Someone once said all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and for certain professions that makes even more sense. Life as a crook is a balancing act where desperation and thrill war over which one will get you killed first. A desperate crook makes mistakes and mistakes get you time in the Zig if youre lucky. Getting lost in the thrill of the moment makes a crook sloppy and that will also get you time in the pen if you dont get yourself killed first. So a smart crook knows when to lay low, when to take a night or two off to hang out at the local dive, maybe catch an arena match, maybe even meet some dame for a night of needed release. Id like to think that Im one of those smart crooks with hard won nuggets of wisdom. So when I left the roach-infested flop house room that night in street clothes instead of my costume I nodded to myself. This was the smart play.
Three weeks of slicing up Council goons and busting the heads of miners on Sharkshead netted me some sweet cash. Yeah I messed up a few Arachnos Wolf Spiders and a Seer or three but there wasnt much any of them could do about it. The Ghost Widow owed me big time for saving her ectoplasmic behind from her own traitorous people so thered never be a kill order on me as long as I kept the mayhem to a low boil. I was feeling cocky and Jyg was appeased for the most part. Thats the nickname I gave the demon those Crey doctors stuck in me, the demon that I made a deal with but thats another story.
Barneys was a low-life bar on the East Side of Sharkshead. It paid the right people to keep from being raided so what it lacked in sanitation it made up for in ambience. It didnt have to work hard to keep that no star rating. It had the three things that I look for in a bar, Irish Whiskey, no questions and Hellrose. The latter was something the Circle of Thorns got from god knows where to give to the demons they summoned. I found that a finger of it with a bottle of Whiskey kept Jyg happy as a rat in garbage and not having him muttering in my head about how hed kill whomever I looked at suited me fine.
Some crummy hair-metal band from the 80s blared on the jukebox and snot-nosed punks spasmed to it on what passed as Barneys dance floor. In one corner sat a few low-end wise guys from the local Family. The smirks on their faces told it all, they thought they were the kings of their domain, fat cats looking at a bowl of cream. I saw them more like slimy rats fighting over a greasy piece of rotting meat. They could have Sharkshead for all I cared. Straddling a barstool I caught Joes eye. I peeled off a twenty from the wad of cash in my coat pocket and tossed it on the bar.
The usual. I muttered over the wail of the beat up jukebox. Looking over the faces at the bar I nodded to the few I recognized even though I didnt know their names. That was the way we all liked it. In short order I had my whiskey and hellrose, shot for shot they went down. Jyg purred in my head as he savored his drink while I enjoyed mine.
Time passed like a fuzzy picture on an old TV as I drank my way through the twenty. A couple fights broke out but I didnt even bother to watch. I wanted- I needed a night to just zone out to listen to the nothing in my head where Jygs whispers of murder and mayhem usually were. Shortly after getting my new roommate I tried to silence him by drinking myself into a stupor but that just didnt work. My body metabolized alcohol too fast to get drunk. Its strange what you miss, a hangover, the dreaded cost of a nights debauchery but Id pay a fortune to have one again. At least that way Id know I was human once more.
The growl of a guitar riff drew me from the haze of my silent introspection and with eyes just starting to focus I looked towards the jukebox. There in front of it leaning on it to read through the grime-covered glass was a woman that deserved to be in the video of the Kidd Rock song she played because she was just that hot.
Blonde hair down to her shoulders, an athletically contoured body and a behind worthy of sonnets she fit in at Barneys as well as I would at the Four Seasons in the Big Apple. The faded jeans she wore looked painted on they were so tight and the ratty tail of a tee shirt didnt even come close to covering her mid-back. The punks were pissed that their spasm music stopped playing but even they had enough brain-matter left to appreciate the beauty at the jukebox. I was across the room from them but I could almost hear their stuttering high-school level come-on lines. Her laughter was like a knife deflating both their growing libidos and egos with one shot. The cloud of teenage angst loomed and for the first time in a long while I got to play the hero. I slid off the barstool and headed in that direction.
You dont know what yer passn up bitc-. The punk was saying as I cut him off.
Im a Jennings fan myself. I drawled, stepping between him and the lady looking at her Kidd Rock is good, specially his later albums. She smiled up at me about to say something when the punk grabbed my shoulder to spin me around, just what I wanted him to do.
Mind your own bidness old-. Was all the punk got out when my punch connected striking him where the neck and chest connected. I felt the cartilage and small bones at the top of the ribcage crumple as the punk flew back taking out his buddies. He was already beginning to turn blue when he hit the ground.
Id get your buddy to the ER if I were you. They might be able to save him. I commented casually. Or if one of you geniuses have medical training you can do the tracheotomy yourselves but Id suggest you do it outside, Joe hates to carry out the bodies
bad back ya know.
Normally punks have the IQ of the bacteria that forms in bathtub mold but these at least had the self-preservation instincts god gives to every pathetic life form. They gathered up their dying friend and scuttled away. I turned back to the lady who stood there with her arms crossed.
Well I suppose I should thank you for that mister
. She let her unspoken question hang in the air between us. Tonight I felt obliged to answer it.
Jack
Most just call me Jack. I answered as I folded the switchblade I took off the kid even as he flew threw the air. Yeah Im that fast. Looking over to the bar I tossed it to Joe Another one for your collection. He caught it without comment. The sight of the knife seemed to mollify her somewhat as she smiled.
Well Jack, She said There any Jennings tunes on here I can play for you? She indicated the jukebox. I shook my head.
You were lucky to find Kidd on there. That piece of junk hasnt been serviced since the company went under ten years ago. I dont know how Joe gets anything new on it. I favored her with a lopsided grin. Most women found it rakishly endearing and she was no different. She stepped closer and smiled. I could smell the perfume she wore.
Well then how can I repay my hero? She asked, the smile turning into a knowing grin. I mirrored the grin and took her hands.
Oh, Im certain we can think of something. I replied as I pulled her onto the dance floor so recently emptied by my actions. Her laughter only fired me up.
A whirl of dancing and drinks filled the rest of the night, her name was Barbara but her friends called her Babs, she was home from college. The rest went in one ear and out the other, I honestly didnt care and after a few drinks she was more interested in dancing close to me than telling me her lifes story. Four more twenties later we left the bar headed for my room needed release being upper most in my thoughts. Remember earlier when I said I liked to think of myself as a smart crook? I should have picked up on things but I didnt. I guess Im not that smart after all.
In my room she was all over me, hands pulling at my clothes, feeling me up and generally getting me all excited about the prospects for the rest of the night. It wasnt until I pushed her back on the bed and started to pull the shirt off over my head that things changed.
Hold it! She ordered in a firm and far less alcohol-affected voice. The shirt collar slid just above my eyes, my arms over my head stuck in the shirt. She was holding a shiny looking pistol that shot more than just slugs. She moved back on the bed out of easy reach as she put her free hand to her ear. Move in. She focused on me and gestured with the gun Back up from the bed and stand still. She ordered again.
I take it were not gonna have sex then
I muttered calmly.
You got that right Criminal. She got to her knees and then onto the floor with the bed partially between the two of us. The room just wasnt that big. Youre under arrest.
Okay who did I forget to pay? I sighed. This was just the wrong night for a shakedown as far as I was concerned. The gun remained steady.
You cant buy off Longbow. She stated, righteous indignation rising in her demeanor. Youre going down this time.
Yeah, right. I snorted. I broke out of the Zig once I can do it again.
After Crey takes back what you stole from them you wont be able to break out of anything. She retorted. She said the one word she shouldnt have, Crey. The word spawned both fear and hatred in me. They put Jyg in me even though they didnt know what they were doing at the time. A piece of crystal fused into my spine to repair the paralysis in my legs. A medical breakthrough they said the beginning of hell I found out. Using magical creatures and materials in their experiments on the Nerva Archipelagos. I escape them and now they wanted me back. Well that just wasnt going to happen, not if I could help it. I could hear the sound of running feet coming my way, her backup no doubt. My wrist blades and costume were in the closet. I wasnt a match for a group of Longbow agents without them but for one agent, maybe. I had to make my move.
Far faster than a normal man I dropped my elbow as I kneeled, snapping off the inside handle of my door. It would slow the backup for a few seconds. Her energy pistol fired but she missed, if only by a hair. The shirt had a hole in it to attest to how close she came. My hand found the broken knob and I threw it at her. I was more accurate but it was more of a distraction. I rolled towards the closet door and crashed through it, splinters of wood digging into my flesh.
~Jyg!~ I yelled in my mind ~We got trouble!~ My hand closed on the costume and tore it from the hanger. Another bolt from her gun tore through the remains of the door, catching me in the ribs. Pain lanced through me. The scent of burning flesh reached my nostrils. I struggled to get to my feet when she brought an elbow down on my back. I felt my spine give. More pain, a growing numbness spread over my limbs. Oh god, not that, please not that
Jygerhorn! I call to thee! I screamed out, blood dripped from my lips. I tried to turn around but my legs werent responding well and I stumbled falling back into the closet. Looking out I saw Babs standing over me, her blonde hair a mess. I saw where the doorknob hit her, part of her forehead was peeled back but she wasnt bleeding, beneath that flap of skin, a tuft of red hair shown through. I felt Jyg waking inside me, the call roused him from the slumber of Hellrose but it wouldnt be enough. She had the pistol trained on me, her backup battering at the door trying to get in. Abruptly she grinned at me stepping back towards the bathroom door.
You better run Jack. She murmured softly before she screamed and dashed into the bathroom. I blinked at her action. It didnt make sense but I had no intention of looking a gift horse in the mouth.
I clambered to my feet and leapt for the window just as the door gave way. Beyond the window I could see the form of a Longbow Eagle agent hovering into view. He didnt see me coming as I shattered the window and wrapped my arms around him in mid leap. The extra weight bore him to the ground and I made sure he landed first. I felt bones break under me but I didnt care. I rolled from him and got to my feet, the costume, the Skin of Fury as Jyg called it came to life as I felt Jygerhorn blossom in my mind.
>>Ah, mortal blood to feast upon, what an excellent idea for breakfast my dear boy!<< Jyg purred into my head. The costume swirled around me like a wave wrapping me in it. The black membrane, which protected me from the friction of high speed running, sealed itself on me red lenses covered my eyes glowing with the eldritch energies of the ancient demon. I was Grimjack once more.
Plasma fire tore up the street at my feet. Looking up I saw Longbow Agents swarming out my window. The Eagle struggled to get back to his feet. He should have stayed down. Two steps brought me close to him, a slash from the white blade on my wrist filleted him like a fish. I was gone before he hit the ground. Everyone else seemed slow to me but that was the effect of hyper speed. No one caught Grimjack, I could give Synapse a run for his money but then again we were brothers of sorts, born from the sadistic experiments of Crey. Regardless I was gone. Longbow failed again.
A half-hour later Captains and Officers of both Longbow and Crey were all over the flophouse. They carried out every item from that room down to the rat droppings. It was all evidence in the open case of Subject 011, Jackson Mathias Creed A.K.A. Grimjack. While Crey and Longbow argued over who had what jurisdiction and rights medical techs carried out Barbara Walker, the undercover Longbow agent sent to lure out the Subject. She suffered severe stab wounds to the back and sides.
Take her to Chiron A.s.a.p. The longbow officer said.
Our facilities on Nerva are closer. The Crey official broke in. It is the least we can do. The Longbow officer nodded.
I watched this exchange from the roof of a neighboring building; it wasnt like they could see me. Few could which was the way I liked it. I didnt like what happened, primarily because I wasnt certain of it all. It was a puzzle and I hated puzzles. I knew I didnt hurt her so who did and why did she let me go after working so hard to trap me? That was life in the Rogue Isles, everyone was someone elses pawn. I took off leaping away from the site. I had a new flop to find and contacts to warn. All work and no play my hairy butt!
This kind of reminds me of a pulp detective story, except our steely-eyed hero isn't heroic at all! Maybe more like stories from Sin City. Either way, off to a great start.
#69397 Get Grog a Drink!
#155312 No Good Deed Goes Unrewarded
#229565 Take Back the Park! (lowbie friendly)
Praetor of the [url="http://www.forgottenlegion.net"]Forgotten Legion[/url] SG and mod for the HUB player community. All hail the mighty Grog!
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This kind of reminds me of a pulp detective story, except our steely-eyed hero isn't heroic at all! Maybe more like stories from Sin City. Either way, off to a great start.
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My sentiments, exactly.
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
Thank you, both of you for your kind comments. 
I'd like to say before posting the story that this is one of the first stories I've written involving my CoX characters. Any and all feedback is welcome. Thanks for reading.