Post by Malik Moriga-Tay on Apr 24, 2014 15:29:20 GMT
“Here you are Sir”
Jonas scooped up the offered bottle from the bar and gave the bartender a courteous nod before turning around to survey the club, elbows resting on the polished wooden surface at his back.
“Ahh, that hits the spot” he thought to himself as he took a long gulp from the bottle, the liquids fiery warmth quickly washing away the chemical tang of the pod goo that lingered on his tongue after decanting.
“Wow, lively as a morgue in here tonight” he muttered as he glanced around the largely empty club. A couple of regulars nodded their recognition his way as he scanned around, before noticing a small group standing at the entrance to the armoury.
“Wonder who’s getting a beating today then?” he mused as he meandered over to join the group of spectators.
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She danced
The music rang clear and bright in her head, blocking out all voices. Mind clear and sharp she moved with all the grace and balance she could command, twisting and whirling as fast as her wired reflexes and practised muscles could withstand. Free from distraction she danced her way through her memories.
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“Now there’s something you don’t see everyday” Jonas exclaimed as he caught site of the focus of the patron’s attention.
A woman was dancing on the practice matting. Clad in grey shorts and matching top, her voluminous red furred tail followed her precisely choreographed steps as her bare feet carried her across the sparring floor. Eyes tightly closed she seemed not to have noticed her audience as she continued to fling her body around….the dance seemingly consisting of equal parts gymnastic leaps and ancient classical ballet movements.
“And I thought you only had eyes for me?”
Jonas stiffened as the beautifully perfect but synthetic arms encircled his waist from behind. Minerva whispered in his ear “Don’t you know it’s rude to stare?” she pouted as her eyes followed every movement on display.
“I wish you wouldn’t do that, you could have given me a heart attack”
“And what kind of hunter lets her prey know its coming?” she asked. “Besides….I know better ways to make your heart give out” she purred as she leaned in to bite his earlobe whilst squeezing his behind.
“Ouch!” Jonas hissed as he brought his finger tips down from his nipped ear, bright red blood shining on their tips.
“Poor baby” she mocked “want me to kiss it better?”
Hoping to distract the clubs resident bouncer and weapon grade flirt, Jonas shifted uncomfortably in her embrace before nodding towards Malik, “have you ever seen a dance like that?” he asked.
Minerva paused in her continued torture of her corp mate and silently regarded the dancer’s movements for a moment. “What makes you think she’s dancing?” came her reply.
“Well, I’m no expert but the swirly on the spot leg behind the head kinda thing smacks of posh dancing to me….the kind you go to school for and not the kind you end up doing after drinking way too much happy juice.”
Minerva smiled. Her combat honed sensors having already picked up on the dancers off centre weight distribution, the way she compensated for the speed of her movements with her outstretched tail, the open handed strikes that many of her motions ended with, plus the unnatural look to the vividly coloured finger nails that sliced the air as she rotated.
“Take it from me honey” she laughed “that’s not a dance you want to cut in on.”
"Though I bet she looks fine in a tutu." Jonas mumbled.
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The music in her head reached a crescendo as she brought her dance up inline with her recent memories, the two now spiralling around as fast as she could spin. Arms outstretched she turned and turned, reaching a frantic pace as her actions joined together in a blur of thought and motion. “That’s it then…..that’s the path we will have to follow.” The silently acknowledged decision brought her dance to an end.
Malik’s Dervish twirling came to a halt just as abruptly as it had started. Holding her pose on one foot she slowly coiled down onto the floor, wrapping her arms around her legs, head tucked into knees before covering her head with the red tail fur.
Sensing a change in mood Minerva finally released a relieved Jonas and called out to the remaining watchers “Ok, shows over folks, free drinks at the bar and on the house quick quick.” As the crowd moved away Minerva punched the door control and pulled Jonas through as the blast doors closed, sealing off the armoury with a pneumatic hiss.
The sound seemed to trigger something in Malik as she uncurled from the mat. Blinking, she stood up, stretched out in an almost feline manner, back arching to the ceiling, before wordlessly padding over to retrieve a towel and water flask left waiting at the side of the mat.
“You realise this has to be one of the dumbest ideas we have had right? It’s likely to get us or lots of others killed in a variety of sticky way…and oh how I love it!.”
Malik did not acknowledge the thought but instead towelled the worst of the perspiration from her face before seemingly noticing her two remaining observers.
“I’m glad you’re here” she spoke softly without looking around to face them. “I have a small favour to ask.”
