exposing the ace of diamonds. Meade saw the diamond ace and the spending spree that was going on in his head came to a screeching halt. Suddenly, he was much less confident in his hand, but he was already committed. He overturned his cards, showing the warlord what he had.

  “I think my boat is sturdy enough to beat whatever flush you got Laszlo.”

  Laszlo nodded, chewing on a toothpick without reacting much, “It’s true, all I was able to get was two pair.” He turned over one card – it was a three. Meade felt the bile and horror rise up in his throat. He didn’t need to see Laszlo’s other card to know what it was.

  “Four of a kind,” Meade said, sick to his stomach. “Nicely done Laszlo.”

  “I’m afraid that means you still owe me that fifty grand Mr. Meade,” Laszlo said. “If you have no objections…” Laszlo raised his ArmBar and offered it to Meade. “I’d appreciate if you signed…” He looked closely at his ArmBar. Meade’s eyes widened and he stood, knocking the chair over.

  “Well fellas, I do hate to dump my chips and leave, but I do believe they’re playing my song.”

  “Stop him,” Laszlo said coldly still staring at his ArmBar. The display was fuzzing in and out as the data on it was being eradicated by Meade’s program. “What fresh hell is this?”

  Meade swallowed and began looking for ways to escape. Unfortunately for him, the huge behemoth that guarded the door came into the private poker room, and loomed menacingly over Meade. He seized Meade’s shoulders holding him in place.

  “It would seem my ArmBar has been infected by a rather potent virus,” Laszlo said, his oily
voice grating on Meade. “Is anyone else suffering this issue?”

  The rest of Laszlo’s party checked their ArmBars and they shook their heads. William Hugh stood, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Meade. Hugh moved quickly over to Meade and grabbed his ArmBar roughly.

  “Easy there friend-o,” Meade cried out.

  Hugh removed the info drive Sarah had given him and stared at Meade’s ArmBar display.

  “He’s downloading and formatting your ArmBar,” Hugh said, panic in his voice.

  Laszlo stood and growled, “Kill him!”

  Meade glanced around and grinned. He squeezed his fist and the room exploded in a blaze of light and sound.

  The concussion grenade he had been holding hadn’t been difficult to conceal under his duster jacket, but it had been a trick and a half to palm it while Hugh had been holding his ArmBar.

  The confusion brought on by the concussion grenade was probably the only break Meade was going to get. He quickly moved and hit the large security guard square in his jaw, hoping his hardest hit would lay out the mammoth man.

  It didn’t.

  “Oh Jesus hell,” Meade said and the security guard roared in frustration as he grasped blindly for Meade. He caught Meade by his arm and yanked, nearly tearing it out of his socket. Meade cried out in pain and fell to the ground.

  The security guard recovered and whirled over to where he threw Meade, standing over him breathing hard. Meade didn’t waste any time and kicked the man’s kneecap hard. It worked.

  The man fell like a building collapsing in slow motion and Meade half-expected the ground to shake when hit the ground. The rest of the poker party had re-gathered their wits and were aiming their ArmBars at Meade. He grabbed his grandfather’s FN Five Seven pistol out of its shoulder hostler and fired several times at them. None of the bullets landed, but the distraction was all he needed.

  They fired back, using their ArmBar attachments that each made their own individual sound as white hot flashes of energy flew over his head. Meade ducked behind a group of boxes near the door and watched the nearby misses.