The Camaleon Chronicals

[oZoneRanger]

Phillip DeLaFontain, had been drinking for a few hours. Perhaps it had been the tension of the raid, the fear of dieing in a metal sarcophagus the size of a large building or the possibility of loosing his new ship.

Maybe it was the mixture of alcohol, pharma, and the Vile for the Venereal. Either way, whatever the combination, it was proving to be more than the bartenders and the other patrons could handle.

The Barkeepers were old hands in the business. They had seen all kinds of things serving swill. They could smell problems coming way before they showed up. They both had one golden rule. Ya don't call the cops, ever. You try to handle all your problems in house, and only get personally involved with the "other side" of the bar as a last resort.

This was the lower deck bar. The bar where all the deckhands, dockworkers and Ore haulers living on Toronto Station kicked back after work. It's normally a rough in character but relaxed atmosphere. But anything could put this group of tough, simple hardworking men over the line. That anything today was DeLaFontain.

By the way he was dressed, he belonged up on the Main Promenade bar. Where all the corporate suits flocked together. The bartender who first served him, mentioned it while pouring him the drink.

"The bastards kicked me out, ME, a man set to travel to GaLLia and Beyond". Was DeLaFontains answer, throwing down 300 credits on the bar right off the bat. First time big tippers are 9 times out of 10, big problems. Another golden rule of bartending.

But the week had been slow. Usually after the a raid, the dockcrews had to work around the clock to make up for lost production, so he followed yet another golden rule of bartending... "Take the money while you can." The bartender was beginning to believe that there were to many golden rules in his profession.

DelaFontain had walked in, proclaiming his good luck to the four walls and anyone that would listen to him. He was loud and friendly at first, but after the fourth drink he became much louder and less amicable.

It was far from appropriate. Many in the bar had lost friends in the raid. Something he now seemed oblivious to.

The captain who had brought the Lady Luck to Toronto had stopped in, but only after DeLaFontain insisted 8 times over the comms system he do so.

Captain Hand, had another ship to ferry out that afternoon, so he refused the drink he was offered. Partly out of duty to his next paying charge and partly out of respect for the friends of the fallen who had gathered briefly to share a solemn drink and get back to work when the cargo docks reopened.

The big corporations didn't stop for hardly anything, it had always been that way in Liberty, and today would be no different. It would be back to business as usual in a matter of hours and the loss of life, transports and cargo would be written off as part of the cost of doing business.

Big profits demanded big risks, and no matter how dangerous life in space was, there was always a stock of willing applicants to take over when someone fell off into the void.

But a moment or two of respect was called for and DeLaFontain was out of line. Captain Hand tried to persuade him to leave and offered to take him back to his office. DeLaFontain would have none of it.

"What?... you think someone else's death is going to stop MY celebration? I've been cured of Venereals today" letting out another burst of mad laughter. "If you won't drink with me captain, YOU ARE FIRED" he said spewing half of his last drink all over the captains flight suit following that up with another madmans cackle.

It would have been funny in under different circumstances mused Captain Hand. He didn't work for DeLaFontain. He was a new ship delivery pilot. After today he probably would never see him again.

"FIRED do you hear me...I'll fly that damn ship myself".

The Captain was almost ready to hit him himself. But, he realized that something was off about the man. DeLaFontain would never know just how lucky he had been to pull him as the pilot to deliver his new ship.

He was ex-navy, disenfranchised with the service, and had sought work elsewhere. Had he not known of the specific gun range, firing arcs and position of the Ottawa from his days in the navy, it would not have mattered how fast the engines of the Lady Luck were.

"Sir..really..I think its best you should leave now." Hand tried one more time, sensing that the mood in the bar would not allow DeLaFontains behavior to continue one way or the other.

"Look MR Hand, leave if you want to...I am going to see THE KING of GALLIA do you hear me" once more, the shouting and the mad laughter brought more unneeded attention upon him.

The entire bar now thought he was just plain crazy. Gallia? King? what was this fool talking about. 2 out of the 30 or so other patrons maybe had heard some small talk of a new system out past the borders of Brettonia proper. But no one had ever heard of Gallia or a King. They were all just working stiffs, 9 to 9ers, mostly muscle and little in area of functional grey matter. They could not be expected to understand or know much more than their profession as dockhands required.

"Alright Mr. DeLaFontain, have it your way." With that, Captain Hand left him to most certainly be beaten down by a mob who, soon would be looking to take out their anger and loss on the first thing that presented its self. DeLaFontain was in the lead to achieve that honor.

Captain Hand did though, place a call over the comms systems to the icT offices and let the nice lady with the strange accent know what kinda of trouble her boss was in.


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"Yes...Yes I understand Captain..The Bar on the lower decks. I will take care of it..thank you for the warning.." Maria tapped the communicator on her desk to off with a slam of her fist

"That stupid fool of a man...useless waste of oxygen.. The lower decks is no place for him." She thought as she pulled open a drawer in her desk and withdrew 20000 Sirius credits on two cards from a metal lock box. If he was causing trouble, she was certain that she would need the money one way or the other.

She opened the bottom drawer and pulled out a pearl handled 7inch black ceramic stiletto. It had taken her a week to smuggle it onto the station piece by piece. She slid the Stilleto into a special slot on the right side of her left leg. They were her favorite cut below the knee boots.

Civilians were not allowed to carry any type of weapons on station. But Maria had learned long ago of the necessity to sometimes break the rules and to always have a knife nearby.

"That stupido cucaracha, if they don't kill him I am going to." she got up and went to the door, taking off her jacket to reveal a no sleeve tight fitting black shirt. She looked at herself in the mirror
"If these don't stop a fight" she said adjusting herself "my cuchillo sure will."

She made one final check of her hair and make up and decided she was "Dressed to Kill". She blew herself a kiss in the mirror and walked out the door and into the hallway.
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When she saw LPI officers Mr. Fife and Barney. She decided that she would take them along. "Better to have as many distractions on hand as possible." she thought. She noticed that for once they were at the control station by the elevator.

"Good afternoon boys" she said in her most seductive tone.

"Afternoon Maria" replied Officer Fife with that familiar look in his eye.
"Hi" was all Barney could muster to say, looking at his shoes, too embarrassed to look at Maria directly because of the way she made him feel.

"I wonder if you boys could do me a small little favor." her finger tracing the edge of the security officers desk, she leaned over to let him get a better look.

"Sure thing Maria, but, we can't leave our post. See we are in a 'code yellow' because of the raid and we have to stay here in case there are any 'breaks' in security." replied the older officer. His tone condescending and official as if he were in an important high security position. They were floor guards, the lowest of the low, the most incompetent.

She paused for a moment looking at him. She would have to change tactics. These two were only staying near the control station because it was the closest they could be to the internal comms link, in case they had to call someone to rescue them. "No heart huevoless leaches" she thought.

She turned around so she was not facing them. She let her eyes slowly swell up with tears, and put on her best damsel in distress pout, and began to whimper softly.

They were both taken back by it. "Maria, what is wrong." The older man stood up from his desk and came around to put his arm over her shoulder. He wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to have his body touch hers. It made her skin crawl to have him that close. The younger officer did what he always did, stood motionless and stared at the floor.

"It's....*sniff* it's ..my sister" she started to improvise "she came to see me on the station today.." She turned to the old screw, so he could see the mascara now running down her checks.

"She called me on the comms she made a mistake and went to the wrong bar on the lower decks.... and.. said some men are drunk." The sobs becoming heavier. "and they are touching all over her" now crying softly "Please help me Mr.Fife, I will be in your debt all my life, I can't let anything happen to my sister."

The old man sprang to action. "lets roll Barney" said the old man as he moved to the elevator. He liked the idea of Maria owing him a favor, and if she had a sister, his mind running over all the lustful possibilities, even better.

"What...uh.." said Barney following the old officer as if he were on a leash. "where to?"

"To save Marias sister you fool." Nothing was going to stop the old man. His imagination taking over, visions of being a hero in his head, and the eventual repayment twofold.

"Should we not just call it in?" asked Barney while they waited for the elevator. He knew about the lower decks, and they scared him. Maria two steps behind winced.

"NO, ah..we can handle this ourselves Barney, I'm sure its nothing" he didn't want anyone upstaging his rescue.

Maria relaxed and followed them in, head down, playing the part of the poor helpless girl needing the protection of big strong men. It was the furthest thing from the truth.
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The elevator ride had been brief. The old security officer, punched a few codes into the control panel. "We will lock the floor down, just to be on the safe side, and we will by-pass all the other floors."

Maria made it a point to engrave the codes in her memory. "Could be very useful some day" she thought.

The elevator opened up to the lobby of the bar. From the sound of it, the lynching had started or was about to start. She let the old officer and Barney lead the way, staying three steps behind them.

The last straw for Phillip DeLaFontain had been when finally tired of his outburst and laughter, the leader of the group had asked him if he would be willing to pay for around of drinks in honor of the fallen. Since he was rich enough to go see a king he should pay for a round as well.

"I would not waste my own spit on a dead man, much less any of my credits. Now bugger off and go Frake your.." He didn't get the chance to finish his sentence.

The large man was a loader/unloader. His day was spent moving heavy crates and equipment from one end of the cargo docks to the other. He flung DeLaFontain to the middle of the group of men with little effort. They formed a circle around him and started to push him from one man to the next like a small child's rag doll.

The bartenders had decided they would let this ride its self out. One more call to the LPI about problems in the bar, and they could loose their lease. Besides, after the raid the LPI would be busy, at least for an hour or too, with things more important than dockworkers settling a score.

It was also reported that one LPI fighter was downed. If a security team did show up, they would mostly side with the workers seeing as one of their own was one of the Fallen being disrespected.

"Where is your King now butterball" shouted one man
"Oii ...off with his pants then, I'll give him back that venereal he says hes been cured off." Shouted another. The circle of men howling with laughter, taunts and insults.

DeLaFontain was anything but a fighter, and being severely intoxicated he was easy prey. He was barely managing to stay conscious from the alcohol in his system.

When the doors to the elevator opened and they walked in the room, they were taken back by the size of the Mob. They both hesitated. From their perspective it was exactly what Maria had described. A large group of drunken men. What they could not see, was DeLaFontain.

Maria slipped in behind the officers unnoticed. It was much worse than she expected. To many of them to take on. Quietly and quickly made her way unoticed to the bar.

She spotted DeLaFontains data pad, an empty open packet of pharma for stress and an small empty glass Vile.

She understood now what was wrong with her boss. The venereal medicine and the Pharma alone without alcohol were harmless, all three mixed together produced a brief but pronounced state of dementia. The more alcohol, the deeper the emotional crisis. If she could get him out alive, he would sleep it off and remember next to nothing.

She let her hair hang down in front of her face to hide the runny mascara and asked the bartender for a drink. She pretended she was just there to watch the show.

The old officer summoned up all his courage. He wondered if this was all gonna be worth it. Barney was petrified and doing what he did best, eyes glued to at his shoes, shifting his weight back and forth from one foot to the other.

"I say stop in the Name of the LPI" Shouted officer Fife.

There was a brief silence as the mob stopped tossing DeLaFontain around the circle and he fell to the ground unconscious. In unison they all turned towards the door and focused their attention on the two officers.

The outburst of laughter was unanimous. They were the most pathetic pair of LPI officers they had ever seen wear a badge.

"Well .. Well.. what do we have here, a couple of floor guards." said the leader of the pack in a mocking tone. "Go back to your hole, you flunkies, this doesn't concern you."

"I am going have to ask you to vacate the premises." demanded Fife swallowing hard.

The bulky dock worker walked up to the old officer, towering over him, "and who is gonna make me do that now? You and your girlyman partner here? This does not concern you rental Hack, your not a real cop, a real lawman would be siding with us right now, so...... why don't you two just bugger off" he was giving them a way out.

Fife looked at the large man and decided it was now a matter of the small amount of pride that he may have left as a man and an officer.

"I will ask you one more.."

The old man didn't get to finish his sentence either. The crate mover gave him a small shove, making Fife trip and fall, knocking him out as his head hit the floor. More howls of unanimous laughter.

"Now that was not even a challenge." more laughter all around the room. The brute now focused on Barney, who looked to be about to loose control of his bowels.

"Now, girlyman..what do you want to do about this?" pointing to his partner on the floor. Officer Barney was frozen in place. Fear grabbing hold over every inch of his body.

The bartenders were becoming nervous. It was starting to get out of hand. Roughing up a drunken clown was one thing. Assaulting a floor guard was big trouble. Even if they were flunkies, they still had badge. One of them, brought the drink Maria ordered as cover over to her.

She had been paying attention. His left knee was weak. His hips and lower back had suffered from the years of heavy lifting and moving. She saw that Barney was about to try and make a move for his gun, but would not be able to get a shot off, his target was to close, his weapon was latched in its holster and the safety was on. It was time to act, before this turned into something that could not be swept under the rug.

"If ya think ya can get to your gun copper, ya better have 30 shots ready because my boys..." Gesturing 4 meters behind him to the large unruly crowed. "..are not going are not gonna just stand by while ya shoot me."

Silence as everyone waited to see what Officer Barney would do.

Maria got up off the Bar stool, turned to the Bartender and whispered "Allow me to solve dis problem for you Mr. Keeper" she smiled and she downed the drink. It was the last thing he had expected to hear from her.

She turned back around and started to move decisively and quickly upon the mongrel leading the pack. She threw the glass still in her left hand, against the far wall with all the strength she could muster. The shatter of glass grabbing everyone's attention, making even the large man look away from the direction of her approach.

She spun around to the right on her right leg, extending her left at the same time, and let the tip of her boot connect on the left side of the left knee precisely at the joint.

The effect was devastating. His knee buckeled and he let out a shreek of pain as he fell to floor on his now blown out knee. Maria passed behind him, grabbed him by this long hair with her left hand and as she did, she spun to her left, forcing her opponent to spin with her, further damaging his knee against the floor , making him now face the motley mob he had been the master of ceremonies for.

She took one step back, dropped her right knee to the floor and in one swift motion pulled the mans head to rest on her left knee as if he were in a guillotine but face up. The motion so swift and violent, it pinched the nerves in his lower back. He was now unable to move.

With her right hand she reached for her pearl handled Stiletto, pulled it from her left boot and swiftly put the tip of the black blade on his external jugular vein, applying just enough pressure to break the skin and cause a small trickle of blood to run down his neck.

The whole motion took less than one and half seconds to complete. It had been beautiful, elegant and extremely violent. She had everyone attention except DeLaFontains, who was on the floor, passed out.

"HOooolaaaa.... Miiiiister big man.. would care to donate some blood?....I am about 5 and half litters short." She licked the side of his face for effect.

She snapped her kneck like a whip and flipped her hair back. The effect of the dried mascara on both her cheeks along with what she had just said and done was chilling to the bone. She added an evil "hisssss" sound to top it all off.

She put her lips close to her victims ear, all the while looking at the crowd making sure there were no spontaneous heroes present. No one dared move.

"If you move one single solitary millimeter, I will kill you...Now, I want you to piss yourself pendejo.. and let me know you understand."

He was about to anyway, Maria just gave him a way to save face in front of his crew. The front of his work dungarees becoming moist and dark.

"Good..I see we have an understanding." she said, slightly amused.

"Officer Barney can you please pull out your gun slowly and calmly for me?" Even though she had the upper hand, she wanted to completely command the situation. Never taking her I eyes of off the mob in front.

In silence Barney did as he was told. The heavy weapon shaking in his hand.

"Do you..... have it.... out Barney?" she asked in a mixed tone of sex and violence that both scared the living crap out of the mob and turned them on at the same time.

"Yes Maria"

"Good...now move away from the door and over to the Bar and give these nice hard working Lunks a clear path to exit....and you" Talking to the man with his neck exposed on her Knee "Stop pissing, if you get my new boots soiled I most certainly will kill you."

"Barkeeper...Can you please tell these gentlemen what time it is, and pour me another drink please?"

The Bartender looked over at his partner. Things like this were common out in the Border worlds, but neither had seen anything like it in Liberty. One shrugged and the other one Nodded an affirmation. It was as good away of resolving this mess as any and they didn't have to get involved. "Its closing time folks, pay your bills tomorrow..."

"No need," interrupted Maria "I will be buying all of the drinks tonight ...."

One of the bartenders was about to object, this was a business after all, fight or no fight, he worried about the tab and who would pay it. His partner stopped him with a look that said "Let it go, will make it up tomorrow if we have to, did you not just see how she took down the biggest man in the bar."

He reached under the bar for a bottle and a fresh glass. Pouring what Maria ask for, but of the cheap stuff. No sense in wasting anything expensive. "Sure thing Miss."

"My sympathies for the friends you have lost today gentlemen...now...VAMOS...scat.. you worthless sapiens.... and take the access stairs, the elevator is out of order" Her orders were clear and to the point.

She held her position looking each man in the eye as they filed out. They were terrified and mesmerized. Barney was doing his best to look fierce behind his shaking gun. He to was terrified.

Before the last of the heathens left. She violently threw the man she had under her knife forward and to the floor. She got up and moved backwards to the bar, flipping the knife back into the slot in her boot.

"You two..." She said to the last two.."Grab your friend here and careful with his piss, no need to track it all over this nice floor. He wont be able to walk for a couple of weeks"

She reached into her back pocket and pulled out two two 10000 credit Sirius cards. She tossed one on the bar and one at the men that were attending to bigman now pissboy. "Make sure his medicals and family are covered while he is recovering." They nodded their agreement.

Maria turned to take the drink. But the bartender had already poured it into the sink and was reaching for the top shelf. The Lady had style, she deserved only the best. Style being the 10000 credits she had tossed on the bar.

As the limping man and his cohorts left with out saying a word. She turned back to look at Barney. He still had is gun out following the three men with its barrel.

She picked up a napkin off the bar, moistened it with spit and began to wipe the dried mascara off of her cheeks. She hated looking disheveled.

Officer Fife was returning to consciousness. He was dazed and disoriented. Trying to pulling himself up off the floor.

Maria put her hand slowly on Barneys shoulder as a big sister would. She whispered in his ear. "Barney, you can put your gun away now, my brother in arms, we keep this to ourselves, or I pull my knife out again, do you understand" she said with a disarming smile. Her tone was soothing and maternal.

Barney smiled nervously nodded his agreement and holstered his gun. It was the first time in his life he had ever felt a bit of pride, and it felt good.

The bartenders stopped what they were doing. Becoming very amused with Maria and her vast skill set. They wondered how she was going to solve the issue with the assault on the aging Floor Guard.

"Oh Mr. Fife, you should have seen how Officer Barney saved your life, he beat that man to a pulp, he was amazing." She said in a different tone and voice, the one that most appealed to Mr.Fife.

"Is that not right Mr. Bartenders?" She dared not ask Barney anything for fear he would buckle under the pressure.

"Oh yea..sure did.. he don't look like much, but the kid is fast as a Nyx." said the first.

"Yep, don't know what we would have done with out him, finest officer I've ever run across." said the second. They were old pros who knew how to follow a lead. They were very convincing.

"Barney, why don't you take Mr. Fife back to the control station, you don't want anyone to miss you at your post, and I don't think we need to report this, since you were not in your assigned areas" further laying the next step.

Barney simply Nodded. "*snort* Ok Maria *snort*"

Officer Fife was getting what little wits he had together. "What a about your sister Maria?" Maria moved toward him and blocked his view of DeLaFontain's passed out body. "Oh, she is in the bathroom fixing herself up, Mr.Fife" She winked at Barney, hoping he would take the hint and move on his on will for once.

Amazingly Barney moved and put his arm around his elderly partner "Mr. Fife, Lets get back before we are missed Sir, you don't need a reprimand this close *snort* to retirement" Barney had hit him with the only thing Mr.Fife ever worried or talked about, his pension.

"Ah yea....yea..." They started to walk off towards the elevator. "You really beat that man down Barney?" Still a bit unbelieving, as they walked into the waiting elevator.

"Yea *snort* first I hit him with a right see, and then just *snort* like you taught me, I hit him with a left and right and another left..." The closing elevator door killing the conversation for those still left in the bar.

She looked at the time piece on the wall. It had only been twelve minutes since Captain Hand had called. "No LPI security detail yet, so..no blood no foul." She thought to herself.

She relaxed herself back onto the barstool and looked at the figure of DeLaFontain lying on the floor of the bar. She smiled "worthless pendejo....".

One of the Bartenders had called out the robotic floor cleaner, and it set to work on the small amount of piss still on the floor. They were both looking at her, with big wide grins, a clear sign of admiration.

"So...who does a pretty girl have to Kill around here to get a decent drink"

They both chuckled at that line. One of them reaching for the Top shelf and the other for three fresh glasses. "You looking for work Miss?" asked the one returning with the bottle of the best they had.

"Nope...I got a good job...." she said, a loud snore interrupted her in mid sentence. The BarKeeps now wondering what to do about this passed body on the floor. "See him over there....that pendejo IS my boss" At once the entire situation made sense to both men.

"Well...." he said pouring three drinks and raising his glass to toast with Maria and his partner.

"Your boss..Miss, is a very Lucky man." They banged their glasses together.

"To those who were lost today" She said. The moment becoming solemn for an instant. They downed their drinks, and slammed the glasses onto the bar face down as was customary.

DeLaFontain let out one more loud snore and curled up into the fetal position looking peaceful and serene. All three at the bar struggling to keep their shots down, openly laughing at her boss. The bartender reaching for three more fresh glasses.