Back at the container, Kevin's voice cracked through the BBS link, fuzzy and compressed but clear enough. "So, what's the word, Goldie?"
Goldstar's face lit up on the makeshift projector wall-screen m00m had created with his special powers. She looked uneasy, the gleam of weapons racks still reflecting faintly in her eyes. "The word is Sergey and Anya want all three credits. They'll give me nine-thousand in casino chips. But the terms are… well, let's just say they always win."
Kevin whistled low. "Loan sharks with a side of military-grade hardware. Figures. What's the full catch?"
"They take twenty percent off the top, another twenty off my winnings, and if I lose, not only do they keep the credits, I owe them monthly with twenty percent interest."
Kevin shook his head, leaning closer to the projection. "That's not a catch, that's a fucking trap. But we don't really have another choice, and time's running out."
"Nope." Goldstar managed a smirk, though her tone was heavy. "It's this or leave Silver City without a single weapon. Which means none of us make it very far."
m00m's glowing eyes widened like two orbs. "This sounds risky! But also thrilling. Like when you put too much Gwar salt on Gwarmillion noodles, you know it'll burn your insides and will probably have you shooting out back g00, but sometimes the flavor is just so delectably worth it."
Kevin gave a wtf glance back. "Bro. I don't even know what a Gwarmillion noodle is, but you both lost me, and had me at shooting out 'back g00" from spicy food. OK… back on topic, Gold, listen. Take the deal. Then head straight to a FRAPS table. Odds are better there than anywhere else. And don't get greedy. You usually win a fat stack early, and as soon as you do, walk the fuck away before the house eats you alive."
Goldstar nodded. "Got it. Win fast, walk away."
m00m piped up again. "And if you see any glowing plants in the casino, don't trust them, they're likely artificial. Trust me, I've been listening closely to the dirt and flora outside, ever since Kev and I hit that Scarlax, and they're very persuasive and informative..."
"I'm not sure I even want to know what you boys have been up to back at base." Goldstar sighed, smashing her palm into her face.
Kevin pinched the bridge of his nose. "Ignore him. He's lit out of his gelatinous little mind. Don't judge, I had to calm the nerves out here."
"I am not on fire, I'm not even slightly above normal g00 temperature," m00m said defensively. "I am… contemplative and just so happen to like speaking with plants."
Despite the danger, Goldstar laughed. "Okay then. It's settled..." She shut her phone.
Sergey leaned back as she returned her attention to him. "So, do we have deal?"
"Deal," Goldstar said firmly. "Give me the chips."
Anya pressed the remote, a drawer sliding open to reveal stacks of sleek holographic casino tokens. She picked out nine, each one shimmering with the F8 Corporation's logo and value projection. She tossed them onto the steel table. The light from the tokens reflected coldly across Goldstar's determined face.
"Remember," Anya said. "If you lose, you owe. No excuses."
"Yeah," Goldstar replied, pocketing the chips. "But I don't plan on losing. They don't call me Gold Star for nothing, losing generally isn't something I do."
"Oh, and Goldstar, quick reminder… If you lose and don't pay, NiGHTSHIFT Arms Outpost will hunt you down and kill you and everyone you love. I truly hate saying that part because I like to think of myself as nice guy, but I have to." Sergey added.
With that, she turned back the way she came from, sat on the women's bathroom toilet, said Sergey's name one more time, and transported herself back to Supper Club. Ahead lay the FRAPS tables, and her first real gamble in Silver City.