Tha Green Demoness

Haven: my body clock tells me its late, not far from sack-time. I been doin my rounds, had another of my verbal spars with Nareth. "One is Three, Three are One", her usual line. I think I get it, more than she gives me credit fer, at least. Some new kid came in and I was given her tha low down on tha Library, includin a safety brief, when Nareth pipes up and corrects me when I say tha Library caused tha Tenguska Blast. I'm three in one as well, but I ain't gonna bring that up with her neither. Same reason.

She said it were her, but when I pressed her she said she'd directed it, cause it was a part of her. I'm fine with that, tha place is alive, its got a mind and Spirit. Well, she didn't like that analogy, called me some more names "supersticious". So I hit her with another- that she was tha targeting and guidance system of tha weapon system that was tha Library.

That didn't go over too good neither, but I think I reached her a bit more. She said weapon systems aught not have thinking minds. I had ta disagree with that one. See, I been trained ta see myself as a thinkin weapon. Don't get me wrong, I ain't a GOOD weapon, actually i'm pretty crap, more like a Combat-Ready Reccy Package. I didn't bring that up again, last time ended up with Tenguska.

She don't like me near, but I don't realy get why. Strangest mermaid i'il ever know, I swear. Yeh, shes one of Calypso's thatís fer sure. Nic came on in, so I scooted. I get it, about Nareth bein part of tha Library, she's a Pesonification. An Elemental, some folks might call her an Avatar of tha Library. That I can understand. I seen her bond with tha place, seen her movin with tha energies flowin over her, smelt where it came from. I think I know what she means by Three too: Her, transient flesh. Tha Library, lasting monument. Knowledge, tha Aetherial aspect of tha other two. Or maybe i'm talking out of my tail hole.

Haven, thatís where I ended after makin my exit. Haven, where I needed ta check last fer news on Choi and Pix. I had seen Pix in tha street, ad she was all "i'm fine, Choi is a little messed up, i'm fine." thatís typical Post Traumatic Stress. I seen that before. Hell, I been there before. Takes a while fer a bold and brash hard-case like Pix ta come ta terms with getting worked over by professionals like tha Shadows. Takes a while till anybody moves on from somethin like that.

Haven: I get in and there she is. Tha paw of tha Shadows, tha Green Demoness. I been trackin her through Tox fer tha last few days, ever since tha attack on Pix and Choi. From tha sounds of it tha Shadows were reactin ta a violation of their territory, and doled out their brand of punishment. Tha bastards always take things too far is all, and I can't abide that. There's a big difference between harsh and cruel, and tha Shaows always chose on thm side of cruel.

Haven: there she was, tendin bar, where me and my-She usually tend. I dunno if she's caught wind of me trackin her, I almost got busted tha night before last scopin out Vulcan's home comin. I slip on in and keep my head and tail down. I see Drak in, and remember my-She tellin me by Comms that Drak got done over too, so I head fer him, ta see what I can learn.

Tha Green Demoness glances between Emmy and the other at tha bar "either of you two?". She's doin tha tendin deal, askin fer drink orders. I pad up to Drak and tap him on the side of the knee plates of his exo-suit ta get his attention. "Grr!" he comes out with, "Goggy!" pipes up his mini-bot. "how ya doin? heard ya might have had some troubles" I ask him, tryin fer a neutral intro, "a bit" he follows. "mmhmmm" says I. Tha Green Demonesc waves to me, all friendly like, and tha sound of her voice gives me visions. I see Choi crucified, scalped, de-eared. I see tha wild look in Pix's eyes. My fur all fluffs up and I flatten my ears instinctive like. I grit my teath and breathe ta relax. I keep talkin ta Drak. "so, how are ya feelin?" I look him in tha eye, lookin fer signs. Windows of tha souls, eyes are.

Drak tells me he needs a scotch, I tell him i can do that. He grumlbes at the current bar keep and mutters "She is among them" I can hear tha Green Demoness perk at hearing the "i need scotch" and is already setting to work pulling out a well aged single malt "ice?" she asks. "I wasn't talking to you, Fucking Shadow scum" mouths off Drak. I take my cue and wander casually to the bar and snatch a bottle, drop a fistful of notes on the bar, and pad back over to where Drak is sittin on tha long couch.

Malayka tha Ryder walks over with a concerned look on her face, "scotch fer two, right here matey" I say ta Drak but he grabs Mal's hand, a little too hard as she come on over "Sorry" he says at her look. Drak's Mini Bot pipes up " Drak doesn't like shadow.

Tha other folks at tha bar are chattin ta Green Demoness, more Shadows, or their pals, at least. Drak thanks me fer tha drink and tries ta pay me back, but I make a show of refusin, "pfft, keep it man" says I ta which Drak says "Dammit Grr take it" I don't want him ta pay tha Green Demoness, via me, and I want him ta know it. At tha bar she shrugs dumping the ice she had for his scotch set up reaching back for a glass whiping up a chilled rose and adding an umbrella before brining it to her pal. They keep chattin one of em laughs "But hopefully no more blood will be spilt....until our home is ready" So, i know they are of tha same kind, tha lot of em.

Mal listens to the background chatter and mumbles under breath,,,"what the fuck?". Tha Green Demon hops back behind the bar pouring a vodka into a chilled glass and pops over to Vic's table for delivery. I turn back ta Drak reaching over to clink glasses "So, Drak, mate, like, what gives?" Hey says "Fighting shadow, as always" I press him, throwing in a curve, his old mates, tha Cybers "is that on tha agenda fer you lot is it?" Drak looked up to the bar where tha Green Demoness kept glibly servin drinks, i look under under my arm at the bar as well, followin his gaze as easy as a paintin laser "or just personal?" i ask him. His reply is kinda what i expected "I am not lot Grr, I am as they say a GDI" He looks shifty fer a minute "The bar has ears". I kinda work it out and pipe up "Goddess Dammed Individual?" ta which he comes back "God Damn Independent I owe nothing to noone but all shadow will die ALL OF THEM " he looks ta tha bar again. She doesn't react, just smiles turning back to the bar to make up another before putting it back out beside her friend a new coctail umbrella, a blue one this time, peeking its little paper head. "but not tanight, i'm guessin?" i prompt which he follows up with "One day at a time Grr, When they will buck up and fight." I can se where this is goin, i think, so i try ta get it definite in my mind, and his "and, err, would this be bacause of say, some recent events with some friends of ours?" I look at him, tryin ta get him ta come out with what happened, but before i do, something happens to drive all my investigation out tha bloody window.

Tha Green Demoness sighs ignoring Drak "get you anything Grr hun?" she smiled at me. Drak Jefferson looks to the bar again "WHORE!"

I stop mid sentence, stand, turn and walk to the bar. Each pad-fall i see Choi flinchin away from me, I see tha blank look in her eyes when she looks at her friends. Each pad-fall i see Pix, crazed, each pad-fall, i tha bandages on Choi's head, and tha wad of Choi's hair offerd by tha Demoness to my-She, as a tip, in this very bar. I walk up, standin ta my full height and looks her in her eyes. Eyes i'd seen a friend in fer a long time, since before she's gone ta tha Shadows, since before she'd given up her Form ta take tha skin of a Demon. I wait a moment, and then i talk to her. "yeah, Kishi, i do." Drak's Mini Bot whispered "Drak I don't like her" and Drak replied to it in the silence "Nor I mini bot"

She just stood there, smiling, watching me. "i want Choi's sanity back, her ears healed, and a goddess damned explanation, but i dont think i got any thing ta offer so, all i can say is that i'm bloody pissed it came tha that" there are so many memories all floodin back ta me, tha First and Second Pack-Shadow wars, all tha betrayals, torture, lies, poisonings, kidnappings, and just recently, tha Droolin Disease. Tha disease they spread, tha disease that they tried ta jab me with. I found a needle hole in my MOPS gear, and had remembered back ta Quiet tryin ta hug me, and tha smell of her drool on tha spot. Never try ta sneak somethin past a SNARL, we'r egood at that crap. All this came back ta me as i stood starin at her. Yet, she used ta be my kin, and its in her nature ta do this. It was a prt of it then, and now, bein a Demon, its just all too easy, i guess, ta ride tha wave, and even start yer own waves.

"ya are who, and what ya are, and who am i ta tell ya ta change, or stop, or be anything else than who and what ya are" i say ta her, all level, more sad than angry, revolted, rather than wrathful. Drak butts in "Fucking Shadow scum balls" so i try ta shut him up with a finger. She looks at me tilts her head watching me with this look of utter nievaty on her face. Drak's Mini Bot butts in too "I bet she wonders why she doesn't get tips, Drak" Funny little bugger, not tha time fer jokes though, i ain't in tha mood. Drak laughs under his mask but starts over towards me. "Grr you are a good guy but never hush me, I will call scum scum " i totally ain't in tha mood fer this, neither. I rotate the shushing finger to the bird, and back, keeping my eyes on her, expectin some surprise attack. I look her over again, most of her Green is gone, these days, tha green that she wore so proud, back in tha Pack.

"yer spalttered in tha blood of folks i care about, and green suited ya better than red, is all i can say, and i'm sorry it ended up this way, i dont know what i expected . . . but. . . just know that, it aint right, but ya are what ya are, thats all" I turn ta Drak, who's come up behind me, still lookin unhinged. "later man, i gotta be elsewhere than here" he nods, and i make my move out, as i turn, i hear tha Demoness crawl up onta tha bar, and i can see from tha reflection, she had her arms outstretched ta try ta hug me, not sayin a word. Maybe she wanted reassurance, maybe she wanted comfort for all we'd known tagether. Maybe she was gonna stab me in tha back of tha neck with a shark-stick and blow my fuckin head off, bar-rules be damned.

I left her hangin.

I feel like crap. Time ta go kill mutie fishes. Tha cordite always hides tha smell of my tears.