The Back Streets, Open

[Radical]

Lilian looked over at Caden. Had she really not introduced herself? Grinning, she shook her head, bringing up a hand to her brow. "My apologies Caden. As you can probably tell, we're not used to working on a team. I'm Lilian and he is called Radical."

"Lilian, stop fooling around. Do your job. We're near the place I want to use. And you, you come with me."

Radical pointed down an alley and then turned to retrace his steps. He gestured that Caden should follow him towards a ramshackle old hut across the street. Between knots and holes, a light could be seen shining out. Within figures moved and spoke softly. Radical took up a place by the door, dragging out his battle axe as he did so. He scoured the shadows for other figures, but found no others lurking about.

Lilian nodded to Caden before vanishing down the alley. That left Radical and Caden together. "This is a... friend of mine. He knows a lot about the underground and what goes on. He's not much of a talker though and his friends are expendable. It's going to take a little persuasion." He hefted his axe accordingly. "His name is Jack. Mousey sort. So if you crack some skulls open, be sure it's not his."

Radical stepped back and kicked in the door.

[Caden Cottenius]

Mousy guy named Jack. Got it. Caden said, unsheathing his sword. It wasn't in his plans to kill anyone tonight, but he knew if it came down to it, he would. As soon as he saw Radical kick the door in. Caden rushed inside the the old hut and, after a quick scan of things, spotted four men sitting around a table. Two of the men were standing up and reaching for their weapons.

Next person who so much as makes a sudden move will find themselves one limb short of a complete set. Caden warned. The two men eyed each other, before they both sat down slowly. Good.. Caden said, taken a few more steps in and allowing more breathing space between him and Radical.

It would be difficult to have though, as this hut looked as though it was to accommodate maybe two people comfortably. Six people were definitely keeping things cramp, but that did allow for no one to escape easily. There didn't appear to be a back door anywhere, but he had to keep his his eyes open, in case of a sneak attack.

Caden could easily figure out which was Jack. He was about the smallest guy in the hut. The two men looked like either bodyguards or lackeys kept around for wet work, while the fourth man, a short, fat, balding individual, looked comically small in a chair built for someone a quarter of his size. Though come to think about it, he was sure someone a quarter of his size would still be rather fat.

After a few tense seconds of description, the fat man broke the silence What the hell is going on here? You can't come barging in like that! He stated, looking flustered. His beady eyes shifting form Caden to Radical, and back.

[Radical]

Radical's red eyes looked over the fat man and straight at his prey. "This is most unlike you, Jack. Usually you go running down the street and give me a good chase."

Jack glared up at Radical. "Don't talk to me like you know me stranger. I swear I've never seen you before in my life. Besides that, I'm no squealer." He sat back, trying to look confident but the sweat was dripping down him. He kept glancing from one man to another. Normally he was shifty, but never one to fidget and pour out sweat. Something was off.

"What are you doing Jack? Radical spread his feet a little wider, giving him a more sturdy stance.

"I'll, um... I'll talk to you outside." Jack rose up and tried to be the gracious host that repulsed Radical even more because he knew the little tramp. He indicated that Radical and Caden should lead the way but Radical shook his head and pointed with the blade of his axe that Jack should go first. A little perturbed, Jack went out the door.

And kept walking. Radical cursed loudly and picked up his pace. He grabbed Jack by the collar and threw him up against a wall. "What the hell, Jack? Where the hell do you think-"

There was a blast from behind them as the hut they had just been in blew sky high. Radical felt himself pitched forward, slamming into the wall he had just been pinning Jack to. While his ears and eye stopped their ringing, it took him a moment to realize what had happened. The smoking remnants of the building were ablaze and the street was coming alive with lights and people shouting out windows.

Behind him, Jack raced down a back alley. He rounded a dark corner and a thud could be heard. Radical whipped around but then smiled. "Got him." Rubbing his ears still, Radical started to move back towards the alley that Jack had raced down. Behind him the building continued to burn, sounds could be heard as watchmen and criers started shouting out warnings up and down the streets.

[Radical]

When Radical rounded the dark corner, the shadows ate him for a moment. When he could see at last and hear again, he found Lilian in possession of the snitch. She had his hand bent behind him in a painful manner and his feet were bound up tight by a trip wire.

"Ha ha! With me on the job, you never want to run down dark alleys. That's my territory." Radical walked in a slow circle around the duo, like a shark who's tasted blood. The man grunted with pain as Lilian twisted his arm and dug her knee into his back. "Alright, Jack. Who's taking little girls as payment for daddy's debts?"

"I don't know anything about that. If you want girls, I can tell you where to get some, but other than that I don't know."

Radical looked at Lilian who glanced up at him. She shrugged as best she could, "It's a start. Find the market, find the suppliers."

"Who says there's a market? It's one girl." Radical growled back at her. His predator eyes looked down at his prey again. "You know more than you're saying. Lilian, break his finger."

"Radical I-" "NOW!" There was a sickening break sound as the finger bone cracked. Jack cried out in pain and yelled several curse words. "This guy is big Jack. You know him. Don't play games with me. He's got a girl that's not his, a posse that likes to beat the crap out of the debtors of this damn city. A name, now."

"Oww. Shoot. Fine, Denmark. That's the big head in the financial world. He's the man and if he's not, you're on your own."

"Lilian, finger two, please." Radical waited confidently for another sick sound. "No! No, I swear! It's him. The redhead is with him!"

Lilian looked up sharply at Radical. "We never said what hair she has." "I know. Let's go."

Quietly both got up and disappeared into the shadows. They had to get moving.

[Radical]

Radical, Lilian, and their companion ran down the street. Lilian wasn't sure what had happened to Caden as he had been awfully quiet since the incident in the alleyway. Perhaps he thought ill of her for doing as Radical said and breaking that man's fingers. Looking back on it, she couldn't say she was particularly proud of the act, still... Radical was the one who's work and judgement was what made their living. She couldn't betray that track record just because she didn't feel good about something. It was all about compromises.

"Next time, don't hesitate. It shows weakness. If you're weak, it reflects weakness on me. I won't have weakness, Lilian." Radical spoke up from her right. His husky voice spoke to her softly but it was not with a soft tone. She felt a shiver run down her spine and then slowly nodded. Realizing it was dark and he probably couldn't see the movement, she spoke up. "I understand. I'm sorry, Radical."

The jogged on in silence, getting as far away from the explosion as a possible. When they finally came to a stop, Lilian asked Radical where they thought they could find Denmark. "Denmark is dead Lilian. Jack was giving us a clue to something else. It's probably connected to why he blew up his home."

"Wait, he blew it up? Are you sure it wasn't someone trying to kill him?" Radical rolled his eyes. "No. He was itching to leave there. Jack knew his house was going to blow. The only thing is, that sort of thinking is above Jack. Someone else is pulling his strings. We have to find out who and what their aim is."

"One job at a time. Radical. Let's solve this one first and then find out about Jack. After all, he's not even paying us."

Radical turned his back to her, finger to his scruffy chin. "This one's easy to solve, Lil. The man that hired us is not the girl's father. He's the partner. He's trying to get the girl back so he can use it as leverage against her father or because he's in love with her. I'm thinking the latter."

Lilian rounded on him to look him in the face. "What are you talking about? Why would that guy not be her father? What makes you think he's the partner?" He was jumping to conclusions and Lilian didn't like to be left behind. "Because of that guy." He pointed to Caden. "If her father is as strapped for cash as he makes it sound, then why on earth would he agree to the price that Caden there negociated? There would be no way of paying it. He also sought to hire us which means he knows of me and what I do. He wouldn't think he could skip out on my bill like he does the mob boss'. No. He knows I'm better at getting my goals than those shmucks. He's the partner. He's loaded. And he's going to pay."

Lilian caught herself. "You mean you're still going to save that girl? Even though its not her dad who hired us?"

He turned and looked directly at her, giving her a cold and chilling feeling. "Of course. I never go back on a job."

[Caden Cottenius]

To be honest, I didn't think he was as broke as he let on. Caden spoke up, after what felt like a week of quietness. Not to mention the fact that the man isn't exactly kind to women. I doubt he would care that much about his daughter in trouble if he even had one. Caden pointed out.

After listening to Radical and Lilian speak for a few more moments, Caden spoke up again. Finish the job? Caden rubbed his beard. I'm willing to finish the job, alright. So long as after we get paid, we make sure to backstab this man. Show him what happens when he lies to us. Caden stated, looking back at the other two. The daughter, I'm sure we can return her to her rightful place and set things right. Caden wasn't one to be double crossed by people who gave him orders. Setting things right was the least he could do in this situation. He just hoped they would be up for it.

[Radical]

"I agree. We need to pay him back so that he doesn't do this again." Lilian was getting excited. She felt that Caden had spoke what should be justice and thus what should be done. There were very few times that while working with Radical she could express her sense and desire for justice. Radical was more about the quick cash.

"You're getting ahead of yourself Lilian. We are not paid to solve all th world's problems. We're paid to solve his. Who cares if he is who he says he is or if he isn't." Radical leaned up against a wall as he caught his breath.

"But you said that he wasn't the father. So what is the motivation to get her back? It's important to know that. Otherwise we could be handing her over to an even greater danger."

She leaned against the opposite wall and rested too. "That wouldn't be right Radical. We need can't hand over some poor girl into harm."

"And what? so you're saying we leave her where she's at with mobsters and gangs? By your own rules we complete the job." Lilian looked to Caden for support.

[Caden Cottenius]

Caden leaned against the wall while listening to these two. While there, he lit up his cigar, and listened to what was being said. After thinking about it for a few moments, Caden spoke up. Let's say you give the girl to this man, and we do nothing to him. If he is allowed to do as he damn well wants to toward her, then it reflects badly onto you. Caden noted.

I doubt seriously that the man would keep it to himself that he was able to fool you two and I into thinking he was her father. None of us would want it to get out that he double crossed people like us. Our future jobs would be jeopardy, and we would be the laughing stock of the town. Caden puffed on his cigar for a moment, before breathing out the smoke.

A bad reputation isn't a great way to make money, anyways. If we double cross him after he pays us, it would get out that you can't try to double cross us, because we're smarter than that. If we help the girl.. It's just an added bonus. Caden looked from one to the other. It's in our best interest to do the right thing. Both for the girl and our reputation.

[Radical]

Radical advanced on Caden, reaching for his axe as he approached. "Look buddy there is no "we" or "our" in this. Let's get that clear right now. After this job I don't think you want me to catch even a glimpse of you. You'll be a job I finish for free." He spoke gruffly only a few inches from Caden's face.

Lilian was quick to respond, though her hand on Radical's bristling shoulder looked pathetically weak as a blockade to further action. "Radical, calm please. You're over-reacting to a slip of the tongue."

In his anger, Radical turned on Lilian, advancing on her, though not reaching for his weapon. She gave way to him as he advanced, belittling her with his words. "A 'slip of the tongue'? I would think someone with your history would know better Lilian. Or do you still delude yourself like that? Words mean things. Saying them means something. Don't try to pretend that it was a slip up. Clearly it's betraying his personal thoughts-"

Her back to the wall, Lilian's face shot up towards Radical's at the mention of the topic of his little rant. She glanced away but said quietly, "Saying words or not saying them, the meaning is there."

Annoyed, Radical turned sharply on his heel and placed his hand to his brow, working at the muscles there with his fingertips. He heaved a large sigh as if going over something for the millionth time. "Get off that Lilian. I've told you everything before on that topic. It will never change. Leave it alone."

Slightly wounded looking, Lilian clutched her arms around her. There was a long moment of silence where there was clearly something hanging in the air between these two partners. Neither seemed willing to explain it's presence nor to be the first to face it down. "Fine, we get the girl back and see what she wants. Complete the job. If she pays us to liberate her a second time then it will be done. But one job at a time." Radical was the first to ignore the elephant in the room.

[Caden Cottenius]

Caden didn't budge as Radical tried to intimate him. Breaking the silence after their little spout, he said, I didn't mean to imply we were a "group" now. Caden clarified. I meant that after this is over, the girl is giving to him, and we do nothing about it after that point, all three of our reputations would suffer, regardless if we worked with each other again or not. Caden puffed on his cigar again.

After breathing out the smoke, he continued. We help the girl out, and afterword we decide what to do. Though I'm still up for helping her the best we can, and double crossing that man seems like a fairly decent plan to me. Caden stated. He may not be in the military anymore, but the sense of justice that was ingrained into his mind was still there. The sense of justice just came out much differently than what was anticipated. After taking another puff of the cigar, he crushed it against the wall, putting it out. I'm ready when you two are.