"How are we going to do that?" asked Wong.
"By turning yourself in!"
Wong shook his head and stood up. "Sometimes I wonder about you."
They paid their tab and left the bar, heading toward what they assumed was the heart of the Thousand Hands activity: the construction in nearby North Egan. They didn't get far before their walk was interrupted.
"Dane Monday," said a low voice from a dark alley. "We need to talk."
"Mysterious voice from a dark alley!" said Dane, rubbing his hands together. "That's Cracking The Case pay dirt! Now we're getting somewhere!" He walked into the alley without a further thought.
"Are you sure that is a good idea?" called Wong after him, but Dane was already in the alley so Wong reluctantly followed.
"Hello?" said Dane, trying to get his eyes to adjust to the darkness, and ignoring the very likely mugging danger that would give pause to even the bravest residents of New Avalon. Dane took out his phone and used the screen as a poor flashlight. The glow passed over a large figure leaning against the wall. It took a second due to the darkness and faint phone light, but Dane recognized him. It was the leader of the Howling Rebels, Scar.
Now Dane found his appropriate apprehension, as he had already experienced enough time tied to a chair for one day. He quickly swept the phone's screen through the alley again, looking for more of the Howling Rebels that he might have missed. The screen went back to sleep halfway through and Dane jammed on the button to get it to light again.
"I'm alone," said Scar, answering the hanging question.
"I'm not!" said Dane, his phone screen coming back on. "I have the whole team just around the block! One call and they'll ride in here like cavalry! Riding on... robots! Giant robots! Well, not giant robots, like in Egan, but... but... big enough robots!"
Wong stepped forward to stand next to Dane. He pulled a stick from his pocket, which grew in his hands to be a full sized serpent spear. The blade glowed, giving light to the alley. As his eyes hardened for a possible fight, Wong's stubble turned into a full black beard.
"Other than your weird friend who doesn't smell right, you're alone," said Scar. "I tracked you across town and have been watching the bar. It's just us, despite you trying to lie."
"Then what's it going to be?" said Dane. "We fight this out mano a mano? Because I don't think that's fair, because you're not quite a... mano. More of a... wolf... mano, I guess."
"Mano means hand," said Wong. "The expression means 'hand to hand'."
"Are you sure? I thought you were from China? That saying isn't Chinese," said Dane. "Wait, is it?"
"I've lived away from home for decades, Dane - longer than you have been alive, no offense. And if you live long enough, you pick up a few things. And this is a very small thing to pick up. I'm more surprised that you didn't know it."
"Well, y'know, I'm a busy man!" said Dane. "There's always been so much to do! Things like saving the city, thwarting villains, getting kidnapped, running for my life! Doesn't really give me a whole lot of time to catch up on my reading."
"Look, I came to talk," said Scar, ignoring their words. "If we were gonna scuffle, we woulda done it already. And you'd find me looking less kind then I am right now." Scar was dressed in his regular biker jacket and leathers. Dane confirmed there was nothing wolfish about him except his regular human features. There was no sign of the beast on him yet.
"So what's the talk going to be, then?" said Dane. "War? Hostage negotiations? Trade? Armistice? A duel? Daggers before dawn? Do we have seconds for the duel? Can I use a stand in? Shivs are really not my thing, but I might know a guy. Does it have to be at dawn? What about a time that has better lighting? Or are we looking for the magic hour?"
"Would you shut your goddamn mouth for even one damn second?" said Scar. "At least listen to what I'm trying to say before you go running your fool mouth over every silly little detail."
"You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear someone tell him that," said Wong.
"What, you couldn't tell me that yourself?" said Dane.
"It didn't seem like you'd take it well," said Wong. "You have your whole I'm-your-local-caffeinated-crazy-person-Dane-Monday mystique. I'm not going to be a hater. It's not like you listen to Jaya's criticisms, so why should I start?"
"How do you even know what a hater is?" said Dane.
"Been around a while," said Wong.
"But you're like centuries old! Shouldn't you not know slang? You're like the epitome of an old person! You should be telling people to get off your lawn!"
"I'm old, I'm not dead!" said Wong.
"If you had it your way, you would be," said Dane.
"Now you're both running your damn fool mouths!" said Scar.
"Sorry," said Dane and Wong together.
"I'm beginning to think your organized attack on the warehouse was a fluke," said Scar. "You just got lucky."
"No, we're for-real dangerous," said Dane, in a tone that nobody could ever believe.
Scar sighed and shook his head. "What I want to talk about is a truce."
"A truce?" said Dane. "Were we officially at war?"
Scar shrugged. "It doesn't matter. But I want an end to hostilities with both of our groups ignoring each other. Like, we don't have anything to do with you, you don't have anything to do with us. It's not that we're afraid or are sayin' we're week. If we started an all-out war, I think we could kill you all, but I think the costs would be too high for both of us. I don't agree with you and I sure as hell don't like you, but I gotta take care of my own. And it'd be a damn fool war."
Wong nodded and spoke slowly. "I wish more leaders were as sensible."
"Normally I'd be excited about such an arrangement," said Dane. "But my friends also tell me I'm far too trusting. Since I was just kidnapped last night and I would have been murdered earlier today if not for the timely arrival of my friends, I have some doubts of your side holding up its end of the truce."
"I never gave the order to kill you," said Scar. "That fool Hellion took his own initiative to disobey my orders, trying to kill you and renegotiate a deal. If it makes you feel better, I've kicked him out of the Rebels. I don't need losers like that in our club. But I also don't need some damn metal man punching my people or some crazy magic stuff dislocating their shoulders. I left that crap back in Ravenfall. I don't mind that you shot Hellion, though. Saved me needin' to smack him around."
"So only Rick wanted to kill me," said Dane, "but what about the kidnapping and the theft? Were those all him too?"
"I'm not saying we're saints," said Scar. "We're not saying this truce is gonna make us law abiding citizens. We got hired to do a job and we did it. We had no plans to kill anyone, but if a few people got killed along the way, well, that's the cost of doing business. I'm not gonna apologize for that."
"You injured my friend when you broke into her garage," said Dane.
"Like I said, I'm not gonna apologize for that," said Scar. "But this job has already had too many unforeseen consequences. Because our flighty buyer didn't tell us everything, that damn serpent has already killed a few of my people. I'm not gonna lie to you and say they were good men, but I liked them and they were family. I've lost friends and was betrayed by another. And there's really no payoff here. I'm willing to wash my hands of this and talk terms if you do."
"I'm not sure I should be making peace with you," said Dane. "You guys are dangerous."
Scar shrugged. "We're not mass murderers or terrorists. Yeah, we're rough and tumble when push comes to shove and we don't give a damn about morals, but we don't go looking for more trouble than you'd have at a bar. We're not gonna build some metal giant to destroy the city - honestly I'm more afraid of your lot doing that."
Dane said nothing, but looked at Scar, turning over his proposition in his mind.
"Dane, please take his truce," said Wong. "I have been part of a war. There are no winners, only those who have lost less."
Dane took a long look at
Wong, noting his friend's sad but serious face, then turned to Scar. "What are your terms?"
"No contact," said Scar. "If two of our people encounter each other, they should walk away. If someone breaks that, we first discuss the situation among the two of us before we take action. You ignore the activities of the Rebels and we ignore the activities of your crew. You do not reveal the Rebels' secret to anyone. That's important to us, and I'll consider it a violation of the truce if I find it got out."
"It sounds like you're getting a lot here and you're not giving much," said Dane.
Scar reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. "I thought I might need to sweeten the deal. I wrote down the last known address for our buyer - he doesn't know I tracked him down, but I like to know who I'm working with. I'm done with him after this huge fiasco, but it seems like you wanna talk to him."
Dane looked at the piece of paper in Scar's hand. The buyer was the man on the vid screen, who was somehow associated with the Sphere. He had also specifically called out Dane in instructions to the Rebels. Dane thought he was somehow related to the Armor, which was his case, but it had gotten convoluted. Dane still had no clue who he was. That address would be very useful and hopefully turn up some clues. But before agreeing to such a deal, he needed to take care of his friends first. "I need one more thing before I agree to this deal," said Dane. "The New Avalon Knights - the motorcycle club - also falls under this arrangement. Consider them part of my crew."
"That dinky club?" said Scar. "Why do you even care?"
"That's not important," said Dane. "Same terms for them. If you see each other at events, you ignore each other. None of them gets messed with by any of your crew, or we talk about a war. And remember, I have someone who can build weapons. Things could get worse for you if we have this war later. I don't think wolves get upgrades." Dane was bluffing. Yes, Jaya could probably create an army rivaling Honnenheim's, but she lacked enough Avalon Brass to do it and Dane couldn't condone large scale creation of weapons.
Scar sighed heavily. "Fine, that little MC is off limits. We have a deal, then?"
"Yes," said Dane. He stuck out his hand for a shake.
Scar looked at the hand, shook his head, but reluctantly stepped forward to shake. He handed Dane the slip of paper with the address. Then Scar sniffed and had a strange expression.
"Oh come on, I don't smell that bad!" said Dane. "It's been a long day!"
"No," said Scar, turning and tensing. He called out to the darkness. "I know you're out there. I have no idea why I couldn't hear you, but I can smell you. All of you."
There was no movement or sound in response.
"What are you talking about?" said Dane.
"No, he's right. Now I can tell they're here too," said Wong. "Come on out!"
Dark forms dropped from above into the alley. As those figures pushed into view, Dane could see familiar white masks painted with red and black animal patterns.
"We are here to bring you in, Fei Zhang the Betrayer," said one of the masked figures.
"What's this crap?" said Scar, looking around at them. Then he stared right at Wolf Mask, who had emerged from the darkness near Scar. The older man's face grew angry the longer he looked at the mask. "What do you think you're doing, boy?"
"Boy?" said Wolf Mask, taking a moment to realize that Scar meant him.
"Yeah, you, boy, the one hiding behind the sign of the wolf like you're a goddamn imposter!"
"What's your problem, old man?" said Wolf Mask, losing his previous professionalism.
"Just what do you think you're doing wearing that?" said Scar.
"Embracing the Wolf," said Wolf Mask. "That's my holy aspect."
"Disrespectin' the Wolf, that's what you're doing," said Scar.
Dane turned to Wong. "Aren't the Thousand Hands animal spirits?"
Scar chuckled. "A wolf spirit? This guy? No way."
Wong shook his head, his hands still twisted around his spear and ready to fight. "He clearly isn't an animal according to my senses. Back in the old days it was true the Thousand Hands of Fire were mostly animal spirits, but everything I've learned about them in modern times is that almost all of their ranks are made up of regular humans who are just attempting to channel the animal aspects. There are almost no animal spirits still in the organization. It's another perversion of the original group. Almost ironic."
"It's not a perversion," said Wolf Mask.
"You wear the mask but don't know the beast," said Scar. "To me that's a perversion. It's an insult at the very least, and I don't take kindly to it."
"I don't care what you think, old man," said Wolf Mask.
Scar threw back his head in a laugh. But it was more than just a laugh. Dane was watching and he almost missed the shift. Unlike Hellion or the werewolves on Jaya's cameras, Scar did not change slowly. It was like a blur. He threw back his human head and when it came forward it was a white wolf's head. White furry muscles burst through clothing on his arms. Scar didn't seem to go full wolf, retaining his pants, like he was the Werewolf Hulk. His newly massive white arms grabbed at Wolf Mask's shoulders, claws digging in. With a roar, Scar's jaws tore at the mask.
Fiery hands grabbed at Scar. The wolf was focused on his single target, so he had flames all over him as he shook his shoulders like a dog, throwing them off. More of the masked figures rushed in to take the place of those who had been cast aside. It took more than a few of them, revealing that the masked assassins in the alley numbered nearly a dozen, but they finally pulled Scar off Wolf Mask. Laying on the ground Scar, now human again, let out a belly laugh. He pulled himself back to his feet, minus his shirt, jacket, and shoes. Rather than being angry about being attacked, burnt, and thrown to the ground, he was amused by it all.
Wolf Mask was in a state of shock. His mask was broken in half, one piece on the ground, the other still on his head. A few scrapes on the half-revealed face bled, but it showed that Scar was more interested in destroying the mask than the man. His face now half visible, Dane could see that Wolf Mask was Chinese, probably in his late twenties or early thirties. His shoulders were bleeding but Wolf Mask ignored it. He blinked his eyes, pulling himself out of shock. Then he looked to Scar across the alley.
Wolf Mask walked forward determinedly. The other masks stepped forward to restrain him, but Wolf Mask waved them off. Then he stood in front of Scar, his stare focused. Scar had an amused smile, but otherwise stood defiant.
Then in a moment, Wolf Mask was on his knees, his head bowed. "Oh great Wolf Spirit, I honor you! Please take me as your disciple!"
The other masks were confused. "What are you doing?" said Ox Mask.
"He's not Thousand Hands," said Mouse Mask.
"We have sanctioned teachers," said a third.
"But he is the real thing!" said Wolf Mask. "When have any of you met a true spirit or your holy animal? We have heard of them, yet the Thousand Hands give us none to mentor us!"
Scar chuckled, but didn't seem to mind the attention.
"It doesn't matter!" said Mouse Mask. "We have to take them in! Those are our orders!"
"You can just take me," said Wong. "No need to bring in my friends. They're not involved."
"Our orders are for you and all with you," said Ox mask. "Straight from Mingxia. So even the old wolf guy."
"Forgive me, great Wolf Spirit!" said Wolf Mask. "But I ask that you accompany us so that we can fulfill our orders."
"I'm not going with you," said Scar. "I could take all of you." He looked over the nearly dozen masked figures, some of which still had hands on fire. "All of you."
"Please, Scar, no unnecessary bloodshed," asked Dane.
Scar laughed. "You're telling me not to fight and just get taken away by a bunch of losers I have nothing to do with?"
"Please, great Wolf Spirit! Do us this courtesy!" said Wolf Mask.
"You're kind of embarrassing us," said Ox Mask.
"Just go along with this," said Dane. "They won't hurt you. Righ
t?" he asked to the masks.
"We just have orders to bring you all in," said Mouse Mask diplomatically.
"If it goes bad, you can then go all crazy," said Dane. "Consider this part of our truce negotiations. You killing all of them will seriously mess things up for me, and I'd be inclined to break the truce."
Scar rolled his eyes. "I don't like this."
"Please, great Wolf Spirit!" said Wolf Mask, still kneeling.
Scar looked down at the man in front of him, bemused. "Fine, I'll indulge this strange game. Take us to your leader, or wherever we're going."
The masked figures formed a protective grouping around Dane, Scar, and Wong. They did not try to take Wong's spear away, nor would he have let them. Wong shrunk it back down to a small size and put it in his pocket. His beard had returned back to simple stubble. A white van showed up, the logo of Jinmu Construction on the side. Dane, Scar, and Wong were herded into the back, the door closing.
"A construction van, just the luxury transport I was hoping for," said Scar.
"I've been stuffed into worse," said Dane.
Wong said nothing, just thinking about his fate.
"And I thought Rick kidnapping you was special. Something traumatic. But it seems you have some interesting enemies," said Scar, bemused.
"What, you thought you were the weirdest?" said Dane. "You don't even know how weird it gets."
After their victory over the Howling Rebels, Dane's allies had a small party at Jaya's garage. However, that celebration was subdued. Despite being cleaned up, the garage was still very obviously wrecked. And when it became apparent that Dane wasn't going to show up, the enthusiasm ebbed. Alastair, already reluctant to be social, begged off and went home. Linda had papers to grade, or at least used them as an excuse to leave. Douglas was willing to stay, but he saw the party was winding down. When Abby announced she was going home to check on Meilin, Douglas also announced his departure.
Abby bumped into Meilin in her apartment building's lobby. Meilin's black hair was tied back and covered with a white kerchief. There was a determined look in her eyes.
"Where are you going?" said Abby. "You're supposed to stay inside!"
Burning Monday: (Dane Monday 2) Page 23