Points of Authority

Posted on Sun Jan 23rd, 2022 @ 7:40am by Cooper O'Reilly & Anne-Marie Chien & Whit

Mission: Li Shen's Bazaar
Location: Li Shen's Bazaar - Private Docks Area
Timeline: November 3rd Afternoon - After She's Got Issuess Part Two

They’d moved effectively quickly through the wandering pedestrians, hawkers, grifters and merchants, said motion expedited by the speed of the two escapees and the determined manner of their armed pursuit. As in most chases, this one ended with a hard stop.

A woman led the group that met the exiting A-Men at a junction way past the med center and just outside the entrance to the private section of docks. The restricted, secure section used by visiting Alliance, officials and VIPs. It was cleanly set, clearly signed and boasted top security showcased by cameras, screens and multiple messages of warning, and it currently used all that extra shininess to ensure the escaping Hands were protected from any pursuit.

Standing firm at that drawn line in the proverbial sand, the mocha-skinned woman with long curly hair and an authoritative presence held a shotgun before her in warning. She was flanked by two men who were armed a little more heavily. One held two top-shelf laser pistols, the other nursed what looked suspiciously like a flamethrower with an underslung grenade launcher.

“Mr Grimshaw,” the woman stated, implying to the others that they had prior knowledge of each other. “Gonna have to ask you to back down on this one, please.” Not so much a threat, as a promise of trouble at a level he might not want to invite.

Falling in behind the others, Cooper looked to Whit and Jonas, words muttered under his breath. “We ain’t gonna get to shoot any folks?” He asked his brother in arms.

Grimshaw craned his neck at the woman and choked back profanity. "Now you know I ain't any kind of Mister," he said. "So you ought to know my fight ain't with you unless you make it so."

"Eh, Coop," said Whit with a not-so-subtle whisper. "If you want that we should go down in a blaze of glory, I'm with you. But just so long as you's sure about that. Maybe we can talk to the nice lady and find another recourse."

"We been trackin' some bad folk since Hera," said Grimshaw. "Did a nasty piece at the monastery there. You with them, Anne-Marie? I pray to God you ain't." The sorrow in his gray eyes promised vengeance if she was.

Cooper canted his head to the left, then the right and took up paying real close attention to the dark-skinned fella with the heavy weapons. More a study of the man's portable armoury than the human component, though there was no naivety in that gaze. Cooper's words, though, they were for Whit and Whit alone. "Ain't much for talking," he said. "But I can keep a close eye for yer while yer do." He maintained a mutual glare with the 'nice lady's' entourage.

"Shepherd Grimshaw," Anne-Marie altered her tone to one that had amusement and professional courtesy curled about it like a cobra. "No intention of making enemies with you and yours either. But this area? It's off-limits. And those folks you been chasing? You gotta let em go. You and I, we need to find another way to handle this particular problem." She didn't smile, but there was understanding in her eyes, one that she couldn't currently debate. "I'd be open to a discussion that doesn't involve Li Shen's as a battleground." Her head nudged back towards the myriad of recording devices above, behind and around their position. "Lotta eyes on those bad folks here and now." A wry smile briefly coloured her face, as she added. "Sound might be a bit glitchy for a few more seconds though."

Degrees of conflict flickered across Grimshaw's face. At length he holstered his weapon and made the sign of the cross in the air to his right side. "We shall withdraw," he said, "to pray."

While the A-Men fell back into a tactical retreat, Whit was conspicuously no longer where he had been a moment prior.

The damage done was going to be easier to explain given Grimshaw's involvement, the fallout somewhat lessened by their impact and Anne-Marie could fully appreciate, as well as take advantage of, those circumstances. They operated in the messiness of a field environment where relationships were critical, fluid and carefully balanced. Carnage of this magnitude would of course have consequences, but the 'random' advertisement singing the praises of free trade on Three Hills might perhaps guide a trained soul such as the A-Men's leader in a certain direction.

For now, though, she regarded Cooper and Jonas with an intrigued stare.

Cooper raised and lowered his shoulders as if he were simply considering whether to have ketchup or barbecue sauce with his fries, then offered the woman before him an apologetic verbal exit plan. "My apologies, ma'am," he said, simply, stopping just shot of tipping an imaginary stetson. "Musta taken a wrong turn." His gaze lingered only as many seconds as were absolutely necessary, then turned to Jonas. Whit was in the wind, but this Shepherd was well used to being left on his own. Cooper didn't need to think for long before acting on his next move.

A meaty paw of a hand rested at Jonas' shoulder in a comradely fashion as Cooper made a big decision.

"Mebbe we find us some beers?" He suggested.

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