Chapter 29: Do Unto Others

“Just talking about me?” Arlo gave an affable chuckle as he walked inside. Behind him, four tough-looking men filed in before finally closing the door. I counted two level 15s and two 10s. “Should I be troubled?”

“All good things, all good things.” I waved him off. “But really, how have you been, oh my god it’s been an age. I hear you basically run things around here these days!”

For being the ostensible head of all organized crime in Silverwall, Arlo looked much the same: black hair going gray at the temples, a sharp widow’s peak, a loose tunic, and a bartender’s rag tucked into his belt. His thick mustache was impeccably groomed, but other than that, he had no affectations of wealth. No chains or jewels, nothing but an unadorned band around his left index finger. You could almost mistake the silver for steel, if not for the tarnished surface.

“It’s a job.” The man shrugged. “One of my boys said you wanted to talk on your ground.” He spread his arms wide. “So here I am.”

“How kind.” I hummed, kicking one leg idly against the bar. “You know, I thought about setting up a the whole room again, get the big round table, the sconces, maybe find a vindictive redhead, you know, just runback our first meeting.” I wrinkled my nose. “It felt a bit crass.” Instead, I pointed to the bar stool next to me, even as Electra rose to her feet, taking a step to the side.

Arlo grinned. “Well, I didn’t come all of this way to turn back around.”

He settled into the stool next to me as the elderly innkeep tottered out with a round of drinks before disappearing into the back of the inn and shutting the door behind him.

You get what you pay for.

Arlo and I took a drink, while the other five ignored theirs. On the balance, I trusted Electra and I to carry the day if there was any chance at victory at all, but I’d much prefer if things didn’t come to blows until Dee and Dum came back.

Arlo smacked his lips. “Ah, wish I could go back to the days when I didn’t care if rats fell into my still.”

I looked down at my own mug for a long moment, before pushing it a bit farther away from me. “Does the crown not agree with you?” I asked.

“Crown?” He raised a thick finger to his bare temple. “I think you have me wrong. Besides, last I heard any news from the south, it was you who had set yourself up as Lady of the port.”

I tiled my head in acknowledgement. “We’ve both done well for ourselves, but only one of us stayed here.” I dragged my gloved finger across the splintered bar. “That is, of the three that once met in a seedy bar like this.”

Arlo chuckled.

I smiled wider. “It’s not as grand as you imagined.”

He paused, before taking another sip of his beer and setting it down. “Now, what makes you say that?”

“Because I know you.” I rested my check on my palm, leaning against the bar. “We’re of the same kind, you and I; I knew it from the first time we met. I bet you did too, and that’s why you took a bet on me.”

“And what kind is that?” he asked.

I raised an eyebrow. “Do I really have to say it? The kind that’s never satisfied.”

He chuckled, looking away from me. “I think the two of us are woven from different thread.”

“If that were the case, we never would have made it this far.”

He shrugged. “Gulls on the same beach can ride different winds.”

“Funny; in my homeland, we say ‘Birds of a feather flock together’.”

“Sounds like a strange place.”

“It would have to be, to make a girl like me.”

Arlo took another sip of his drink, stewing. I continued to lean on the bar, idly dragging my gloved fingers across the wood. I didn’t miss the way his eyes would track along the smoothly curved and polished black surface of my power armor. There was nothing like it in this world, it made him wary.

I just smiled. “Of course, if you were really satisfied, would you even be here?” I tilted my head coquettishly. “Unless there was something you wanted.”

“All I wanted was to hear what you were doing in my city,” he replied.

“Just passing through. You know, to the city with the fancier wall.” I buffed my nails, affecting a surprised pause. “Oh, not to imply you didn’t control all of Silverwall, Arlo! Just…” I shrugged.

He didn’t reply to that right away. Instead, he drained the rest of his tankard, and set it back down on the counter. The man had a good poker face, but I could see a hint of tension running along the side of his jaw, teeth clenched tight.

“You’ve always talked like the tide rushing in.” He inclined his head. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to hear what you had to say.”

“Great!” I perked up. “First off—”

“If you can give me a reason to trust you.”

“Me?” I placed a hand on my chest plate. “Arlo, I think you’re forgetting just who was hung out to dry, last time I was in town.”

“That’s exactly why I don’t trust you.” He pointed a single thick finger at me. “Because trade places, and I’d be spitting mad. Mad enough to come all the way back to Silverwall just to settle some old grudges.”

“You wound me.” I smiled, letting my eyes grow slitted. “It was just…business, after all.”

He chuckled, easy demeanor returning. “You’re a good liar, little lady,” he said. “There are a lot of words I might have believed from those pretty lips, but not those.”

I tutted. “I never took you for a poor businessman.”

“Tis exactly because I’m a businessman that I know you’re lying.”

I clicked my tongue, he’d backed me into a corner on this one. Perhaps revenge for getting under his skin.

I shrugged, spreading my arms wide. “In truth, I hate your guts, Arlo.”

He nodded his head. “And now it comes out.”

“But really, chasing me out of Silverwall turned out to be a favor in the end,” I continued. “After all, I’ve done quite well for myself. And you’re right, I have come back to town to settle some ‘old grudges’.” I waved a finger between the two of us. “But not this one, not yet at least.”

He stroked his spruce mustache, eyeing me with those cold, dark eyes. “I don’t believe that either,” he said. “But it will do, for now.”

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I gave him another smile. “How kind.”

“So, what mad little scheme have you cooked up this time?” Arlo asked. “There are naught more guilds in Silverwall. We’ve burned the lot of them out.”

“You mistake me.” I leaned on the bar. “I’m not interested in the part of the city you control.”

His eyes widened a hair. “Ah, you’re here to end this little war of yours.”

“Is it really a war, when one side does all the winning?” I asked.

“Ah, but the Old Hawk hasn’t even turned out the militia yet, let alone the guard.” Arlo smirked, edge of his mouth curling up along his cheek. “That tiny little town of yours would already be crushed if he cared to stand up an army.”

“And I imagine he already would have,” I said, “if he had full control of this little city of his.”

Arlo chuckled. “You think too much of me.” He waved a hand. “I’ve never been one to make waves. It’s bad for…business.”

“I imagine that Seneschal Hawkwright has a myriad of worries, but he would be a fool if you weren’t one of them.” I shrugged. “I just want you to worry him some more.”

Arlo hummed. “You know, I heard a rumor. Something about those work camps in the jungle, where they dig and dig but not a piece of ore returns.”

I smiled. “A good rumor, I hope.”

“You want me to raise some hell in the outer city, draw out the rest of the guard, so you can knife the Old Hawk in the back.”

I hummed. “That’s certainly something I could do.”

“See, little lady, I already told you,” Arlo continued. “War? It’s bad for business. I don’t see a reason I should risk my neck for yours a second time.” He ran his fingers around his throat. “Consid’ring what near happened last time.”

At my side, Electra shivered, her hands curling into fists.

“Oh, Arlo, Arlo, Arlo.” I reached out, patting him on the shoulder. For a second, I considered offering him all of Silverwall, but I didn’t think he would swallow that lie. “War’s already on, the only thing that matters is being on the winning side.”

He stroked his mustache again, rubbing a palm against his stubbled chin. “Now that is some good sense. But I think I see things differently than you.”

“Most do.” I sighed. “Such is the burden of my genius.”

He snorted. “Now, what’s stopping me from picking my own winning side? Sea and Stars, what’s stopping me from dragging the two of you in front of Hawkwright right now?”

“The crown really does not agree with you.” I shook my head. “What a shame.”

“What, don’t think I can do it?” His four thugs stepped forward. “Do you really think I don’t have more people outside?” He placed an arm on the table, “Or that it wouldn’t matter if you let me get so close to you?”

I raised an eyebrow. “You know what I do to petty gang lords that I get within arm’s reach, right?”

“I know all about your skills, little lady, but ones like that have their own drawbacks.” He smiled. “You’ll find it hard to turn me into a demon.” I tightened my grip on his shoulder, but his smile only widened.

I tutted again. On one hand, I believed him. There was a lot Electra and I didn’t know about classes, and with Arlo’s resources it would be easy enough to counter my most directly dangerous skill. This close, he probably thought he could gut me before I summoned enough demons to turn the tide.

On the other, he was mistake if he thought that my ability to turn people into demons was my only advantage.

“Did you really think I’d let you this close if it wasn’t to my advantage?” I asked.

Arlo blinked.

Then I started to squeeze.

The servos in my power armor gave an airy whirr as I shoved Arlo against the counter. He jerked once in surprise, muscles straning to no avail. His other arm lashed out, a maw of playing cards flying from his sleeve.

I twisted. The cards caught my shoulder, but they didn’t even scratch the enamel. With a twist, I broke through whatever skill he was using and shoved his face against the rough wood of the bar.

Our mugs fell to the floor with a clatter.

Another quick step to the side and I placed myself behind him, anchoring my hold and twisting his arm. I caught his other hand as he tried to drive a knife into my eye, gauntlet tightening in a vice grip around his wrist. My movements were quick, certain, and with a huff I lifted, pinning him fully against the bar, legs off the ground, not a hint of leverage to speak of.

You didn’t become a successful Villain without learning some hand to hand.

Credit where credit was due, he twisted his wrist even as I put him in the hold, sinking into the gap between armor plates at the wrist. Of course, the lining was also a cut resistant shock absorbing gel, so it didn’t do much more, but it would have sucked to face him when I didn’t already have him half in a joint lock.

I twisted my arm, and the knife rang once as it hit the ground before I kicked it away.

Behind me, Arlo’s men just were just starting to shout when Electra put herself at my back, already glowing with blue-white lightning.

“Wanna see how you match up against my skills?” she asked. Oh, I used to hate that heroic bravado, but it felt quite different when the heroine was on my side.

“Now then,” I readjusted my grip, further pinning Arlo down. “You were saying something about dropping me off for that…Old Hawk, was it?”

Truth be told, I wasn’t the biggest girl. On flat ground, I’d have trouble keeping him still, but the wooden bar was sturdy, and provided me an effective prop to rob Arlo of any possible leverage.

“Alright.” Arlo squirmed. “Alright! You’ve made your point.”

“Have I? Have I really?” I circled my fingers around his wrist. “I would have believed a lot of words out of those lips,” I parroted his earlier remark, “but not those.”

He glared at me over his shoulder. “What do you want, you mad bitch?”

I smiled. If I had one regret about being stuck in Lady’s Port for so long, it was that I hadn’t had the chance to be properly villainous for far too long.

“Sound more contrite, Arlo. Here, let me give you a hand.”

I squeezed. The servos in my gauntlet let out the most satisfying whine as they ratcheted tighter.

Arlo howled as the bones in his wrist popped.

Broke.

Every muscle in his body went taut, then the man slumped over the bar, panting.

“Not a step!” There was a crack of light and the smell of ozone as Electra shouted.

Arlo turned his head to glare at me again, breath leveling out.

“I was willing to forgive you for running me out of town,” I said. “I was willing to forgive you for summoning me like you were some king, not just the luckiest slumlord; hell, I was even willing to forgive you for the bad manners of showing up unannounced and trying to intimidate me.” I paused, taking in a deep breath.

“But a second betrayal? Well, my homeland has another saying.” I leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Do unto others as they do unto you.”

I stood up tossing my hair. “Now get your boys out of here, before I rip your lying throat out.”

I heard a shuffling of feet behind me. Arlo remained silent.

“What?” I asked. “Worried I’ll kill you?” I tightened my grip on his wrist once again. He grunted as the pain hit him. All those pesky little nerves, grinding against each other. “I promise you that I am much more inventive than that.”

I could feel the adrenaline soaring in my veins. If Arlo decided to fight it out, then we’d be in real trouble, and this time I didn’t have an exit strategy.

Then there was a ringing in the back of my head as my second class leveled up.

“Fuck.” He spat. “Get out of here, you useless sacks of meat! Fuck!” The veins in his neck bulged as he ground his teeth. “Now!”

I grinned. How’s that for the power of some convincing words? Just like I said, villains only cared about themselves, forever and always.

“And the rest,” I said.

Arlo just jerked his head towards the door before slumping back down against the wood. I didn’t even bother to turn as four sets of footsteps started towards the door. I could hear them hesitating, but in a moment, they were gone all the same.

“Electra, check that everyone’s cleared out.”

She moved to the windows, doing a quick perimeter sweep with practiced efficiency.

“One’s right around the corner, no sign of anyone else.”

“Send him running.”

“Got it.” There was another crack of electricity.

And then it was just us, Arlo, and the deaf barkeeper in the back.

“Excellent.” I hauled Arlo off the bar, tossing him through a battered set of chairs. He hit the floor, cradling his broken wrist with murder in his eyes. “We’re done here,” I said. “Let’s get moving, Electra.”

She glanced at me, but we were both in super mode right now. She nodded, falling in behind me as we quickly gathered our few belongings and slipped out the back.

“What about Dee and Dum?” she asked, as we slipped down the nearest road and out of sight at the inn.

“They’ll figure out what happened. Unless Arlo got to them first.” I shook my head. “I suspect they’re fine. He wanted to take our measure before trying to stab me in the back.”

“And leaving him alive?” Electra worried her lip. “What, is this some other 7D chess thing about rearranging the board again?

I turned, raising an eyebrow at her. “You think today was a failure?”

She snorted. “Don’t give me that. You were blindsided, or we never would have ended up in that situation to begin with.”

I sighed. This is why I didn’t work with people, eventually they started to figure me out. “I would have preferred to do this with Arlo’s help,” I said. “But this wasn’t a defeat.”

“Oh?”

“What I needed from that man wasn’t his allegiance,” I said. “It was some chaos and mayhem.” I smirked at her. “Do you think he feels particularly peaceful right now?”

She blinked, before rolling her eyes. “You’re pulling that out of your a—out of your butt.”

I chuckled. “Maybe half of it, but he’ll make a mess for us to use all the same.” The current situation was far from ideal, but I thrived on chaos, and I trusted my ability to pick my way through better than anyone else. “Now come on, I only broke his wrist, not his spirit; we need to go to ground before he can rally the rest of the Tarnished.”

She giggled. “The two of us against the whole city, huh?”

I grinned. I couldn’t help it.

“Just like old times.”