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Galileo City
Jun. 7th, 2005 02:23 pmCities are cities are cities, no matter what planet they're on. At least that's been Spike's experience.
He likes this one, though, for a couple reasons. First, whether he admits it or not, he liked Rocco. This was where they met and where Rocco talked him into teaching just enough Jeet Kune Do to make sense of some of the philosophy, although ultimately it didn't matter: he got shot anyhow. This was where Rocco called him Master and where Spike learned about grey ash and about the little popper pills (which both he and Beth remembered to take) and about Rocco's sister, Stella, and he wonders how she's doing. If she's still in her desert hideaway home, or if she's moved on to other places now that she can see.
But today they're out looking for someone else. A bounty head by the name of Elio Baranza who's selling tainted grey ash seeds, and though it's far from the most luxurious part of town, Spike walks Beth at a leisurely pace, arm in arm through the streets like any other tourist couple pointing out the sights. First space shuttle landing site, the location of the original settlement, a tribute statue to the guy who found out about the healing properties of the strange Venusian water. Odd-looking bird-like creatures bobbing up and down in the violently purple pond; vendors selling food for them that sizzles and steams when it hits the water.
They make their way down a side street and into a... well, it's probably best described as a pub. Bar on one side serving happy-hour type foods. Fried stuff. Potechi, the Ganymede import, seems to be pretty popular; there are plates of it on a couple tables along with Earth delicacies like onion rings and french fries. Spike directs Beth to a seat at the bar and looks around: there are plenty of shady characters here. As good a place as any to start. He motions over the bartender and orders a plate of potechi and a pair of ice-cold Venusian redberry ales to go with it and turns to Beth with a grin.
"So, Slim: you like it so far?"
Small talk: a bounty hunter's best friend. Sunglasses still on, he scans the bar. No matches here. When the bartender arrives with their ales, Spike leans forward. "Hey. I'm looking for a friend. Kind of a Johnny Appleseed type: heard anything about where he might be?" He slides aW500 note across the top of the bar.
The bartender looks back and forth but says nothing. He walks off with the money, returning in a minute with a plate of hot fried potechi and a couple sauces.
And moves closer.
"Yeah, he was looking kind of grey. Almost ashy. That the guy?"
Unmoved, Spike taps out a pair of cigarettes and hands one to Beth. He takes his time lighting them both, and hands anotherW500 note to the bartender. In a practiced move the bartender makes the note disappear pretty damn fast.
"You might try the Destiny over on Copernicus. At around 3 this afternoon." The bartender turns away, moving down the bar to other customers.
Behind the sunglasses, Spike blinks. Once, twice, three times. Then he raises his glass to Beth. "Hey. Let's eat. We've got plenty of time."
He likes this one, though, for a couple reasons. First, whether he admits it or not, he liked Rocco. This was where they met and where Rocco talked him into teaching just enough Jeet Kune Do to make sense of some of the philosophy, although ultimately it didn't matter: he got shot anyhow. This was where Rocco called him Master and where Spike learned about grey ash and about the little popper pills (which both he and Beth remembered to take) and about Rocco's sister, Stella, and he wonders how she's doing. If she's still in her desert hideaway home, or if she's moved on to other places now that she can see.
But today they're out looking for someone else. A bounty head by the name of Elio Baranza who's selling tainted grey ash seeds, and though it's far from the most luxurious part of town, Spike walks Beth at a leisurely pace, arm in arm through the streets like any other tourist couple pointing out the sights. First space shuttle landing site, the location of the original settlement, a tribute statue to the guy who found out about the healing properties of the strange Venusian water. Odd-looking bird-like creatures bobbing up and down in the violently purple pond; vendors selling food for them that sizzles and steams when it hits the water.
They make their way down a side street and into a... well, it's probably best described as a pub. Bar on one side serving happy-hour type foods. Fried stuff. Potechi, the Ganymede import, seems to be pretty popular; there are plates of it on a couple tables along with Earth delicacies like onion rings and french fries. Spike directs Beth to a seat at the bar and looks around: there are plenty of shady characters here. As good a place as any to start. He motions over the bartender and orders a plate of potechi and a pair of ice-cold Venusian redberry ales to go with it and turns to Beth with a grin.
"So, Slim: you like it so far?"
Small talk: a bounty hunter's best friend. Sunglasses still on, he scans the bar. No matches here. When the bartender arrives with their ales, Spike leans forward. "Hey. I'm looking for a friend. Kind of a Johnny Appleseed type: heard anything about where he might be?" He slides a
The bartender looks back and forth but says nothing. He walks off with the money, returning in a minute with a plate of hot fried potechi and a couple sauces.
And moves closer.
"Yeah, he was looking kind of grey. Almost ashy. That the guy?"
Unmoved, Spike taps out a pair of cigarettes and hands one to Beth. He takes his time lighting them both, and hands another
"You might try the Destiny over on Copernicus. At around 3 this afternoon." The bartender turns away, moving down the bar to other customers.
Behind the sunglasses, Spike blinks. Once, twice, three times. Then he raises his glass to Beth. "Hey. Let's eat. We've got plenty of time."
