Bar, and Well

“A bar, yes, I’ll take him to a bar. See him get humiliated by being so out of his depth…, maybe take someone who makes a fool of him to bed…., that would chuck him real good. Wait don’t you have to like someone for that?”

Her mind was racing with thoughts and contradictions, spinning around and around before someone tapped on her shoulder. Snapped out of her thoughts and spinning around, she just shot Zac a glare. For his part he just held up his hands in a small surrender.

“Do not sneak up on me like that.” she snapped as she went back to digging through the lockers.

“Sorry. You just looked like… I dunno. A deer in headlights.”

“I do not look like an timid animal!” She shouted before slamming close one of the lockers while she sized up the items in her hands, “So…, your daughter dealt with?”

“Yeah, and her new Nanny seems to be settled in, complete with a list of what she’s allowed to do and what she can’t. Even showed her how to use the inhaler. And we’re on speed dial….”

“In short, your daughter is as set up as she possibly can be.” She interrupted. If she didn’t he might be here all day, the man could probably talk for hours about his spawn..

“Well she’s set up enough that I feel comfortable in going out…, so how does this..”

His words were cut off when Blackfire shoved a helmet over his head. He hoped her suddenly cutting him off wasn’t going to be a common thing.

---

“This is humiliating… and terrifying.”

Rather than move the ship to dock with the station or use a smaller vessel(the main ship had a smaller 'speeder' ship attached for travel over land or short distance), Blackfire had decided that carrying Zac was easiest. The human was clad in a personalized space suit and she held him a bridal carry through the void. Honestly it was just the easiest way to hold him. That or carry him across her back but she thought this was funnier.

“Come now, I won’t drop you, just …. Distract yourself.” She said as she shifted her grip on him. “How did you do on that training flight I left you on?”

“Hmm That?" he turned to look at her, "Gave me couple passing grades, but first few times I crashed and burned. Can probably park the ship now. Or at least not just slam it against another object."

“Good. That will make the trip a little easier as I don't have to fly it all the time.”

An eyebrow was raised. She could still feel him shaking a bit. An annoyance that was beginning to affect her flying. How did her sister do this all the time? Holding such a weak and fearful creature so close? Ugh. She couldn't even go at a good speed to make this trip go faster, less she crush her charge.

But she knew one way to distract him.

“Much as it pains me…, tell me a bit more about your daughter….”

If that didn’t make him ramble on, she didn’t know what would.

---

“She believes in superstitions?”

“I mean, you’re the one who said you’ve been around the block long enough to know magic exists.”

“Yes but not in little bits of paper usually.”

“Tarot cards. And it’s less magic and more Fortune telling. Stuff like future, warnings, and other things.”

“Now you’re just splitting hairs. Like those romantic raiders you were talking about earlier. Honestly your race wanting peace and order but praising criminals.”

“I mean, yeah, I guess I can see that. It’s more about the freedom and adventure those had than the gold they gained and the **** they did. What do people in space not root for the outcast and under dog?” Zac asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Not to the level you do. I suppose it’s something in your plucky nature. Most Pirates are treated as well pirates. We aren’t good people.” She said as she walked.

“Yeah, well we’re weird like that..., we hold up Pirates in one hand, and on the other hand we hold up armored clad warriors of honor and chivalry.”

"HAH, Knights, that now that's a more understandable thing to hold up, even if I think every order that uses a term close to it are all stuffy pricks. Yours rescues girls from monsters too?"

"Among other things...., though I think you would crush any of monster that tried to hold you. ..., and the knight that came to save you.

The pair had made it inside the large station and were currently traveling along the walkways. True to her expectations, Zac couldn’t shut up about his little girl. She tuned him out at first during the space flight but he kept going. From little stories about her, to likes and dislikes and hobbies. Currently he was on about some of her favorite things. The young lass liked heroes sure but she got an earful about other things. Like Pirates, those little card things, Knights and Magic and well there was something that caught her attention earlier.

“Whatever; What was that about those Star formations you talked about.”

“Constellations in general or the Zodiac?”

“The second one. What a strange custom. Usually we assign meanings to planets or cosmic formations we can see and visit.” she tiled her head to the side just a bit.

“You don’t make pictures out of them? I admit I don’t believe the whole magic science behind it but I thought it was a cool idea when I was younger. And Layla fell in love with the idea when I told her about it.”

“Heh, she liked to get on my semi trailer and watch the night sky. Trying to see where the signs where up in the heavens." He smiled at the thought of that memory.

“Magic, pirates and stars; your child is weird.” Blackfire notes with a shrug.

A firm grip was put on her shoulder. She turned and was face to face with the man, his eyebrows narrowed and his jaw clenched. She gave a curt smile as she waited to see what he was going to mouth off to her.

“My daughter is a kind and sheltered princess who’s mother sees her as an inconvenience at worst and an accessory to further her status at best.” He growled, “Sorry if her escapes from that are beneath you.”

“Hmmm. Well then, what is her favorite thing?"

She didn't care, just asking to make him shut up and think for a moment while she thought this over herself. She hadn’t thought of it that way. Wait…, was this why the stupid program set them up? Less Zac and more his daughter? A different reflection of her own childhood? Rather than becoming bitter, this youngling has become more curious and imaginative. Was this supposed to show her some other path she could, or should, have taken?

“Ugh my head hurts.., well we’re here so I can get my drink.” Blackfire said as she put two fingers to her temple before motioning towards a bar.

She’d seen it while looking around for the gang earlier, and noticed the deal for the night. Strong drinks, and cheap. Combined with it being a haven for the rough and tumble types; this was just the place for Zac to be made a fool of. All the while her sipping on a drink. Perhaps they had good appetizers too, after all, why have a beer without something to go with it?

"So this this the spot you wanted to take me?" Zac asked weakly gesturing at the door. The big metal double doors standing below a neon sign with a corner burnt out; with the language it was in unreadable to him.

"Not really. I'd prefer to take you to..., more interesting locals. But, " Blackfire gave a shrug, the teasing in her voice oozing out, "It's cheap. I can get smashed here easily and it's in a spot not too far from the hangers."

"Do you get smashed often or is it something you do when stressed?"

"Oh I'm a bit of a party girl..., but yes. I do this when stressed. Very, Very, Stressed." Blackfire grumbled through her teeth, glaring at Zac.

"Fair enough." he grumbled as he held the door open for her.

As he followed, neither of them noticed a small figure watching them from an alleyway. If they had, well, Zac wouldn't know what he was looking at. Blackfire for her part wouldn't care to remember. However, he remembered her. This angry orange skin woman that just blasted through his little lair, crippling his friends and men, rampaging through the place till he was in a **** hold.

Pressed into service, he was **** to wait in place as she had just wrapped a length of pipe around his neck and when she returned, she shoved a robot into his little flipper hands and commanded to 'fix it'. He did, with the woman hovering over his shoulder and correcting him every time he tried to deviate or make a mistake. When done and she was certain nothing was slipped in, she had just tossed him out of a window into a pile of trash.

By the time he had fished himself free, he realized his entire operation was gone as the woman had handed over all his men to the authorities for a bounty. He was crippled to the point it would be better to just leave the station and start a new scheme. But that woman... that damned woman was just strutting around without a care in the world. With that damn robot as a new show piece.

He was done, removed, 'dead' as a criminal. But he still had favors.

---

The noise of the bar that had drifted through the thin metal door stopped when the two newcomers had walked in. It was dim, with neon colors lights not doing much to increase the brightness of the room. A long bar with a line of shelves with different machines and containers were on the other side of the room, with several round tables placed around the main floor space. The walls were dotted with different posters, each one moving like gifs online, or different trophies, earned from some bar fight or donated by some passerby.

The different figures in the bar looked up from their drinks or discussions as they started to gauge the two figures. Zac was feeling awkward but Blackfire just walked through the crowd not caring as she took a seat on a stool at the bar. Zac quickly followed after and sat beside her.

"Whatcha want?" the figure behind the bar asked. Large guy(?) in a heavy suit, the outfit looking like some kind of atmosphere suit with a big helmet. He didn't have a face but a blob of blackness seemed to swirl around behind the glass. He was cleaning glasses with two hands while mixing drinks in the other two.

"Let's see...." Blackfire looked up at the shifting moving electronic sign hanging over the bar, "...., Oooo, you have Velvet Princess. I’ll take that.”

The barkeep grabbed a couple of bottles and a few vials, mixing them in a large metal bin before tossing it into a machine and flicking it on. From a small nozzle attached to the machine, he sprayed out a bright red glowing liquid into a glass and shoved it at Blackfire. The fact the drink was sputtering and looked more like a lava lamp than something to ingest made Zac give Blackfire a look.

She shrugged and took a long sip, draining half of it in one go. She shivered a bit and smacked her lips with an ‘ah’.

“Yeaaaaah, that’s the good stuff.” she breathed out.

A few of the patrons nodded or murmured at the show. Velvet Princess was a well known, if hard drink to stand. Usually marking the start of a good drinking session. Either cause the person could hold their liquor and could get the vibes rolling; or more likely, fall on their face passed out or need to get bounced out of the bar.

“And you buddy?” The barkeep asked as he looked at Zac. Was kinda hard to tell if he was looking at him, the visor was fully black with small pricks of light floating in the water like substance.

“Hmm. Gimme a minute.” he said, thanking Blackfire mentally for the translator she gave him. He could talk and hear others but not really read words from alien languages, not unless the sign translated for him.

Barkeep folded his arms as Zac scanned the menu and the bottles on the shelves. Must have been something about the digital hard light sign, he could read what it said. Blackfire just grinned inwardly as she took another sip. She’d shown up and established herself with one drink. Now people were watching her and the toy she walked in with, gauging and judging.

“Hmmm, wonder when someone will get the balls to show me a better time? Maybe two fumbles? Seems about right, unless he just completely wastes himself on the first sip.” She thought, humming a little tune in time with the music.

“Oh yeah okay…, Cloudy Galaxy.”

Blackfire had to fight to swallow the liquid in her mouth to avoided **** on it.

There was a bit of a flicker of light in the bartender’s visor. Probably the equivalent of a raised eyebrow. He went through the motions of making the drink though. Same as before; bottles and vials grabbed, tossed into a bucket before mixing and blending them, and into the actual processing machine. Soon Zac was staring down a foggy purple blue drink. The mist coming off it reminded him of what you’d see from dry ice. A few of the nearby customers we shooting quick glances at each other.

Zac steeled himself with a breath before grabbing the glass and downing a third of it in one gulp.

And was promptly laid out on the counter by it. It hit a chemical tanker and tasted just as foul. Like cough syrup mixed with Tabasco with left over jello tossed in before being blended in a gym sock.. He sputtered a bit as goose bumps appeared over his body and he coughed up a small blue cloud.

The scene got a few laughs by the patrons while others knowingly shook their heads. New guy had ordered the hardest hitting drink on the menu. Probably to show off for his date. Wait if he was that cocky why’d he have to think it over then?

As if reading the thoughts of the room, the bartender leaned on the counter and seemed to face the man.

“I don’t mean to pry, your life your drink, I just sell em. But why with a cutie like this,” he nods towards Blackfire, “Are you looking to get completely wasted?”

“Bleh…., 50/50.” was the response

“Come again?”

“It’s a trick some people I know taught me. When ordering drinks from a new bar you have no idea what anything is, cough,” he patted himself on the back before continuing, “If they show the drinks being mixed; look for the drink that has the lowest supplies in stock.”

“Really? Why’s that?” The bartender pressed.

“Either it’ll be the safest most popular drink and the supplies to make it are low cause everyone orders it; or it’s the strongest/worst drink on the menu, and few buy it so there’s no reason to keep much stock for it”

That observation…, made a bit of sense to the onlookers. He failed his gamble yeah, but it was clear the guy wasn’t some show off. The bartender gave a slight nod as he stood back up. Without a word he mixed up a smaller drink and out it in front of Zac; a much brighter yellow-green drink that fizzed.

“Here, give the more popular drink a shot then.” He said with a nod.

He did so with another big sip. This one wasn’t bad; honestly reminded him a bit of those hard seltzers back on earth. Less carbonated though, and more lime like taste tossed in.

“I can see why this is popular.” Zac said taking another sip, “What do I owe…”

“On the house for the little show.” The bartender cut in, “Most people don’t get the Cloud in the manner you did.”

“And pray tell me, why aren’t you worried about dying in one sip?” Blackfire asked when she got her voice back.

She’d been tossed for a loop from his actions and was coming back to grips with what had happened. With how much he cared for his daughter, it seemed silly to just randomly order a drink in a new place like that, more so given the fact he was so far removed from anyone that understood how his body worked.

“Don’t think it’s good business to have drinks on the menu hat can kill in one sip; maybe if this was a dingier bar maybe.” Zac offered with a shrug.

“No not in one… but I wouldn’t try to finish this.” The bartender said as he took the blue drink away, “Two of those can kill a smaller alien.”

“Ouch…, have to be carful the rest of the night then. Excuse me.”

Zac got up from the bar before Blackfire got to say anything else, and walked over to the machine playing the music. There was a small chip reader on the front along with a selection screen and keypad. He couldn’t really read what most of it said. Still, he scanned the little money card he had in his pocket, pushed a few buttons and walked back to the bar. After the last bit with the drink, the regulars were wondering what he just did.

The next song started to play which made a few of the patrons perk up. To Zac, it sounded like a mix of rock and country, the kind you’d put on when having to just drive for five hours. He started to bob his head to the music, taking another sip before someone sat down next to him. It looked like a large rotund frog creature on two legs. It’s clothes looked like what he’d picture a ‘space biker’ would wear. He tapped the bar and the man behind it tossed a plate of meat in front of him.

“You got another trick it seems. How’d you figure out what the bar’s favorite song was?” He muttered, his long tongue extending out and grabbing a piece of meat before retracting.

The bone crunching put a shiver down Zac’s spine but he kept his poker face.

“Yeah. It’s another trick. Look for the most worn-out button combo. Either the most popular thing, or the most annoying one would play.”

“No, we took the annoying one out after Juguf put it on fifteen times in a row.” The large creature said with a bit of a grin on his face, or at least what looked like a grin.

“IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY YOU ASS!!!” Came a voice from a corner.

“HA, I wish more places did that.” The human chuckled.

“Yeah, kinda wish they did too. Name’s Zetag. So…, got any more tricks?” He muttered, giving a look towards Zac.

"Oh sit down, I got a few more of them."

A few more patrons started to make their way over to get a better listen while Blackfire was flabbergasted by what was happening.

---

Dmebe paced around back and forth, waiting for his contact. He was taking awhile, far too long. Was he even coming? He flicked open his device, checking over the message he sent. The favors and **** should still be good, so why wasn’t he here yet? A bigger question though was why was the ground moving away from him.

“Wait…, Torde?!?”

He craned his small body around and saw a large arm holding him up. The creature was close to eight feet tall, and built out of muscles and scales all over his body. A large lizard like head sat on its squat thick neck. There was a large metal weapon over it’s back and a smaller weapon on its leg holster. His clothes were a mix of combat and mechanic, a large lightly armored jumpsuit.

Around him were a couple other lizard like aliens, thinner and smaller, standing at about four to five feet. They wore jumpsuits too, but had a mix match of weapons with them.

“Juguf…, you pest, I knew someone like you had to be behind this call.” The lizard alien growled out, changing his grip so he had his hand on the smaller alien’s head rather than collar.

“I didn’t call for YOU Torde just… ack…” he shut up with when his head was squeezed.

“Well your friend sent it my way, so it’s my play to make now.” He growled again. His minions cackled around him like annoying birds.

“So…, the one that broke up your little gang is in there?” he gestured towards the nearby bar.

“Yessssssssss…..” came the wheezed out answer as he tried to get air into his system.

“This the one?”

A screen was shoved into Dmebe’s face. There was a stilled video image, of an angry looking woman with dark hair and an orange tinge to her skin. She was in the process of just tossing some thug across the room, with another one crushed under her foot.

Dmebe nodded his head, or at least as much as he could in the larger man’s grip.

“Aight.”

Dembe quickly found himself tossed in the trash for the second time that day. A prompt slam of the lid let the figures start to make their way to the bar without having to hear the little alien's cry for freedom.

“So what’s the plan boss?” one minion asked as they hurried to catch up to the gait of their leader.

“Make an offer. Juguf was profitable but we could use her muscle if she can just take an entire gang out like that. Maybe do some bigger jobs with her.” Torde said as he checked his weapons. One was stun based the other lethal.

“And if she don’t play ball?”

“Make an example.”

---

“I can’t believe this.” Blackfire muttered as she watched this happening.

A crowd of aliens were gathered around Zac by now. Varying races, builds and histories. And yet here was this damn human, making them just laugh. They couldn’t get enough of this puny human.

“….And so I told the fucker, you absolute dingus you got the measurements wrong on your blueprint! ‘No I didn’t you’re just stupid’, he claps back. Then why the fuck is half the house missing?!?”

The regulars around him started laughing, one of them clapping him hard on the back.

“I mean, yeah I’m not a smart guy but doesn’t matter the race, civ, or galaxy; upper management is stupid ain’t they?” Zac added after he got air back into his lungs.

“Ain’t that the truth of the universe brudda.” One alien spoke out as it poured three bottles down its large maw.

“Ugh I got blamed for hauling the wrong cargo.” A large rock like creature tumbled, “my bosses are bots, you’d think they’d catch that mistake faster than me.”

“Ah I know that feeling. Hey, Montade! Another drink for my friend’s troubles.”

That got a cheer from the crowd around him and a groan from Blackfire as she rested her head on the counter. This idea had completely backfired in her face. Rather than looking like a fool, Zac has proven to be just the sort of person to fit right in.

And it was all because of those stories, as she understood it. Years of traveling from work site to his time on the road and seeing new bars and locals. He wasn’t someone that could demand attention like herself, but he knew all the tricks to come off as a regular in hostile spots. Hell he’d been trading stories and snippets of info for more than an hour now.

“The first bar I pick is the one stocked full of worker caste. Ugh….” She muttered to herself as shuffled in her seat.

Her thoughts were put to the side when a large figure burst through the door. Not because of **** but because of how big the guy was. She raised an eyebrow as he walked in, followed by two smaller thinner creatures. Zah'iet weren't common in her normal part of space but she had worked with a few bounty hunters and merc groups that employed them.

Strong race, good for construction and combat depending on which sub species you were talking about. The smaller ones tended to be scouts, snipers, or light work; fast and wirey. Big guy was from their combat caste or close to it. She wondered why they were here as they easily made their way to the counter. The rest of the pub had gone somewhat silent, and slowly started to back away to their tables.

"Evening, Torde." Montade grunted a greeting, arms folded, "What'll ya have?"

"Hmmm..., Velvet Princess." he muttered.

Blackfire gave a small smile, noting it was the same drink she still had in front of her. And the guy's eyes kept flicking to her anyway. Was this a way of getting her attention. A sly wink from her got a nod in return. Perhaps this wouldn't be such a boring night anyway. So long as Zac kept out of it.

"So...., what's a big strong guy like you doing in a bar like this?" She purred.

A tablet was slid over to her. The picture on it was of her mid rampage..., yeah that weird bug creature took awhile she remembered. Good angle on it too, maybe she'd get a print of it if possible. But she kept her face a mix of alluring and mischievous.

Zac had come over to see what was up and saw the image. He gave her a sideways glance before mouthing 'What's going on' but Blackfire just waved him off. She was giving the new meat her attention.

"Oh..., yes..., I did have a time with some trash earlier today. But you haven't read me any rights or stuck a gun in my face so...., why bring this up to me?" She mused aloud.

"We had a good deal with that gang, and now you need to make it up to us." The lizard said, keeping his voice even.

"Do I look like the kinda girl that is going to pay you? Come off it, give me some credit." She shot back, a vein on her head twitching.

"I said make it up to us." He tapped on the tablet a few times, showing more pictures.

Images of Blackfire pocketing substances from tables. The grin on her face as she smashed someone into a wall. The laughing as she blasted someone through a door. And even when she made the deal with the small alien techy at the end of the whole thing, before melting most of his tools as a show of ****.

"Gonna be clear here. You ain't some goody goody hero that did this out of some sense of honor, or justice or anything like that." Torde said as a grin spread out on his maw, "Anyone can see you're either a merc or a crook. And that's something we can work with."

"Oh really?" Blackfire purred out.

"Hey Blackfire, we shouldn't listen to this guy." Zac said, leaning in and whispering in her ear, "Let's just bail before..."

"Hush Zac." She said sternly, giving him a look that burned into him, "The adults are talking."

"Your toy seems uppity." the lizard growled with a chuckle, “what did you not fully reprogram it?”

"Oh he’ll listen to me regardless. Won't you toy?" Blackfire said, giving Zac another glare as she gave him a light push onto a stool.

It seemed the gang thought she had used the robot for a play thing. An insulting idea to her, after all what’s the fun in just making someone worship you? Crushing them to the point they face was much more fun. Still, having them think that could be an advantage at the end of the day.

"You can't be serious. We can't get involved with criminal underworld of a station like this." Zac stressed.

"If it means getting resources, I’m willing to consider it. Or do you have ways of paying for fuel and supplies on the way?"

Zac ran a hand down his face. He had a feeling she’d do this but he was hoping she’d be more willing to pull a stunt like this closer to her home planet. Not in the middle of, as she put it, bumble fuck no where. Hell, he figured once they got to her power base, she'd just throw them in a shuttle and shoot it towards earth the first chance she got.

“The lady is interested. How about the toy shuts up while we talk business.” the lizard alien said as he leaned closer to Blackfire, taking a good look at her figure. She looked at lot better in person than on the video. Perhaps if this didn't work out, they could get some other use from her.

“You think this is a good idea buddy? Honestly I’m surprised she stopped at one gang. She could probably just turn most your gangs to dust and trust me, she's not the kind of lady that is a lacky. You try to use her like a pawn and she's gonna turn on you.” Zac spoke louder, trying a different tactic. If he couldn’t get Blackfire to reconsider, maybe get the other guy to change his mind.

A growl seemed to show this wasn’t the best idea. He stood up and walked over, leaning tall over the human. A wide toothy smile was on his face reminded him of a crocodile back home. Perhaps he bit off more than he should.

“Does the pet need some discipline?” He asked, head cocked to the side to stare at Blackfire.

“Alive.” Was all she said.

Zac was about to say something but a massive fist was suddenly in his stomach. All the air in his body left it with that blow as he crumbled over to the ground. The lizard cackled as his two allies gave shrill laughs. The larger lizard cracked his knuckles as he stood over Zac, wondering how to do this. Perhaps taking the mouth actuators out would shut up the mouthy bot.

Blackfire grinned as she watched this from the corner of her eye. Zac was getting just a bit too comfy and this was what she had wanted, a way of reminded him how out of his depth he was, and maybe to show whatever power watching that had set them up that No, this was not going to work. A worker caste with Conquering Royalty, how droll. Like something from the little tyke's stories she liked. Wasn't happening.

"Stop this...."

Blackfire pursed her lips and looked around. Someone had called to her, but everyone in the bar was minding their own bussiness. Even the bartender had taken a step or two back. No one was coming to their 'new friend's' help, but how had said that. She shrugged before taking another sip. She'd stop this if it went too far just let the thug shake Zac up a bit.

"This is wrong."

That voice again. She scanned her eyes over those around the bar. None of the aliens in the bar were known to be psyhics, at least none of the ones she knew the races of. But that voice and pressure in her head was starting to get stronger. Who was doing that and why did they care that much? Was this someone from Cupid?

She heard a mental crack that shook her body and made pain course through her body. Her eyes glowed with power as her hands gripped the bar counter hard enough to crack the metal. She put one hand to her head trying to stifle the pain while she fought to stay sitting. The hell was this now, was her drink spiked? Or was that stupid gem feedback coming around again. Her vision blurred as she fought to breathe.

Zac rolled away after being shoved with a large boot, the lizard just lazily kicking him around the floor. There was still enough power behind those kicks to send him sprawling to the floor if he tried to get up. Lizard was just toying with him and he knew it. But he wasn't paying attention to him, his eyes were locked onto Blackfire.

His feelings of anger changed to concern when Blackfire doubled over. Something was wrong and she didn't seem to be in a posisiton to do something about it or the gang. He needed to get out of here, with her if possible. At the very least, getting Blackfire away from the lure placed out in front of her would get her to focus back on the problem at hand. It was just figuring out how to get out.

He could just run, but that would leave Blackfire alone. He did have the belt from Cupid he could try using, he read the manuel for how to get it work. Or maybe..., something in the back of his head was recalling memories from his past. Maybe he could use that?