The Space Bar

(This is the First Draft and I have notes for fixing it up but I thought I'd let some lovely YWSers use it as fodders for Review Day!)

Quentin

Swiping my ID card over the receiver I waited patiently as the access point beeped happily, verifying my age and allowing me entry to my favourite after work haunt. I watched as the automatic door shifted with a soft clunk and was greeted with the familiar smells of spirits, sweat, and the less pleasant aroma of vomit.

Stepping into the warmth I smiled to myself. Many would’ve cringed back from this dive before now but to me it almost felt like coming home and my body instantly relaxed as the door slid shut behind me.

Momentarily I forgot about the usual process but was promptly reminded by a holographic representation of, what I can only assume at the time it was made, was the perfect barmaid. Her form was intermittent as she smiled at me, the image fraying at the edges and wavering every few seconds.

“Greetings and welcome to The Space Bar, your home away from home after a long shift. Please enter and enjoy our unique beverages, including the strongest drink in the verse, the Num Lock…”

I looked past the image in front of me and over at the bar, my eyes finding the curvy form of my favourite barmaid. I smiled.

“Hey Winnie!” I called out, moving through the woman in front of me. “Shut that damn thing off will you?”

Winnie looked up, surprised, as though she had been in a world of her own and I noted the glossy pages of a magazine in front of her. Typical Winnie.

“Oh, Quentin! Sorry I didn’t see you there.” She reached below the bar and pressed something. I turned back to see the holographic woman fizzle out.

Shrugging off my work jacket and draping it over my arm, I took stock of the room as my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. It was pretty empty as usual, but I liked it that way. The soft murmur of music filled the room, pausing every few minutes as the jukebox shuffled to a new song.

Off to my left a kid occupied one of the booths, his concentration fixed on a small gaming device that emitted small bleeps and buzzes, followed by intermittent explosions. I’d seen this kid before but always kept my distance. I hated children. He managed to look up when the other bar maid, Yumi, walked over to him to take an order. I suddenly found myself hoping I hid my attraction to Winnie better than he did.

Moving closer to my favourite bar maid, I settled myself on the worn stool in the corner I had claimed as mine years ago and watched her straighten, a broad grin spreading across her nicely plump face.

“What’s it going be tonight, Quentin?”

Leaning an elbow on the bar I rested my head on an open palm. “Do you even have to ask?”

She laughed, a high tinkling sound, and pushed my arm gently, “Double whisky it is.” My eyes followed the sway of her hips as she walked away and noted the curve of her butt as she bent down to retrieve a glass. A small voice whispered in the back of my mind, reminding me that I was twenty years too old for her but I dismissed it. No harm in looking.

“Winnie, what the hell are you doing?” A gruff voice sounded from the back space and I watched with dismay as the wide form of the bar’s owner, Eli, obscured my view.

“Getting Quentin a drink of course.”

“You shut off the bloody hologram again!” the bar keep grumbled.

Winnie scoffed and pushed past Eli, a surprising feat really when I thought about how the man resembled a space blimp. I smiled politely as she set the drink down in front of me.

“What’s the point? Quentin is a regular. He probably knows the intro better than I do.”

Picking up the glass with a wink, I took a sip and waited for Eli’s reaction. He never did deal well with Winnie’s more rebellious side but it was always more amusing to me than the trash they showed on television these days. Probably why I spent so much time here after my shifts.

Though I never got the chance to see what words Eli was trying to form as the distinctive sound of the door sliding open paused us all and my eyes fell upon the unwelcome site of a young stranger.

Winnie’s attention swiftly shifted, her eyes roaming over him and lingering a little too long. I found that I already didn’t like this man.

Winnie

I looked up to see a guy I wasn’t familiar with, which was strange in itself. Our little bar in the depths of Galaxis never attracted many outsiders. He was young, but not too young I was glad to notice and handsome to boot. This evening was shaping up to be pretty good. Now there was someone other than Quentin to use my charms on.

The stranger paused in the entrance and cast a glance around, his bright eyes working over each and every one of us, his gaze unreadable. I stared straight back at him and noted, with pleasure, a strong body beneath his cropped jacket, my eyebrow rose a little.

Then she popped up all fuzzy and perky, getting in the way of my view.

“Greetings and welcome to The Space Bar, your home away from home after a long shift…”

Before I knew what was going on the stranger had pulled a gun from his hip, aimed it at the receiver above him and shot off two rounds.

“Annoying…” he muttered.

The hologram immediately fizzled out, disappearing as a long trail of smoke began to descend from the machine.

I could practically feel the heat radiating off Eli as he stood in disbelief and anger over the man’s actions. In the back of my mind I knew that I should be scared but for some reason I just felt…slightly turned on. I loved a man who could take control.

Smoothing my skirt and hair down, I leant suggestively on the bar as the stranger trudged over, his boots pounding on the metal floor. He drew up a stool, straddling it between his legs as he swung his duffel bag up onto the seat next to him. What I wouldn’t give to be that stool right now. What I wouldn’t give to run my hands through his dark hair…

“Give me whatever you got that’s strong,” he ordered.

“Certainly.” I leaned forward to get a glass, making sure as to subtly press my breasts together in the hopes I would make them, and in turn me, more appealing.

“What the hell!” Eli finally exploded.

Damn that mountain of a man. He was always bloody interfering. He pushed past me, nearly knocking me over but Quentin was there to steady me.

“You just shot my bloody hologram! Do you know how much that thing cost…”

I watched as Eli continued to spew forth expletives but my attention was only on the stranger. His expression grew more and more grim, his head bowing until finally he seemed to snap, slamming something down on the bar top.

Eli

The speed with which the stranger moved surprised me, ending my rant and zeroing my focus on the wedge of credits he’d produced from a pocket.

“I said…get me a drink,” the man repeated, pushing the notes further toward me, as though daring me to refuse him.

Aggravatingly, and after a seconds pause, I admitted defeat. I could do a lot with that much cash and it wasn’t like we ever got major spenders down here in the butt end of this scrap heap of a space station. You had to get your breaks where you could.

“Get him anything he wants,” I conceded.

Winnie seemed more than happy to obey and it wasn’t long before she was practically laid on the bar, draping herself over the stranger. I noticed Quentin looking less than impressed but what did he expect? He was old enough to be Winnie’s father.

I watched as the young stranger downed everything Winnie put in front of him but he never once reciprocated her flirtatious behaviour or even looked up at her. I’d never once seen Winnie’s advances not work, which was why I hired her.

There was nothing like an easy barmaid to bring the punters in. Quentin was testament to that. This guy was definitely of the cold-blooded nature but as long as he kept spending it didn’t really bother me.

A shriek from across the bar distracted me from my scrutinising. I looked over to see the kid Reezler with his hand practically up Yumi’s skirt.

“Hey! Get your hands off my barmaid!” I shouted, marching over.

Reezler reluctantly dropped his hand and Yumi scooted away from his reach.

“Aw…come on, old man. I was just having a quick feel.”

I smacked the kid round the head and he swore loudly. He truly deserved it if you asked me, always making trouble in my bar. He wasn’t even old enough to be in here but I knew his Ma and owed her a few favours.

“You’ll keep your hands off her.”

“Okay, okay,” Reezler yielded, rubbing the back of his head.

“That kind of thing’ll cost you more than you can afford, kid.”

“Eli!” Yumi screeched, putting all her effort into shoving me and reaping no reward when I didn’t shift an inch.

I opened my mouth to continue chiding the kid but was paused when the movement and sound of the main door opening caught my attention. Looking up I saw a small, dishevelled, white dog pad its way into my bar and just knew that this was going to be one hellish evening.

Yumi’s body language instantly shifted, her arms forming into a welcoming gesture, a strange exclamation to do with the dog’s cuteness tumbling from her lips.

Acting quickly, I caught her by the elbow before she had taken two steps and pulled her back. The dog looked up at us happily and barked. Yappy little shit.

“Oh no…not again. You’re not giving that damned animal anything else.”

Yumi turned to me, a set of her own puppy eyes boring into me.

“Please, Eli. Just look at him.”

I shook my head. Women really were a lost cause. They always wanted to take in every damnable stray. Shame I needed them to attract the punters.

“I said no, Yumi. That thing will just keep coming back. How the hell does it even get in here in the first place?”

I had seen this dog all around the space station and knew it had done the rounds of other establishments on this level. I’d be damned if I was going to let it get away with freebies…even if it was just an animal.

“But Eli…” Yumi began to argue.

The loud bang of a gun interrupted her, making us both jump with fright. The music that had been playing quietly over the bar speakers gradually broke down, the singing becoming a low drone before crackling into silence.

I swivelled on my heel to see the juke box slowly smouldering in the corner and noted the stranger place his gun down on the bar. “Hate that song.”

Anger rose inside me as I strode over, determined to get this prat out of my place before there was nothing left of it. “Will you quit shooting up my bar!”

Reezler

Placing my games console down on the table with a clatter I turned my attention away from the bar maid, who now held the dog tightly in her arms and was scurrying over to the back space, and let my eyes settle on the sweet piece the strange man had casually put on the bar top. I’d love a gun like that but my dope of a Mum would never let me have one.

The fat bar tender was practically red with fury as he shouted at the man, his arms waving erratically as he tried to emphasise his point. He was soon silenced though as the stranger produced yet more money from his jacket pocket.

I slid to the end of my booth seat. Man that guy was cool. He had the hottest bar maid drooling all over him, had money, was pissing the old geezers Quentin and Eli off and just shot whatever he wanted to with no repercussions. I found that I wanted to know him, or be him…or just have his gun.

As the stranger knocked back another Num Lock like it was nothing, I jumped up from my seat and sauntered over, trying to look as cool as I could.

I reached the bar and took the stool next to him.

“Hey…my name’s Reezler.”

There was no response. The man didn’t even look up as the hot bar maid set another shot in front of him.

I tried not to let it deter me. This was probably all part of his cool act.

My eye caught sight of the gun again and I reached down to pick it up. “That’s a really sweet…”

The Stranger struck out so fast that it disorientated me. I only noticed he had hold of my wrist when he squeezed it painfully.

“Aah! Hey…what’s your problem?” I shouted, trying to pull myself out of his vice like grip.

The man turned to me, a grim expression on his face. “Little kids shouldn’t play with guns.”

I scowled. Little kid? Little kid? Who did he think he was calling a kid? I was sixteen!

“I’m not a kid!” I yelled, struggling further and pulling away from the stranger as hard as I could.

He snorted in derision, angering me more, and then suddenly he released his grasp.

I was so unbalanced I stumbled; just about managing to recover myself when I heard the bar maid I felt up earlier call out, “The dog!” but it was too late. My foot caught the animal and I went sprawling to the ground, slamming against it painfully.

Pulling myself up to a sitting position, I heard the hot barmaid giggling and saw an amused smile spread across Quentin’s face. My blood boiled, my heart raced. I clenched a fist against the anger pulsing through me, beginning to shake as I stood, my focus solely on the dog.

“Stupid fucking animal!” I screamed, lashing out and stamping with full force on the dog’s back legs. It yelped out shrilly and collapsed to the floor.

I felt triumphant even as the bar maids exclaimed in horror.

Then my jaw exploded in pain and I once again found myself on the ground, this time with blood running down my chin from what I suspected was a split lip.

I hadn’t even seen him move, just felt his fist connect with my face, but now I could see him clearly, towering over me, a quiet rage evident in his eyes.

“Get up, boy. I’m going to teach you a lesson.”

Tod

The power of the rage I felt confused me, scared me. I tried to control my breathing, tried to keep a hold of my senses. Did I really want to hurt this kid? Everything in my body said yes. The urge to pummel his face into oblivion was so present in me and yet I paused.

He looked scared. Maybe I would be too if our roles were reversed. Though a part of me derived satisfaction from the way his pupils grew wide and his breathing quivered.

A large mass obscured my vision of the boy and my eyes came to focus on the fat bar keeper who had now placed himself between the two of us. I glared at him, though I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to do so.

“Oh no! You’re not going to do this in here. You’ve already shot up half my bar. I’m not going to let you destroy the rest of it. I don’t care how much money you’ve got!”

His words reminded me where I was and I cast a glance over the others, noticing a look of fear in the younger bar maid’s eyes. Everyone was scared. Even the owner, it unsettled me. The old man, who’d been sat stoically to the side, got up from his stool and put himself between me and the women.

I found myself beginning to calm, the rage filling my veins dwindling and the dull ache in my chest returning.

 “Out now! The both of you!”

I shifted my eyes to the bar owner and nodded in agreement, stepping away slowly and snatching up my gun and duffel bag, sparing a momentary glance for the poor creature whimpering on the floor.

The fat man noticed my pause and stepped forward.

Snapping out of my gaze I held up a placating hand. “I’m going.”

Moving away and over to the door, I heard the bar keep now turning his attention to the boy.

“You too, Reezler. You’ve caused enough trouble today.”

“Awe…come on, Eli…”

I felt the air move in front of me as the automatic door swished open and I stepped clear of the bar.

Yumi

“How could you, Eli. I understand throwing those guys out…but the dog?”

“There’s no point fighting me, Yumi. You know there’s no money to look after a wounded animal.”

I glowered at my boss. This was so unlike me, I never stood up to anyone but I couldn’t bare the idea of that poor little dog out there in the vast space station all alone and injured.

“Come on, Yumi. It’s just a dog,” Winnie tried to cajole me from behind the bar.

I ignored her. It was just like Winnie to have no compassion for anything else. The only thing that mattered to Winnie was herself. There was no way she would understand.

“Please, Eli…”

“I said no and that’s final, Yumi. You want me to dock your wages?” He walked off behind the bar, physically affirming that the discussion was over, to my dismay.

I felt emotion welling up in my chest and tried to hold back tears, not daring to look back at them all. I knew they were watching me, waiting expectantly for my reaction, for me to follow along with Eli’s words because they knew as well as I did that I couldn’t afford to have any of my pay taken away.

Quentin cleared his throat pointedly, as he frequently did when he felt he had something important to say.

“Why don’t we all have a nice drink and forget all about this. What do you say, Yumi?”

Something held me rooted to the spot, indecision I suppose and the will not to be the Yumi that they all expected me to be; the doormat that would just go along with everything.

Steadying my nervous breathing, I closed my eyes and forced myself to say, “No.”

“Oh come on, Yumi. Stop being ridiculous and come over here,” Winnie piped up.

“I said no!” I took a step forward, as though my defiant words were helping to push me towards the door.

“Yumi…” my boss’s voice warned.

I took another step and another until suddenly I was by the door and I could hear Eli’s voice again.

“If you take one step out of that door then you’re fired! You hear me, Yumi?”

I paused at the door, considering his words. I knew their meaning and I knew their implications but suddenly I found that I didn’t care and my hand reached up to press the exit button.

The door closed behind me and I breathed a sigh of relief before glancing around. Outside the bar was just the same as always. The seemingly endless hall that ran the length of the space station Galaxis was home to all manner of bars, gambling attractions, and even whore houses. It was at the very bottom of the hundreds of levels and so lay somewhat forgotten by any maintenance droids or personnel. It was dingy and dark and full of rubbish.

I though was used to it and instead of focusing on the old men stumbling from cheap booze dens, their work jackets on back to front, I cast about for the dog. It couldn’t have gotten that far, not with an injury like that to its leg, the poor thing.

In amongst the usual hubbub I heard a distinct whimpering to my right and worked my way towards it with slight trepidation. The noise was leading to a less populated route down the side of The Space Bar, where the light was nearly non-existent but I had started this and I was going to finish it.

Turning the corner my eyes made out the outline of a hunched figured and I could see the faint white of the dog underneath out-stretched hands.

I moved forward to call out, to stop this person from hurting the dog but a bright light erupted from their hands, engulfing the animal and blinding me momentarily.

Haphazardly I ran forward and stumbled as the light dimmed and the alley became dark once more. A hand grasped around my forearm and pulled me up and I came face to face with the stranger who’d been thrown out of the bar moments ago.

All words escaped me and I just stared at him, gawking, not quite knowing what to do.

“You’re the bar maid,” he stated plainly.

I nodded as he stepped back from me, apparently happy I wasn’t going to sprawl on the ground. When he did, I noticed the dog sitting happily under one of his arms.

Noticing the direction of my gaze, he held the dog out to me. “Here, you can have it. Don’t much like dogs.”

Numbly I took the dog from him and was shocked to see that it no longer seemed to be in pain. It was kicking its legs quite happily, apparently desperate to get to the ground.

“What…what did you do?” I managed.

The man smiled at me and I realised it was the first time I had seen him do so.

“I guess you’ll be needing this. Since you got fired and all.” He tossed something to me and I caught it in my free hand, my heart beginning to beat rapidly as I realised it was a whole stack of credits.

I looked back up to thank him but he was already walking away, duffel bag swung over one shoulder, limping slightly on his right leg.

“Th…thank you!” I called after him.

His only reply was to raise a hand in a lazy wave and then he disappeared around a corner.