X-Squad Pawn City

by Hannibal Adofo

  Seven lowered her guns, saying to Ferris, “You had better hope there isn’t a next time.”

  Ferris picked up his weapon. “Is that so? Your boyfriend here is zero for two in defeating me. What makes you think you will succeed when he never has before?”

  Seven had no answer.

  Ferris looked at Benji. “Bring me his weapon.”

  Benji reluctantly did so. Ferris activated the magnetic holster on his armor and placed the multi-firearm on his back.

  “I don’t like this,” Whistler said.

  “No one cares what you like, Whistler,” Ferris said. “You and Benji should be begging my forgiveness for helping this scum.”

  “That is not going to happen,” Benji said.

  “Not yet, anyway,” Ferris replied. “Lead the way, Mason. Grieves will be thrilled to see you.”

  Bishop began walking to the exit. Seven grabbed him as he went past and pulled him to her. She moved in and kissed him. He found himself kissing her back.

  “There’s no time for romance,” Ferris said. “Get moving. Besides, did he tell you what happened to his last girlfriend?”

  Bishop broke the embrace without telling Seven what happened to Annalise. He moved toward the stairs, but before he reached them, the elevator kicked back to life and the doors slid open.

  “Take the stairs,” Ferris said. “I assume your man still has control of the building.”

  “There’s not much left to the stairs,” Bishop replied. “And my guy doesn’t want the blood of innocent lives on his hands any more than I do.”

  “Innocent? Please. Pawn City is teeming with criminals, with nary an innocent to be found. Fine, we’ll take the elevator. Same rules apply: anything happens to me, the building gets leveled.”

  Bishop entered the elevator and Ferris followed, keeping his gun pointed at him. Bishop had just hit the button for the ground floor when an explosion from outside shook the building and knocked them off their feet.

  32

  Quato propped himself on his crutch and leaned against a wall to get good balance. He hoped the multi-firearm could really take out a tank. If it didn’t, he was not going to be able to get away.

  While he waited, Quato checked out his weapon. A special gun inserted in the bottom became the firing mechanism, and the shades he put on aided in targeting. Eight different clips of various shapes and sizes jutted out of the bottom of the big rectangular barrel.

  He hoped things wouldn’t come to just the gun; he certainly had quite a bit of ordinance to go through before he would need it, but he detached it and checked the clip anyway. He had just said, “Max mass destruct,” when one the eight men watching the outside of the building came around the corner and saw him standing there with the rifle.

  The soldier said, “Hostile,” to the mic in his helmet, letting all the other soldiers and tanks know something was up before raising his weapon.

  Quato twisted and pulled the trigger. Mass destruct mode fired all four barrels at once, unleashing heavy and explosive ammunition from each barrel. The soldier was turned into blood splatters and a puddle. The twisting motion to aim at the soldier knocked Quato off his crutch, and he found himself falling.

  From the ground, Quato could see the tank swing the cannon attached to the turret his way. He aimed the rifle and started squeezing the trigger. The four-barrel attack wasn’t nearly as effective on the tank.

  Quato’s first three bursts didn’t seem to do much damage. He saw the big barrel level off his way and pumped some mass destruct fire at the barrel.

  Enough ordinance went down the cannon on the end of the turret to damage the barrel. It didn’t look like much damage, but it was enough to jam the shell they were firing Quato’s way.

  The shell exploded and put a larger hole in the mounted turret atop the tank. Quato pulled the trigger and put four explosive rounds into the gash in the tank’s armor. It was doubtful anyone had survived, but the tank started rolling slowly toward him.

  Quato couldn’t get up and run due to his leg, so he rolled as fast as he could in an attempt to get out of the way before he was squished underneath the tank like a bug. Those tracks wouldn’t show him any mercy.

  He made it, but multi-firearm didn’t.

  Both his crutch and his weapon were crushed.

  33

  X-1 planned on firing first. He had taken position on a rooftop when he heard Quato’s multi-firearm unleash mass destruct mode on something.

  X-1 didn’t waste time opening fire himself. He went for the tracks first, and after two shots, the tank was not going anywhere. It still had an operating turret and a big cannon, though, so it still was dangerous. He concentrated his fire on the base of the turret. It took a few volleys, but he managed to hit something to disable it.

  Without the turret and the tracks, the tank, while still intact, could not really do any damage. The third tank could, however, and it was moving around the corner, where it could get a good shot at the building X-1 was perched upon.

  He took two steps and jumped. X-1 was in the air when the shell struck the building and detonated. He landed on the roof of the building next door, rolling to his feet and moving as debris from the taller building began to rain down on the shorter one.

  Once he was clear, he began firing with all four barrels on the tank. This tank, unlike the first one, was moving and actively trying to protect its weak spots. When X-1 ran out of explosive ammunition, it was still moving at full speed.

  He jumped off another roof as the cannon bombarded his former position. As he landed on the next roof, he realized he had made a serious mistake in not having the Listers bring him extra grenade clips. He didn’t have time to worry about it, though, as the tank was moving the turret around to fire on X-1’s location.

  34

  Once the shooting started, Fizz and the twins opened up on the seven soldiers covering the side of Benji’s not being watched by a tank. They did some damage but were driven back.

  Fizz was hit; the suit saved him, but he was sure the impact had broken at least three ribs. Big Lister was hit in the leg. Luckily for both of them, Little Lister was able to drag them both to some cover around the next building.

  Little Lister unloaded his gun in the soldiers’ direction to slow them down, and then moved as heavy rounds turned the corner of the building he had been hiding behind to dust.

  “This ain’t good,” he said as he helped his brother.

  Fizz was up and moving, even though he was hurting badly. “Can you help us out here, Switch?” he said into his sleeve.

  “Not really, but keep moving,” Switch replied. “I’ll think of something.”

  “Maybe we should head back to the plane,” Little Lister said.

  They all seemed to agree, but Switch said, “I would agree with you, but Skip just lifted off.”

  “What?” Fizz said.

  “I don’t know what the hell he is doing either, but we are airborne.”

  “Well, stop him.”

  “I have other concerns right now.”

  “What other concerns?” Fizz asked, but Switch had cut communications.

  35

  The elevator stopped and then started and stopped again, knocking both Bishop and Ferris off balance. Switch’s voice could be heard through Bishop’s suit. “The tanks are occupied at the moment.”

  Ferris went to raise his gun, but Bishop shot out an arm and pushed the barrel away. Ferris peppered the walls as Bishop got close and commanded his suit, “Electrify.”

  The charge he gave Ferris allowed him to rip away the machine gun, but the armor Ferris wore was designed to repel attacks from electric weapons. It was his turn to push the barrel away and let Bishop put holes in the wall.

  Bishop attempted to twist the gun from Ferris’ grip, but he held tight. Instead of trying to wrestle the gun free, he let go and delivered a right cross to the neck of Ferris just below his helmet. He came back with a right elbow to the face and stepped back to unload a left
-handed haymaker.

  The last blow pushed Ferris back to the wall. He still had the gun, but while he was getting ready to fire, Bishop kicked him in the chest, bouncing him off the wall again. As Ferris came off the wall, Bishop stepped forward and clotheslined Ferris with his right forearm.

  Ferris landed flat on his back, and Bishop kicked the gun away and then tried to stomp on the major’s head. Ferris caught Bishop’s boot and, after delivering a groin kick, pushed Bishop away. As Ferris stood, Bishop snapped a kick toward his ribs and threw a punch at his head, but Ferris took both blows on his forearms. A straight left counterpunch landed clean, leaving Bishop dazed enough for Ferris to land a big overhand right to Bishop’s face.

  Bishop took a step back and covered his face, anticipating a punch, but instead took a front kick to the chest, driving him backward until he hit the elevator door.

  Bishop sprang off the wall as Ferris drew his sidearm and double-tapped Bishop in the chest, stopping his charge. The suit limited the damage, and Bishop lunged forward, grabbing the gun. Instead of wrestling Ferris for it, Bishop found the clip release and dropped the ammunition to the floor.

  Ferris dropped the gun and punched Bishop in the face, driving him back against the door again.

  This time Ferris turned to grab his machine gun, which Bishop knew could penetrate the suit’s armor.

  Bishop could see the multi-firearm as Ferris turned. Bishop could not take it off his back with the magnetic holster on lock, but he could grab the handgun inserted in the bottom of the rifle.

  He dislodged the gun as Ferris brought this machine gun around.

  Bishop fired first, putting three slugs into the major’s chest, driving him back across the elevator car. When he found the back wall, Bishop took better aim and emptied the entire clip into the major’s face.

  Bishop, being familiar with Ferris’ armor, retrieved the multi-firearm from it then put the gun back in the bottom and locked it in place.

  He bent down and spoke into the helmet’s transmitter. “You watching, Grieves? I’m coming for your ass next,” he said before he fired a bullet into the transmitter, killing the signal.

  “Unlock the lift so I can go back down and get Seven,” Bishop said into his sleeve.

  The elevator started moving, but it was up instead of down.

  “I wanted to go down.”

  “They need you up top,” Switch told him through the suit.

  “Who?”

  “Everybody.”

  “Fair enough,” Bishop said. “What am I dealing with?”

  “A tank and another eight or so soldiers.”

  Bishop didn’t like the odds—his weapon was running low on ammunition, especially the type he would need to take out a tank.

  “Do you have the audio of Ferris saying he was going to level Benji’s?” he asked Switch.

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Can you broadcast it through the sound system on the barroom floor?”

  “Sure can.”

  As the elevator opened, Bishop could hear Ferris telling everyone how he was going to blow up Benji’s Boobs and Booze while the patrons were still trapped inside.

  It was clear none of them were happy. When it was a bunch of soldiers with big guns and big tanks looking for someone who was not them, they were willing to put up with the inconvenience of the siege on Benji’s. It was not like the dancers stopped dancing and the bartenders stopped serving drinks.

  The drinks, however, quit flowing now, and the bodies on the hovering stages quit gyrating as they all heard Ferris calmly explaining how he was going to kill all of them if he didn’t get his way.

  Weapons came out; just about everyone in there was packing something. Bishop didn’t figure there was something stashed under the jacket or in the bag of any of Benji’s customers that could take out an armored vehicle. He figured he was going to have to be the one to complete the task of destroying the tank.

  He was wrong.

  A table was cleared and four different men produced flat black components, which neatly fit together to form a rocket launcher. A fifth man took off his backpack and pulled a missile out of it.

  He saw Bishop watching him and said, “I’ve been trying to sell that thing for three years. Good thing I never had any takers.”

  Bishop nodded.

  The man’s eyes moved to Bishop’s multi-firearm. “You know those things jam all the time. I can sell you a real gun.”

  “I’m good, thanks.”

  “Suit yourself,” the man said as he loaded the rocket into the tube and placed the weapon on his shoulder. He walked out the front door with a big smile on his face.

  About half of the people inside followed him out. Bishop waited for the logjam of angry armed criminals to clear and then followed them into the street.

  36

  As soon as he heard Bishop say he was coming for him, Grieves stormed out of the intelligence center. Donner followed him.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Assemble a team. I’m going in.”

  “Are you sure you want to do this, sir? We can’t afford to lose both you and Ferris.”

  “Ferris is already gone. Mason will not spend another second enjoying what he has done. The Lord Inferno is not pleased, and neither am I. Major Ferris must be avenged, wouldn’t you agree?”

  “I believe strongly he should. I am just saying we cannot afford to lose two of our leaders.”

  “You will not lose me,” Grieves said. “I am in the Lord’s favor. Am I not a formidable foe for Mason?”

  “No, sir, but the battlefield is always unpredictable.”

  “For you, perhaps, but not for me. I am one of the Lord’s chosen ones, and he will not let Mason escape his wrath and my vengeance. Do you doubt the Lord Inferno? Do you doubt me?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Do you believe that he has chosen me?”

  “Yes, sir. I just feel the risk in this situation may outweigh the reward—”

  “What you believe is irrelevant.” Grieves’ face was turning a deep and concerning crimson.

  “Sir, it is not so much what I believe, but—”

  “This is not a subject up for discussion.”

  “Sir—”

  “What part of what I just said do you not understand, soldier?” Grieves said. “I am the chosen one. The Lord Inferno has chosen me to usher in the holy, cleansing fire. There are no risks; there are only great rewards. The Lord Inferno would not have me die at Mason’s hands before I fulfill the work he has for me. It’s such a shame that your faith is so weak that you can’t see it.”

  Donner wanted to argue, but had been around the general enough to know he had probably already said too much. Instead he left the room to go assemble an assault team.

  37

  First thing Darlene did was turn on the climate control in the shopping center. The dome itself controlled the climate, so individual structures didn’t really need to regulate their temperature. However, they were all capable—with the heat outside so brutal, it was an emergency feature put in if the dome itself malfunctioned. She wondered if the army of the Lord Inferno knew this. She was about to find out.

  While the climate control in her building booted up, she proceeded to shut the dome down. Next, she tapped into the satellite surveillance. They had been tricked before—despite the lack of confidence Grieves showed in his tech team, they had gotten the better of Darlene and Whistler earlier by cloaking the movement of their tanks.

  Darlene dismantled the cloaking program and saw another trio of tanks were on their way. She tapped into the communication and heard a familiar voice.

  “What do you want, Donner?” she heard Grieves say.

  “It appears the residents of Pawn City have armed themselves. They were previously neutral in this fight, but now it seems they have chosen a side. And it is not ours.”

  Darlene didn’t know what was going on in the dome she called home, but she liked the sound of this.

&
nbsp; “Send the rest of our tanks,” Grieves yelled. “If they dare to stand against us, we will destroy them.”

  Darlene’s good feeling about the situation began to fade.

  “Are you sure you want to do that, sir?” Donner asked.

  “Did I mince my words? Your instructions were very clear.”

  “We need their resources, sir. The airstrip and the infrastructure Whistler set up are of great value to us.”

  “Are you defying an order, Donner?”

  “No, sir. I am just concerned that your personal desire for revenge is clouding your judgment.”

  “My judgment is guided only by the Lord Inferno.”

  “Are you sure you are speaking for him and not for yourself?”

  General Grieves fell silent for some time before he asked if another soldier was present in the room. “Do you doubt me, Donner?” Grieves asked. His voice sounded as cold as the weapon the soldier had pulled was aggressively pressing to Donner’s temple.

  “I shall mobilize a force,” Donner said. His voice was shaky and his bowels began to loosen.

  “Good. I thought you would. Be quick about it. I’m almost here.”

  With those words, the general broke off communications.

  “Shit!” Donner said. “Now I need to go to bathroom.”

  38

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  Skip didn’t look at Switch as he piloted the plane away from Pawn City. “Unauthorized personnel are not allowed in the cockpit.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “Bullshit or no, that’s the rule.”

  “I know it’s the rule, but right now I don’t care. Why did you take off?”

  “I had no choice, unless you wanted Gemma’s mother to catch up to us.”

  “Of course I don’t want that, but we can’t leave the others behind either.”