Connor Claire's Story

Fairburn wasn't a bad town, but it was attracting the wrong crowd lately. People were on the run from the new forces at large, suddenly outlawed and most of them had passed though town on dingy rides, some were even on horses, or at least sold their vehicles for a good horse.

Connor didn't see how exchanging a trusty car for a horse was going to work, but everyone wanted to be a cowboy here. The mechanic cleaned his grubby hands on a nearby rug and slammed it down on the bench of a nearby blue car missing it's wheels and on a large hydrolic.

Connor was preparing to leave himself when someone called out, the mechanic pulled a nearby monkey wrench off a shelf and went to answer the late night caller.

"Oi, whose there, there ain't no muties here."

She paused, wavy, frizzy strands of hair falling into her face as she took a look around. Once she found the mechanic, she stared critically, but not unwelcomingly.

"My moped broke," she told him. "I don't know what's wrong with it. Do you think you can help me? I can pay you in cash." She hoped.

She took a glance behind her. There was no telling when someone was going to show up, looking for registered psions. Her hands tightened on the handles. "I need help quickly. I'm Ash-" She teetered over her words, "-ley Green. I'm from the other side of the city."

The mechanic eyed her, and made a point of not offering her his hand. They'd probably smell it off him. "Connor, where's your moped and I'll walk you down there." The man ran a hand though his dirty hair and yanked up his duster from a nearby chair, pulling it over his body and pulled a heavy toolbox off a shelf.

"Startin' fees 50, it goes up every hour by another fiddy'. Since it's emergency and you're a pretty lady, I'll cut the initial fee." Connor grinned at Ash and started to walk out the door, fiddiling with a pair of keys.

"Why you drivin' a moped at this time of night? You seem like a bit of a city slicker."

"You blind?" she chided, tapping her fingers on the moped that was right beside her. "I guess you just weren't paying attention. It is a bit dark, though." She rolled toward him further.

"Cutting the starting fee?" Asha's eyebrows raised. It wasn't often she got compliments from complete strangers. She tried a smile, but it came off tight and unnatural. "Uhm. Thanks. Appreciate it. I do." She fished in her pocket to make sure she would be able to pay however much it might end up as.

Three hundred. She only had three hundred.

"-I, uh." She looked up from the wallet to the mechanic. "Got...into a little trouble...at home." She averted her eyes. "Didn't want to stay there."

It wasn't a lie.

Connor blinked. Maybe he was going blind, it wouldn't be the worst thing to ever happen. The mechanic threw the red toolbox on the floor and bent down next to the moped, wrenching it open and begun to inspect the engine. "Runnin' away from family? Heh. Emotional or because of the latest developments?" Connor laughed and shook his head.

"Don't tell me." The man laughed, yanking the back of the moped open and got to work on the engine. "They got me on the run too, hey, could you get me something?" Chris didn't even look back and pointed behind him to a shelf with a packet of smokes on it and a crimson lighter.

"The name's Connor, by the way."

"You already said that," said Asha, a humorless smile tugging at the end of her lip. She left the moped to him, and went to get him the smokes. She had to stand on her tip-toes to get them.

"I'm not," she warned him, "one of them. We just had a disagreement. I..." She turned to throw him the smokes, using the pause to her advantage, "... wanted to move in with my boyfriend, but they don't trust him, so..." She gave a shrug. "It was just kind of nasty personal stuff, is all." She let her eyes fall to the ground. "Anything that's happened lately isn't of any concern. There aren't any psions in my family."

The mechanic caught the smokes and put one between his lips as he worked, occasionally nodding his head to her words. "If you say so, havin' a untrustworthy boyfriend is preaching to the choir, you know, bein' one and all." Connor grinned up at Asha, bearing his smoke between his teeth.

"You know why you're moped's messed up? You've been driving it for so long the springs have broken down." The mechanic shoved the seat up and down for emphasis and snapped the back of the moped shut as he exhaled into the night air. "I've got some springs in the back, 100 for both of them and that should get you goin'."

Asha reached for her wallet, nodding. "Thanks, appreciate you taking the time, especially so suddenly." She didn't reciprocate with Connor's humor. She was a rather sober person normally, and the fright she had earlier wasn't helping her mood.

"You would be wise to be careful. You know." She tried to meet his eyes, expression serious. "Not sure what'll happen. When they'll show up."

It was getting dark as Varg was driving down a lone road on his motorcycle, a piece of junk really. He didn't care as long as it worked. It wasn't his. The fuel was running low though and he needed to refuel. He saw a small garage and saw a chance, the garage would most likely have something better than what he was riding. He pulled up to the garage and stepped off the motorcycle. He had a black scarf over his nose and mouth, combined with his goggles he didn't actually seem like the most trustworthy of people. He pulled the scarf down and inhaled air deeply through his nose into his lungs, filling his body with the rich oxygen in the air.

Someone was already here, a woman by the smell of it, Varg smelled the air again. He walked straight up to the entrance seeing as it was open, they must have forgotten to close it. He opened the door fully and stared in, seeing two people there. His face didn't reveal any sort of emotion as he leaned on the doorframe. "Well hello there, what do we have here?" he asked in a low voice, but loud enough for them to hear. His right hand placed in his pocket and his left was touching the handle of his combat knife. "I need fuel for my bike, do you have any, mechanic?" he asked looking at Connor through his goggles. He recognized him, Connor Claire, a mutant, he had seen his ability in the past. Of course Varg didn't let it show that he recognized him, but he was already starting to form a plan in his head with this new piece of information. "Also, is there a phone here I could use? My wife is pregnant and I am a bit concerned, which is why I need the fuel, to get to her" he explained as he pushed himself off the doorframe and took a step into the room.

Connor looked up and his eyes formed suspicious slits. "Over there." The mechanic threw a thumb behind him to a yellow phone hooked to the wall. "I'm gonna go grab those springs, miss." Connor smiled thinly and disappeared into the back. Connor didn't know who he was, but he didn't like how he came right after the woman.

Connor closed the door and threw things off shelves, sweeping his elbows across the wooden shelves and kicking papers across the back. "Fuck." Connor whispered, picking up two springs from the corner and pulled a small pistol from the wooden shelf and slipped it into his waistband. The mechanic held his head and took a few breaths, chill out, maybe they weren't looking for mutants.

Un. Fuckin. Likely.

Connor opened the door and stepped out. "We're closing soon but I've got the springs right here, miss and there's a Jerry can with your name on it, mister..?"

Varg's eyes followed Connor's thumb and saw the yellow phone on the wall, he nodded as a thank you and walked over. The timing was too perfect, as the woman clearly had ordered something from him. As Connor walked into the back Varg picked up some large screws and put them into his pocket before he walked over to the phone and dialed a number. He shared some quick words with whoever was on the phone and as Connor opened the door Varg spoke up. "Yes, I love you too honey, be safe. I met this mechanic who offered to help me, finally some good luck. Yes, I will remember to thank him, I will be with you shortly" he said out loud enough for the two of them to hear it. He then hung up and turned around. Connor had two springs in his hands and then told Varg where a Jerry can was. He walked over to it and and picked it up. "It's Varg, my wife says hi and thanks you. How much do I owe you for the fuel. I'll only take as much as I need" he said walking out.

Varg walked over to his bike and poured some fuel in it before he poured the gasoline over it and down to the ground, he then poured a line back to the entrance to the garage before walking back in, making sure the people inside couldn't see him. He put the Jerry can down and took out a lighter. "Mind if I have a smoke too? With the way things are outside and having a baby on the way, my nerves are rather shaky" he said as he took out a lighter and some money. "My wife hates that I smoke though, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, right?" he said with a geniune smile plastered on his face.

As soon as the stranger had appeared, Asha had stood still, watching him carefully. She glanced at Connor, then back to this man, lifting a brow, then dropping it. When he went toward the phone, then allegedly called his wife, she tilted her head back.

He's trying hard enough to make sure we can hear every word.

She looked at Connor. He seemed nervous. She had to wonder why. Her guard had been up from the time she left her house, when the cops were going through it, but no one person, not Connor, nor Varg, sent up any specific red flags. She just waited for Connor to repair the moped, and quickly. For all she knew, she could have been found out by someone who recognized her on the street. Someone she went to classes with, or a colleague. A frown formed on her face as all these thoughts went through her mind. Her fingers came to her mouth, and she began to chew on her thumbnail nervously.

She brought her eyes up to Varg. Smoking in a mechanic's garage?

Connor smelled something awfully like fuel, he wasn't going to dismiss it at this rate and that name was familiar. The mechanic took a drag of his smoke and snuffed it out on the nearby shelf. "Yeah, I do. We're closing, do it outside. Put the bills on the shelf to your right." Connor bent down and yanked the two broken springs out of the moped with surprising strength.

"150." Connor quoted to Asha, shoving the new springs in and giving them a once over before dusting his hands.

Varg gazed at Connor through his dark goggles, but didn't say anything as the mechanic yanked out the two springs, Varg took a mental note of his strength. Varg glanced sideways at Asha and gave her a quick scan from top to bottom. His facial expression didn't change as he stood within arm's reach of Connor. The woman looked nervous for some reason, but Varg didn't want to pry. Varg took out a cigarette and placed it between his lips, but he didn't light it. He was also checking where the light switches were and the cables, he was taking in where the escape routes were and if anything here could be used as a weapon. He did all this while making it look like he was emptying his pockets for money, which he then placed on the shelf as Connor instructed.

"Do you know a lot about motorcycles, mechanic? I don't think it's much of a deal, but my ride has been making a lot of coughing noises. I mean, I would regret it later if it died on me and I didn't take this chance to have a real mechanic look at it. I would be worse off than I was before getting here. It would really help me out" Varg said truthfully as he headed towards the door. "I never got your name either, feels wrong to call you: mechanic" he stated as he turned to look at Connor over his shoulder. He then walked over to his bike and leaned on it casually, waiting for Connor.

Asha nodded to Connor, taking the money out of her wallet. She laid it down onto the shelf he'd asked her to put it down on. She watched him work, and when he was done, she knelt down next to it. Her eyes moved up to him, and though they were still critical, as they always were, she gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks. I know it's late, but this is great."

She got up, taking the keys out of her pocket, just as she began to wheel out the moped. She had dallied long enough, though she understood it could have been much longer.

She walked out past Varg, eyeing him as she did so.

Connor didn't offer Varg his hand either. "Connor. Thanks for the money, we're closing now." The mechanic started to pull lockers closed and padlock toolboxes. "I don't think there's anything wrong with it if you were able to stop for gas here, but I'll take a look." Connor stepped past Asha and walked outside to greet the smell of gasoline.

Connor's hands fell to his pistol.

Varg followed Asha with his eyes behind the goggles, clever girl, she didn't trust him. It would be better if she just left right now, but Varg had calculated if she didn't either. It would get messy, but that was just collateral damage. Varg crossed his hands over his chest as Connor came out and smelled the gasoline, his hands went for something in his waistband, a concealed weapon perhaps? "Connor, that is a good name, strong name" Varg said as he smiled sly. "Is something the matter, Connor?" he asked in the same sneaky tone.

As the two men became occupied with one another, Asha kept walking, listening to them talk. The grip on the handles to her moped turned her palms white. Worried, she began to turn a corner.

What was going to go down?

"Fuck you. You have the shakes or some shit? What do you want?" Connor spat, this guy was like a fox with his words and smiles but he wasn't going to fall for that. Connor kept a hand behind his back, his fingers curled around the ergonomic grip of his sidearm.

While the situation was growing more heated, two more vehicles were rolling up - a pair of rugged jeeps that had seen more than their share of use both on and off road. Thick coats of dust and grime had turned the once green vehicles to a dull shade of brown, and inside sat several constables with their muted brown uniforms and rifles.

As the vehicles pulled over and the doors opened, several officers got out and approached the shop at a leisurely pace.

"Connor Claire?" one of the constables called out.

None of the constables had their weapons drawn and it seemed that despite whatever reason had brought them out here at this time of night they weren't expecting any trouble.

The constable that had spoken up tipped his hat to Connor as he reached the trio outside of the mechanics shop. His name was Jesse Conrad, a relatively easy going constable who often frequented the mechanics shop and had given Connor a break on some local licencing issues a few months ago.

He glanced between Connor and Varg with a frown. The hostility between the pair was hard to overlook.

"There any trouble here?" he asked Varg behind steely eyes.

Even the local law enforcement didn't hold much love of the Cryons. They were nothing but a bunch of thieves and cut-throats as far as most of them were concerned.

Meanwhile one of the other constables was looking at Asha with a look of puzzlement as she neared the corner of the building. He had seen her face somewhere before but couldn't quite place it.

As the situation between Connor and Varge kept building up towards a showdown. A faint distant sound caught Vargs ears, but he didn't reveal any sort of signs that he heard something. Varg took a gamble and remained silent to stall for time, not replying to Connor's questions.

As the approaching sound got louder and the vehicles got closer, Varg waited for Connor to shift his glare towards the source of the sound, as he did. Varg quickly took something out of his chest pocket and placed it in his side pocket.

The constables were taking this very easy, Varg noted. He didn't know if he liked that, he smelled the air. The constabel knew Connor as well, the small gesture of greeting didn't miss Varg's eyes. This could complicate things. Varg pushed himself off his motorcycle and turned to face the constables, leaving his back open for Connor, but he knew Connor wouldn't do anything.

At the question Varg could already tell by the glances of disdain he was getting, he wasn't liked, well maybe not him, but his race. "I see..." Varg started to say as he spun around on his heels facing Connor with his hands extended out as a welcoming gesture. "Trouble? It depends, I for one would like this to be settled peacefully" he said with a sly smile gazing at Connor. "Do we have any trouble, Connor?" he asked in a gentle manner.

"I didn't catch your name either, constable" Varg added as he turned his head sideways towards Jesse, glaring at him and his men. He was calculating in his head different scenarios on how this could go down. Varg already knew he was outnumbered and if it came down to it, he would need to act quickly.

Asha froze upon seeing the constables appear. Her hands tightened upon the handles of her moped, and she pressed on with her head down, trying as hard as she could not to lock eyes with any officer around them.

You'll be fine. Just keep walking, she thought, leaving the other two men behind. They would be fine, too. Right?

She looked over her shoulder at Connor, gut sinking. She knew what he was, and he did too. And so did they.

Shit.

Connor smiled at at the constable and nodded. "Yeah it's me, Conrad." The mechanic gave the cop a quick nervous look. "Hey look, I'm holding a piece and this fuckheads spilled gasoline all over the floor, and you know it's the fumes that burn respectable establishments like mine down."

Connor swung his hand around to switch the safety on his pistol as he spoke and show Officer Friendly where it was. "There a reason you've got so many buddies? You two are the second and third customers tonight that are making me nervous." The mechanic lifted a couple of fingers to hold his forehead. "This is really not the time."

"First, you're gonna tell me why you've been spilling gasoline on my asphalt and you're gonna take a few more steps away from your bike, I know what fuckin' happens when you ignite your engine. You give me a good reason and we'll have no problem."

Connor gave a knowing look to Asha and swung his head towards the exit as if to say; 'You should get out of here'.

"

"Afraid so," Conrad said. "I have an arrest warrant here for you. Probably just more red-tape crap and licensing issues, so let's just get you down to the station and get this sorted out. Not going to give me a hard time over this are you?"

Meanwhile the constable that had spotted Asha continued to watch her intently before he began to walk towards her. "Hold up there miss," he called. "Let me see your identification?" he asked as he approached. The woman's behavior was beginning to confirm his suspicions that he had seen her face somewhere.

Another constable moved to direct Varg away from the bike. "You too, up against the wall there," he told the man. "Hands on your head."

Varg heard what Conrad said about the arrest warrent, he sucked on his teeth while thinking, he noticed the constable walking towards the woman. He asked about the identification, he seemed suspicious, about what exactly? Varg's silver eyes followed the movements of the constables sharply.

As the constable told Varg to stand up against the wall he shifted his gaze to the constable, he didn't budge. It wasn't until the constable was close to him, rookie mistake. Varg smirked and slowly raised his hands and placed them on his head. "Being treated like a suspect, how cruel" he said in a gentle tone as he walked slowly over to the wall and leaned against it.

"I would be a bit more careful, Conrad" he said the name with a hint of distaste. "The weapon in his hands isn't the only weapon at his disposal, just so you're warned" he said with a chuckle. "I would be careful" he finished amused.