Appointment With the Doctor
By Richard LeBlanc
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| Snake Charmer Saga Appointment With the Doctor |
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| Chapter One: Serpent in the Garden By Richard LeBlanc |
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| In the Warzone - several anarchs were accosting a Caitiff that had wandered a little too far into unfriendly territory. Although he tried to fight them off - their numbers proved too much for him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You should have listened punk," the leader of the small sect mocked as he pulled out a gun. "Now - you pay the - price?" he stopped as he looked around. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Problem boss?" one of the others asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Could be nothing - could be something. I have the feeling we are being watched," he began. It was then that they saw - a cloaked man step out from the shadows of an alley. "Low and behold - a spectator. You like the show?" the leader mocked. The cloaked person remained silent - and began to merely walk away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That was kind of rude boss," one of the others goaded. The leader growled as he threw his ally aside. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't recall saying you could leave!" the leader pointed out - the stranger continued to walk. They turned their attention away from the Caitiff and rushed over and stood in front of the stranger. "I also - don't remember you paying the toll - for walking in the presence of my greatness," he added - the others laughed - as did the stranger. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It speaks," the leader remarked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are of course - correct. I did not pay the toll," he began. The leader laughed expecting the stranger to cower. Instead - in one fluid motion he drew two daggers. In a series of movements that looked more like a dance than anything else - the stranger attacked the leader and then hopped up - kicked the leader in the back of the head and then landed where the leader was. The others looked to where the leader was - he was cut up bad. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The boss is down! Get him!" one of them cried out - the shock of what they had seen worn off. Three of them tried to get a hold of him while the others waited for a moment when they could get a clean shot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The freak moves like a fucking snake!" one called out. The stranger spun around - slashing him across the throat and then kicking his head from his shoulders. One of the others managed to get a grip on his robe - he slipped out of the robe - kicked the legs out from under his would be attacker and then used him as a human shield as his friends shot at him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As they fought - the wounded Caitiff slowly began to get up. He looked over and watched as the lone fighter was taking down his enemies one by one. It was then - a few moments later - that only one of the anarchs was left. He aimed a gun at the seasoned fighter. It was then that the Caitiff saw the eyes of the stranger turn almost golden - like that of a serpent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A Follower of Set? What is he doing here?" the Caitiff asked himself. He watched as the stranger slowly stalked towards the last anarch - not once averting his glare. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ask yourself - this scholarly question. What is the last thought that goes through the mind of a mouse - as the cobra kills it," the stranger almost whispered. In a blur of motion his tongue lashed out wounding his paralyzed foe. Before he could strike back - the stranger was all over him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seconds later - all that remained of the attackers - were piles of drifting ash. It was then that he became aware - that he was being watched. His serpent eyes darted over and saw the Caitiff. He blinked - his eyes reverted back to normal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This doesn't seem like your sort of terrain. What are you doing here?" the stranger asked. The Caitiff sighed as he dusted himself off. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Some friends of mine - contacts in this area went missing. I wanted to find out what happened to them - if they were still alive that is," he replied. He watched as the stranger sheathed his daggers. "I go by the name Scout - I run a bar on the other side of town," he introduced. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am known as Calloway. Where exactly is this place?" he asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Black hole of Eco. A pit known as the Warzone," he replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Warzone - Eco? So this is the place," he muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You here on business?" the Caitiff asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "In a manner of speaking. The prince of this place - is it still the Brujah known as - Man Basher?" Calloway asked. Scout nodded. "Then this is where I am supposed to be," he said to himself. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't think I have ever seen a snake fight like that," Scout remarked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Few do - and live to tell of it," he rebutted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Are - you here to see the prince?" Scout asked - changing the subject. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Not yet - there are some matters I need attend to before I get mixed up in that game of politics I loathe so much," he replied as he began to walk away. Scout shook his head as he picked up his pace - walking beside him. "Are you going to follow me wherever I go?" the Setite asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Not really - I just happen to be going the same way. You do know that you saved my life right?" he pointed out. Calloway smirked as he shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am sure a crafty little mosquito like you would have found a way out," he rebutted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ouch - mosquito - that hurt," the Caitiff mused. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Not to be rude - or anything - but - I am not the most social of animals. I go where I am sent - and I do as I am told. I do not seek out friends nor have I any need of them. I did not do what I did - to put you in my debt - I did it because they got in my face - much like you are now," he stated seriously. Scout raised his hands and backed away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Not overly friendly - I can dig it. It's cool. But if you are new in town - if you want to get around in Eco without attracting all kinds of unwanted attention - it usually helps to know people in the right places," he pointed out. Calloway stopped and looked over at the Caitiff he had saved. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You claim to be in such a place?" he asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If it goes on - in the cleaner side of the city - if I can't find out about it - no one can," he rebutted with a smile. The Setite quietly laughed as he shook his head. Clearly this person could charm the scales off a snake. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I will keep that in mind," he replied as he began to walk away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But - if you need to get in touch with me?" Scout asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If I do - trust me - I'll find you," he reassured in a less than reassuring way. The Caitiff was going to say something more - but when he looked to where Calloway was - he was gone. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Something tells me that things are going to get interesting around here again," he said to himself as he hurried away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be Continued... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||