DJAtomika — Roleplayer Guild

As Haze followed behind, shots began pinging off the metal and grating around him.

Another offensive, wonderful.

The huge gate loomed up ahead, its defenders rallying to the new arrivals, plasma fire and energy bolts arcing and whizzing over their heads to land in their targets behind them. A rocket flew over their heads and crumpled into the metal gate, sending shrapnel raining down onto the group as the explosion knocked him onto his ass.

He scrambled back up to his feet just as a second series of explosions behind him threw him forward onto his face. His whole body ached from the concussive force, but behind that he was alright save for some ringing in his ears.

The gate shuddered opened, being pulled by several men with rudimentary handles attached to the warped, smoking metal. Soon there was a big enough gap for the team to pass through, single file, and Hazan sighed in relief as the doors closed behind them. Safety, or at least relative safety.

A turian detached himself from his post up high and ambled down to introduce himself to their group as a new member. Adran Parvius. A distinguished war veteran. He'd heard of the man's exploits during First Contact, a lot more noisy and explosive stuff compared to the cloak-and-dagger missions he'd run during the same, but a fellow soldier nonetheless. With a tap to his visor he deactivated its display so he could return the introduction.

"Hazan Volintis, or you would've heard of me around here as Haze. Team sniper and forward scout. I know you from First Contact, never did see you though. My superiors then spoke real highly of you. Pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. Maybe after all this is over we can go grab a drink at Afterlife?"

At Nik's question, he didn't pause.

"Well I know Ardan by his reputation well enough, and considering the impressive fireworks show he put on behind us I say we take him in."

At the comfort of another turian joining the squad, he was happy. At least he'd be slightly more at ease in the group.

With the whole thing quietened down, at least for now, Hazan stood easy, relaxed.

"So, uh, what now? Masf gave us directions here and nothing else."

"Andy... Would you ever consider coming back to the Martovanni family?"

"Hmm."

"I'm sure that you've witnessed the horrific riot that happened. I think we really need your help to help quell the instigators. The Martovannis are really lacking someone who knows what they're doing."

"Tell me 'bout it, Anthea. No one seems to know heads from tails these days."

The dame leaned forward and near whispered. I returned the gesture, of course.

"And I also need your help to take back the Martovanni family. I know you don't like Razghul, and obviously I don't either. I can't stand seeing everything my father worked for crumble under that tyrant. What do you say?"

Hmm.
Now this asshat, Ruzghul? Oh he hated the Martovannis. First I heard of him was in the seventies, not long after I retired. He was in the running to be quite the drug lord, fencing dust and runez to dealers throughout the city. No one really knew where he got his product back then, not even my friend Paulie. After Martovanni Senior kicked the bucket, Ruzghul muscled in. Bastard took control of the family by force, pushed in his own goons to replace those loyal to the Martovannis. He even went and took out Martovanni Junior, that fat fuck. Bled the family dry into his own coffers and now he runs the whole shishkabob. Any Martovanni loyalists left pledged their loyalty to the ogre or they were slowly and quietly taken care of. Anthea, however, was a different story. She had the power to snap that ogre's neck if she wanted to, but her loyalty to the family and her devotion to her foster dad made her soft. Pliable.

But now she was asking for my help. Not only to take care of the whole riot business, but Ruzghul too.

If I took him out, Anthea would be the head of the household. Half of the city in the palms of her hands. Sure as hell wouldn't be safer, but nice to know I had a friend in a very, very high place if I needed.

Tempting.

"Well, doll, the offer is very, very tempting. But are you sure you can handle being the head honcho of this place?"

I spread my hands.

"Look, Anthea, my opinion? Ruzghul needs to go. Pronto. I can help you with that, no sweat. I know the old man would've wanted the same thing. I just want to know that you'll be alright by yourself after this shitstorm's blown over, y'know? Can't have dad rolling in his grave."

I sat back in my chair and took a wholehearted bite of the roll.

"Color me interested, doll. What's mine is yours, but I expect access to resources in return, alright? Point me in the right direction and I will do what you ask."

And at that precise moment the lights took the opportunity to go bzzzt and die.

"What the fu-"

And not just the little lamp in the gazebo, oh no, I whipped around to my left and saw the whole mansion go down.

I almost dove for Anthea and pushed her down behind the gazebo's low walls.

"Stay down doll, something's wrong."

My hand immediately went to my nine mil just as a huge, horrible roar came from within the mansion.

Ruzghul.

Big lug was home?!

Uh oh.

"Doll, get down, I have a feeling that the big lug's gonna get real mad real fast and he's gonna come this way in a hurry."

Right on cue I heard a soft thrashing and rumbling footsteps as the big lug's silhouette grew against the backdrop of candle light lit by the staff within the mansion. As the two butlers in the gazebo lit candles and lanterns, Ruzghul stomped right up to the joint and, not to my surprise, grabbed me by the throat in one of his grubby mitts and slammed me against a pillar of the gazebo. His second head was snarling and growling at me as he leaned in close, head #1 frowning at me.

"You! You....you set this whole thing up, didn't you."

"N-now Ruzghul -"

"I knew we shouldn't have trusted you the moment Anthea asked for you! Now how did you cut power to the mansion? HOW?!"

"Jesus Christ, Ruzghul, get a grip -"

He reared back his arm and slammed me painfully against the pillar again. His second head answered in the same roaring rhetoric.

"YOU SHUT YOUR FACE WISE GUY! How did you shut off the power?!"

"I didn't, Ruzghul, I swear!"

"Then why are you here when the power conveniently goes out, fuckface? You plotting something?!"

"Oh please, like he would even try."

His first head regarded me with all the coolness of a freezer set to maximum zero. Apparently head number one had brains. Head number two didn't.

"Now, mister diMaggio, answer my questions or I will be forced to have my second head rip out your insides with his teeth."

I smirked and shrugged.

"Hey, be my guest, god knows I need those things any more."

"RRRRRAAA -"

"Hush, you imbecile. Don't want you to get too riled up. Mister diMaggio, I expect you to answer my questions immediately. And don't play this game. You'll only get yourself killed."

"I ain't no stranger to dyin' anyway, go ahead and try."

His first head sighed. So did his second, amidst the frothing rage.

Meanwhile I still had my gun in my right hand, but in all the confusion he apparently hadn't noticed. It was behind my back right now, right where my other backup weapon was.

Now, for those of you unfamiliar with my trade, I happen to deal in death, and often times that means I need to have something sharp on me at all times. So, in the course of my pursuits of the finer things in life I had a tailor make me a custom-made pair of slacks with a hidden sleeve just underneath the belt. It's there that I usually slot a switchblade or butterfly knife. Today it was a wicked little spring-loaded switchblade that I slowly eased out of the sleeve with the barrel of my gun. I kept pushing gently until I felt it bump against my left, then I eased it the rest of the way out.

" 'Sides, you need me. The Martovanni family needs me. Anthea called me here for a reason."

"And what might that reason be, pray tell?"

"She wants me to help you guys with your mob problem. See, I know about the shit you've been goin' through. A friend of mine happens to be under you, y'see."

That's right, bubba. Keep 'em talking.

Both his heads were focused on me now, so neither noticed as I lifted my gun hand and aimed the dinky little pistol at Ruzghul's second face. Probably wouldn't kill him outright, but three bullets in the brain pan could solve any problem.

"And I just so happen to have a bit of an idea of what's goin' on."

It was at that moment that his second head glanced down and froze at the sight of a nice, black barrel aimed right between his eyes.

I kept still. Finger on the trigger.

"Uh -"

"Quiet, you fool, I want to hear his pathetic idea."

His first head idly snapped at the second, even as I gently raised my left, hiding the switchblade in my hand.

"Go on."

"Well, the way I see it, there's another gang out here tryin' to muscle in on your turf, and they's doin' it by hittin' you hard and fast. This power outage has to be a part of it, and if odds were me, I'd say the outage is affecting the entire city."

"Uh, excuse me, I think -"

"I said SHUT UP you nitwit. You're right, diMaggio, that is a good reason. But who would you suspect to be behind all this?"

I shrugged and smirked.

"Oh I don't know, I ain't got the resources. But your family does. That's what I was discussin' with the lady here. She's gonna get me funded, see, and you're gonna agree."

His first head grinned and chuckled.

"Hmm. An interesting decision, wouldn't you say?"

"Yeah yeah real interesting now if you would be so kind -"

"Quiet, remember I'm the one that does the thinking here."

"Oh, please, Ruzghul, let your other head talk. I'm sure he has some nice little tidbits to share."

Head number one raised a thick brow and growled.

"Really? Like what?"

I grinned nice and wide.

"Like this."

I flicked off the safety and thumbed the hammer. Nice and audible. Head number one, his eyes went wide as his vision shot straight to my gun hand.

Perfect.

I gripped the handle of my switchblade and pushed the catch. The wicked curved blade shot forth and I held it right up against the throat of head number one.

I felt him gulp and freeze through the knife. His grip loosened around my neck.

"Now, Ruzghul, here's how it's going down. I know you're the most powerful man in the whole city, but, see, power's really relative to the situation. Right now, you are threatening one of the most deadly men in the city, and I have ample chance to end you, right here, right now. I will do it if you so much as think about doing somethin' stupid. So please, humour me, and don't do somethin' stupid, otherwise the most powerful guy in the city is gonna become the most dead-and-buried guy in the city."

He nodded, with both heads. I smirked.

"Here's what ya gonna do, big guy. After you let me go, I'm gonna take one of your cars and three of your men and head down to the city's power plant, capiche? I have a sneaking suspicion that that's why all the power's out. You probably didn't even get cellphone reception, did you?"

Head number two shook a negative.

I was right. Total blackout.

Total chaos.

"That's what I thought. Now, after I get your guys and a vehicle, I'm gonna arm myself with some of your mansion's heat. I ain't goin' in there with this peashooter and a shank, dear god, I ain't stupid. I'll settle this whole affair once and for all, hopefully, and I'll be back before the sun rises. Got it?"

He nodded.

"Good, now let me go and we'll settle the issue of compensation for this farce later. I'll make sure no more corpses end up on your doorstep or somethin'."

The big lug released his grip on my neck and I fell to the ground, gasping slightly for breath, gun still trained on him.

"I'm gonna keep my gear and I'm gonna go, alright? You do nothin' until I'm gone."

Hehe. I leaned in close.

"Oh, and make sure to reconsider before you threaten me again. I have friends in some pretty high places who wouldn't mind gettin' their hands dirty. You try this shit again and I'll make sure you end up in a box at the bottom of Butcher Bay, capiche? And you don't scare me, not one fuckin' bit. You shoulda been in the 20s, now that's where the real scary men were."

I holstered my pistol and stowed my knife. Right, time to go see if this shit was connected in some way. I gave Anthea a glance.

"Doll? You stay safe, alright? I'll be back soon."

With that, I left. Not like I wanted to stay, Jesus. Ruzghul stank.

-----

"Alright, so, Ted, Alonzo and Hurk, was it?"

I racked the slide of the pump shotty so graciously provided by the family and slung it on my shoulder. Damn this was a lotta heat we was carrying. Between the four of us we had two pump shotguns, four pistols, two assault rifles and a Typewriter. I had a shotgun and a trusty Typewriter with me, but the other two goons had elected to be more modern. One of those newfangled plastic dealios.

Hey, a bullet hose's a bullet hose, alright?

We were just out of the mansion, heading for a small sedan parked out in the driveway. Transport, guys and guns were so graciously provided today by the Martovanni family. I knew I couldn't return to the home for a while, Ruzghul would be way too pissed after that little stunt I'd just pulled, so instead I focused solely on the plan. As we approached the car, I stopped at the back door.

"Alright fellas, so recap of the plan. We are heading to Santa Somabra Power Station. It's down near the Bay, god knows how they get energy from that thing, but we're gonna run in there and jump start it again. Right now the city's a warzone, with who knows what down on those streets. Ted, you're our driver, and you're gonna need to be on fuckin' point tonight, you know that right?"

The lanky Caucasian man nodded and I continued.

"Right, Alonzo, Hurk, you two are with me when we reach the power station. God knows that we aren't technicians but we sure as hell know how to kill things. Expect a lotta assholes out there who've got our names written on their hands or bats or what-fuckin'-ever they have. We shoot to kill, no questions asked, alright? If they're undead, aim for the noggin'. Remove the brain, drop 'em stone cold, just like those zombie movies."

The other two guys nodded as they got into the car. I hopped in myself, behind the driver, and we took off into the night.

About an hour of dodging and weaving through the dark streets later, we got up to the outer gates of the power station. The whole place was dark, save for the shreds of emergency lighting that were scattered about the place. Dirty, dim orange lights that probably hadn't seen use since the last power outage, and that was decades ago when some rat ate through wiring and zapped itself to death. Today, though, I could hear the chaos unfolding inside. This shit was serious.

I disembarked from the car, Alonzo and Hurk following suit. As they moved forward I hung back to give a word to Ted.

"Alright pal, me 'n the guys are gonna head in there. You stay right here, engine off, lay low. You got a radio, right?"

The man nodded silently and held up a small walkie talkie. I smirked and patted him on the shoulder.

"Atta boy. We'll keep in touch, but stay outta sight, alright? Anything happens you holler and get the hell outta dodge, come back for us later."

"You got it Andy."

The man rolled up the window and hunkered down in his seat as I moved off. My shotgun slapped gently against my back as I jogged up to rejoin the other two who were busy "checkin' and clearin' " the front gate area. The main driveway ended up in a parking lot for employees and visitors, and right now there weren't a lotta vehicles, save for one or two cars, presumably night shift workers. They were totalled, though, one was on fire while the other was a smashed up wreck. Hurk ambled up to the one that wasn't on fire and ducked down to have a look inside. I was past him when he stood.

"Nada."

I gripped my Tommy gun tighter and nodded. That meant there were at least two civilians inside. Now I'm not for shootin' people randomly or nothin', but these two were gonna be a hassle. If we found 'em alive, more chores for us. Personally I would've preferred 'em dead, as cruel as that sounds.

The parking lot led to a walkway that went up onto a large, wide catwalk, similar to a small footbridge of sorts that wound its way to the main lobby. With military precision Alonzo and Hurk took the rear, while I was hard-pressed to get the two bozos moving faster. Shit like this didn't need this kinda procedure, god dammit.

After a minute I got tired of their antics and turned around.

"Now listen you two, we gotta move fast, alright? Like it or not we're on a time limit here, so either you two go do your own thing, or you stick on my ass and stay there until we get into trouble."

Alonzo shot his buddy a puzzled look. The other guy shrugged, as if to say "ah what the hell he's got a point" and the two of them formed up just behind me, matching my pace as I moved forward again.

What was ahead of us, we didn't know. But hopefully it wouldn't be too hard to fight.

After all, how difficult could a few zombies be when you had the benefit of hot lead?

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