3 Chapter Three: Vivi (1/2)
The next day arose as the two began to head out. ”I've only got until tomorrow before I have to return to work, so this better not take too long” Alex says.
”Why do you even want to help me get out there?” Siran asks, ”I know you want me to get a job and all, but to go as far as to even make contact with people not only outside of the Ly'Lum jurisdiction, but in some sense, direct enemies of the military? It just doesn't add up.”
”It's not my place to judge, nor is it my place to try and control what I can't” Alex says. ”If you have hope of a life elsewhere, and I can help with that at least, then that's enough for me.”
”Aw” Siran says. ”That's too kind!”
”Don't go getting sappy on me” Alex responds, ”I don't deal well with emotional crap. I'm just helping!”
”Whatever you say, big fella” Siran says as he laughs quietly.
The two get into Alex's car and make their way to the border. It doesn't take long for them to reach the checkpoint at the border. The guards at the checkpoint that check every person entering and exiting the country eventually stop at Alex's car, and after receiving his military ID, they stare at Siran, then at Alex, then back at Siran. Siran was feeling very uneasy, almost as if they just didn't like him in particular, but they eventually let them pass outside the country. They spend a couple hours driving through several remote, rural areas and small towns before finally approaching this bustling town that seems lively and full of shops and entrepreneurs of any and every trade. This town is located in Seeira. A neutral area, not governed by any country, and the economy run by the shops and trades made there. It's almost like a safe haven for people from any country. To declare war on this place would be to declare war on the world. While a lot of weapons dealers run their shops openly here, it's generally agreed upon that war will never break out here. So it's generally peaceful. Although it also holds many fugitives who ran from their old countries to start a new life. One would expect the crime rate to be too high here, but any problematic situations always seem to be quickly resolved here.
”Where's this shop?” Alex asks.
”I'm not so great at directions” Siran says, ”but my photographic memory is really good, so just follow me and don't get lost”
”Easier said than done.” Alex says as he looks at all the shops everywhere and the lack of a road to drive on. They approach a building that seems a little large to be a simple weapons developer shop, but a little too small to call a big building. Without saying a word, Siran raises his hand as if to signal Alex to stay back as he approaches the door. Siran knocks a few times, looks over his shoulder and gives a thumbs up to Alex and then faces the door again. The two hear the door open slightly, but then stop, and just as Siran looks around him and decided it was necessary to take a step towards the door, the door flung open. A tall woman, wearing a leather apron over a T-shirt, cargo pants with a long sleeve shirt tied around her waist and a red bandana over her long light blonde hair came out through the open door, grabbed Siran's hand and while shaking furiously, greeted him very enthusiastically.
”Hey, welcome to the Valentine Shoppe, nice to see you again, lovely day we're having. My name's Vivi!” Vivi shouted almost gleefully.
Alex seemed to smile at the politeness, until he noticed that Vivi's face stiffened into a face of disappointment and was holding a handgun in Siran's mouth.
”You damned idiot, what are you doing here again?” Vivi's tone instantly shifted. ”Just when I was getting used to it being quiet around here... you know, I haven't had any commissions lately and I was kind of enjoying the peace”
”Not a fan?” Alex says.
”Who's asking?” Vivi demands.
”My name's Alex” Alex says.
”No” Vivi says, ”which part of the military is asking?”
Alex seemed shocked. ”How'd you guess?” Alex asks. ”I don't have my uniform on or anything!”
”When you live here all your life” Vivi says as she lowers her gun, ”you tend to learn a lot about a lot of people.”
”Well” Alex says, ”for the record, I'm not here on military business, I'm here with him.”
”And what trouble did he get into this time?” Vivi demands as she stares directly at Siran.
”N-nothing!” Siran says ”Honest!”
”Yeah right” Vivi says, ”you attract trouble like a god damn magnet! Last time you were here, you got into a fist fight with some Ly'Lum soldiers and now you're all buddy buddy with one. I SMELL trouble, Siran. I don't need more circus acts around my shop, ya know.”
”I'm sorry ma'am” Siran says as his head hangs in defeat.
”A fist fight with soldiers?” Alex asks. ”What happened?”
”Nothing special” Vivi says as she crosses her arms. ”They got into a fight while drinking. If I remember right, they got into a fight because they thought Siran was cheating during their arm wrestling contest prior to the fight!”
”They just couldn't accept that I'm stronger!” Siran says. ”BWA-HA-HA-HA-”
Vivi interrupts Siran's laughter by smacking him over the head with a wrench.
”Ow!” Siran shouts, ”hey, what gives? What the hell?”
”So you're here for more cleaning I'm guessing?” Vivi asks.
”If by cleaning, you mean the usual business, yeah” Siran says.