Part The Second.
The Donut Hut is as busy as it always is at 10 in the morning, packed with suits, mooks and worse. Bonky enters the establishment and a tiny voice calls out “Over here, big guy!”. Making his way easily through the crowds, Bonky follows the voice and winds up facing a little group of four people hunched over a flimsy looking plastic table. There is nowhere for Bonky to sit, so he stands. He does not mind, there seems to be plenty of room all of a sudden at this side of the restaurant. He says good morning to his friends and they answer in turn. Sleet the Wraith Raider turns one cateye towards him and nods, then returns, bored, to looking for potential food or targets in the crowd around him. Steve looks up from his SlurpeeShake and makes a complex series of hand gestures that might mean “Hey man, good to see you again, as you can see I am otherwise occupied at the moment, otherwise I would certainly clap you on the back in a robust fashion”. Mel’s white eyes flare and light up when he says hello, and she says hello back without moving her lips. Bonky likes it when she speaks to him like that. She reaches over and scratches him affectionately on the nose. He likes that, too. Jacinta doesn’t scratch his nose, however, and scowls at Mel before acknowledging Bonky’s presence with a cool nod. The remnants of several espressos lie in front of her: this tells Bonky she is in No Mood To Tolerate Chatback. Bonky is correct in this supposition.
“Right, team”, Jacinta begins, “today we have a BPN from the department of, uh...” she checks the small blue form in her hands “sanitation...” General groans greet this news all round, with the exception of Bonky. He doesn’t really like going down the sewers either but at least this way he can be back home in time for ScooDoobrie-Doo. He sighs slightly, though. It would be nice to be on television just once in a while, like all those other successful Operatives who make the big time and then don’t have to squeeze themselves into tunnels beneath the ground built for people half their size.
The other members of the squad are less sanguine about this turn of events, however. Steve leads the way, in typically subtle fashion. “FUCK. That little prick Blake has fucked us over again. AGAIN, Jacinta. I meant it last time, you know. I’m outta here.” He makes to pick up his jacket and leave, but is restrained by Mel’s hand on his arm. At her touch he stops, takes a deep breath, and sits down again. Bonky can see he is still angry, however, but he controls it. Bonky is secretly fascinated by this, but has never asked how Steve manages. He has no opportunity to do so now, however, because Mel cuts in quickly, saying to Jacinta “I know you must be in a... difficult... situation, but isn’t there something you could say to him about this? I mean, Jacinta, it has been three weeks!” “And I am growing bored,” chips in Sleet, before returning to picking his teeth methodically with a single extended claw. It takes some time.
Jacinta looks slightly nervous and red in the face whilst her companions are talking. Her voice wavers slightly, Bonky notices, when she replies, although it gets stronger as she continues. “I... As the financial co-ordinator-“ Steve coughs slightly. Mel looks at him sharply. “co-ordinator of this group I have been in, ah, extensive consultation with Bla-, ahh Mr MacDonald over this matter, and we both feel, ah, that another successful ‘Blue’ class BPN would not hurt the squad’s finances or efficiency rating.” Jacinta has grown agitated as she has made this last speech, and her voice has risen to a highly pitched screech that attracts the attention of a nearby patron. He leans over to make some remark, but Bonky coughs, once, and he thinks twice, returning hurriedly to his seat.
Jacinta shoots Bonky a look of gratitude that the others don’t see and regains her composure. “The fact is, Steve, we no longer have a choice in the matter. The BPN was signed out in our name in, in good faith and as a squad I feel that we have to-“She is interrupted by Sleet rising from the table, apparently satisfied at the state of his oral hygiene. “This is the last time, Jacinta. No more blues, or I rejoin my mate in squad Pianowire. They know how to hunt.” This last delivered as the Wraith collars a bewildered looking delivery boy just inside the door. He debits the Wraith’ s account and hightails it back to the scooter, burning off into the light morning rain. Sleet returns to the table holding the tail of something alive and, if not kicking exactly, then certainly wriggling. Sleet tilts his head back and lowers the creature gently into his mouth before snapping his jaws shut. He grins. Bonky feels that although he may have more teeth than the Wraith, they are somehow not quite as impressive. And certainly not as white. “Now, shall we go?” the Wraith suggests.
The matter is dropped by everyone else.
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