The Social Media Murder Corp

by Stephen Signorelli

  “Auntie Yuki from this point on please refer to me as ‘Destruction’ and not Gabriela ok?”

  “Destruction? Is that your code name?”

  “It’s my soul name. Marcela’s is ‘Danger’ that is how we refer to each other.”

  “Ok Mistress Destruction-“

  “Just ‘Destruction’ Auntie Yuki, and you need a name!”

  “Name me then my dearest one.”

  “Your name is ‘Serpent’ remember?”

  Underneath her mask Yuki smiled.

  “THAT I have never forgotten.”

  They made their way through the carnage to the entrance of the bunker.

  “Door is open, the explosions must have killed most if not all of the men on the upper levels, but be cautious, by now they are working their way up.”

  “We have like 20 minutes or so before any serious response units arrive, let’s go Serpent.”

  Serpent went first, her CZ 700 sniper rifle ready to cut down anyone she saw. Destruction came up behind her and checked the corners.

  “Clear.”

  “Clear.”

  The two women continued to advance slowly into the bunker, encountering nothing but dead charred bodies.

  “Clear.”

  “Clear.”

  “Stairwell ahead.”

  “Check. Flash bang.”

  “Check. Deploying.”

  The flash bang went off.

  “Clear. Descend.”

  “Check.”

  The two women descended the stairwell.

  “M+2 minutes”

  “Check.”

  “Movement detected. Ahead, 10 meters, 4 targets. 2 and 2 formation.”

  “Check. Frag.”

  “Frag deployed.”

  Serpent rolled a fragmentation grenade down the hall. It exploded and sent shrapnel tearing through the bodies of the 4 men waiting for them. The two women proceed forward.

  “Targets eliminated. No hostiles detected.”

  “Serpent this is odd, I expected more resistance.”

  “The explosion should not have killed so many in the lower levels.”

  “Agreed. Something isn’t right.”

  “Proceed with caution.”

  The two women advanced deeper into the bunker.

  “Stairwell.”

  “Check. Hold position.”

  Destruction studied the stairwell, as if trying to sense something.

  “Serpent, something is off. This should be where they all should be assembled to ambush us.”

  “Agreed. Their tactics are odd.”

  “Proceed, but we need to hurry up. It’s M+9 minutes.”

  In an instant, the emergency lights all went out, plunging the bunker into total darkness. The eyes of the masks the women were wearing shown like targets.

  “DOWN!!!!” Destruction screamed.

  In a flash bullets whizzed by the two women’s heads. The walls exploded with gunfire and ricochets as Banga and Ajani opened fire unseen in the darkness. Serpent and Destruction rolled to one side and attempted to find cover.

  “FLASHBANG DEPLOYED!”

  Destruction hurled a flash bang towards the source of the gunfire then flipped in the opposite direction. The flash bang went off and her and Serpent re-positioned themselves.

  “Fuck!” Destruction shouted.

  “I don’t like you using such language,” Serpent replied.

  “I am sorry Auntie Serpent,” Destruction sighed.

  Banga dropped from the ceiling in front of Destruction. He kicked her hard in the shoulder. She grabbed his leg and tried to flip him over, but he was too strong.

  Ajani grabbed Serpent by the legs and tried dragging her backwards. She flipped over and slammed her fist against his head. He twisted and brought down his k-bar onto her chest, which she blocked with her katana that she unsheathed from her back.

  Banga grabbed Destruction by the head and started to squeeze her skull. The mask started to crack as he increased pressure. She brought her knees up again and again into his crotch, but it was having no effect. Banga flung Destruction against the wall in the darkness. He grabbed her and threw her down again, kicking her.

  Serpent and Ajani engaged in the knife/sword fight in the darkness. Serpent had done this many times before, but this man Ajani was frighteningly fast.

  “You must be Yuki Morita, Stepan’s Yakuza assassin,” Ajani said as he slashed at Serpent.

  “You shall not speak my Master’s name, you are unworthy,” she stated as she blocked his attacks.

  “You are lucky the Bell did not take us with him that night, you would all be dead already.”

  “Your master died a coward, by his own hands, instead of like a true warrior,” Serpent spat as she tried to eviscerate Ajani.

  “You lie!!!” Ajani yelled as he furiously tried to break through Serpent’s defenses.

  Banga continued to pummel Destruction. She tried vainly to defend herself but he was far too strong.

  “Stupid child, you will come back to Tirana to answer for what you have done,” he said as he kicked her in the chest.

  Under her mask, Destruction spit up blood. She felt ribs break and her breathing was sharp and painful. She began to realize she was, for the first time, outmatched. And for the first time, she was frightened.

  “I can sense your fear, you have always had it easy. Now suddenly you are up against a professional. What you do, all your activities, they are just a hobby for you. For us, this is a full time job,” Banga laughed.

  Banga grabbed Destruction and ripped her mask off. He took a good look at her face and peered into her eyes.

  “I do not see a soul. The Bell was right, you ARE demons from hell,” Banga said with a whisper.

  “Actually, we are fallen angels,” came a voice from behind Banga.

  The Rwandan whirled, dropping Destruction. He drew his pistols only to have a shotgun shoved in his face.

  “Oh things sure have gotten fuzzy,” Danger grinned, her eyes glowing red.

  Just then Ajani came flying into the hall, smashing into the wall. His bloodied and beaten body crumpled to the floor with a moan.

  “Brother,” he croaked as he looked up at Banga.

  “We have failed brother, but we will die together, I am ready,” Banga stated as he closed his eyes.

  Serpent walked out of the darkness.

  “Mistress Marcela!” she shouted.

  “Auntie Yuki!” Danger cried happily.

  “Why….won’t….you…all…use…your…soul…names?” Destruction said as she coughed up blood.

  “DESTRUCTION!” Danger screamed as she dropped the shotgun and dived to the floor to her sister.

  “Don’t even think about it,” Serpent said as she covered Banga with her pistol.

  Danger cradled her sister and cried uncontrollably.

  “I knew you’d come for me, I missed you!!! My precious demon goddess I love you so much!”

  Destruction smiled and looked up at her sister.

  “I love you but please, stop hugging me so tight my ribs are broken.”

  Danger looked at her sister and leaned in to kiss her.

  “Wait, I have blood in my mouth,” Destruction said.

  “I don’t care,” Danger said quietly as she kissed her sister deep. She tasted Destruction’s blood in her mouth as their tongues danced. Danger swallowed every drop of her sister’s life essence as they kissed.

  “I knew you’d come for me,” Danger said softly.

  “You are the focus of my universe, I would storm the gates of creation for you,” she replied quietly.

  The two sisters looked into each other’s eyes, neither one of them blinking. Banga could swear their eyes glowed red as they stared into one another, it was almost as if Danger was healing or re-charging her sister.

  “My love will heal you and recharge your soul,” Danger whispered.

  “My demon goddess, my twin flame,” Destruction replied softly.

  “
This reunion is touching, but I am afraid it ends here,” Turtle Neck said as he stepped out of the darkness pointing his .45 at the twins. Behind him, black clad armored men with tactical shotguns emerged and covered the group, creating a kill zone.

  “How?” Banga asked.

  “It’s called waiting until both sides nearly kill each other. Playing possum, defense, whatever, it worked. Now I have all five of you. Though to be honest, I was expecting only four,” Turtle Neck grinned.

  “I can cut these men down before they can pull the trigger,” Serpent said defiantly.

  “Probably, but your precious girls will not survive, and I am willing to bet you will NOT gamble with their lives. As for you two, apparently you were all hype and not much substance,” Turtle Neck sighed.

  “This scene has not played out yet,” Banga growled.

  “Oh but it has, there is no way out for any of you except locked in a level black facility for the rest of eternity!” Turtle Neck shouted.

  “Who’s going to feed Mr. Fluffywoogums?” Danger asked sadly.

  “What?” Turtle Neck asked.

  “Our cat, who will feed him,” Danger replied.

  “I do not give a flying rat’s ass fuck who feeds your goddamn cat you little whore!” Turtle Neck shouted.

  “Do not talk to the young Mistress that way,” Serpent said softly.

  “What? Oh fuck you, I don’t even know who the fuck YOU are!”

  “You are going to die,” Destruction said weakly.

  Turtle Neck looked down at her in shock.

  “Oh I am? And exactly HOW is that going to happen you little bitch?”

  “Do you honestly think we would not have a plan B?” Destruction said with a grin.

  “Oh and what is plan B? Dropping more airliners on our heads?” Turtle Neck mocked.

  “No, not even close,” Destruction laughed as she pushed a button on her waist.

  The area was suddenly filled with a noxious gas that seem to explode from Destruction’s backpack. Turtle Neck grabbed his throat, a look of horror on his face, as he fell to the ground gasping. The armed men holding them at gunpoint also began convulsing and fell to the floor.

  As the gas filled the area, Danger grabbed Destruction and pulled her up.

  “OUCH! My fucking ribs!” Destruction howled.

  “Language please, mistress,” Serpent chimed in.

  “We don’t have long and we have to get out of here, neither of us is fit for any more heavy duty combat,” Danger gasped as she lifted her sister up.

  “Elixir-7, you used Elixir-7,” Banga said in astonishment, “How did you get immune?”

  Danger pointed her gun at Banga’s head.

  “Did you think we ignored all of your traditions?” she growled.

  “Our Papa took good care of us,” Destruction groaned.

  “It takes years,” Banga stated.

  “We inhaled a LOT ok dude?” Danger said crossly.

  “Mistresses, should I kill these two now?” Serpent asked.

  “Yes,” Danger replied.

  “Wait!” Ajani shouted.

  Serpent took no notice as she shot Ajani in the head. Banga screamed as she turned and shot him in the chest, blowing his heart in two.

  “Overhyped,” Danger said while shaking her head.

  The three women made their way upwards, killing any survivors they came across. Destruction continued to cough up blood as her sister carried her.

  “There sounds like a lot of people,” Destruction coughed as Danger dragged her along.

  “After what we did I can imagine there would be,” Serpent replied.

  “Did you really drop an airplane onto this place? Danger asked.

  “Two 747’s to be precise,” Destruction said coughing.

  “Oh my GOD sis that is so awesome, you totally would have done anything to rescue me,” Danger cried happily.

  “Of course, you are the focus of my universe,” Destruction told her.

  The group made its way to the final stairwell.

  “Ahead is the exit. No doubt by now there is literally an army outside. The instant we step foot out of this bunker, they will be upon us,” Destruction said sternly.

  “There are going to be a lot of repercussions from all of this. The government will use this as a pretext to shut down the Internet and declare martial law. They have been just looking for an excuse and we, unfortunately, just gave them one,” Danger sighed.

  “I swore a blood oath to protect you both. I will honor that oath to the end. Little ones, I am tired of my life. I am tired of forgetting things and the headaches and the memories I cannot hold on to anymore. I want to be re-united with my beloved husband,” Serpent said as she bowed her head.

  Yuki took off her helmet and looked lovingly at the twins.

  “You have both grown and matured far beyond anything I could have ever helped you with. You do not need me any longer, you can stand on your own now.”

  “What? NO! Auntie Yuki don’t say that! We will always need you! You are the only family we have left!” Destruction said as she began to cry.

  “Auntie Yuki, I don’t know what you are thinking, but please let’s just get out of here and go back to Cambodia and just grow old,” Danger sobbed.

  “My little ones, my dearest little ones, I will never truly leave you. I will watch over you from beyond, just as your father and mother do so now. Please, I want this. I want the pain to stop. And I want to see my husband again. I have earned this.”

  The three women, the most dangerous humans alive on the planet, shared one last long loving hug. They held each other in silence as the outside world burned.

  “I am very proud of you both. Now, take off your armor, throw down your weapons, and run,” Yuki said as she put her helmet back on.

  “I love you Auntie Yuki,” Danger said, tears running down her eyes.

  “I love you so much Auntie Yuki,” Destruction added, tears flowing like waterfalls.

  “I love you both. So very much. Now, run!” Serpent shouted.

  The doors to the bunker flew open and the twins burst forth.

  Danger dragged Destruction as the carnage played out behind her. The scene was one of pure hell. The still raging fires of the two crashed jetliners, the smell of melting steel and burning fuel. The girls saw an assembled mob of soldiers, police, emergency workers, and medical personnel as they emerged from the bunker.

  “HELP US!” Danger yelled as she dragged Destruction behind her.

  “SURVIVORS! BUNKER DOOR!” one soldier screamed as he pointed to the bunker door.

  Just then Serpent emerged from the bunker, her guns blazing, as she fired into the assembled crowd, drawing their attention away from the fleeing girls.

  “SHOOTER! BUNKER DOOR! FIRE!” screamed every radio and com link at the scene.

  Serpent picked off soldier after soldier as a huge gunfight erupted around her. As she fired over the heads of the twins, the girls made their way further from the bunker door, and to freedom.

  “AUNTIE YUKI!” Danger screamed as she saw Serpent get shot.

  “Danger, it’s what she wanted. It was her idea. She wanted a warrior’s death.”

  “BUT-“

  “Danger, listen to me, this is her final act of protecting us, she is keeping her promise to Papa. Let her die in battle, fighting, spilling the blood of her enemies, instead of dying in our house of old age.”

  Danger looked back one last time and closed her eyes.

  “Goodbye Auntie Yuki,” she cried.

  As Serpent was gunned down by the assembled police and military forces, she smiled under her mask. She knew her precious twins were safe and would remain that way. She thanked God for letting her keep her promise to Stepan. And as the bullets tore into her, she spoke out loud for the last time.

  “My precious husband, tonight you will hold me again.”

  As she hit the ground, dozens of bullets in her, her internal organs torn to shreds, her last site was of D
anger and Destruction…no, Gabriella and Marcela, being hurried away by men with guns and off to safety, the men never knowing who they really were.

  She smiled, and she passed to the other side and into the arms of her waiting husband.

  Danger and Destruction were huddled inside an ambulance where they were attended to by a group of very haggard paramedics.

  “Just lie still, you appear to have several broken ribs.”

  “Ok. Ouch, it hurts.”

  “You, you had surgery recently?”

  “Yes, I think some of my staples were pulled out.”

  “We are going to get you both to the hospital as soon as they clear a path for us ok?”

  “Please don’t separate my sister and me!”

  “We won’t, I promise.”

  “Why were you two in there? What happened?”

  Danger looked back at the fiery scene as the doors of the ambulance closed.

  “Balance,” she whispered as the doors shut.

  Later

  The news coverage had been intense. It had been non-stop coverage for almost a week, 24/7 of the carnage. The Social Media Murder Corp had finally been destroyed, in a hellfire of crashed jetliners and gunfire. Pundits and experts and talking heads of all types had debated and argued and tried to analyze what had been discovered. The reddit AMA had been a lie, The Social Media Murder Corp was not two women, but rather an underground terrorist organization operating out of a secret bunker and run by a former CIA Agent named Barton Miklos codenamed: TurtleNeck. Evidence was found on the bunker’s servers of their plans of attack, bank accounts, logistics, and membership. Three assassins of the Social Media Murder Corp were killed by law enforcement at bunker, now being called “Ground Zero 2”. The as yet unidentified trio, two men of African origin, and one woman of Japanese extract, were believed to be the ones most responsible for the acts of terror that had been the hallmark of the SMMC for so long.

  Lost amongst all this is the incredible story that there may have been 2 hostages involved in the incident. Witnesses say the two young women were treated for injuries at the scene before being taken away by ambulance. However, there is no record of anyone arriving at any local hospital and the supposed ambulance and EMT’s have never been found.