Children of Steel Page 11

  "Yes," said Terease. "I'm looking for something for a friend, and I'm not sure what to get."

  "I see, I take it this is supposed to be for work then?"

  "Yes actually, he's a corporate security officer."

  "Ahh yes, follow me then," and he led us off to the military end. I got the impression from the items on the shelves that a lot of corporate employees shopped here. "Now I don't think you'd be interested in any weapons, the companies all seem to cover that end fairly well. But we do have a very good selection of body armor for starters."

  "No," I said. "He's got a very good set already."

  "Are you sure?" asked Terease.

  "Yeah, he showed it to me once. Earth made, very high quality."

  "Oh, so you’re buying for someone who has been around for a while," continued the salesman nonplussed, "I have a few items here that are not available to the general public, if you know what I mean, that you just might find interesting."

  He steered us down to a counter at the end of the aisle, and went around behind it. He then started to set several devices on the counter top.

  "I have here several items popular among those of you who find themselves involved in 'company actions'." He said the last word with the same lilt that animen usually used when talking about such things, he obviously knew his clientele. "This is a portable medikit, with an auto-suceher, pressure bandage, stimulants, painkillers, a healing agent, and some bone glue." He pointed at the first one.

  I shook my head; the company supplied those, for a fee of course, so I knew he had one.

  "This is a laser and infra-red detector," he said pointing to the next device. "You can clip it into your headset, and it sends an alert if somebody's pointing a targeting device at you."

  This time Terease shook her head, "He's got one, I saw it."

  That surprised me, I didn't have one! I looked at the price, too expensive considering I really didn't expect to end up in the field very often.

  "Ah, a person of distinction." He smiled; I don't think anything threw this guy off. He picked up the next item. "This is called a masker, they're illegal on earth for anybody but the government. It masks all the electronic noise generated by your equipment. Combined with a lightwave camo suit, it makes the wearer virtually undetectable!"

  "Let me see that," said Terease taking it from the salesman. "Can we test it?"

  "Sure no problem." he pulled out some other gear, which Terease started using without even looking twice. The salesman was pretty impressed by that, and as she fussed with the equipment I leaned over.

  "She got all the brains in the family." I whispered and he laughed.

  "I heard that," she said grinning. "It works alright, how much?"

  He quoted a price that I thought was way too high, and Terease dickered over it with him, and finally settled on a price that I couldn't have afforded even if I hadn't lost at gambling.

  "I'll take it," she said surprising me, and after paying we left to go back to the plant.

  Once in the Taxi I asked her, "You sure you can afford that?"

  "Sure, I make about two hundred thou a year, and even with the cost of the day to day stuff, it's no problem."

  "But aren't you saving anything for your Buyout?" I must have sounded as shocked as I felt.

  "Raj, I thought you knew," she put her hand on my leg. "I don't owe anything. I'm free and clear."

  "Why am I always the last to learn anything?" I asked after a couple of shocked seconds. "So why are you working for Tri-Star?"

  "I had to work for somebody, and as I specialized in jump drives, it kind of narrowed the field. So I just went and looked for the Corporations with the best records I could find and then flipped a coin. Tri-Star won, that's all."

  "I still suggest you save as much as possible. If you should end up lifemating with someone, you could help pay off their bill and guarantee mutual assignments from then on."

  "I hadn't thought of that." She looked very thoughtful for a couple of seconds then. "Thanks."

  I started to wonder exactly how far things were going between her and Banner. It was quickly becoming obvious to even me that she was getting pretty serious. I wonder if Banner knew? I wondered if he cared? I decided I should make it my business to have a talk with him. Terease was quickly becoming like another one of my family to me, and I always looked out for family.

  We got back to our rooms, said goodbye and went our separate ways. I checked the time and saw that I still had about ninety or so minutes before my date with Herza. So I went to the gym and worked out for an hour. By the time I had finished my shower, I found her sitting on my bed waiting for me.

  "Hi there my big Tom, you almost ready?" She smiled at me with a sparkle in her eyes.

  "Just let me get dressed, and we'll go." I started to put on a fresh pair of shorts. "Where are we going anyway?"

  "Oh don't worry about that!" she said mischievously, "Just don't put on your best pair there, that's all."

  I stopped, took off the shorts I had been about to put on, and got out a slightly more used pair.

  "Anything else?" I asked suspiciously.

  "Nope! Come on," and grabbing my arm, she dragged me off.

  We walked to the ani quarter of town, which fortunately wasn't too far from the plant. We threaded down several streets and even cut through one alley, when she suddenly headed for a place with a sign out front that labeled it as a bar named 'Martial'. Something about the way the name sounded worried me.

  "What the hell is this place?" I demanded, stopping as I looked around after we were inside.

  It was pretty trashed and most of the furniture was either bolted to the floor or part of the walls. I thought I could smell dried blood, and I could sure see some kind of stains on the floor. Most of the people in there were obviously fighters like us and I didn't see a single non-predator species. Or any humans either for that matter.

  Herza laughed and dragged me over to a table by the bar. "Welcome to your first fight bar Raj, you're finally going to do some real fighting tonight!"

  "What!" I said surprised, "What-in-the-hell are you talking about?" I could see a few people looking at us, and I just glared at them and turned back to Herza. "I thought this was leave, not a combat tour!"

  "Listen Raj," She said softly, "I never met a cat yet that didn't like to tangle now and then. I've fought with you and I know you enjoy it. You're good, but you need experience! It's places like this where you'll get it. Just remember, no eye gouging, and no killing. Unless the other guy does it first, Okay?"

  "Yeah sure," I said, I noticed a wolf that I had glared at was starting over this way. "But I got in trouble with the law already, and was told to keep my nose clean."

  "Raj! You little devil you! Didn't waste any time I see." She positively beamed at that, "Don't worry, the police never come here. Anyway, you got company."

  I could see she was clearly enjoying this. I also knew that in a fight she could take me. Herza loved to fight. I turned to look at the wolf that was towering over the table.

  "I don't like the way you looked at me there son." The way he said it made it sound real insulting.

  "Damn, they don't waste anytime around here do they?" I murmured under my breath.

  "What'd you say to me Boy?" He demanded.

  I stood up and looked at him.

  "I said they let in any type of waste around here don't they?" and dodged to the side as he swung at me. I did a side kick to the back of his knee before he could dodge, and as he went down on it I danced in and gave him another shot to the kidneys.

  He twisted out of the way of the blow and took most of it to the side. But I heard the air whoosh out of his lungs as he rolled with the blow. I let him roll away, and as he started to get up I turned to Herza.

  "At least get me a beer or something will 'ya?" and then skipped in with a kick to the knee. He moved to the side and hit me with a punch to the lower chest. It hurt and I got pissed off. So I squatted down, ducking below his
follow through round house. Then pushing off the floor with the palms of my hands I jumped up and gave him a hard snap kick in the center of the chest. He flew back into the wall and looked dazed for a second. I started to advance and he held up his hands, palms open.

  "Enough, I give."

  And I heard Herza say from behind me. "Okay Raj, come back and have your beer." I turned and still keeping an eye on him went back to the table. "Well Rolf, what do you think of my friend here?"

  I sat down at the table amazed, looking at both Herza and the wolf that was starting to walk back over to the table.

  "You know him?" I hissed at her.

  "Somebody had to check you out kid," he said sitting down on the other side. "Damn, I think you broke a couple of ribs there, where'd you learn that trick?"

  "It's Raj, not kid, or I'll break another one." I was still a little worked up and Herza put her hand on my arm with a grip like a vice.

  "Calm down now Raj, fight’s over. This is Rolf and he owns the place. Now behave." She turned to Rolf, "He's kind of young yet, so you'll have to forgive him."

  "That's okay," he said sticking out his hand, "No hard feelings Raj?"

  "No, I guess not," I took his hand and shook it, "it's all Herza's fault anyway," I said smiling. "And I learned that squat, kick combo in basic, most everybody forgets it and hardly anybody uses it cause it's a pain to practice."

  "See Rolf, I told you he's good. I want to run him through a couple of fights tonight with the local talent. He needs the experience."

  "Shouldn't be too much of a problem, even though it's a Monday. There weren't too many big brawls this weekend. I'll go call a few people." He looked at me, "That okay with you Raj?"

  "If I say no Herza will beat the crap out of me and if I say yes she'll try to kill me later tonight anyway. I don't care." I had to grin as I said the last part. I could see Herza smile and squirm a little as I said it. I got the feeling that she might have plans for later that I might enjoy.

  "Fine I'll go call 'em," and he got up and left.

  "So now what happens?" I asked Herza.

  "You give me all your money, so I can bet it on you with mine," she smiled at me again. "This kind of adds extra incentive to win."

  "Then what?" I asked while handing over what cash I had left.

  "You take on all comers until I feel you've had enough."

  "I don't like the sound of that part. How good are these guys?"

  "Probably not as good as me, or you even. The danger is in the number of fights you may end up doing. I'll try to give you time to rest between them."

  "Anything else?"

  "Yeah, if we win big, after I get the cash, we'll probably have to leave in a hurry."

  "You might as well hold on to my knife then," I handed it over, "but once outside if anybody tries anything I'll want it back."

  She smiled evilly at me, "If anybody tries to rob me, I'll cut their throat even if we're still in here."

  We sat around then and I nursed my beer. I tried to be calm, but I wasn't very good at it. I had never been in an all out bar fight before. Not counting the incident a few minutes ago, or the one the night before of course. I had fought in practice quite a lot, and even in competitions while training, it was required after all. But never where there really weren't any rules, or a referee. There were the fights I’d gotten in as a kit growing up, but I hadn’t been trained back then and neither had my opponents.

  I wasn't too worried though. I knew I was good, I had been first in my class in both combat and advanced combat training. I was young, fast and very strong. I also knew that Herza would save my ass if it came to it.

  "Does Balizar know about this?" I asked, as a sudden thought came to mind.

  "Hell no, and don't you tell him either." She snarled.

  "You better be real nice to me later than, hadn't you?" I smiled, and then added quietly, "I'm probably going to need it."

  About thirty minutes later a Rotweiler showed up. He was my first fight. By then the place was pretty full, so they cleared a space on the floor and after a few taunts, which I didn't respond to, we went at it. He wasn't really very good, he just though he was. The only reason he lasted longer than Rolf, was that he didn't have the brains to quit, so I knocked him out.

  I went back over to Herza, and sat down to catch my breath.

  "You shouldn't have made it look so easy," she whispered, "It lowers the odds."

  "Sorry, but it was easy. That guy probably couldn't even beat Rolf."

  "That means that he was probably a set up to lower our odds on the next fight. The next guy is probably going to be a real toughie." she looked a little grim.

  "You mean that Rolf would set us up?" I was a little shocked at that. "I though he was a friend of yours."

  "Not really a friend and yes he would. After all, I'm not the one who's going to get thrashed. Watch out."

  That set me to worrying a little, but mostly it made me mad. I don't like being made a fool of. Especially as it seemed to have been happening quite frequently lately. I nursed the anger and let it grow. They might be bringing in the big gun next, but I was going to make him suffer for sure. By the time the next guy showed up I was ready to kill.

  The next guy turned out to be a bear, a pretty big one too. We squared off again and I waited for him to move in. He didn't do much, just kind of lumbered around at first. I finally decided to move in and do a few quick combinations and nearly got pounded flat. He was fast, real fast and I spent the next couple of seconds back peddling and trying to keep from being nailed. He had laid a few good ones on me, and I was dizzy for a second. We continued to trade punches and kicks for a while and I found myself still giving ground. I suddenly realized that I had hit the wall and couldn't retreat any further, I freaked. He charged in at me then trying for a grapple. I pushed off of the wall at him and ducked under his arms, the force of his charge adding to that of my head butt to his groin.

  He slid up over me, and I could hear him roar in pain. I dropped to the floor, and used my legs to sweep his out from under him. As he fell, I leaped from the floor on top of him, and started punching, kicking and anything else I could think of. He rolled around, trying to throw me off his back, but without success. He got in a couple of good shots though and the pain brought me back to my senses.

  I got an arm around his neck and went for a sleeper hold. I started to squeeze and he figured out immediately what I was up to. He got to his feet, and managed to slam me against the wall a few times. I just squeezed harder and whispered, "Leopards don't let go," in his ear.

  I don't know if he heard it, but about that time I must have been doing it hard enough, because he started to stagger, and then dropped. I waited a second to be sure, and then let him go.

  I paused to catch my breath and then tried to strut back to the table; I think it turned out to be more of a stagger instead.

  "How we doing?" I asked Herza as I collapsed into a seat.

  "We're fine, but how are you?" she looked me over carefully.

  "Get me a stimulant from the bar, and I'll be okay." I watched them carry the bear out, I'd never make the mistake of thinking bears were slow again. "He only hit me in the head, no place important." I smiled wearily.

  "Just relax, I'll be right back." she went over to the bar, and was back in a minute. "Here drink this." she handed me a glass.

  "You sure it's safe? After that set up they might try spiking it."

  "It's okay," she leaned over close and whispered in my ear, "its just beer. But I palmed two stim tabs into it. You'll be fine in a minute."

  I drank it down, and sat back with my eyes closed. She was right, in about a minute my head had cleared and I couldn't feel any pain. I looked myself over; I didn't have any serious cuts or broken bones fortunately and was still breathing easily."When's the next fight?" I asked.

  "About an hour, I want to make sure you're fully recovered. You're going to be fighting that Jag at the end of the Bar."

  "Know
him?"

  "No, but I've been watching him move. He looks pretty good, but he's another homegrown fighter like all the rest. Don't do anything stupid like you just did and you can take him."

  "Okay, so I let that bear sucker me in, isn't that why you brought me here?" I grumbled quietly. I hate having to admit a mistake.

  "That, and the money. Anything else?"

  "Yeah, how about a neck rub? And let's make this the last one, please?" I tried to look contrite.

  "Sure, right after you win, come over here and relax a minute. When they try to set up the next one, we'll split."

  "Do you think there'll be any trouble?" I asked looking around the bar.

  "We got pretty good odds on this fight, so I'm not too sure. But don't worry about it."

  So I did my best to recover, and took stock before the fight started. A few of my ribs were sore, and my head hurt a little too. But I still had my wind, and my eyes were open. So I got up and tried to look hurt as I walked over to the clearing on the floor.

  I could hear the betting going on, and figured that maybe I should play the game too. I watched my opponent walk up across from me and I waited for him to start it. He was good I'll admit, and fast. But I was better, and faster. I decided to try to draw this one out a while and sparred with him a lot. We exchanged quite a few kicks or punches, with most of them being blocked.

  I tried to act like I was a little dizzy and he started to concentrate on my head. This was in line with what I planned, as I tried to work his ribs and cut down his breathing. I even tried to make it look like he hurt me a few times when he missed. I don't think he fell for it, but I hoped the people betting did, I needed the money.

  After a couple of minutes of that I figured it was time to try to end it. I had a little trick that usually worked once, and as nobody here had seen it yet I thought I might give it a try. I came in a couple of times, landed a flurry, then stepped back. On the third time I did it, I stepped to the side and threw wide.

  He assumed I had just slipped like I wanted him to, and rather than back off, he moved in. I took the momentum of the missed punch and turned it into a spinning hook kick. By the time he realized he had been set up he couldn't retreat. I hit him in the ear with my heel and he went down hard. I circled around behind him as he tried to get up, shaking his head to clear it and trying to get his balance back.