Eddie Rizz. King of the table. Fastest stick in southie, and in it up to his cue-balls with the Capo. Ya shouldn'ta oughtta made a bet so big, Rizzy, He chided himself. 'Specially not one you was gonna win. Time to run.
- Start -
C'mon Rizz. He thought, hoping for some inspiration. He was far from home, and even further from confidence. He scanned the room, trying to find something he could use. A quick look back at the table revealed an angry Capo - or whatever you called them here - just moments away from calling some goons.
"Where'd you say your from again, friend?" That was the purple one talking - the one who had just lost a lot of his organizations money to an out-of-towner. He had four arms, which Eddie had thought would serve him better, and desperately hoped would perform just as well when it came time for a beat down.
"Elsewhyre - Planet 3, little backwater place." Eddie felt his foot hit something hard on the ground. Looking down he saw what looked like a plug-in, but much more, more really.
"Never heard of it."
"Not many people, have. Very remote. Lots of Pool tables." Eddie followed the cord with his eyes to the underside of the table. From there it spread out to all the others. Looked like it was what was making them all lit up and fancy.
"You look like you've got some place to go."
"Do I?" Eddie counted the goons in the room. Five, maybe? "Funny you mention that."
Eddie reached down and grabbed the end of the cord that was running into the socket and pulled, as hard as he could. The thing ripped from the floor in a spray of sparks, and every table went dark. He couldn't see a damn thing, and he hoped that none of them could either.
---
Ya never learn, do you? he scolded himself as he ran out the back of the parlor and into the alley. It was dark and industrial, with pipes and steam and crackling electricity to be found in abundance. A stark contrast to the bright neon and glass of the pedestrian areas that flanked him. From the sounds of the commotion back inside, most of the goons had taken his bait and were running out the front to go find him. That gave him at least a minute or two to come up with phase two of his getaway plan.
It wasn't his fault, really. Eddie had been doing a great job of layin' low - he stayed away from all criminal organizations, never took any jobs that weren't strictly on the up and up. Since his "relocation" he had made a real effort to make a good life for himself. He even started wearing ties.
And then he found out that this world had pool. What was he supposed to do but find out what kind of amazing advancements folks had made in this weird, future world? It took him a month or so to get a feel for the lighter cues - they were made from somethin' called "Nano-tubes" and were virtually indestructible. The rest was just bells and whistles - fancy clear balls on a rough glass table did nothin but make you feel special.
And what kind of luck that the first night he decided to try out some gamblin' that the poor schmuck he picked happened to be some sort of space-fairing crime boss with four arms and no skill? He hadn't even meant to con him, it just sorta ended up that way. So maybe a little his fault then. A learning experience.
If he made it out alive.
It would be best if you did.
There was also that. Apparently, once you've had a run in with The Wall you'll never be rid of it. At least it had gotten less soul shaking-ly loud.
We've been working on it.
They'd both experienced some character growth. The sounds of more-clever-than-average thugs getting closer told Eddie that he needed to think, and think fast.
Enough time wasting, He thought, wasting precious processing time Where do I go?
To the left and right risked running into the goons, and going through one of these alley doors risked getting the cops - or whatever equivalent this world had for law enforcement - called. Worse if whoever he startled chose fight instead of flight.
That left either up or down. Though he rather enjoyed a nice view, it wouldn't really get him anywhere.
Down it is, then. This world has some of the best waste management systems I've ever seen.
It wasn't his fault, really. Eddie had been doing a great job of layin' low - he stayed away from all criminal organizations, never took any jobs that weren't strictly on the up and up. Since his "relocation" he had made a real effort to make a good life for himself. He even started wearing ties.
And then he found out that this world had pool. What was he supposed to do but find out what kind of amazing advancements folks had made in this weird, future world? It took him a month or so to get a feel for the lighter cues - they were made from somethin' called "Nano-tubes" and were virtually indestructible. The rest was just bells and whistles - fancy clear balls on a rough glass table did nothin but make you feel special.
And what kind of luck that the first night he decided to try out some gamblin' that the poor schmuck he picked happened to be some sort of space-fairing crime boss with four arms and no skill? He hadn't even meant to con him, it just sorta ended up that way. So maybe a little his fault then. A learning experience.
If he made it out alive.
It would be best if you did.
There was also that. Apparently, once you've had a run in with The Wall you'll never be rid of it. At least it had gotten less soul shaking-ly loud.
We've been working on it.
They'd both experienced some character growth. The sounds of more-clever-than-average thugs getting closer told Eddie that he needed to think, and think fast.
Enough time wasting, He thought, wasting precious processing time Where do I go?
To the left and right risked running into the goons, and going through one of these alley doors risked getting the cops - or whatever equivalent this world had for law enforcement - called. Worse if whoever he startled chose fight instead of flight.
That left either up or down. Though he rather enjoyed a nice view, it wouldn't really get him anywhere.
Down it is, then. This world has some of the best waste management systems I've ever seen.
I'll be sure to take the scenic route, Eddie thought back to it, as he unlocked the pressurized hatch to the sewers.
---
The Wall hadn't been lying. It was downright clean in here. Eddie adopted a leisurely pace. He had shut the hatch behind him, and was fairly certain the goons hadn't figured out his ruse quite yet. As it stood this might be his best getaway yet. He made his way down the service walkways, his boots making a soft clang on the grated metal that was suspended above the enormous pipes that snaked below for what seemed like miles.
One mile below is the district that Fez was from.
Eddie laughed. A fitting name then. "You seem quite sentimental tonight," He replied. Sometimes it was easier when he felt like he was actually talking to someone.
Yes.
'Good talk." At least he tried.
Eddie focused his attention back on the task at hand: Where the hell was he going to go? He didn't have many contacts in this city, and he didn't know how far the offended goon's power reached. He showed off like a Capo might, but didn't have the aura. Probably someone in middle management with lots of ambition. Which meant it might all blow over, or follow Eddie like the plague.
There are twelve other planets in this Instance.
That was an idea, but Eddie didn't think he was quite ready for spaceflight. All of this future stuff was a bit much to take in all at once.
"What about Garbage Town?" Eddie asked, feeling a light bulb switch on in what was usually a very dark brain. "There much crime there?"
Most criminals have more dignity than to be caught seen in Garbage Town.
"Sounds like a perfect place for me then." Convenient too - he'd been meaning to make his way there at some point. One last favor to do for Fez. It wasn't too hard for Eddie to find the ladder to lower levels - the place was truly a feat of engineering, at least as far as sewers went. A mile of climbing didn't sound like the best experience ever, though.
Second best getaway, then. He chuckled as he started the descent.
---
Are you sure about this?
"Yes." Eddie answered. standing in front of the door he believed to be Fez's old haunt. It had taken the greasing of a few palms to get the info, (guy would make a good Capo, if you asked Rizz.) but all signs pointed to here. And one particularly gnarly looking rat person. He was still gettin' used to that - the aliens and mutants. You don't just acclimate to rats the size of you walking around so easy, ya know?
He knocked. The door opened a crack, the chain-lock pulled taut. Eddie saw the face of an old lady-rat peek out.
"We don't want any."
"Don't want yet business anyway." He replied out of habit. Eddie hoped that slum slang was as universal as hustling pool.
The door closed, and he heard the familiar sound of the chain sliding from the lock. The door opened again, this time all the way. The lady who opened leaned a hand on her hip. As unsettling as her appearance was, Rizz felt a twang of relief - like he was back home. Only with flying cars and rat-people.
"You gonna spend all day with your gab open or?"
"Oh! yes, sorry mam." The familiar sound of criticism broke Eddie's trance "I'm not from around here, but I do know your boy Fez."
"That no-good un-grateful slob!" The woman yelled, throwing her hands up. "Ups and goes without a word to his mother, and then sends some schmuck to come tell me!?"
"He wanted me to give you this." Eddie replied, reaching into his jacket. Fez had almost forgot, running back through the wall to give it to him. He pulled out a slip of plastic, about the size of a movie ticket, and handed it to her. "Said it was fer doin such a good job raisin' him."
"He said what?" The den-mother immediately stopped her tirade, replacing it with tears. "That scamp. Always knew how to get out of trouble."
"Still does, mam." Eddie gave a smile. "Only reason I'm here is cause of that skill of his."
"So nice of you to come all this way." She reached out and grabbed the slip from him, examining it in the light. "He didn't."
"What is it?" Eddie hadn't been able to figure out the writing on it.
"Its an all-paid trip to Paradis," The light in her eyes could make you forget the buck teeth. "You know the planet? the one with only beaches?"
"Never been there, myself."
"Oh, I've heard such great things." She hugged the ticket close to her chest. "I can't believe that boy. What'd you say your name was?"
"Eddie, mam." Eddie reached out his hand to shake. "Eddie Rizzetti."
"Eddie! what a fun, weird name!" The woman responded by pulling him into a hug.
"Any friend of my boy Fez is always welcome in my house." She started to move inside the house, still connected to Eddie's hand. "You must be hungry. Tell me what that bastard's been up to. You know he never calls?"
Eddie laughed as he followed this strange woman into an even stranger house, that sat in the strangest slum he had ever seen. On a different Planet - a whole different Dimension.
And yet, this was starting to feel exactly like home.
- End -
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