Daniel was bored. He was a field reporter, not a media technician, and he hated having to do his own editing for the boss if he got back to the office after standard day time hours. Still, he hadn't retrained at Meny for nothing and he was just as good as the technician, though he was a bit slower.
The footage he'd got at SFAQL's apartment was pretty good, though it lacked something. Stryder hadn't been exactly welcoming with information and he seemed to be holding his union back.
Daniel loaded the next dataslug into the reader and paced up and down the small room and the Oyster whirled and transfered the data to the SLA-NET mainframe.
Daniels eyes ached. He'd stared at the monitor for nearly 2 hours and still hadn't managed to get the interview to "breathe". It was almost as lifeless as the dead ebons he'd been interviewing.
He still had about 30 minutes before 3T expected him to transfer the finished interview to the program transmit queue. He had time to go and get an Itzstrong Cola.
As he passed his desk on the way to the drinks machine he saw that his answer machine had two messages. He decided to listen to them.
>Beep<
'Message recieved at 3:59pm, 11/June/901 SD'
"Dan, I managed to get exclusive rights to Sour Blood's Gorezone Killing Spree return, in exchange for paying his last and next LAD bill. I want you to cover the episode. Its tomorrow at 2:30 pm. Oh, and I don't need the SFAQL interview till tomorrow morning, the Perceptor Teeth has requested it goes out at 10 am."
'End of message'
'Next message'
'Message recieved at 4:32pm, 11/June/901 SD'
"This is Dagar of SFAQL, me and Saspit were wondering if you wanted to meet us in the Pit for a few drinks? See you on the bottom floor at 6:45 pm."
'End of message'
>Beep<
He hated how 3T always dumped the Gorezone coverages on him. Especially concerning that useless killer Sour Blood. But a night at the Pit with Dagar intrigued him. He'd never been to the bottom floor of the Pit and wondered what it would be like. And maybe seeing the nec's relax might give him an idea for the interview - it was so stuffy and formal.
He handed his Emperor pistol over to the woman in the cloakroom booth at the Pit and flashed his Media card at the bouncers. He made his way through the crowd of sweating operatives to the bar and got a Itzstrong beer. He checked his watch - 6:42pm. Could he got throught he dance and goth floors in 3 minutes.
He took the glass lift down, along with four op's who could only be described as looking like zombies. Fake torn and bloody flesh, dripping pus and green blood. They got off at the goth floor and the lift carried on down to the nec's floor.
He showed the two nec bouncers his SCL badge and media card, but they didn't seem eager to let him into the floor.
"Hey, Toksti, let the human in, he's with us!" Came a shout from behind the bouncers and Daniel spotted Dagar, with 2 bottles of beer in his hand.
The bouncers parted and Dnaiel walked through the doors and took the beer that Dagar offered him.
"It's go be one hell of a night - I just got paid!", shouted Dagar, struggling to make himself heard above the anguished screams that made Daniel wince.
Daniel downed his beer and felt a burning in his throat. He looked at the label - 100% proof White beer. His head was spinning and he wasn't sure whether the blood puddled at his feet or the carrien that was chained to the wall was real.
He vaguely made out a hairy shape in front of him, then he felt a hand hold his face and pour something down his throat. His sight began to come back into focus and he saw Sapsit smiling at him.
"White beer is a bit strong for humans, but now you've had the antidote, it shouldn't seem so bad, but beware the hangover in the morning."
Daniel shook his head and Saspit slapped him on his back. He smiled weakly and looked around. Dark gothic pillars, with gargoyles held up a large domed hall. Vassal ebons ran around the hall, getting drinks for their masters.
Dagar arrived at the table where Saspit had guided him to. He slid two beers across the surface, placed another 3 down and took a gulp.
Daniel rolled over and slapped his hand down on the alarm clock. His wife stirred next to him and he was considering going back to sleep when he remembered he still had to finish the interview.
He opened his eyes and experienced a pain that felt like someone had shot him through the eyes with a MAL Assualt Rifle. He sat up and his stomach churned and he felt wind welling up.
He managed to make it to the bathroom door before the wind escaped in a long and loud fart that threatened to bring the contents of his bowels with it. The smell lingered even after he had turned the air conditioning on.
He splashed some water on his face and managed to smile weakly at the baggy eyed form in the mirror. He got dressed into a loose fitting suit and put his shades on as he left the house.
He got to the office and found a small glass bottle with a note sat on his desk. He read the note.
"A hangover cure. From Dagar"
He drank the bottle and immeidately the world seemed better. His churning stomach settled and the brightness dimmed to comfortable levels. He sighed and took off his shades just as 3T strode towards him.
"Great interview, I love the personal information mixed with the action sequences. And those intimate moments between Stryder and Immagin, how'd yopu get them?"
'Errr, I guess I'm just the best you've got boss!'
3T strode off to chat to some of the other staff, so Daniel sat down and watched the interview. He was impressed by the way it had been editted together and he picked up his phone and dialled SFAQL's number.
"Morning! Dagar speaking."
'Thank you!'
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