An Alliance Forged in Blood

[Strazio Rockwell]

The girl was sharp, she was damned sharp. Be it through experience or a soldier’s keen instincts she managed to sniff out the fact that Isaac wasn’t playing their “game” fairly. His control over his blood kept the liquor from knocking him into a coma, but what kept her functioning? There was something strange about this warrior of a girl, there was something hidden underneath her aggressive facade. Absentmindedly he played with the shot glass, turning it over in his hand before setting it on the counter. She stated her piece and Isaac took a moment of silence to collect himself. Christa was no doubt a spitfire and one wrong choice of words would put you on the wrong end of her rifle.

“So what now Christa? You hope to take down the whole Empire by yourself?”

Surprisingly she stayed silent at Isaac’s question. Her eyes fixed on an imperceptible point on the horizon. He knew this stare too well. She seemed oblivious to everything around her, but she kept her hands fixed on her weapon. Finally after a moment she responded with a surprisingly level-headed comment.

“No... I suppose not, but that doesn’t mean I won’t rain hell on every Empire bastard I see.”

Isaac frowned and took a cursory scan of the bar. Several of the rougher patrons eyed the duo from across the room, and Isaac hoped they didn’t plan on testing their mettle. He had no qualms with running from a needless fight, but he wouldn’t put it past Christa to slay every one of them. He turned back to the bar, hoping she would follow in kind. Isaac hoped in vain as she took note of the aggressive looks. From the corner of his eye he watched her face twist into a sour grimace of disgust.

“All you bastards better put your fucking eyes on a dimmer, cause I won’t hesitate to fuck you up” she returned every glare in kind, daring everyone in the bar to make a move. The firecracker certainly was ferocious and even the toughest thugs glanced away as her withering glare met theirs. After all was said and done she turned back to the bar and smirked slightly.

Isaac sighed “you sure know how to make friends don’t you.”

“Yeahp” she seemed almost proud of her work “you gotta put these bastards in their place sometimes.”

“I see” Isaac ordered another shot for both of them “cheers, to new-found friendship.”

She grabbed the glass and eyed Isaac’s offer carefully. Her sharp eyes scanned his weathered face for signs of deception. He offered no trickery and instead gave her a soft smile. Reluctantly she clinked her glass against his and they downed their respective booze. Isaac finally felt the kick of the liquor and tapped his hand on the counter. “Alright, you win. I’m at my limit” he lied. Even after the incredible amount of alcohol he consumed the Bloodlance could have kept going, but he could tell Christa wanted the victory more than him.
She laughed at him and patted him on the back “what’s wrong old man? Can’t keep up?”

Isaac shrugged and raised his hand in surrender “I guess not.”

“That’s alright, I’ve yet to meet anyone that can keep up with me” she boasted.

With their contest over the two warriors found themselves at a loss for conversation. The late night crowd had rolled into the bar and the two found themselves surrounded by hushed whispers and rumors. Isaac figured Christa’s outburst had gained the attention of the tougher folks and he felt that a confrontation was inevitable. She was either oblivious to the attention they garnered or she simply didn’t care. He figured it was probably the latter. She followed her boast up with a very serious question.

“So what about you? You just going to run from the Empire and spend your life hiding like some coward?”

Isaac shrugged “I’m not going to go looking for trouble if that’s what you mean, though trouble sure has a good way of finding me.”

“I don’t understand how you could be such a coward.”

“I’m not a coward just because I don’t go around killing people like you do” he snapped back at her slightly. She sensed the hostility in his voice and shot back.

“You make me out like I’m some kind of psychopathic murderer.”

“You did kill two men in broad daylight” the Bloodlance knew he was stepping on her buttons, but he pressed the issue.

“Oh spare me your high and mighty bullshit, they were going to kill you if I didn’t step in. You should be thanking me not fucking scolding me.”

Isaac turned away, as much as he hated to admit it she did have a point. He would most likely have been in the ground by now if she hadn’t stepped in. Even still he hated the fact that two more men were dead because of him. As cavalier of an attitude that Christa had she kept true to her beliefs and Isaac could respect that. Reluctantly he tapped his hand against the bar and turned back to her.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scold you or insult you” he shook his head and laughed a bit “but, for the record I’m not running. I’m searching.”

Christa paused for a moment, taken aback by Isaac’s sudden apology. He smirked a bit at his honesty and begged the question “what’re you searching for then?”

He pointed up towards the roof “the big guy, Omni, I’m sure you’ve heard the primes talk about him. Mysterious white figure, they say he was the one that created this place and brought the primes here. I’m hoping he can help me.”

“Help you with what?”

Before Isaac could respond their conversation was rudely interrupted. Several large thugs had surrounded the duo and they looked none too friendly. Each of them members of a local gang and each of them meaner than the last. The bartender scowled and took a few steps back, knowing that his bar was about to be turned into a warzone. The chief knuckle-dragger placed his meaty palm on the back of Isaac’s crimson cloak.

“We heard you an’ your girlyfriend here were causin’ some trouble, bad-mouthing our boys and such.”

“Sorry, we didn’t mean to offend anyone” Isaac, rolled over hoping that they would leave him alone if he played their game.

“That so? Do you think I look like a fuckin’ idiot?” the man slammed his fist onto the counter next to Isaac. The Bloodlance didn’t flinch, but instead reached into the inner pockets of his cloak. He produced a small bag, containing a decent amount of Omnilium. From the corner of his eye he saw Christa slowly inch towards her weapon, getting ready to strike.

“Is it money you want? I’m telling you we meant no harm, here have some cash and let us on our way.”

The brute forcefully spun Isaac around and glared at the old man “some things you can’t buy partner, like respect.”

“Very well” Isaac frowned and tossed the bag of money to the bartender “this should cover our drinks and the repairs.”

“Repairs?” the thug asked absentmindedly.

“Yeah!” Christa swung the boot of her weapon into the thug’s chest, knocking him off balance “because we’re about to fuck this place up!”