Gadot pulled her own armor off over her head, fixing her top afterwards. She too played with her phone for a moment before relaxing. She looked over at Kurt and raised her chin at him. “You should get your armor repaired. Probably need it again tonight.”
Laughing from his position, Jimmy sat up straight. “You don’t know how exactly correct that statement is. Can’t believe we’re gonna go see the Pirates. Why don’t we go fondle some porcupines while we’re at it?”
Shaking his head, Kurt swiped up his phone. “Because they’re extinct. How do I get my stuff repaired?”
“Just text your attaché, she’ll pick it up and get it repaired for you. You can also order ammo refills and have them drop off some basic items for you. Once your stuff is repaired, its delivered directly to you, or just dropped off at a safehouse if you’re offline. Takes an hour.” Gadot was being particularly helpful.
Kurt glanced at the text options for his attaché, deciding not to bother. “Naw, I want to go get it customized. I can probably get it repaired at the same time.” He looked around the room at various decanters. “You have any coffee in here?”
Stretching in comfort across her couch, Gadot waved a hand lazily. “Mmm, yeah…kitchen I think.”
Getting up with a small grunt, Kurt moved back into the kitchen and started looking around in mild confusion. The kitchen had a center island with several bottles of alcohol, but he had to look over next to a window to find the coffee maker. A series of bright copper tubes laced the top of a squat silver box, porcelain cup already in place. He looked over the sides of the machine before seeing a button on the front above the cup.
After pressing it, the machine began to burble and produce steaming black liquid into the cup while a delicious aroma permeated the air. He gazed out the window at the air strip while his coffee brewed itself, and then cradled the cup to return to the lounge area. As he entered sipping his beverage, he overheard the end of a conversation.
“…like he was going to puke. Not that I can blame him at those speeds, that’s why I was in the backseat with my eyes closed.” Jimmy waved cheerfully as his friend scowled at him.
“Hey, you guys remember how I saved you both from Clancy!? That was fun and cool!” Kurt pursed his lips as he took another sip from his steaming mug, annoyance clear on his face. “What a useful and skilled individual I must be.”
“Yeah yeah, calm down. We were just talking about the first times we did high speed stuff. It’s pretty genuinely terrifying, you did well.” Gadot was smiling at him, her expression genuine.
Jimmy reached for a decanter on the table, pouring himself a drink. “Yeah man, you’re turning out to be pretty good at this game. Respect for sure and all that noise. It’s still funny.” He shrugged.
Nodding slightly, Kurt smiled again. “Yeah I guess. Watching you guys trash all those Russians and bulls and then get taken down by a stealth boss was mildly terrifying. Thought I’d blow it for sure.”
“Hey yeah, how’d you beat him anyway?” Jimmy happily swirled his drink.
Sitting down, Kurt shook his head and shrugged. “I, uh…snuck up on him.”
Leaning forward and nodding appreciatively, Jimmy reached out a closed hand to fist bump his friend. “Out-stealthing the stealth boss. That’s my boy.” After that, he seemed to get more serious, taking a sip of his drink and setting it down on the table in front of them. “So we gotta talk about the Pirates, and you guys probably aren’t going to be thrilled with me.” Both Gadot and Kurt raised their eyebrows at him, so he continued. “I kind of…sort of…may have been an officer with them for like…two years.”
After blinking for a moment, Kurt shook his head with a scowl of confusion. “I don’t get it; wouldn’t that be a good thing?”
Gadot sighed, shaking her head. “Not if he’s not still in it. Not in the Life. How’d you leave?”
“Uhhh…amicably? Maybe?” Jimmy sat back again. “I mean, I took part of the main crew with me when I left, and there was certainly some shouting, aaaand maybe a small gunfight.” He held up his fingers close together. “Little one.”
“OK. So we don’t bring you along, maybe they won’t know you’re working with us.” Gadot shrugged.
“Hehe, yeah…that also probably won’t work. See, Kitty runs the pirates, and she knows Kurt.” He looked nervously to his friend, who glared at him in obvious shock and anger at the name Kitty. Jimmy shrugged with an apologetic look on his face. “She knows Kurt and I so well that if she’s watched the videos about us at all, and there’s no chance she hasn’t, she knows exactly who we are and what we are up to. I’d be surprised if she didn’t know we’re coming.”
“KITTY is the pirates GM!?” Kurt squeezed his eyes shut. “Wait, what would her title even be? Captain? Captain Kitty?? Sounds like a breakfast cereal.”
“Somebody tell me who Kitty is and why this is bad please.” Gadot sounded like she was losing patience. “That’s not the name of my contact in the pirates.”
“Kitty is an insane person who we used to play the fantasy game with. She’s nuts, like actually crazy, why did you stay with her!?” Kurt was clearly exasperated.
“Funny, she says you’re the crazy one.” Jimmy shrugged. “Kitty isn’t so bad, she just used to get us in trouble in the other game a lot.” He brought his hand to his chin in memory, idly rubbing the stubble there. “She likes fire.”
“Yeah, she likes fire. She played a sorcerer and took berserker rage as her primary perk. She’s a nut-job.” Kurt sat back, exasperated.
Jimmy looked at his lap, speaking quietly. “Kitty is my friend. She was your friend too.” He looked up sharply at Kurt, taking a rare moment to be serious. “Probably would be again if you reached out.”
Kurt’s eyes widened for an instant, but when he met his friends gaze, his anger melted. He didn’t speak, just nodded with a concerned look on his face.
“Make it sound like you were close with her before…whatever crew stuff happened.” Gadot did her best to look disinterested, pulling up her phone and browsing the internet.
Jimmy made an amusing face. “It’s fine. Kitty is…solid. She’ll probably help us, but she’s going to make it painful.”
They sat in silence for a few moments, Jimmy looking out the window at the nearby lake and the cityscape beyond it. Kurt stood to leave, his coffee forgotten. “I think I’m gonna go guys. When are we meeting up for tonight?”
Raising an eyebrow, Jimmy shifted in his seat. “Pirates generally get active around eight or nine at night. We should head out around then.”
Not bothering to look up from her phone, Gadot pointed towards the air strip behind her house. “If you call the Lace, you can get a helicopter pickup. I’m sure your rep is high enough by now, and if not just say I authorized it. Shouldn’t cost more than 500 dosh.”
With a nod, Kurt turned to leave the room, pulling up the Lace contact on his phone. “Thanks, Gadot. Catch you guys later.” He turned back for a moment. “Hey, good run today. That was wild, but pretty fun.”
After he had called the Lace contact and was approved for his helicopter pickup, he waited out by the hangar, leaning up against a wall. He looked up as Jimmy opened the kitchen door and walked towards him with a wave.
“Hey man, you good?” Jimmy looked uncomfortable. “I didn’t mean to lay into you in there.” He stood with his hands in the pockets of his pants, offering a shrug.
Kurt looked at his childhood friend for a moment, before walking over and wrapping his arms around Jimmy. The embrace was brief, and when Kurt let go, Jimmy looked at him in confusion. “I’m back, Jimmy. I’m back and I’m not going anywhere this time. Tonight, we’re going to get Kitty back too.” He looked more concerned than happy, but offered a smile anyway.
Jimmy smiled as well, but he stared at Kurt for a moment as he took a step back. “Yeah. Yeah we will.”
The helicopter made its approach then, kicking up dead leaves as it slowly settled onto the air strip near Kurt and Jimmy.
Looking back at his friend, Kurt waved a hand. “I need to come correct to all of this. I’m gonna go do some shopping, and the next time we meet up I’ll be back to fighting strength.” A firm expression settled itself onto his face. “You won’t be carrying me anymore.”
Jimmy shook his head and waved, a small smile at the corner of his mouth. “I never was, friend.”
The helicopter was luxurious inside, four leather seats facing each other with plenty of foot room. Kurt seated himself facing the cockpit and pulled the door shut. The pilot began to play with some controls, giving the appearance of competence before asking for a destination.
Kurt thought for a moment, scowling to himself. “Actually, take me across the lake to the airport please.” Leaning forward as the helicopter began to smoothly lift off, he smiled out the window. “Can you call in a pickup for the Lace headquarters?”
“I’ll check for authorization.” The pilot spoke casually over his shoulder, eyes glued to the windshield. “Authorization confirmed. HQ coming in for a landing now.” He pointed ahead, drawing Kurt’s eyes to the large black plane descending from the clouds above them. The short trip ended with the helicopter landing near the end of a runway, as the Lace headquarters/guild hall taxied towards them.
As the massive aircraft approached him, Kurt noticed a series of gun barrels tucked beneath the wings on either side. “Huh. Those are new.”
Crane was waiting for him as the ramp lowered, a stern look on her face. “How can we be of assistance Mr. Kurtis?”
Moving past her up the ramp, he gave her a deferential nod. “An excellent question.”
She turned to follow him as the ramp lifted and the plane began to taxi for takeoff again. They sat in fold down seats in the cargo hold, strapped in place until the big red light overhead made its change to green. Standing and moving through the cargo hold, Kurt took a closer look around. Several crates were strapped in the hold, and at least one large vehicle was in place beneath a tarp. Still, most of the cargo hold was closed off behind walls.
“I was hoping to speak with the Lace quartermaster.” Kurt looked to Crane, hands behind his back. “We do have one, I assume?”
Waving a hand unconcernedly, Crane moved towards the stairs. “Of course we do.” She pointed beyond the tarp covered vehicle. “Back there. Ask for Leo.” With that, she ignored Kurt and climbed the stairs.
Moving back past the various crates and storage, Kurt discovered the wall was incomplete. A door sized opening was tucked away into a corner behind the stairs. Walking through it, Kurt was surprised to see an armory stationed beyond what appeared to be gunnery stations for the weapons he had seen on his way in.
A tall man stood next to an open crate, spectacles on the bridge of his nose as he looked between the crate and a clipboard. He was lithe, but powerful looking, muscles obvious beneath his simple tan colored long-sleeved V-neck shirt. He turned and smiled politely at Kurt.
“Leo?” Kurt peered past him to the crate, seeing bundles of ammunition tucked into straw packing.
The man looked up, touching his spectacles to adjust them. “Now you…I think I will enjoy equipping.”
“Crane sent me…? Hesitantly, Kurt stepped forward and offered his hand to shake.
He looked down at Kurt’s hand, a flicker of a smile playing across his features. “Yes of course she did. Leo, at your service.” He grasped Kurt’s hand in a firm but brief handshake. “Crane tells me you have somewhat…unconventional tactics.”
Kurt smiled at that, shrugging slightly. “I don’t really like getting shot. Guess that makes me a stealth player. Disguise sometimes?”
Leo prodded the holster dangling at Kurt’s armpit. “And yet, you carry a magnum. That other one looks like an automatic.” He placed his arms behind his back and adopted a thoughtful pose. “I would posture that your style is more about the kind of confrontation you choose to participate in.” He moved to a nearby crate, opening the lid and lifting out a large black assault rifle. “Some people are direct. Their intentions obvious.” Placing the rifle back carefully, he closed the crate and moved to another. “Others…not as much. It does not remove the lethality of the person in question.” Leo produced a compact black pistol with a blocky silver slide and short barrel, placing it on the top of the crate in front of Kurt.
He wasted no time in scanning it.
Walther PK380
Pistol. Sidearm. Weapon drops upon death only if equipped in the Primary/Secondary slot.
Caliber: .380 ACP
Rate of Fire: Semi-Automatic.
Capacity: 8 Round Magazine.
“Oh I like that.” Kurt picked up the gun and hefted it. “Light too. Accurate?”
Leo gave him that small smile again. “At short range? More so than you.” He turned and dug through the crate a bit more. “Highly customizable as well. I feel it’s an item you could really…grow into.”
“There a range I can try it out on?” Kurt aimed down the short length of the barrel.
Stepping forward and gently reclaiming the firearm, Leo looked down his spectacles at Kurt. “On board a high-altitude airplane? Not as such no. I’d be happy to assist you with the purchase of some accessories though.”
Kurt gave him a nod, peering through the crate at his side. Pointing at several items, he cheerfully went about the process of shopping. “I’ll need a suppressor, a flashlight, some .380 subsonic hollowpoints, 9mm +p, rounds for the magnum….and what do you have for consumables?”
Leo dutifully collected the items as requested. He slipped the small suppressor in place on the Walther, but stopped as his hand hovered over an assortment of flashlight options. “I’m afraid I cannot provide the .380 specialty ammunition. Perhaps once you have become more familiar with that class of firearm.” He paused slightly, pointing at the lights under his hand. “Would you care for a combat light? Perhaps something a bit less overt…I have an LED laser combo you might enjoy.”
His eyebrows raising in interest, Kurt looked back at the flashlights. “The combo for this one, a laser might come in handy.” He watched in satisfaction as Leo clicked the small item in place just under the barrel of the Walther. “What’s the difference between a regular flashlight and the combat version?”
“The combat flashlight has multiple settings, including strobe, which can be very handy for engaging opponents in a darkened area.” Leo spoke while modifying Kurt’s new firearm in steady motions. It also has an IR setting, which coupled with IR goggles, can be a powerful tool for a stealthy person not unlike yourself.”
“I’ll take two.” Kurt felt rather upbeat, setting his Glock and Coonan down on the crate nearby.
Leo swiftly set to work modifying each pistol in turn. With only a short glance up, he looked at Kurt over his spectacles. “That armor is need of repair.”
Kurt quickly undid the zipper under his armpit and shrugged out of it. “Oh yeah, thanks. I actually was hoping for some modifications to it as well?”
“Mmhmm.” Leo lifted one of the weapons and tested the various settings on the flashlight, nodding in satisfaction and setting it down on the table. “What did you have in mind?”
“Ah. Well, I don’t actually know just yet. What are my options?” Kurt holstered his newly upgraded pistols, his holsters molding to the new modifications.
Looking at him over his spectacles again, Leo adopted a somewhat relaxed posture, leaning against one of the crates. “Tell me what you would like the armor to do, and I’ll let you know what we have available that would be appropriate.”
Kurt began to tick off wish list items on his fingers. “OK, I want it to be stronger, I’d like it to last longer, but it’s really important to me that it still looks like a normal suit vest so I can use it with disguises.” He looked up at the ceiling for a moment, before nodding. “Think that’s it.”
“Very well. I can replace some of the internal materials with higher quality variants and reinforce the stitch work, but I would recommend not investing in any plat
ing as that would increase its bulk and make it more obvious.” Leo lifted the tattered vest in one hand, looking it over with an analytical eye.
“Awesome, thank you.” Kurt couldn’t help but smile at so many upgrades.
“As to consumable items, we stock a wide range of tactical grenades and ECM devices, as well as general utility items. This way.” Leo turned and gestured to series of smaller crates further back in the hold.
Kurt was pleased when he finished shopping, running through the list in his head as he moved towards the parachutes. He had purchased a new hidden holder for a package of micro flares that fit around his ankle. It allowed covert storage for four pencil sized flares, as well as four equally small ‘smoke sticks’ which each produced enough tactical smoke to fill a medium sized room. In a waist band that tucked items into the small of his back, he carried three short fuse flashbang grenades, held in place by Velcro straps. Their pins were attached to the material, so once ripped free he would have a two second period of time to get them in place before detonation. He set up a standing order with the Lace quartermaster to have replacements of all his equipment shipped to his safehouse, just in case.
A new and improved holster for each weapon was also a pleasing part of his new arsenal. His rear waistband holster now held only the Walther, his highly recognizable Maxim 9 having been shipped to his safehouse. He had a magazine holder strapped in place directly next to the waistband holster that carried two magazines of standard .380 ammunition. A new double underarm holster included two magazine wells for each handgun and strapped snug to his chest. On his left, the Glock was snuggled in place beside two extended magazines of 9mm+p, though he had it loaded with a standard length magazine to avoid a bulge if he wore a suit jacket. The Coonan was tucked under his right armpit, with a magazine of .357 armor piercing rounds in one slot, and a magazine of hollow points for the other slot. A single clip to his belt held his 50 round drum magazine filled with Ratshot, for ease in tire puncturing.
The Life- Illusion Page 22