Nakamura Shido; BDS enforcer

[Ayem]

Planet New Tokyo

It was an hour past sunrise in the import/export office district near the New Tokyo spaceport. There was no sun on show, hidden by unremitting cloud cover. It promised rain, but had not yet delivered.

Nakamura Shido was having a bad day. Hideo Tobe was not the sole cause, but he was the only one of that long list that Shido held by the collar.

'I swear,' gabbled Tobe, his fat arms spread wide, his eyes wider, 'I don't know what happened to the cargo, it was in the hold when I left Kyushu! I swear!'

Shido's fist introduced itself to Tobe's gut. He doubled over, but Shido dragged him upright.

Tobe wept openly, 'Please, Shido, more time, I'll find out who took it. I'll find out, I swear.'

Shido spoke for the first time since he and his boys cornered Tobe. People would note when they met Shido that his voice was soft, and that he was a calm man. This was a misconception. Shido's voice was soft because he shouted himself hoarse so often.

'We know where it is. WE KNOW YOU SOLD IT, KASU!' Shido's saliva spattered on Tobe's face and when he flinched, Shido shoved him back. Tobe staggered.

Shido balanced, spun, and shattered Tobe's knee with his foot. The fat smuggler went down screaming. His fingers clawed for purchase on the metal gangway, and found rivets. He heaved himself away but the moment he shifted his knee the blood fled his face. Tobe's vomit soaked into his shirt and pooled around him orange and watery.

Sweat moistened the painted waves splashed across Shido's skin. His arm tensed, drew back and up, the elbow thrust at an overcast sky. The torn flesh at each knuckle spit blood with each punch. The cheekbone crushed, and gave way. The eye bulged and burst.

Each breath came harsh, sawing in his lungs. Tooth fragments caught in his flesh like splinters. He scattered them, running one hand over the other, over the other. When he held them out, Gen tilted a flask and poured water. Pink beads of moisture clung to his fingers. He slid them into his pockets, patted them dry, then took his coat from Gen.

As he pulled it on a drop of rain caught him in the eye. He and Gen squinted up, hands protectively raised, then lowered when the deluge began.

'Mama-san next, bossu, Eight Time Sexy Palace,' said Gen. He'd pulled up the hood of his coat and pulled the thongs tight. Shido thought it seemed to shrink his face. 'Make a nice break. Relaxing.'

'Gen?' said Shido, and Gen could barely hear him over the heavy rain.

'Yes, bossu?'

'Go pork a blender.'

Gen closed his eyes. He opened them. Shido was still staring at him. He turned on the spot and waved the group back towards the upper level streets. With Shido behind, they splashed up metal stairs. Not one turned.

Far beneath the gangway, a construction worker stopped, a drop of rain splashed in his eye. He pulled up his hood just in time for Hideo Tobe's diluted effluence. The stink of it clung for the rest of the day, despite all his frantic scrubbing during the lunch hour.

---