Seeing the fallen building and knowing he had people inside it, Whistler drew his weapon and aimed to take a shot through, what he saw was, the man’s one working eye.
He took a shot, but the bullet passed right through him.
“Military-grade hologram, Mr. Reid. Only the best. Sorry to disappoint you. I paid your place a visit earlier, though. I met some of your people, and I have to tell you, my bullets did a bit more damage than yours.”
Whistlers hands clenched into fists. “Why?”
“Because I could,” the man said.
“I gave your general what he wanted.”
“Only because there was a gun to your head. I knew that once the threat was removed, you’d be looking to retaliate quickly. We needed you to know that was a bad idea.”
Whistler didn’t answer.
“I hope that pretty little hacker you worked with didn’t mean anything to you. Such a shame, an explosive round ruining her features like that.”
Whistler’s thoughts went directly to Darlene. “You fucking bastard.”
“It’s Major Ferris to you. And your knowledge, or lack thereof, about my lineage isn’t relevant.”
“Well, let me tell you what I do know: you’re a dead man, Major Ferris,” Whistler said. “As dead as any man can be.”
“Ah, Mr. Reid. As much as I enjoy idle threats, I suggest you continue to cooperate with General Greives, and then your life and the lives of the people you care for will be spared. But, if you insist on pursuing a vendetta against me, prepare yourself. I am more formidable than any enemy you have faced before.”
The hologram vanished.
Whistler bent to pick up the cube, but VP-23 grabbed his charge by the arm and threw him back. As Whistler tried to protest the cube just exploded.
Whistler sat back, adrenaline coursing, shocked and amazed at what just happened. “They have us by the short hairs, don’t they twenty-three?”
“Appears that way.”
“You think he took out any of my other places?”
“Not likely. Without you, how else would he steal what he needs?”
“Good. Then let’s get going. We’ve got to make plans.”
…
Whistler, VP-23, and five mercenaries made their way to site B, a fully functional safe house that Whistler had built under the city. He booted up the systems. The room and machines lit up with lights. He found there were several messages he missed from Silas Lister—messages of hope.
4
Switch let the fat, balding Silas Lister’s transmission appear through a secure dark web portal. His sons were in attendance, as well as Lister’s right hand Quato, and X-1.
Skip was piloting the plane and the other four passengers were scattered about. Fizz and Gemma, who were around the same age, made a habit of sneaking off together, so they were gone. No one seemed to know where or cared to look.
Bishop and Seven, who were also becoming close, were in the armory exploring the collection of X-1’s weapons.
“I reached out to the business associate you recommended, Quato,” Silas said.
“If anyone can bring the boys back to Rio, it’s Whistler,” Quato replied as he scratched the stump where his leg used to be before the foray into the vault.
“Agreed, but as usual with men like that, it will not be free.”
“We will pay you back,” Big Lister said. “No matter what it is or how long it takes.”
“I believe you, but the problem is Whistler’s not interested in my money. I know,” Silas said, “I offered him a sizeable sum.”
“What does he want, then?” X-1 asked.
Silas considered his answer. “Well, it didn’t take him long to figure out you were the ones who orchestrated the escape from the vault. Seems he thinks he could use your help.”
“He wants someone rescued from a mine?” X-1 asked.
Silas said, “If it were only that easy.”
“That wasn’t exactly easy,” Quato said, pointing to where the other half of his right leg should be. “Some jobs require giving up shit you don’t want to lose.”
“Apologies, my friend,” said Silas. “I understand how you feel, but this may be even tougher than that. There’s a small army fucking with his business, and he wants us to infiltrate them… He needs someone to take on that small army, and if you boys want to get home, and if the rest of you want to get fuel and supplies, then that job might have to go to you.”
“Does this army have a name?” Switch asked.
“A group of rogue soldiers led by a guy who calls himself General Grieves. And another asshole who goes by Major whatever the fuck.”
“Ferris,” Bishop said as he walked in the door. He spat the out the words like they were battery acid. It was burning his tongue just to speak them.
“Correct. How did you know?” Silas asked.
“Grieves was far from a general when I met him, but he, Ferris, and I have a bit of history together.”
“Friends of yours?”
“Not in the least.”
The look on Bishop’s face said there was more to the story.
“You guys up to this? My gut says it’s a bad idea.” Silas patted his sizeable belly. “There is always another way.”
“Any of your other ways in the southwest?” X-1 asked.
“No.”
“Then this is the only way, unless we can get Whistler to give us what he has,” X-1 said. “We’re nearly out of fuel.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Silas said. “A large portion of his business is providing a stop for travelers who, shall we say, can’t afford to stop anywhere else. He shouldn’t have you taking on an army for a few energy cells, and I’ll offer him enough cash to get it to work. I’ll start looking into another angle to get my boys back. Despite what your mother thinks, it is probably better to wait anyway—law is watching us hard, as much as I’m happy to see you boys free. Your escape has made business a bitch.”
“Sorry, Pop,” Little Lister said.
“Don’t be. The law is a fickle thing. They will find something else to do other than watching me soon enough. I pay them too much money for them to truly want to drive me out of business.”
“Speaking of business,” Switch said, “we had better sign out before someone stumbles on our communications. I can only keep these things secure for a limited time.”
Silas nodded. “I’ll be in touch.” He faded away.
“How tough are these dudes—Grieves and Ferris—anyway, Bishop?” Quato asked, “No offense to any of you, but I want to go home, and if smokin’ these assholes is the fastest way to do that, then point me in the right direction. I’ll do it myself.”
“Tough as coffin nails,” Bishop said, “and as ruthless as they come. The men who served under them before they went rogue were all loyal as hell, and I suspect if they followed them out of the military, they are even more dedicated to their cause, whatever that may be. It won’t be easy to take them.”
“So, you’re saying, if possible, we should fuel up and move on?”
“It would be the smart play. One suicide mission was plenty; we don’t need another.”
X-1 nodded. “Getting involved in this Whistler’s private war will not help us figure out what to do about Gemma’s mother. We fuel up and head out in thirty.”
5
Corvan found Laura Lionheart-Crane in the Captain’s Quarters where they had previously held her hostage, though “hostage” didn’t seem to be the right word. The only person threatening harm was herself.
Getting Gemma back from the vault was worth betting on her life. It was unfortunate, though—she only got half of her wish.
“If I hook myself back up to the machine again, do you think she will come to me?” Laura said, referring to the machine that would pump nano-poison in her veins.
“No.”
“You sound so sure.”
“I hated my father so much, if he threatened suicide I would have offered my assist
ance.”
“You think Gemma hates me?”
To that, Corvan said nothing.
“Speaking of fathers, did she love hers?” he asked.
“Sadly, yes. But they both failed to see the wisdom of the Lord Inferno.”
“And she blames you for his death?”
“I didn’t think so before, but now? Yes, I think she does.”
“Was it actually your doing?”
“I prefer to think it was his, for being foolish enough not to realize the value of the ability he gave to our child, but I suppose I can see how the unenlightened might see it that way.”
Corvan nodded.
“I take it from the look on your face you won’t be helping me hold myself for ransom again?”
“You would be correct,” Corvan said.
“I can’t go back.”
“There are other places to go, Laura. Tell me and I will take you anywhere.”
“I need to find Gemma.”
“We have a business arrangement. I agreed to help you force your father’s hand and rescue Gemma, but after that, we were going to part ways. I am not a believer. I am a businessman.”
“Businessman? You’re a pirate.”
“Pirating is my business.”
“I have a friend—a believer—out in the southwest of the northern hemisphere.”
“Nothing there but a wasteland. You should consider the pirating business. I think you might be a natural.”
“In bed as well?” Laura asked.
“Certainly. There is that.”
“Maybe we can do some natural business on the way, but I have been shown the Lord Inferno’s prophecy, and my daughter is the one to fulfill it.”
“Suit yourself,” Corvan said. “With my ship back to proper operation, it should be a short trip.”
“Then we better make our way to the bedroom while we have time.”
6
In the depths of Inferno City, hidden and cloaked to many devices, Darlene sat as still as possible as massive beast came into her room. She knew very little of lions, mainly because there were so few of them left. The overly polluted environment didn’t seem to suit them.
Darlene had dedicated her life to the virtual world and never paid any more attention to the physical world than she had to. What she did know, however, is that lions didn’t walk on two legs, and she also knew that the strongest and the most alpha of lions had the darkest fur, and this one’s was purely black.
The black lion stood up on his hind legs and roared. It had to be at least eleven to twelve feet in length. And it had to weigh at least a half a ton.
She was starting to wish she’d died at headquarters with her friends. Being shot wasn’t good, but it was better than being eaten.
“Down, King,” came a voice from behind the beast.
King sat on down his haunches, though he was still as tall as Darlene, and his eyes never wavered from her for a second. A man Darlene had never seen before entered the room. He stood by the lion and began to stroke its mane.
“Hello, Darlene. I am General Grieves.”
Darlene didn’t have a response, so she said nothing.
General Grieves held a piece of raw meat in his hand. “Would you like to feed him?” he asked.
Darlene shook her head.
Grieves smiled. “Suit yourself. It’s quite an experience.”
He placed the meat in his mouth, let it hang down his chin, and then bent down to meet the animal face to face.
King, who was highly trained, waited for Grieves to nod, then he clamped his jaws on the meat and ate with abandon.
“You were probably wise to let me do it, Darlene. King may have eaten your face, pretty as it is.”
Darlene noticed her body had started to shake.
“Quiet one, aren’t you? Are you familiar with the Lord Inferno?”
“Yes.”
She’d heard of it before, briefly in passing.
“Are you a believer?”
“No. Don’t know much about it.”
“Do you know why I am able to keep a wild carnivore, who is bigger and stronger than me, as a pet?”
She shrugged. Not knowing what to say.
“Because I am a believer, Darlene,” Grieves said. “The Lord Inferno has granted me dominion over such a magnificent beast.”
The shaking of her body was getting worse.
“You don’t seem very impressed.”
“Why am I here?” And there was a tremble in her voice.
“Mr. Whistler, while being a despicable human being, is known as a man of good taste in both employees and lovers. If my intel is correct, and I know it is, you are an excellent cyber-warrior. Is that true? I have many people under my command who can do many things, but most of my warriors are more of the solid-matter variety. They’re good, tangible things, items you can feel and touch. Mechanics, equipment technicians, and the like. Which makes a woman like you quite valuable.”
“I won’t work for you, and I don’t believe in your cult,” she said. “You kidnapped me and killed my friends. The last thing I want to do is help you.”
“The last thing? Interesting choice of words. As I said before, Whistler picks his employees and lovers well, so if you can’t be one, you can certainly be the other.”
“What does that mean, exactly?”
“What I’m saying is you could still be of benefit,” Grieves said. “Although less for me and more for my men. We have many females, but, unfortunately, the ratio for my army is not one to one. Some men, loyal and good soldiers one and all, are forced by the circumstances to do without the companionship of a female such as yourself. Either way, you shall be performing an invaluable service.”
Darlene attempted to fight it, but her shakes were taking over.
“I am a fair man, mind you, but I have fully committed to fulfilling the Lord’s will. You will help me one way or the other. I will give you until the morning to decide. I’m sure it has been a very stressful day for you.”
General Grieves turned and left, and King followed him, but not before he turned and licked his chops.
7
Bishop lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. Having already been interrogated by Seven about his mood and having expressed to her that he didn’t want to be bothered, he lay there in thought and contemplation about his past and how he had gotten to this point.
He didn’t want to discuss General Grieves or Major Ferris. It was clear he had no desire to share his previous experiences with them, but he couldn’t help but remember their past encounters, no matter what…
Years ago
The Red Alpha Unit
“This is a rock and roll unit, boys. We don’t mess around.”
“With all due respect, Lieutenant Ferris, who are you calling a boy?”
Ferris smiled and looked at Annalise, slim and blond, with the sure iron will of a tank. “Let me rephrase that, missy. This is a rock and roll unit, alpha strong boys and girls.”
He looked Bishop’s way and gave him a wink, letting him know that he had noticed how close he and Annalise had gotten of late.
“Let’s go kick in some doors.”
Bishop took the lead, as a veteran of the service, but a new guy in a unit that was known to kick some ass, he knew the sooner he proved he belonged there, the better and the faster he’d climb up the ranks.
They were sweeping through a run-down apartment building that intelligence had identified as a bustling insurgent stronghold, but so far, the place just looked abandoned.
Lieutenant Ferris’ voice came through speakers in Bishop’s helmet. “Looks like intel might’ve fucked us on this one, kids, but keep your eyes peeled just in case.” He signaled the squad to move in position. “Breach and infiltrate. Keep your heads on a swivel. We want you all home and ready to be tucked in by Mommy come bedtime.”
It was a five-person team, with Bishop and Annalise the rookies of the unit. Bishop kicked open the doors, Ferris covering t
he rear, while the others aimed their weapons east and west as they moved about the rooms.
They were about halfway through a complete sweep of the second floor when the roof caved in and several armed men followed the wreckage.
Ferris took a round to the chest. His armor took the brunt of the blow, but the rounds were incendiary and covered him fast in flames. He rolled on the floor in an attempt to put the fire out.
“Move, move, move!” Bishop screamed to the squad.
He looked to Lieutenant Ferris to see if he was okay. It seemed as though the major had it under control.
Annalise and another soldier shredded the insurgent soldiers with gunfire.
Bishop kicked the nearest door open as a means to escape, but a grenade exploded from inside of the room. Bishop was thrown across the hall and bounced off the opposite wall before sliding across the floor, dazed and confused.
Another rookie soldier who was thrown by the explosion attempted to recover and rose uneasily to his feet before being cut down.
Bishop saw an enemy soldier aiming toward his face. He was still too groggy from the blast to react; it felt as if his body was stuck in wet cement. He wanted to move, but couldn’t.
Not in time.
A smile spread across the soldier’s face, but the smile turned upside down when Annalise dove past the entrance, tossed a grenade into the room, and shut the door it.
The blast that followed ensured an immediate death.
Bullets rained down from the hole in the roof and from soldiers who were firing from the hallway. Annalise grabbed Bishop with one hand while she was firing back with the other.
A soldier dragging Ferris took a hit to the chest.
Bishop had regained enough of his wits to attempted to stand. He placed his machine gun on his hip, drew the auto shotgun from his back, and fired on full auto down the hall, covering Annalise as she kicked in the nearest door. Bishop grabbed Ferris and pulled him into the room.
X-Squad Pawn City Page 2