by Riker Kane
“And why’s that?”
“The loot territory in the Cobalt District has already been divided. There’s no place for more, even a single man. It doesn’t matter how good you are with your ACE.”
“Hmm…”
Max wondered if he should keep pushing. If the Disciples had the presence everybody else claimed they did, he knew Venom would know it just as much as anybody. But bringing it up would only make her more suspicious to his true intentions.
“Look,” she said. “I don’t give a shit what you do with your creds. But if you wanna make it in the Sanctum, you’re gonna have to give the people what they want.”
“You say the people wanna see an Execution. Fine. Let ‘em try and execute me. Put whoever you want in front of me and I’ll rip through ‘em.”
“There’s a thin line between confidence and overconfidence.”
“And I know where it is.”
The blond raised an eyebrow in curiosity. Her eyes shifted toward the table where the rest of the group was sitting.
“The woman with the shaved head,” she said. “She’s an android.”
“How can you tell?”
“Her pupils are synthetic. They’ve gotten everything right except the eyes… Is she the partner you mentioned before?”
“That’s right. You think I’m good on the battlefield, put her in the Sanctum with me and you’ll see how much damage we can do.”
“All right. We’ll see if you can run the Gauntlet. Multiple opponents. You two last and maybe we can set you up with a main event fight.”
“It doesn’t matter how many people you put in front of us. Zigzag and I will cut through ‘em all.”
Venom took a step back and sighed a deep breath through her nose. Despite her small stature, she still stuck her nose up with an undeniable arrogance. She gave Max another look then nodded.
“Two nights,” she said. “I’ll have your opponents ready for you by then. And if you’re really as good as you say you are, then I might even consider backing you as a broker. Tell your android friend to prepare.” She pulled a small credit chip from her pocket and slammed it into his palm. “A thousand creds. Don’t spend it all in one place.”
Venom spun on her heel and marched away until she disappeared into the crowd. Max stared down at the small metallic card in his palm then took a seat back at his table.
“She didn’t sound too happy,” Proxy said.
“I get the feeling Venom’s not the type to be cheerful even when she’s in a good mood.”
“I guess when you’ve got a name like Venom, you’d have a bit of an attitude…”
“What’d she say?” Hudson asked.
“She wasn’t too happy about me not going for the Execution bonus. Said people in the Sanctum have expectations. She can’t kick me out though. Not as long as I keep winning. I do that, I’ll get full backing from her as a sponsor…”
“I don’t see how this helps us get any closer to the Disciples,” Proxy said.
“I let her know I wanted to get some loot to push.”
“What?”
Hudson and Proxy both gave him a confused look.
“Are you sure that’s such a good idea?” she said.
“We can’t really trust this woman,” Hudson added. “Letting her know you’re trying to get at the loot will only make her suspicious as to why we’re here.”
“She thinks I’m fighting to make creds. Moving loot means more creds. Whether it’s the Disciples or someone else, this is the only way we’re gonna get any closer. Think about it. The cops in this town have been bought out. There are enough brokers in here some of their creds have to be dirty. We’re not cops. We’re not detectives. The only way we’re gonna be able to investigate what happened to Sammy is by figuring out for ourselves where the money comes from. Short of punching out every loot pusher in every back alley in the Cobalt District, this is the best way of getting information without drawing any suspicion.”
Max looked around the table and waited for their approval. Despite their apparent reluctance, Hudson and Proxy both nodded in agreement.
“Your reasoning is sound,” Zigzag said. “What is your next objective?”
“Our next objective isn’t for two nights,” Max said. “You and I are stepping into the Sanctum together. Venom says she’s setting up a gauntlet against multiple opponents. If I do that, she says she might have something for me.”
Max leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms, enjoying the same ambiance as the other club patrons. The rest of the table turned their attention back to their drinks. Even though they were all in agreement, there were still enough questions to have all of them doubtful as to whether or not they were actually on the right path.
Chapter 10
“You wanna head to the back with me and have some fun? We’ve got some virtual stimulators that amplify things just right.”
The blond batted her eyelashes at Max, a not-so-subtle pixie smirk coming across her lips. Max couldn’t help a smile though he still shook his head at her.
“Not tonight,” he said.
The seductive look in her eyes went away as she shrugged. Max took a second to watch her walk away in her red lingerie before turning his attention to his friend.
“You should go back there,” Hudson said. “Have a good time. A little fun will clear your head before you head into this next battle.”
“My head’s clear enough. I figure you need it more than I do.”
“I’m comfortable where I’m at right now. The view’s nice enough.”
“No kidding.” Max chuckled and took a look around the club.
The two found themselves back in Neon Claws the night after Max’s initial victory in the Vicious Sanctum. The club wasn’t much different from how max remembered it. Businessmen with more credits than they knew what to do with lavished all of the scantily-clad women vying for their attention. There was no shortage of eye candy though the duo sitting at the bar distracted themselves with more important matters.
“Thanks for coming out with me,” Hudson said. “How are they doing?”
“With the credits you lent ‘em, I’m sure Zigzag and Proxy are enjoying the sights and sounds of Santa Fe. Even with the Disciples running things behind the scenes, it’s all pleasant on the surface.”
“They ready for tomorrow night?”
“Zigzag is always battle ready. She’s been in combat training ever since they made her. Proxy’s got the hang of the arena. Towers change things a little but I trust her. Don’t know anything about our opponents until we get back out there… How’s Sammy doing?”
The blank look on Hudson’s face was the only answer Max needed. A deep sigh and a shake of his head added more confirmation.
“We’re getting closer,” Max said. “Even if the Disciples don’t have ties to anybody at Reincarnation, it won’t be hard to find another loot pusher and get some answers. It’ll be easier with the police looking the other way.”
“I know. It’s just… thinking about what they did to my friend… I’m gonna make ‘em pay, Max.”
Some frustration washed over Max as he struggled to find a way to console Hudson. Hudson swiped along the digital tablet resting on the counter and ordered another drink.
“Have a drink and loosen up,” Max said. “Get your mind off everything going on. Have some fun.”
“And here I thought I was the irresponsible one.” Hudson gave him a smirk to let him know he wasn’t completely lost in his sorrows.
Max patted him on the shoulder then got up from his seat. He took a look around the bar then began walking around in no particular direction.
“I wonder if anybody here’s got any ties to the Disciples…”
Everywhere he looked, there were groups of businessmen gathered around the different stages. The lone men who wandered in by themselves were accompanied by seductive vixens trying to take them for every last credit they had. The way the dancers pouted their lips and narrowed thei
r eyes was more than enough to make a weaker man give in to his desires.
Soft electronic music played in the background. The faint aroma of perfume filled the air. Dim pink lights created a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere.
The ambiance had Max distracted enough, he bumped into a woman without realizing it.
“Hey!”
He took a step back then looked down at the petite brunette in a set of black underwear. Max chuckled when he realized it was Sabrina.
“Look who it is,” she said. “Back in Neon Claws. Thinking about becoming a regular?”
“I’ve got creds but I don’t think I could be a regular in a place like this.”
“You don’t have to spend everything you got. Just enough to keep yourself happy.”
She trailed her hand along the inside of his jeans. Despite how soft her touch was, Sabrina’s attempt at seduction wasn’t enough to distract Max from why he was here. When she realized she wasn’t getting through, Sabrina pulled her hand away and turned off her charms.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“My friend needed a place to get away and get his mind off things.”
“I get that. Santa Fe can be a shitty place. Sometimes you just need to get your mind off everything.”
Max walked over to a nearby couch with Sabrina taking a seat next to him. He didn’t completely trust her yet though he saw no reason to push her away.
“How’s your little search going?” she asked. “Find who you’re looking for?”
“For a group of guys who are apparently running things, the Disciples do a good job of keeping a low profile.”
“Just because it’s not a secret doesn’t mean they do their business out in the open. All it takes is one mistake for their whole operation to get turned on its head.”
“Cops don’t seem like they give too much of a shit about anything here.”
“Cops are the least of their worries. There are other gangs, too. Drug pushers from the other districts wouldn’t mind getting control of the loot game around here.”
“I don’t doubt that. Maybe I should’ve just gone with my instinct and went through every alley to find every man trying to sell his junk.”
Sabrina giggled softly. “I’m sure you’d find who were looking for if you did that. You look like you can handle yourself, too. But you’d get tired eventually. You’re not a superhero.”
Max leaned back in his seat and looked to the other side of the club. The relaxing ambiance wasn’t enough to take away his focus.
He was examining the men enjoying themselves when one of them caught his eye.
“Hmm…”
He squinted to get a better look at him through the dim lighting.
“Not a businessman. Homeless, maybe… Nah… Too clean for that.”
“What are you looking at?” Sabrina said.
“You see that man over there straight ahead? By himself. Brown raincoat. Bald head. Tattoos on his neck.”
“Oh, him,” Sabrina spoke his name like she loathed saying it. “That’s Pablo.”
“You know him?”
“He’s got a reputation around here. He’s a real creep. Tries to take advantage of the girls. Wants ‘em to do more than what we’re paid to do, if you get what I mean.”
“Why doesn’t management kick him out?”
“Because he’s got creds. As long as he’s not hurting anybody, he’s got all the reason to stay. Money is more important than anything else.”
Max softly shook his head, his eyes still locked on the man in the raincoat. “I figure a guy like that doesn’t make his money legitimately. He’s gotta be a pusher.”
“So what if he is? You gonna beat him up?”
Max slowly turned toward Sabrina and raised an eyebrow at her. She stared back at him and giggled again.
“Wait… You’re seriously gonna beat him up—”
“If he’s moving weight, he can lead me to the Disciples.”
“You can’t just walk up to him and punch his lights out.”
“You’re right…” It only took a second for Max to come up with an idea. “I just need to get him alone. What do you think, Sabrina?”
“What do I think? I don’t know what to think. I only hope you’re joking—wait a second… You want me to…”
“I just need him alone for a few minutes. Once I get my answers from him, that’ll be that.”
“Ungh… Just the thought of spending time with that creep isn’t worth whatever credits he’s gonna pay me.”
“I’ll pay you. Whatever you think it’s worth.”
Sabrina clenched her jaw as she stared at the man sitting by himself. “A thousand credits.”
Max chuckled at how simple it was to convince her. He reached into his jacket and pulled out the credit chip Venom had given him. “A thousand credits.”
Sabrina swiped it from his hand and stuffed it into her purse. “I’ll get him alone. But if he gets anywhere near me before you start questioning him, you’re gonna owe me a lot more than a thousand.”
“He won’t put a finger on you.”
She stared at Pablo before reluctantly getting up to her feet. Max watched from a distance as she bent over to get his attention. The bald thug immediately shifted his eyes toward her. Even with how dark it was, it wasn’t hard for Max to tell Sabrina was doing her job.
“Almost there… C’mon…”
Sabrina and Pablo exchanged a few words before he got up from his seat. She put her arm around his and escorted him to the back of the club, making sure to eyeball Max while she did.
Max looked around to make sure nobody was watching him. Nearly a minute had gone by before he stood up and headed to the back.
The back of Neon Claws was even darker than the main room. Max shook his head at the doorways leading to different rooms.
“Shit… Which room is she in?”
There were more than a dozen rooms. Red and green lights indicated whether or not they were available. He walked up next to one of the thin metal doors and put his ear up to it.
He pushed it open to find a dancer sitting on a businessman’s lap, grinding her hips against him. The two of them were too distracted to notice Max before he closed it.
He moved to the next red door and opened it just a crack.
“Hold on…” Sabrina’s voice came from inside. “I’m a little shy.”
“No need to be shy,” the man’s voice responded. “We’re just trying to have some fun. I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”
“Okay. I just… I need a second…”
Max pushed the door open and stepped into the small booth.
“What the hell is this?” Pablo immediately became furious and pulled a switchblade from his pocket.
Sabrina yelped softly as she leaned against the wall.
Max moved forward and caught Pablo’s wrist just as he thrust with it. A quick turn in the wrong direction twisted Pablo’s tendons and made him yelp in pain.
“It’s all right.” Max swiped the knife away with his other hand.
Sabrina closed the door, pressing herself against the wall to make sure she was out of the way.
“I just wanna ask you a few questions,” Max said.
“Fuck you!” Pablo tried to swing with his other arm but Max moved out of the way and countered with a punch of his own. The blow caught Pablo in the mouth and kept him in his seat.
“Don’t make this harder than it has to be,” Max sighed, twisting Pablo’s arm to emphasize his point.
“…All right,” Pablo grunted in frustration. “I’ll answer your fucking questions. Just lemme go.”
“Don’t try anything.” Max gave Pablo his arm back and looked down at him. “Where are you getting your supply?”
“What?”
“Your loot. Who’s giving it to you?”
Pablo furrowed his brow as he wiped the blood from his lip with the back of his mouth. “You a fuckin’ pig?”
“If I was a pig, I wouldn’t give a shit what you’re doing. Answer the question.”
Pablo shook his head. “Everybody in Cobalt gets their shit from the Disciples. They’re running everything here.”
“Where do you get it?”
“It’s shipped to me. In a package. Speeder comes by my place and tosses it at my doorstep. Don’t know who. Just get a message on my phone telling me what time it’s coming. I move it, I get paid.”
“How do I get in on this?”
“You don’t. The Disciples came to me when I was selling in the Ink District.”
“Who was it?”
“It wasn’t anybody. Just got a message on my AD asking me if I wanted to make some creds. Next thing I know, I’ve got loot packages on my doorstep. That’s how it works with everybody.”
“Shit…”
Judging from the fear in Pablo’s eyes, Max figured he was telling the truth. He looked at Sabrina and saw how worried she was getting.
“We done here?” Pablo said. “Because I’m trying to have some fun with this bitch here—”
He suddenly jumped up from his seat and tackled Max, catching him by surprise. The two stumbled through the door and landed in the hallway, the blade falling from Max’s hand.
“Max!” Sabrina yelled helplessly as the two struggled on the floor.
“Son of a bitch! I’ll kill you!”
Max ignored Pablo’s shouts of desperation and managed to roll him onto his back. But he only landed one hard punch to his jaw before multiple sets of arms picked him up from the ground.
“Don’t even think about it!”
Max looked around and saw six security guards grabbing onto him. He sighed in frustration as he was walked out of the backroom and into the club.
“Just lemme tell my friend I’m stepping out,” Max said.
“We’ll let ‘em know,” one of the guards said. “We don’t need people like you around here.”
The last thing Max saw before being forced out the front entrance was Sabrina standing there. Despite the concern in her eyes, there was a slight smirk on her lips. It was enough for Max to know it wasn’t a complete mistake.
Chapter 11
“Hudson informed me of the situation from last night. I’m sorry your evening was spoiled.”