Issue 6 - The Assembly

[Calvin Strong]

The Assembly was as it always was. Loud, with bass thumping and rattling the struts on the outside of the building. The converted factory looked like it was manufacturing dance, and the effect was enthralling. The people inside seemed to be a mix of normal (if a bit wild) clubbers and people following industrial or cyberpunk. Cal was pleased to see, on arriving, that a lot of the people were wearing cyberpunk accessories he'd created himself. Business was, after all, booming.

"What do you think!" Cal called over the music.

[Svetlana Zaytsev]

"Is very good!" Lana says, "Where is bar? Drinks and then we make dance!"

[Calvin Strong]

"Over there!" Cal pointed to an old assembly line that had been turned into the bar. "Let's get your drink on!"

[Svetlana Zaytsev]

Lana cheers, heading to the bar and ordering something suitably alcoholic.

[Calvin Strong]

Cal followed her to the bar, getting various nods of recognition here and there from people, but not stopping to talk to any of them. He shook his head at the bartender when he looked at him, then pointed toward the cooler where the non-alcoholic stuff was.

[Svetlana Zaytsev]

"So, you wanting to see me dance?" Lana asks with a smile, sipping her drink.

[Calvin Strong]

"Only if you're wanting me dancing, too," Cal said, smiling back at her.

[Svetlana Zaytsev]

"Is very warm in here," Lana teases Calvin, taking him by the hand and leading him to the dance floor, "You think there would being trouble if I take off my shirt?"

[Calvin Strong]

"Nah," Cal said, grinning. "If there is, I know the owner. You'll be fine."

[Svetlana Zaytsev]

"Good," Lana says, pulling her shirt over her head. But leaving on her bra. She dropped the shirt to the floor as she began swaying her hips to the music. Her tattoos beginning to move with her.

[Calvin Strong]

Cal danced with her, looking her over appreciatively as he approached. He slid up behind her, not needing to be in front of her to see as the various camera feeds in the never-closing club came streaming through sub-sections of his vision, showing them both clearly from all angles.

[Svetlana Zaytsev]

Lana pressed close against Calvin, dancing with wild abandon as her tattoos pulsated and formed a variety of symbols and words to the beat of the music.

[Calvin Strong]

"Very nice," Cal murmured, close to her ear. Not to be outdone, the various accessories people wore, as well as the decorations and the lighting, began to pulse in a rather impressive coordination to the music and their own personal movements. In effect, the very center of the room shifted to where they were.

[Svetlana Zaytsev]

"You want see more?" Lana asks, her hands toying with the straps of her bra. An amused grin on her face.

[Calvin Strong]

"I'd be an idiot not to," Cal answered.

[Svetlana Zaytsev]

Lana undid her bra, closing her eyes as it slid off into her hands. Her tattoos covered her skin, swirling in hypnotizing lines as she threw the offending scrap of the clothing into the crowd to the cheers of many nearby.

[Calvin Strong]

"Very very nice," Cal said appreciatively, a sentiment that was obviously shared by many people (to the consternation of their dates). Obviously not wanting to be outdone, he noticed several girls casting glares at Lana, then moving to emulate her. He idly reflected that it was a good thing they'd come to one of the less rowdy clubs he frequented before turning his attention back to the display Lana was giving him.

[Svetlana Zaytsev]

After much dancing, a sweaty and flushed Lana returned to the bar, pulling her shirt back on over her head.

"Double whiskey please!" Lana shouts, "With little umbrella!"

[Calvin Strong]

The little umbrella turned out to be made of wire and had little blinking LEDs on it instead of paper. Cal, after a quick check of his BAC, indicated that he wanted one, too. "Well," he said, over the noise, "You made quite a stir." He winked at her, suspecting she'd meant to do just that.

[Svetlana Zaytsev]

"I know! I am very happy," Lana says, "Some clubs are not so friendly. Is nice to find people who are being not boring."

[Calvin Strong]

"Funny, usually the friendly ones get called boring. No one even through one punch out there," Cal joked.

[Svetlana Zaytsev]

Lana laughs, quickly draining her drink.

"You want take me home? Is fun but I am having work tomorrow."

[Calvin Strong]

"Sure," Cal said. "Can't let the books go unwatched, right?" he joked, setting some cash down for the bartender, then starting to clear a path for them toward the door.