IC: Bleeding Edge Options

[Large Mike]

There is a house, on 175th Ave, between the Woodinville Snohomish Rd and 133rd Ave. It is here that the Bleeding Edge reside. They are one of the older gangs in the area, with a prestige reaching back 6 or 7 years. They’ve seen complete rotation of membership several times, and very few can remember everyone who has come and gone.

Across the street, on the south side of 175th, reside The Losers, a mixed-race gang with no major enemies. They repel any other gangs that come to their turf, and do a little dealing, but that’s about it. West of Woodinville Rd belongs to the Hellbringers, a splinter of the Hellhounds. Just east of Bleeding Edge turf is Munk’s Skull Crushing Bad Boyz, a small gang of huge, well skilled brawlers that claim one block as their turf. There’s not much on their block, and little interest in being there, so most everyone leaves them alone. Throughout the area, claiming no turf, is a fresh thrill-gang called the lockpicks. They fancy themselves to be some kind of special ops team, but in reality, they are just a bunch of young crack B&E artists. Also, with no set territory, are the Wild Riders. The claim no turf. Or, rather, they claim anywhere they are at that exact second to be their turf. They are vicious and take no prisoners, but only if provoked. They usually clear out of wherever they are after a day or so, so they don’t get bothered much. They do have a beef with the Hellbringers, although no one really remembers what it’s about.

The Bleeding Edge has prospered well under the leadership of Prometheus. He was a huge, huge trog. He was well read, and knowledgeable, as well as one of the fiercest fighters the neighbourhood has ever seen. This morning, he sits in his high-backed chair in the living-room, unconscious.

Last night, was a great, great party. The aftermath is almost as impressive in it’s own way. The entire gang is here, mostly asleep.

Ghost, Prometheus’ second-in-command, is upstairs in his room, asleep. Mickey, an elf who was an unaffiliated squatter up until about three months ago, is curled up in a corner of the living room. Blitz has managed to clear off the couch all for himself, and softly snores away. Kake is asleep in his truck, as usual. Techie, a foul-mouthed ork, is asleep on the kitchen table, although he has his own room. Tremor, Buck Tooth, Shaman, Bruised, Widow, Trash, Tyler, Jake, and Nick are all downstairs on the dozens of bunk beds that been collectively dubbed the Barracks. As usual, Junkie is asleep in the bathtub.

All seventeen members of the Bleeding Edge are wearing, somewhere on their person, the bloody knife patch that is their symbol, and the gray and red bandanna that are their colors.

The only one awake is Mother. She is an elven girl who could be anywhere between 17 and 30-something. She is dressed in a bath robe and smoking a cigarette, scrambling enough eggs to feed everyone. It isn’t long before she wanders off to wake up Prometheus, because he likes to be awake in this part of the morning, when everyone is asleep and everything is quiet. After jostling his shoulder for a minute, she notices more blood than usual covering the front of his shirt. Lifting his head up from it’s slumped position, she sees the hole going up through his skull from the bottom of his jaw. It’s also just then that she sees his gun, with a silencer on it, laying on the floor beside his chair.

Not bothering to wake everyone up individually, she does one of the things Mother is famous for. She lets out a whistle that pierces everyone’s dreams and makes each and every single person in the fairly large house sit bolt upright. As everyone scrambles into the living room, they all see what the matter is.

[Tanka]

Kake manages to hear the whistle, even through the siding of his semi, somehow. He scrambles up and into some semblance of clothing and armedness. The Predator III inside a coat pocket, the survival knife in his boot, the telescoping staff carefully tucked in the lower part of a sleeve. Predator III silenced, and all four clips fully loaded and ready to go. He jumps out one of the gate exits from the trailer and takes off full speed to the origin of the whistle.

"Mother? Mother? What happened?"

He more or less stumbled into the room with Prometheus before sliding to a stop just inside of the doorway, Predator III drawn and ready.

[Shadow]

Ghost's eyes snap open at the srhil noise. It takes a few seconds for his mind to engage his reflexes, he rolls off the bed, clad only in boxers, hand reaching under the covers for his stun baton. Then his senses kick in and he realizes he's in no immediate danger. He hear's Kake come rushing in, when theres no sound of struggle or gunfire he surmises that what ever it is, can wait a few minutes. He slips on his cloths, denim pants and canvas shirt followed by his vest, with the large image of the bleeding edge logo on the chest. He straps on his colt and stun button and flows out the door, slipping his trench on while he does.

The stairs creak as he gets to the bottom, he takes on look at the room, their (ex) leader, sitting in the chair, a bullet where his brain used to be.

"Oh Drek."

Ghost circles the body looking to Mother for an explanation, when she shrugs her shoulders he nods.

"I didn't see this coming," he says

Ghost squats beside the body, slipping the heavy gun in his right coat pocket.

"Kake, round everybody up, were going to have problems." He says in his slightly accented voice. He rests a hand on Prometheus' shoulder, and whispers silently, "godspeed my Liege."

This post has been edited by Shadow: Nov 12 2003, 11:20 PM

[Tanka]

"Yessir, on it."

Kake turns, takes a few steps, and bellows in the almost-lost trucker-voice.

"Hey, slotheads! Get over 'ere righ' now! Ghost's got summin' ta say... And, there's... Uh... Somethin' ya gotta see..."

The last bit he says a bit sadly and a little more quietly. He turns back around and walks over to Mother, putting a hand on her shoulder.

He looks around the room quickly to see if anything else is a bit out of place in the room, then waits for the rest of the guys.

[Large Mike]

Awakened by the whistle, Tremor, Buck Tooth, Techie, Shaman, Bruised, Widow, and Trash all arrive. With Blitz and Mikey having slept in the livingroom, the only people missing are Tyler, Nick, and Junkie.

There doesn't seem to be that much out of place, other than the misplaced bullet. Mother has tears running down her cheeks as she sits down in a corner and lights another smoke.

Buck Tooth, normally the loudest, most disrespectful little punk, starts bawling, trying to hide it best he can. Widow and Trash converse among themselves quietly.

[Tanka]

Kake closes his eyes, then remembers, finally, to put his Predator away. He pulls out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, lights one up, and replaces the pack and the lighter. He quietly removes his hand from Mother's shoulder and walks over to Ghost.

"What now? No note or nothin'?"

He glances around, trying to think of anything that could've sparked the ex-leader's suicide.

[Shadow]

Ghost cocks his head at Kake, a dangerous fire flicker in his eyes before he squashes it. He takes a breath, and as quietly as he can he speaks to Kake, and to Kake alone.

"What suicide Omae, our leader has been murdered, in our own dos. That's what happened, and that's how it plays, soka?"

Ghost looks to mother and shakes his head side to side, and brings his forfinger to his lips.


(OOC)
Ghost squats beside the body, slipping the heavy gun in his right coat pocket.
He did this right after he came down stairs. Only Mother, Kake, and Ghost know the truth, and he wants it to stay that way.

[Tanka]

Kake nodded once, turned to look at the other guys, then turned back to Ghost. He spoke at barely a whisper.

"Want me ta tell 'em, or ya got somethin' planned ta say?"

[Shadow]

Ghost smiles at how quickly Kake picks up the bait,

"I got something planned, as soon as everyone is assembled I'll have a plan of action," Ghost rests his hand briefly on Kake's shoulder, "we play this right we might even extend our territory."

Ghost turns away steps over to Mother, "You understand it has to be this way," he whispers to her.

"He cannot be seen as weak by the other gangs, or we will be seen as weak. That," he pauses for a moment, "and it doesn't do his memory justice."

[Large Mike]

The only electronics in the room are a couple of lamps and an ancient, but big screen TV. There's also a telephone and someone's broken BTL rig, it's been there as long as anyone can remember.

Prometheus is a very regal looking troll. For street trash, he's about as good looking as it gets. He's clean-shaven and well kept. His clothes include a Bleeding Edge denim vest and some leather pants. He also has a motorcycle-chain for a necklace, having gotten the idea from another gang memeber. He's seated as a king on his throne, despite the slumped head.

The mood of the gathered members is one of sadness and grievance. They all loved Prometheus, he was like a big brother to everyone.

[Tanka]

Kake walks out to the nearest bed, or anything with covers, really, and yanks it straight off. After shaking it off a bit, he bundles it in his arms, then walks back to the room. He quietly covers Prometheus and puts his hand to his head in a salute.

"I wish ya well, wherever ya go, omae."

[Fresno Bob]

Roused from sleep by the whistle, he quickly covers his torso with a ripped Sex Pistols T-Shirt and jumps off his bunk, pausing to reach into his duffel bag and jam his Ceska into his back pocket. Quickly he molds his hair quickly into spikes as he runs past the broken mirror. His motorcycle boots make loud stomps as he bolts up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He appears in the living room, starting an apology for being later than the rest, but cuts it off when he sees the body.

"What the hell happened? Who did this!?"

[Tanka]

Kake sighs, again, after taking a long drag on his cigarette. He shakes his head as he hears the thumping of boots, signaling the late arrival. He turns just in time to see Nick come in.

"Not sure... Probably 'nother gang. Who'd do this ta us Ghost? Slottin' with our leader is like slottin' with the fraggin' Star... Now we gonna have ta show them, huh?"

Kake took another drag and walked to the far corner, flicking a few ashes off the butt of the cigarette.

[Fresno Bob]

Nick shakes his head.

"We'll kill 'em. We've got to...." He pauses for a moment then adds "Oi, Kake, can I bum a smoke?"

[Tanka]

Kake sighs, yet again. He seems to be really good at that.

"Sure. Here."

He pulls out the pack and throws it across the room, aimed at Nick, of course.

What a time ta ask fer something, neh? Eh, whatever...

[Fresno Bob]

Nick catches the pack, fumbling it a bit, but then pulling it close for security.

"Thanks, mate." he says, as he pulls out a cigarette, then lights it with a nearby book of matches.

"Hard to believe someone could sneak into our doss and geek 'metheus like this. Although I suppose our night of reverie helped." Nick half smiles and takes a long drag. He throws the pack to Kake, and then wipes his eyes.

"Er, its the smoke. Stings me eyes.", he adds hastily, then sniffs noticeably.

[Tanka]

Kake fumbled a bit with the pack, then dropped it. He sighed and bent down to pick it up slowly.

"Drek... Yeah. Question is... Who an' why?"

[last_of_the_grea...]

Mickey glares at the scene of death and blood, his eyes going vacant for a moment as he whispers, "Oh hell! I knew we shoulda kept a couple of us sober!" He envestigates the scene pretty carefully, noting the would under his chin. He mutters "Yeah...bloody hell, somebody's gotta pay! Who's Renraku fronting now?" He looks to Ghost with a look that says he knows better...but that he'll back the play. Ghost took charge so for now Mickey'll follow his lead...but he knew. After all, it's pretty hard to shoot someone under the chin.

He points to three random members of the gang. "You three, get yer weapons and start watchin' the place! Noone gets in. The rest of ya, get yer weapons ready." He looks over to Ghost. "Got any ideas who the perps were?"

[Fresno Bob]

Nick puffs his cigarette, tapping the ash onto the ground, then flicks it down and grinds it out under his boot.

"Oi, Mick. Who put you in charge? I say we all vote on any actions until a leader can be decided. Although, checking out what went down sounds like a good idea."

[Digital Heroin]

Blitzkreig had passed out the night before in his clothes, and so, when he was roused by Mother's whistle, he grunted, rolling off of the couch and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

One of these days, you'll wake up dead...

It was one of his father's sayings. His father used to think it would intimidate him, like it was some kind of mythical threat. He had been scared of his father and his words, up until some snotnosed punk had laughed at him and explained how you couldn't wake up if you were dead. The next time his father had used the line on him, was the last time his father had spoken. He'd killed the fragger with his bare hands that night, his first taste of lifeblood.

One of these days, you'll wake up dead...

If only he knew it wouldn't be him who died. Hell, he'd still have got smashed last night anyway, just in a celebration of a friend's life. He pulls himself to his feet after a long moment, and makes his way to the room where everyone's gathered. He bullies his way past some of the smaller members, the greens, and grunts.

`What the frag's goin' on in 'ere?`

Yeah, real perceptive, ain't he?

[Large Mike]

Widow, a battle-scarred woman who has proven herself time and time again, stubs out her cigarette and leaves the room. She is joined by Trash, one of the brawling trogs of the group, his baseball bat swinging in it's sheath (yes, a sheath for a baseball bat) at his hip, as alwayse. They head down to the barracks, and come up not long after with the busted remains of a bunk that had been broken in a brawl a while back.

"If anyone needs us, we'll be out back making the pyre for his funural tonight."

There is a bit of muttering, and Shaman and Tremor go to join them.

Buck Tooth, who no one had noticed slip out a minute earlier walks in and, after the proper respectful pause of silence, says "The only person not right here are those four and Junkie, who's conked out in the tub again. There ain't nobody else in tha whole place. Whatever fragger did this is vanished."

[Shadow]

I say we all vote on any actions until a leader can be decided

"What the Fraggin Hell you think I am Nick," Ghost spins around and looks right at Nick, lifting his finger and pointing at the ganger.

"Listen up, listen good. Promo has been murdered, and my money is on The Losers, they fragged up real good and now were going to return the favor. I'll say it in small words, Ghost is in charge. Anyone got a problem with that better leave now, 'cause this aint no debate."

Ghost takes a few steps up the stairs and then turns around, making sure to be on eye level with even the biggest trog.

"Tremor, Buck Tooth, and Widow, get your weapons and get on the perimeter, we don't want a repeat, Blitz, you and Kake take Promo out back and build him a pyre, I want a fire so big the whole world will see the flames. And then, then we plan on how to make our enemies pay, no one, and I mean no one gets away with this."

Ghost ends by giving his best intimidating look to the crowd. He then hops off the steps and walks strait up to Nick,

"We going to rumble, omae?"

[Digital Heroin]

Before a rumble can actually break out, before Nick can actually answer to Ghost, Blitz steps up behind him, arms crossed, a serious look on his face. Deadly serious.

`Someone geeked the big man,`

He'd just caught onto it, seen it in their eyes, heard it in their words.

`Now we can stand here and fight amongst ourselves, let them win, or we can send 'em a message.`

He leans in a little, to adress Nick nice and close-like.

`You comprend, chummer?`

He looks to Ghost, and nods. He can see where the tides lie.

`I'll do as you say, but you'd best be ready to back your words with blood.`

[Large Mike]

Everyone goes to follow their orders, stunned into more obediance than they'd normally show, but stop as they realize what had just happened between Ghost and Nick. Even the four who'd gotten just out the door appeared suddenly, and everyone widened out into a circle around the two in anticipation of the coming conflict.

In the corner, Mother looked up, stood up, and pushed her way to ringside, despite being a little elf shouldering through trogs. Everything is deadly quiet.

[Shadow]

"Our honor has been tarnished Blitz, are very souls have been insulted by this shameful deed," He says, still standing directly in front of Nick, but looking up at the big troll.

"Our blades demand blood, the honor of our patron demands blood, our swords will come unsheathed and drink deeply the blood of our enemy," he turns his head back to Nick, his voice dropping a few levels, "who ever they may be."