No one is inside the boat house when he pulls in. Lights are off in side the main house too. They must be out for once. Rayo docks and ties off quickly, looking at the large assortment of parts lying out around the floor. No hull yet, but it looks like they have just about everything else.

Rayo takes his bags from the boat, moving slowly and dodging any parts on the floor. He ticks the code to hangar door and closes it after passing through, giving a last look to his boat.
Bye baby. I'll be right back.
After that Rayo walks to his car, but decides to take a short walk back home. He has already sat enought for the next couple of days, walking will now only feel good. While walking, with black bag on each hand, he whistles with blues tune. He stops buy at some fish market and buys a really good looking sea salmon.
Now there's some good souvenir for Admiral. He should be now home alone, if this is Heather's work day. I need to go to buy some flowers before going to Kitten. Jewelry might be too much.. yeah, she might understand something horribly wrong. Hmm..

The house is quiet and secure when Rayo arrives home. That is ofcourse, until he gets inside, when he's greeted by a very loud and eager *MEOW* which continues over and over at an incredible rate, as Admiral comes running out jumping up Rayo's leg and literally climbing in to his arms. The cat then follows with a deep *purrrr* and constant nibbling at the bagged fish.

Hi boy! Have you missed me? I've missed you so much.. see, daddy got you goodies, daddy has never forgot you. Yes, that's right..
Rayo pets, scratches, strokes and kisses Admiral for a while, then let's it back down to floor and walks to kitchen, with Admiral tight against his leg. Rayo takes out his kitchen knife, prepares quick dinner for Admiral by taking out fishbones and puts rest of the fish to fridge. For a while he sits on the floor, legs crossed and just watches Admiral eating while strokes his firm fur.
Yes, just eat, sweetie.. Daddy loves you.
Yeah. I really do.
Rayo gives a long, but happy sigh, gets up, remembers now to close the door and heads for shower.

After refreshing shower Rayo changes to new clothes, playes a minute with Admiral, oils and otherwise quickly takes care of his assault rifle and heads out, but first farewells one ball of fur.
Bye, sweety.. daddy will come back soon. Yes, you can sleep tonight in Daddies lap. Bye now..
Rayo goes to pick up his van, drives through nearest open flower shop, gets a bunch of tulips and gets them to Naughty Kitten.
I'm not really sure if I want to give them myself. Maybe I give them to the bouncer.. but I need the key back. Drek, why can't these things be simple.

Rayo - Fri, Aug 24th - 1950



The Naughty Kittne is alive with activity when Rayo arrives. The weekends are always the best time for vice after all. Friday's close enough.

The big ork bouncer smiles when Rayo walks up with the flowers.

Hoi'ya chummer. See'in someone?

Hi. Well no.. I mean yes - but not that way, no! Err.. anyways, do you know if Heather is here? Or is she.. umm.. having a house call?
Rayo is "a bit" nervous, avoids eye contact with anyone and hides his face from time to time behind his flower bush.

The bouncer chuckles a bit. It's good nature though, apparently more amused by Rayo's flustered response than anything else.

She's due on at 2100 chummer. Got yer self 'bout an hour ta make yer self comf'table.

Umm.. yeah.. maybe I get a drink or two before that. Yeah.. thanks, buddy.
Rayo smokes rest of his cigarette outside and then goes inside, a little confused what to do an hour with bunch of tulips.
Well, beer tastes the same wherever I drink it. Man, it's just so many days, maybe weeks, of my last visit to smuggler's bar. Need to see some of my co-workers, maybe here the latest gossips. Maybe I do it later..

Rayo gets some odd looks from the men as he enters the strip club, flowers in hand, bad more than a few snickers. The women however, are all smiles and graciousness, apparently loving the idea of "romance" at work. One of hte girls actually brings Rayo a few drinks on the house, smiling and giggling a bti as she bounces away topless.

Eventually a nurse... or at least , what Rayo wishes was his nurse, in an extremely short white nurse skirt and haning-by-one-button top, and bleached blond hair makes her way over to Rayo.

Ok, I have to ask. Well, everyone wants to know really. Who are the flowers for?

From the look on her face ,she even almost seems to be hoping their for her. They really only get one kind of man in here most of the time. So anyone actually willing to bring in flowers is a rare treat.

The.. Rayo's sentence is left short with more than one couple of distractions making his mind wonder. He really wonders if somebody could get used to all of this. If anybody even would want to get used to all of this. Rayo takes a long gulp from his beer and tries to concentrate to the eyes of his nurse.
Y-you all seem to un-understand s-so-something horr-rribly wrong. These are for Heather, b-but not that way what you think. She.. she.. she helped me with something. Something that was important to me. I.. I think.. I taught this would be good way to say.. thank you.
Something in Rayo's mind says, that now, it's time to run. In shadows, that is the sense you want to listen if you want to see another day.
Drek, drek, drek, drek.. freaking drek.
You know what.. here.. you give them to her. Just take them.. I need to go.. now.
Rayo silently gives the flowers to the nurse, takes his beer, gives bottoms up and slides from his bar stool planning for a good escape route outside.

Well hold on, no need to run off! You're that rayo guy , right? Heather's watching you dog or something? You should give these to her! Really, she'd like them!

The "nurse" looks worried, as if she's ruined something.

I didn't mean to embarass you or anything. It's just, I think Heather would really like these.

Rayo gives a long sigh and watches upwards past the bounching beauties back to nurses eyes.
Cat. Admiral is a cat. A Kitten. Like you. Yeah, it's funny. Kitten watching a cat. Ha ha.
Rayo wasn't laughing, he almost wants to cry. Rayo gives a face he normally doesn't give to half-naked ladies, but to ork gangers on the streets. Look says "Leave me alone and you'll not get hurt".
Just give them to her. Apology for me not getting anything better.
Then he leaves the place.
I'm not going to ever come back here again. Whatever big mission Mancuso has me here.

Jesus, I was just tryin' ta' help, you fragging prick.

She shoulda killed your fragging cat. Why dont' you go home and hump it, 'cause that's the only tail you'll be getting!

...loser.

Rayo stomps outside to his van, not answering to ork bouncer, not even listening what he says. He leaves the parking lot with wheels squeeling and just starts driving somewhere.
Freaking women.. nobody says that about my little boy. Should've wasted her. Bitch.. I need a new drink. A whole new place to drink. Hmm.. yes.
Rayo decides to drink at Lucky Strike. There seemed to be good people, good drinks and even good screens to see matches. Just need to remember when it's good time to leave.

The Lucky Stike - 2045

Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name. Roberto the bar tender doesn't know your name. But he waves you over jsut the same and pours you a whiskey on the rocks. On the house.

What's with the long face there chummer? Lady problems? That's always me when it's a lady ya' know. Never fails, ya' try and do rght by them, an' next thing ya know, they're turnin' on ya'. Like this one girl I knew, Tiffany. Cute chica, walked all sexy like. Bought her a puppy once. Cute liitle thing of a dog. So she keeps it and calls it Phooey. Phooey! Can you believe that!? Who calls a dog Phooey!?!? Anyways she takes the damn thing everywhere, starts feeding it meat. Goddamn fraggin' meat, ya know, like from an actual cow. SO this dog, it won't wat anything but real meat. And she whines and whines about how the dog just sits around and won't eat anything but meat no matter what she does yaddy yaddy ya, she just goes on and on. Just always yammering ya know. And that little dog always with her. Course the fraggin thing hates me. Just wouldn't work if it didn't ya know. Like fate or something. Never mind that I bought the mutt. So eventually we break up. She goes on and on with some drek about how I never listen and crap ,a nd I dunno I awsn't really paying attention by that point but she keeps talking. I think the broad was cheating on me too. Little ... well anyway, she goes and dmps the dog on me. Says that I bought it so it's my dog now! Never mind that she's had the thing for almost a year now! Top it of, the damn thing is sick cause she kept giving it bad meat! It's got fraggin' worms man! Worms! You got any idea how gross that is!? So I got this sick dog that's crappin' everywhere in the house, and still won't anything but real meat. Costs me a damn small fortune lemme tell ya. Had to take the dog in to the vet, needs surgery which of course cost me like three grand just to fix this dam,n dog that I never wanted and doesn't even like me. Then I gotta keep giving it these mouth drops, and of course the damn thing bites me the whole time.So I ended up giving it to my mom.

It takes Rayo a minute to realize the bartender has stopped talking, and is now looking intently at Rayo as if expecting some sort of response.

Oh.. my.. god.
Rayo blinks his eyes and gives bottoms up to his whiskey.
Sorry. I'm a cat person.

Uhh.. uh... yeah... I think I might be too. Really hate dogs now though. Ya know...

He starts talking again. Thankfully this time Rayo is ready for it, and blocks him out quickly. Eventualyl the bartener takes the hint and goes on to other customers. He arranges for Rayo to get a basket of hot wings.

Once he's gone, Rayo has the oppurtunity to enjoy him self a bit more. The sports bar is off to the left. Drinks, men talking brawl, and 12 different screens of various sporting events. The place has some sort of white noise baffles built in to to keep the audio from the different games from over lapping.

To the south end is the gambling tables. Drinks are free, money moves fast, people can strike it rich or loose it all on luck and skill.

Past that is the stage room. The girls are attractive, and the commitment no existant.

To the right, past the bar is the VR rooms. A full SIM enviroment available in both VR, and AR/ holographic over lay with hundreds of different story options. Adventure, suspense, mystery, horror, erotic, and more. Everything the heart could desire in one small reality-augmented room.

This place.. not really my style, but it's fine. At least I don't have to watch out heart stroke in here.
Rayo passes women, gambling and virtual rooms, but sport bar and cheering (or cursing) men seems to be what he wants from this night. Rayo finds himself a seat, orders himself a pint of Guinness and start finding himself a game he has any interest on. Sadly, Rayo's favourite, NHL is still on summer break, but in one month the games will start again. He doesn't even know how to skate, they don't even take dwarfs on their league, but it's the violence and speed that makes Rayo watch every game he can.
Just in case he gets too interest in some game, he leaves a wake up call to his commlink/cyberarm at midnight. Enough time to get the boat to mob's warehouse.

Rayo's alarm gives him the reminder just before midnight, allowing him plenty of time to drive back to the boat house, and then to the meet with Benny.

Rayo drives back, sneaks into the boat house and sails to the meeting place. When almost in front of mobs warehouse he sounds the fog-horn twice, the same signal they had used before for door opening.

The dock door rolls up after a few moments. In side is Benny, and one of his now familiar cronies, a big ork named Pat. Pat was one of those that it was some times hard to tell if shim was a sman or a woman. Rayo was leaning towards woman last time they'd met, but Pat was giving him some interested looks. Pat was tall, with long brown hair, worn in a tail and usually unwashed. Could be small breasats, could be man boobs, who knew. But Pat was strong, and that was usually all Benny needed.

Pat was driving out a forklift with a pallet on it to unload the goods. Benny walked up to the boat, a smile on his face.

Where ya' at Ray? Glad ta' be back in town?

Benny my man! You can't even imagine how happy I am to be back. I even need a freaking new jacket. Look, whole sleeve ruined.
Rayo throws the rope to Benny for him to slide the boat nearer for unloading. Meanwhile he opens the smuggler holds and dies the engine.
Man, I had some incredible luck on the border. I was so sure that I was going to get busted, but somehow they believed the me and my Rayo turns to his spanish accent, of course over emphasizing it so bad americanish. No cargo, no nothing. But seriosly, those pigs wanted to boss me around and do you know what they did? They drank my whole fridge empty! I tried to argue, but no, they drank and took every bottle I got, even the six pack I got for you. I'm sorry Benny.. here, I give your money back. Next time, I don't keep your beer in the fridge, it goes to smuggler hold with rest of your stuff, m'kay.

Hahahahaha! Yeah, those fraggin' pigs. Nah Ray', keep the money. Ain't no thing. Just have ta get a new pack next time. Let's see waht ya' brought me there.

Getting down to business, Benny and Pat help Rayo begin to unload the stash in the hold, loading it on to the pallet. Within 10 minutes, the second pallet is full and headed back in side the warehouse.

Not a bad little stash. Couldn't get more outta that rat Louis?

Con Test

You haven't talked to the kid? Things got really drekky back there. Some poor night guard surprised us and I had to shoot him. We hided his body, but then Lone Star, or whatever they are in St. Louis, sirens scared us and I had to split. I could have stolen a rig and taken the whole haul, but most likely they would have searched it on the border. Then you would have gotten nothing and I would have been in jail. So, in my opinion, this is a pretty good booty. And free of charge for you.

Benny listens with interest as Rayo talks. His features fall just a bit, but his grin never leaves his face. It does leave his eyes though.

Ray Ray Ray m'boy. How long we been workin' dese streets t'gether my man? How long you been haulin' somethin' for me?

Pat's walking back from the warehouse as Benny talks. Benny is standing with his hands crossed in front of him, one foot up on the side of the boat.

I know you hit trouble before my man. I know dat dese t'ings happen, and wacha gonna do?

Wacha gonna do Ray? You, shootin' down some sec guard 'cause he came up on ya'?Now I ain't sayin' that you can't do it. What I'm thinkin' though, is that ain't your style. I know you man. You're smart. Smart enough to know ta; run radder den shoot if ya' can help it. I also know dat Louis, well he ain't real smart. You shot a man down in front o' him, he'd be doin' all he could to make him self scarce. But he called me up jes' fine, blabberin' somethin' 'bout some trouble, but dat everyting' is on it's way down.


Benny leans forward, looking hard at Rayo. He isn't grinning any more.

Ray .... you wouldn't be holdin' out on ol' Benny would ya'? You know what happens when folk do dat kind o' stupid. Why don't you tell me anodder one Ray. See if ya' can come up wit' a better story 'dis time.

Pat is there now, glaring down at Rayo. It's obvious "he" doesn't really know what's going on, but the situation is pretty clear by Benny's tone.

Composure Test, just for fun

Rayo puts his hands up in the air, between him and Benny and looks worried.
He-hey, easy there big fellow! Were buddies, right? What I would do with out my big friend Benny here, eh?
Should have known.. anybody else would have been happy, slapped me on the shoulder, a bit too hard but still, but not Benny. Like playing chess with a dragon.. who knows the rules.
You want that we are honest? Okey then, let's be honest. As you said, you know me, you know I'm smart. But you also know, that I got a big heart and I care for the people, m'kay? I even feel bad for those three unlucky bastards that attacked me on Davenport. Did Rob tell about his? They just attacked me and I still don't know why or.. okey, they wanted the package, but I don't know how did they know I was there or who were they. I didn't have any choice, they just wanted me dead. Now, you did say that I shouldn't care about Louis. But I did. I did sorry for him. I don't know what he has done, if he's some kind of beetler or some other kind of loser, but I though he needs a second chance. Like you gave one to me, Benny. Look..
Rayo turns to look at his boat.
When you gave me one, I could've just splited from the scene. Maybe headed to south, selling guns to rebels somewhere, drinking margaritas and watching senõritas. Maybe you would have gone after me, or maybe I wouldn't have been the worth of your time. But no, I stayed.. do you know why I didn't go, Benny?
Rayo now turns back to Benny, taking a peek over his shoulder if Pat has picked up something heavy, which is good for taking Rayo's lights out.
Because I believed in you. I believe in people who holds they're own destiny in their own hands. They don't let people boss them around. Of course, there are always superiors to us and you could have made me answer to them..
Even though, I think they didn't know about your cargo, did they, Benny boy?
..but you did what you thought was best on the situation. I respect that. I respect that kind of people. I LOVE to work with that kind of people. So.. there was no night guard. I'm sorry I lied. I just wanted to look tougher in your eyes. You know, look at us. You're my big buddy and I hang around here on the ground looking at your crotch level. I would do anything to be as tall as you are! But Louis.. he was even below me. He didn't have any kind of spine. So I wanted to make him feel better, even though he could be in a trouble only because of this amount of stuff. So, Benny, how did this sound? Was this better than the first one? Do you still respect me after this?
Wow.. lot's of talk. Even my tongue is dry. But hell, everything I said, I meant it. I just hope Benny still feels that he needs me.
Rayo takes a stand, bit like mocking Benny with same look and position than he is, just like being a mini version of Benny, but Rayo himself doesn't seem to realize this. Hope Benny won't either.

Con/Fast Talk Test -2 modifier

Con Test

Test Vs Con


Benny looks Rayo over for a long time as if deciding just how to respond. Eventually, he glance sover his shoulder at Pat, who is still glaring intently at Rayo, then responds.

Ray, you coulda moved dat stuff. Ya coulda, but ya got soft. Dis ain't a bizness for da softies ma friend. Dat kid Louis, he deserves everting he gets. Ain't your bizness why, and I ain't gonna soothe your conciense by tellin' ya'. I am gonna tell ya' dis do. You cost me a lotta cred taday. I told ya' ta take what eva ya could, and ya took just da bare minimum. And den, ya lied ta me. Ta me yer ol' pal Benny. Dat ain't how pals work tagether now is it Ray?

It were anyone else, ya'd be face down in da lake right now bleedin' out. Dis ain't gonna happen again Ray. You do a job, ya do it right. Ya' pulled some good work for ma pal Rob. Den ya go and try ta pull a fast one on me.

But we're gonna make dis right, ain't we Ray?Da deal was ta take dis load dat you got here, plus whateva extra ya could haul. Ya coulds hauled a lot more. I know ya got room on dat boat. So yer gonna owe me. 10Gs. Ya owe me 10 more for da load dat ya left behind Ray. T'ink about dat next time ya start ta get soft wit' some keeb brat.


Benny steps off the boat, heading back towards the warehouse, while Pat still watches Rayo. Benny looks back after a few feet.

And Ray, 'dat drek about running from a debt.... I hope you's know betta dan dat. I really do.

Benny turns again, and walks in side.

Rayo watches Benny go, gloomily as ever and then realizes what Benny had.
Hey! What about.. my.. Rayo watches the door slamming money. Forget about it. Pre-payment. He gives a long sigh and then looks at Pat.
I messed up, huh? But I still don't understand.. I'm still alive. Rest of the talk is more monology than intended to Pat. He takes of the landing rope, throws it back gloomily to the boat and climbs after it.
See ya, Pat.

It seems to be monday already.

Pat simply watches as Rayo slides away in to the night.

Rayo sails his boat back to boat house, with a very gloomy mind.
Benny's right. This ain't business for softies. Maybe I should start thinking more of myself and less of others. Hell.. if things would be different, I would take Benny out. Not myself, hire someone to do it, don't want family on my ass. But no.. still lot of work to do and doing it for Benny would be the fastest way to end it. Drek it.. I might as well go fishing now and sleep the next day. Admiral can wait for now..
Rayo finds his older rod from the boat house, no time to go fetch his better one from home, and goes his favourite fishing spot.
Maybe I try listening those damn fishes today, like the old man suggested..

The old man is out there as always, singing softly in a low bass. The fish seem to be responding, as Rayo sees him toss yet another one back. Rayo sits, baits up, casts, and waits. The water is calm, the morning sea air crisp and fresh. Rayo's bait sits there for a while, the flaoter bobbing in the water. Rayo finds him self quietly humming the tuneless diddy the old man is singing. Just as he stops, he gets a bite.

Nice..
Rayo finds himself a smoke from his jacket's pocket, lights it up and watches the old man unhooking the fish and gently letting it again go back to the sea.
Old man. There seems to be nothing in this world that can drive you away from this spot, isn't there?

Hurrican' . Scare's da' fish away.

Keep up dat hummin' boy, and dey'll come to ya'. You see.

Humming? Do they like some particular song? Maybe jazz or blues?
Rayo doesn't smile or laugh. He's really serious. If humming makes him catch a fish then it might be a worth to make himself ridiculous.

Dey like Soul. Ya gotta feel it. Just you humm along, I show ya'.

The old man keeps singing low and slow, the words unintelligible, like the type of work songs the old slaves used to sing to keep their spirits up in the heat of the day working the fields. Really listening for the first time, Rayo feels the mournful feel deep inside. The sorrow and heart ache in the song is evident once he listens, even though he can't understand the words. He soon finds him self humming along.

Being in the gloomy mood helps a lot to find the right tune. Rayo keeps on humming, finding himself in a suprisingly good duetto, even giving a small solo.
Drek. I should have some kind of earware for this. But I would be too embarrased to play it to anyone. Except to fishes, would save the effort of humming.

There's a sudden tug on the line as Rayo gets a bite. Feels like a big one.

What the.. this is.. a really heavy.. for being a spare tire!
Rayo stands up and starts pulling, scaring that the rod would brake as it has seen it better days.
Old man! It freaking worked! The humming worked!

The Old man just laughs and watches as Rayo pulls in a massive 20 lb cat fish.

Holy cow..
Rayo has all the work just to keep the fish not bouncing back into the sea. Somewhere he evens remembers to put on his cybereye recorder, to remember later his big fight with a fish.
Oh man.. I have never got anything as big as this! At least not with a rod..
Rayo turns to look at the old man and raises his eyebrow.
Old man. Do you mind if I take this home with me?
I think he might be offended by this.. I have never seen him killing any fish, always letting them back to sea. He might even be vegetarian or something. Never know, better to ask.. would be shame to let his beauty go, though.

Mind? Boy I hate catfish! Fry that sucka up! He grins as he says it.
Rayo girns back ... then something gnaws at him.

The old man's blind. How the hell does he know it's a catfish!?

Err.. y-yeah.
He looks at the old man, more like staring at him trying to find something to speak about. He ends up just blowing air from his lungs.
Damn. Blind? Hell.. I think I read it somewhere that ghouls are blind. Is he ghoul? No, no, no.. I've seen him here even after sun has rised. Damn. He can't be that good fisher that he knows by the sound what fish this is.. maybe he's awakened? Magician? Ain't there rumours about dragons changing into human forms? Hell.. that's why he ain't eating fishes. I'm in the breakfast menu!
Rayo starts looking around him, trying to find somebody else at this late of the night at the docks, just for comfort that he won't be alone with might-be-a-dragon.

There always seems to be people wandering the docks. A couple out for a late night stroll. The mugger out for the late night roll. A couple of krewe boys a way off scouting their territory, a bum and his cat dumpster diving. The docks at night are like any other place in the wild. There's always activity, always things moving around. You just have to know where to look, because those that belong, know how to blend.

Okey Rayo-boy.. calm down. Maybe there's some easy explanation to all this.
Rayo turns back to look at the old man, still holding the catfish from its gills.
So.. been nice wheather, huh?

Not bad boy. I's not bad. Be worst in a few weeks. Be a strom blowin', mark my words. But not bad now.

A few weeks. The words echo in Rayo's mind, like a gong keying loose memories. The relaxation begins to ebb, the slow knots return , as he remembers Benny, and remembers his debt to Dr Tell. $5,000 here, $10,000 there, it's starting to add up. There's a way out though. Or in deeper if it goes wrong. CrashCart. Could be a real life saver.