Mason exhaled and pointed his massive weapon at Berenger, who looked terrified. “Looks like we’re all alone in here.” He smiled, and Berenger blanched as he saw his reflection in Mason’s chrome orbs. “Here’s how it’s gonna work: I need some information, and you’re going to give it to me. Have a seat; we have much to discuss.” Mason’s tone brooked no argument. He gestured for the emissary to sit in the chair across from him.
“Mason, open up!” Keeva called over the Datalink channel.
He cut the link without replying. Now that Berenger had moved away from the comm unit and taken a seat, Mason could see a red LED flashing from the distress call the ambassador had managed to send. Shit, that means we are going to have company.
“What do you want from me?” Berenger looked terrified but managed to keep his composure.
“First of all, I want all of the information you can access about my son. After that, we are going to discuss some old friends that I mean to pay a visit soon.” Mason smiled again, and he could almost taste sweet revenge.
Chapter 26
“The surveillance system is down, and all is quiet down below,” Rin reported, monitoring the group feed from her enforcer squad.
Reznik nodded. “Get ready, people.” The roof was quickly approaching. Reznik took a knee beside the doors, shotgun ready, and the two enforcers stood behind him. Rin was across from him, katana drawn, and Lars and Lynessa were crowded back in the corners out of the line of fire.
The digital display flashed the floors as they neared the roof. 56… 57… 58… 59… 60. Ding.
The doors started to slide open, and a barrage of gunfire opened up on them immediately. Bullets slammed into the doors and punched through the stainless-steel back wall. Everyone inside the elevator returned fire at the same time. The noise was deafening, and Reznik’s aural implants instantly dampened the sound to avoid hearing damage.
“Stay down,” he yelled at Lars and Lynessa even as his finger pumped the trigger repeatedly. He doubted they could even hear him over the thunder of gunfire. His HUD flashed damage warnings as rounds slammed his chest and shoulder. The Yakuza enforcers took the brunt of the damage, standing square in the middle of the elevator, but they stoically returned fire. Shit. They have us trapped in here.
His HUD picked out fifteen of the Overseer’s goons standing two ranks deep in a line twenty feet away. The first row knelt, and the second fired over their shoulders as they unloaded their SMGs and handguns down the short open-air hallway leading from the elevator.
The Overseer’s men began dropping quickly from the intense firefight. They appeared to be a mix of advanced skins and normal men with heavy augs. Reznik put a slug through the forehead of one of the skins. The armor-piercing round took off the top of the man’s head, and he fell, SMG firing wildly. Reznik winged another in the shoulder, and the man staggered back but still stood. A lesser human’s arm would have been blown off. SMG fire stitched the chests of three more men as the Yakuza enforcers crouched and fired full-auto.
Rin exploded out of the elevator car as the barrage lessened.
“Wait!” Reznik called but it was too late.
Rin leaped high into the air and kicked off the left wall of the hallway, springing across to the right and clearing the stream of bullets. She ran along the wall for three steps in a parkour move before leaping even higher into the air and sailing right over top of the Overseer’s goons. They tried to track her, firing wildly as she came down on top of them. The katana flashed, and an arm flew free of its body. Another man was cleaved open from neck to belly.
Reznik bolted out of the elevator, pumping rounds into the chests of the nearest two guards. A great volume of gore exploded out their backs from the armor-piercing slugs. The two wounded Yakuza advanced, standing shoulder to shoulder with Reznik, firing precisely into the midst of the enemy, who quickly broke ranks. Rin danced clear of the now-chaotic tangle of the Overseer’s men as they scrambled to find cover. Energy bolts flashed past them as Lars and Lynessa got off a few shots.
The ambush turned into a full-out rout as the ambushers turned tail. Rin ran one of them through, and the man fell to his knees. A quick backhanded slash sent his head tumbling to the ground. Reznik dropped another with a slug to the kidney. The man flopped like a puppet as gore sprayed from his abdomen. The rest of the Overseer’s men were hosed down by SMG and laser-pistol fire.
And then all was still except for the wet cries of a wounded man. Rin silenced him with a quick stroke. Smoke poured from the barrel of Reznik’s shotgun and the SMGs. It was over in no more than a minute.
“How’s everyone holding up?” Reznik asked. They held their position at the edge of the roof, where they still had cover, in order to evaluate their injuries. Lynessa’s face was twisted in pain, and she held her arm where a bullet had struck her bicep. Lars was pale but appeared unhurt. Rin looked fine, but the same couldn’t be said of the two enforcers. Hamada, the less wounded of the two, helped his comrade, who had taken some serious damage.
“We’re still operationally effective—just need a minute to recuperate,” Hamada said. He had a couple gunshot wounds that bled, but the other man looked a lot worse; blood covered his chest and he sat slumped, eyes closed. Reznik didn’t know if he’d pull through.
“Lynessa?” He noted the young woman’s face was pained and had a sheen of sweat.
Lars inspected her arm. “Looks like the bullet passed through. Nano-styptic should patch her right up.” He pulled a small tube out of his pocket and began applying the gel to his sister’s wound.
“Where you at, motherfuckers?” The wild scream cut through the momentary lull in the action. “That all you got?” Reznik recognized the Overseer’s voice. “You thought you were clever, killing my surveillance feeds, but I’ve got a redundant system. Once you stepped foot inside my building, the facial rec notified me directly. I knew about your little plot yesterday by virtue of my spies. Those shit-for-brains nobles can’t keep their damn mouths shut. ”
Reznik peered across the rooftop but couldn’t see the Overseer anywhere. They were crouched behind a low wall lined with planters. Beyond the gore-drenched area where they huddled, the rooftop opened up, with a large swimming pool and a bar bisecting the space. The Overseer’s chambers lay on the far side of the roof.
“Come on out of there,” Reznik called. “It’s over for you; no need to cause the death of all your men. Maybe Lady Angelis will be merciful and set you up with a nice, plush prison cell once the transition is completed.”
“That painted whore can go to hell with the lot of you. Enough talk—kill them all!”
Another group of guards popped up from behind the bar and cut loose with assault rifles. Reznik recognized Kolb amongst the men before his crew hit the deck behind the low wall. That bastard is mine.
Ceramic, dirt, and plant parts rained down on them as bullets pulverized the decorative foliage and planters. They’ve got us pinned down. It’s gonna be tough to get over there and take them out. With Rin’s men wounded, Reznik was seriously outgunned. Preferring the pulse rifle’s much greater accuracy at long range, he unslung and shouldered it. He rose up to one knee and fired off a dozen or so energy bolts. He was rewarded with a cry before the enemy returned fire.
“Are you guys ready?” A quick glance showed an eager look on Rin’s face. Hamada and Lars looked ready as well. Lynessa and the other enforcer would be out of action for a bit. This is what I’ve got to work with, so what the hell. “All right—follow my lead.”
He slipped two grenades out of his cargo pocket. He pulled the pins and tossed them at the bar. Gunfire erupted, and a bullet clipped his forearm, but his dermal plating repelled it as he dropped back down.
Clink clink clink. Reznik heard the alarmed curses and silently counted to three before springing over the low wall. His timing was perfect. The grenades blew right as his feet hit the ground. Brick, plaster, and body parts flew from behind the bar. An unrecognizable chunk of flesh landed
in the pool with a splash next to Reznik as he quickly advanced on the enemy’s position.
A head popped up, and Reznik dropped the man with a few blasts through the skull. Hamada gamely kept pace, firing his SMG as the Overseer’s men dragged themselves out of the clearing smoke. Rin raced past in search of a target. Lars covered them with his pistol as he followed.
Rin darted in and slashed a wounded man across the chest. He dropped, and she circled the left side of the bar, closest to the Overseer’s apartments.
Reznik circled the other side of the bar. A man lunged at him from the clearing smoke. Reznik cracked the man in the face with the stock of the pulse rifle. Blat blat. A couple rounds finished him off.
Movement drew Reznik’s eye, and he whirled just in time to see Kolb pop up from behind the bar with a massive shotgun. His clothes had been torn by shrapnel, and his face was scorched, but he seemed relatively uninjured. Kolb fired the weapon at someone behind Reznik.
Lars’s chest erupted in blood, and he flopped to the deck. Lynessa’s scream of anguish rang out from behind them as she watched her brother twitch weakly on the ground.
“Hey asshole, remember me?” Reznik pulled the trigger. A stream of energy bolts slammed the big man’s shoulder and chest as he whirled and fired at Reznik. The slug hit Reznik in the upper chest, knocking him back a step. His HUD blazed an angry red. That son of a bitch can take some damage. I’m not going to be able to take another one of those blasts, though.
Reznik prepared to finish Kolb, but when he squeezed the trigger again, he was rewarded with only a chirp indicating a depleted energy cell. Reznik cursed and hit the deck, just managing to duck Kolb’s next shot. Reznik reloaded the pulse rifle with a new energy cell and the weapon whined for a brief second as it powered up. He heard a clatter as Kolb tossed aside his shotgun.
The big man moved surprisingly fast for his size. Kolb vaulted over the bar with a large two-handed fire axe. Reznik dodged his charge and tried to get off a few rounds. He just clipped Kolb, who swung the axe at Reznik with enough force to fell a good-sized tree. Reznik jumped back and bumped against the bar, the axe missing his stomach by inches. Before Kolb could recover from his swing, Reznik slammed a fist into his kidney and kicked the back of his knee. Kolb dropped to one knee but lashed out with the axe wildly, catching the barrel of Reznik’s pulse rifle and knocking it out of his hand.
Reznik stepped back to get some space as he faced Kolb bare-handed. Time for some payback.
***
Rin and Hamada dispatched the last of the guards. She watched Reznik square off with the big man with the axe.
As if sensing her gaze, Reznik glanced in her direction. “I’ve got this one. Go take care of the Overseer—he’s all yours.” Reznik darted in and grabbed the shaft of the axe, trying to twist it out of the big man’s hands. They strained for a moment before Reznik was lifted and slammed down atop the bar. The axe bit a big chunk out of the marble countertop as Reznik rolled away. He managed to land a kick to the man’s face, sending him back a step.
Rin was tempted to interfere and help her friend, but she could tell those two had history. It’s personal for him, just like my vengeance for the Overseer.
She advanced toward the Overseer’s chambers and saw the glass sliding door was open. She cautiously edged inside the dark room. Shafts of neon light bled through the slats in the blinds. Her eyes instantly adjusted to the dim interior. The room’s furnishings were modern and cold. A low sectional sofa took up the majority of the room.
“Look sisters, something new to play with,” a woman’s voice said from the back of the room.
“She’s a pretty one too, Lachesis,” another voice replied. A black woman stepped into the room from a darkened hallway, a cruel smile on her attractive face. Her white teeth gleamed in the darkness.
Two more equally attractive women entered the room beside her, one blond and fair, the other dark haired and tawny skinned. They spread out, blocking Rin’s path further into the chambers. They all wore latex outfits that displayed their exaggerated figures. Rin would have dismissed them as mere vanity pleasure skins, but they emanated a sense of danger. Their eyes were cold and hungry yet devoid of life. I can’t underestimate these three. Something isn’t right about them.
“I have no quarrel with you. Stand aside—I want your master.” Rin took a couple steps closer.
“Perhaps we’d like to quarrel with you,” the blonde said. “Such beautiful eyes you have. I want to carve them out of your head.” She raised her hands, palms upward, and flexed her fingers. Her fingernails began to swiftly stretch and grow, the thin black nanocarbon blades extending to nearly a foot long.
“Save one for me, Clotho,” the black woman said. All three of the women advanced, hungry looks on their faces. They all brandished the blades growing from their fingernails.
“I certainly hope you aren’t just all looks, Barbie dolls. You have anything to back those threats up with?” This will be interesting.
***
Kolb swung a powerful overhand chop with the axe. Reznik caught the shaft and pivoted, pulling down and allowing the big man’s momentum to carry him as Reznik threw him over his hip and to the ground. A kick to Kolb’s elbow created a satisfying crunch, and he grunted in pain before rolling back to his feet.
Reznik crouched and waited for the big man’s move. Kolb hefted the axe one-handed; his wounded arm hung limply at his side. With a yell, Kolb chopped sideways. Reznik dodged and came in with a combination of punches to the face and throat. Kolb gurgled and dropped the axe, wheezing as he tried to draw breath. Reznik followed up with a knee to the midsection and a couple quick strikes to the ribs, the second of which drew a sharp crack. Kolb growled unintelligibly and barreled in, swinging wildly, face red with anger. Reznik blocked a punch and slid around to deliver a jab to the kidney. He followed up by driving an elbow into the back of Kolb’s neck. The big man fell to his knees.
Reznik was about to finish Kolb off when the big man dove for Reznik’s pulse rifle. Kolb rolled over and fired a burst, but Reznik got the drop on him. He snatched the plasma pistol from his belt and squeezed the trigger. The pale green globule hissed angrily as it streaked toward the big man, striking him in the head. Kolb didn’t even have time to scream as the plasma disintegrated his face and continued, burning a hole clear through his head.
The stench of cooked meat made Reznik wrinkle his nose. He recovered his pulse rifle and scanned the roof for another target, but the enemy were all down. His HUD flashed damage alerts, but Reznik cleared them. Not out of the game yet. I should still be able to make it across the goal line.
“Reznik! There are men coming up the stairs!” Lynessa crouched to the side of the stairwell door, weapon trained on it.
Reznik raced over to the stairwell. He could hear the heavy tread of numerous feet stomping up the metal staircase from behind the closed door. “Get back!” he shouted. He pulled the remaining pair of frag grenades from his cargo pocket, pulled the pins, and opened the door, tossing them inside. He quickly slammed the door shut just as the first man reached the top. The man bellowed in alarm and shouldered into the door, but Reznik held it shut.
Kaboom! The heavy steel door shook in its frame, and the shockwave rattled Reznik’s bones. Smoke poured out from under the door. Reznik pressed his ear against the stairwell door and listened for a minute, but only silence greeted his boosted hearing. He let out a sigh of relief. Just then, Hamada came limping toward them.
“Can you two cover this door? I’m going in after Rin.” Lynessa and Hamada both nodded.
“Put an end to that bastard. That’s what my brother wanted.” Lynessa seemed angry and hurt yet determined to see the mission through.
***
The blond woman came at Rin first. She shrieked like a banshee as she lunged, claws slashing wildly. Rin stepped back, observing the woman’s moves. She parried a slash that came close; the woman’s nanocarbon claws screeched as they scraped against the kata
na. Rin lashed out with the sword, scoring what should have been a long cut along the woman’s arm. The katana failed to inflict damage, confirming Rin’s suspicions that the women were combat spec skins. Strange creatures these three are. Not much skill in this one’s attacks. They must overwhelm their opponents with their numbers and berserk fury.
As if to confirm Rin’s suspicions, the other two launched themselves at her. Although Rin blocked several of their slashes, the dark-skinned woman scored a cut on Rin’s side, but her dermal plating prevented damage.
Rin stepped back. The blonde attacked again, and she deflected her attacks. Rin spun sideways and counterattacked the other two, a great slash cutting the black woman across the thigh and continuing around to catch the brunette in the stomach. She allowed her attack to carry her past them, ducking as she spun. But then her foot caught on the edge of a low sofa. She fought to keep her balance, and the blonde sprang at her, managing to hook her arm with those claws. The woman hauled on Rin’s sword arm, twisting, trying to knock the katana loose. Foam flew in the air like confetti as the Latina’s wild swing shredded the back of the sofa. The Latina jumped on Rin’s back, claws raking at her face and chest. Rin kept the black woman at bay with a kick to the knee.
Rin drove an elbow into the brunette’s stomach while trying to shield her face from the slashing claws. Her HUD flashed amber damage alerts. The Latina growled like a she-wolf and tried to tear out Rin’s throat with her claws. Rin released one hand from the katana and reached back and jabbed her forearm blade into the side of the woman’s face. The blade glanced off, but the woman loosened her grasp.
The black woman charged in again. Rin spun, dragging the Latina around and causing the two to collide. They both went down in a tangle of limbs and claws.
Sensing her chance, Rin shoved the blonde hard, knocking her off balance and freeing her own sword arm. She launched herself at the woman, katana twirling in her grasp in a complicated kata. The blonde hissed and drew back, desperately trying to deflect Rin’s attacks. Sparks flew as Rin’s blade clashed against the blond woman’s nails. Rin struck a couple solid slashes across the woman’s torso before drawing blood. She was about to finish the blonde off when someone grabbed her by the ponytail and yanked her off balance. A tawny hand caught her wrist and prevented her from striking with the katana.
Extensis Vitae: City of Sarx Page 20
