Chapter 1
“The names Titan Shield.” I replied to the rather grungy looking stallion unicorn across the table from me. I levitated another shot of Wild Pegasus to my lips, tilting it back and letting it drain directly down my throat without even really tasting it; the single dangling lightbulb above my head was really starting to irritate me and it took everything in my being not to draw my sidearm and waste a round blowing it to shrapnel.
“That wasn’t what I asked. I said, are you available for a job?” the stallion replied, matching me shot for shot. I was into my twelfth, as was he, however I was a heavy weight, he wasn’t.
I let out a single, solidary groan as I poured my thirteenth round, dragging the stream over the rim into his glass, filling to the brim plus a bit extra to the table in offering to the Goddesses damned Goddesses. “Yeah, I’m available for hire.” I replied, my voice low and grumbling given the amount of alcohol I’d already consumed, let alone what this guy would be paying for shortly. “What’s the job?” I asked with a burp, pressing my hoof to my chest to work up the remainder of it; unsuccessfully I might add.
“Standard protection crap, you’re usual stuff right?” the soon to be client pony replied as his head lolled around his neck.
“Mmhmm, standard protection crap. Are you aware of my fees?” I asked, telekinetically lifting my shot into the air, keeping the liquid in the glass. The wood-shacked bar around us seemed to have died down somewhat, a couple of other wastelander ponies remained nearby working at drowning their sorrows or wasting their lives away with friends, drink and the potential of a cheap trick.
“Nah, the reference wasn’t all that clear.” Came the answer as I tipped back my head again, only shutting my eyes once the glass was secured to my lips to keep from blinding myself. I really hated that light bulb. “But” -up went the shot glass with a hick-up- “I’ll pay you whatever you-” hick-up and the shot goes back down again. The red glow around the glass turned blue as I picked up the shot and tilted it back, setting the glass down upside down next to my current stack of 13, now 14 and winner. “-Need for the, uhhggg, job.”
“Good, then I will require at least 1000 caps for the journey, more if we’re going across the entire country. After that I’ll need another 1000 for supplies; ammo, health potions, couple Rad-away and Rad-x, just in case.
“All in all, maybe two grand in caps, depending on the length of the journey. Half now, or whenever you’re sober to pay me-” I noted as the stallion nearly slipped from the table. “-And half upon job completion. Agreed?” I asked, unrolling a pre-written leaflet of paper and an inkpad I kept in pristine condition, just for these occasions.
“A- Agreed.” The unicorn replied, relying on his wavering hooves to keep himself upright. I magically lifted his hoof and touched it to the inkpad, before bringing it down on the paper, signing his contact with his hoof print.
Packing everything away again, I stood up from the table and approached the run down bathrooms as my horn glowed dark blue.
From within my throat I could feel the magic grab onto a pouch that sat snugly just in my throat, out of the way so I could breath, but placed just so so that whatever I ate, or in this case drank, wouldn’t hit my stomach.
Beginning the unfavourable act of bringing the pouch back up again, I fought back the urge to gag and swallow everything back down again as I opened my mouth wide enough for the sac to finally pop out of my mouth; dripping with saliva and the miniscule amount of whiskey that had escaped from the bag.
Tying the bag up with a bit of string from my saddlebags, I tossed the whiskey back into my packs and exited again, having given myself a shake to look completely sober again.
“Alright Titan,” I began, looking at my scarred complexion in the mirror. “Time to go make some money!” I grinned, my single cobalt blue eye reflecting back at me while my damaged right eye, pale but still functioning, threatened to haunt some poor pony for the rest of their life. Oh wait, that poor pony was me.
Encapsulating those orbs was the familiar onyx black coat that made it easy for me to hide in the dark; can’t see a black object hiding in a black background, right?
A memento from one of my previous failed escapades, the scar that ran down from the top of my head –starting just where my unkempt mane began- all the way down to my jaw and through my pale eye reminded me of just how badly I needed this new job.
What was the new job again? Dammit I forgot to ask what the job was!
Stepping out of the washroom and back into the main bar room, I returned to my table of shot glasses where my now sleeping client sat; his muzzle soaking in the whiskey.
Well shit, now I’ve gotta wake the fucker up and probably ruin my chances of a free drink…
With I sigh I nudged the body with my right hoof, receiving a groaning response from the form before silence again; at least from him. The rest of the bar, however empty it was, always seemed to be making noise of large crowds and no one could figure out why. Was just the charm of the bar I ‘spose.
I gave the form another nudge in attempts to stir him to wakefulness but the unicorn remained resiliently asleep.
Rolling my eyes I turned my back to him and gave him a swift buck, right in the ribcage which sent him sprawling; eye wide and finally attentive.
“Ow, now what did that accomplish?” the stallion demanded, glaring at me as I sat back down at the table.
“I need information about this job.” I replied with a sigh, already wishing I could have left and hit the road. “Specifically, what is the job? What am I protecting? Where do I pick it up? Where am I taking it?”
“Woah, woah woah, bro, too many questions so early in the morning!” the unicorn complained, pressing one hoof to his head, the other wrapped around his body to cradle his ribs.
“It’s still evening.” I replied firmly, ignoring his drunken behavior or the pain he was in.
The buck looked up and out whatever equated for a window or hole in the wall, taking note that the sun was indeed in the process of randomly making its way to the horizon for the night.
“Oh, so it is.” He announced with a groan. “Goddesses dammit, Titan I think you broke something!”
I rolled my eyes again and took hold of his head with one hoof, pulling his jaw out to receive the healing potion I began to drain into his muzzle before tossing the empty flask back into my bags again for later re-creating of a potion.
“I’ll add that to your charges later. Now, where am I going to start?” I demanded impatiently, tapping a hoof on the wet table in the process.
“You’re going to the Crystal Empire Ruins, you’re going to meet a fellow by the name of No-Nose and you’ll be given more instructions then.” The buck replied, already perking back up from the pain relief. Dammit, did I give him one of my anti-alcohol healing potions?
“That’s it? A contact name and location? Can’t tell me what it is I’m going to be putting my life on the line for or where it’s going?” I demanded, trying to fish for more information.
“Dude, you put your life on the line merely walking out the door. Don’t give me that crap. That’s all the information I can give you.” Damn, someday I was going to get better at persuasion and I suppose that day is not today. Tonight. Whatever.
I sighed and stood up from the table, adjusted my saddlebags and strolled straight for the door. Hopefully I could still get the free alco-
“Oi, don’t make me gun you down for alcohol theft.” The bar tender demanded over the mouth grip, racking a round into his shotgun in the process.
“Bill the other guy.” I replied with a shrug, still aiming for the door. The shotgun blast digging a chunk of wood from where my foot would have been had me for pause.
“He’s already gone!” I wheeled around in shock and dismay, searching for the bastard.
“Dammit where is the bastard! I was supposed to walk out on him!” I shouted, drawing curious looks from other patrons.
Throwing my hooves up in defeat; I levitated a small cache of caps, the last few I still had in my possession at the moment and dropped them into the bar tenders waiting hoof before stepping out the door again.
This would be just my luck.
