The seedy bar (open)

[Snow White]

Nighttime Metropolis .... without the ever vigilant eye of the man of steel, it was a lawless land. Murderers, drug dealing, prostitution, etc. All kinds of crimes were commuted under the veil of night, and very few "honest" business were still open, one of them being a small bar located in a corner of a non important block of the city, it was a quite average looking bar whose most remarkable trait was accepting shady individuals as customers, that kind of people were a dime a dozen during that night time and gave the only waitress working at that time quite the headaches.

"Thankee for your patronage "

Eww ... working in that seedy bar was a bit .. disgusting, the clients were in good days merely tired salarymen who came to drown their stress with a cold and cheap drink, in bad days only scum like drug addicts and people with ill-gotten money came, and they were the hardest clients to deal with, demanding to be treated like kings and getting a bit too touchy with poor Hildegard, the only waitress desperate enough to take the nighttime turn in the bar despite all the danger involved in a situation like that. At least no gangster or mafia lord came there, it was a seedy bar after all and high-class criminals choose more elegant restaurants and bars for their meetings.

It was really hard to keep a fake smile all the time with all that scum of society around, but it was that or being fired because the bar owner demanded her to smile when she attends the customers, to smile when cleaning the vomit of the floor and even smile when somebody did pervert things or got aggressive. It was a bad job, but at least it helped to pay for the food and other commodities and keep them from having more encounters with vigilantes like the one in the supermarket >_<

Anyway, it could be worse so she was glad to have that job and who knows, maybe this night Fritz could appear to honor his promise, that was quite the incentive to endure the hardships of working in a seedy bar with seedy customers

[Fritz Stahl]

Night. Not evening, night. The word is used by people to describe the time of the day when sun has disappeared quite completely, there's no other light, besides artificial. To the big city it is called awakening. Because during day all good and honest people are working hard, and are asleep, but there are some ... other people, to whom the day begins at night. All the animals come out at night - whores, skunk pussies, buggers, queens, fairies, dopers, junkies, sick, venal. Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets. Some day, and that one won't be coming too soon...

Fritz was making his way down the street once again, like almost every day he has free time. He too, was one of those to whom darkness was a friend, and not the enemy. It hid him from prying eyes, at least partially. It was still not enough though - from time to time he spooked people off, like that pair of underage hookers who made a run for it upon noticing his crimson-red eye. The usual, Fritz stopped reacting to such a long time ago...

Where was he going this time? Another waste of time thinking about nothing? No, not really. Tonight Fritz was not just slandering around without an aim or purpose as he always did on his night walks. Tonight he was going somewhere. Somewhere, remembering the encounter on his last walk ... a very ... curious one. That weird girl who claimed to know him, but whom he never seemed to remember...

He made a check on her. Hamilton helped him with this. To his surprise, he found ... nothing. Nothing at all. He checked the list of people in the laboratories, all who he served with, all is former friends... Nobody, no one, nowhere. The girl just seemed to have known him out of nowhere. That wasn't right. But she did know him, and he had to find out how. Was there a trace of his past he didn't clear? Some kind of a clue? This needed to be dealt with for once...

The wooden door opened with a creek, and a gust of stuffy air, mixed with smell of dirt, alcohol and sweat hit in his face. Yes, the bar had all reasons to be called "seedy", no self-respecting person would ever even come here, let alone eat or spend time. But he had to come here, this was the place the weird girl mentioned. Hildegard, was it? How could such a small and cute little girl work here? Fritz did not know the answer for that either.

The locals of the bar rose their heads at the newcomer, but soon lost interest - this place was a scum's den, and they did not bother with another of their own. Though some whispers came around - Fritz's blueish coat did look expensive, but the iron part of the face with a flaming eye were giving a hint that coat was not worth it. His heavy steps were heard across the small room in this basement, as he approached the barkeep.

- Need something? - the gruffy-looking guy that was the barkeep asked with a raspy voice.

- Ask a question. Do you...

- No order - no questions.

- Schnapps, a bottle of.

- Ok. - the barman replied and started digging in his wast supply of alcohol. - Something to eat with it?

- No thank you. I won't get drunk anyway. I am looking for someone named Hildegard...

[Snow White]

"Hey girl, there's somebody looking for you!"

The boss was a really .. bossy man who really made her work hard, accepted to let criminals go inside and didn't really care about using "underage" waitresses to bait some clients, yet he was the most honest and less twisted person at nighttime. Maybe he was genuinely good and only did what he did to bring food to the table, even Hildegard did some morally questionable choices in her life so she was nobody to criticize how the boss managed his business. Anyway, she decided to check who was asking for her, it was better than being molested by clients who talked about how they have a lot of (stolen) money and demanded to receive personal attention.

Sh went next to the counter and to her surprise, there he was, Fritz MK II! The six million dollar man! The terminator! The iron man! Hildegard couldn't help but genuinely smile per first time in the night after keeping for so long a fake and forced smile.

"Fritz, you came after all ..."

Finally the moment of the truth arrived, she could have a serious talk with Fritz about everything: The invasion, his heroism, his capture and eventual cyborg-ification, his betrayal and death at hands of Hildegard, etc ... and then he could become her friend and he could forgive her for what she did to the other Fritz and everybody would be happy.

[Fritz Stahl]

- I did promise, didn't I? - Fritz only replied when the small albino girl approached. She seemed to be genuinely happy to see him - that was a very, very rare occurrence - aside from that crazy coocoo Alice, plus Hamilton at several occasions, nobody ever was glad to see him, and that was explainable. People usually were running in terror, whether he was wearing his suit or no... It was a strange experience to see someone who was sane and still was glad to see him... Or was he so sure she were sane?

- Who the hell are you anyway, Bob? - the barkeep in the meanwhile was getting more jerkish, he did not like the idea of some random dude distracting his waitress from her duties, there were things to do, customers to please... In all sorts of ways. And it was a lot of time before she could have a break from all this, so he was not going to allow anybody...

- I am a friend of hers, sir. Is it a crime to visit a friend?

- Heck yeah, she's working here you know, it's not a fukken hospital.

- I'm sure she could have a brief break.

- I'm the boss here, and I say no. Don't think that just because you have a metal hunk for a face that everybody will be push-overs towards what you say. Got it?! - the barkeep was getting more angry by the minute, being the douchebag he was. Fritz knew he could force him to succumb to his will, but that would have repercussions for the girl, wouldn't it? And he did not wish to do harm ... for now, simply talk. But he was not going to take that yelling lightly either. The red light from his eye started burning brighter, and the barkeep suddenly felt an urge to use the bathroom, the urge being so strong, he bended down, not feeling well.

- I'm sure we could work things out. How about I pay for time she won't be serving beverages in this joint? Everybody's happy. - he said, and extracted a green bill out of his pocket - he had money to spend, since aside from maintaining is suit he did not pay for anything, and his contracts did not leave him poor... At all.

- Ugh... Fine, you creepy creep. Have it your way. - the bossman grunted, upon taking the bill, a smirk appearing when he saw how much there was. Sure, he would let him do anything with her for that kind of money. Fortunately, all the cyborg wanted was ... to talk. If only to satisfy his curiosity. Upon him leaving, Fritz stood up, taking his bottle of schnapps with him, and turned to the girl.

- Well that little trouble was dealt with. Now, I remember you wished to talk about something important, didn't you? - Fritz asked, and jested to go to a distant table a bit away from the rest of the crowd - he needed to ask some questions too, and di not wish to be heard. He was curious as to how really she knew him. - And why are you working in such a wretched place anyway?

[Snow White]

"Thanks again Fritz, the boss isn't really a bad person, he simply wants to survive"

The boss was actually a class A jerk, but compared with the horrors of what the aliens did to mankind in the other world, he was like a saint. At least he never forced somebody to do something against their will and paid well all things considered, although for an even bigger amount of money who knowns what could he do ...

"Yes, I want to talk with you about the past, about the present and the possible future. I'm not very smart, but I'm going to try to explain it properly"

She went along the cyborg to a table away from the other clients to have a private conversation with him, what was going to be said was too important to be heard by the scum of society everywhere, those guys could blackmail anyone foolish enough to talk about dark secrets and let somebody else hear it.

"I ... don't exist legally, I don't have any documentation or identification and this is the only job I could find that didn't ask for one. And actually ... I'm not even supposed to exist at all, at least not in this world"

She actually didn't even exist at all in this universe, a visitor from an alternate universe that by no means should be here in first place. Those who wanted to find any personal information would end up with empty hands.

[Fritz Stahl]

Alright, Fritz was prepared put up with another massive amount of insane BS thrown at him. He figured that much, and thanked his face for not betraying his thoughts, for his entire thinking process could soon described with one acronym: WTF? The girl did not tell anything yet in detail, but was only hinting that her story had all chances to be really ... really wacky. Fritz suspected the girl to be a bit ... deranged, though in not such a head-blown version like Alice. Still, he had a plan to figure out needed info from what she was about to say...

It came from his experience with Alice. She never ever talked on the subject, using weird words loosely connected one to another, nonsensical gibberish and whatnot. He learned to understand it, though it required quite an opened mind and a load of imagination to find logical connection there where was none. Take that human supremacists, cyborgs can think creatively too! He expected such here as well, though perhaps more articulated.

- Is this why you found a job here? I'd reconsider it. This place is dangerous for young girls like you. - Fritz stated, pouring a glass of schnapps, and drinking it in a heartbeat - he was not going to get drunk after all. After his robotification he could out-drink just about anyone, the influence of alcohol on the body was zero to none. However, her last statement sparkled his curiosity somewhat. Putting the bottle down, he looked at the girl again.

- Explain.

[Snow White]

"I've lived more dangerous situations, and I'm not an helpless young girl ..."

The tone voice showed some hints of doubtfulness when she mentioned not being helpless, she was well aware of the powers she now possessed and how they made her anything but helpless, yet at the same time she was so tired of the battle-filled life she had in the past that she doubted if she would ever use them at all, after all violence never brought her any good and being passive and simply accept the situation helped to keep away the battles.

"Do you believe in the existence of multiple universes? It is a bit hard to believe but I'm from another one where we were friends and comrades ... due something that happen there I had to come to this world and when I saw you .. I simply couldn't help it, I had to talk with you, to know that you weren't in danger because you ... the other you I meant, was a very important person for me ... that's why I'm not supposed to exist here, because I'm not from this universe"

Suddenly the cyborg demanded to receive an explanation about her non-existence and she answered accordingly, she couldn't say more until Fritz accepted what she said as real because otherwise nothing else would make sense and most likely this Fritz would take her for a crazy person. From all the advantages the hybridization with the alien gave her, she would've appreciated the most to have obtained more courage and talent with the words, that would make a lot more easy to interact with people.

[Fritz Stahl]

Fritz listened to the unlikely story the girl was telling him in half-ear, not really believing it. It sounded like some sort of a knock-off science fiction. But yet ... this world proved more than once that common sense rarely worked here, and that parallel universes were more real than it seemed. But common people like Fritz knew little about it, so to them it seemed like ... ridiculous insane tantrum, even though the girl was deadpan serious about it... He drank another glass of schnapps. He decided to play along, insane people would not take logic anyway...

- You do realize ... that we are two completely different people with no connection one to another, right? And ... special? - Fritz rose an eybrow in a sign of slight amazement - that's the best one could get from him. But seriously, special how? She was just a 15 - year old to him, there was no way how he, or ... better to say, some other guy who looked like him, be special to a 15 year-old, in any way. Fritz did not have a habit of checking out younger people in any sort of way. Even Alice. Well, she was nearing 18... but still!

- What are you going to do about it now that you are here? Assuming what you say is truth. - he asked, looking at the girl very attentively, pinning her down with his glare, arms folded in front of him. Why can't he meet normal people? Who would not pester him with nonsensical gibberish or something like this? Well, maybe tis because normal people would run away. Guess his destiny was to stick surrounded by psychos...

[Snow White]

"You are different, yet you are so similar to him, he too fought in a war and become part-machine ... but his fate was different, after becoming part machine he die in battle ..."

Sometimes the fate of a person is simply unavoidable no matter the universe, both of them suffered of a sad fate, losing half of their humanity after a cruel battle against their own will, and while this one was alive, the other Fritz was dead. The universe worked in mysterious ways and unless it was certain this Fritz was not in danger, he could end up dying like his counterpart.

"I .. I simply want to make sure you don't die like the other Fritz, that's all ... but if we can become friends like before then it would be even better"

Apparently this Fritz didn't believe her as much as she thought, he was growing impatient and even with all his enhancements to prevent emotional display, he was clearly annoyed by the situation, she had to do something, something so shocking that he would have to accept that all she said was true.

"I ... I don't have anything that can confirm that I'm saying the truth, but I could show you something more convincing if we go to a more private place away from other people"

That's it! She could use the shapeshifting powers and show him a proof of the other Fritz's existence: the shape he had back when he was human. Ehh ... that's it, if he actually got impressed by that kind of things.

[Fritz Stahl]

Alright, this was getting weirder by the minute. Fritz was actually starting to take hilarity within that story of hers. So ... there was another Fritz, who too became a cyborg, and she came around because he wanted to protect him because that other Fritz ... died? Wait a minute... Was she actually hinting that he could share his unfortunate doppelganger's self? Well, this was a daunting prospect indeed - Fritz looked around warily for any sign of suspicious activity, as if said fate will jump him right here right now. Hey, well what do you know, guess he did not completely disbelieved her story after all.

- This is a completely different place. I am a completely different person. And I do not die that easily. Anything short of an artillery shell will have trouble bringing me down. So you should not worry yourself. - he retorted. Well, this was the truth, at least when he was in his uber-suit. But even without it Fritz was a really tough cookie. Hence why he was not exactly afraid to go out without his suit always on. He was not a hopeless weakling without it.

Her last propositions made the whole picture much more clear though. He figured that "showing him something" was not as awkward as it seemed, she was probably show something ... meta - human. This was not a surprise for him though, Fritz did work with a crazy girl with weird time-warp powers, didn't he? They were on good relations too, the coocoo seemed to be happy about him being around. While he did not dismiss the idea this girl was crazy too, a thought came to his mind... He did have a crazy powered sidekick... Why not have two? She did say they want to be friends, right? And friends should help each other, don't they? It only needs a ... gentle nudge. Yes, that is called using people.

- No need for that, I believe you. - he said in a much milder tone. - Tell me, what happened to my unfortunate self in that other world... And why he is ... was so special to you? - his only eye sparkled a bit with genuine interest. He decided to find out more, even if it was a crazy story. He also figured it would help if he displays interest, to predispose her. And he did not notice the three shady people from the far table who were eying them both, but mostly the young waitress, for quite some time...

[Snow White]

"True, you are different, I think you are stronger as well."

He could endure artillery shells? Just exactly who made him so powerful? Even with alien technology, the other Fritz fell against the old and proven "point-blank missile launcher shot to the face" tactics with the additional focused fire from around 5 semiautomatic rifles, yet this one said to be immune against even more destructive firepower. Maybe in this world ... technology progressed so much that they were on par with the aliens? After all people from this world had strange and modern things like those highly advanced televisions, very flashy cars and AIRPLANES! Those things no longer existed in the old world when Hildegard was born.

"Thanks for believing ... and the other Fritz, he was my best friend. When the aliens invaded and my sister died I was ready to die along her, but Fritz, a member of the anti-alien german front, stopped me and convinced me to join the resistance as well. We were doing very well, but then the aliens captured and turned him into a half-robot who felt nothing for his old comrades and destroyed our hideouts one by one ..."

Hildegard paused a little and looked at the cyborg in front of her, the enhancement were different but he fact was that he was a half-man, half-machine being as well. Whoever made this to him most likely just like the aliens, wanted to use him for his own profit she thought.

"And then, when he attacked the hideout where I and other rebels were, we had to kill him ... I personally finished him blowing myself along with him with a point-blank portable missile launcher shot ... and ..."

Just when she was going to explain how exactly she survived the horrible incident, three tough-looking men appeared from behind them, apparently they were intoxicated with alcohol and believed themselves to be invincible, one of them going as far as foolishly pointing a gun at the cyborg's head. The bar owner simply sighed and did nothing to stop them, they were important clients and pissing them off could spell problems for the business while nobody would miss the loss of a cyborg with attitude.

"Look big guy, give us the chick or your brains are blowing out of your hard skull"

The bartender sighed again and simply let them do what they pleased. Hildegard brought a few ... let's say clients with pervert interests to the bar, but she was expendable, another one could cover her position were she to get too roughed up by the scumbag looking for trouble there.

"Hey, just don't break my bar"

Said that, the bar owner simply continued cleaning a few dirty glasses, it was just another day for him after all.

[Fritz Stahl]

- It is unfortunate your sister died. And me too.

My, my, this was indeed a story worthy of a science-fiction book. Cyborgs, alien invasions, fronts, rocket launchers... It actually sounded like a good piece of fiction. Fritz actually liked reading such books, so he listened with genuine interest now, the story was just getting better by the minute. And this was just a preview, if the girl's imagination could spur more, he'd certainly be enjoying it - he only had to ask for more... And if she were telling the truth, it was even better, come to think of it - it meant it happened for real! And he ... err, other Fritz, was in the leading role there!

- You do not look like you were blown up at point - blank range, miss... - He stated the fact. Though, he did not know the whole thing, so he assumed the scars were treated well, and that there were some under that costume of hers. Not that he would be willing to look. But he had his doubts here, because he could hardly imagine a 15 year-old with a rocket - launcher... However, his train of thoughts was very, very rudely interrupted...

The cyborg slowly turned his head to face the person who had the nerve to put a gun to his head. To his metallic part of the head too, now that was simply dumb. Never the less, he already managed to make out his impression on these three fine gentlemen here. They were well-enough dressed, enough not to be mistaken for common thugs, though manners were borrowed from those, no doubt. The pistol was not exactly a standard-issue combat model too - a bit antique, a bit rare and fancy. Fritz did not bat an eye-lash, and simply stood up from his chair - the villain did not dare to shoot ... yet.

- Indeed sir? And how do you plan on spending time with the young miss? - his voice sounded eerily calm, as his static smile appeared on his face. The cyborg was towering above the people for at least good 4 inches, and was completely unphased by the fact the guy still pointed the gun, now at his chest though. The answer for his question was obviously rhetorical though, he knew that, so he slowly, demonstratively took off both of his gloves, revealing skeletal, terminator-like hands beneath. These were not to scare them off - he was not planning on letting them get away anyhow, but decided to play the comedy for a little while. He also made a step to block their way to Hilde's general direction. My, a real gentleman ... an a walking genocide machine...

[Snow White]

"Fritz! I .."

She actually wanted to stop Fritz and let those thugs do whatever they wanted to do with her, after all she had pretty much no self-esteem at all ... but Fritz went ahead and decided to face them. He really made those evildoers look like midgets when he stood up and if he was was awesome as the other Fritz, he could handle them with no effort at all, so Hildegard simply remained behind him as the trio attempted to look menacing.

"We have lotsa money, we do whatever we want and we are gonna have looots of fun in a hotel!"

The man with the gun didn't even bother to redirect his gun to the cyborg's head, he was really drunk and his grip on the gun was very loose, a guns expert would immediately notice that even if the man were a proficient gun user when sober, in his drunken state his hand-eye coordination was so poor that his accuracy had to be terrible at best.

Meanwhile, another member of the trio decided to try his luck and ignore the large cyborg by walking towards Hildegard, he totally believed they scared the man of steel with their act and would do nothing to prevent them from reclaiming the desire of their lust.

As for the third member of the group, he was feeling quite cocky and put on some good, old fashioned knuckle dusters before throwing an alcohol powered punch at the cyborg's head wit so much bad luck that aimed at the metallic part.

[Fritz Stahl]

- I like having fun too, gentlemen. Although, my fun consists of killing people with my bare hands. I hope you wouldn't mind if I have a little bit of fun with you? - Fritz only replied gleefully as the crooks ignored their one and last opportunity to run away - they thought money could save them from what he were about to do with them. Money is just useless green paper, it never ever stopped a maniac... And speaking of maniacs... Fritz was now sporting a really wide grin. Learned that from Joker.

Fritz was a stone-cold killer, but even one such as he had standards. There were people he despised even though he resigned from all that is good quite a long time ago. And child molesters were among that unlucky list. When such were around, even a full-blown villain would turn into a vigilante. And besides, these morons had the nerve to threaten him in the middle of discussion with a person HE was interested to hear out. The poor lads were simply too dumb to live.

He ignored the fist blow aimed at his face, it simply yanked off the steel surface of it. The metallic parts of his body were incredibly tough, and his organic ones did not feel any pain. But these villains would feel quite a lot of it. Without saying anything else, Fritz launched a blow of his own aimed at the man who hit him. The blow did not send him flying against the wall... The robotic hand simply went through his chest, emerging from the back, and the wound showering everything around with blood. The crook's eyes widened before getting darker, as Fritz took his arm out of the body, and dropping the body unto the floor. The rest of the bar's clientèle just gasped on such a brutal murder of a person. Fritz, however, only moved his fingers menacingly, one of his arms now drenched in blood, as he slowly moved towards the man with the gun, intending to do the same to him... Or worse...

[Snow White]

"F-fritz .. why did you ..."

A bit of blood spilled near her feet as the once alive mobster lost his life in a very brutal and ruthless way. The horror ... so much blood spilled again .... the memories of the past completely froze Hildegard, those memories about carnage and death ... war was not nice with the scarred survivor, and the fear of death froze her, something one of the thugs took advantage of and took her as hostage.

"Y-you freak, you killed Thomas!"

The man with the gun reclaimed and the loud noise of his firearm resonated in the entire bar. His accuracy was not at its best due the alcohol, but the sudden adrenaline rush from seeing his pal become dead meat gave him the concentration he needed to effectively use his gun. Three bullets with varying degrees of success were released from the chamber of the weapon, but if they hit the man of steel in organic areas or if they even landed a hit in first place was unsure.

Meanwhile, the other criminal pulled a knife and put it next to the neck of Hildegard, just in case his pal with the gun managed to defeat the cyborg.

"Did you get him?"

He said, his voice sounding a bit nervous. While he wore clothes similar to his companion, he was the "new kid" in the group, a lesser thug who recently managed to join a family of mafioso and finally hit big time along his two companions. His inexperience and nature as a street thug who got lucky were noticeable and he eagerly awaited for his gun wielding companion's answer as he held a strong grip on his hostage.