Manhunt part 4

	Everything is going to change. I know that. Deep in my heart I knew I would never reach my five run goal. Too many things could have happened. I just have to accept that my number was up. Satsuki told me that the untouchable Argus was eliminated as well. It eases the feeling of disappointment when even the reigning champion failed.

	Vanessa heads home to gather some things. She'll be by tonight. Until she gets here, I have opted to review the match. So, here I sit. Watching the opening interviews with the Cheshire and Kobold announcers excitedly giving commentary on their top picks. It's like watching NASCAR with all the pre-game banter going on.

	After putting away a few beers I decide to skip to the action when I hear a knock on the door. I hit pause and answer. It's Sadie.
	"You look rough." She states plainly.

	"Yeah. Still a bit shaky from the overdose."

	"Have to say, I didn't see that coming."

	"Same."

	We stand there for a moment before I invite her in and offer a beer. She accepts and we head to the couch. Prior to resuming the recording, I ask, "Why are you here?"

	After taking a swig she responds, "I wanted to rub your loss in your face."

	"Why aren't you?"

	"You look so defeated right now."

	"Fair."

	We drink in silence for a bit while I continue reviewing the match. A wave of revulsion washes over me when I see what I was doing to the Dormouse. After I came to my senses, the commentary remarked on how much it must have hurt to bite down on my own arm like that. It sure did. I have the bandage to prove it.

	Sadie nudges my shoulder, "C'mon cheer up. That part was ingenious."

	"Hurt like a bitch though."

	The feed cuts to Argus and Tracksuit. The two are still running at the five minute mark when the Jabberwock lands in between them. The two watch in stunned horror as she inhales deeply along with the two mouth-like appendages. They begin sprinting in opposing directions. A concussive wave of pressure knocks the drones away as she violently expels a pink mist from all three maws.

	The cloud billows forth, filling the surrounding alleyways and engulfing the two men as they try to outrun the rapidly expanding miasma. Argus makes it out, but tracksuit can't clear the cloud before he starts gasping for air. As he takes in the mist his eyes glaze over as the dark shape of the Jabberwock materializes from the haze and pulls him close. She locks lips for a moment, and releases him. As the mist is dispersing, he coughs up a thick cloud of the stuff. As his breathing returns to normal, he frantically starts groping at her. She returns the favor.

	Camera drones follow the Siren as she glides around, now singing. Whatever charges that song of theirs doesn't translate the effects through recorded media. Trench-coat doesn't even notice at first when White stops in his tracks. By the time he turns around, White is already entranced by the Siren's song. He leaves white to his fate.

	Then it's my turn. I managed to put quite the distance between Vanessa and myself, but eventually the poison became too much. The commentary team seem impressed that I made it that far. My heart sinks as I practically begged for my loss.

	I look over at Sadie, "Aren't you a bit pissed because I lost to her instead of you?"

	She shakes her head, "The way I see it, we're even. Just two losers hanging out and commiserating."

	"Check out any of those forums I mentioned?"

	"Yeah, but I think I'll try my chances at a singles even a Kiki friend is organizing. No Shogs allowed though."

	"Odd restriction."

	As I watch my loss, I can't help but notice the features on Vanessas face soften as I give in. Touching. But the feed doesn't linger as the view pans over to the last victim. None other than Chuck Vargus. The Gazer is floating after him. He deftly weaves his way through the barrage of spells firing off from her many eyes.

	The chase continues for another three minutes. The commentary team explodes with enthusiasm. Attacking with renewed vigor, the Gazer launches an all out attack, filling the air with a kaleidoscope of color. Bolts of eldritch power slam into the surrounding terrain as she tries to converge all of her shots on Argus.

	He makes a fatal mistake. By looking behind him, his eyes meet hers. Her central eye. And just like that it's over as she dominates his mind. What follows is a humiliating puppet show as she forces him to satisfy her every whim.  All of us that lost owed our defeat to one thing. Our bodies betrayed us.

	After the wrap up I turn off the TV and finish my beer. Sadie and I chatter away for a few hours. She gets me talking about opening that tavern I mentioned in my interview. She actually wants to help with it. So I call up Satsuki.

	I bang out the details with her and inform her of what the goal is. I want a bar to call my own that caters to all races. She actually likes the idea, so we begin working on terms. I ask her if we can afford to do this. She takes it as a personal investment rather than a loan.

	Sadie eventually heads home, and when Vanessa gets here I fill her in on my newfound goals.

	She drags me off to bed for the night to discuss things more "intimately."

	I wonder what running a bar will be like?