Episode 131

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Consequences and Repercussions

 

 

            Alan’s footsteps resounded before him.  His trench coat swaying at his knees as he ascended the steps to the club’s front doors, he barely glanced at the line of people that extended off the gaudy red carpet and around the block.  The thickly built bouncers at the doors didn’t bat an eye as they opened the doors for him, revealing the pulsing club within.

            His cutlass resting at his side, he entered the music-saturated air and paused.  Knights were everywhere in the club, intermixed with the crowd of civilians.  They moved about like a pack of hungry tigers, vigilant and anxious.  Everywhere he looked, he saw red and black, ready and willing.

            He started down the steps, only to have Dante come out from the 80s room with a rushed look.  “Hey,” he said, meeting Alan halfway up the stairs.  “How’d things go?  Everything set up and ready to go?”

“Ready to go,” Alan affirmed, not stopping his descent.  “All we need to go is get everyone rounded up and get everything ready to broadcast and we’re in business.”

“Kick ass,” Dante said.  “Only one problem; nobody’s answering over at team three’s place.  I was going to head over and see if I can find any of them.”

            “They’re probably just out, being knights,” Alan said.  “Send Matt, though, if he’s free,” he said, Dante following him around the left side of the central dance floor.  “I need you here for the next little bit.  I want you to handle organizing the knights while I deal with the broadcasting stuff.”

“Me?” he exclaimed.

“Who else?  Ryoko or Eliot?” Alan asked.  Dante shrugged in unsatisfied agreement.  “Besides, it won’t be for long. We’re going to be moving out in the next two hours.”

            “Finally!” Dante exclaimed.

            “Keeping it on the down low, okay man,” Alan said with a chuckle, elbowing Dante.  “Everybody’s getting ready to burst, they’re all so anxious.”  He nodded to several of the knights they passed.

            “Alright, boss,” Dante said, disengaging, heading back the way he’d come.

            Alan continued on to bar at the rear of the dance floor.  He opened the spray-painted black door beside it, heading into the back of the club.  Once the door was closed behind him, he took a moment, rubbing his ears.  He looked disapprovingly back at the door, and the music on the other side of it, and started up the steps.

            Not halfway into his second step, “Alan,” came from above.  He looked up at Ryoko, the dame waiting at the top of the stairs.  “We’ve got a problem.”

            “Which one is it this time?” Alan asked, joining her.  “You know anything about team three being out?”

            “Team three?”  Ryoko thought for a moment.  “They’re the ones on the east end, right?”  Alan nodded.  “No, that’s…that’s that ‘Darren’ guy, I think.  He said they were all planning on staying in, awaiting orders.”

            “Yeah, that’s what Dante thought too, but they’ve all gone out.  He’s sending Matt over to round them up.”

            “You know, they do all have cell phones,” Ryoko offered condescendingly.  “You could just call some of them.”

            “Just because you call doesn’t mean they’ll answer,” Alan countered sagely, patting Ryoko on the shoulder.  “You said we’ve got a problem,” he said, turning on down the hall.

            “Eliot’s back.”

            “And?” he prompted.

            “I don’t know,” she said.  “He just said that he needed to see you the moment you got back.  And that there’s a problem.”

 
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