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Parasite is the third part of The Underground series

Chapter 12 of 29

Weapon of Mass Distraction

"You know, I've seen pissed off ex-boyfriends storm through here, legitimate pimps wanting their former hookers back, and even fathers looking to take their runaway daughters home." Abby laughed as her hazel eyes lit up, chocolate and cinnamon hair pulled into a tight ponytail as per-usual. "But I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've had two groups of mercenaries about to throw down at my bar over one of my girls."

Jenna leaned against the bar on her elbows, still facepalming herself; paws covering her face in humiliation and shame. As she leaned against Abby's bar on the far side of the Delirium dance floor, Jenna didn't even reply. Words failed her at how exasperatedly pissed off she was at this whole situation. Starting with Alias and Otto's little spat, as if that wasn't humiliating enough, having all her coworkers there to witness the fiasco made it that much better. She had enough issues, she didn't need the people she knew trying to kill each other. There were enough people trying to do that already. It upset her to no end, feeling like she couldn't balance anything anymore, especially the people in her life.

Then being completely shut out by Isis. Jenna felt she brought just as much to this as everyone else. She had played her part earlier, and now she was just casually tossed aside. Where she knew Alias and Mick didn't really have much of a choice, it would have been nice for them to at least have said something in support of her. It just all ended up as one big mess, and when there was nothing left to say, her faceplam said it all.

"Why does all this stupid shit keep happening?" Jenna asked in a muffled tone. "Like really, do I ask for this somehow?"

At this Abby laughed out loud, walking over to Jenna. "You're single, cute, and you've got a rockin' body in that outfit." She explained, indicating to the scantily clad work uniform all the girls were required to wear. "Let's be honest. We're all asking for it down here."

Finally, Jenna removed her face from the palms of her paws, looking out at the underground ravers, dancing the night away. Most of them were probably either drunk or tripping acid, but regardless, they looked like they were having a good time. The dark blue vixen let out a long sigh, shaking her head. She, meanwhile, was sober and not having a good time at all.

"Hey, don't sweat it so much." Abby encouraged her. "It was a stupid pissing war between those guys. But then again, even I figured you'd steer clear of Otto."

"Thanks Abby..." Jenna replied dryly. "You're great to have around right after a situation."

"Well, it wasn't any of my business. Not my place to say who my girls should bat their eyelashes at." The calico explained to her troubled friend. "I thought you knew what you were doing."

"Yeah..." Jenna scoffed harshly. "So did I."

Looking slightly confused by her words, Abby walked over next to Jenna. "Alias didn't tell you?"

Jenna slowly moved her head toward Abby, giving the calico a death stare. "No." She replied simply. "We have... communication issues."

"Oh, well there's not much to tell really." Abby continued. "I mean, I wouldn't have known if I hadn't known Alias." She shrugged, standing next to her vulpine friend. "They're rivals. There's only so much business in The Underground at one time, and everyone wants to get paid. If Alias had an nemesis it'd be-"

"Otto?" Jenna asked, scowling. His profile just didn't seem like one Alias would consider much of a threat. Especially the way Alias had manhandled Otto earlier.

"More like McCain." Abby corrected. "He's a real dick, trust me, but he's The Nine's fearless leader. He's been sure to stick it to Alias every chance he's had. Once, Alias was in a sitdown with a defecting Invisible War client from overseas. McCain only needed to know what they were talking about, so he recorded the whole meeting with a parabolic mic, then blew the back of the contact's skull out with a sniper rifle. Did it just to piss him off."

Slowly turning around so her back was against the bar, Jenna folded her arms across her chest. "So, why don't they just off each other and be done with it?"

"Because my young milk carton," Abby replied in a mock serious tone, "as long as they have names and faces, they know the names and faces of the players. Alias kills McCain, someone new just fills the empty void. Someone unpredictable that might not have the common sense not to come after Alias, like McCain does. This way, everyone knows everyone involved." Abby paused for a moment as Jenna digested all this. The Underground was so ridiculous... "Besides if McCain or Alias killed the other, things would get out of paw; fast."

Jenna shook her head, brow furrowing. "Why?"

"The Nine are well connected, and so is Alias. You met Ethel, right?" Abby explained.

Jenna nodded. "Of course."

"Yeah, that's one woman you don't cross, and she has a soft spot for Alias; always has. She has people she knows and things in Arcadia would get uber bloody if The Nine and our motley crew went to war. And it would be pointless." She continued in an exasperated tone. "Alias, Otto, even McCain, they aren't enemies. They're just competing for the same prize. And sometimes, it gets messy."

"I don't know, Abbs..." Jenna replied, sounding defeated. "I mean, I just thought Otto was a nice guy, you know?" She explained. "I just thought that maybe I was starting to get to know people around here, starting to become an accepted face of The Underground." She shook her head, reliving how revolted and stupid she felt on learning Otto's true nature. "But no, Jenna dives headfirst into the shitstorm of the century."

It had felt good not feeling like an outsider for once. Alias treated her like anyone else, but it was everyone around her. She could read it in their eyes, sense it in the way they spoke to her; most of them sounding condescending due to her lack of Underground experience. Here, she was an outsider, and everyone was very aware of it. With time, these stares and tones had started to evaporate as she felt her way around in the dark; trying desperately to catch up on everything she needed to know. It was such a different world than what she was used to, and it always seemed like just when she had things down, she learned that she didn't know what the hell was going on around her.

"Sweetie, don't blame yourself for that." Abby said, turning to her. "That wasn't you, it wasn't Alias," she shrugged, "Hell, it wasn't even Otto. It was just a lot of history meeting up at the wrong time."

"That seems to be happening more frequently." Jenna muttered skeptically, still feeling bitter from the events that had just transpired. "What's their deal then? Alias and Otto, I mean." She asked. If they weren't technically "enemies", why did Alias have him by the throat and risk an all out brawl with The Nine?

"Eh... that's where all the history comes in." Abby started, thinking for a moment, sounding like she didn't quite know how to phrase what she wanted to express. "You ever met someone you respected for one reason or another? Like someone who was really good at something, but they always made dumb decisions that pissed you off, so you didn't like them so much personally?"

Jenna nodded; oh hell yeah she had. There had been plenty of those at her old school.

"My guess is that's how Alias and Otto feel about each other. Damn good mercs, just playing for different teams, but I think there's a heavy respect between the two. A warrior's code or something."

"Interestingly put." Jenna said quietly, mind starting to wander. "Who's the one making the dumb decisions?"

Abby shrugged slightly, her head slowly moving from side to side. "Depends on who's opinion you're taking. Everything changes depending on a certain point of view. Alias would say Otto, and vice versa." She then paused for a second, before her face lit up again, as if she had just thought of something new. "You know what it probably was that pissed Alias off so bad?" The calico asked her, her tail swishing back and forth subconsciously as the two friends conversed. "He probably thought Otto was working you to get to him. I think we both know what happens to informants around here, don't we?"

Jenna let out a slight laugh at this. Yes they did, and it was never a good thing. However, she still seriously doubted Otto was there to try and draw information from her. She had only known him for a few weeks, and when they talked, they never talked about Invisible War topics. The only time they discussed Alias was after her argument with the black fox about a month ago. Surely, Otto would have better ways of exploiting her for intel on Alias than shooting the shit with her when she was on break. It was just his blatant dishonesty that angered her.

"Come on, Abby." The blue vixen replied sardonically. "I know where my loyalties lay."

"So just look at it as Alias's fucked up way of saying he cares about you." Abby finished, and started to walk away, then came to an abrupt stop.

"Can I be blunt?" She asked, turning around to face Jenna.

The vixen pushed off the bar, looking up at Abby, who had a somewhat perplexed face. "You always are." She replied smiling.

"Are you and Alias sleeping together?"

Jenna jolted upright at the question. She hadn't been ready for that one, even though Abby warned her.

Jenna stumbled for words for a second before her brain calmed down and started making sense. "What... What are you talking about?" She replied.

"Sleeping together." Abby replied, raising her eyebrows, nudging Jenna with her elbow. "You know, doin' the deed, down with the nasty, making sweet lo-"

"Yeah, I know what you meant!" Jenna cut her off, feeling her face burning in embarrassment underneath her fur. She didn't understand why Abby couldn't have asked her this back in the break room. Looking around, she noticed several patrons look over at them in curiosity. Jenna quickly composed herself, taking Abby gently by the arm, leading her out of earshot from the others at the bar. "I mean why would you think that?" She said letting out a nervous laugh.

"Well I mean it is the million dollar question around here." Abby replied, scooting closer to her friend. "Don't get me wrong, it's not like we gossip behind your tail or anything like that. But if Otto wasn't using you as a means to an end, it makes me wonder why Alias reacted like that." She smiled innocently and shrugged. "You can't blame us for wondering."

Jenna shook her head. "Oh, it's all good." She replied, blowing off Abby's concerns, however still a bit blindsided by the question. "I mean, Alias and I are friends, and I have a lot of respect for him."

"Wouldn't that be all the more reason then?" Abby asked.

"To sleep with him?"

"Yes, Jenna." Abby stated extremely clear so that Jenna got her message; emphasizing each word. "To have sex with Alias."

Jenna playfully slammed into Abby to make her shut up. "Do you mind?" She said through gritted teeth, all the while smiling and trying to keep from laughing.

Laughing already, Abby shrugged. "Jenna, its just sex. Why do you think we keep Alora around here?" A giggle escaped Jenna's lips. "You should think about it."

Jenna rolled her eyes. "I can't believe I'm actually having this conversation." Starting to walk away.

"Seriously, you should." Abby persisted, strolling casually behind her. "I'm guessing he makes a shit ton of money, doing whatever the hell he does."

Jenna snorted. "Provided he makes it back alive." She shot back, rolling her eyes.

"So there some danger involved, you can't tell me it's not a turn-on, that element of danger." Abby replied smiling. "I mean its why all us girls go for the bad boy, right?"

"Easy on the term 'us' there, Abbs. And would we consider Alias a bad boy?" Jenna asked, looking skeptical. "Angry and cynical, yes. Bad boy not so much."

Abby waved her paws in the air, dismissing the topic. "Whatever. So, the guy makes bank, he's like a crazy good shot with a gun, and he could probably kick all the bouncers' asses, are you not attracted to him or something?"

"What?" Jenna asked out of habit, even though she heard the question. "No, that's not it at all!"

"So you do find him attractive?" Abby asked scowling at Jenna, looking more confused than ever.

"No- I mean yes- I mean... Shit!" Jenna cursed burying her face in her paws once again. "I mean of course I do! Yeah, he's attractive, but I'm not like lusting after him or anything. I mean I think a lot of people are attractive. It doesn't always mean anything." She shot a glance over at Abby who was desperately attempting to hold in her laughter, causing her whole body to quake. "You're having too much fun with this..." She muttered, not nearly as amused.

"Oh come on." Abby played, stifling a giggle. "It's not like it would be a big deal if you were rockin' Alias's world. You'd have it made!"

"Sounds like I'm not the one who should be looking to boink the black fox." Jenna noted, raising an eyebrow.

Abby let out a laugh as she realized how Jenna took what she said.

"No, no, no, no." Abby corrected herself. "I don't mean Alias, but the kind of life you'd have."

Jenna stopped washing the highball glasses. "What do you mean?" She asked looking over at the calico feline.

"Alright," Abby said, sliding in closer to Jenna, "it's time I let you in on a little secret about The Underground. Societal rules don't exactly match up the same down here as they did for you in your past life." She explained as Jenna listened. The blue vixen always thought it was funny when people referred to her time outside The Underground as her "previous life". "Down here, we don't pretend we don't have sex. It's not a taboo subject like you think. The whole 'if you have sex, you'll get pregnant and die' philosophy really doesn't go far." Abby shrugged. "It's just a part of the lifestyle here and sex can be a great way to enjoy someone else. You don't always need the attachment that you're beaten over the head with. Doesn't mean that never develops, but don't think of it as a prerequisite. Sometimes it can just be fun. It's a great way to blow off some steam."

Jenna scoffed. Abby couldn't be serious. "So, I should go out and hook up with the first guy I see?"

"No, dumbass." Abby laughed. "If that was the case, I'd of let Alora have this conversation with you." Jenna smiled. They ripped on that poor girl so much, but it wasn't like she didn't bring it on herself. "It's more of a trust thing. Something you do with someone you respect and think highly of. It's like the most sincere handshake you can give someone. It shows that you like them as a person, as well as respect them. It's like a trade off; they provide stuff like security and cash flow, we provide, um...'services'. You sleeping with Alias; that would be totally normal. No one would think twice."

Jenna still felt very confused at this revelation.

"Alright, look." Abby said, slowly moving closer to Jenna, letting her arm drape across her shoulder, pointing out into the crowd for the vixen's eyes to follow. Jenna followed her paw to a table on the far side of the club. Leaning over the table, one paw with a cell phone to his ear and the other covering his open ear, Mick stood making a phone call. "Mick's a good guy, not hard on the eyes, right?" Jenna watched the mink, who seemed to be returning closer to how she remembered him before he arrived in Arcadia. The scars were starting to fade, and most of his fur had grown back where he had been barbarically interrogated by the enigmatic "Shadow Player." Whoever the hell that person was. "Steady income, where he's around all those guns he must be able to hold his own in a fight. I mean, he made it back here in one piece. I'm sure he gets lonely sometimes. I could see it happening." Abby shrugged, turning back to her. "Not that it will, not that I want it to, but it's possible."

Jenna shook her head, unconvinced. "See? I just don't think I could, not unless I was involved with them, like romantically."

Abby nodded. "I know. I mean that's what we all want, isn't it?" The smile faded from Abby's face as she looked out into the crowd. She wasn't watching anyone or anything this time as her eyes looked far and away. "That's a rare commodity around here. Don't let anyone fool you, assholes will try and use that to their advantage." She sighed "Which is what makes it so hard to find.

"Look around you, Jenna." Abby continued, eyes staring out at Delirium. "_Look at any of the girls who work here, wearing this _stupid uniform that looks like it came from a twelve-year-old's wet dream." She turned to Jenna. "Why? Sex is one of the few weapons girls like us will always have in places like this, and it's something they can never take away from us." The calico shook her head, looking almost a bit angry at something. "Not really anyway. In this world you aren't taken seriously because you don't have a dick. It's the one advantage you'll always have; the power to choose one guy and not the other. Use it, it's more powerful an option than you realize. I don't care what anyone tells you, you can get what you need by it. It's not always a question of morality, but a window for survival. Don't ever forget that." Her tone had taken on a much more serious touch to it. "The good thing about you hooking up with Alias is that you already know him."

Jenna's brow furrowed slightly, taking all this in.

"You already know he's not a junkie, or will come home drunk and beat you or any of the shit countless girls around here deal with on a daily basis. Can you honestly tell me he wouldn't take care of you?" Abby continued, looking over at Jenna. "You know he would, especially if you could keep his interest..." She trailed off with insinuation. "Letting him know you're his, even just on a physical level, he'd make sure you were okay."

Suddenly something clicked inside Jenna's mind. Was this what it was like to be Alias? To always live in the state of compromise? Some would look down up on both Abby and Alias for the actions they took to secure themselves. How she had become queen bee of Delirium was her own story. One Abby always seemed to avoid when brought up in conversation. Jenna understood this. If they were ever in need of anything, they wouldn't receive it for free around here. May it be politically correct or not, it didn't really matter; fact was The Underground was avery male-dominated place, almost to the extreme. That was just Underground life. It wasn't pleasant or fun when people hardly took you seriously, except as a complete sex object. Now Jenna knew why. All she had to do was look around Delirium to prove that point.

Jenna would rightly admit comparing the situations, what Abby spoke of and to that of Alias's life, was a little extreme. However, it was the point of it; always compromising with yourself to find a way by. Still, the vixen tried wrapping her head around the concept of not being in need of anything; ever. It wasn't hard. She had that life before she came to The Underground.

"No, not Alias." Jenna replied slowly, shaking her head pensively. "I just don't see it, you know? I mean the guy jumps every time I lay a finger on him. I just don't think he's the type."

Abby simply smirked at this. "I bet he was surprised when you got a job."

This caused Jenna to stop and look over at Abby. Alias had actually seemed a bit confused at her getting a job. As a matter of fact, he had even mentioned the fact that her being employed was unnecessary in his line of work...

"Well, I mean he asked me why-"

"Then he's the type." Abby concluded.

"Is that really how it works down here?"

Abby nodded. "For the most part. Sometimes, business can kind of require it. Think about it, between the sheets, you're at your most venerable, all your defenses stripped away. You find out more about the person you're with than any conversation ever could."

"What about you, Abby? Where's your guy?" Jenna asked with sincerity.

Abby shook her head quickly. "I uh," she cleared her throat, "oh you know me, I, um... I have my things on the side..." Her eyes went over to Jenna. "The only reason I asked was because Alias left with that siamese."

"Who? Isis?" Jenna asked as Abby began to walk away.

"Yeah, that's her. I just wanted to know if some bitch was stepping on your turf." Abby replied, starting to walk away again. "I was ready to beat some ass tonight too."

Jenna shook her head. "Alias is just doing a job for her. That's all. We all are."

Abby shook her head, with a small smile on her muzzle. "Business deals, dear. I already know about Mick's dealings with her. Now, I guess it's Alias's turn." She shrugged. "But its all good because you both aren't like that, right?"

Jenna wasn't sure what exactly to say to that, even if Abby had stuck around long enough for her to actually respond.

She subconsciously continued to wash her highball glasses. Her mind wandered back to when she was with Alias in Palamont. She remembered when a female horse, Sylvia, had found them, and helped them take down Xen Hets. Jenna wasn't naïve by any means. She could only assume that at some point Alias had gotten lonely down here. Just judging by her attitude and demeanor towards Alias on that encounter, Jenna could only guess there was some kind of tension between Sylvia and him. However where it stood and what it meant was between those two.

Then there was Isis.

A computer A.I., maybe, but even so, her body was real enough. If what Trilby said was true then Isis probably felt the same urges and desires anyone had. So, it wasn't unreasonable to see where Abby was coming from. But to be honest, she almost felt a little blindsided. She just wasn't used to the laissez-faire attitude toward sex that was so apparent down here. Again, more pieces of The Underground fell into place, and the constant disregard for her personal space and body made more sense.

The real question on her mind for the rest of the evening was what Alias's intentions were with her. Had he really just expected Jenna to fall into the role Abby was talking about; submit herself to him in any way physical? Sure, he had seemed surprised when she had gotten a job, but on the other paw, he never once attempted to solicit anything from her. He hadn't ever acted as if she had owed him anything. Her personal feelings towards Alias aside, she knew that if Alias truly wanted something from her, there wasn't much she could do in the way of stopping him from simply taking it. But her mind had never gone there; not once. Jenna simply knew Alias wouldn't commit such an act of violation against her. He was capable of a lot of things, but she was willing to bet everything she had left he'd never hurt her like that.

As she walked back to the staff room, she opened her cellphone. Call her crazy, but it just seemed like there was so much more between them than simply sex. To be honest, she didn't feel out of place thinking that it was true for Alias as well. All these thoughts had mutated into a sense of general unease, like she was nervous about something, but couldn't nail down where it was coming from. It was like something had just been taken from her that she was desperate to get back.

Something or someone...

Looking at the small LCD screen, she slowly flipped through the numbers she had in her contact list. Alias was listed under Aidan Duisternis, incidentally the same alias the phone was registered under. Her thumb hovered over the green 'send' button, contemplating if she should call him. Even standing there, she wasn't sure why she needed to, only that she wanted to.

Without thinking, her thumb pressed down on the button and Alias's number dialed out. The screen came to life with the graphics that were displayed when a connection was attempted. She lifted the phone to her ear, hearing the electronic tone, letting her know his phone was ringing. Immediately, she regretted calling him. She had nothing to say; nothing to ask. Aside from the fact that he had left without word one to her, Jenna didn't even know why she was calling him. What was she expecting to accomplish or interrupt by calling him? If she were to hang up now, it could send the wrong message. Alias had asked her to at least leave a voice mail if he didn't answer, so he wouldn't be worried that she had been calling him for help and had been cut off by an assailant or something. A possibility that was highly likely in their reality.

"The number you have dialed is not available at this time. To leave a callback number press..."

Jenna let out a sigh as she only got the automated female voice operator. Clearly, Alias was out of reach or chose not to answer for his own reasons... busy doing something. But he was good at always getting back with her as soon as he could. Something she highly valued. So, she knew eventually, when Alias had an opportunity, he would call her back. She would simply have to deal with the rest of the evening not knowing what was going on in his life.

Maybe it was better that way.

"At the tone, please record your message. When you are finished, you may hang up, or press pound for more options." The faux cheery voice instructed her. She always thought it was stupid that these things told her to actually hang the phone up, as if she would just keep talking until Alias answered.

The tone sounded. "Hey it's me..." Jenna began, clearing her throat. "I just wanted... um..." Her voice trailed off. What? She just wanted what?

I just wanted to know you're okay... that I shouldn't worry about you...

"I just wanted to see if you were coming home tonight, if I should leave the lights on." She paused again, her mind overriding what was weighing on her heart. Why she found these words so hard to say, not even Jenna quite knew. For some reason, it just didn't seem appropriate right now. Not over a voicemessage.

"Be careful tonight, okay?" She finished, snapping her flip phone shut with her paw.