Midnight Exchange

[Ragman]

Shots ring out from the alleyways.

"Did you get him?"

"Shoot straight, ya lunkhead!"

"I swear I got him!"

"What was that?"

"He's dead I tell ya!"

A small gathering of five skitter about as if spooked by some passing phantasm. Pinstripes and fedoras jump at the slightest sound, the most minute of movement. Cold, black steel now steaming hot. Their guns are now the only thing they think that can save them.

Damn mugs shot me!

Tattered rags and quilted patches flutter and flap high above the men below. The Ragman grips his right upper arm, just under the shoulder. Green cloth runs a deep crimson. A bullet remains logged in his arm.

Keep it together, Rory. These guys are cheap change compared to the Arkam shift.

"Wait. Just WAIT!"

They all stop chattering.

"What is it, Goldie? You hear sumthin'?"

Manny "Goldie" Bellino. He's in charge of the bookies and gamboling for the Santoro family. Gets his name from all that shiny metal hanging from his neck and hands.

"I don' think he's gone that far..."

[npc2]

The 5 mugs gathered together in the damp allyway, skidishly look to roof top, and down around the dark corners for their assaliant. One tripping on an empty tin can screams out...

Thug 1:
"Ahh! help...he's got me ....The Ragguy's got me AHHhhh..."

Wham .....he is hit on the back of the head by his boss, "Goldie" Bellino.

Manny "Goldie" Bellino:
"Quiet you dingbat....or I'll give yas somethin ta scream about!"

Manny turns and lays down a randomly palced spread of fire from his "Chicago Typewriter" (tommygun)...screaming.

"COME OUT YAH TATTERED FREAK, AND GET WHATS COMMIN TO YAH!"

Bullets spark off the fire escape across the street, and riddle the near by dumpster with red hot holes.

[Ragman]

Looks like I've pissed them off royal. It just doesn't add up, though. Santoro business isn't anywhere near 63rd St. What are they doing here?

Ragman moves his hand from the wound. As if by a motherly touch, a scrap of cloth shifts to cover the piercing gash. He stands there, on the fire escape and searches for someone among the thousands of faces.

Rio? Rio, I need you right now.

In his mind, Rory waits in a dark room with no walls - a single, undefinable light source looms overhead. A think framed man wearing a black suit walks out. He is eternally lighting a cigarette that wont keep its flame. Coal colored hair is slicked back into a short ponytail. A single gold chain around his neck and a salmon tinted silk shirt are the only other colors the 6'6" man displays. His shiny black shoes stop next to Ragman's.

Rio: What you need, Ror?

Joseph"Rio" Fiorelli. In his day he used to be a hired arm for the Falcone family. Murdered at least 15 people. GCPD found his body near a dumpster nearly 5 years ago. He's now serving his time with the suit...Rory's walking penitentiary.

Rory: These guys are Santoro's. The loud one is "Goldie" Bellino. Gamboling. You have any idea why they would be so far away from home?

Rio: Could be anything. But I'll take Vegas odds they're either running something - a package, ya know? - or they're dropping someone "off". Ya get me? This far out - it's not 'bout no midnight poker game.

He tries to light the tar stick again, to no avail. Rio's one of those trapped souls that actually helps the Ragman the best they can. Some sort of repentance on their part. He's passed up his chances to move on a couple of times, just to help out.

Rio: 's all I got for ya, Ror.

Rory: Thanks, Rio.

He pauses halfway back into the darkness.

Rio: Ya know, Rory...my lease is up next month.

Rory: I know, Joe.

Rio smiles a bit and keeps walking until his suit blends into the pitch around them. He always says that. "My lease is up." That's his way of saying, "I'm sticking around."

Only seconds have passed for those of flesh and blood, as the Ragman pulls himself back into the fight at hand. He gathers his cape and cold-stares one of the men below. A flash of forest green fabric and he leaps into action.

[npc2]

Nicky the "Ox" Ferrelli...."Goldie" Bellino's nephew, is known for his size and strength, but certainly not for his smarts. Being 6'6 320lbs has always ensured him a place in the family business as enforcer for Goldies gang, but has never helped him when he thought he had something clever to add to any of his uncles plans. Which probably would explain why, that when Nicky saw the Ragman leap toward him, and he actually found time to tell his uncle, who had his back turnes like the other three guys, that his uncle just brushed him off with....

"Goldie" Bellino:
"Shut yer yap Ox....cant yah see I'm makin swiss cheese ah dis ally?......AH hahahahah.."

Goldie held the filed down trigger of the Tommy gun tightly as he swep it across the one way street ally, making short work of just about anything unfortunate enough to be between him and the wall opposite to the one his gang now used as a fallback. By this time "Smooth Louy" Pinchelli, Antinio Bellino, and Franky Suttio, had pulled their pieces, and begun to scan the gunfire lit ally for their peruser. Each waiting for the right moment to open up.

[Ragman]

A flash of green flies down to Nicky "Ox". Ragman gains his footing only after using the force of his fall to propell a patchwork punch toward the face of the nephew. Feet contacting the ground for but a second, the hero kicks out, left leg in the air. Its aim and intent are directed to the base of Goldie's shoulders - near center of his back - hoping to lay him flat.

Don't look back, Goldie. You'll put a foot in your mouth.

[npc2]

Ragman's fist slams home to its target, easily penetrating the big mans defences. The Ragman feels teeth give way as he lands, then jumps into a kick. Ragman's foot aims for easy prey, the back of Gotham's southside crime family boss Manny "Goldie" Bellino's, head. The impact seems to be a sure thing as the Ragman flies like an arrow to the unsuspecting man. But just as his foot comes within inches of Goldies fedora cap, his momentum is halted, and his speed redirected, as Nicky the "Ox", known as a beast of a man that can take more than his share of punishment, jerks the Ragman back toward himself by grasping at the dark stalkers hooded green cape, and pulls with the might of a harbor tug boat. The Ragman crashes against the barrel chested mans body with a mighty ....THUD.... when as before his feet hit the ground, the Ragman is enveloped by the massive arms of the Mob boss's nephew. Slowly and with great force, Nicky the "Ox" begins his attempt to literally crush the life from his captive. Goldie, hearing the scuffle, turns to see what his nephew has caught. Smiling he shouts..

Manny "Goldie" Bellino:
"Atta' boy Nicky !.....Mash em up good, we are gonna make the drop.....meet yah back at the resturant."

With the cheers of his uncle and cousins, Nicky's face brightens with the thought of all the praise that he will receive later if only he were to end this man's life the way he has ended so many before.

Nicky the "Ox":
"Okay unc'...an dont worry.....this freak aint' goin' NOWHERES !"

Like a walnut in a vice, The Ragman begins to feel a pain he's never felt. Burning torment runs wild through his body as the "Ox" does what he does best. Hurt people.

[Ragman]

Damn! For a big guy, he's quick!

Ragman tilts his hood back. The look of accomplishment and purpose appear to him in the grin of "Ox" Ferelli. He's doing a fine job of collapsing Rory Regan's lungs. Really. His ribcage is on the verge of breaking.

But that's the problem.

Rory Regan isn't the only one here.

Let's show this guy just exactly what it means to 'hurt'.

Nicky begins to feel the body no longer give under his strength. His arms are starting to release their grip - and not by his own accord. The tattered tatterdemalion recruits a few score souls to aid in his escape. Their strength, combined with his, renders the might of the man - one Rory Regan - multiplied forty-fold.

Nicky cannot keep the Ragman in his grasp. His tries to hold his captive still, with no more strength than a half-sleeping child. The Ox's arms pry open. The Ragman's feet touch the ground. Now, with his back still facing the thug, the night stalker stands, struggling to keep the suit under control. Cotton and silk writhe with apparent contempt. Nylon and acetate convulse in anger. Souls of the damned cry out for vengeance against the criminal. The tattered hero casts a cold stare over his right shoulder.

Turning on his heels, he faces the Ox. The green cape contorts with an animalistic likeness. Stepping toward the gangster , he confronts the man with every tread.

[npc2]

The "Ox's" expression is that of surprise, as The Ragman rips his body from the grasp of his arms. No one has ever survived one of the big man's hugs of death. Taking a few steps back to gather himself, Nicky reaches into his pin-striped coat pocket to retrieve a seldom used weapon. His hands were usually much more than enough, but at his uncle's request, Nicky always carried a "backup". The shine off the brass knuckles that he now wore, to a lesser foe, meant a quick end. Nicky kept them polished so whoever he had to pull them on knew in an instant that even the softest of his blows, meant crushing agony.

Nicky the "Ox":
"OKAY MAC......Lets do dis."

With that short warning, Nicky lunged at Ragman swinging wide, and hard with a GIANT left hook. He seemed to for some reason be saving his right, which carried the brass knuckles, for the right opportunity.

[Ragman]

Flesh meets fabric when Ragman catches the thug's left fist straight-on. Still surging with the strength of dozens, he was confident he could take this one down. Emerald tatters grip and pull at the Ox's suit. The cape claws at the man like a starving beggar - hungry for anything that might be offered. While the ragged suit does no damage, its self-conciousness is disturbing.

I just hope this Ox guy lets up. I still have his "brothers" to catch.

White eyes narrow. From behind the cloth a voice speaks.

"I'm only going to ask you once, Nicky. Are we doing this the easy way or the hard way?"

The hero stands. Right hand clentched over his left fist, stopping his punch with little effort. Green cloak twitching in anticipation.

[npc2]

Without so much as a word, the big man, seeing an opportunity, sends his right arm into action. The polished brass glints briefly in the street lamp light, as his hand flys through the air like a freight-train. The force of the impact is staggering, as Nicky's giant hand makes contact with The Ragman's left shoulder, sending him a few feet back, and releasing the tattered hero's grip from the "Ox's" clenched left fist. Without missing a step he follows through with his blow like a trained boxer. Nicky pulls back and unleashes another left hook, intended for Ragman's stomach. Thinking to him self....

Nicky The "OX":
"Right...left.....yeah.... I got's him."