by Michael Todd
The bartender came up to him drying a glass, the people in the bar staring silently at the back of his head. “What can I get you, Flash?”
Jack looked slightly to the side, and the people turned, starting up conversations. “I’ll have a straight-up tequila, not chilled, no lime.”
The bartender winced. “Is it one of those days? We just finished rebuilding the back bar after your last tequila day.”
Jack stared at him for a moment, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Promise I’ll switch after a couple of these.”
The bartender sighed and set down the polished glass. He took the Patron off the middle shelf and poured him more than a shot, since Flash got special treatment in that bar. He spent more money on him and his team in there than anyone else in the whole town. Sure, he also started fights almost every time, but it all equaled out for the owner. The bartender, on the other hand, wasn’t really looking forward to it.
Jack nodded and threw down a hundred. “Just let me know when you need more.”
The bartender took the bill and put it to the side, starting Jack a tab. “You got it. Any of the boys coming in to join you today?”
Jack shrugged. “Maybe. Don’t really care either way. Just having a down day before we head back in tomorrow.”
The bartender looked at him surprised. “Going in as a team? I thought you usually headed things off in there.”
Jack grumbled. “Doing it backward tomorrow. Going out as a team, and I’ll probably break off at the end by myself. I don’t know. We’ll see what the Zoo has to offer me and how much shit it plans on giving me.”
The bartender nodded and glanced at the other side of the bar, where another guy was waiting quietly for a drink. He wasn’t about to interrupt Jack; he didn’t want a fight. Jack looked at him and nodded to the bartender, who took his leave to help the other guy. Jack didn’t care that people feared him. It wasn’t a badge of honor; he just fucking hated people. The only reason he had developed a three-man team was that the company he took gigs from demanded it so he could pick more Pita. He had grown to give a half a shit about them, so he dealt with having to talk to people.
As if they knew he was thinking about them, Rage and Emmett kicked open the front door, their hands in the air. Rage whistled loudly, and Emmett spit chew behind him on the doorstep. “Woo-wee, look at this fucked-up place. Wild and wooly, like always.”
Rage nodded toward Jack, who kept his stare on the tequila. “Uh oh, look what we got. Old fearless Jumpin’ Jack Flash got him some tequila, boy.”
Emmett chuckled and took a seat next to him. “You looking for a fight today, boss man?”
Jack slowly looked at him, a smirk moving over his lips. “Only if some poor sonofabitch comes knocking for one.”
Rage laughed loudly, turning and looking at the guys at the tables in the bar. “What do you say, boys? Anyone looking to do a little fighting with my man here?”
The bartender sighed and reached around the bar, grabbing his bat and propping it up, prepared to beat back the drunks when all hell broke loose. Jack snickered. “Now, now Rage. I done promised the bartender to be good today. I’m only having two or three tequilas.”
Emmett turned and thumbed through an invisible Rolodex. “Let’s see, two or three. That puts you right about in the chill-out zone. Well, that isn’t any fucking fun.”
Jack threw back his tequila. “I said tequila. I didn’t say I would stop drinking altogether.”
Rage plopped down on the stool next to Emmett. Jack lifted his glass and the bartender grabbed the Patron, filling the shot glass. “How about you boys? You want your usual?”
Rage tapped his hands on the bar. “That works for me. Two pints of your lager.”
Emmett nodded astutely to Rage. “I like that. Good way to take control there, friend.”
Jack took a deep breath and turned toward them. “You boys ready for tomorrow?”
Rage cleared his throat, calming down. “All our shit is packed up and we are ready to go, boss. We haven’t been out with you from the start in ages.”
Jack grumbled. “Yeah, well, I don’t have a choice. It’s in the contract. But I will be going my own way when you pansies are back out safely.”
Emmett raised his glass, spilling some of his beer. “It wouldn’t be right if you didn’t. You are always solo during some part of the trip. My question is, if something eats ya, how will we know?”
Jack slammed back his second tequila. “I don’t come back. That’s how you know, you idiots. I say three days, then call me done for and move on.”
Rage shook his head. “Ain’t never gonna happen. You are more protective of your skin than most look out for their money. You’ll kill a motherfucker before you get stuck in there, boy.”
The doors opened again and four older mercs walked in, looking around the bar. Rage looked at them, squinting at the light, his lip curled to reveal his blackened teeth. The head of the group leaned over to the bouncer and whispered. He looked up as the bouncer answered, his eyes falling on Jack, Rage, and Emmett in the corner of the bar.
Rage turned back and took a sip of his beer, glancing up as the bartender refilled Jack’s shot glass. “Looks like Ragwood and his boys are looking for you. Did we march on their shit last time? I can’t remember.”
Jack didn’t say a word; he kept his eyes glued to the tequila. Ragwood came up with his handlebar mustache and Old West-style holster around his hips. He cleared his throat and nodded at Rage. “We came to speak with Jack.”
Rage stood up and crossed his arms, looking tiny compared to the other men. “And what’s your business with the Flash?”
Ragwood scrunched his nose. “None of your business. It’s an emergency.”
Jack let out a sigh and nudged Rage, who sat back down and faced his beer. Slowly Jack spun his stool around and looked at Ragwood with a straight face. “What’s so important you got to interrupt my drinking? You know I’m going out tomorrow.”
Ragwood looked at the tequila and swallowed hard, trying not to show his nerves. “We got a man missing in the Zoo. We went out this morning, and before we were even two clicks in we were beat up pretty bad by the locusts. Apparently, some idiot had pulled a whole plant just a mile or two away from us. Anyway, we all scattered, and if I know this fella right, he is still alive. Probably injured, hiding out, waiting for some help. We are putting a search team together. We would really appreciate it if you came along. You are the best tracker in the whole goddamned town.”
Jack took in a deep breath and moved his neck right and left. “He got his armor and weapons?”
Ragwood nodded. “As far as we know, he went chasing down one of them jaguars and had full gear on. He also had two automatic weapons. He’s one of the long-timers. Been out in the Zoo about twelve times so far in his career as a merc. He ain’t never get lost and not been able to find his way out in about an hour, but this time he hasn’t shown up. We know it’s an inconvenience, so I’m willing to pay a few grand for you to help us.”
Rage snickered, and Jack elbowed him. “A few grand to help find him?”
Ragwood stood up straighter. “That’s right.”
Jack turned back around and took a sip of his tequila, not paying the guys any more attention. Ragwood looked at the guys and cleared his throat. “Look, Jack, we’ve known each other a long time. I know you aren’t one to help others out but I could really use your services. We didn’t even have a chance to do the hauls, so I don’t have a ton I can pay you, and the company said it’s not their problem. Our guy has been in and out of the Zoo for so many years, you could at least respect that. A lifer for the cause, man.”
Jack cleared his throat and let out a deep breath. “All right. I’ll do it for a hundred grand.”
Ragwood groaned. “You know I ain’t got that kind of money. Can’t I owe you a favor? You know I am always good for my word. There ain’t no trackers out here we can trust like we could trust you to find our man, and every second I s
tand here begging you is one less second he could be breathing.”
Jack shook his head. “Then I suggest you get on out of here and head out into the Zoo. It’s gonna be night soon, and if your man is injured, you know he’ll be locust chow in the dark.”
Ragwood gritted his teeth. “So it’s a no?”
Jack cleared his throat again, glaring at him. “Seems that way.”
Ragwood shook his head and whispered under his breath as he turned. “Sonofabitch no-good asshole. Don’t care about nothing but his own dick.”
Rage and Emmett both looked at Jack and shut their mouths. Jack calmly downed the rest of his tequila. He pushed the shot glass across the bar and rolled his shoulders. The bartender slowly backed away and the other guys at the bar froze, knowing what was about to go down. Jack rose from his chair and squared up on the floor. “Ragwood.”
Ragwood stopped and put his hand on the butt of his gun as he slowly turned. His cheek twitched, and he chewed on the end of a toothpick as he looked back at Jack. Slowly Jack walked toward him, his combat boots clomping on the floor. He stopped a foot away from Ragwood and narrowed his eyes. “What did you just say?”
Ragwood cleared his throat. “I think it’s very clear what I said. We got a man missing, and you only care about yourself. This battle for fortune has gone to your head; you aren’t the man that you used to be.”
Jack breathed through his nose. “Everybody changes.”
Ragwood shook his head. “When Melanie died, you…”
Jack put his finger in Ragwood’s face. “Don’t you ever say her name, you understand me? She is too good for her name to come from your filthy lips.”
Ragwood sighed. “All right, Jack. We get it. You do no good for others. Excuse me while I go save a life—something you obviously don’t know nothing about.”
Rage and Emmett’s eyes went wide and Jack slowly smiled, looking up from the floor. Before Ragwood could react, Jack slugged him right in the face. He teetered to the side, knocking into one of the tables. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and dove for Jack, no longer fearing him. The bartender grabbed his bat and took his position guarding the liquor, the job the owner had given him when a fight broke out.
Immediately Rage and Emmett downed their beers and laughed loudly as they charged Ragwood’s men. Rage put his head down and plowed into one guy, pushing him back into the wall. He slammed his boot down on the guy’s foot and punched him hard in the stomach. Emmett laughed as he grabbed the other guy by the collar and began smashed his fist into his cheek.
Jack and Ragwood had tumbled to the ground and were rolling around trading blows. The guys in the bar stood up and cheered. “BAR FIGHT!”
The onslaught of men charged, throwing punches for no reason and just going to town. It had gone from a peaceful Wednesday afternoon to an all-out battle. All the bartender could do was sigh.
JB was laughing to himself, shaking his head. “That Jack sure as hell knew how to fight, and he liked it too. He used to say, in a pent-up situation like that men needed to fight. They needed to get all that emotion out.”
Holly rolled her eyes. “Men and fighting. It’s so fucking stupid. I guess it’s the testosterone. I need a good night and several bottles of wine, and I’m good for at least a month. You boys need to knock some teeth out and do damage to your surroundings.”
Dan shook his head. “I bet if we released you in a fight, you would change your tune about it. I can see you jumping tables and beating the hell out of people. Decades of repressed emotion built up in that sweet face. I know better. You’re a ticking time bomb.”
Holly shrugged. “Doubt it, but who knows? Maybe I’ll pick a fight tonight.”
JB groaned. “Please don’t. I don’t have the energy to deal with it.”
Holly laughed and took a sip of her drink, this one better than the ones before. “So, wait, he said something about a girl named Melanie. Who was that?”
JB smirked. “You don’t miss anything, do you? I’ll get to that eventually. Everybody has a story. Not too many people are born and just turn into someone like Jack. He was never the kindest person anyone had seen before. He didn’t go by gut instinct, he went by greed. The only people he considered looking out for were Rage and Emmett. Even then, he went by his own rules.”
Chapter Five
Jack got down on one knee and pointed his shotgun toward the sky. Emmett and Rage knelt next to him looking through their HUDS. Emmett shivered. “I can hear the buzz. Those fuckers are close. What the fuck is wrong with them?”
Jack kept his cool. “Guess the sacrifice of that asshole wasn’t enough to satisfy them.”
Rage gritted his teeth. “I’m ready. Come on, fuckers, let’s go. Don’t hide out.”
Jack tilted his gun a bit higher and waited until finally the first of the giant locusts broke through the canopy of the trees. He didn’t hesitate, pulling the trigger and blasting the head right off of it. He pulled the bolt back, ejecting the empty shell. Rage went to the right and Emmett to the left. Jack duck-walked forward, pulling the trigger again as another one swooped through. There were two, the first being blown away and the other diving with his sharp mandibles slicing.
Jack dropped the shotgun and rolled across the ground, pulling out his handgun. The locust swooped right over him. Jack pulled his gun up and fired, exploding its head. Turning quickly, he shot three more times as the canopy filled with them. Two more locusts hit the ground, twitching slightly.
“Oh, hell no, you motherfuckers,” Emmett yelled as he pulled his machete from his back.
He chopped the bug’s head right off. A glop of emerald blood splattered across his helmet. He wiped it away with his sleeve and jabbed his machete outward, sticking it in the chest of an oncoming bug. He let go and backed up as the beast sliced at him. Pulling his sidearm out, he shot it between the eyes three times, and it fell to the ground, motionless. He walked over, put his boot on its carapace, and pulled the machete out.
Bending down, he wiped away the blood and jumped back up to fight further. Rage laughed maniacally on the other side of the clearing as he climbed halfway up a tree and blasted both his pistols at the same time. He screamed in exhilaration, loving the fights inside of the Zoo. “Fuckin’ fly, you shitstorms, fly!”
Jack chuckled at Rage as he blasted into the swarm, but it looked like the rest were taking cover. He lowered his gun back to his side and put up his hand. “Okay, boys, let’s keep moving. Looks like these fuckers have had their fill of what we can dish out.”
Rage moped and jumped down from the tree, sliding his guns back into their holsters. “I was just getting started.”
Emmett walked over, wiping the blood off his machete. “It’s okay, buddy. If this is any sign, there will be plenty of fighting to come.”
Jack grunted. “Let’s go another few miles and make camp. I am personally done with fighting for the day.”
He started walking, leaving Emmett and Rage staring at each other in confusion. Emmett put the machete in its sheath on his back, and the two followed him. “What the fuck is up with him?”
Rage shrugged. “Everybody wakes up on the wrong side of the bed some days. Guess this is not a glittery rainbow kind of day for him.”
Jack cleared his throat. “You know I can hear you two morons. This is an open channel. Now keep up. I don’t want to have to stop and save your asses.”
Emmett shrugged and hurried ahead, knowing he had the duty of cutting down the brush as they went. Rage pulled his gun around, scanning the area as he took up the rear. Jack reloaded his handgun as he walked, grumbling to himself. About an hour later, Rage sighed. “Hey, boss, you think we could eat something?”
Jack didn’t look back at him. “We eat when camp is set up. I am not risking my ass so you can have a granola bar.”
Rage slumped and grumped along, his stomach rumbling. Ahead of them, Emmett swung his machete, cutting through the thick-growing vines along the way. After each new batch
he sliced through he paused, making sure nothing was going to come down and snatch him. He had the scar on the side of his head to show he wasn’t going to make that mistake ever again. It had taken Rage and Jack both to pull him out of the bastard plant’s teeth and about fifty stitches to keep his head intact.
Emmett clicked on his com. “Hey, Rage, fuckface. Can you keep your eyes open here? I am tired of picking up your security slack.”
Rage turned, walking backward. “Oh, sure. I’ll watch for plants and just let the jaguars sneak the fuck up behind us. I’ll point your ass out so it can eat you first.”
Emmett growled. “You are a waste of space.”
Jack stopped. “Shut your fucking holes, or I’ll shoot you both and leave you here so I can finish the job. Rage, do your job. Emmett, look out for your own ass. And if either of you opens your fucking hole one more time to ask about food, I just might snap his neck with my own fucking hands.”
Both guys shut their mouths quickly, not knowing if he would actually do it. He had their backs most days, but there was something going on with him today that they couldn’t pinpoint. At the same time, neither of them was the brightest crayon in the box. Noticing things were kind of lost on them unless it was pointed directly at them. In this instance it was, but they were still clueless.
A couple of hours later when the sun was starting to move out of view, Jack stopped to make camp. “I’ll handle the perimeter stakes. Rage, you do the lights, and Emmett, you keep watch. We’ll put up our own tents tonight. Only then are we sitting down to eat. I want the perimeter safe.”
Rage stood tall and gave a lopsided salute. “You got it, boss.”
Emmett nodded. “Ten-four.”
Emmett took out his gun and put away his machete, turning the heat sensors on in his HUD. He scanned the area, using the new program they had just installed. The companies had finally found a way to search out the jaguars that could evade heat signatures. Emmett didn’t know how it worked, but he knew orange and red were bad, the rest was fine. He kept his eyes on the surroundings, making sure nothing came close to them.