Tag Archives: Bluegill

Sons of Sword: Tales of Glory – Lost and Found #24

Bluegill nodded and watched Manna bow respectively before leaving the room.  It was sudden, but Manna had been polite and said what he needed.  It was a good move for him to get out the door before he got dragged into something.  “Smart guy,” Bluegill commented to himself after Manna was gone.

Leaning back into his chair, Bluegill thought for a moment about what was happening.  He knew that Guy had left to attempt a deal of some kind.  He also knew that Manna was the only real friend he had.  If anything happened or was retrieved, Manna would know about it before anyone else.

After a few minutes, he called for Reubin Chai, the leader of the thugs he used before.  They all were deeper in debt to Bluegill now.  Medical fees were expensive.  They got even more expensive when surgeries had to be kept off the books.  Thanks to their reckless run in with Manna, the Green Tea Boys now pretty much belonged to Bluegill.

Before long, Reubin walked in.  He was slightly below average height at five and a half centimeters tall.  His bright orange skin and red orange spots seemed brighter against his black suit.  His eyes were daggers of serious unhappiness due to his gang’s new role as Bluegill’s servants.

His jaw muscles were still in great pain due to the rushed operation.  The procedure without anesthetics provided a constant reminder of his debt.  It would do no good for him to hold his mouth.  His new metal mouth defined discomfort as the nerves and muscles adjusted to their new home.  Tucked under his skin, the metal mouth was unnoticeable unless he opened it.  It remained closed.  The slightest movement would cause great unnecessary pain.  Unable to speak, he had no choice but to listen.

Standing before Bluegill in silence, Reubin bowed low.  Bluegill knew that Reubin wouldn’t speak yet so he started, “I want you and you boys to watch Manna.”  Though Reubin remained low, Bluegill noticed his unsettling shift when he mentioned Manna.  “Just watch him,” Bluegill emphasized, “Stay out of sight.  Call me when you see Guy.”

At the end of these instructions, Reubin stood strait.  In silence he exited the room.

#1 – Lost and Found #23 – Lost and Found #25

Sons of Sword: Tales of Glory – Lost and Found #23

Apple Mint Hills, Mole Hill Club:

In the mid-morning hours, a white robed figure walked boldly into the Mole Hill Night Club.  Almost everything on him was the purist white.  Shoes, bagged pants, and hood did not produce a hint of color.  Orange and blue skin peeked from under his hood.  A rust red tint clouded his gloves.  He hadn’t been there for a long while, still he knew his way around.  He walked straight to the backroom.

It was a syndicate club.  Everyone knew it, and everyone knew not to say it out loud.  The crowd was thin this time of day.  He ignored the live music and the ladies of entertainment.  He had a purpose.  It needed to be finished with it as soon as possible.  He walked through the kitchen and by the offices to his destination, the one room where a man of great importance sat.

Two large men in suits blocked the way.  They stood closer to each other as he approached, almost standing shoulder to shoulder as he reached them.  They were only doing their job.  But as Manna pulled back his hood and looked up to them, the cold stare told them he would finish them quickly if they delayed him much longer, “I’m expected.”

“No weapons,” one of the guards said.

“Hey!  Let him through,” yelled a voice from inside the office, “I don’t need any more hurt men.”

At Bluegill’s order, the two men slowly separated.  This wasn’t fast enough so Manna yanked them apart with his magnetism skills.  One on Manna’s right was pulled by his belt buckle, the other by his wrist watch.  With them out of the way and a little disoriented, Manna walked into the room without looking at them.

Bluegill was sitting on his chair, it was almost a throne.  He was an average height male with yellow green skin.  He wore the most expensive and pressed suit in the Thousand Flowers area, Manna knew that much.  His defining feature was the two large blue patches on the sides of his neck.

At entering the room, Manna bowed at the hip to Bluegill then proceeded to the center of the room.  For a matter like this, a phone call was not good enough.  He had to talk to Bluegill face to face though he didn’t like being there one bit.  “Greetings Bluegill,” he started, “Thank you for allowing me to pay back the money that I owed you in such a short time.  I do not speak for Guy, though we were caught in the same situation.”

“Manna, my man.  No worries, no bad blood.  You did a good number on those goons.”

“Yes, that is why I came to talk to you.  In the interest of safety I had to defend myself against a some men that wanted to speak to Guy.  I wanted you to know that this was in no way meant as an offense against you.”

Bluegill chuckled to himself, “Don’t even think about those idiots.  I told them to collect or give a message.  I know those guys a bit aggressive but good hard workin’ guys.  So I say, ‘talk, only talk but make sure he don’t forget,’ then, they try to scare someone.  Not what I told ‘em.  The new guys, they always want to impress me.  Your costume still works I see.”

Manna believed what he heard.  If Bluegill was one thing, he was honest.  Of course, the things he didn’t say were always open to interpretation.  “Yes,” Manna said with respect, “The way they spoke to me, I figured they didn’t know me.”

“They do now,” Bluegill said laughing.  “They came in here cryin’.  They never thought a ‘Green Child’ would smash in teeth.  That clown talked too much anyways.  I was trying to find a way to teach him to listen.  Now he don’t have a choice.”

“Thank you for your understanding,” Manna said as he prepared to leave the room.

“Hey stay a while, have some coffee,” Bluegill said, “We can talk a bit.”

Manna knew too well the dangers of accepting such an offer.  Not only was consuming highly caffeinated drinks illegal, doing so with the likes of Bluegill only invited trouble from Bluegill’s allies and enemies.  Besides, the conversation would probably be Bluegill’s attempt to hire him for a job.  “I’m sorry sir,” Manna spoke as he turned, “I have to get to work.  I’m late already.”  At that, Manna left the room.

#1 – Lost and Found #22 – Lost and Found #24

Sons of Sword: Tales of Glory – Lost and Found #20

Manna raised his gloved finger, pointing quickly at the three goons to his right.  With that motion came the opening of his bell sleeved robe.  From the opening shot nine slender iron spikes.  Obeying his magnetic skills, they shot faster than the goons could see.  Before the goons knew what was happening, they were stuck.

Each four millimeter long spike had its unique target.  Targets they each hit perfectly; inside the shoulder, elbow, and wrist of the attackers’ swinging arms.  As they attacked they were instantly frozen in pain.

The spikes were covered in rust.  Manna kept them that way.  When he needed to defend himself, he wanted his attackers to remember not to take him lightly.  He wanted to cause as much pain as possible.  Following suit, he twisted them in place with a thought.  He then caused the spikes to flip upward.

The defense only took an instant.  Right after their attack began; the three had dropped their clubs and could not move.  They were trying not to cry in pain but the spikes had hit major nerves and veins.  Blood was flowing.  Rust was invading their wounds causing additional harm.  After this battle, they would need medical attention no matter what.

They could only hope that the battle ended favorably for them and soon.  They could not participate further.  In such pain, they were stuck in a position that caused the least pain.  Frozen in place they could only watch and hope that the others would finish Manna off.

The other three goons were oblivious to their comrades’ condition.  They continued their attack.  The goon that had done all the talking swung his club.  Manna deflected it easily by raising his left arm.  Instead of the cracking of bones, the goon heard the sound of vibrating steel.

Off guard as Manna parried the attack, the goon looked for another way to attack without letting go of his club.  The thick L-shaped pry bar hidden under Manna’s sleeve spun in place, hooking the weapon.  Now temporarily under Manna’s control, it moved to defend Manna from the other charging attackers.  It got in their way as Manna circled around the surprised goon.

Wasting no more time with this one, Manna did an open hand strike with his right hand.  He was too far to connect, but the thick L-shaped pry bar hidden under his right sleeve made up the difference.  The short flat portion struck the goon with full force directly in the teeth.  Amplified by magnetic force, it shattered his lips and teeth ripping his front teeth from his gums.  At that, the goon let go of his club and grabbed his mouth.

Manna’s pry bars took their correct attacking position.  He held them by the long end promising the greatest reach.  The now moaning goon landed on his back from the force of the strike.  Still holding his mouth, he started to crawl away hoping not to be a target.

The last two goons had crowbars.  As they swung, Manna used his Magnetic skills to stop the steel tools in the air.  Off balance and confused they turned to see what was happened.  At that point, their own weapons beamed their heads knocking them out.

Having mercy on the first three goons, Manna commanded the spikes to return to him.  After the initial agony, they felt the relief of freedom but realized Manna’s spikes could easily strike them again.  They took this opportunity to run away.

Manna now walked to the moaning goon.  The spikes hovered in the air alongside him by an unspoken command.  The goon crawled away perhaps hoping to prevent more injury.  When he saw Manna approaching, his eyes turned fearful.

The hovering spikes slowly approached the goon’s face.  Instead of attacking, they merely wiped themselves on his collar cleaning off most of the blood.  As they worked, Manna leaned over the goon and said, “I will convey your message to Guy as soon as I see him.”

The spikes returned to Manna’s sleeves as he walked away.  He took of his gloves and the pry bars were tucked into the back of his robe again.  He left the alley thinking about the battle that happened in the last half minute.

“I have to give Bluegill a call.”

#1 – Lost and Found #19 – Lost and Found #21