I spy with my lizard eye, and everything I see is a lie
You know when I told you I would never lie
Well that was the first time

Roy Brazil's hand gripped his shot glass of Scotch. If his grip grew any tighter the glass might shatter in his hand. Not that it mattered to him at the moment. Ingrates, he thought to himself as he down the contents and shot Terry a poisonous glance. The amazon shot an icy stare back, her entire stance was threatening him. Some people marveled how some apes regarded direct eye contact as a threat. Roy knew exactly what they felt.

"The guys are sick of waitin' boss. They wanna get ta Manchester. They wanna get the guys that got Chuck n' Turk. It don' look good, boss. They say we don' take care've our own." Terry stared at Roy, challenging him to prove her wrong.

Roy grabbed the bottle and poured another. "I don't like repeating myself." He didn't stand up yet. Not yet. Standing up would me he recognized her as a threat. He wasn't going to give her that unless she deserved it. That didn't mean he took his eyes away. They burned red as he gazed straight at Terry.

She crossed her arms. Yeah, she knew what that stare meant. She was going to try to stand up to him longer. Survival of the fittest, that's what it was all about. Who was most fit to lead? Terry seemed to be making a grab. "They want payback," Terry demanded coolly. She didn't even address him as boss this time.

Chuck and Turk bit off more than they could chew, which is saying a lot for Roy's band. You don't pay someone back for someone else's stupidity. That's just trouble waiting to happen. Roy tapped his shot glass on the counter in a steady, slow time as he glowered at Terry. When she tried to meet his stare back he knew it was time for his move.

He burst from the bar, driving his shoulder in her gut, then throwing the giant of a woman over him with that momentum. He swept his foot behind him. Don't give her a chance to retaliate. Keep at her, keep the initiative. As long as she was on the defensive Roy knew he had the upper hand with her. Sweep kick, then he faced her again for a punch to her jaw. She was barely able to block that, then tried to return a blow. Mistake for her, Roy knew. It left her open for him to floor her.

Knee at her chest, hand on her throat he growled, eyes burning red, "There is no payback. I am in charge here. No one goes to Manchester, do ya hear me? No one!"

Terry nodded once. That's all he needed. He grabbed the bottle of Scotch and drank from it straight as he watched her head out of the room. He'd taken her by surprise this time. She'd be ready next time, and he wouldn't get away without a scratch again. He wiped his face on his sleeve. He was going to have to stay awake tonight. Wouldn't do to have someone trying to take him out while he slept. Survival of the fittest, he thought to himself, don't the younger types eventually overleap the older? Not yet, if I can help it.

[Lyrics: "Cats, Sex, and Nazis" by Nomeansno.]