WD rule seventeen is entitled 'One realizes ignorance truly is bliss only after a little knowledge becomes a very dangerous thing.'

Previous rule sixteen: No, Silence is not golden. Like everything else it is worth exactly as much as what one is willing to give up for it.

Next rule eighteen: Bad guys plan for funerals, not retirement.

Summary page

-Short summary-

Mo gets a hot tip regarding the WD theorem and the unlikely idenity of the man who knows more than what's good for him.

-Long summary.-

A mournful voice pleading for others not to look at it blares from the speakers set high up in the club just before a beat full of snare and compressed rhythms shakes the club floor. Beatz Factory’s newest album of beats had just dropped and this particular one despite being slow for a dance beat is the choice of the night. Lights of different colors illuminate the club but it is still permiated with darkness all around. The mournful voice would get it’s wish not to be seen here. ‘Here’ being the dance club ‘Washingtron DC’ (DC being ‘Dance central’ and not the other, more famous meaning to the abbreviation.) Though in true representation of hipster humor, the club is actually located in Baltimore. Though if all one wants to do is to get plastered while watching bodies collide with each other and acts that are dangerously close to being considered illegal in public, location doesn’t matter much does it?

Two ladies walk with purpose through the swath of people each footstep dictating a sense of purpose that has nothing to do with dancing or schmoozing. They walk to the back of the club as if the rest of the people aren’t there. The two –one African American and the other Caucasian are dressed to impress even if their outfits are seemingly from two opposite ends of a fashion spectrum. The black girl wears a one should wrap dress and has her hair puffed up in a fashionable afro. Her fingers are touched up with sky blue polish, and she wears heels that give her an impressive presence. Meanwhile the white girl wears white cut off denim overalls with a black shirt underneath that has a splatter decal. Her black combat boots have laces on the sides, and her frizzy carrot-orange hair waves as she walks. Probably her most striking feature is the black eye patch she wears over her right eye.

Mo and Meifa are dressed to kill ---though, in this case that might not just be an overused expression.

A few hours earlier Mo returned to the Seven’s HQ, slightly after Ruka had ‘collected’ her sister Mizuki and left. She reveals that she’s been hunting down leads regarding the WD theorem, and happened upon a tip that sounds promising. She’ll be damned if she has to serve under Matilde longer than possible, and figured that looking for theorem information might be the one way out from under her thumb. She couldn’t go blabbing about what she’s doing so she wouldn’t spook the terrorist into doing things they might regret, which is why she left without telling them. Now though she’d need a partner to help vet a possible asset.

Heike explains the situation about Ruka and Mizuki to his girlfriend and Mo seems less than thrilled, emphasizing that this is exactly why they need to get away from Matilde and fast. Lukas is working some angle, and like her has to keep it secret so she doesn’t get suspicious. However according to what they’re saying, Matilde is already well aware of what he’s doing and is only going to up the ante from here on in. That being said, she wants to grill this guy for what he knows in a hope that he’ll serve useful. She then asks Meifa if she’s up for a little clubbing in Baltimore? The group gives Mo a ‘huh?’ look, and Meifa looks like she’s about to decline, but the professional double agent won’t take no for an answer and drags Meifa away. Nolan makes a face and states his professional dislike of Mo, which Heike waves off as being professionally too overly worried about the little things. Besides, Ruka had given them a hot tip to follow up of their own. Apparently Matilde’s would-be assassin is hanging around nearby…?

So while the ladies go to Washingtron DC, Heike and Nolan take turns guarding Matilde, (much to their chagrin.) Nolan notices during his off shift that Ricca is moping on her own, and despite being somewhat apprehensive to talk to her (One because she seems different from the ‘soot witch’ he knew three years ago, and two because she still might be that soot witch from three years ago) He goes to ask if she’s doing okay. Ricca gives him a hurt look and mumbles that she’s fine. He shakes his head and repeats his inquiry, but more gently this time. Ricca sighs and reluctantly asks Nolan if without her arm she’s still a ‘catch’? Nolan manages to retain his poker face, but asks why she’d ask that? Looking into his eyes, the two sit silently for a long moment before Ricca mumbles that she wonders why Mo chose to go clubbing with Meifa rather than her? Nolan turns away for a moment and strokes his chin before answering that he’s not sure and she’d be better off asking Mo herself as he’s never quite sure what she’s thinking.

Back at Washingtron DC, Meifa asks Mo why they’re here? Despite herself she actually really dislikes clubs because they stink of booze and BO. Mo answers quickly that their asset to be happens to like those very colorful scents and comes here on a regular basis. Since they don’t really have the budget to set a meet for him to come see them, they’ve got to go see him. She adds that Meifa should try to act more twenty-one year old ish. Technically she’s underage and because of that she had to grease some palms to get her in without questions. Of course she’s not her mom either, so if she wants a drink she can go and have it. Though if she vomits in the car they will have words. Meifa wrinkles her nose and declines. In her opinion drinking is for retards. Mo thanks her for the compliment and they soon get to the back and the VIP lounges. Two burly men in street clothes stand by the door and actually have to look down to see the two ladies. One wordlessly looks the two over while the other asks what business they have back here.

Mo places her hand on her hip and replies to the question asked by asking a question of her own. ‘Why not ask Giancarlo in there that question? He’s the one who called us.’ She then follows up by adding how he’ll be less than pleased that his company is being held up at the door. The bouncers exchange glances and the inquisitive one nods before heading into the room to ask this Giancarlo person about his ‘company.’ Meifa gives Mo a look and asks in a whisper if she really has an invite here tonight? Mo replies that she doesn’t but they don’t know that, and she’s pretty sure Giancarlo doesn’t either. See, guys who frequent places like this do so to show that they’re better than everyone else. So what’s the best way to continue to push this image besides getting the VIP treatment? It’s expensive drinks and of course women. All they have to do is act like they’re here to see him and more likely than not he’ll at least give them a once over. Oh and she used his real name. Something she had to really dig and pay off a few people to get. On the streets he’s known as Nosfatu the slinger.

Meifa rolls her eyes. A fucking drug dealer? This night can’t get any better. So why would Gian—Nosfatu bother with them? Yeah he likes the bitches. She gets that even if she doesn’t like it. Thing is, he’s probably got enough enemies out here who would bust a cap in his skull, and therefore he has to be at least a little careful. Giancarlo (because really, what the hell is Nosfatu?) knows that people who have his real name are few in number. He’ll talk to them at least to find out if he needs to have them ‘dealt with’. It’s sorta like how in fantasy novels demons knowing your name causes all kinds of things to go wrong with one’s powers. This is just the real life equivalent. Meifa looks dumbfounded, but moreso because she didn’t think Mo read that kind of stuff. Mo grins and replies that as a professional double agent, there is no higher praise than someone saying they don’t know something about her.

The bouncer comes back out and true to Mo’s words allows the two ladies in. Mo sucks her teeth in mock irritation and indignantly tells the bouncer not to waste her time ever again. Consider that free advice. The bouncer gives her a look of concentrated evil, but says nothing as she goes in first and Meifa after looking back at the club follows her.

Inside is a room lavishly decked out with a spinning globe hanging down from the celling projecting different colors of light everywhere. The couches are pure white and a table with roaring lions as the legs sits in the middle of the room with expensive wine cooling in an ice bucket on top of it. A man pours himself a glass and then leans back, his arms stretched out on the couch and one of his legs on the table. On his right hand is a tattoo of a flaming 8-ball, and he himself is wearing a blue and red Japanese print jacket of a samurai giving a vicious look over his back. He has a black wifebeater underneath this, with matching black jeans and expensive white nike air tennis shoes on his feet. His hair is dirty black as is his sideburns and goatee, and his eyes hazel, complimenting his tan skin. He sits up and takes note of the ladies as they enter the room and gives them an approving grunt before sitting up and offering them a seat beside him. Mo instead sits on the couch furthest away and Meifa follows suit. He snickers and comments that he likes ‘em ‘fiesty’. He speaks with a new York accent oozing with self-confidence. He then looks over at Meifa and asks how old she is. She replies with a ‘Fuck you’, and he smiles and comments that he doesn’t do that sorta thing until the third date, but if she’s in a hurry he’ll oblige. Meifa starts to stand up, but Mo shoots her a glare. The younger of the two growls a few curses but sits down and looks in the opposite direction while impatiently tapping her foot. Mo then turns to Giancarlo and says his name. He gives her an even look and asks how she got that information? Only a handful know that, and a few of those guys are dead. She lookin’ to join that exclusive club?

Mo smirks and states that she doesn’t think he’s stupid enough to kill her without talking first. She then goes for the jugular so to speak and asks Giancarlo what he knows about the ‘World Destruction theorem.’

Giancarlo throws his head back and breathes a long and exaggerated sigh, a reaction Mo doesn’t hide her surprise from. Wait, what? He knew they were going to come and ask about that? Giancarlo scoffs and replies that if he had, he wouldn’t have let them in here. No. He didn’t know they were going to come and ask about the WD theorem, but he should have figured as much really. Seems like everyone is interested in that shit lately.

Mo’s internal alarm goes off at his last statement. So others have approached him already then? That is extremely bad. She then asks to confirm that he does know something? Giancarlo rolls his head around for a moment and gives Mo a careful look over. He then shrugs and admits that he likes what she has going on, so he’ll tell her a little. See, turns out one of the guys working on or related to the project also happened to be someone who liked their blow a little too much. After essentially signing over his assets, both financial and otherwise to the drug dealer, he still couldn’t keep up with his habit. So he started giving the drug dealer information of what he was working on in exchange for drugs. He considers himself a renaissance sorta drug dealer, so he figured knowing a few Govt secrets couldn’t hurt. At worst it could be leverage for getting him a stay out of jail free card. So the relationship continued for a while until scientist guy stopped showing up. He figured maybe the guy had OD’d and moved on with his life, and everything was kosher for a while until recently guys like them had come in asking him what he knows. Of course he’s keeping his mouth shut, cause he’s no snitch. Can’t go dealing blow if you’ve got a big mouth after all.

Mo mulls this over for a moment and stands up, motioning for Meifa to follow suit. She then turns to the door and says she’s heard enough. If he doesn’t want to talk, there’s no point in her trying to make him. Giancarlo despite giving off a laugh is surprised at her sudden wish to leave and asks if she still wants a drink? Mo doesn’t answer the question and instead opens the door allowing Meifa to leave first. Giancarlo asks her who she is ---or who is she with? Mo turns to him and with a sly grin asks what the other guys who had come to see him answered when he inquired? Giancarlo snickers and asks if that’s how it’s gonna be? Mo bids him farewell and closes the door after her.

Back in the club proper, Meifa asks what just happened? Mo glances back at the door and replies that a change of plans just happened. She thought this would be just going in and asking a couple of questions, and then seeing if he’d flip for protection, but judging from what she saw he’s going to need a bit more convincing than that. Seeing is believing however, and she believes Giancarlo will see the light soon enough. Of course she and Meifa will be there to give a lending hand, so they can’t quite head back to DC yet.

Later that night, Giancarlo comes out of Washingtron DC and walks with a driver to his car parked in a lot across the street. The driver walks out front and makes a gesture for his boss to wait while he picks up the car. Giancarlo does so, lighting up a cigarette as he hangs outside the club. He looks up at the night sky as cigarette smoke permeates his senses. Although he's trying to laugh it off as no big deal, it does concern him that suddenly the WD theorem is a big topic. Never the one to listen to reason, Giancarlo realizes now that the old saying about the past catching up might not be far off the mark.

His car—a Rolls Royce Wraith with tinted windows pulls up and he prepares to step in when a feeling ---like something is amiss stops him. Why? He sidles over to the passenger side where the window rolls down and the drug dealer finds himself nose to nose with a silencer. A low voice recommends that he stay quiet or he can die here on the street. Giancarlo thinks the jig is up when another car-- a black 2004 toyota camry zooms by with the back door open. Realizing that this isn't by chance, the drug dealer takes his out and ducks while running towards the car that only slows down just enough for him to get pulled in by someone as gunshots nail the trunk.

Inside Mo, now dressed in jogging tights and a jacket pulls him in and prepares her own weapon, a modified pistol. She mutters that she could get better weapons if the team weren't being blacklisted by Matilde, but this and the element of surprise will at least get them far enough away to have a real conversation. Giancarlo smirks and replies that he really does like the fiesty ones. Mo gives him a glare and winding down the window opens fire on their pursuant. The car rocks and weaves and Mo asks Meifa if she knows what she's doing? With this sorta driving she'd better give up on getting a license if she doesn't already have one through some weird stroke of luck or God's mercy. Meifa replies that you don't need a license to run from people ---or over them. Mo frowns and comments that she's going to teach her to use a gun so that next time she can fire at the pursuer...and let her drive.

Without turning to him, Mo asks if Giancarlo feels like telling the truth? She knows the story he told them back in Washingtron is unfiltered horse shit. Now they could very well hand him over to the guys following them very intently, or she could possibly help him out. His choice.

Giancarlo leans back resigned in defeat. No point in hiding it now....

He's actually an ex-researcher of CPI....to be specific he was once on a now defunct team responsible for the upkeep of the theorem. In short he's a scientist turned drug dealer turned mark.

Mo gives him a once over, and mutters 'bingo' before discharging her weapon at the car behind them.