Prologue Penumbra
Okay, well, here is a trial introduction / mini story that both introduces a few fleeting snippets of background info about both Sliver and the world that he operates in. I welcome any and all comments and criticism, along with helpful suggestions concerning my style of writing, content and pacing. I hope though, that you do enjoy peeking in through this little window into seeing Sliver in action.
Penumbra's Shadow resonated with the primal beat of hardstyle electronica. The nightclub's bustling dance floor, appointed in a vaulted, neo-gothic style, lay awash in the glow of a score of neon lights; several whirled and pulsed in time to each drop and beat. It was a heady, hypnotic mix of strobe light, loud music and strutting bodies. Sliver reclined lazily upon the well-worn cushions of a couch in his favourite spot; an alcove off one side of the dance floor. It was dimly lit, secluded and allowed the cybernetic shark a measure of privacy with which to relax and on occasion, conduct business. Despite his fatigue, his senses and nerves felt electrified by the atmosphere with 'The Shadow'. His nostrils flared as he drank in the miasma of sweat, tobacco, and other more exotic substances. Here, within the midnight recesses of the Commercial District of Penumbra City, was life.
Exciting Intoxicating Dangerous It operated in a narrow metaphorical crevasse between legality and illegality, and was THE place to be heard and seen. It was here, tonight, that Sliver would play one of his roles, that of an info-broker.
The shark stretched, relieving the lassitude that had gathered in his shoulders and sighed pleasurably as his back cracked. He quickly sat up, smoothing down his shaggy mess of navy-blue hair into a measure of neatness, as one of the floor staff, a female humanoid clad in little but softly-glowing tattoos passed by him, a laden drinks tray balanced carefully upon one hand. With practiced, nimble fingers, he plucked one of the cocktail glasses from the tray; countering the scowl he received for his actions with his best, and most disarming, grin. His rows of long, white teeth stood out with stark brightness. With an annoyed humph, the cocktail waitress strode onwards to her destination, and then stopped and looked back over her shoulder at the shark. Her cybernetic eyes widened, as payment for the drink and a rather generous tip of commercial credits that Sliver had thumbed over to her via the Shadow's proprietary app on his wrist-comp, reached her own implanted software. Sliver waved a dismissive hand, the cera-metal of his augmented arm, one of a pair, catching the sparkle of the club lighting and reflecting a diffused glow, and winked; the self-assured, mischievous grin remained. By balancing such harmless mischief, with being a generous and popular customer, the staff of the nightclub tolerated such antics and even indulged him a few privileges. No other clubber stepped foot in his alcove when he was present within the club, and little bits of gossip and rumour often found their way to him, overheard by the sharp ears of the staff and management. A grateful smile touched the teal lips of the female, as her ire was quickly forgotten and she returned the wink, and then returned to her duties. Sliver touched the rim of the cocktail glass to his lips; eyes half-closing as he savoured the rich, exotic aroma of the unknown blended drink. With an inward shrug at his possible foolhardiness, he raised it and took a hearty gulp. The liquid flowed across his tongue and down his throat with honey smoothness and raw ginger sharpness; he had to stifle a coughing it in reaction to the tanging fire that seemed to have ignited in his maw, restricting his outburst to a raspy gasp. The softly-glowing fins of his artificial and heavily cybered tail flared up with harsh brightness in response to the sudden burst of negative emotion, before dimming again as he gained control of his emotions again. With tears welling up in the corners of his eyes, he quickly placed the glass down on the table next to him; his innate curiosity had been satisfied quite enough with regard to that particular drink. He looked up quickly as a shadow fell across the table, and a moment later, the table shook and the glass clinked as it tipped and spilled its remaining contents over the table as something or someone bumped into it. The bulk of a tall, well-muscled figure loomed above the reclining shark, it's back turned. Sliver's eyes narrowed as his holo-visor scanned and fed him key information about this unwelcome intrusion. His chem and bio-sniffers indicated a high blood-alcohol level and the tell-tales of recreational soporific drug usage. He had just enough time to scowl and mentally sigh at the potential trouble ahead, when the humanoid turned, revealing a large, bovine muzzle, deep-set eyes and curved horns. Definitely trouble The dark-brown furred bull blinked a few times as it swayed and then squinted down at the now frowning cyber shark. "Hey...yew...git out of...mah...mah...seat." Its voice was deep, rumbling, its tone demanding and rendered almost unintelligible by strong drink as it slurred its way around the words. It jabbed a meaty hand and a blunt finger in the general direction of Sliver. The cyber shark raised a hand in a gesture of conciliation and smiled. "Plenty of other seats, friend. This one is mine." Sliver's smile widened, his eyes narrowing to slits dangerously as he bared his razor-sharp teeth in what appeared to be a friendly grin. He knew that a show of strength and ferocity would either quickly disarm a situation or metaphorically ignite an explosive fuse underneath it when dealing with male bovines. He hoped it would be the former; a barroom brawl with a walking slab of admittedly attractive muscle had not been on the cards tonight. "Now, why don't I buy you a drink?" The bull grunted as it worked its mouth in unspoken words, its beady bullet-like eyes struggling to focus upon the shark as its narcotic and alcohol clouded mind struggled to compute the situation. The barely audible snick of a pistol being primed for firing pierced the cloud with sniper precision. It looked down to see Sliver holding a pistol underneath the table, it's boxy muzzle tilted to one side and aimed at the bull's kneecaps. "Go back to the bar friend; that way we'll both walk out of here tonight...hmm?" The bull's nostrils flared at the challenge; its temper warred with better judgement. With a frustrated grunt, it spun around and wordlessly strode away, shoving aside an unlucky patron that had strayed into its path of ignominious retreat. Sliver shook his head in sardonic amusement as he watched the bull bluster and tapped a quick text alert to the Shadow's barman regarding the actions of the drunken patron. He had just re-ordered another drink when his wrist-comp bleeped the chiming tone for an incoming video call. He raised his arm, holding the wrist comp parallel to his face as a camera pickup flipped up, tapping the receive icon when the green 'Optimal Angle' light lit up. A video screen opened and expanded in the centre-left of his visor. His caller was an attractive female humanoid; coiled auburn hair crowned slim, elfin features. The collar of a tailored business suit poked up from the lower limit of her camera pickup. Her expression was one of uncertainty; she nervously chewed her lip and cleared her throat before speaking. "I trust...the information with which a certain...Ser Johnson provided to me is accurate, and you are the one they call...Sliver?" Sliver wordlessly nodded and the ghost of a smile flickered across his caller's lips, as she shed some of the nervous hesitation that had gripped her. She learned forward, her head tilted as she regarded him through her vidscreen. "Good. I...require some information, and word on the street is that you are the best person to contact to acquire it, is there truth to that...rumour?" Her tone and its upper-tier Penumbra society accent had turned conversational, almost friendly. Always a worrying indication of trouble ahead the cyber shark mentally warned himself. A self-depreciating smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he tilted and inclined his head, his tone equally as conversational as he answered her query.
"You have found Sliver, and my services as an information broker are yours to be bid for." His caller steepled her fingers and stared over the top of them at him, her eyes narrowing in thought, before she finally spoke again, a note of hesitation returning to her voice. "...and your rates?" Sliver smiled; his teeth shone with a blue-ish quality in the glow of the vidscreen, as he winked at his still unnamed caller. "As I always say...err..." "Halene. Miss Halene." "A pleasure, Miss Halene."
He inclined his head in polite greeting, continuing to hold her gaze through upturned eyes. She nodded curtly, indicating that he should continue. "As I was saying, I can provide you with a sliver of information, for..." Sliver paused and waved his free hand in a theatrical fashion and leaned forward in his seat, the trademark sardonically self-assured grin spreading across his maw, as he revelled in his little performance. "...Just a sliver of credit..."