Fenrir's Fangs

Chapter Three.

   James spoke for the first time since they had walked in the door. “What could possibly be of value down there?” Tratpan turned to him “I’m glad you asked James, here take a look.” Tratpan rustled through some papers on the table, finally pulling out an old map and setting it on the table for all to see. “What do you see there?” it was a detailed geographical map of Fairview and the surrounding area.

   James took a few minutes to look it over before answering. “Nothing…” Tratpan smiled “Exactly James, no caves or caverns, no hollow points in the earth, nothing. Which leaves only one conclusion, this hole is man made.” The realization hit all of them at once, Igor piped up again, still grinning like a madman “Then there has to be something worthwhile down there, maybe a secret facility or something!” Tratpan just smiled “Yes, that is what we are hoping for”

   Jarki, who had been busy counting the tiles on the wall, suddenly turned around and spoke. “I don’t like it, I have a bad feeling about this place.” She didn’t sound like her usual happy-go-lucky self, she sounded dark…and deadly serious. No one spoke for at least a minute. Jarki had a rather bad habit of making these ominous predictions, but the worst part was, they almost always came true.

   It was Tratpan who broke the silence once more. “Regardless….this is an opportunity we cannot just pass up, our spies confirm that most of the other major clans are acting on this new development as well, it’s only a matter of time before one of them make it to the prize first, in fact, I believe VOID has already sent in an advance party. There may be something down there that could tip the balance of power, and I intend to make sure it goes in our favor.”

   Tratpan turned to Ryan, who had remained totally silent through the entire meeting “Ryan, you will be leading our advance party into the hole, a ten man team of Reapers, the team makeup is your choice, you will leave immediately after this meeting ends” Ryan nodded “Yes sir.” He stated simply. Tratpan turned back to everyone else “Alright, exactly two days from now, a larger force, including the rest of you, will be going down into the hole” The two days were obviously to sort out the personnel and supplies that would be sent, and what couldn’t be spared.

   “Thank you all for coming, I suggest you all get some rest and prepare yourselves.” Everyone stood and saluted, then left the room, Igor caught up with James as he headed for the stairway. “Man, can you believe it James? We’re actually going in there! I’m so excited!” James cocked an eyebrow at this and replied. “We don’t even know what’s down there you crazy ****.” To which Igor replied “I know, that’s the fun of it, anyway, are you heading for the Bar?” James sighed and nodded, this was exactly what he was trying to avoid. “Great! I’ll come with you!”
   Most of the entire fifth floor of the building had been converted into a sort of makeshift bar for off duty agents, it was quite large and music played on several rotting old speakers that had been looted from someplace or other. It was very different from the Meeting Hall of Nastya’s, no one here stared at you for a start, and there were no carnal Sin vendor’s anywhere or Recruiting stations for clans. The main difference though, was that the people here seemed genuinely happy as they sat around and talked, which probably had a lot to do with the fact that there weren’t starving and depressed people wandering around the crowd and begging.

   James and Igor took a table in the corner after ordering their drinks; James got a beer while Igor got a coke. Much to James’s displeasure, Igor tried to strike up a conversation. “So, VOID has already gone in eh. They’re quick off the mark, I’ll give them that much!” he said with a laugh. James light a cigarette before replying flatly “It just means that if there is something dangerous down there, they get to die first.” Igor burst out laughing and said “Always looking on the bright side, aren’t you James!”

   After he stopped laughing, Igor asked in a kind of hushed whisper, which sounded rather humorous in his think Russian accent. “Seriously though James, what do you think is in that crevice?” James took a sip of beer and replied “If I knew that Igor, we wouldn’t need to go down there. We will find out soon enough.” Still whispering, Igor asked. “What about survivors?” James hesitated a moment before replying. “If you mean from our outpost in the Central Zone, I don’t think anyone could have survived that.” Igor sank back in his chair and looked rather glum “Yes…I suppose you’re right.”