“Oi, what's this about then, Meryll?”
“I’m calling my drink early.”
Meryll adjusted her seat at the bar, making room for Tread, the old Jovangellion war-dog that led The Sharks.
“Surprised I’m seein’ ya mug so soon after tha’ tiff with The Racoons an’ all.”
“Fair. However, they’re looking for two large mecha, not some goon with missing limbs.”
Tread snorted, taking a seat next to her after making a call for the aforementioned drink.
“Still don’t ‘splain why ya callin’ me here.”
“Because you’re the head of The Sharks, and I think it’s time we’ve had a heart to heart. You and I have a lot more in common than you’d think.”
“Yeah? Wassat?”
“We both worked as a tool of war for imperial powers. We’ve both been scarred by it. We both left, ultimately of our own volition.”
Tread arched a brow. “And?”
“And the war will never leave us alone, Tread. No matter how far we try to get away from it, it’s never enough.”
“Ain’t tha’ the truth. It won’t stop us from carvin’ out a place for ourselves. I did what was right for me an’ mine, an’ got out. Still don’t get your point, Meryll.” He punctuated with a long draw from his mug.
“I want you to join the Coalition,” Meryll deadpanned.
Ale sprayed from Tread’s mouth, a sputtering cackle filling the air.
“The fuck you on about? ‘Join the Coalition’. Ya daft?”
“I’m very serious.”
“The fuck you are. Ya best be ordering swill to be drunk with the swill you’re spewin’.”
Meryll glared, motioning for another round of drinks the bartender.
Meryll brought their voice to a harsh whisper, leaning towards Tread. “Tread, the Empire eliminated millions of lives in a single moment without a moment of hesitation. They’re celebrating it as we speak, and condemning the lives of every person on the Verdant Coast struggling to just live. They weren’t facets of the War, and even if Taizhil was, there were so many other options to remove the asset. You and I both know that VERY well. There’s no return from what they did. And they WILL do it again. And I won’t be surprised if Nor follows suit.”
Tread was visibly uncomfortable, and whispered back, not wanting to draw more attention to the pair. “An’ what’s tha’ got to do with us, Meryll? What do you think you’re gonna change? Why would we put our necks on the line when we’re not at risk? We got out of the War, Meryll. We ain’t getting back in.”
“Because it doesn’t stop with us. They will take, and take, and take; and when there is nothing left, they will find another way to yet take more. What do you think happens when the rebellion dies, when the Empire drives out Nor and controls the whole of Izya? You and yours will be snuffed out the moment you don’t serve a purpose to the Empire. You know DAMNED well they turn a blind eye to your ‘activities’ because you basically protect your territory for them.”
Tread began to protest with indignation, though Meryll pressed on, hammering the point with an accusing finger.
“You want to protect your territory? Life, or freedom, or whatever it is you fight for now? Then you should stand with those who will fight with you, while they’re still around to fight. You’re a soldier, Tread, a fighter; we all are. You took yourself out of the fight because you knew it was wrong. Don’t let that stop you from fighting for what’s right.”
A long, uncomfortable silence sat between the two as glares were exchanged.
“That’s all I have,” Meryll said, finally breaking the silence. “A request: Join the Coalition. I understand how big an ask this is. You don’t need to answer now- Hell, you don’t have to answer at all. Next time we meet, It’ll be like any other time, and we can go on like business as usual, and we can just forget this exchange ever happened.”
Meryll slid a small device across the bartop to Tread. “If you change your mind, you know how to get a hold of me.”