Illegal King

by Mason Dakota

  “Yes, but you weren’t supposed to know that. Takes the fun out of it,” I complained.

  “Griffon, please. Everyone knew,” she said as she worked a strap on a hip holster.

  I sighed, slipped my legs out from under the bedsheets and wobbled to my feet. My injured leg felt like moving a log except the log was attached to my body. “This…this could prove fatal for both of us, you know,” I groaned.

  She rolled her eyes and said, “If you don’t want to head out, we could always stay here and talk about last night…and your feelings.”

  “You know, I think I’m feeling better already. Why waste strength sitting here all day?” I quickly asked as I threw on my sweater.

  She giggled. “Well…since I’m clearly the muscle here, that makes you the brains in this rogue operation.”

  “You think you’re the muscle?” I joked as I slipped on the overalls with a single hand.

  She stopped what she was doing, glared at me, and said, “Should I sweep that leg of yours? Now tell me how we are getting into this Convention.”

  I buckled the strap of the overalls, feeling ridiculous in my outfit, and asked, “Well…your contract on my head is still active, correct?”

  “Today’s the last day. After that it expires to another bounty hunter. Why, what were you thinking?” she said.

  I smiled and said, “That it’s time you earned your pay.”

  Seventy-Five

  “Ma’am you are not authorized to be here,” said the security officer outside the Convention Center.

  We had taken Evelyn’s car, the one she had used to get to Chicago. I sat in the passenger seat wearing a pair of cheap handcuffs around my wrists and thinking about the sad reality of my situation.

  I was unarmed, injured, dying of a flesh-eating virus, bound, and being led straight into a place with some of the most powerful people on earth protected by an army that wanted to kill me all while I hoped to stop a genocidal plague from being unleashed.

  Can things really get worse?

  My ugly sweater and the pictures of kittens on my sling would suggest yes.

  “I’m here to turn in a bounty and collect my payment,” said Evelyn. She pulled out a datapad and offered it to the soldier at the window. “My credentials and contract are right here.”

  “If what you are saying is true ma’am, then you should report to the police headquarters and turn in your bounty there.”

  “You mean the headquarters run by mobsters and gang bangers and risk having them take my bounty? You can’t be serious. How do you expect me to collect there?”

  “I have no interest in how you collect your bounty. What I’m concerned about is you blocking my gate and trespassing on Imperial property. Now turn your car around and leave,” ordered the soldier. I wanted to say something, but it would only make things worse for Evelyn. I had to trust that she could talk her way through and trust she wouldn’t sell me out for a profit.

  It’s reasons like this why I have trust issues.

  “I don’t think you read that document, officer. My name is Evelyn Chambers. I was assigned to capture and deliver the vigilante known as Shaman directly to his majesty. That is who I have with me. My orders, straight from Emperor Adam Rythe himself, were to bring Shaman directly to him and nobody else. Are you willing to assist me in getting the Emperor what he wants, or will I have to report this to him when I do see him?”

  The soldier, face stern and jaw set, turned his head to finally look at me. His face scrunched up in disgust and he backed away from the car and asked, “Does he have the virus?”

  Evelyn looked at me and then back at the officer and said, “Oh…right. I forgot to mention that. You might want to keep your men backed away. He’s nasty enough as it is without the whole face thing.” She winced for show—maybe not—and said to the officer, “You don’t want to look like him. He was ugly enough before the virus. Now it’s worse.”

  The officer backed away a few more steps and gathered with a couple of other soldiers farther from the car. The soldier hit a button on his wrist and said, “Sir, we have a situation at the security gate.”

  “What is it, Private?” snapped someone on the other end. Whoever it was, he sounded annoyed by the interruption.

  “We have two Outcasts—a male and a female bounty hunter with a verified contract from the Emperor. She is here with her bounty and is requesting entry to receive her reward.”

  “This isn’t going to work,” I hissed to Evelyn. She shushed me and focused on listening in to the conversation between the guardsman and his superior.

  “Who’s the bounty?” asked the voice on the other line.

  The soldier looked back at me and said into his radio, “She claims it’s Shaman.”

  There was a long silence. My heart raced faster and faster with each passing second. Finally a new speaker, different than the aggravated one from before said, “This is Commander Sal. Am I correct in saying that you have a bounty hunter at your gate requesting entry to deliver Shaman for the Emperor?”

  I saw the soldier, suddenly terrified—which made me terrified—lick his lips and say, “Y—yes, sir. What would you like us to do?”

  “Open the gate and escort this bounty hunter and her captive inside. Bring them around back and we will process the captive and have them locked up until the Emperor is free.”

  “Look at that. You’re famous Griffon,” whispered Evelyn.

  “Yes, sir,” said the guardsman. He looked at me one more time and said, “Sir, one other thing. The female claims Shaman has the virus.”

  Another long silence. “Sir?” asked the guardsman.

  “Continue with your orders, guardsman. We will make the necessary precautions,” said Commander Sal over the radio.

  “Yes, sir,” said the officer. He pointed out before Evelyn’s car, where the gate was opening and a soldier on a motorcycle pulled in front of us. “Follow this soldier. He will lead you to where you need to be.”

  “Thank you,” shouted Evelyn as she rolled up her window, put the car in gear, and followed the motorcycle.

  “See? That wasn’t so hard,” she said.

  “You could’ve refrained from the comments about my looks,” I grumbled.

  “I had to sell it,” she said. The smile on her lips told me she enjoyed it.

  Slowly we moved away from the security gate. My heart pounded with…excitement? Anxiety? Fear? I wasn’t sure. I just knew my racing heart only killed me faster, a reasonable reaction, all things considered.

  Just another day in the life of Griffon Nightlock.

  I turned toward Evelyn with a smile as I whispered, “Still time to bail if you want.”

  She kept her eyes straight ahead as she said, “Nah, you’re stuck with me.” Then she turned to look at me, winked, and said, “Besides, I have plans to buy a lot of body lotion and jewelry with the paycheck I am about to receive.”

  Then she giggled at her own joke. I hoped she was just joking.

  We were led around back to a loading dock. A large metal garage door opened upon our approach. Inside was a host of armed men carrying blaster rifles ready to fire.

  “They aren’t taking any chances with you,” said Evelyn.

  “I take it as a compliment.”

  As soon as we pulled inside the building the metal door slammed shut. We were trapped and the soldiers who moved to surround the vehicle only cemented that feeling.

  An officer wearing a suit of grays, blacks, and reds stepped out. His hair was silver and cut so thin and short he looked like a bald man sprayed with metallic paint. He stood with his arms behind his back and his back straight. His uniform was covered in dozens of small medals and pins upon his left breast and there were gold stripes on portions of his uniform that I inferred were marks of status.

  “So this is Commander Sal,” I whispered.

  Commander Sal raised a gloved hand as we pulled in and Evelyn parked the car. “Out of the vehicle Miss Chambers.”

 
Evelyn, rushed by some invisible force coming off the Noble Commander, obeyed and stepped out. Some soldiers made a move for my door. Evelyn spun on them and pointed a finger at them as she said, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, boys!”

  “Miss Chambers!” barked Commander Sal, angry now, “Did you as an Outcast just threaten my men?”

  Whoa, this guy is tightly wound.

  Evelyn raised her hands apologetically and said, “No, sir. I merely aim to protect your men. This man has the virus. I don’t wish any of your men to become infected.”

  “My men have taken precautions for that,” said Commander Sal.

  Meaning they have the cure.

  “Duly noted, but why don’t you allow me to transport my captive where you want him to be? For security reasons after all so your men are not at risk. I prefer it that way actually. I’m not a fan of my business slipping away before I get paid,” said Evelyn.

  The Commander cocked his head to the side. He appeared to think over the matter before saying, “My men will check to see if he is armed. After that you will have him follow us to where he will be detained. Once there you will receive your payment and be escorted out of the building.”

  “I can agree to that,” said Evelyn. She dipped her head back into the car and barked at me like some general, “Get out of my car, scum!” She pulled off angry bounty hunter far too easily and far too well for my comfort. I think she rather enjoyed shouting orders at me.

  I didn’t have to worry about struggling with my broken arm to open the door. Some nice soldiers did that for me. They threw open the door so hard that metal screeched. They reached in with gloved hands, every bit of flesh concealed beneath red battle armor, and grabbed me forcefully—by the broken arm—and threw me out of the car.

  I fell into a heap and cried out in pain. My left leg, the injured one, locked up in horrible cramps. My arm felt like the soldiers broke it all over again. I tasted blood on my lips. White pockets flashed in my eyes. My skin felt hot and waxy. I wanted to vomit. I was dying before everyone’s eyes. And someone—some people—were chuckling.

  “Are you trying to kill him? If he dies before I get paid I expect my paycheck to come from you!” shouted Evelyn. Soft hands grabbed my good arm and I was lifted back to my feet. Evelyn hesitated but still committed the thoughtless action of dusting me off and said, “Now check him, safely, so we can get this over with.”

  One of the soldiers that had thrown me glanced at Commander Sal, who nodded in approval, and pulled out a scanner. He scanned me from head to toe, finding no weapon or anything suspicious upon me. When the scanner beeped the all clear signal, Evelyn said, “Good. Now please, show me where we are taking this prisoner.”

  “In a hurry Miss Chambers?” asked Commander Sal.

  “This job has a time limit I aim to meet. Besides, the sooner I get paid the sooner I can be out of Chicago. This city’s on the verge of combusting and I don’t want to be here when it blows.”

  The Commander raised his eyebrow at that comment and Evelyn, maybe a bit flustered and silently pressured, said, “Not that you aren’t doing a great job at preventing such a situation.” The eyebrow lowered.

  I don’t like this guy!

  “Follow me,” he said. He turned on his heel, with every movement and step in perfect unison and measurement to the last and began walking away toward some door. A squad of soldiers followed.

  Evelyn took my arm and whispered, “This might actually work.”

  I spit blood on the ground and whispered, “Sure.” I wasn’t comfortable with hope when armed soldiers escorted me to a holding cell.

  “Try to relax,” whispered Evelyn. Her subtle touch moved with perfect sleight of hand, slipping a small key and radio ear bud into the pocket of my sling. “We can’t have you getting yourself killed before I get paid, can we?” I glared at her in response.

  We limped along behind Commander Sal, his armed guards surrounding us, until he led us to a room deeper into the building with nothing more than an empty chair inside.

  “This will suffice until the Emperor finishes with his duties,” said Commander Sal as he waved us into the room. Evelyn lead me inside. Carrying most of my weight as I leaned on her, she limped to the chair and set me down.

  “You seem to have suffered a number of injuries, Miss Chambers,” said Commander Sal.

  “Comes with the trade. He certainly wasn’t easy to catch,” said Evelyn.

  Commander Sal eyeballed me, studying my injuries. “You seem to be able to handle yourself, though.”

  “People always underestimate a woman. Now about my payment.”

  “Yes. That. Come with me. Your payment is kept in a safe in my office. I’ve been permitted to be the one to give it to you.”

  He didn’t wait for Evelyn’s comment before he turned and walked out. Evelyn glanced at me. I stared at her in shock. I knew what I saw in the Commander’s eye. There was a darkness there, a corruption I had grown far too familiar with in Chicago—in people like Kraine and Alexandra. I wanted to say something to Evelyn—to warn her, but the soldiers in the room silenced me. All I could do was stare and sit there horrified.

  Evelyn only scrunched her face in confusion. She turned and left the room and with her the soldiers went, too. I was alone. Evelyn was with a host of armed soldiers. And I knew Commander Sal wasn’t going to pay her anything. He was going to kill her.

  And I was trapped in this cell unable to prevent it.

  Seventy-Six

  Once I was alone in the room I slipped the ear bud and key out of my sling. I unlocked the handcuffs, not the most comfortable task when one of your arms is broken, and stuffed the ear bud in my ear and activated it.

  “Well, hello ladies and gentlemen. How are we this fine day?” I asked. I tried to sound snarky and confident, but the cough at the end took that away. There was blood on my sleeve from the cough.

  “Griffon!” barked Chamberlain in the ear bud. He actually sounded surprised. Maybe Evelyn was wrong in her judgment.

  “The one and only,” I mused.

  “You’re here, aren’t you?”

  “I couldn’t let you have all the fun.” Someone groaned on the other end.

  “You are supposed to be resting in bed! You could injure yourself worse if you’re not careful,” snapped Alison over the line.

  I stood up and cringed with pain, the dizzying kind that comes from moving too fast when bleeding. I looked down and saw the smallest dark crimson blot appearing on my pants leg. “It might be too late for that,” I groaned.

  “I’m at least happy you are here. We can use the help,” said Michael this time.

  Good to know at least the spy is happy I’m here.

  “I am not happy, though not for the shared reasons of Mr. and Mrs. Blair. I simply don’t like you, and your presence here puts our work in jeopardy,” said Erikson.

  “Nobody asked you,” I growled.

  “That’s enough you two! We don’t have time to fight. Griffon, tell us where you are,” said Chamberlain.

  I moved to the doorway but hesitated before opening it. Commander Sal would no doubt have stationed a guard outside the door. My last fight with one of the Emperor’s soldiers nearly killed me. Another fight would finish the job.

  “Currently a holding cell. Evelyn and I pretended she was turning in Shaman in order to enter the building.”

  “And how did that go for you,” Erikson asked.

  I grumbled, “We were greeted by a Commander Sal who dumped me in a holding cell, and took Evelyn back to his office.”

  “Great job getting captured,” mocked Erikson.

  I bit my tongue to avoid lashing back out.

  “Commander Sal? I know him. He’s in charge of the battalion the Emperor brought with him, the one who’s enforcing martial law over the city and burned the Stinks,” said Michael.

  “And he’s got Evelyn and is going to kill her,” I said. “Except I’m not sure if Evelyn knows. I need a way out of here so I
can save her.”

  “Erikson and I are outside the room where the Emperor is meeting with several international government leaders. We’re working as press coverage. Neither of us are able to leave to do anything,” said Alison.

  “Michael and I are hiding out in the security office. We’ve tapped into their system and are looking for Richard,” said Chamberlain.

  “Were there no guards?” I asked.

  “Chamberlain took them out. Pretty cool actually. He took their heads and bashed them together,” said Michael.

  “Are you able to escape and get to her?” Asked Chamberlain, ignoring Michael’s compliment.

  “Maybe if I—”

  There was a soft thump of some force hitting the door, followed by a scuffle, a sharp sparking noise, and finally a collapsing thud. Then keys rattled and I heard the locks on the door disengage. I stood there unarmed by the door and was free from my bonds. Any soldier who walked in would see me as a threat and shoot me. I grabbed the chair with my unbroken hand, ready to sling it like a clumsy club. The lock clicked free and the door opened. In walked Evelyn.

  She glanced from me to the chair I held and asked, “Were you about to throw that chair at me?”

  “I…uh…”

  “You’re as rude as the men outside.”

  I looked past Evelyn to see two unconscious soldiers on the ground. There were scorch marks where Evelyn’s stun baton had struck the armor near their necks. I remembered how my own fight with a single soldier turned out and couldn’t help but whistle in appreciation.

  Evelyn had skills.

  “What about Commander Sal?” I asked.

  She scoffed and said, “Him? The rudest of them all. Tried to pull a gun on me instead of paying me. Had to stun him.” She pulled out one of the soldier’s blaster pistols, handed it to me and said, “We should probably run before more come.”

  I took the pistol in my left hand, felt it get comfortable in my grip, and said, “Lead the way.”

  Seventy-Seven