A Meeting of Mercs

~TOSHA YAHRSEN~
*A lone figure stands on the docks staring out at the lights of the departing ship as the waves lap at the pier. The long duster whips furiously in the wind entwining itself within her legs. At her feet lies a rucksack containing the sum of her existence, or at least of her portable existence....every few year she tends to move on seeking a new base of operations, keeping herself form being tracked....The lights vanish form sight and she shoulders the heavy bag and walks into the wind....this was her first time in North America, she wasn't even certain she wanted to be here, but this was as good as any......she glances at the watch on her wrist and turns towards the bar where she is to meet her contact...she hadn't seen this one before, it was a contact through another, that in itself made her uneasy, but first contacts in a new country always did*

~ABYSS~
*He continues on down the road. For how long he'd been walking, he'd no idea. He had pretty much the idea he was still in MAINE. He'd other ways of getting around of course, but walking always calmed him. Helped him think. He burns the last few centi-meters of cigarette up by puffing on it a few times. then flicks it off into the distance. Still dark out, day hadn't broke yet. Noticing a bar, figuring that to be a good place to live the rest of this moment up before getting the hell outta here. He makes his way through the door. Walking up to the bar, he orders himself a pitcher. Then makes his way to a table in the corner of the room. Putting his back to it, he kicks the chair back. Tilting it on it's hind legs as he watches things unfold.*

*She pushes the door open amd walks directly to the bar totally ignoring the lewd comments and looks tossed her way...She stands there for a second her eyes raking over the few standing directly at the bar, uncertain if any are her contact..well if they were, by now they should know shes here, after all shes the only female in the place, except for the half naked whore giving some guy a hand job *She tosses the bag down on the ground by her feet and signals to the bartender* can I git a Guiness *the Guiness had been the signal, after all how many in this dive would drink the stuff..personally she loved it but not many Yanks had a taste for it...She pays the bartender then turns slowly glass in hand while she surveys the patrons...her contact was supposed to be drinking the stuff too, but she didn't see anyone with some, she takes a sip and mutters quietly to herself* damn stuffs too cold *she looks once more over the patrons, an amused smile crossing her lips as she notes the interest she seems to have invoked in a majority of the patrons*

*He turns a head, and raises a brow, at the only other woman who sems to have entered the bar. Guiness.... Not too many drank that around here. These old boys like Miller and Bud. She's lucky this dive had the stuff. He notes the attention she's gathering. And notes the bag tossed to her feet. Cold blue eyes rake over her for a few moments... Firm. Collected... she's got training. Of some sort or another. Martial Arts at least. He chuckles to himself for a moment, the first guy who crossed her would have more than a hang over tomorrow morning.*

*She raises the guiness to her lips, her gaze once more raking over the patrons....pausing briefly on Alan, theres one with training, but obviously not her contact...she sighs as she turns back to the bar...obviously her contact wasn't coming..thats the prob with making them through others.....she rolls her eyes as some greaseball looser sidles up to her, she ignores him, focussing instead on her beer...until he puts an arm around her shoulder..she turns towards him, an eyebrow raised in questioning* Excuse me? *she shrugs off the arm* Please go away *He leans over to whisper something in her ear, his arm trying to encircle her waist* Back off! *this times the words come out a snarl as she forcefully pushes him back over a table*

*-This- could prove to be interesting yet. A genuine bar brawl seems to be on the edge of breaking... The man flies, and all time seems to slow down as he spills right over the table of some other patrons. They in turn are none to happy with him. And start beating him senseless. He gives himself a little shrug. She was obviously looking for somebody... The guy at the table next to him stands up. Obviously interested in picking up with the woman where the last man left off... He sticks his foot out at the last minute, tripping the bumpkin on his face. The huge guy looks back to him, Alan looking quite pleased with his handiwork.* Got somthin' te say fer yerself?*Al lets out a slight sigh.* Yeah...... Oops, and your blocking my view. Unlike sad slobs such as youself. I'm content to admire from afar. Where my affections were obviously aimed to be. See how she's dressed my boy. She wants to be looked at. Just not SLOBBERED on. Now sit yer ass down...*The big guy starts in on him. Al just puts his foot on his chest and kicks out. Ah the glories of the corner seat.* They never listen.*He fles a bit. Landing on his back in the center of the bar.*

*a low chuckle leaves her lips as she watches the table of men take over where she left off, her gaze moving further along to other patrons..one takes it as an invitation and approaches her, she doesn't even give him a chance, her fist flies and he follows suit, a table cracking underneath him as he lands.* Don't you people learn? *a smirk crosses her face as she picks up Alans conversation and the ensuing action..she smiles and nods* thank you

*He nods to her as well.* Was a good hit just now. Seems that these good ol' boys just can't get it through thier skulls that they are in the presence of a refined woman. Not the kind like over there.*Gesturing to the handjob whore.* Ah, but for the folly of the stupid. *And that's when it happens, somone pulls a knife gets about a foot from Alan, and comes face to face with a most leathal streeet howitzer.... A sawed off dual barrel shotgun.* This range pal... You'll make a fine mist.*The hick just looks down the barrels. Then drops the knife.* Wise choice.*He kicks out a chair near his table, and averts his attention to the woman.* Join me?

Thanks *she laughs as he calls her refined, but she figures for now, why disuade him..* Nice piece *she nods at the weapon now openly displayed..then nods towards the now departing knife man.* seems not everyone is stupid *she looks at the proffered chair..hell why not?..obviously her contact wasn't showing.* Just a sec *she turns back to the bar, one hand grabbign the bag, the other the guiness then she turns and walks back to your table* Names Tosha *she places the guiness on the table and extends her hand ...the muffled sound of metal can be faintly heard as she drops the bag at her side..as she sits the duster partially opens revealing the barest glint of steel, she quickly adjust the coat to hide it*

*He notices the glint of steel immediately. Never one to miss a detail this one.* Alan...*He takes her hand, gives it a firm grip.* So, my /refined/ friend.*Useing the term to suggest that she's better than the hand job lady at least. Al always uses terms, /loosely/.* What brings you all the way out here to drink with the inbred of America? *With a swift action, he replaces the shotgun in the thigh holster it came from. She's a merc, or a government spoof.... One of the two. She's no cop, that's for sure.*

Nice ta meet you, Alan...*she looks around and shrugs* Change of scenery thought I'd try something new *she chuckles* make life a little more interesting..and you? *she looks him over, openly assessing him....obviously not a cop, not her contact, but trained..who was he really? and what was he here for? * you obviously don't belong here

*Still leaning back against the wooden wall of the tavern. A mischievious grin makes it's way to his face.* Oh.... Visiting an -old- friend of mine. And a bit of searching. Strange how fate brings two unliklies together under the same roof. We both belong here about as much as snails in a greyhound race.*He hefts his frosted over mug of beer. Making a quite contented sound after draining it a bit.* Least the beers fresh though. S'what I like about hick bars anyway. *Reacing into his duster pocket, none to fast, two such as them always saw such an action as a threat. He slowly produces his cigarettes. Pulling a match from behind his ear, he lights it against the wall. Blazing the cancer stick up. He takes a few reliving puffs.* Ahhh.......*Turning the open end of the pack towards her, he shifts the cigarettes around in the pack so that one creeps out of the opening.* Want one?

It is isn't it? you find what you were looking for? *She raises her glass of guiness, now finally at a decent temperature* fresh, just too cold *she takes a long sip, her eyes warily watching you reach into your pocket... she visibly relaxes as she sees the smokes..shakeing her head at your offer* No thanks, I prefer to live a little longer

*He chuckles... An age old retort to smoking. Though one he finds a little droll in the world he knows today... Life seems to be short enough. Why not enjoy it doing what you like.* Yah, I think I found what I was looking for. 'ow 'bout yourself? Got the feeling you were looking for something when you came in this place. After all, there are thousands of places to add spice to life. Why some boring out of the way, good ol' boys drinking spot? Specially for a woman, and a woman who's packin' at that.*Hinting that he had indeed seen her weapon. And that his suspicions are growing with each reflex he sees from her. She's definately no cop, and not a fed. Merc... Maybe ex military. And that accent. Even though this is New England, it's still a little TOO thick to be heredetary or regional in this part of the states. She must be off the boat for only a few days. So, a foriegner... What -is- she doing here.*

*she shrugs* seems not, but I will eventually *a sarcastic smile crosses her lips as she once more looks around the room, occaisoanlly meeting the gaze of a few..but most of the males seem to have lost interest now that she had made her intentions clear, and that she was sitting with someone who had shown themselves to be dangerous...* I've been in better, but this suffices for now *a raised eyebrow is her only acknowledgment to the packing comment....shes beginning ot get an idea of what he is, but not who...the fact that he actually caught sight of the weapon and knew it for what it was showed that he was not inexperienced...this was one she had to watch...was it just cooincidence that they met up here? *

*He raises his mug.* Well then. Here's to the eventuality of your search. May we each find everything that we're looking for...*And almost as an after thought, more for himself rather than for her seeing that all those he's known have basically disappeared.*....and everyone.*With her raised eyebrow, he now knows he's being assessed. What a game the two of them seem to be playing. And, while he hasn't exactlly hidden the reason he's here, he can't help but think this rather ironic. That two people of perhaps the same proffession should meet. And so soon after the new path he's chosen in life. She's definatly not GUARD. She'd have made her move, and failed, by now. He lets the silence run between them for a moment, eyes wandering about the tavern. Noting a few of the old boys have left rather swiftly, and that thier friends are still watching them.* We'll have some action soon i'm thinking....*Leave it to rural America to allow people to have gunracks in thier trucks. As if on cue, the old boys return from outside, controlled smiles on thier faces.*

*she too raises her glass in salute and finishes off the glass...a smile of amusement dances on her lips as they continue to dance, neither giving ground on information, or trust.*so I see *she too had noted the absence of certain patrons...she sighs* Just what I need, trouble on my first night here *a smiles crosses her lips* but it might be interesting *she watches the door open, the 'good ole boys' entering..her gaze rakes them over automatically assessing and weighting their skills, picking out their weapons, and noting all escape venues*

*Al sizes them up.... This would be far too easy. Both had weapons. He catches the outline of a .45 in one of thier jacket pockets. The other has his hidden behind his back. And yet another openly displays his shotgun. They stride right up to the table.* Okay toug...*Al doesn't even seem to notice him speaking. Having been trained as a proactive, rather that reactive, type. He stands up faster than the three would have thought, his sawed off appearing instantly in his hand. The two stunned others simply watch dumbfounded as they now know how much of a bad idea this was. And then theres the bang, Al not even blinking as the mans head is sprayed across the bar. Painting more than a few patrons in hues of grey and red bits. The now headless spook falls to the floor. All he does is simply shift his eyes to them... And -then- they begin to react as the other pulls his .45 from his pocket. The one with the weapon behind his back producing it to reveal an old gentlemans style revolver. And the bartender, predictably, is already calling the cops.*

*She catches sight of the weapons and reaches into her jacket loosening her gun in its holster....but it seems that she doesn't need to worry...before the locals can react Alan has his weapon out and is already blasting away...she watches the slaughter in open shock...it wasn't the blood shed that shocked her it was his reaction...she preferred more subtlety..fine these were assholes that might deserve it, but this, this would get too much reaction from the locals, it would cause more problems, make them more likely to recognize them...seems that she hooked up with a hothead...she notes the bartender dailing and the first thing she does after she pulls her weapon is take out the phone...last thing she needs is the local bobbies...she isn't even here legally and hasn't had time yet to acquire appropriate ID...She notes the two with exposed weapon, a chuckle raises to her lips at the old revolver...she pulls her handgun around taking first taking aim at the guy with the .45... her bullet ripping cleanly through his right shoulder, the gun now dropping from his nerveless fingers....she then swings it around.. to the antique, she shakes her head in amusement as she takes out the gun...shame to destroy such a fine piece, but he was likely to kill himself using it...* Damn Yanks *She glances quickly around at the other patrons, most seeming to be temproarily in a state of shock, but that would soon pass, all too quickly.* I gotta get outta here before the bobbies show *Keeping her gun still aimed before, generally sweeping it over the patrons, she reaches down with one hand and hefts her bag to her shoulder*

*He caught what she was saying alright. A brit... That was somthing a bit rare here. They usually showed up in New York or some other major metropolitan place. Hardly is Al the hothead she thinks. But he knows intent when he sees it. And had he not shot the shotgun bearer, as soon as the man was finished with his statement he'd have taken them both out. Though Al simply wasn't in the mood to give him the chance. Besides the cops couldn't, and wouldn't, find him. He knew the game too well. And actually has no I.D. secret ops people are hidden from FBI and police records inqiries. Cracking his shotgun open, he ejects the two shells as she takes the other two out. Pretty good aim with her weapon, shooting the guns only, and murdering the phone. He reloads his weapon, calmly places it in its holster. Then moves for the door. No reason to actually be here when the cops arrive. He places a few bills on the counter before leaving, paying for his drinks as though nothing had happend. Walking outside of the bar, pretty sure she'd be right behind him.* So, where to for you now?*Though he notes one of the other patrons come out right behind her, weapon already raised. Niether one of them would get around in time. The shot goes off as the man screams "Bastereds" or some such curse. The bullet simply seems to stop a half inch from her back... Floating in the air. He winks at the man, then promptly turns to leave. Figuring the yokal wouldn't push the affair after seeing that. And he doesn't want to be around when questions are asked of from the Brit either.*

*she quickly follows him out the door, what else could she do?...besides he seemed the type that would know the quickest and easiest ways to avoid detection around here, she'll follow him for a bit, then slip away and do her own version of detection evasion..but she didn't have time for that right now*..the quickest way out of here *She can hear the faint howl of sirens in the distance quickly approaching...there must have been another phone, someone else called....she hears the tavern door open and is turning to face it, even with her unnatural speed she is too slow...she turns just in time to hear the shot and to see the bullet hovering mid air...her jaw drops in amazement as she merely stares at it, then slowly she reaches out plucking it from the air...its still warm....she had never seen anything like this before..she glances back at at Alan to see if perhaps he had seen this, only she sees him now a fair distance off...she glances back at the now pale yokel standing in the door, then she becomes aware of the approaching sirens and turns, running and easily catching up with Alan..he obviously knows something about whats going on here*

*As she reaches him, he's fiddling with some sort of device that looks like a bracelet, a cigarette limply hanging from his mouth. He turns to look at her as she runs up next to him, saying nothing about the bullet nor the situation in general. Finishing whatever he was doing with the bracelet, he pulls the cigarette from his mouth then blows a few "O's" into the air. Looking over his shoulder to see the police skid to a stop in the tavern parking lot, throwing gravel everywhere. The rush into the bar, guns drawn. they'd be a while getting everyone calmed down, and figuring out that the shooters were no longer there. With a slightly pleased look, he turns back towards the dark road. Continuing his liesurely walk. If he's the fientest fear that he'd be caught for what he did. He didn't show it what-so-ever. Then, out of the blue...*Game for a little ride? It's quite a rush.*Though for seemingly hundreds of yards there's no sign of any form of transportation. And since she asked him no questions, he figured he'd ask one of his own.* After all, it seems i've gotten you into this. Least I can do is get you out.*He brings his wrist up, as though looking at a watch, fiddling with it a bit more. The sounds behind them now are of cops returning to thier cars. They've made quite a distance. But with no cover and no hiding places, the cops will pick them up easy.*

*She looks at him curiously as he merely stands there, playing with a bracelet...* what in the queens name are you doing? The coppers will be after us any minute *she glances briefly over her shoulder at the tavern..then back to you* damn crazy yanks *She shakes her head and starts to walk away her own pace calm so as not to draw attention, yet determined..she turns to look back at him* a ride? *she tosses her hands out indicating the nothingess about them* where? damn right you started it...now I have to get out of here *she looks around for someplace to at least hide while she changes...after all, they would have the description of a blond brit, not a black woman*

*He shakes his head a little bit.* Well, I'm leaving. I don't know about you. *He fumbles with the braclette a little more, which is now making all sorts of noises and flashing little lights against his face.* Seattle sound good?*He programs that destination into the bracelet.* Still didn't answer me... Up for a ride?*He drops his arm to his side and motions for her to walk over to him.* I can get us out of here... Really, I can. Requires a little trust on your part. I know that's alot to ask of a stranger, but, there's really little choice here. Or, I could just go without you. Choice is yours though. You have..*He looks at his watch.* Exactlly a minute to decide.*He drops his watch hand back to his side, watching her, and waiting for her response.* Cops don't worry me, it's the -others- who'll come that do.