�Uh . . . Hello. Do you need something?� How original. What a great impression. What if the man�s a potential employer?! You just gave him a great reason to commission you, moron! He gave himself a mental shake and put on his game face, carefully emotionless.
�As a matter of fact . . . Would you mind if I had a seat?� Without waiting for his consent, the man went ahead and took a chair. Raeh took the time to study him; he hadn�t gotten a good look in the twilight atmosphere of the club.
The man was pretty tall; almost matching Raeh�s own 6'1". He had -is that nano? I�ve never been able to tell- green eyes that somehow managed to convey nervous energy and burning intensity. If Raeh didn�t know better, he would call this man a religious zealot. (The most dangerous enemy is the enemy who has a reason to die.) He was well-muscled; he could probably toss half of this bar around tonight and wake up spry in the morning. Raeh had no clue who he was, either.
�Sir, as you seem to know who I am already, would you please give me a name in return? So I can match a name to your face, at least.� Raeh�s voice was also carefully level. He didn�t want the man to think he was arrogant, but neither did he want to seem submissive. He was apathetic, but not submissive.
�I�m Marcus Caravohl. I have a proposition for you . . . � He leaned forward, his soft voice lowered.
�I�m a member of the EDF, you understand?� Oh, yes, Raeh understood. The Eden Defense Unit was the most elite military organization in the American city-states; they traveled around the world to assist in defense against the Children�s operatives. Now they wanted him for something. It couldn�t be for the Underground; in that case, the whole bar would either be dead or in the process of it, or arrested to be hauled off for interrogation. �You�ve been selected for-�
�Hello, Raeh.� A woman�s voice, smooth and almost musical, tickled his ear. The owner of the voice strode confidently to him. Placing her palms on the table and leaning over, she provided him with a very good view of her . . . um . . . Attributes. He strained his neck with the effort to stay looking at her face, and it was all he could do to keep from blushing like fire. �May I speak with you for a moment? Alone?� She shot the EDF agent a look as if he had interrupted a private conversation rather than the other way around. Not that he wasn�t grateful for the interruption, though. God, it was hard to keep looking at her face, black eyes flecked with gold and blue... Felt like pools to the abyss.
�I�m sorry, miss?� He had no clue who she was, either.
�Call me Ace,� she supplied a name impatiently, obviously an alias. She tossed her unnaturally spiked black hair... Which was, incongruously enough, streaked with red... Seemed natural enough to him, though eye-popping.
�Ace, then. I�m sorry, but this gentleman and I were speaking over a business proposition . . . If you would like, here�s my card.� He fished his wallet out of his back pocket and pulled out a somewhat battered card. �My comm number is on the back.�
She seemed miffed; hopefully she wouldn�t call. He shook his head, thinking of what her preferred profession probably was, in those clothes. She�d find another man. What�s wrong with you, man? Anyone else would have jumped at the chance. Well, maybe I�m not just any guy. I�d like to think I had some scruples.
Caravolh picked up quickly from where they left off, as if afraid that Raeh would decide to pick up and go. �As I said before, you�ve been selected to join the EDF unit 006 on account of your physical fitness, age, legality . . . � He rambled on an increasingly incomprehensible list of Raeh�s qualifications, as if it would puff up Raeh�s ego and convince him to join. The hell? This is turning out like some bad 90's movie . . . �Please join us, sir, only you can save the world?
Raeh opened his mouth to reply. �I-�
�This isn�t a choice, Mr. Alexandros. From the information I have on you, you could be interrogated and exterminated for encouraging dissension and as an accomplice to a rebel organization. You see, the EDF is your only choice if you wish to continue living. There is a small unit of the Peace Force waiting for you at your residence if you choose not to comply. They are not gentle.�
So much for subtlety, eh? But all Raeh could do was nod numbly. �I understand.�
*****
Well. That did NOT go well. (Subtlety was never my strong suit.)Lee stalked off, heading toward the
wall of revolving margaritas. More like revolting margaritas . . . Every blinding neon shade of day-glo alcohol was up there. She crumpled the card in her palm unconsciously, and sat on a table, seething. She wondered why steam wasn't pouring out of her ears.
Brushing the long spiked bangs from her eyes, she wondered how she had gotten into this mess. But it didn�t matter anymore... She was there, and that was all.
Lee watched Raeh across the room, dark eyes smoldering. He seemed wary, disturbed, and vaguely frightened. And defeated. He was somewhat slumped, and the other man seemed to be grimly satisfied, as if he had won a victory. She wondered if she should worry.
There was only one thing to be done. Follow them. So she sat and waited, rum and coke in one hand and a forgotten wad of paper in the other.
*****
Raeh stared dumbly into his glass. He had never thought about the Militia organizations having agents in the Underground. It just seemed impossible. Unholy. As if they had intruded on his sanctuary, his hallowed ground, which in a way, they had. (Someone just ran into my inner Sanctum screaming at the top of their lungs about a black demon)
"What do you want me to do?" Raeh asked, defeated. His bright sky blue eyes stared listlessly at the table before him. What would they have him do? Betray his friends? He didn�t have many of those. Try to get him to tell them about the company? He didn�t know much. He didn�t want to. Learn about the Children? He didn�t know anything at all, and that was fine by him.
*****