Radioactive: Chapter Six

Radioactive

Chapter Six

~White Wolf Lounge~

Kaiba looked down at the shards of crystals on the slab. He looked over a Jekyll as he crossed his arms. Kiri stood beside him and tried to analyze the shards. There was a silence in the room that was as thick as butter. Kaiba sighed. He tried to calm himself to breath normally.

“What did you say?” Kaiba asked.

Jekyll looked at him, “You didn’t hear me? I thought I was perfectly clear. Maybe I could check your hearing. I said that there is no DNA in any of this crystal. It’s as if the young lady wasn’t even human anymore, like her entire essence was crystal the entire time. Of course we’re still doing some research but as of this moment, she is just a pile of crystal.”

“Crystal doesn’t scream or attack people,” Kaiba said.

“Unless you stand under it when it falls on top of someone,” Kiri said.

Jekyll nodded, “Yes, that would result in some screaming and attacking I would think.”

“How about the lizard’s DNA?” Kaiba asked, “Did you find out anything?”

“Nothing much,” Jekyll answered, “Right now, sadly, we are stumped. All I can do now is ask that if you find another odd Other’s please don’t split or shatter them and get them hear in more or less one piece.”

“So we’re stuck,” Kaiba sighed.

“Unfortunately, yes,” Jekyll said.

Kaiba walked toward the door, “Thank you. Tell me when you find anything new.”

“Right,” Jekyll rolled his eyes, “because I have to do everything you say. You are so bossy and demanding, you know?”

“Sorry,” Kiri apologized for Kaiba’s behavior as she went after him. Jekyll waved a dismissive hand.

Kiri ran after Kaiba. She missed the elevator that Kaiba was in. Annoyed, she turned into the stairwell and ran up the stairs. The blue dot in Kiri’s vision showed Kaiba headed for the lobby. She burst through the stairwell in the lobby and ran to the elevator. It opened as she approached. Kaiba strode out and walked toward the door. Kiri tried to keep up with him.

Bridget looked up from her work, “Are you going out?”

“Yes,” Kaiba said as he walked.

“Um,” Bridget stood up to try to get Kaiba’s attention.

“Forward all calls for Kaiba to my me,” Kiri said on the way out, “Please let Galaxy know we will be off the premise and that if he needs anything to contact us.”

Bridget nodded her head, “Right.”

The door closed and Kaiba walked down the steps. He walked toward the front gates. His pace didn’t slow down and he didn’t seem to care if Kiri could keep up with him or not. He reached the gates, showed an ID and walked past the guards. Kiri ran after him trying to figure out where he was going.

“Shall I borrow a company car?” Kiri asked.

“No,” Kaiba said, “I’ll take a cab.”

Kiri managed to catch up to him and walk alongside him, “May I ask where you are going?”

“I need a drink,” Kaiba said with a plain expression.

“May I remind you that it is against company policy to drink while in active duty with the Tower,” Kiri stated.

“You just did,” Kaiba was in no talking mood.

Kiri sighed and followed the rest of the way in silence. They reached the main streets where she hailed a cab. Kaiba got in and told the address of where he wanted to go. Kiri missed it as she entered the cab and closed the door. As all good cab drivers do, the poor man tried to make conversation. Being in an irritated mood, Kaiba said nothing. Kiri took on the responsibility to talk to the driver in his stead.

They drove into the downtown area towards an area known for its night life. Most of the clubs and bars were close to the alleys but still on the safe side of business. The reached a stretch of road that no cars could go known as State Street. The cab pulled over and Kaiba stepped out. He walked down the pedestrian street while Kiri hurried to pay the driver. She got out of the car and ran to catch up with him.

State Street was filled with the late afternoon crowd out shopping at the local stores or simply hanging out for a place to be. Some of the bars were starting to open, attracting different kinds of people. Kaiba walked through the street. He came to a small alley way that stemmed from the main street. At the end of the alley was the entrance to lounge bar and club called the White Wolf. A man stood up from a chair beside the door. He met with Kaiba and crossed his arms.

“And who might you be?” the man asked.

Kaiba stared the man down, “A paying customer.”

“We don’t open till later,” the man said.

Kaiba sighed, “Would you tell your boss to let me in? He knows who I am.”

The man touched a finger to his ear, “Hey boss, there’s a guy out here wanting to get in…Yeah…How’d you know he was wearing a coat? Should I let him in?... Alright.” The man stepped to one side, “He’s expecting you.”

Kaiba walked in. The lounge was spacious and was actually three levels high, the fourth level being the boss’ office. Several young men and women were doing some last minute cleaning. All of them were dressed in the black and red uniform and dress shoes. Beyond the lounge area, the floor dipped into a dance floor. There was a large enough area for dancing and even a stage for live performances. The place had enough class and style to draw in both the young and old crowd. During the day the doors were open as a hangout for family’s and teens where food and soda were served instead of alcohol. The doors closed around noon and opened again for the night life where one had to be 18 to enter 21 to drink.

Behind the bar was the owner of the establishment. His white hair was long though he didn’t long old enough to have all white hair. He wore a black sleeveless shirt and black pants. His eyes looked up at Kaiba as he cleaned a glass. A black woman sat at the bar, a guitar case was at her feet. Kaiba walked up to the bar and sat down at a stool. Kiri stood nearby and looked around.

“Anyway, I just want to say that it’s a nice thing what’chyou doin’, you know, hirin’ only Alley kids. Gives em’ somethin’ to do other’n get into trouble, know what I mean?” the woman spoke to the bartender.

“Most of the time, those kids are better workers,” the bartender said, “Most of them know that this is their one chance. You tend to work harder knowing you have everything to lose.”

“Mmhmm,” the woman stood up and looked at Kaiba, “Well, I’ll let’chyou get back to your business. I wouldn’t want to be a bother.”

The bartender smiled, “You’re never a bother, April.”

April grabbed her guitar and headed for the door. She raised her hand in farewell, “Seeya, Fang.”

The door closed and Fang turned his attention to his other guest. He looked less pleased to see Kaiba. It was almost a 360 turn of emotions.

“What do you want?” Fang asked.

“Do you have any pure alcohol?” Kaiba asked.

Fang looked at him, “Yes, but we usually add it to other things so people don’t, I don’t know, die. That and it’s under lock and key. Could I interest you in something else?”

“A beer,” Kaiba answered.

“Aren’t you working?” Fang wondered.

“Yes,” Kaiba said

Fang pulled a soda can from under the table and opened it. He grabbed a cup with ice and poured the soda into the glass. Fang pushed the class toward Kaiba and threw the empty can in the trash. Kaiba looked down at the glass.

“This isn’t a beer,” he stated.

“I watered it down for you,” Fang explained, “I even added those carbonated bubbled that everyone loves. Believe me, you’ll love it.”

Kaiba looked up at Fang and took a sip of his drink. He set it down and got to business, “You used to work for the Tower, right?”

“I don’t recall,” Fang stated.

“Well, let’s say you did,” Kaiba said, “Did you ever run into anything unusual?”

Fang raised an eyebrow, “Unusual? That just defined that last few years of my life. I started out having black hair you know.”

“No, I mean other Others,” Kaiba sighed, “Others that just seemed odd or strange in their behavior or appearance.”

Fang stared at Kaiba, “You should stop by my place sometime. You are literally describing to a ‘T’ the people I have to deal with on a daily basis.”

“Mutants,” Kaiba stated.

“You’re talking about mutants that are more mutant than you or I?” Fang thought a moment then shammed the bar, “Nope can’t say that I have. Hypothetically, of course, if I have worked for the Tower. May I ask why you are asking that kind of question?”

Kaiba pulled out a file he snuck out and placed it on the table. Fang looked it over and shook his head.

“That is interesting. Certainly haven’t seen anything like this. Have you tried the circus?” Fang asked. Kaiba looked at Fang. Fang quickly got the message, “Okay, okay. All I’m saying is that place is a cesspool for gossip and information if you know where to look. I suggest looking for a black wagon to start.”

“And why would I do all of that,” Kaiba asked.

“Because it beats sitting on your butt feeling sorry for yourself,” Fang said, “Besides, the guy there tends to know things even though he’s bat crazy.”

“That nose of yours still work?” Kaiba asked.

Fang nodded, “It’s how I knew you were at the door.”

“You mind stopping by the Tower sometime?” Kaiba stood up and collected the folder.

“Is that a request or an order?” Fang asked.

“Take it whatever way you want,” Kaiba turned to the door.

“Hope you find what you’re looking for,” Fang said when Kaiba was at the door.

Kaiba turned, Kiri was just behind him, “So do I.”