Chapter 7: 7

'Aw come on! We got shit to do for this dumb show later and we wanna go to the pub, fuck sake!'

Ronson was losing the plot slightly in the rush hour New Edo traffic. He had gone out with Krieger doing some small deliveries in the company car; the company car being an obnoxious 1970 Plymouth Barracuda painted up in an eye catching black-to-purple metallic sheen that changed colour depending on the light hitting it. It was known as the Pimp Mobile but known as the Gimp Mobile by those who knew the masochistic idiots who drove it. The rest of the crew were either busy doing maintenance on the ship, restocking or doing other delivery jobs that didn't warrant using the car.

Zach however had kept himself busy for quite a while by doing the company books again and getting the crew some smaller jobs to tide them over till the Convict Chase which at the time wasn't far off. All because he was left behind on New Edo during the Conner job and nobody had realised they had forgot about him. It happened a lot.

'Yeah thanks for leaving me boss. Again.' He said to Krieger with disdain.

'Dude I'm pretty sure you said you didn't want in on this job, you had an important date?'

Zach racked his brains trying to remember if he did say he wanted out but he couldn't really recall. He did have a date though that he did remember.

'Oh yeah I did sorry I forgot I even told you!'

Krieger nearly let out a sigh of relief but kept it to herself knowing she just dodged a bullet by convincing the universes biggest idiot he had said no. At least Zach hadn't spent the entire weekend trying to get in to the pants of some dolly bird and had done something productive. The company was still in the black again this month.

That was ages ago or so it seemed. The crew had been keeping themselves busy right up until the Convict Chase was about to start. Krieger was doing her best in order to prepare, which basically meant she worked when she had to and spent the rest of her time down the pub. Ronson as always was her handler for the Chase. Every competitor was allowed a team-mate who could help them track down their targets using a combination of information they were given and terminal where they could access CCTV footage, then relay this to their hunter. They weren't allowed out on to the playing field as such but were confined to the Convict Chase HQ. The hunters were permitted to carry their own weapons out on to the field and nothing more; everything else was down to on-site procurement meaning anything they could find could be used. Hunters were also given an allowance of five thousand credits for any sundries or sustenance they required but they couldn't spend any more. The amount of convicts varied every year as well as their danger level and there was a time limit in which every single one had to be dispatched. But it was a special Convict Chase this year as they teased they had some pretty serious criminals competing, so everybody was wondering if the game's producers would be doing anything radical.

Krieger and Ronson were nearly at the Chase HQ where they had to go through the formalities of final registration which involved appearing on some dumb pre-Chase TV show that was broadcast throughout the galaxy; showing off the years competitors as well as the cons who were fundamentally sentenced to death by the hands of a pack of bloodthirsty mercenaries. It was like The Hunger Games and The Running Man had a baby but was nearly all in favour of the hunters, the cons got nothing out of it except an interesting death or if they were incredibly lucky and managed to survive past the time limit; they got to live but got thrown back in prison to carry out the rest of their sentence. If one of the cons however happened to kill a hunter, depending on their crime and severity then their sentence could be reduced or they received certain privileges; and this made for a very interesting format. It did show just exactly if the cons wanted to live or not.

The entire planet had been preparing for the event which was to start in just a few days. This also meant that travel to and from New Edo was stopped for a little while. It didn't bother the locals though; the Chase brought plenty of tourists beforehand in which meant money and lots of it. It was a novel idea for the people of the more exclusive and fancy planets to come and have a weekend on the shithole that was New Edo which had become a destination of Bucket List proportions. The rich people of Pacifica and Galleria would come and slum it out for a weekend or so on New Edo then take news and stories of the subpar hotels and facilities that the hell hole had to offer back to their family and friends, but gush about how it was a once in a lifetime experience; similar to a billionaire deciding to take the family on a camping holiday on a one star site on the wettest weekend of the year in Bognor Regis. The family hated it at the time, but oh how they laugh about it now.

Ronson and Krieger eventually got through the mass of traffic and made it to the Chase HQ just outside the nicer part of town in the nick of time. The building itself was on an old industrial estate that had been converted in to a sort of make shift film and television studio where a lot of New Edo's would be "finest" productions were made; most of which were terrible B-Movies, the occasional local sport shows, public access programmes about gardening and porn. The pair sauntered through the backstage entrance of building A knowing not to go to the main entrance round the front where the studio audience would be queuing up to get in where they would inevitably be swamped. PA's and stage hands instantly latched on to Ronson and Kriger and ushered them through in to make-up and hair to get them screen ready. Ronson didn't need much as he had fabulous skin but Krieger had more time spent on her. She wasn't surprised though; she'd only washed her face that morning and smeared some stuff on it along with a slick of mascara just to make it look like she'd made some kind of an effort to look human. The make-up woman faffed around with her face, applying eyeliner and blush and other stuff Krieger didn't bother with usually. At least they let them on stage in the clothes they were wearing and didn't tart them up any more.

Ronson had quite enjoyed the pampering and preening, smoothing the sides of his head as he checked himself out in the mirror admiring what the hair lady had done with just a few minutes and some styling product. They didn't even bother with his friend; they sent her back out with her high ponytail still intact but a much more refreshed looking face. The pair were the last to turn up as per usual. They were ushered through to the green room where the rest of this year's competitors were waiting and scratching about the refreshments table.

'Fucking hell they're finally here.' A voice chuckled.

Krieger and Ronson instantly recognised the voice who announced their arrival. The distinctly rich Southern American drawl belonged to Freddie Wilson, a forty something year old burly biker and ex-bodybuilder from Missouri who owned a rather profitable scrapyard and auto shop on the outskirts of the port. This would be his third Chase. He was accompanied by his adopted son Johnnie who was his handler. Krieger and Ronson made their way over and gave them both handshakes and hugs. Freddie was like the dad everybody wanted, a genuinely nice bloke who always had your back in a fight. His son was also like the little brother you never had. They had made the move out to the new galaxy a good few years back after Freddie's wife had died.

Ronson and Krieger said hi to the other competitors; the stoic and dry humoured Daisuke Akiyama who was a straight up contract killer. He was sat in the corner sipping a glass of whiskey with his handler Keiko who was his cousin. She was absolutely adorable, only nineteen years old and decked out in the cutest fashions but she was lethal with a pair of Tanto blades. She owned her own Sushi restaurant in the nicer part of town. Krieger and Ronson would see her in Bab's place sometimes whenever she had a night off and they'd buy each other a round.

Then of course there was Frank, shuffling around the refreshments table like an old man in his slippers; poking around at the array of sandwiches and nibbles that had been laid out. Krieger looked around for his usual handler K-Pop; real name Hyong Kang-min who was a twenty two year old tech prodigy on Frank's crew. Everybody called him K-Pop as he looked like he belonged to a Korean boyband.

'K-Pop not with you this year Frank?' Ronson questioned him as Frank decided chewing on some limp looking celery sticks dipped in a rather unappealing looking hummus.

'Nope.' Frank replied through a mouthful of celery. 'He's at a wedding on Galleria so I've got a replacement.'

Ronson had an idea who it was and could only imagine the look on Krieger's face as he walked in. None of them had actually seen Frank and his crew since they got back from the Conner job as they'd been on some off world jobs. As if on cue he walked in to the greenroom.

'Ah Erik, right on time.' Frank said as his replacement handler walked in. Ronson turned to look at his friend who was sat with the other hunters and handlers chatting away. It took her a moment but she finally realised who it was who just entered the room. There was an awkward moment of silence as Erik and Krieger acknowledged each other and exchanged strange little waves. The exchange didn't last very long as the holoscreen in the green room suddenly crackled to life and was live broadcasting the channel that the show was on. The intro had begun and quickly went in to some long monologue by a deep voiced narrator prattling on about the tradition of the Convict Chase and a brief outline of the rules. Then it quickly cut to a sweeping shot of the studio audience clapping and cheering for the Convict Chase official hosts; Paul Adams, Terry St.Vincent and Naoko Harada-Walker.

'Good afternoon everybody and welcome to the Convict Chase Pre-Show on Galaxy Network Extreme Sports! I'm Paul Adams and with me as always my fabulous co-hosts, Terry St. Vincent and Naoko Harada Walker!'

Everybody in the green room had turned quiet and watched the show, the hosts going through stats from previous years, hunters who had been killed during the Chase in remembrance and who wasn't entering this year.

'I was wondering where June was.' Kreiger announced. 'It's not like her to miss a Chase where is she?'

'She's taking this year off.' The usually quiet Akiyama answered her question. 'She's taking an extended vacation.'

Everybody in the room nodded in acknowledgement. They soon went quiet again when the hosts went through the Con list who were a mixed bunch this year; their mugshots and rap sheets emblazoned on the scrren. A terrorist bomber with the OWLF known only by the name Jax. Two serial rapists and murderers Biff Calhoun and Simon "Switch" Funar. A female serial killer named Andrea Toles who only targeted men, and finally a repeat offender who would be the worst of the cons this year; Tobias Clement. Rapist, murderer and paedophile. The last guy got a bunch of boos and hisses in the audience as well as in the green room. All of the convicts were kept in a maximum security transport ship currently bound for New Edo which upon arrival, they would literally be booted out on to the planet to fend for themselves and use whatever wits and skill they had to hopefully survive till the time limit ran out. At least for the hunters everything this year had been confined to the main island of New Edo which was the biggest, but could be travelled north to south and east to west in around three to four hours. All of the convicts were implanted with internal explosive devices at the base of the neck so if they went outside the Chase boundaries or did something to harm civilians then they would be dispatched straight away from the event bosses at HQ.

'So you now know who our Cons are. After the break we'll get to chat to our hunters and handlers plus questions from our studio audience. See you in a few.'

Everybody in the green room groaned as it now meant they all had to go out and do their stupid little interviews then be asked dumb questions from the studio audience; all except Frank who loved the attention. Freddie and Johnnie were out first, one of the show minions had been sent to come and get them during the ad break. They soon appeared on the screen in the green room as the show host introduced them on stage and went through previous years and their kills and records. Naoko was the one flitting about the audience going to people with a microphone so they could ask their questions. Freddie was asked at one point by some Cockney sounding fellow how much had could get for an old banged up Ford Cortina if he sent it in to him for scrap. Freddie told him not to bother and bring it to his garage to have it completely restored instead and turn a profit. At least this show was a good way to advertise your business. It wasn't really a thing that Daisuke talked about on air but it gave Keiko a chance to advertise her restaurant. In fact she did most of the talking on behalf of her cousin who never really had much to say anyway, well according to Keiko he didn't. He spoke about food a lot though so she said. Keiko was asked by the audience about what her cousins plans were for the Chase and also where she got her clothes from.

Frank and Erik were soon brought on after the hosts and producers figured they weren't going to get anything out of Daisuke and it was making the interview slightly awkward. Everybody congregated back in the green room to wait till the end of the show where everybody was brought back on stage to say good bye and get some kind of group shot. Daisuke had wandered back in to the green room quickly followed by Keiko.

'Stupid publicity shit.' He was mumbling away as he went straight to the refreshments table and grabbed one of the now room temperature Kirin beers that had been set out. He cracked it open and slumped back down in his comfy chair as he poured the beer down his neck. Keiko grabbed a Kirin too and sat next to him.

'At least I got to plug my business.'

Everybody snapped back to the holoscreen in the green room as the show had come back from yet another ad break, the smooth and glistening smiling face of Terry St. Vincent staring directly in to the camera.

'Our next contestant has been a crowd favourite for the past six years and is one of the longest competing hunters in the history of the Chase. He is also tied with our final competitor at the top of the leader board for most wins. Unfortunately his regular handler is not joining him this year but thankfully he has brought along a fabulous stand in. Everybody please welcome hunter Frank DaCosta and his handler Erik Lundstrom!'

All the women in the audience went nuts when Frank finally appeared on stage, waving and smiling as he took a seat next to the hosts. Erik sauntered out behind him giving a slight wave and smile to the cameras and audience before taking a seat next to Frank. Terry was the one leading the interview with his co-host Paul asking the occasional question.

'So Frank, how's it been since the last Chase? I understand you've been expanding your business?'

'It's been pretty good Terry. Been getting better and more regular jobs so I've been hiring. Erik here has just joined us in the last few weeks he's an asset to my team.'

'So I hear your regular handler Hyeong Kang-min, K-Pop as we also know him is away on personal business?' Paul asked his question to Frank, taking it in turns to interview the duo with Terry.

'He's attending an important family wedding off world so he couldn't miss it. I asked Erik to be my handler this year and he accepted.'

'So Erik, this is your first Chase as a handler, are you a regular watcher?' Terry asked the Swede.

'I am a fan of the Chase I've been watching for a few years now. It's nice though to actually be involved this time.' Erik shot a dazzling smile as he replied. Panning shots of the audience showed that pretty much every woman there was currently swooning away at their favourite stud Frank and now at new stunning addition to the male populace of New Edo. Krieger thought she could hear screaming ovaries through the holoscreen. One whiff of a handsome bloke and the women in the audience were acting like bitches in heat. Krieger and Ronson weren't complaining though. Ronson was happy having two good looking men on screen whilst Krieger only had her eyes on Erik looking all handsome and rugged in his well-fitting dark indigo jeans and black unbuttoned long sleeved Henley with the sleeves rolled up. She shuddered herself back to reality when Ronson nudged her. He'd been over to the refreshment table and brought the whole platter of triangular cut sandwiches with him and had it resting on his lap; haphazardly picked random sandwiches and stuffing them in his mouth. Krieger noticed the platter on his lap and soon she was diving in, looking for the decent sandwiches anyway.

'Now for the AMA, anybody here in the audience want to ask Frank or Erik a question?' Naoko spoke in to her microphone as she scanned the audience where several hands had shot up. She wandered up a few steps to a young red haired and freckled woman who had her hand raised.

'Hey there, what's your name and who is your question for?' Naoko asked the young woman before hovering the microphone near her mouth.

'Hi my name is Melissa, my question is for Frank. I heard recently that you were offered a modelling contract with a company on Pacifica? Is this true and will it affect your business or participation in future Chases?'

'Hey Melissa, well it is true I was offered a modelling contract but unfortunately I had to turn it down. My business comes first, plus I love doing the Chase every year so I wouldn't want to stop.'

'Well unfortunately for us we won't been seeing you in all our favourite magazines but at least we get you on future Chases Frank, am I right guys?' Naoko mused as the female audience members all "awww'd" in unison and cheered.

'Oh no, I'm fucking devastated.' Krieger sarcastically roared at the holoscreen through a half-eaten cheese and Branston pickle sandwich.

'Anymore questions? He lady over there in the pink top.' Naoko said as she made her way round the audience to another young woman with tanned skin, bouncy blonde hair and a low cut baby pink top. She looked like a previous or potential conquest of Frank, who for some reason had a sort of batch of groupies and fans.

'Hey there my name is Amy.' The woman stood up from her seat to show off her figure, the tight fitting pink top paired with denim hot pants. She towered over Naoko who even with heels only measured in at around five foot five. 'I'd like to ask Erik if he has a girlfriend and if not, are you doing anything tonight?' The girl lay it on thick and heavy, biting her lip seductively and twisting a lock of her hair round her fingers as she batted her ridiculously long fake eyelashes.

'To answer your questions, I currently don't have a girlfriend but I do have my eye on someone at the moment.' Erik replied with a simple grin and raised eyebrows, looking just a touch smug. The hosts, Naoko and some other members of the studio audience scoffed in annoyance at her.

The girls face dropped and she instantly sat back down and folded her arms. All the other women in the audience as well as Naoko were staring at her as if to say "silly cow" as it wasn't the done thing, this show was sort of light hearted but it was about the Chase; not some dolly bird skipping the lonely hearts section and going straight for the prize. You left all that stuff till you got outside when everybody was leaving then attempted to bed a contestant. Frank himself was grinning slightly at Erik's simple abruptness. Plus it meant he probably had more women on his way, figuring Erik would make a pretty good wingman especially if he was turning down the ones throwing themselves at him.

'Okay guys thank you very much for talking to us. Do you have anything else to add before you go?' Paul asked Frank and Erik.

'We have the official Team Vittoria Convict Chase store open again this year at our office in the port. Come down and get a few things if you want to show us your support and also support the local manufacturers who made everything.' Frank finished the interview with the cheesiest and blinding grin he could muster.

'Krieger and Ronson, you're on next if you want to follow me.'

The pair got up and followed the assistant out of the green room and down the long corridor through to the backstage area. They heard the sound of the audience cheering and clapping as Frank and Erik had finished their interview and made their way back to the green room as the show had gone to yet another ad break. Frank was powerwalking down the corridor mumbling about how he needed a stiff drink on his way before he left as every year most of the audience would congregate outside in an effort to meet the contestants and handlers and apparently Frank needed a whisky or something to deal with that.

Ronson got to the backstage area first with Krieger trailing behind him. Erik had soon made his way after Frank but stopped Krieger when he got to her.

'Hey Cas, I'll see you in a bit. Yeah?' The Swede asked her.

'Of course.' She simply smiled as she replied, leaving Erik looking a bit happier. 'Gotta run.'

Krieger caught up with Ronson who was stood waiting for her with the now half empty platter of sandwiches still under his arm. One of the assistants had tried taking it off him but Ronson just hissed at her and batted her away, adamant he was keeping it.

'And now to our final hunter and handler. They have been a colourful part of the Convict Chase for the past six years with a total of three overall Chase wins in that time. They need no further introduction, please welcome Chase veterans Captain and Vice-Captain of the Osiris, Cassandra Krieger and Chris Ronson!' Paul introduced the duo on stage. They casually made their way out, Krieger waving and grinning at everyone who shouted her name and Ronson attempting to do the same with the food platter under his arm and a sandwich hanging out from his mouth. The audience laughed a little at him. If anyone could get them laughing then it was these two. They noticed their small but boisterous cheering squad were at the back mainly consisting of some of the queens from Bab's Bar in full drag, whooping and hollering. The pair sat down with the hosts, Krieger unclipping her sword from her belt and leaning it against the arm of her chair.

'Krieger and Ronson, so good to have you back again this year.' Paul exclaimed to them.

'It's good to be back.' Krieger smiled as she replied. She then took a sandwich off the platter Ronson still had. The hosts and the audience didn't even bother asking about the sandwich platter, it wasn't unheard of for either of them to do something weird. Last year they turned up to the pre-show coming straight from a costume party held the night before without bothering to go home to change first. They were dressed as Burt Reynolds and Sally Field from Smokey and the Bandit, Krieger as Reynolds and Ronson as Field respectively. Ronson actually looked rather fetching in a froofy over top wedding dress. Krieger's stick on moustache wasn't fooling anyone though.

'So you two have been doing the Chase now for wow, six years soon to be seven, do you think this year will make it win number four?' Terry asked his question after Paul introduced them, still taking it in turns.

'I hope it is. The more wins the better!' Krieger said. 'I have got a business to run y'know.'

'We also know that you and Chris here have quite possibly one of the most dedicated and steadfast friendships going with all the trials and tribulations you've been through together, does that friendship help you work together on the Chase do you think it gives you an advantage?' Paul asked.

'Wow he's really asking us proper questions this year.' Krieger said to Ronson through their neural mod private coms line, not a word leaving her lips.

'It makes a change. Want this cheese and pickle one?' Ronson handed her the small triangular sandwich as he spoke through the coms channel, she took the sandwich without looking and started chewing a corner.

'We've know each other for nearly seventeen years Paul. We were regular Earth military for a bit and started officer training and all that nonsense before the discovery and switch to EMA. Plus all that crap with Bishop, we came out at the end of it all intact and still best friends. We argue, we bicker, we have great fun together. In fact we're not best friends Paul we're family and that's what makes us an unstoppable pair.' Krieger monologued as she finished off the cheese and pickle triangle. It received a round of applause from the audience. Ronson nodded and carried on eating his sandwiches.

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'She's a great wingman too Paul.' Ronson mumbled with the occasional crumb firing from his lips.

'We know you're fierce rivals with Frank in and outside of the Chase and you're both currently tied with three wins each, what does it mean to you to get to number one?' Terry quizzed Krieger directly, Ronson however answered for her.

'It's very important. Cas won't stop till she's number one, or till she gets taken out.'

'What like on a date?' Terry asked.

'No, like with a bullet or something.' Ronson stated as a matter of fact, knowing damn well that his friend was relentless especially when it was a competition where the prize was a lot of money. He didn't mind so much though because she always shared whatever winnings she got with him and it was enough to keep you more than comfortable for over a year or so.

A few people in the audience sniggered and smirked at the remark and at Terry too who obviously didn't understand what Ronson had originally said about taking Krieger out.

'Questions now! Naoko over to you!' Paul swiftly cut to the nicely dressed co-host who was perusing through the audience members.

'Okay who has a question for Krieger or Ronson? You there, the gentleman with the lovely suit.' Naoko said as she made her way down the steps to the neatly dressed chap sat a few seats in to the row. She handed him her microphone.

'Hello, I'm Thomas from Pacifica I come here every year for the Chase and I'm always Team Osiris.'

Kriger and Ronson smiled at the man and gave him a thumbs up before he started speaking again.

'My question is for both of you. Frank mentioned they were doing merchandise this year, but will we be getting Team Osiris merch again this year too?' Thomas handed the microphone back to Naoko.

'That's a great question Thomas thank you. Krieger, Ronson. Any merch again this year?'

'Yeah so we have new shirts, we also have some new lovely things too. Ronson has designed an Osiris branded hip flask and along with all the regular badges, buttons and stickers we even have metal replica keyrings of Jake and Elwood.' Krieger said as she took the two guns out of their holsters and showed them to the audience to which everyone "ooh'd" and "ahh'd." 'We even have a limited run of Inazuma letter openers.' She finished as she tapped the hilt of her sword.

'You can get everything from tomorrow from Bab's Bar down on Main Street or Hideki's Bar near the port. Call in for a drink to and say hi to everyone, buy some stuff.' Ronson added.

'Okay we have time for another question. The lady right down at the front in the tank top.' Naoko made her way further down the steps to the show floor now, right on the audience front row. She held her microphone out in front of the woman. She was a bit older than some of the others asking questions.

'My question is for Cas. What has been your worst injury during the whole time you've been doing the Chase?'

Krieger let out a long breath as the thought of what to say.

'It has to be the third Chase I did. When I fell off them stairs in that scrapyard in to that skip full of knackered car and house windows.'

'Yeah I had to take her to the clinic after she was in the Medigel for two whole days after that, it took forever for her nano's to kick in.'

A lot of people in the audience winced, remembering her mishap from that year. Krieger had been chasing one of the cons through one of the scrapyard on the outer part of the main island and tried getting higher up the side of a warehouse by taking the fire escape stairs, thinking she could launch herself off the catwalk and land on the con down below. It would have worked if there wasn't a huge dumpster right where she was going to land. She had managed to turn herself in mid-air and landed on her back in the glass which thankfully wasn't completely all broken with no massive shards. She was however cut from her head all the way down her back and her legs and had some chunks of glass stuck in her, which her body took forever in rejecting. She couldn't continue with the remaining hours of the Chase so Ronson had to take her to the local clinic and submerge her in Medigel for a while which wasn't cheap, and Krieger absolutely hated the stuff because it tasted horrible and was difficult to wash off. She said it tasted like how she'd imagine wallpaper paste to taste like. It was like being suspended, completely naked in a musty smelling half set jelly and nothing short of having a bath in battery acid would get it off.

The audience were still grimacing at the thought of having a back full of sharp glass. Naoko had now made her way over to the Paul and Terry as they were now wrapping up the show. The show assistants had brought the other hunters and handlers back out on stage and had grouped everyone together for the sign off.

'Thank you to all our hunters and handlers for coming today and to our fab studio audience. Coverage of the Convict Chase begins the day after tomorrow at ten am New Edo local time but please check the time wherever you are. And as we're coming up to the New Edo Settlement anniversary, the producers have promised a big surprise for this year's Chase. From all of us here, keep bloodthirsty and keep it GNES! See you soon!'

Paul, Terry and Naoko all waved good bye at the cameras along with some of the hunters and handlers. The hosts mic's hadn't all been disengaged yet so the end of the show featured Krieger asking Ronson what he was doing with the now empty sandwich platter he was still grasping on to.

'I'm keeping it, I've grown attached.'

Everybody hung around for a while, chatting to the hosts as the show had finally finished. The audience members however had soon been ushered out of the building but many of them would be hanging around outside waiting to meet the stars of the Chase. Terry St. Vincent had told Krieger and Ronson that his money was on them this year while Naoko was trying to get Krieger involved in a "Women of the Chase" special TV documentary she wanted to make after this year's Chase was over, showcasing her and the other women of previous games. Krieger agreed and told Naoko to contact her whenever she wanted.

Paul, Terry and Naoko had left to go sort themselves out before leaving for home. Frank and Ronson as well as Freddie and Johnnie went out to go and speak to some of their fans while Krieger and Erik left quietly through one of the side exits for a natter. Krieger instantly lit a cigarette as soon as she got outside. She offered one to Erik who decided not to take one, but changed his mind. He smoked occasionally but not too often.

'How you doing Erik? Been a while huh?' Krieger asked the Swede as she leant against the wall outside one of the exit doors. Erik leant on the wall beside her.

'Busy since I got here from Pacifica. Frank's taken loads of jobs on since then.'

'Anything fun?'

'Basic deliveries, a few day long security detail jobs nothing spectacular. At least I'm not getting any grief from the princess anymore.' Erik chuckled.

'Oh how did Conner take it, you leaving I mean?'

'As expected. He tried getting me to stay but with what's been happening and his staff starting to leave of their own accord instead of getting fired he just accepted it.'

'Fair enough. You liking here on New Edo?' Krieger asked with a coy smile.

'I like it.' Erik laughed. 'Much more realistic here at least the people who try to stab you in the back have the balls to do it face to face. Well, not literally.' He continued snickering.

'You'll be fine here knowing that. You've got some fans already anyway.'

'Yeah I'm not really bothered about that.'

'Speaking of, here comes one now.' Krieger murmured as she saw the young woman, Amy come bouncing over to them with her chest puffed out and a dazzling smile.

'Hi, Erik. Listen I wanted to apologise about before on the show. It was like y'know, kinda rude of me especially because you're like new here and stuff.'

'It's fine.' A simple reply from Erik.

'So I was like err, wondering if I could ask you again if you like, wanted to go out on a date with me?' Amy asked as she laced her hands behind her back and rocked back and forth on her toes to her heels in some attempt to look vulnerable and cute.

'Again, I'm sorry but I'll have to decline. I actually have a date with Cas here.' Erik smirked as he coolly laid his arm around Krieger's shoulders.

'Wait what?' Kreiger muttered in confusion as she glanced up at Erik towering over her, then she remembered back on Pacifica she said she would go out with him. Amy's face instantly turned from sweet and innocent to pure venom as she glared down Krieger as best she could, a vein just ever-so-slightly popping out on the side of her head. She looked her up and down.

'You're just a glorified murderer with too much money, you're not even pretty.'

Krieger shuffled out of Erik's grasp and took a step closer to Amy who was a bit taller than her but she did have strappy high heels on.

'I've hospitalised people for talking to me like that.'

'You don't scare me, what makes YOU think you can talk to me like that or threaten me?' Amy sassed Krieger who was on the verge of eye-rolling at the stupid woman who had started this tiff.

'I'm an over eighty percent combat cyborg with two German .45's and a fucking sharp sword on a practically lawless planet sweetheart I can do what the fuck I like. And I don't like the way you're talking to me right now.'

Amy saw red and growled at Krieger before she reached her arm back and suddenly slapped her across the cheek, making sure to gouge her long acrylic stiletto nails in as she did. Krieger's face barely moved but showed signs of some bleeding while Amy shook her hand back to life as Krieger had a particularly hard head. Right now though he attempted to separate the women as he knew what was coming next. Normally if two people started fighting, unwritten New Edo etiquette basically meant that you left them to it, whether you were involved or not. Besides anything went on New Edo and women fighting was nothing new, most of the time a crowd would form and people would start taking bets on who was going to win. He'd had several years of Tammy trying to bribe and blackmail him in to going out with her and even sleeping with her and there was no chance in hell he was going to say yes to an overbearing woman who wouldn't take no for an answer, not after that. That's why he liked Krieger so much, she was the opposite of all the rich snobby spoilt bitches he'd been dealing with for way too long, she was brutally honest, up-front and bad-ass. She could look after herself and it was apparent that she fiercely looked after those she cared about. She obviously wanted to teach this girl a lesson especially after scratching up her face.

Within a split second, Amy was on the ground on her knees with Krieger behind her, holding her arm up in an awkward position behind her back and squeezing her neck tightly with her other hand.

'Y'know women go on about how men can't take no for an answer and get pissed off when they won't leave them alone even after only one or two times. But you don't really hear of it happening to men now do you?'

'No.'

'Right. Erik has said no, twice. What are you going to do?'

'Leave him alone.'

'Good girl. Equal rights.'

Krieger let go of the girl and dragged her to her feet. Her eyes were watering as she quickly tried to dust the gravel off her knees before attempting to run in the direction of the parking lot in her heels.

'You okay?' Erik turned to Krieger and tried to look at her cheek where Amy had managed to scratch her. Krieger just blotted the back of her hand on her cheek and showed it to Erik.

'I'm fine, look it's already healing, my nano's are working properly.' Krieger pointed to the marks on her face which were slowly knitting back together.

'I guess I should say thanks for that.'

'No need. People like her piss me off they only come here to try bang someone off the telly. Besides you've had to deal with Tammy trying to get you over a barrel for ages.'

Krieger had just basically said what Erik was thinking about before, he figured she understood.

'Y'know people go on about equal rights and shit like that but just because bad things happen to women more often than what it does to men, doesn't mean it gives them free reign to do it just because they are women and are apparently immune. It's stupid.' Krieger ranted as she lit another cigarette, the other one she had got thrown to the ground. 'Most of the women here though are pretty cut-throat and bitchy, myself included. Ugh this is why my best friend is a gay man.' She laughed.

'Sounds like you don't like women much.' Erik said to her. She just laughed.

'It's not that. I just don't like dickheads in general coming after me or people I actually like, it just makes me angry plus I have a really short fuse.'

'So, you like me then?' Erik raised an eyebrow at Krieger.

'You're a piece of work you.' Krieger chuckled and nudged Erik as they started to walk round to where the others were. 'C'mon let's find everyone and go to the pub. I need a stiff drink after all of today's bullshit.'

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