The Lie

“Yeah, I like parties.” Lad claimed. He cringed at what he just said, especially when Sebek just smiled at him. It was like the Orc knew. Still, there was a click as the door to his car unlocked in the back.

“Alright, party animal. Let's go!” He motioned for Lad to hop in. The human nervously jumped in the back and Sebek sped off before he could even get his seat belt on. Lad fumbled for it. From where he was sitting he could see Yeong's plush red lips gliding down around Sebek's cock. The sucking noises were fairly obvious and embarrassing to listen to, but he was the only one that showed any worry.

'She literally has zero shame?' Lad wondered to himself. He tried to look away and focus on the tall buildings passing by as the car sped away from the ChesAn entrance.

The danger of the situation was not lost on him. He was not naïve or meek in regards to attending the party with Yeong and Sebek. He did not want to, but he also felt like the girl was doing something that he never would. He was trying to get on her good side so he decided he would look out for her. Not that he would ever admit that. She did not look like she needed any help. The girl was happily sucking off her man from the passenger seat without any care for who saw. There were indeed a few honks from cars Sebek passed. Rather than embarrassment, it just seemed to get her off more as a hand slipped between her legs.

“Hah, chill!” Sebek laughed, pushing her head down in contrast to his words. Her body tensed and her eyes rolled up as something thick pushed down her throat. She held that position for a little while, just subtly gulping, before finally leaning back and wiping her mouth.

“Why'd you have to bring him along?” She questioned.

“Why not? You guys are teammates, right?” Sebek reasoned. Only Lad seemed to note that the reasoning was not super sound, but he also knew that his trait worked some magic, and he would always find himself getting invited places for better or for worse.

“You're just making up excuses. You wanna fuck him? He looks like a twink.” Yeong grinned and turned around to stare Lad straight in the eye.

“You like dick?”

“No...” Lad uttered, recoiling at the crudeness of the question.

“Can you not ask me stuff like that?” He asked uncomfortably.

“Yeah, leave the guy alone. Bullying isn't pretty or cute.” Sebek said firmly.

“Fine.” Yeong crossed her arms and began to pout.

“You just stick with me and I'll keep you out of trouble. We're going into a bit of a rowdy environment.”

“W-what? What kind of party is this?” Lad asked.

“It's an Orc house party. Gonna be a great time.” Sebek insisted. Lad frowned. He was not racist, but he was still nervous. There was a good reason he did not like parties much. Sebek stared at him in the rear-view mirror with a faint hint of concern.

“Yo, I can get you something to relax when we're there.”

“That's really the last thing I want.” Lad muttered.

“This is a bad idea. This guy does not belong at our kind of scene.” Yeong whispered just loud enough that Lad could still make out what she was saying easily.

Sebek did not adopt the same pretenses and just spoke in a normal tone of voice. “Our scene? We don't know each other, remember sweetie?” Lad could sense a hint of bitterness in what was said, though he was still trying to sound playful.

Yeong relented. “I told you why I feel like I know you...”

“Yeah, well... You left 'me' behind there. I'm not that guy. I'm glad a pretty girl like you is into me, but you're dating me, not him. That's the deal.”

“I understand. I'm sorry.”

-

For the rest of the ride there was an uncomfortable silence that was only broken by loud music coming from a balcony a few stories up in one of the high super-tenement squares that dotted the top of the ChesAn Arcology.

“We're here.” Sebek pulled into the contained parking structure within the building and found a free spot. Lad followed quietly behind Sebek and Yeong. The Orc lead her with a hand under her skirt. He idly squeezed her rear and she leaned into him. To the outside observer, they looked like long-lost lovers but Lad could already see the point of friction between them. Sebek looked back.

“Remember what I said about sticking with me.”

“Am I in danger if I don't?” Lad asked. It was a red flag if the party was dangerous without protection.

Sebek turned back and mentioned offhandedly. “You might be, considering what you're capable of.”

Lad looked down and tried to hide his nerves. 'Nobody knows what I do, except insiders and people that know me pretty well. Why does he have info on me?'

“Hey.” Sebek said.

Lad jumped. “Y-yeah?”

“Come on. Closer.” He ordered. Lad reluctantly moved up so that he was close to Sebek on the other side. Yeong glared at him jealously as the three of them piled into an elevator. On further inspection, when the reached the floor and there were people hanging out drinking in the halls, it seemed as though the whole floor was taken up by revelers. If there was anyone not participating on the floor in their own apartments, they were still stuck dealing with it.

Sebek lead them down the hall into the middle of a quartet of open apartments. Within all of them, more people were packed inside. There were a lot of orcs, but also a healthy number of Humans, Elves and Beastfolk. Lad was not relieved to see them. They were all the standard fare. Men and women in skimpy outfits made to impress Orc boys. The same type of thing Yeong wore.

'I look so out of place here.'

“Stay near the entrance. I'm gonna grab you two something to drink!” Sebek shouted over the music and the crowd.

“Thanks!” Yeong shouted back. She began dancing in place. Lad stood by her awkwardly. Sebek left before he could decline. He was about to address her when an Orc quickly filled the void left by Sebek. He looked to Yeong, who was already enjoying the party and dressed for it, and passed her over completely to lean against the wall next to Lad.

“You into Gensurren?” He asked rather forwardly. In a civilized society it was probably a very weird thing to ask someone randomly, but in the midst of an Orc party it was probably just a standard icebreaker.

“It's fun. You should.” Yeong shouted over excitedly.

“Maybe we'd have something to bond over.”

“Hehe. Hey, alright. She gets it.” The Orc nods, moving a bit just so he can avoid standing still.

“No thanks.” Lad said politely.

“Come on, your friend likes it.”

Lad opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get another meek word out Sebek got between the two of them.

“Back up!”

“Woah!” The Orc stepped back but did not look done.

Sebek shook his head and handed two plastic cups with ice and clear bubbling liquid to Yeong and Lad. “Drink up, I just gotta take care of this. He must be 'new.'”

Yeong cheered. “Get him, Daddy!” She shouted after him as he turned around. She was about to take a sip when lad stopped her.

“You don't drink that, right?”

“****? What's the problem, we're both old enough.”

“No... I mean-” Lad felt exasperated. He looked down at the drink uncomfortably, then back to her as she took a sip without hesitation.

“What?” She shrugged.

“Y-you're a girl! Do you go to these things often?”

“No. What of it?” Her cheeks flushed a little in response to the question, and possibly something more.

“Please stop drinking that. We can go to where they're serving drinks together and pour our own.” He reasoned, trying to meet her in the middle. The problem was so obvious to him, as was the risk. She just did not get it. She neither knew nor cared.

“Stop acting weird.” Yeong took another big sip and hopped up and down as Sebek came back.

“You get him?”

“Scared him off.” He got close, wrapped an arm around her and kissed her deeply. He pulled back and licked his lips. He could taste it on her. The Orc looked satisfied.

“You enjoying your drink?”

“It's great!” She nodded.

“What about you?” Sebek looked to Lad inquisitively.

“Y-yeah. It's good.” With a weak smile he lifted the cup and pretended to drink, but he was really just holding it in front of his lips. Sebek nodded approvingly.

“Thanks.” He hoped Yeong would not say anything. Instead she just side eyed him.

“We're gonna have a good time tonight!” Sebek shouted. A few more people around him in earshot cheered. He started to move, but before he could really get into it another Orc approached and whispered in his ear.

“Seriously!? So fucking early, Mal's sake. Sit tight, girls.” He left down the hall.

Lad bristled at the remark. He looked over and saw that Yeong was still moving, but more slowly. She had her eyes closed and looked to be swaying more than dance. He cursed.

'What are the odds...' He looked around.

'Pretty good. Dumb... So dumb.' He whined to himself. Lad experimentally took her arm and threw it over his shoulder so he could support her. He then took the drink from her hand and set his and her down on the floor. He lead her out. She stumbled a bit, knocking over the cups as they left. Lad and her received a couple of dirty stares.

“S-sorry... She has to use the bathroom.” He lied.

'There's got to be an elevator on the other side, too.' He started hefting her with some difficulty in that direction.

“Are you okay? Can you hear me?”

“I... C... an. Lad?”

“That's me. It's okay. We're getting you home.” He lifted the HanCom to his mouth and tried to call Lacey, or anyone for that matter. There was no signal. Lad cringed.

“Damn old buildings.” They were in the hall, which was still arguably better than wading deeper through any of the Orc filled apartments to reach a balcony.

“I'm tired...” She complained.

“I know. Just try to help me out a bit longer, okay? I'm not as strong as you.” He begged. At that she gave a little smug smirk.

“Da...mn right.”

'We're almost to another elevator if they're equal distance apart.' He reasoned. Lad hazarded a glance back. His eyes widened as he saw something that stood out in the midst of the metropolitan Orc crowd. An incredibly stacked Anayub girl was making her way steadily towards them from the direction they came. Lad could not tell where she was looking, because the top half of her face from her nose right up to her forehead and up her long ears even were adorned with a silver mask. In her hand, slung comfortably over her shoulder, she held a giant, blunt mace. She was dressed like a comic book character, with a stylized black suit with red accents and golden chains. Her hips swayed in an exaggerated gait as she pushed through people to barrel towards what could only be the two Rangers in the build.

'Oh god. Oh fuck.'

“Can you fight?” Lad whimpered.

“Y..eah! Lemme at em.” She smiled widely and punched the air slowly with her eyes closed.

“Okay...” His heart thumped. Thankfully they were at the elevator. It was already coming up. He felt all the air leave his lungs as another strange person appeared in the center of the elevator that opened up in front of them.

“Please no.”

It was a tall woman with pitch black eyes. Pale did not do her tone justice, for she was devoid of tone, like a corpse. Her top half was only adorned with a painted on bikini. Her bottom half she wore leggings that were just as tight. She had a belt around her waist with a silver 'E' buckle. Above her pubic area she seemed to have a mark similar to the one they were shown tattooed. She eyed Yeong as if the two knew each other, then centered her gaze somewhat hard on Lad. She looked confused for a moment, cocking her head to one side. Her long, smooth hair slid off her slender shoulders as she did.

Lad rolled the dice and stepped into the elevator.

“G-going down?” Her gaze followed him as he moved in. She shrugged and casually pressed the button for the ground floor.

The statuesque Jackal stuck her hand in at the last second, sinking Lad's slim hopes of escape. She blocked the door, but stopped as she saw the third wheel. Her confident smile cracked from what looked like annoyance. Her long ears twitched.

“I will take it from here.”

“You wont.” The pale girl argued with zero hesitation.

The Jackal leaned closer. “Get out. Stand down.” There was no response. The two were simply staring each other down until the Jackal laughed.

“A grunt. You don't even serve him directly.”

“You aren't my mother. I don't listen to you.” She insisted.

“You...” The woman seethed.

“I will fight you. I don't care about them.”

“Liar.”

“How many have you caught so far? If they get away, who will have one and who will have zero?”

“Spider Bitch!” The Anayub yelled forcefully. She grabbed the pale girl's neck. This triggered something that happened faster than Lad could see. The two went through opposite wall, into the apartment across from the elevator.

“Go... Go...” Without wasting time Lad pressed the close door button. He breathed a sigh of relief when it finally shut, but went as white as the woman when a dent appeared in the door, con-caving it. The Elevator did something that they were usually not supposed to do. It crashed into the wall before finally beginning a slow, screeching descent where parts were dragging. Awkward elevator movement played while further crashing could be heard above.

“How many floors?” He saw twenty before the cable snapped.

“It's okay, it's okay!” He convinced himself. He tapped Yeong's emblem which caused her suit to very quickly wrap around her body. He then touched his own and got low to the ground, closing his eyes.

“Please work!” He prayed. The elevator slammed into the ground floor like a bomb being dropped. The doors flew off in the lobby. To his surprise, both himself and Yeong were about as good as they could be. He pulled her out into the lobby past stunned Orcs.

“Oh shit it's the ChesAn Rangers!” One commented.

“The Black suit is pretty cute!”

“C-could you please call ChesAn emergency services?” Lad asked.

“Shit, sure.” The two men realized after the fact what they had just witnessed.

They made it out to the street before another crash was heard in the same elevator. He looked back to see the Jackal standing with a bare foot on the pale woman's back. The weight of the two of them falling had fully ended the already bent elevator car.

“Wait, what am I doing?” Lad called Lacy once he was outside.

“Hello? Lad?” She responded, her picture popping up.

“We're in big trouble! I need someone here. Anyone! Yeong got poisoned so she's out and I- I'm alone with some crazy women.” He cried.

“It's okay, Lad. Listen carefully. You need to activate Yeong's suit. As soon as it's on it will start a process of detoxifying whatever is in her system, okay?”

Lad felt incredibly relieved. “How long?”

“It should take-”

“God... Malik... Whoever it is save me from this headache.” Yeong groaned. Her cheeks immediately turned bright red, as if it was coming back to her what had happened and what Lad had done for her. She turned around, avoiding his gaze, and looked at the building.

“I-I hope Sebek's okay. He was in there...”

“Seriously!?” Lad exclaimed, planting his face firmly in both his hands.

“P-please take care of the crazy woman!”

“What crazy woman?” She asked. Lad turned to see that there was no one as the dust cleared. No pale girl, no Jackal.

-

“That stunt cost me!” The Dryder slammed the wall next to Driana's head. She did not move or flinch. The woman then leaned down to hug the girl tightly.

“But I am so proud of you. Those Dogs started off with an advantage over us. We can't let them get ahead, even if it means losing a catch in the process. I will try and convince the Lord that it was a mistake on our part.

“When in doubt, simply throw me under the bus to save yourself.”

The Dryder gasped unconvincingly. “I could never do that! But thank you for offering.” As the Dyder left, Raith stirred off to the side, trapped in the tight webbing that surrounded most of her suited body.

“How sad that you can not even rely on...” She breathed.

“On your own 'mother' to protect you.”

Driana did not react as she usually did. Instead she merely smiled and held up an electronic image of Lad in a black suit. Her black suit. Raithe's heart sunk as she took it in. She really had been replaced.

“That's right... Talk about sad.” Driana faked a pout in front of Raithe's face.

“They've forgotten about you. Tell me when you're ready to talk to him. I'm told you'll think it's 'enlightening.'” She shrugged.

“Whatever that means...”

-

“It was that symbol.” Lad explained to the group.

“There was one on the one girl, and then the other acted like they were competing within the same group...”

“We're being targeted.” Lacey commented gravely. She centered a harsh stare on Lad and Yeong. He shrunk under the gaze, as he was not used to seeing her upset.

“You need to tell me what you two were doing out there, okay?”

***

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