The white duck was large, squat, and ugly. One of the more expensive night clubs in the area, the duck had large glass windows that were rimmed with steel, and an immense stone archway running over the front door. On one side the brickwork was splintered, and tuffs of sickly ivy clung to it at odd angles, tightly hugging the cracks and dents. 

An immense neon sign read “THE WHITE DUCK” in huge letters, accompanied by a large electric rabbit. The sign cast sprays of flickering neon light down into the long alleyway the wound its way up to the clubs entrance, the only sauce of light amidst the all-encompassing darkness of the moonless night-time. 

The young girl took once last drag from her cigarette, a thread-like trail of smoke billowing back over her shoulder, before casting it down onto the flagstone path, and making her way up to the club’s entrance. She stopped as she reached the flight of stairs that led up to the front door, taking in the scene before her. 

“What a piss hole…” Tiny Tim observed from behind her, crossing his muscular arms. 

“So, the Ol’Boy was completely fine, but this joint is too much?” Tanithka turned to face him as she spoke, repressing one of her face-consuming grins as she did so. 

Tim shrugged. “This place is a heap of festering shit dressed up as something it ain’t. The Ol’Boy knew what it was.” He ran one bulky hand over his stubble-covered chin. 

“Until some wanka blew it up?” 

“Until some wanka blew it up.” 

The young girl laughed to herself, batting a tress of dyed hair out of the way of one eye. 

“This place is still here…must be doing something right. “ 

Tim snorted, but otherwise said nothing. 

Tiny Tim was a giant of a man, towering above his female companion. He had arms and legs like tree trunks, and a chest like a barrel. His jaw was square, his hair cleanly shaven, and a whole myriad of scars and bruises criss-crossed his body. He was dressed in tattered jeans and a wife beater, showing off his powerful muscles. 

While Tanithka was more than capable of handling herself, it never failed to keep some hired muscle around for backup. Tim was that and so much more. 

“Shall we get going then?” The young girl led the way, with Tim trailing just behind her. 

The bouncer at the front of the club was huge, but even still Tim was at least a head taller than him. Nevertheless, if he was intimidated by the size of the man, then he made no indication of it. 

“Name?” Queried the Bouncer, gazing down at the clipboard he held. 

“Baba Yaga” She replied, her voice calm and otherwise void of emotion. 

The bouncer looked up from his list, something that could only be described as sheer terror flashing across his eyes. His breath became raspy and disjointed, as his body started to visibly shake, a mass of sweat pooling across his forehead. 

Tanithka smiled inwardly, but her face remained a blank mask. This never got old. 

“Ehrmmm…r-right this w-way…” He stammered awkwardly, trying his best to keep his cool, but failing miserably. 

The pair strode casually past the bouncer, the young girl gently pushing open the front door. 

The clubs main room was obscenely large, and the guttural thumping of dance music and obnoxious flashing lights were beyond overpowering. A few luscious looking booths lined the farthest corners of the room, and women wearing less than little pranced about on the large stage at the rooms centre, twisting and twirling around poles. 

The dance floor was packed to the rafters, and Tanithka and Tim had to shoulder barge their way through the sweaty crowd of patrons in order to make their way over to the entrance to the manager’s office. The way was guarded by two burly looking figures in suits, and Tanithka had to yell over the music to be heard, but a repeat of the display at the front door soon had the guards stepping aside, and even had a few of the nearby customers frantically filing out of the club. 

The officer itself was comparatively cramped, and consisted of little more than a large oak desk and some expensive chairs. Two looming figures that looked like they ingested nothing but steroids and protein shakes stood behind the man seated at the desk, the pair of them eyeing up Tim the moment he stepped into the room.

Caterpillar sat smugly behind his desk, taking a delicate puff from his elegant wooden pipe. He was an obese man, with flabby cheeks, multiple chins, and a belly so massive in girth that he had to sit back a good few paces from his desk. He wore a suit of bright green silk, inlaid with gold, which was stretched tightly across his immense form. 

“Have a seat, my little lotus flowers.” He said with a giggle.
 
Tanithka sat lightly down in one of the padded chairs, whilst Tim remained standing. The seat was clearly made for someone of Caterpillar’s bulging frame, as the young girl found herself lost in the sheer vastness of it. 

“Now, how may Caterpillar be of service to you, my rosy cheeked rapscallions?” 

The crime lord may have appeared to be all giggles and warm smiles, but there was a darkness hiding behind the perfumes and rich silks. 

Word on the street was that Caterpillar had been a major player on the Chinese crime scene, but a series of bad moves and unfortunate twists had left him crippled, forcing him to flee to New Arcadia in order to escape bounty hunters. 

Tanithka cracked her knuckles, before leaning towards the obese mob boss. She was small even for a girl of her age, and her feet dangled off of the edge of the chair, failing to reach the floor. 

“Things have been going well for me, as of late,” she began “and while I’m –SURE- that you’ve already heard about all of the trump cards the worlds been throwing me, I’m thinking about…expanding my horizons.” 

Caterpillar’s powdered smile fell ever-so-slightly. “Perhaps Caterpillar is misunderstanding you, little orchid, but are you presuming to come into Caterpillar’s abode, and take what Caterpillar has worked so hard for? Caterpillar is sincerely hoping that Miss Baba Yaga is joking with him.” 

Tanithka sat poised on the edge of her chair for some time, carefully thinking over her next words.

“Meaning no offense, your Caterpillar-ness , but how long can I be a lowly dealer for? It’s a dog eat dog world out there, in Arcadia more than anywhere, and if I don’t keep on moving up the ladder then someone’s just gunna come along and knock a sweet little thing like me straight off of it.” 

By the time Tanithka had finished speaking Caterpillar’s smile had completely vanished, replaced by an unmistakable scowl, his fat brow furrowed. 

“You would come into Caterpillar’s home, accept Caterpillar’s hospitality, and them presume to take Caterpillar’s throne?!” He bellowed, his flabby cheeks blaring a bright scarlet. 

“Well, when you put it like that…” 

“Insolent little brat! You presume too much, filthy whore!” 

Within an instant, Tiny Tom shot forwards, grabbing the bottom of the large oak desk, and hurling it over Caterpillar’s head. It went sailing through the air, hurtling towards the two guards. 

One was quick enough to get out of the way of the flying furniture’s path, but the larger of them was too slow, and the desk smashed into the side of his head, leaving it little more than a red smear against the wall. 

The other guard drew a handgun from the pocket of his hand tailored suite, firing off a round in Tim’s direction. 

Tim dived to the left, and the bullet slammed into his shoulder, burrowing straight through and flying out the other end, leaving a trail of scarlet droplets in its wake. The big man collapsed to the floor, cursing under his breath and clutching the bloody wound. 

Sticking one hand down the back of her miniskirt, Tanithka drew her switchblade, unsheathing the razor-sharp knife with the flick of her wrist. 

The guard turned to face her, but by the time he could register what was happening it was too late. Tanithka bolted across the room in the blink of an eye, slashing him with one fine movement, and soon a stream of hot red blood was gushing from his neck, his cries of defiance muffled by the gore that was bubbling in his mouth. 

Tanithka snatched up the fallen man’s handgun off of the floor, wiping his blood on her ripped leggings, and placed it firmly against Caterpillar’s head, the fat man letting out a yelp as he sat helplessly in his snug chair. 

“So I’m a filthy whore am I?” She arched one eyebrow as she spoke, her tone as casual as if she were asking about the weather. 

“No! Most…beautiful and gracious little girl! Caterpillar did not mean such things!” Words were pouring out of his mouth like blood from his henchman’s neck, as he frantically waved his hands about. 

“Why did you say it, then?” 

“Caterpillar forgot himself…most honourable Baba Yaga!” 

“You called me a brat.” 

“Caterpillar was angry! Carried away! He loves his club very dearly, and-“ 

Tanithka cocked the hammer of the handgun, pressing it even more tightly against the fat man’s head. 

“-MY- club.” 

“Yes, Yes, of course! Baba Yaga’s club! Club belong to Baba Yaga!” 

Tanithka steadily lowered the gun, Caterpillar letting out a loud sigh of relief as she did so. 

“My associate was hurt: I’ll expect compensation.” 

“Of course! Of course! Baba Yaga will be compensated most handsomely!” 

“I want three quarters of –EVERYTHING- that flows through here. Every cocktail, every bit of smack, every evening out with one of your working girls, -ALL OF IT- comes back to me. Do we understand each other?” 

“Yes! Yes! Terms are most agreeable! Baba Yaga is very gracious…and beautiful!” 

“I’m glad we understand each other.” The young girl flashed Caterpillar a quick smile, before turning and making her way from the room. 

“Come on, Tim.”

Tiny Tim lumbered up off of the floor, still clutching his bloody shoulder, before trailing after his employer, staring daggers at Caterpillar as he followed her out of the room.