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Even with all his preparation, stepping up to the Raider’s Headquarters was probably the most intimidating thing Zanka had ever done in his life. And he’d grown up with a sister who taught him to dodge with live gun fire and a brother who hit like a brick wall – so that was saying something. Still, Zanka Nijiku was not ever the type of person to turn down a challenge, so he did his best to not crumple up the already wrinkled to hell invitation in his hands as he reached up to knock on the door. His brain also started running through a carefully researched inventory.
Bundus Begalkeit.
He was probably the easiest and the one that he’d gotten the most information about. The Cleaners had encountered him inside the false trash beast, when they’d gone up against the Raiders as a whole and Zanka had been -cough- out for the count. Zanka didn’t have first hand experience, but he’d picked everyone else’s brains, especially Bro Santa. Aside from the man’s impressive skill with using multiple prosthetic arms as his vital instruments, he was apparently downright chummy and talkative. More then anything he’d wanted to know information about the Cleaner’s leader Corvis, which Bro hadn’t been able to answer.
So Zanka came prepared: with research.
He had silently tracked Corvis’ movements for the last week and was sure he could answer rudimentary questions about what sort of tea he preferred and how he was much more laid back with Semiu. None of that information would be considered treasonous, of course. Oh, and there was that one time where he secreted away a small bag of chocolate covered seeds from the candy haul Rudo requested. That was his backup info, just in case.
Next on his mental list? Cthoni, or the short chick with the manhole portal.
Enjin was the one who’d had choice words to say about her and – in this case – Zanka did remember her as the one who’d created the portal they’d all been pulled through and split them up with her flood of sewage water. Beyond that she’d obviously served as more of an informant whispering in their leader’s ear and stepping in only when necessary. None of the Cleaners had gotten close to her, much less faced her in combat. (And no one had caught her last name.)
So Zanka came prepared: he’s asked Riyo.
Riyo was always an impressive fighter, but she also had a way of reading other people that Zanka hadn’t quite mastered yet. And while Enjin might have had the same info, he probably would have made fun of Zanka for asking about a /giiiirl/ so no, that was best avoided.
Respect, that was the name of the game according to Riyo. Women like her, who were that bad ass, prized respect above all. Cthoni might have been short, but she was muscled and an ‘obvious badass’. So she could be won over with mutual respect and Zanka could manage that. He’d had plenty of training back at the Hell Guard, as long as he kept his normal attitude in check. Quiet nods and short sentences would probably be best.
A car horn interrupted his important mental track and made his entire body tense up into a pretzel. Zanka couldn’t stop himself from whipping around and yelling at the driver who’d been so kind to bring him here in the first place: Riyo and Enjin.
“What?!”
“You gonna just stand there, or you gonna go do it?” The grin on Enjin’s face was practically melting into his voice and all Zanka wanted to do was punch him, even if it was Enjin. No, he’d never punch him, but damn he could dream about it sometimes.
Riyo rolled down her window and leaned out, swinging the scissors between her fingers like a fidget toy. “Gonna chicken out?” She was grinning too. Of course.
Of, fucking, course!
Zanka stomped his feet to add weight to his words and glared at both of them. “Shut. Up.” Then he turned and stomped closer to the door. How dare they break his concentration at such an important moment!
Fu, also known as the raccoon kid.
This time he had gotten the information directly from Enjin and had been more confused than anything. Apparently this kid was some sort of trainee of the Raiders who hadn’t quite earned his membership card yet? This was thanks to the fact that he didn’t seem to be able to fight unless it was in response to someone else starting it.
So Zanka came prepared: as a teacher.
Why not? He’d already been assigned as some sort of mentor to Rudo and this spoiled, unruly temperament. How much different could this child Raider be? And it wasn’t like he needed to be a full mentor, just some well considered pointers.
And then there was the leader… the thought of him made Zanka pause mid-knock with his fist raised to begin the motion.
Zodyl - the leader of the Raiders who sported a piece of the Watchman series in coat form and was diabolical enough to sacrifice his own underlings to create a false trashbeast to try and cross the border to the Sphere overhead. What exactly did one offer him to get on his good graces?
Oh this, Zanka was less then prepared. He’d spoken with Rudo and really only gotten out that the man liked to talk and hear himself do so in a long, monotone and drolling manner. Zanka could handle lectures, he’d had enough in his life. But he also didn’t have a piece of the Watchman series, so he wasn’t sure that he’d be of much use to such a man.
So Zanka was semi prepared: as a distraction.
He’d arrived at the invitation of one Jabber Wonger and had to assume that such a man was enough of a chaotic element that Zodyl would be happy for the break. Who knew what sort of things they had to do to keep someone like Jabber in check. I mean, they had allowed a Cleaner to be invited directly to their gates, after all.
And with that Zanka knocked and noted that he could hear Enjin and Riyo driving off to a safe distance, just in case this hair-brained idea went south. Zanka did his best not to hold his breath as the large metal doors were whisked open, showing the stone stairs leading to the Headquarters below.
“Welcome in Kid, the crazy typhoon’s been expecting you!” Bundus. The man seemed down right cheerful as he welcomed Zanka in with a strong pat to the back that sent him stumbling down the stairs as the large doors closed behind him.
Check? I guess?
“I’ll let the boss know he’s here.” Cthoni. Those words had come from above where she was perched in an opening like it was a glowing window from her vital instrument. A couple words and she fell back into nothing, the glowing hole swallowing her up and expecting nothing more from Zanka or anyone else as it disappeared.
Check and Check?? Two with one shot...
At the bottom of the stairs was the raccoon boy, fiddling with his fingers as if he could pull them off and replace them with little effort. “Uh, hi. He’s - uh - this way.” Then the boy was scampering down the hall as if Zanka would catch him. Zanka could only blink and follow, keeping a hold of Lovely while he looked around in awe.
Check??? Did that even count?!
Was that really… it?
Finally Jabber’s room – and Zanka knew it instantly by the smell. In fact, he couldn’t get that very specific stench out of his nostrils since the first time they’d fought. It was as if Jabber had stained the very back of his nose and throat to always remember and sense the annoying Raider anywhere. Especially in his own home.
Said Raider threw open his door with a wide grin and even wider arms. “My man! My Zanzan! You came!!” There was no doubt that the entirety of the Raiders had heard him.
But Zanka found himself just smiling and no longer concerned. He simply stepped into Jabber’s room and landed the best punch he could right in the middle of the man’s grinning face.
Jabber rolled back like a collapsing toy until he hit the wall and rolled back onto his feet. He landed several feet away with a look of absolute love and obsession in spite of the blood that was now dripping from his nose.
“Damn ya feel good!”
Zanka just smiled and shook his head. “Shut up, you moron.” Then he closed the door behind him and left the invitation forgotten on the floor.
Come on over, Zanzan! I miss you and it’s a date!
Your man -
Jabber Wonger