by M. K. Gibson
“I speak now directly to the Elder Power that inhabits Gary Phipps. Your actions are in violation of the Eldritch Accords that were ratified by the Elvish Conclave. If you persist, then I have the authority to revoke your planar visitation privileges.”
The guards continued to advance.
“Fine, have it your way,” Messer said.
The weapon in his hands glowed brighter and brighter. The air hummed with power, and his hand vibrated. When he couldn’t hold any more power, Messer dropped to one knee and slammed the blade into the ground. An explosive wave of light and power rippled outward.
Everywhere the light touched, the room shifted. The bright colors of the youth play area returned as the fog rescinded. The mural children released Messer’s team and resumed their normal, colorful generic images. The abominations that had been the guards dropped to the floor. Their bodies returned to normal with sickening sounds.
In the center of the room sat Gary Phipps, unsure of what to do.
“Um, am I in trouble?” the man asked.
“You bet your ass—”
“Easy . . . Deacon,” Messer gasped. Slowly, he stepped up to the nervous man sitting in the wooden chair. “I think it would be best if you left now, Gary.”
“Y-yes sir,” the man said. “Am—am I fired?”
“I’d begin looking for new employment if I were you,” Messer confirmed.
“Can I get a referral?”
“That’s it, gonna kill him!”
“Sorry, sorry!” Gary said as he got up from the chair and ran out of the room and down the stairs.
“And that goes for the rest of you,” Messer said to the groaning guards. “Leave now. I hate extra paperwork.”
The guards shuffled out of the room, some taking the time to apologize, others claiming that they could never eat seafood again. When they were gone, Messer let out a breath and dropped to his knees.
“Boss!” Freeman said, rushing to his side. “You—you weren’t ready for this, were you.”
“Not even a little,” he said with a slight chuckle. “Doc, you online?”
“I’m here,” Doc Deacon said over the comm link. “The folks here had to take a wild shot to transport you in. The room was phasing in and out so bad, I was worried what it would do to your newly grown tissue.”
“Tissue’s fine,” Messer said. “But I wasn’t ready to use The Knife this soon. Tank’s nearly empty.”
“What is he talking about?” Cross asked.
“The Knife takes a toll,” Freeman explained. “With each use, the power demands a sacrifice. A bit of his life force.”
“And since he just got put back together,” Cross reasoned, “he doesn’t have the fuel to really use it.”
“Well, I guess that makes up for the lack of action,” Deacon said.
Cross looked up at her friend. “You were hoping for a giant fight scene, weren’t you?”
“Yeah, kinda was,” Deacon admitted. “Couldn’t you just see him doing like a ninja blade fight? Bouncing off the walls, running sideways?”
“No,” Cross said, shaking her head. “Now if you were saying an Old West knife fight with punches, spins, and fanning the hammer on a six-shooter, then yes.”
“I could see that.”
“Sorry to disappoint you both,” Messer said. “I could call those guards back in and have them push you up against the wall for the evil picture kids to grab you again?”
“Oh, we’re good,” Cross said. “Aren’t we?”
“Sure,” Deacon said. “But I wanted ninja flips.”
“But what I don’t get is why were they waiting for you?” Ito asked, ignoring Deacon. “We thought Buddha wrote you off as dead. Oh, I see.”
“See what?” DeLeon asked.
“They think one of us would have had it,” Cross said, seeing the pattern. “That’s why they didn’t really try and kill us. They just kept throwing more punishment at us in the hopes that we had it and would use it.”
“Or if we didn’t have it, then you, or whoever did have it, would show up,” DeLeon added.
“Yup,” Messer said. “I’ve been doing this a long time, but I haven’t been the only Knight of the Knife. There were many before me. And when my time is done. . . ”
Deacon crossed his big arms and raised an eyebrow. “So, what you’re saying is—”
“Yes, I am the myth’s boogeyman.”
“Goddamn it,” Cross and DeLeon said in unison.
“Permission to gloat, sir?” Deacon asked.
He smiled. “Granted.”
Deacon proceeded to perform the same improvised dance he’d done outside of Ted’s apartment. The bastard funky chicken, with finger snaps and butt shaking. As this was the second time performing such a dance, Gabby joined him in perfect unison.
“Yeah, that’s it, get it, elf girl! Feel it! Oh, the songs I’m going to make them sing.”
“Looks like y’all lost another bet,” Messer said.
“How did you know?”
He shot DeLeon a quick wink, then a nod to Ito. “When I was in the tank, I heard everything. Everything.”
He hid his smile as the pair of them did their best to act casual. Cross didn’t seem to notice, as she was shaking her head at Deacon. While it wasn’t his business who his agents had feelings for, he knew there was no way that this particular triangle was going to work out.
“Do we have time for this?” Freeman asked.
“What did I teach you about morale?” Messer asked.
“That a good chuckle before a fight keeps you loose,” she said.
Messer nodded. “But you’re right. Hey Doc, time check.”
“11:15,” Doc Deacon said.
Messer frowned. “Gary had us in that dimension for too long. But we still have time.”
“I have some bad news, boss,” Doc Deacon said. “Buddha’s on the roof. I intercepted an outgoing communication. He ordered a helicopter to come pick him up, and looking at the radar, it’s inbound. You only have a few minutes.”
“He’s looking for a place to hole up when the elves come,” Freeman said.
Messer nodded. “Okay Deacon, knock that shit off.”
“Yes, Sergeant.”
“We got a job to do folks, and not a lotta time to get ’er done. We pull this off, and first round is on me. Doc?”
“Here, sir.”
“Where’s the entrance to the roof?”
“Past the executive suites.”
“Okay. DeLeon, Ito, Cross, Deacon, you four are with me. We’re going to distract Buddha and see if we can take him down. Doc, Freeman and Gabby, your job is to either keep that chopper from landing or keep it from taking off if he gets on board. Everyone understand?”
The group looked at one another, then back at him and nodded.
“Good. Be prepared for anything. While not technically a god, he’s full of power.”
“Yeah,” Deacon said, staring at Cross. “Thanks, white girls.”
“What?”
“Post pics of yourself doing some pose in front of a nature scene recently? Hmm?” Deacon asked. “Preach about the benefits of whole foods and kale to your friends while y’all get a severe case of paleo-face? FYI, bony, sunken, and hollow isn’t healthy, it’s ugly.”
“Don’t look at me,” Cross said with a dismissive wave. “I eat steak and I fucking hate pumpkin spice.”
“I like pumpkin spice,” DeLeon said.
“You would,” Deacon said as he narrowed his eyes.
Messer smiled, then looked at Freeman. “See what I mean? Morale.”
Chapter Forty-Four
15 May - 11:19 pm
The roof of Body by Buddha, District of New Dorado
Jessie and Kyle cleared the door from the stairwell to the roof. The night air was crisp and cold, and the beauty of the city sprawled out before them. With their weapons drawn and pointed towards the ground, she moved left while Kyle moved right, creating a crossfire. The rest of the team f
ollowed, taking up ready positions.
“Good evening,” Buddha said from where he stood in the center of the roof.
The jade god was barefoot, dressed only in loose workout clothing. He had a large black duffel bag slung over his shoulder and an easy, knowing smile on his face.
In the academy, Jessie had been drilled over and over to be prepared for anything. Arby and Cross had made sure to reinforce the fact that when the suspect assumes you know everything, the suspect will almost always run. But no one ever told her what it meant when a suspect seemed uncomfortably comfortable while surrounded.
Turning away from them, Buddha looked out over the city. “Can you feel it?” he asked. “This is the moment. Right here, right now. When history looks back, this will be when they will say that the world began a new direction.”
“Sarge?” Jessie said as she gave a quick glance to Messer for direction.
“The Knight of the Knife cannot help you, Agent DeLeon. He can’t help any of you. The only thing he, and all of his lineage, knows is subjugation and suffering. You all think you’re protecting people. But protecting them from what?” Buddha asked as he gestured towards the city. “This experiment was bound to fail, as all things do. It is only a bandage on a festering wound. Avalantis will fall. The myths will take back to the world. I’ll make it happen.”
“I think you’ve been getting high on your supply for too long,” Kyle said. “That is what’s in the bag, isn’t it? More Vitae?”
Buddha glanced at the bag slung over his shoulder, as if noticing it for the first time. He nodded. “Yes.”
“God turned businessman turned kingpin wasn’t enough for you?” Freeman asked as she held her weapon on him.
Buddha didn’t look at Freeman when he spoke; he looked at Gabby. “I’ve evolved. If you are to combat an enemy, you need to either equal or surpass them in power and vision.”
Gabby rolled her eyes and mimed a sock puppet with her hand in a ‘blah blah blah’ motion.
“Buddha, you’re under arrest,” Messer called out. “Normally I’d read off the list of offenses to make it official, but we can shorten it to ‘You’re a drug dealing, murdering asshole’.”
“Detective Sergeant Messer, classy as always,” Buddha said. “Nice little team you put together.”
“Thank you.”
Buddha looked them all over, that damn smile still plastered to his face. “You know I’m not going to turn myself in.”
“And you know we can’t let you leave this roof,” Messer said.
Jessie took a half a step forward. “One way or the other, this is the end of the Laughing Man.”
Buddha’s smile vanished.
And from the way the rest of her team looked at her . . . apparently so did any modicum of respect she had earned.
Cross looked to Messer. “Permission to start a slow clap, Sergeant?”
“What?” she asked out loud, feeling exposed. “I thought it was a good line.”
“No,” Arby said, then wiped away an imaginary tear. “It was a perfect line. New Girls, they grow up so fast. I’m so proud. Okay ya fit bald bitch, just let us cuff you. After that mic drop, it’s pretty much over.”
“Why don’t you come and try, Agent Deacon? You might actually burn a few calories in the process.”
“Okay, I’ve had it with the fat jokes from all y’all,” Arby said. “Sure, brother put on a few pounds, but I’m six-seven! People my size aren’t built for skinny jeans.”
Gabby slapped Arby with the back of her hand.
“What?” he asked, looking up at the taller woman. “You’re an elf. You live off acorns and twigs and stuff. No wonder you’re skinny.”
Gabby pursed her lips and nodded.
“Don’t let him bait you,” Kyle said. “Something’s off. He wants us to fight him.”
“Yes, Agent Eric Abernathy Deacon, brother of Derek Elmore Deacon, son of Ezekiel and Florence Deacon who reside in Washington state,” Buddha said. “Don’t let me get under your skin.”
“The shit did he just say?” Deek asked over the comm link.
“I got this, brother,” Arby said. “Hey Messer, permission to beat this ass-clown half to death?”
“Denied,” Messer said. “Hold your position.”
“Sorry Sarge,” Arby said, holstering his weapon. “He threatened my family.”
“Deacon, hold your goddamn position,” Freeman ordered. “Doc, stay on sensors.”
Arby growled, but obeyed.
“How’s your . . . ‘Gram-Gram,’ was it?” Buddha asked. “Shame if something were to happen to eighty-nine-year-old Henrietta Deacon.”
“Oh, that’s it. No one threatens Gram-Gram!”
Cross grabbed at her friend’s arm and tried to restrain him, but Arby shrugged her away and charged the god, throwing a huge fist meant to take Buddha’s head off. But the god moved too fast. Jessie watched Buddha fold completely over into a standing forward bend as the punch sailed overhead. As Arby turned to attack, Buddha shifted into warrior three and lashed out with his heel, kicking Arby in the face and knocking him on his ass. Buddha set his duffel bag on the rooftop, adopted eagle pose, and waited.
“Cass,” Arby said as he rubbed at his face.
“Yeah?”
“Please tell me your contact cameras are off.”
“Sorry, mud-butt. This will live on in infamy.”
“Boss?” Freeman asked. “We’re running out of time.”
“I know,” Messer said. “Buddha, you’re leaving us no option but to use deadly force. Last warning.”
Buddha smiled, then began to glow. His jade skin radiated a greenish-gold, warm light. The intensity grew brighter by the second, and that was when Jessie felt the pain in her hand.
“Ow!” she said, dropping her red-hot glowing side arm.
All around her, guns clattered to the rooftop as each member of the team grabbed at their burnt hands. The light diminished and Buddha, still in his pose, smiled back at them. Buddha slowly lowered himself into a kneeling stance over his bag. He pulled out two vials, one in each hand, and downed the contents in rapid succession.
The god stood, then began to grow taller and more muscular. Energy crackled along his form. “If you want me, you’ll have to come get me.”
“Take him,” Messer said with a touch of regret in his voice. “By any means necessary.”
Jessie looked at Kyle, who nodded. Pulling their wands, they both swiped the air. Crisscrossing waves of raw kinetic force lashed out, kicking up debris in their wake. Buddha threw his forearms up into an “x” and took the attack head on. The magical blast was meant to knock him off the roof, but the god only slid back a few feet. The magical energies dissipated across his skin with pops and flashes of light. While she wasn’t sure, Jessie swore that his glowing form darkened slightly.
Arby jumped up and managed to grab Buddha by the throat, while Cross ran up and delivered a vicious sidekick to his solar plexus designed to drop him. But as she connected, Cross bounced off him as if she had kicked a brick wall. She fell back, wincing and grabbing at her knee.
“It’s like I tell my classes,” Buddha taunted Cross, then flipped Arby over his shoulder and kicked down hard into the big man’s gut, knocking the air out of him. “You have to focus on your core.”
Buddha brought his foot up again, ready to smash it into Arby’s head, but Messer collided into the god, knocking him to the rooftop.
“Cross, Deacon, move!” Messer boomed. The knife in his fist glowed with an intensity as bright as Buddha’s. He brought the weapon down, but Buddha caught his wrist, blocking the attack. Balling up, Buddha suddenly kicked out with both his feet, launching Messer across the rooftop.
Freeman and Gabby rushed to his side, but he shoved them away.
“You have your assignment,” he groaned. “Watch the skies.”
“Oh Knight of the Knife, I would have loved to have fought you in your prime. But today is not that day.”
“
You talk too damn much,” Kyle said as he leaped through the air and hit Buddha with a taser to the neck.
Buddha’s body locked up, and his face contorted into a mask of pain. But a moment later the effect subsided and the god roared and swiped at Kyle. The half-satori sensed the attack and dodged it. Spinning, Kyle lashed out and tried to knock Buddha off his feet. But as fast as Kyle was, Buddha was faster. The god sidestepped the attack, grabbed Kyle by the tail, and tossed him across the rooftop.
And that was when she saw it. The glow of Buddha’s divine light diminished if only a little.
Jessie took out the wand. It only had two more charges and she had to use them wisely. She swiped twice and sent waves of force lashing out. Not at Buddha, but at Cross and Arby, pushing them both away from danger. As her friends rolled across the rooftop, Jessie sprinted to Cross’s side.
“What are you doing?” Kyle asked over the comm.
“Just keep Buddha busy.”
“What the shit do you think I’m doing?” he said as he got back up and charged the god.
“Cross, you good?”
“Why’d you use the charges on us?” Cross said as she gripped her knee. “The bag should have been your target.”
“You’re welcome, asshole,” Jessie said, helping Cross up to a sitting position. “I know the bag is a target, but I saw something.”
“Need some help here!”
“You’re doing great, Kyle!” Jessie yelled out. “When they were fighting, Buddha’s light is getting dimmer. He’s—”
“Burning through his power. Quicker than he should,” Cross said. “That’s why he could down two vials and not blow up. He’s been using for so long that—”
“He’s built up a tolerance,” Jessie finished. “Oh, don’t look at me like that. You cut me off all the time.”
Cross glared at her, but then nodded. “Go on.”
“You’re the tactician. We have a pissed-off god and only minutes to midnight. We need to do as much damage as possible and our best weapon is out of power.”
“Thanks for the props, but I’m only a little banged up,” Arby said over the comm.
Both women stared at him from where he lay on the rooftop.
“I—I just don’t have the juice,” Messer said. “I’m sorry.”