X-Men Mission: Roller Derby Queen

[x-dominion.livejournal.com]

While the match starts, Callisto and Kurt go looking for information.



With the match in the background, the noise of the crowd was like an ocean in storm; the sound rising and crashing with each new development on the track. Behind the bleachers, there were monitors scattered around the hanger, and bars areas set up to serve a staggering amount of booze to the bikers in attendance. It was obvious from the small groups that would occasionally disappear into quiet corners or back rooms that the match was also serving as the backdrop to a lot of business being done. From the snatches of conversation they could overhear, everything from drugs to bike parts were being traded or sought after, as well as a sort of rough ad-hoc mediation for settling old feuds and grievences. They saw one man forced down on a table and his little fingers removed with a pair of industrial metal snips for some indiscretion following a meeting between to gang leaders.

They had just been handed a pair of shots and beers by the bartender when a hand landed on Callisto's shoulder. "I'll be dipped in shit." Behind her, a bear of a man came into view, withdrawing the hand quickly and turning to face them both. "Fuck, Aggie said he thought he saw you in the crowd, but I figured he was just tripping again."

Callisto's face remained largely impassive, not betraying whether or not she actually remembered this guy until she clicked, and gave him a tip of her chin in greeting. "Gerry," she said. Then, "How've you been, you fat fuck? It's been, what, ten years? Twelve? How's drinking yourself to death goin'?"

"Can't complain. No one's listenin'." He said, a grin splitting his heavy black beard. "Finally chose Secret Empire, huh? Fuckin' waste. I told you that if you wanted a seat with the Outlaws, you just had to call me. Hey Lizard, get the fuck over here! You remember that girl I was telling you about, that gave Pete those scars? It's her. Shit, and you're hanging with some seriously interesting company now, Alex." The last part was an obvious reference to Kurt's appearance.

Kurt smiled faintly, acknowledging the remark and the fact that it wasn't a blatant insult. "As I understand it, Alex has always had a taste for interesting company."

"Fuck, I am interesting company," Callisto said matter-of-factly. "So what's up?" she asked, sounding only half-interested in the answer.

"Ah, fuck, you know. Crew from the Bandidos, the Hell's Angels, the Mongols, even the fuckin' Sons of Silence are camped up here for a little pow-wow. Figure we get to watch the derby and if one of those fuckers gets any ideas, we come down on them like a ton of bricks." He shrugged. "Secret Empire in the meeting, or is it one of your teams in the derby?"

"We have girls in the derby", Kurt told him casually. "But if we were to get an invitation to the meeting... well, we are already here."

"Never mind. You guys just watch your girls." It was like a door had slammed shut behind Gerry's eyes. "Got any inside information before I put down a bet?"

"You know I don't gamble, Gerry," Callisto said evenly, making a mental note to tell Kurt to just not talk while they were here. At all. "And if I did I'd be biased anyhow."

"Hardly the way to treat an old friend, Alex."

"How 'bout I treat you to a beer and we call it even then?"

"Ain't turned down a beer yet."