The Face of a Rogue

by L T Anderson

  Johnny finally popped the top on his beer bottle. He poured the beer into a tall frosted mug, allowing the head on the beer to grow no more than three-quarters of an inch. He turned and grabbed a triple shot glass and filled it with whiskey. He drank half the shot and dropped the small glass into his mug of beer before quickly gulping half the mug. “You’re talking about an assassination.”

  Curtis crossed his legs and sipped his ice water. “I prefer to refer to it as a necessary change of leadership.”

  Xander stayed behind the bar with the olives and leaned on the countertop on his elbows. He rolled an olive around in his mouth before slicing it in two between his front teeth. “Levi is surrounded by heavy security. It will be difficult to get next to him—”

  “Bullshit,” Curtis said. “The four of us have all been in meetings with Levi without a guard in sight.”

  “The guards are always right outside the door, Curtis,” Silver said. “Do you have a method in mind?”

  Johnny stepped to the living area and flopped down on the sofa again. “I could choke him out and nobody would hear a sound.”

  “You’ve been here longer than any of us, Logan,” Xander said. “Why haven’t you done it already?”

  Johnny shifted in his seat. He glanced back and forth between Curtis and Silver. “I…was…building my team.” He sipped his beer.

  Silver chuckled. “Team? And what team would that be, Logan? Who would follow you?”

  Johnny sat forward. “Lemme tell you something. I got a team of SOUL Chybrid youth in Tremayne that’ll wipe my ass if I give the word.”

  “Might I remind you,” Xander said, raising his glass. “The SOUL Chybrids are courtesy of me, Mr. Logan.”

  Johnny tipped his chin to Xander. “So why haven’t you used your power against Levi, Doctor?”

  Silver swirled the ice cubes in her drink. “Because he doesn’t have any power.” She eyed Johnny. “Just like you.”

  Xander placed his drink on the bar top and shoved his hands into his pockets. “You say that because you have no idea what’s in my arsenal, Long. I have a device in my pocket that could kill you from here, right now. You’d never see it coming.” He smiled and sipped his martini. “You would merely cease to be.”

  “You all sound like the Three Stooges,” Curtis said. “You can sit here all night and trade barbs, or we can get serious.” He turned around in his chair. “Get over here and join the discussion, Rasmus. Standing over there doesn’t make you any less culpable or guilty.”

  Xander moved hesitantly around the end of the bar. “I’m not guilty of anything. We are having a discussion. Just between friends, no?”

  “The terms assassination and change of leadership were used in this friendly conversation, and your only response was to shove another olive into your mouth.” He turned back around as Xander meandered to the main living area. “You’re as guilty as anyone here. Now sit down.”

  “I’m not sure I like your tone, Curtis,” Silver said. “You think you’re some kind of leader?”

  Curtis set his glass on a side table and folded his hands behind his head. “I’m going to overlook your rudeness, Silver.” He looked across the coffee table at Xander and Johnny. “We’re all here because the Changers are in dire need of a leadership change. Can we all agree on that?”

  “I agree,” Xander said. “But Levi holds all the cards.” He set his drink on the sofa’s armrest. “One…” He hooked one forefinger over the other. “He has a massive security team. Two, he has a supremely high approval rating from the citizens of the Underground.” Xander glanced at Silver. “What was the latest poll result? Seventy-eight percent? Seventy-nine?” He turned back to Curtis. “Three, he has intimate technical knowledge of the Underground and its operations. Four, he possesses the scientific knowledge of the Change process. Five, he is absolutely the master manipulator.” He looked around at the trio of traitors. “Need I go on?”

  “Ooh, I’m scared,” Silver said. She got up and sauntered to the bar. “Seriously, Rasmus. Are you trying to make him sound undefeatable?” She stepped behind the bar, set her highball glass in the sink and grabbed a clean one from the shelf. “All those assets you just named are held by everyone in this room.”

  “Yeah,” Johnny said, sitting forward. He held a hand up to Silver. “Hey, Long. Grab me another beer, will you?”

  Silver held an ice cube over her glass and stared at Johnny momentarily before dropping it into the glass. “Watch my lips, Logan. Get. Your. Own.” She mixed her drink and leaned on the bar top, facing the room.

  “So, Silver,” Curtis said. “There’s not one of us in this room that holds all the cards Xander just credited to Levi. Are you talking about a joint effort here? Care to explain yourself?”

  “Sure,” Silver said. “Not one person has to possess all those things. Once Levi’s gone, the new leader would merely need to surround herself with key people…” She held up a hand. “Loyal key people who have the knowledge and strength to assist the leader.”

  “Her?” Johnny snorted. “Sounds a little presumptuous to me.”

  “Ha!” Silver mock-laughed. “You think you could replace Levi? What do you have?” Her eyes darted around the room as if searching for an answer. “Brute strength?”

  “You’re a shit, Silver,” Johnny said. “If I kill Levi, you’ll report to me.”

  Silver tipped her glass to Johnny. “Okay, if you take him out I’ll give you that. You do have strength, but you don’t have the balls.”

  “I’m getting another beer.” Johnny got up from the couch and stomped to the bar. Silver moved around the other end and walked back to her chair.

  “And you do?” Curtis said.

  Silver held her glass loosely and slowly shook her head. “Oh, puh-lease!”

  Xander finished his martini with a long gulp. “Then, we are agreeing here and now that whomever of us ultimately kills Levi becomes the new Changers leader. And the rest of us must agree to subordinate ourselves to him?” He nodded to Silver. “Or her?”

  “Agreed,” Johnny and Curtis said in unison.

  “I’ll drink to that,” Silver said.

  Johnny started when his cell vibrated. His eyes widened as he slapped a hand over the right rear pocket of his slacks.

  Curtis turned in his seat again. “Thought we agreed to silence communications?”

  Johnny ignored the comment and answered his cell. He glanced up at the three Changers in his living room. “Uh, hang on a sec.”

  Xander raised an eyebrow. “You’re taking the call?”

  Johnny hurried around the bar. He held the phone to his ear and raised a finger to the group with his other hand as he sidestepped furniture on his way to the bedroom. “Be right back. This won’t take long. No security risk here.”

  Silver looked at Curtis. “Honestly, should we have agreed to follow him? You know. In case he’s the one? I mean, he didn’t even turn off his cell.”

  Curtis shrugged. “When you think about it, he’s the only one here that can risk a phone call.” He glanced around the room. “I mean, it wouldn’t be unusual to track him here. It’s his quarters.”

  “Ha,” Silver said. “My tracking chip is disabled. No one knows where I am unless I use my cell.”

  Xander set the empty olive jar on the side table. “How is your tracking chip disabled?”

  She smiled coyly. “You’re not the only scientific genius around here, Xander.”

  “Oh?” he said. “You’re a scientific genius now?”

  Silver leaned forward in the red velour chair, elbows on her knees. She lowered her voice. “Maybe not. But I am the master manipulator, not Levi as you so eloquently stated. I’ve got Levi wrapped around my pinkie. I’ve been closer to him than any of you.” She glanced at Curtis. “And I can do it again. Any time.”

  Curtis tipped his water glass to Silver, then to Xander.

  Silver sat back.

  Xander picke
d up the empty olive jar, glanced inside and put it back on the table.

  “Ahem.” Johnny’s exaggerated phlegm discharge broke the silence. He grinned and rubbed his hands together. “So. When are we gonna do the deed?”

  “We?” Curtis said, not looking back at Johnny. “You got a mouse in your pocket?”

  Johnny puffed up. “No.” He smiled, top and bottom teeth. “But I got a little man in my pocket.”

  Chapter 47

  Potshots

  Drew and Sydney struggled to keep up with Krystal and Ryker as they walked along the concrete sidewalk toward the Hangar.

  “Damn, Syd,” Drew said. “I didn’t realize these guys worked all hours.”

  “No kidding,” she said. “It’s after midnight. We should have been in bed an hour ago.”

  “Get used to it, guys,” Krystal said, not breaking stride.

  “Welcome to your vacation,” Ryker said.

  When they reached the Hangar, Krystal shoved the door open and stepped across the threshold in front of Ryker. The others followed.

  Drew gazed up at the ceiling as the four hurried across the polished concrete floor toward the door to the manufacturing plant. “Place has possibilities.”

  “Welders, inspection pits, electronic diagnostics,” Sydney said. “Contemporary vehicle repair with high-tech fabrication thrown in. I’m impressed.”

  “Wait’ll you guys see what you’re up against in the back,” Ryker said. “Tie your hair back.”

  Two heavy steel doors at the entrance to the manufacturing plant were propped open. The four entered the wide-open space and stopped momentarily. Krystal quickly surveyed the activity, then headed toward Felix and Thomas.

  Drew glanced at Sydney. “No rest for the weary around here, I guess.”

  “We’ve got approximately no time left,” Ryker said.

  Felix turned toward the quartet as they approached. He smiled. “Oh, Krystal! We’ve been looking forward to some additional support.” He peeked over her shoulder. “These must be the Bystanders you have told me about.”

  “Hey, Felix,” Krystal said. She turned to the couple. “This is Drew. This is Sydney. Guys, meet Dr. Felix Yaz. You will learn a lot from him. But right now he needs your knowledge and expertise.” She looked at Felix. “These guys have many assets and connections. Use them as you wish.”

  Felix nodded repeatedly. “Of course, of course. It’s nice to meet you two.”

  Krystal looked up at Ryker, then back to Felix. “We’ve got to go. There’s some activity in Tremayne we have to get a handle on. We’ll be in the Depot. Give us a call if you need anything.” She fixed her eyes on Felix. “Anything, right?”

  Felix nodded again. “Yes, of course, dear.” He watched the pair as they walked back through the steel double doorway. “They are good people,” he said to no one in particular.

  Drew gazed across to the far side of the plant. Geezer was covered in mud, directing a group of Punks who were busy cleaning and sorting what looked like body parts. He tipped his chin up. “What’s going on over there, Dr. Yaz?”

  Felix turned to look. “Oh. That’s Mr. Geezer. He is overseeing the inventory and cataloging of the mechanical Chybrids. His assigned task is integral to our success as we convert this area to a laboratory capable of developing the means to defeat the Changers.”

  Sydney scrunched her face. “I thought the Changers were defeated.”

  Felix nodded and placed a hand on Sydney’s forearm. “My dear, they are on the move again.”

  Drew studied the doctor’s face. “I hear you are the brains behind the development of the mechanical Chybrids that almost destroyed the Punks.”

  Felix smiled and looked into Drew’s eyes. “And I hear you are a computer genius with a souped-up four-wheel-drive pickup truck.”

  Drew didn’t blink. “I take it you’re familiar with computer programming languages. Say, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, PHP, C#, C++, and Objective-C?”

  Felix let out a rare belly laugh. “Languages of the past, son. From what I had heard, I believe I may have built you up to a much higher level in my mind.”

  Sydney looked up at Drew.

  “The basics, Doctor,” Drew said. “I’ll run circles around anyone in Scala, Go, Swift, Clojure, and Haskell, as well.”

  Felix stopped smiling. “That’s impressive, my boy. Do you know Elm, Rust, Kotlin—”

  “And Crystal and Elixir,” Drew said. “And anything else you can teach me. I have a short learning curve.”

  “Splendid,” Felix said. “Why bother with Elixir?”

  Drew smiled. “Pop quiz, Doctor? Much like Phoenix, Elixir provides excellent productivity without sacrificing performance.”

  “Very good,” Felix said. “I believe you will be a quick study when I teach you the computer programming language I have developed.”

  “And what’s that?” Drew said.

  “For the operation we are about to undertake, you will need to learn Felix.”

  “Never heard of it,” Drew said.

  “Of course you haven’t,” Felix said. “It is my own. The only other person in the world who knows this computer language is Levi Aldrich, the Changers’ leader.”

  Ace swiveled around in his chair at the comm console in the Depot.

  Krystal waved her hand as she and Ryker stepped into the room. “Hop off, bro. I want to talk to Nico.”

  “You got it, boss,” Ace said, sliding out of the high padded chair.

  Ryker sidled up next to Krystal as she slid into the seat vacated by Ace.

  “They’re gonna need some help,” Ace said.

  Krystal agreed. “You bet they are.” She pressed the talk button. “Nico, buddy. It’s Krystal. You copy?”

  “Go ahead, Krystal,” Nico said.

  She could tell he was shouting into his mic. “Nico, give me a quick report.”

  “Quick will take too long! We need help now!”

  “Nico. Buddy. Calm and easy. Tell me what’s happening.”

  “We’re surrounded, Krystal. Tons of construction vehicles. Excavators, scrapers, graders, dozers, trenchers and…humongous dump trucks. There must be a hundred, at least!”

  “What’s the issue?” Krystal said. “They’re construction vehicles.”

  The sound of sporadic gunfire sounded on the ceiling speaker as Nico keyed his mic again. “We’re under fire, Krystal. Every time we try to move, they shoot. It’s like they’re playing with us, but with real bullets!”

  Dion nodded at Ryker. “Get Lace on the phone.”

  “I’m on it,” Ryker said.

  Jimbo grabbed two leather jackets from the wall hook and tossed Winter’s to her. “Let’s go.”

  Winter caught the jacket and slung it over her shoulder. She looked back at Dion. “Get us four each to take with.”

  Dion pulled his cell from a pocket inside his vest and tapped a series of numbers. Pole-mounted speakers in the compound popped to life. Yellow strobes atop the poles lit up. Dion spoke into his cell. “Team One. Team One. Report to the compound. Report to the compound. Crew members one through eight. Crew members one through eight.”

  Krystal pressed the radio’s talk button. “Sit tight, buddy. We’re sending help.”

  Ryker set his cell on the bar top. “Putting you on speaker. Go ahead, Lace.”

  “Caught the radio talk, guys. Nico’s estimate is pretty accurate. Cassius and I parked in this new plot of land where the Changers are prepping for another subdivision. Once Nico, Adam and Joey arrived, construction stopped and these monster vehicles surrounded us. Sealed up all the exits.”

  “What about the gunfire?” Ryker said.

  “They’re taking potshots. It’s not an all-out attack. Like they’re toying with us. Problem is, we can’t drive these Cats outta here.”

  Dion turned around and manipulated a series of controls on a panel adjacent to the communications console. He glanced up at the w
all behind the bar. The main flat-screen monitor displayed an electronic map of North America. He zoomed in to the west sector, then down to Tremayne. “Looks like you guys got the trucks circled up, Lace.”

  “Yeah, Nico was on top of that. He gave the order to circle the wagons when he saw the Changers sealing up the exits. There’s ten of us in Cats, back to back in a circle. They each got three trucks inside. My second and third got squeezed out.”

  “I see the formation,” Dion said. “Got you guys on the map.”

  Krystal spun in her chair and jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “You’re up, Ace.”

  The intermittent gunfire continued. The piercing sound of ricocheting bullets were heard over the cell’s speaker.

  “Lace,” Krystal said. “Can you tell where the shots are coming from?”

  “We’re laying low right now. But it’s not every vehicle. Near as I can tell, it’s the dump trucks.”

  “They need a distraction.” Krystal glanced at Ace. “Get ahold of Jim and Winter. Use tac one. It’s secure, and I don’t trust we’re not being monitored.”

  “Hey, Ace,” Dion said. “Tell everyone else to keep away from the area until we can get those ten Cats outta there. No reinforcements at this time.” He turned back to the cell. “That’s all, Lace.”

  Ryker disconnected the call and ran a hand over his head. “Well?”

  “Good teamwork, everybody,” Dion said.

  Krystal strode toward the door. “I’m going to the Hangar and have a chat with Felix. He may know something about these construction vehicles.” She caught Ryker’s eye.

  “Go ahead,” Ryker said. “I’ll be there in a few.”

  When Krystal left, Ryker motioned to Dion. The two moved to the far end of the bar opposite the comm console.

  Ryker lowered his voice. “Have you heard from Rudie and Jas?”

  Dion lit a cigarette and leaned against the rear counter. “Not since that night they said they were sending in troops.”

  “That’s another week down the drain, bro. And another week the Changers have had to beef up.”