9 Mox

Lizzies Bar, the main base for the Moxes wasn't all that far from the Kabuki Market, and only took thirty minutes of walking to get there. The former brothel had become a Braindance club after the Tyger Claws had brutally murdered its owner. The Mox was formed not long after, a group started to protect the prostitutes of the city.

Ori wasn't exactly 'dressed' for the occasion however, his ragged clothes and weathered appearance instantly had the guards at the door stopping him from entering.

Most of them were women, all with sleek and shiny skin that was reminiscent of old plastic doll designs. Strange as it was, it also served to act as armour, far tougher than ordinary organic material.

A short woman with skimpy clothing, brightly coloured hair and a nailed baseball bat held over his shoulder steps in front of him to block his path. "Hold up there, place ain't a charity so unless you got the Eddies the spend, you're better off elsewhere." she firmly states.

"I've got biz with Q." Ori responds, the Quadranos had actually been quite close with the Mox, since their intentions aligned in some ways, it wasn't strange to see either group cooperating with one another.

Ori was actually kind of pissed that the Mox hadn't lifted a hand while Casinha got shot up. Three gangs were there if you didn't include the Scavs, yet not a single Mox.

The guard sniffs at him, taking a once over at his sorry appearance, "What biz does Susie have with a kid like you?"

"Ask her later and find out."

"Whatever, I'll look forward to draggin' your ass out." she relents, allowing him to step inside.

Despite it being near midday, the club was already quite busy, lights flashing and music booming. Men and women sat around the place, drooling as they enjoyed their respective Braindances, and pornographic virtual realities.

He makes his way to the bar and takes a seat, waiting for the barman to finish serving some other customers, "What can I getcha?" he asks as he steps over, idly cleaning a glass.

"I need to talk with Susie, she busy?"

"Probably, who's askin'?"

"Ori Quadrano, Emmanuel's son."

...

"Eman's...? Hm, he never spoke of you." the man asks, surprised.

"Yeah well, like it matters anymore, he's dead." Ori grouses at his dad's nickname, "Which is what I need to talk to Susie about."

"You have my sympathies kid but, if you're here to ask for help I doubt the boss is gonna care."

Ori shrugs, "We'll see when I ask her."

...

The barman just sighs, "Aight, I've sent her a text, she'll be here when she can." he slides a drink in front of him, "On the house, for your dad."

Ori just huffs humorously in response, looks like his dead's life was worth at least one drink. Shaking his head, he steeples his fingers and glances over his shoulder, noting a group of Mox in the corner all wearing BD headsets. Judging by the serious expressions under them, they weren't getting their rocks off... Probably military sims if he had to guess by the preem guns sitting next to them.

He lets out a sigh and rests his forehead on his hands, despite having two days to himself alone, his head was still a mess. As if barbwire had been wrapped around every thought and memory, poking him whenever he broached them.

*Thunk!*

The double doors of the backrooms slam open as two figures step out, one pursuing the other. "I mean it Q, we can't lose ourselves on this. Asking for protection money, refusing to help those outside our territory. Just yesterday I got a BD of two guys abusing one of our own, Kacey, just snatched her right off of the street!" a heavily tatted-up woman with blue and purple hair exasperatedly states.

"And? What do you want me to do about it? We're barely holdin' on as it is and you want to start another war? We fuck up now and we'll help nobody!" Susie Q retorts, her heavily modded body drawing Ori's attention, though, her large 'assets' appeared to be catching everyone else's eyes.

"I'm just askin' we do what the Mox was founded for in the first place." Susie turns to face the arguing woman, "Protect the people who can't protect themselves."

"Enough, we have this same fuckin' argument day in and day out, you wanna get in trouble on your own, go head, but don't drag the rest of us with you." Susie states before turning to Ori and sitting herself down next to him.

"Vodka, hit me." she orders the barman, "Now, whaddya want, kid?" she asks, turning to Ori.

"I want help. And you're the only person I could think to ask."

"He's Eman's kid, apparently." the barman adds while sliding her drink in front of her.

"Eman? Can't you just ask your old man if you want some pocket money?" she sarcastically drawls.

"I would if he wasn't five feet in the ground. Woulda thought you'd have heard the war that went on over at Casinha two days ago, gunfire should've reached here. Had Maelstrom, Animals, and Tyger Claws shooting the place up." he explains, quickly catching her attention.

"That lot? The fuck would they want there?" she wonders aloud while sipping her drink, "I know Maelstrom had been botherin' you, but Animals and Tyger Claws? Who did your dad piss off?"

"Don't know, all I know is the Mox weren't anywhere around 'spite it being barely out of Kabuki." Ori retorts, eyeing the woman.

"Ah, I get it, you wanna guilt trip me into helping your sorry ass. Well newsflash kid, I don't owe you shit." she declares, "So unless you've got something to offer, we're done here."

"I've got nothing but myself, I'll join your gang or whatever you want, I just need your help finding my sister. Those fuckers kidnapped her, and I'm getting her back no matter what it takes." he asserts, leaning toward her with his hands planted on the bar.

She waves him off dismissively, "I don't need your skinny ass in the Mox, I'm sorry for your sis but we've got other, bigger problems to deal with. Just get it through your head that she's gone, and your luck in findin' her is a million to one. Unless you think you can take down the three gangs who might have her solo?"

...

He lowers his head slightly, pride irrelevant at this point. "Please. I'll do anything, just help me out here... Please. She's all I got left..."

Susie's eyes soften momentarily, before hardening as she gets to her feet. "Sorry, can't help you kid." she states as she enters the backrooms of the club, leaving Ori in a whirlpool of despair.