by NickiUK
Chapter 1
Laying on a sofa asleep were Nibs, Sandra and Daraus, with them in the VIP lounge of Club Millana were Tina, Abs, Amy, Paul, Richard Chancer, Jaboc, Hell Bright and Ren. She rolled over and opened her eyes to look into the face of the one person who gave her life meaning. She realised her other partner was at her feet, curled up and not in the small blanket bed she had made last night. She swung her legs out and sat up lent forward and rested her head in her hands. ‘What a night last night was. I wonder how Metzza is.’
She felt Sandra shift behind her and she looked down at her to see her open her eyes. At this she smiled at Sandra who returned the smile and she gave her a light kiss on the lips.
“Did you enjoy your birthday my sweet?”
“I did love the only thing that would have made it better would have been having my adoptive mum and dad here too,” she replied. She smiled at spending, this, the most important birthday of her life with her closest friends, she even got to see her other two best friends. “But they are very straight and with some ideas very closed minded, I doubt they would understand my life choices.”
Sandra sat up beside her and the moving of the blankets woke Daraus.
Nibs looked at the clock above the bar and saw the time was only 06:50BN.
“Don’t you want to know about your birth family?”
“In a word no,” she said in a matter of fact way. “They decided to put me up for adoption and haven’t tried to contact me since. They must have there reasons for that, and if they do ever get in contact it’s at that point I will ask them why, and anyway I need a coffee.” She stood up, picked up Daraus’ bowl and tip-toed through the sleeping bodies. The staff member who had manned the bar was asleep on a roll mat in front of the bar itself. She lifted the hatch and pushed open the front.
She heard the staff member move and she looked back and saw his eyes were just about open. “Coffee?” she asked him.
He nodded ‘yes please’ at her.
The bar area was a metre and a half wide and under the bar were lots of glasses. Above the bar area were bottles and other drinks. Behind the bar at the farthest end was the kettle and the sink she was looking for. She filled the kettle and switched it on. As the kettle was boiling she went hunting for cups, coffee, sugar, mily and a spoon. She found the cups and took three. Just after finding the cups she found the rest of the drinks making items she was looking for and got them ready. She ran some water into the Daraus’ bowl and took it to him. He soon had his tongue lapping at the water. She crossed back across the lounge and poured the now boiling water into the three cups and stirred them.
When she offered the staff member his coffee he took it and placed it on the ground beside him. She carried the remaining two cups across the room and gave one to Sandra.
Sandra took it and sipped at the hot coffee.
She sat down beside her and placed the cup on the table. She took out her tin and loaded her patar and smoked that. She lent back and was joined by Sandra as she also placed her cup on the table.
“When Jaboc told us you were adopted, I began to wonder about what your real parents were like and if they would like the person you’ve become,” said Sandra as Jaboc rolled off the sofa he had stretched out on.
Jaboc woke with a start and quickly looked around the room and then he sat up and shook his head as he realized what had happened.
The way Jaboc had acted then made her quietly chuckle. “Good morning Jaboc,” she said.
“Oh, good morning ladies,” responded Jaboc whilst turning to see where the voices had come from. “Did you enjoy yourselves last night, I must apologise for the incident, but at least the outcome was satisfactory.”
“Yes thanks,” she replied.
Jaboc stood up and walked towards the bar.
Sandra lent in and whispered in her ear, “I think I know what blue aura means. Hell Bright is producing a really powerful blue aura very similar to the one Amy is producing. Ren is producing a mid yellow aura. I wonder if he even knows he’s different. Hell Bright’s is controlled, Ren’s isn’t.”
Paul stretched and as he brought his arms back he hit Amy who was asleep beside him. He sat up after making sure the blanket didn’t uncover her. He looked around and when he saw Nibs and Sandra he smiled at them.
Daraus then padded towards where Tina and Abs were asleep in each other’s arms and gave then both a sloppy kiss as a wake up call. They both coughed and spluttered at this. Daraus then walked to each person asleep and gave each a sloppy kiss before returning to where Nibs and Sandra were sat.
Nibs lent forward and picked up her cup and sat back. She sipped it and blew air over the surface to cool it. Jaboc walked out and saw everyone walking up and he placed his cup down and headed back behind the bar. The switch for the kettle was switched on and he took his cup and had a sip. The staff member stood up and he headed behind the bar to give Jaboc a helping hand.
Ten minutes later everyone had a hot coffee in their hands.
Richard walked over to where she was sitting, he sat beside her and Sandra, and said, “Your Naj Blades I said I wanted to have a chat with you about them, can I have a look at one?”
“Yeah,” she replied and took one from its scabbard and handed it to Richard.
“If what I think is right then these are at least 10,000 years old and may have either been cast by the Chrometal Dragon, the creator of the Tiranna Martial Arts, or the Tiranna Martial Arts Grand Master.” Richard opened the hilt and looked at the inscriptions. “Red partnered with the gold, green with silver, black with bronze, blue with brass, white with copper, and the last one,” said Richard quietly. He took out a small hand held unit, similar to her PDU. He placed the blade across his lap and used the stylus to open NetViewer. The PDU loaded a page from what she could see off a net server. She looked at the path and it was one she had never seen before. “Yeah, this was the only one I couldn’t identify at ring side but it is, this it the rune symbol for the Chrometal dragon. Only a very few of these were every made and all of them are Greatest Rune weapons. They are very powerful weapons. I wish I could help in working out what their abilities are, I’m not sure if I know of, yes I do, Sharra would be a good person to talk to about trying to work them out.”
She nodded as Richard reattached the hilt.
“From what I saw in the ring last night, you had the makings of a Tiranna Master. I think a brief history lesson on the Tiranna.”
“Ladies and gents as you are guests of Club Millana may I suggest we head for the canteen and breakfast.”
Sandra and her both stood up and was joined by Richard who handed the short stave back to her. She re-attached it to its holder and followed everyone out of the VIP lounge.
Outside Richard continued, “The Tiranna Martial Arts have been around for countless millennium and use to have a school dedicated to each of the ten dragons. Five were metallic and five were Chromatic, and out of the ten schools a grand master was chosen and became apprenticed to the previous, until the previous died and the student became the master. Around 10,000 years ago the then Grand Master died and his female student became the Grand Master, she took an apprentice and began to teach her the arts of the Tiranna.” He put emphasis on the word, ‘her’. “Her student was the metamorphosed Chrometal and made three pairs of Naj Blades. The Grand master had one set, the student had a second set and the third disappeared. That’s as much as I know from my own research into it and lessons from my master.”
“Ok, thanks.” She had the look of, ‘This is going to be interesting to look into’.
“Do you know the provincing of them?”
“No, you’re the second person to ask me. Darla bought them as my birthday present. I would ask her.”
“Thanks I will.”
After walking for a few minutes through the corridors, Jaboc led them down a ramp that she worked out would lead them in the basement of the house. The corridor opened in to a very large room with twenty pairs of long tables, with each table was a pair of benches and between each set was a good three metre gap. Along the far wall was a barriered off area behind which was rack upon rack of what looked like food, breakfast food.
“The Canteen here is self service, free to staff and guests and damn excellent,” said Richard as Jaboc led the group into the run.
She took one of the trays and asked Richard, “How much can we take?”
“As much as is required,” replied Jaboc as he stood on the other side. He pulled Richard back and whispered something into his ear. Her hearing easily picked it up, “Reports from a couple of people are Wacker Inc are up to something, they are parading a very large body of corporate security and their military.”
Richard stopped and looked wide eyed at him. “Back in a bit,” said Richard and he disappeared after handing Jaboc his tray. Jaboc took the tray and moved in behind the pair.
“How’s Metzza?” she asked.
“He is ok, sleeping off the fight, from what the doctors say, he’s not happy at all. Surabon saw him first thing, he just looked at his sleeping body and left with his students, two of Metzza’s friends stayed with him all night the others were put up in the guest quarters. The doctors will check him over this morning and then release him.”
Ren led the friends to one of the tables and they sat down. A couple of staff members, both were wearing the same coloured tops as her, turned and said, “Nice fight.”
She looked at them in surprise and said, “Thanks.” She sat with Sandra sitting beside her and Daraus who was under the table. She placed a plate with a couple of sausages on and her water bowl beside her. By the time she had retrieved her hand the sausages had gone and Daraus was lapping at the water.
A couple of minutes later Richard returned and her PDU started to vibrate and play Delta Ray by Vizza. She took it out and saw the number was phone number was Gary’s. She connected the call and said to him, “A bit early for you isn’t it?”
“And you. No Misty got us up, she heard that Wacker was up to something and me, Bee and her came down to their HQ to take a look.”
“Hang on I’ll put you on speaker.” She placed the PDU on the table and pressed the speaker button and said, “Your on Gary. What can you see?”
“Lots of Wacker security forces and also what I think is their military. They all look like they are wearing combat armour and they are look heavily armed.”
Misty’s voice came over the phone, “They have sand bag implacements around the parimeter of the Headquaters and there is a considerable amount of military vehicles and I think I’ve seen a couple of new looking CSMRs.”
Richard then said, “Describe them Misty?”
“About 9 maybe 10 metres tall what look like two gun ports on down each side of the chest and its left arm above the hand is what looks like a barrelled weapon of some kind.”
Richard looked at Jaboc as Misty was describing, what she knew to be quite new technology. To her the CSMRs were the pinacial of combat mobility and fire power. She knew from the specs of the few she had seen on Digital Systems News when they covered wars and military actions that they pack the equivalent of a medium tank’s firepower.
The group then heard a bellowed order, “Move to control the Zone. Move out.”
Bee’s voice was heard along with running footsteps, “Here they come.”
The last sound before Gary disconnected was a couple of bikes starting up.
Jaboc stood up and bellowed, “Listen up people, we are Ops level 1 as of now. Get this place ready to receive Street Ghost refugees and possibly battle casualties.”
Jaboc then turned and said “Ladies and gentlemen, if you would excuse me please.”
“Hell no, you want any helpers,” said Amy and Abs together.
“No your guests,” Jaboc said.
“No we not, we’re Street Ghosts and Gangrels first and foremost,” said Tina
“Hell yeah we are,” everyone then said.
As Jaboc turned and disappeared she thought through the various jobs that needed to be done before they could do anything in the Street Ghost arena. ‘Job one and the most important,’ she thought, ‘collect our equipment from Home-base.’ “Guy’s our first job is to collect our equipment from Home-base.”
“Feck me, yeah. Were not going to be much good, we only have our pistols with us,” said Abs.
She saw Ren go to say something and then he looked at Hell Bright as if questioning something. Then after a couple of seconds Ren’s eyes opened wide and his head moved in a way that she thought he must have agreed with something.
Tina asked Ren and Hell Bright, “You two not got any major jobs to do now Wacker are have declared war?”
“No, why?” asked Ren.
“You two want to join us on a run to ours so we can collect our equipment?”
Ren looked at Hell Bright and she signed something at him and he said, “Yeah, thanks. I’m not sure what it is about you lot but I feel as if I’ve known you for years and yet last night is the first time we’ve ever met you, other than in the middle of a takedown. Oh yeah, I think dad’s rather shocked at the weapon one of the twins carried on the take down.”
“Oh, you must be talking about Angel and that cannon she uses, the Trig 8. One thing Jaboc’s research wouldn’t have found out, she only uses solid rounds. She is very evil in combat, Damieel more so up close and personal.”
She noticed Richard gulped when Abs said the Trig 8. Even she thought, ‘using that weapon, 15mm solids. Ouch, that combination has been known to knock out truck engines.’
“Can we ask that you join us later on a combat patrol, we have a few friends that some local heavies are after, they might use the chaos to go and hurt them.”
Paul said, “No problem at all. I think I can safely say we count you both and you Richard as our friends, what do friends do.”
“Help each other.”
She smiled at the pair and noticed everyone else had a similar smile.
Ren then said, “Lets finish breakfast and go get your stuff.” Ren looked and sounded very happy.
“I don’t believe it sis,” Ren said with his mind to his sister.
“Same here bro,” thought replied Hell-bright. “I reckon this group and the people they arrived with are some of the most respecting groups of human kind I know of.”
When breakfast was finished the eight friends stood up. Richard joined them and said, “I’ll meet you in command in a couple of hours, you should be able to get back on the CWs but I wouldn’t reckon on returning that way.”
“Don’t worry, we won’t, I’ll use my PDU for the route back,” Nibs said. She and the rest of the friends followed Ren and Hell Bright out of the second of three sets of doors.
Richard headed out of the third set of doors and disappeared.
Ren led the friends through a large room over 20metres long. On both sides were lockers, lots of locker. Just after the lockers they entered a large open area, with a large empty rack to the left hand side. To the right was a large extension which sat behind a large dividing screen made of concrete and she thought some form of toughened glass. Behind which were racks of large cases. The people working behind the divide were busy preparing for something. Some looked like they were reloading magazines and others were carrying boxes of ammunition from somewhere behind what she could see.
Ren turned down a short corridor, she estimated easily tall enough to take vans and other similar sized vehicles. The corridor opened up into another large room easily 35 metres long. Around all the walls were work areas with wall mounted racks of tools similar to the workshop under Home Base. Slightly further down the right hand wall was a ramp down. She could see that further down the garage was a separate section which had four motor-bikes up on their stands. A gent was sat relaxing on a seat. He had a cap pulled down over his eyes, a second gent walked out of the corridor they had just left and crossed the garage towards the first gent. This one was carrying two insulated cups they both looked like they were steaming.
Ahead of the group were a couple of dune buggy style vehicles into one climbed Ren and Hell Bright. Ren said, “Up that ramp is the outside where your bikes are.”
The group continued and walked across the frontage towards the where the five bikes were parked. Daraus was at her heels and stopped when they arrived at the bikes. She looked down as Ren pulled up in the dune buggy. As she hadn’t heard the engine on the vehicle as it pulled up she listened very intently for a second and heard a very faint hum. ‘That sounds like the hum high voltage electric cables make.’ “Ren can Daraus ride with you, we have carrier but we left it at home base.”
“Ok, no problem,” responded Ren and called, “Daraus come here boy.”
Daraus padded over and jumped into the vehicle and then landed in the single seat between the rear wheels.
She climbed on and rammed the kick start down. The engine started and was joined by the rest of the group as they all headed for the main gate out.
Before they pulled away, Ren asked, “You lot got digital transmitters?”
“Yeah, we have, you want the frequency?” answered Tina.
“Yeah, thanks,” responded Ren.
Tina told the pair the frequency which Hell Bright typed into the radio and the group heard Ren say, “Can you guys hear me?”
“Yeah,” responded Tina, “Let’s roll.” The bikes slowed and the guards working the gate stopped them as a couple of vehicles cornered hard and drove up to the main club.
She over heard the guard talking to Ren and Hell Bright. “The first of many I think today. Where you heading to?”
“To get their stuff, they volunteered to help in the up coming battles,” replied Ren.
“No worries, chat soon,” responded the guard and the barrier lifted. Ren pulled out and turned right and the right again and drove down the north side of the club.
She asked over the communication system, “Ren, Hell Bright, Nibs. What’s the plan when we get back?”
“Chat to dad and Richard and then conduct a combat patrol into the area,” replied Ren as he slowed for the corner at the other end of the club grounds. He turned right again and pulled into the middle for the junction onto the CW6 which ran along the south side of the club.
Within thirty minutes the group was pulling off the CW9 and on the main road that the minor road on which Home Base was on.
The bikes and FAV, which was the official designation the vehicle Ren and Hell Bright were driving pulled up and everyone climbed off and headed for the garage.
Sandra and Nibs headed up the steps to the front door and the pair headed for the bedrooms of all three to gather a few items of clothing for each.
*****
Amy ran over the road to her home and burst through the front door, really happy. She knew she was lot happier then she had been over the past few months. She called, “Anyone in.” She ran up the stairs to her shared bedroom and grabbed her fingerless gloves the only item she owned which was a street scene fashion item. They had been bought by Julie-Ann, one of the nicer friends from her time at Rotork Academy. ‘I must get around to trying to ring those two again,’ she thought.
After she put her gloves on she also grabbed a few items of clothes, namely underwear and a second pair of light weight trousers and a couple of her favourite tops. From the desk, on which was the book she had taken out of the school library was her medication dispenser, that and the book ended up in the bag as well.
Her next stop was the bathroom and a second canister of her medication. She went down the stairs and quickly wrote a note to her dad and Bill explaining the situation and the fact the guys had volunteered to help. As she grabbed her jacket from the coat hooks she heard the back door opening and her dad come in.
“Thought you were working today?” she asked him as he appeared in the corridor.
“I am about to head to work now.”
“Hi and bye then dad,” she said. She waited for him to appear in the living room and said, “Something has come up and the rest of the guys have volunteered to help.”
“Ok,” responded Duggie.
“I’ve also been asked and I’ve said yes to joining the Gangrels.”
“Follow me then young lady. It is time I passed on to you something that has been mine for 4000 years.”
She looked at him with wide eyes. Duggie led her to the Shrine room behind his room. He opened the double doors of his shrine and reached into the back and took out the longest of the two Karrack blades. She stood in the doorway, not sure if she should come in
“Come here my daughter,” said Duggie as he turned around.
“Ok dad,” the tone in dad's voice was one of he meant for her to come rather than the please he would have normally used.
Duggie spoke in a voice not his own, but one still friendly and reassuring, “I as the last of the warrior monks from the Samutai Temple pass my legacy to my daughter so that she may become what fate has destined for her to become.” He then handed the master blade to her. She accepted it with the up most reverence and bowed a deep bow. Duggie returned the bow with a deeper one. He then turned back and removed the second paired blade and like the first he turned and spoke, “I as a Chiang-Ku dragon bestow upon my offspring the sword of my father and his father before that. Use it only when you need to, and always be ready to retreat. Not completing a mission is better than completing one and dying whilst extracting.”
Amy took the second sword and bowed very deeply to her father, who said, “It is not you who should be bowing to me, but I should be bowing to you my daughter. Enjoy your new life and your new friendships, for with friends comes responsibility.”
“I know dad that is the other piece of news I have I’ve fallen in love with Paul and he’s fallen in love with me.”
“Now that is great news, I’m so happy for you, I hereby give my consent for the two of you to get married when you feel the time is right, just invite me, Bill and the young ones to the wedding.”
“I will dad, bye, tell Bill I love him and hope to see him soon,” she said. The pair walked out of the shrine room and she grabbed her rucksack and fleece jacket from beside the door. She headed back across the street to Home Base.
She looked at the garage doors and saw that they looked closed. She headed up the steps to the front door and tried it, it opened and she called out, “anyone here?”
She heard Nibs’ voice call back, “Yeah in the bedrooms.” She walked towards the bedrooms and saw in the floor a trap door into the garage. Nibs walked out of her bedroom and Sandra walked out of the second door down the opposite side of the corridor.
Sandra said to the pair, “Got everything?”
“Yeah,” she answered.
Nibs nodded and dropped the two small rucksacks she was carrying down the trap door. She looked down and saw that Ren had caught them up and passed them towards the garage doors, he was standing at the bottom waiting for them to drop through.
“You first Amy,” said Nibs. “Just drop straight, Ren will catch you.”
She stepped off into mid air and dropped. As she dropped Ren held his arms up ready to catch and slow her drop. She stepped away and Sandra dropped next.
Tina walked out from behind the black screens and saw her standing there. Tina said, “Come here Amy.”
She followed Tina as she disappeared behind the sheeting again. She parted the sheeting and saw Tina was bent down and looked like she was dragging something from under the tables on which were growing trays and numerous plants. More plants where hung up along the furthest wall.
“Your Black Light Armour set. Take it and place it in the back of the van,” said Tina
*****
Abs opened the garage doors whilst Paul climbed into the driver’s seat and reversed the van so its back door was against the garage door, Abs pulled the door closed after Tina, Ren and Hell Bright had walked in.
Ren asked, “What do you want us to do?”
“Help us load the van, it’s our command and control centre,” she replied as she disappeared through the black sheeting. She parted the sheeting and took a case of 10mm loose standard ammunition out from under one of the tables. She gave it a push along the concrete floor and it disappeared under the sheeting.
Tina walked in and started to pull the Black Light Armour cases out and she pushed each one out into the main area.
She grabbed the next case in line which was a case on 10mm binary APEX rounds, these were in the magazine used in the MA series weapons, which she knew both Nibs and Sandra now used as their standard weapon. The next few cases under the tables were more loose ammunition for the pistols and other weapons they used. The last case contained the loose ammunition for her and Tina's weapons. These too were pushed across the floor. She walked out and headed for the armoury cupboards. She swiped her card and opened the locker doors; she removed from the cupboard her Echo 27 and laid it on the work bench. The next weapon out was Tina’s Coltanar 85 SAW and that too was laid on the bench. She looked at where Ren and Hell Bright were helping Paul load the ammunition into the van.
“Paul what do you want the M40 we brought back or your normal weapon?” she asked.
“M40 thanks Abs,” replied Paul.
She took out the M40 and the two MA260s and they were also laid on the bench, Hell Bright took the Echo 27 and the Coltanar and passed them to Paul.
A couple of bags were dropped from the trap door and Ren moved to catch them. Amy dropped through and Tina said after she came out of the growing area, “Come here Amy.”
Ren walked over to the bench and took the two MA260s, he said, “Where the hell did you get this type of gear and the Black Light.”
“It was Darla’s inheritance. From what we were told Ren, her mum and dad were both on an operation and disappeared four years ago. The Will was read a few weeks ago and Darla was the sole benificary of the estate which included a house with an Academy Armoury, workshop and lab in the Low Back Forest,” said Nibs as she dropped through and caught Sandra as she dropped through.
“Ok, that must mean Darla’s parents must have attended the Academy at some point in the past.”
She saw Nibs look at Ren as if to say, ‘You must be kidding?’
Ren shock his head, “The only way you would be allowed to have an Academy Armoury is if you had attended the Academy.”
“Ok,” said Nibs, “How long before we can leave for the club?”
“We only need to sort out Amy’s assault weapon and we are set,” she said as Amy walked out dragging a Black Light case Tina pushed the Tech Case out. “Amy come here, you need to choose your assault weapon.”
Amy walked over from dropping the case and the two swords she was carrying in the van. Amy looked at the various weapons present and she saw she had a face of, ‘help’.
“I wish we had time to go through all the different weapons, but,” she said.
Ren walked around the bench and said to her, “Let me Abs, I’m fully trained in Armoury duties and know pretty much every weapon on the market inside and out.”
“Ok, all yours then,” she said, “I may be the Bitch Vixens armourer, I know the weapons we use as standard.”
Ren nodded and took a D300 out and passed it to Amy, “This weapon is a D300 assault rifle, it is used by the military forces in Eban, Toshmand, and Sheedan, and a lot of security forces use it, it’s effective and hard wearing.”
Amy held it very tenativelly and said, “This is the first time, I’ve actually held anything like this.”
Paul came out of the van and headed for where the three were standing and said, “Not to worry, you have a lot of people willing to teach and help you.”
“Thanks. I guess theirs some basics I should know?” asked Amy.
“Yes and the first is that when ever you are passed a firearm, you should check to see if the safety catch is on,” she replied and pointed the safety catch out to Amy.
Amy smiled at her and said, “Ok.”
Nibs who was standing waiting said, “Right, Abs anything else to be loaded?”
She looked in the armoury and said, “No, I don’t think so.”
“If you find you do need anything the armoury will very likely have it, just ask for it.”
“Lets get that stowed and then I think we’re ready,” said Tina.
Amy handed Tina the D300 and she took it to the van and disappeared inside.
She slammed the doors of the armoury shut and made sure the bolts had fired and secured the doors.
When Tina had reappeared Nibs slid the garage door open and the group walked out.
Paul slammed the rear doors shut, walked up the side of the van and opened the passenger side door so he could climb in. Just as he was he said, “Can someone drive my motor-bike back to the club.”
“No problem,” replied Ren and walked to Paul’s motor-bike and caught the keys Paul threw at him.
Nibs climbed on to her bike and Sandra lifted Daraus to the carrier she was wearing. When Daraus’s head was out, she gave him a friendly rough of the head and neck. She saw Amy join Paul in the van and the engine started.
Paul slowly pulled the van up the driveway towards the minor road at the end. He climbed out and closed the garage door and locked it.
Amy called out of the open window, “Security has closed the CWs and ICs in the area.”
“Ok, thanks Amy,” she responded and opened up the map system her PDU had and was in the process of finding the best route back to the club.
When Ren pulled alongside her and said, “Let Hell Bright lead, she has a nack for finding the best routes to places when she knows the start and finish points.”
“Right,” she responded and looked at Hell Bright sat in the driver’s seat of the FAV at the top of the driveway.
Hell Bright looked at her and smiled a friendly smile.
She called above the noise of the engines, “Lets roll.”
The motor-bikes, van and FAV all pulled out of the minor road and headed for the junction she had used on her exploration of the area.
*****
Two hours later as the roads were becoming clogged with vehicles moving out of the area surrounding Wacker’s HQ and medical centre the group arrived back at the back entrance of the club. Hell Bright led the group down the route-way from the back entrance and was soon turning into the garage.
When the group had parked up in the few spaces for temporary vehicle storage and gathered around the vehicles, Ren and Hell Bright led them through the corridors towards Command and Control.
Chapter 2
11:15BN
The group entered Command and control on the top floor of a three level room. She estimated around the edges were over 200 separate terminals, of which twenty were being manned all of them on the ground floor. The room was in the shape of an L and in the middle on the ground floor was a large table and suspended above it was four large screens, all of which were displaying a map of the area. Stood around the table were Jaboc and Richard. On the third level were a few doors and windows that seemed to be connected to various offices and briefing rooms.
“Ren, what’s the story, I very much doubt the previous owners would have left this alone without stripping it?”
“What happened was twenty years ago the previous owners a rich old couple left the building and grounds to Echo Tech Inc as they wanted it to remain the way it was. I think they must have either worked for Echo Tech or had some connection to them. From what dad has said the only areas of the facility known about were the garage, the now armoury and canteen, the rest was filled with earth and rocks. Echo Tech took control and started to excavate the rest of the facility. It took Echo Tech twelve years to completely excavate the complex which has seven levels, the lowest three are used by Echo County to house a ready status military unit at the moment it’s empty. Those levels have exits else where in the area most of them are on sites owned by Echo Tech or one of the subsidiary companies.”
The group arrived on the ground floor and walked towards Richard and Jaboc.
“The command and control, Armoury and Garage were installed by Echo Tech before they handed control over to dad.”
The group arrived at the table and Jaboc said, “I now use it to help and assist local Street Ghost teams when they are on missions and as a training centre for said Street Ghosts and local security forces. The Armoury and Garage are full teaching centres and are happy to have people learn and help. There’s a full medical facility and holding centre used by Conspiracy forces as well. Other facilities include a range, swimming pool, combat simulator centre and full gym.”
“Ok, you guys back and ready then?” asked Richard.
She looked around the group and said, “Yes I think so.”
“Good as we need a team to check an area out. From the Echo Tech Security cameras and those on the security vehicles are showing a mass exodus from the area. Except this area, there is no movement at all from the area and I’m wondering why,” said Richard. “You are the only group that is ready to move, most of the Street Ghosts that use here are caught up in the mass movement and haven’t been able to report in or they are stuck and are planning on staying put until more is known about the situation. We’ve ordered all teams and members staying put to lie low and await orders and re-supply.”
The table showed the area around what looked like a large religious building and a few out buildings.
“The only question I have is what type of support can we call on as if it’s only us on the ground and we run into security forces, they might overwhelm us,” she said looking concerned for the team as a whole.
“From what we’ve been told Echo Tactical Security is deploying a team of 24 Power Armoured troopers to the Club, but they’ve also been caught up in the mass humanity movements. The first support and transport vehicles should be here in the next half hour,” said Jaboc.
She looked and thought about the mission, “Ren you asked us to conduct a combat patrol to check on some friends, where were you looking at patrolling to.”
“That area,” replied Ren.
‘If we split the eight of us into two teams, Abs, Tina with me and Sandra, and the other four make up the second team,’ she thought planning the combat patrol. “What Street assets do we have in the area Jaboc, Richard?” she asked. “What is their current status?”
Jaboc used a stylus to tap a tablet screen and after a couple of seconds he replied, “Five Conspiracy rated Street Ghosts and seven normal Street Ghosts have reported in, via the Net and have said that they are ready. We’ve ordered them to lie low and await orders.”
“That gives us a good sized back up force. What’s the tech with them?” She noticed most of the team were listening intently to the replies and they all looked happy that she had taken charge of the situation, including Paul.
“Most have advanced weapons and other equipment the Conspiracy rated teams are all equipped with MA series and Black Light, the others have standard street armour and some have APEX firing weapons,” replied Richard.
She nodded at this information and looked at the group all of them were smiles and they generally looked ready to move and help. “Let’s get ready and see what the situation is with the inbound support.”
“Ok, you’ll be online with the controllers here as well and the second we get the Power Armour in and it’s deployed you’ll be the first to be told.”
“Ok, let’s get ready to move then,” she responded.
Jaboc and Richard nodded ‘Ok’ and the group left heading for the van and the equipment stored inside.
As the group headed back for the Armoury and the changing area she looked at Amy as she was the only person whom this was the first time in a live fire situation. She dropped back and asked Sandra, “Does training at Command include live fire combat?”
“Yes it does,” Sandra replied as they walked down the corridor.
“What is the support like as I guess for some it would be the first time of being in a situation like that?”
Sandra looked at her as if to say ‘why do you want to know?’
“Amy,” she responded.
“Arh, I see,” replied Sandra. “All members who participate spend the debriefing in what is called the ‘Talking Shop’, it’s where every one discusses the events, feelings and everything else relevant to the operation.”
She nodded ‘Ok’. ‘Right after this in a couple of days I think it might be wise to do that with Amy, I think she might need it.’ “I hope you don’t mind me taking over in there?”
“No hun,” responded Sandra. “All of the questions you asked I hadn’t thought of myself, and I’ve been a Gangrel almost four years. Your experience of the environment is showing me I have a lot to learn and I thought I knew about the scene.”
The group arrived back in the Garage where Ren said, “Back the van up to the Armoury and we’ll sort out cases for you all and sort out changing lockers for your Black Light. What version are you running?”
“No idea,” replied Paul. “When we found it we had just been told about it by Darla.”
Paul climbed into the driver’s seat and reversed the van towards the entrance to the Armoury and changing area as two pick-ups arrived, each had what looked like five adults on, two in the driver’s compartment and three in the back area. She looked at the three in the back area and saw each of them was armed and ready.
Ren walked to the Armoury window and started to talk to the guy sitting on the other side.
Paul opened the rear and side doors and the team started to unload the van. Stacked at the rear were the cases containing the team’s Black Light. She noticed Ren turned and looked at Hell Bright. After a couple of seconds Hell Bright walked over and tapped her on the shoulder and indicated that the group was to follow her. ‘That is strange, that the second time Ren has done something after looking at Hell Bright. I wonder.’ The group followed and Hell Bright showed them to the first of the lockers where she indicated that these were know theirs.
Ren followed and when he had arrived she asked, “The cases I can see what do we do with them?”
“Leave them, Benny will organise removing them so you can put your Black Light in the lockers.”
“Right thanks,” she replied and started to undress.
The rest of the group were just stood around as if waiting for something. “You guys going to just stand around,” she said. This had the desired effect of shifting them, except Ren and Hell Bright into gear.
A couple of seconds later after Hell Bright had shown each which locker they should use they started to undress.
Paul who was stood next to Amy who was looking around somewhat shocked by the fact Ren and he was starting to change along side Hell Bright, Abs, Sandra, Tina and Nibs.
“Hun, we of the Gangrels operate a uni-sex policy on things like changing facilities,” he said.
“Arh, ok,” responded Amy and she started to remove her top.
A few minutes later she had opened the largest case and looked at the contents. “Help,” said Amy.
“First things first, you have to be totally naked for the technology to work,” he said.
When Amy had removed her bra and knickers he continued, “Put the black garment on first and then I’ll help you with the rest.” He slid the first of the plates into the chest area.
He looked at her and saw she was looking at the size of the garment on her.
“Have you got anything smaller?” asked Amy.
“No, one size fits all,” replied Ren from behind her. “The nanytes that make up the plates shrink the outer garment to fit.”
Amy turned and stared with a startled expression at Ren when he had said that. “Nanytes!”
“Yes hun,” replied Paul. “The plates are made from Nanytes that from what I have been told form a solid barrier when a fast moving object is detected”
“The technology is straight out of the pages of future fiction. The guys at the Academy are all experts in designing and creating what people would imagine as future fiction,” said Ren.
“Ok, what now?” she asked.
Paul picked up one of the plates and said, “These go into the pockets, except each plate will only go into its own pocket. It won’t go into any-other pocket.”
She picked up one of the larger plates and tried it in the left chest pocket and it didn’t slide in, she tried it in the other chest pocket and it slipped straight in. “Ok, I think I understand.” She picked up the next plate and tried it in the left and again it just slipped in. “Right, ok now I understand that.”
Ren said from behind her, “Also make sure the pocket tops are sealed, in their current state the nanytes are dormant, but provide them with body heat and darkness they literatly come alive.”
She covered the two pockets and went about finding out which pocket each plate went into. When she had taken the next plate and stood up she felt a strange sensation on her breasts. ‘What the hell, it feels like water, but I’m completely dry.’ She turned to Ren who was just slotting in his last plate and asked, “What?”
Ren smiled at her and replied, “You are wondering about the feeling of having the feeling of being covered in water?”
She nodded as she went around the various pockets.
“The feeling is the nanytes being active.”
“A very strange sensation though,” she said as she tried the plate in the next pocket down the front.
Paul started to help her slot the plates in and pretty quickly she was ready, wearing the urban camouflage outer and her utility belt.
“What’s next?” she asked.
“The battle technology,” replied Paul as he passed her the tactical computer.
She took it and clipped it to her belt behind the environmental box.
“The next question is helmet or not?” asked Paul.
“No helmet,” she replied.
Paul took from the tech box a long small box and from one end were three short stubby tubes.
She looked at him and asked, “What is that?”
“This is the vision rig, it provides low light, thermo, high frequency infra-red, a high resolution digital camera with the same vision options. It sends a digital transmission to a command and control centre,” replied Paul.
“And when it is plugged into the Mk3 Tactical computers, it provides the command and control centre with a position lock. It also provides the user with a complete smart gun system and a map where all the position locks within 500metres. It also adds a limited functionality to the nanytes, in that it improves the user’s strength slightly and also allows the binding of objects to the armour itself,” said Ren as he came around the corner carrying a couple of small black boxes. “The data transfer is now nanyte and not cables.”
Paul took his and swapped it for the older one he had.
Ren handed her hers and she did the same swapped it and then she handed the Mk2 back to Ren. She then picked up a head rig and slotted it on to her head. “This clips where?” she asked whilst holding the vision rig.
“That gets clipped there hun,” said Paul as he positioned it on the head gear.
Ren then clipped something to the back of the vision block. “Short range high speed data transmitter, the entire suit is the receiver transmitter.”
“With that you are ready hun,” said Paul smiling.
She lifted the single eye piece. “Can I take it that the vision rig can be placed on the other-side?”
“It can, but the advice is not to move it. If you do need to due to vision problems then talk to some of the experienced members of staff or Street Ghosts would be happy to help and assist in sorting it out,” suggested Ren. “All it means is that you need to teach your eyes which is dominant and which is not.
The group walked around the end of the lockers and saw lots of boxes and the rest of the guys sorting weapons into large metal boxes.
‘Fuck me not again.’ Into her head appeared a voice and the scene of being in an alley way. She put her hands up and dropped to her knees clutching her head. Within moments Nibs and Hell Bright were at her side. Hell Bright gripped her shoulders and dragged her to her feet and suddenly in her mind was a beautiful voice which said, “Amy, let me see the vision drop your defences and allow me to see, and I will make it stop.”
She did, she stopped fighting it and she also relaxed as best she could. The vision ended as suddenly as it had started.
*****
Clang, clang sounded from above Richard and Jaboc as metal struck metal. The pair looked up and saw two figures in the form fitting body suits of power armour.
As they got to the ground floor of command they removed their helmets and the lead female said, “Morning bro.”
“Hi Jane, Nicolai or is it Nicole today?” he asked.
“Either, hi Rich, Jaboc.”
Jaboc looked at the pair and asked, “What are you two doing here, I thought you were still running Echo Tech Inc Nicole, and you very defiantly were running Corporate Enterprises, Jane.”
“Not anymore,” replied Jane. “I’m now officially Life President of Corporate Enterprises, my successor took control of the board a couple of weeks ago. I’ve been on holiday and arrived yesterday to oversee a couple of projects. I’m also here to welcome the Academy’s new year one’s. Then this kicks off and both of us decide to don our power armour and here we are.”
“What is the situation at the moment and what forces are available?”
“An eight man youth team are at the moment kitting up in preparation of checking a site and conducting a combat patrol. That’s it, other teams and solos have reported in but they are caught up in the movement of the refugees or are lying low until more is known.”
Jane took out her PDU and looked at something on it. “Any known operatives in the eight man team?” asked Jane.
“Yes, Ren and Hell Bright are two members of the group,” replied Jaboc.
“The rest of the group are ‘Conspiracy Wise’ they specifically came and saw me last night to talk to me about the Conspiracy. At least four members of the group are showing signs of becoming Adepts except without the normal side effects,” Richard said.
Nicolai looked at him as if to ask, ‘who are they?’
“Nibola Calton, who I might add use to be called Nicholas Calton. Yes the guy I put forward for Academy selection, Sandra and Paul Patterson, Tina Griffiths, Anna Detric and Amy Delimetry.”
Jane stared at him.
“What’s up sis?” he asked.
“Sandra, Paul Patterson, Anna Detric and Tina Griffiths along with a few other people were put forward by Sarah for Academy Selection as well,” replied Jane.
“Oh feck,” said Jaboc. “Well they are ready and off loading the weapons and equipment from their van.”
*****
In the area in front of the armoury Nibs was passing the weapons from the back of the van out to the other members of the group who were placing them in cases. Each member of the six Vixens present had a box and in that was their main weapon in the five others were the rest of the van’s arsenal. She picked up Angel’s Trig 8 and thought, ‘I bet we see the rest of the guys either today or tomorrow.’ “Hun,” she said at Sandra who was next in line. “Should we sort out cases for the rest of the guys?”
“We could,” replied Sandra as she was passed an MA60.
Nibs had a glance around the van’s armoury cases and found them to be empty. “Just the ammunition now.” She pulled the first case and passed that to Sandra.
When the last of the ammunition was off she stepped down from the rear doors and closed each one. Amy rounded the corner as Hell Bright gave something to Sandra. Then Amy collapsed clutching her head as if in intense pain. Hell Bright landed the rest of the items in to Sandra’s arms and as Nibs crossed the distance, Hell Bright appeared right in front of Amy. She looked a little shocked to have Hell Bright there before her and she was moving before Hell Bright. As Hell Bright picked her up Paul and her grabbed Amy to support her if her legs gave out.
Amy looked as if she relaxed as Ren brought her a case to sit on. Paul looked at her incredibly concerned by what had just happened. A couple of minutes later Hell Bright and Ren moved slightly away and she heard Ren say “Dad, Richard, Hell Bright needs to tell you something, it looks like she and Amy have just received a message that came via Magick.”
Jaboc’s voice was heard over some speakers in the area and it said, “Right go ahead Ren.”
Ren then translated the signs Hell Bright used to tell him the message, “The message was from a gent called Ithian, and he needs our help, he’s trapped in an area from what he can detect and see would be highly non conducive to his continued living. He thinks four maybe more people are looking for him and he’s detected a strong presence of evil and Magick in the area.”
“Do you have an idea where he is?” asked a new voice to her.
Ren translated some more signs and said, “Yes Hell Bright thinks, he’s near a large religious building in the area we where heading to check out.”
“I don’t know what your plans were Ren, but your new primary mission is to rescue Ithian at all costs and if need be you have two suits of Power Armour to support you,” came the new voice.
“Thanks new voice,” she said. “Your orders are understood, find Ithian.” She stood up and looked at Sandra as she walked over, “Let’s get ready to roll people. You ok Amy?”
“I should be. Thank you Hell Bright,” said Amy
*****
In Amy’s head again came the voice she had heard a few minutes before, “It wasn’t a vision, it was a call for help, a fellow mage is calling for help from friendly forces.”
*****
In command Ren’s voice came over the speakers, “Dad, Richard, Hell Bright needs to tell you something, it looks like she and Amy have just received a message that came via Magick.
At this Nicolai and Jane both look at Jaboc. “Right go ahead Ren.” Jaboc then transferred the camera in the changing area to the large screens above the map table.
On the screen the group saw Hell Bright start to sign. Ren’s voice was heard translating the message, “The message was from a gent called Ithian, and he needs our help, he’s trapped in an area from what he can detect and see would be highly non condusive to his continued living. He thinks four maybe more people are looking for him and he’s detected a stong presence of evil and magick in the area.”
“Do you have an idea where he is?” asked Jane.
A couple of seconds later after Ren translated Hell Bright’s signs said, “Yes Hell Bright thinks, he’s near a large religious building in the area we where heading to check out.”
“I don’t know what your plans were Ren, but your new primary mission is to rescue Ithian at all costs and if need by you have two suits of Power Armour to support you,” said Jane.
“Thanks new voice,” said some else. “Your orders are understood, find Ithian.”
“Who was that and who’s in command of the group?” asked Jane.
“That voice would be Nibs’,” Richard replied. “She is also the commander and she is the one closest to becoming a new type of adept, one we’ve never seen before.”
*****
In Amy’s head came the voice again which said, “Thank you Amy. I think you might also me a Wielder of Magick and I will teach you what I know and the spells I know. I know I surprised Nibs just then by the speed I was able to cross the distance, but I know the blink spell very well, and the better you know the spell, the faster you can cast it.”
She smiled at her and mouthed, ‘I think we will become very close as friends’. She stood up and walked with Paul towards where the boxes where.
Nibs picked up one of the new Tactical Computers and installed it in place of the old one. She saw Ren pick up a D300 and place it against his leg, it stayed there when he brought his hand away.
“How come?” she asked looking at where Ren had the D300.
“The new Tactical Computers have improved the nanytes; they have given users a boost in strength and also provided that nice little extra.”
Sandra passed her, her MA260 and she placed it against her right hip just behind where her Naj blades were located. She removed the holders and placed the short staves against her thigh and they stayed put. She brought the Short staff away in her hand complete. She replaced it and then unscabbarded the blade. ‘Very nice,’ she thought.
She then stooped and took her bow from the case. This she placed in the middle of her back. The next two items from the case were the two quivers which she placed across the small of her back. Into the front pouches went six magazines for her MA260. Into the right kidney pouch went a few grenades for the 260 and she loaded the grenade magazine with four fragmentation grenades. She kept the last round clear from the breech.
Daraus stood at her heel and allowed her to move as she needed to, but he was always there. She looked down at him there and smiled. She walked to the drivers door and called, “Ren where would be a good place to park the van?”
“On sub level 2, down the ramp from the garage, find a bay and park up, I would suggest leaving the keys in the box at the bottom of the ramp. It allows the mechanics to work on the vehicles with out having to worry about getting the keys from you,” replied Ren as he walked up loading the under slung grenade launcher.
She looked at the breech block of his D300 and it didn’t look like a normal D300 breech. “What’s the breech, that’s not the normal breech?”
“No, it’s configured for APEX operations. As Conspiracy if a weapon can take APEX, take it. A lot of the nasties we hunt can only be harmed by APEX or APHV ammunition or the advanced weapons in the armoury.”
She climbed up into the driver’s seat and started the engine. She slowly drove down the ramp into the main car-park. She headed for the first bay big enough to take the van and drove into it very carefully as on either side were other vehicles. After it was parked she climbed out and walked back towards the ramp up where she found the box. Inside was a plan of the car-park, she found the bay the van was parked in and hung the keys up. She walked up the ramp and found the rest of the team stood ready and waiting. Sat at Sandra’s heel was Daraus.
“Ok, team make-up, Tina, Abs with me and Sandra, Amy, Paul, Ren and Hell Bright make up the second team. You guys ok with that?”
Most of the group smiled at her choice of teams.
“Channel open Nibs to Paul, end. Paul, Nibs. We are on a private channel, keep an eye on Amy. If she gets in over her head call the support forces, in. It’s nothing against you, Ren or Hell Bright, but as acting commander her life is my responsibility and she has had no training.”
“I know, I love her, but I also feel responsible for her safety. Both Ren and Hell Bright know and I think Hell Bright is going to be keeping an eye on her just in case she receives more of what ever happened earlier.”
The group turned up the ramp to the outside and they started down the route way towards the front gate.
“Do you want to do the Talking shop with her or shall I?” she asked Paul.
“You do it, your knowledge of the scene and how people are, are vastly superior to mine.”
Paul stopped and turned back towards his unit.
Her unit proceeded on towards the front gate. Abs was carrying in the patrol position an MA60, but down her back was her Z2 sniper rifle. Tina was carrying her Coltanar 85 LSW. Nibs looked at her and noticed the belt feed coming from a backpack she was carrying.
“How many rounds, Tina?” she asked as the walked down the road.
“2000 in the pack and 600 in three magazines,” replied Tina.
As they approached the gate she asked, “How are we going to move?”
“A pair lead and are covered by the second pair, but as I move you cover Nibs,” replied Sandra.
She nodded as she understood the system, ‘move in pairs, but partners cover.’ “Leap frog movement?”
“Yes, at major junctions, but standard combat patrol the rest of the time,” said Abs.
The unit moved around the gate house and crossed the road. They headed for the main road junction north of the club. On the club side of the junction was a manned road block. Ten guys were working the road block; two of them were operating a heavy support weapon. ‘That looks like a heavier version of the 260.’ The unit moved around the corner and crossed the main road using standard combat patrol manoeuvres. Tina and she stayed at the corner of the alley-way one looking down the street the other looking up. About 50metres away were Sandra and Abs, they had stopped at a road junction.
“Nibs, Sandra. Your clear.”
The pair moved down the street Daraus easily keeping pace with her move.
“Nibs, Ren. What’s your status?”
“We’re on the move heading north and then north east, not seen much movement of humanity yet, but I’m guessing they are using the main roads out of the area.”
The pair stopped at the junction and crossed the secondary road on a north easterly diagonal to a back street which ran parallel to a secondary road on one side and a minor road on the other.
“What’s yours?” asked Ren as she waited for the other pair to move and join them.
“We’re north of the main road and heading down some back streets now, our ETA at the church, assuming no hold-ups is about four hours.”
“Roger that, ours is about the same.”
Chapter 3
“Ladies and gentlemen of the board, I think we are ready to initiate Operation Re-align. Commander Sinc of Sec Com has confirmed the five mercenary commands he stated would be ready are and have arrived at their launch points. His forces are ready to support our own troops should they come across area’s that require them, which should be very few as the City government has also assured us that they will kill the electricity and water to the area in the early phases of the operation,” the chairman stated.
From the third seat down the right hand side the female, head of corporate aquisations, smiled and said, “Good the boarding crews are also ready to move and board up the apartments, houses and tenement blocks when they have been confirmed as clear. I’ve also had confirmation that the building crews are also preparing to begin the demolition of the sites and also to start the construction of new homes and apartments for the returning populations.”
“Good, Sylvia,” the chair responded. “I can also confirm for the board that the talks with Nanuni technologies are almost complete and they have already supplied 10 of their Death Knight Assault Robots and a small quanity of new body armour to our military. By this time next week we should be one of the most powerful corporations on Darra Von.”
*****
A short while later the unit, which had taken the name Vixen Alpha when control communicated out to them, Ren’s unit was now called Vixen Bravo, had stopped a short distance from a north south main road. The unit was hidden behind a dumpster and in the gate way to a back garden. On the main road were a few people, which was petering out, this surprised her as she would have expected a constant stream of people. As the last of the people moved past the entrance to the back alley-way, she moved around the dumpster and slowly edged towards the entrance. When she could see up the road she stopped. She could see two APCs with what looked like infantry in body armour and riot shields. A second line just behind looked as if they were armed with assault rifles. The APCs looked like they had water cannons rather than the usual 20mm cannon they normally carried.
“Control, Nibs. Jaboc you seeing this.”
“Yes we are Nibs,” said a second unknown voice.
“Can I ask for the two new voices, namely the one I heard earlier and that new one please identify themselves. I have an edetic memory for conversations, and I need to have names for voices so I can put them correctly with a name and hopefully soon a face.”
“Sorry Nibs,” said Richard.
“Hang on, what are they doing? Sorry Richard.” Up the street the unit was mounting up again, as just behind the APCs were a couple of mini-busses where the infantry went to as the APCs moved out in a westerly direction.
“No worries, I wonder myself on what the hell is going on. The two new voices belong to Nicolai or Nicole and Jane Chancer, my brother and sister.”
“Hello Nibs, Richard has been telling us about what you discussed yesterday evening. Yes, before you ask we are the same as the two from the prophecy. I’m Nicole or Nicolai.”
“And I’m Jane. Good afternoon, just.”
She indicated for Sandra and Abs to move across the street for the back street junction they wanted.
Sandra and Abs disappeared around the corner she started to feel some vibrations through the ground, very faint indeed, but they were there. Just as Abs disappeared a CSMR came into view at the junction the APCs had left on. It turned its head and looked right towards the unit. It turned and headed north away from them
“What the hell was that, I know it was a CSMR but that thing looked advanced, far more advanced than what is in some of the bigger corporations military and what I’ve seen on the weapon technology forum boards?”
“Don’t worry, we’re already on it,” replied Jane.
“You’re not the only one who wants to know,” said Nicolai, “That is far more advanced than anything we know of on the corporate or country front. Leave that in our hands, we’ll research it and get back to you.”
“Ok, out.” Sandra signalled for them to move and they did.
*****
Jane and Nicolai had sat at two empty stations and they had both logged in to the network. Richard was busy coordinating Street Ghost assets.
“Two more position locks are activated Jaboc,” said one of the controllers.
“Display it to the map table and name when able,” responded Jaboc.
The two new locks displayed and one was soon joined by the name Surat and the second in very close proximity was labelled Bret. “Good, Surat and Bret are online,” said Jaboc.
“What, Surat and Bret. As in Surat Froid and Bret Walkes?” Richard asked.
“Yes the very same two. Bret had been working for me doing a bit of field work and Surat walks into the club one evening and it’s a match made in heaven. Surat is carrying Bret’s kid.”
He looked up at Jaboc and Jane said the words he was thinking, “Feck me. Now that’s a turn up for the books.”
Jaboc looked at the pair as if asking, ‘what do you mean?’
“The Academy staff had Bret pegged as a loner, he worked as good as anyone could when team work was needed, but all the rest of the time he stood slightly aloof and didn’t really mix with the year or the rest of the Academy. He walked out with two Highers, four mids and nine lower qualifications.”
“Right ok, Bret. I will pass your message on,” said Jaboc. “Bret asks what the feck is going on, we come back from a walking holiday to the Tibinssey mountains and get back yesterday morning and this hits the following day. Someone is having a laugh somewhere?”
“We want to know the same answer Bret,” said Nicolai, “We still haven’t got enough assets on the ground to launch any form of extraction mission, but when we do, you two are high on the list, just beneath Ithian who is at the moment being rescued.”
“Not Line Walker Ithian?” asked Bret.
“Yeah the very same, why?” Richard asked.
“I met him in my first year at the academy. Chat to you guys soon. Out.”
“Oh right.” He went back to looking at the satellite images and was slowly overlaying them with the ground map.
“Found it,” said Jane. “It’s a Death-Knight Assault Robot.”
“That’s Naruni tech, where the hell did they get there hands on Naruni technology?” asked Nicolai.
“I think we dropped the ball on this one,” Richard said as he looked up. “I have 10 CSMRs, and what I guess to be about half their armed forces on site, just before the launch. The Delta Nine-Zero satellite took a digital image of the HQ and I’m looking at the image now.” Richard brought up one image and zoomed in and checked the armour the forces were wearing. “Do you two want to run this image through the armour databases and see if that’s also been upgraded?”
“No problem, save the image and I’ll start the run.” After a short while Nicolai said, “From what I can remember of Wacker Military the last time they faced Echo Tech forces that looks the same. I would expect the officers to be equipped with something a bit better, but not much.”
*****
Vixen Bravo approached the main road north of the club. Behind them on the north side of the secondary road was a road block manned by six members of the club’s staff along with some heavy firepower.
Ren turned to Amy and said, “You and Hell Bright move as a pair, whilst me and Paul cover then you cover our movement.”
“Ok,” replied Amy as she looked up and down the main road. Then the pair headed on a diagonal North East to a path beside two houses. He knew it led to a small piece of open land and on the far side was a back street people used to dump stuff there. He was looking east along the main road and could see the column of refugees exiting the area, very likely behind them was Wacker Security and military. ‘I wonder how far they will go from the HQ.’ He saw Hell Bright signal for Paul and him to move and they did. They crossed and headed up the alley-way only stopping at the other end.
He looked across the open area and saw what he thought was movement in one of the windows backing onto the area. He turned and signalled for Hell Bright and Amy to move, but stop at them.
“Thermo is picking up small heat lumps, but nothing aggressively looking towards the area. Likely to be people hiding from the security and military,” said Paul
“Or people loyal to the street laying low and waiting. I’m surprised this close to the club, but you never know.”
He pointed at the far side and Hell Bright and Amy headed across the area. When they reached the far side they stopped and Hell Bright signalled for the other two to move.
“Is this your first time in this type of situation?” Hell Bright asked Amy, again directly to Amy's mind.
“Yes it is,” replied Amy. “I’ve known of the scene and have tried to stay true to their beliefs but it’s hard especially when the high school does nothing to stop the bullies making people’s life hell.”
Ren and Paul passed the pair and stopped about 50 metres up the back street. Paul signalled for the pair to move.
She said as they were moving, “Ren, standard patrol rules I think, only pairs movement when we need it.”
Ren looked at her and nodded his reply. Ren then moved to the head of the line and she fell in behind him. Amy and then Paul finished the four man patrol line.
Amy heard Paul’s voice over the communication system, he said, “This is as good a time as any to tell you the correct methods for patrol movement hun.”
She looked back at him and smiled. “I’m not that stupid love, but it would be nice to correct any errors I have.” She went back to looking forward and made sure the weapon was in a comfortable position.
“Well maybe not hun, but in case I’m going to tell you anyway,” said Paul.
“Ok, I was kind of hopping someone would. All I’ve got to go on is what I have seen on the tele, and we all know how distorted that can be.”
She saw Hell Bright look over her shoulder and smile at her. “Too damn true. The tele distorts everything that doesn’t suit the corporations.”
“What Tele programs did you watch?” asked Ren as he signalled for everyone to stop.
“Swat Tactical, as many of the documentaries about military operations and similar,” she replied as she looked around the neighbourhood. From what she could see it was run down housing and flats mainly, her vision system was set to normal vision.
“Were the documentaries by Digital Systems or one of the Echo Tech Inc tele companies?” asked Paul
“Yeah, when they came onto normal tele, we haven’t been able to afford cable or anything better than normal tele for a couple of years.”
Ren looked at the road ahead and saw it was full on humanity moving south. “Great our route is blocked, back track.”
After a couple of seconds Ren said, “Mm. That is a possible. Control, Ren. Can you guys bring up the sub-surface pipes and crawl-ways, we are blocked by a column of humans moving south.”
*****
Nibs headed up the alley way slightly ahead of Tina and stopped some 40 metres up. Sandra and Abs caught the pair up. “Control, Nibs. How the hell are we suppose to handle something like that. Our weapons are effectively useless against it.”
“No their not Nibs,” replied Richard. “Every wondered why all Echo Tech Military and security forces use the MA series of weapons and it’s not because they are produced by the company? It’s a very valid reason but not the main one.”
“No,” she replied as she took point and moved down the alley way, until it exited on a back road and small piece of man made park land for the children to play on.
“The APEX and APHV ammunition is capable of hurting the advanced armours that the CSMR uses. Plus your small size and the advantage of Black Light is that you are covered by a basic stealth layer that throws radar through a loop. It finds locking on to people wearing Black Light very difficult.”
“That’s useful,” she responded with as she exited the park land on the back road. It looked like it crossed the minor ahead and continued on. When the unit reached the exit of the back road Nibs looked north and Tina looked south. She tapped Sandra on the shoulder and pointed across the minor road at the continuation of the road they were on. Sandra and Abs moved around their respective partners and crossed the street and stopped to cover her and Tina.
She went past Sandra and Abs and Sandra moved to number two position. She looked around using a combination of thermo and high frequency infra-red.
*****
“Ren, Jaboc. We’ve got the plans you asked for, transmitting the relevant section to you now,” came over Ren’s ear piece.
Inside his eye-piece a box started to flash, he activated the switch that brought the eye scanner online. He moved the bar and opened the window. It displayed the location of an old storm drain that ran in the same direction as they wanted to go. ‘Where’s the nearest access.’ “Find a man-hole cover guys, there’s one in the near vicinity.” He checked along the storm drain and found a junction of a second storm drain that ran from near to the Wacker hospital.
Amy said, “Found it.” Amy started to clear away the bushes and weeds from around it.
He walked over and used his knife to try and pry the cover off. “It’s jammed.”
Hell Bright took aim with her weapon and he moved back. He signalled for everyone to move back. When everyone was at a safe distance, Hell Bright fired at the man-hole cover. The cover disappeared in a white ball of super intense heat.
Paul looked at Hell Bright and asked, “What the hell is that weapon?”
He replied, “That is the A-7 Plasma Rifle. You remember Richard said about visiting other dimensions?”
“Yes,” responded Paul.
“Meet one of the treasures, The Twelve have brought back, the guys at the Academy reversed engineered it and you have the A-7 Plamsa Rifle.”
“I think may have found my weapon of choice,” said Paul.
He took two grenades and dropped them down the shaft, and called down the shaft, “Fire in the hole!”
Splash, Splash was heard as the grenades hit the floor. He climbed down the ladder and was soon at the foot of the ladder. He looked both ways as Hell Bright followed him down. After Hell Bright was down and ready, he said over the communication system, “You two going to join us?”
He looked up and saw Amy was on her way down. Just above her was Paul and the pair were soon in the storm drain.
“Which way?” asked Paul, “Control, Paul.” Then after a couple of seconds and no reply from control he said, “Great, no communications.”
“That and a faint position lock,” he responded. “I have a complete map of the local area which includes all the storm drains and service crawl ways.”
Paul smiled at him and looked ready to move.
Ren took point and led the group in the right direction.
Paul’s voice came over the ear piece, “Ren, Paul. The grenades, why?”
“Think about it Paul, what do you do when you see grenades or hear the words fire in the hole?”
“You take cover. I get it; force anyone at the bottom of the ladder to take cover whilst you drop on them.”
He turned and looked at Paul smiling. After rounding a corner in the tunnel he stopped as his HUU was picking up ambient light ahead. Behind him he knew the rest of the unit had stopped and was waiting for him to move. He did slowly missing the puddles and by walking on the up slopes of the tunnel. He could see the light was coming from a side tunnel. He looked at the map and saw it was the storm drain from the hospital.
He stopped a short distance back and took from his left kidney pouch a small tube; he edged it just beyond the edge. He saw a small check point manned by two Wacker Security guards. One looked like was wearing a communications rig, the other didn’t look like he was. He looked back at the group and indicated that he had seen two people down the side tunnel. He saw the pair was looking away from the junction and he quickly crossed it against the far wall, whilst Hell Bright moved up and covered him in the darkness.
He moved and looked around the corner again as Hell Bright crossed. He signalled for the next person to cross. Amy went to move but froze a second before a rat splashed through a puddle. This sound startled the pair and they look around with their weapons ready. After a few seconds they relaxed and started to quietly chat amongst themselves again looking in the direction of the hospital. Amy then crossed after he had signalled for her to move. Paul crossed just behind Amy and the unit continued down the tunnel towards the exit man-hole.
*****
Across the area Vixen Alpha had come to a main road and they saw a couple of vans with their rear doors open. As Nibs crossed the road she looked inside and saw items of furniture, valuables and other items of value to people. She took a good look at the number plates. “Control, Nibs. Are the camera’s recorded for analysis later?”
“They are Nibs, Conspiracy Intelligence tries to review as much as possible but the amount of data gathered means they may review a couple of percent. Why the question?” asked Richard.
“Two vans, I just want to make sure they’re not looting.”
“Ok,” responded Richard. “Check it when you get back.”
She stopped and stood opposite her was Tina who looked up the street. Tina signalled for the other pair to cross the road.
Tina asked her as Sandra and Abs passed them, “Why the question about the camera’s?”
“I have a feeling the street isn’t going to take this laying down, and I just want to make sure the vans are legit and not looting someone’s stuff. Its things like that, which marks the street world as different as and better than the corporate world.”
Tina smiled at her as Sandra signalled for them to move. As they headed through an apartment block she looked around and saw a couple of what looked like teenagers knelt using the flower beds as protection. One of the pair nodded at her as she went past, she returned the nod to indicate she had seen it. ‘I need to make sure either these guys are supplied or extracted. The street needs to look after it’s assets in times like these, especially the young.’
The pair stopped and knelt beside Sandra who was looking at a steady stream of people and vehicles heading south out of the area. Just up the road was a bridge which linked two halves of a shopping mall.
“Lets use the mall to get on the other side of the road,” she suggested and got Sandra and Abs’ nods in reply to the idea. All four headed back through the apartment and he saw the two had moved back to one of the apartments and the open door showed a few more youths most looked scared as hell. ‘I need to get some business cards done to let people know who to contact should they need to.’ They reached the gate entrance and a quick glance revealed the same sight two vans loading stuff. They moved up the front of the apartment towards the mall. The doors were set slightly back which allowed the group disappear. Sandra and Abs watched the street as she worked the lock. ‘Hell I need my black box. Feck it.’ She hit the door and the lock busted. When the alarm didn’t sound, she tried the switch and found no power to the mall. ‘That’s interesting, you need the city’s help to kill the power to an area.’
“Control, Nibs. I am right in thinking that to kill the power you need the help of the City Government to authorize the utility providers to pull the plug?”
“Yeah you do, why?” asked Nicolai.
“We’ve just entered a mall and theirs no lights and no alarms.”
She led the group across the small entrance lobby to the door at the back. She noticed Sandra closed the door and pulled a sofa across the door to stop it opening. She opened the door and found it opened onto a corridor and at the left hand end was another door the right hand side had a set of stairs going both up and down. She turned left and opened the door onto the mall. The unit then headed up the first stairs to the first floor and they soon crossed the road and were exiting the mall via the service exits. The minor road that ran down the back of the mall also ran down the back of a long line of houses. 120 metres to their left, as they exited the service area, was a road that would lead them in the right direction again.
*****
Richard looked at the map and said, “Jaboc can we check to see which areas have been switched off power wise?”
“Don’t know if we can here, but the people on the ground might be a good way of finding out.”
Jane turned around and said, “One thing I can say is that the Corporate Enterprises medical production and Bio-Tech R&D complex in South Cliffs have reported total loss of power. They’ve gone over to back-up generators but the boss of the site is fuming. The site is currently working on a very important piece of research that may go a long way to combating Tirkkana Syndrome.”
He looked at Jane somewhat shocked as Tirkkana Syndrome was a major killer in South Olliath.
Nicolai also looked at Jane and said, “Ok, this brings a whole new playing field to the ball game. I’ll check on the legal situation concerning the utilities, but I do think they need the City Government support to kill power. I wonder if they’ve also killed the other utilities.”
Jaboc looked up from looking at something on the tablet. “Bret has just reported they lost power during the initial phases and now they’ve lost water.”
He brought up the utility plans and found that the entire area was fed by four water mains; each had a cut off terminal in the east. Three of which were located in Grand South. He then took out his PDU and rang Misty.
After a couple of ring Misty connected and said, “Hi, who’s this?”
“Richard, Misty. What is the situation concerning water and electric where you are?”
“Don’t know, I’ll check.”
After a couple of seconds she said, “We’ve lost all water supply, not electric. Why the question?”
“It looks like the city government is in on the deal with Wacker. They’ve cut water and electrics to the area.”
“Bloody hell, someone will need to check the legal situation on it, but I think that’s illegal under World Government laws.”
A few minutes later Jaboc said, “Nicolai, Richard the latest satellite images are in.”
After a few minutes of checking a few sites across the area Nicolai said, “Wacker are being stupid, they‘re declaring war on the other corporations as well. I’ve got military units outside nearly all Corporate sites, including the Corporate Enterprises site Jane.”
“They can’t be that stupid, can they? They do that and they know they can’t win if they do that. Not with Suraban ratifying the Corporate Land Laws. How many front line units can we bring to bear?”
“Immediately, two divisions sis, that’s not the issue, someone is not advising the board of Wacker and the City government very well. By them doing what they have done, they’ve not only declared war on the corporations but they’ve declared war on Echo County and we have two task forces in the Allan Straight. They are only four days out and I know the Storm Makers are in the area as well.”
Richard looked at Nicolai when she said the Storm Makers are in the area. “Wacker is not going to survive this. If Wacker wants to start a land grab war, they are picking a fight with the wrong people.”
*****
“Ren, Nibs. What’s your status?”
When after a couple of seconds she hadn’t heard Ren’s reply she said, “Control, Nibs. What’s happened to Vixen Bravo?”
“They’ve had to go underground to cross a column of refugees. They should be back on the surface in the next ten minutes, we have a faint position lock on them but no communications, they are in an old storm drain that are renown for blocking communication signals,” replied Jaboc.
“Ok, thanks Jaboc, I was just wondering where they went. Can you get Vixen Bravo to contact me when they re-establish communications.”
“Will do, how is the patrol going?” asked Richard
“As can be expected with the situation,” she replied. She headed down the road and stopped when she saw a couple of Wacker security walking past the end of the road. Both she and Tina went to ground, thankfully Sandra and Abs were at the corner waiting for them to signal safe. The pair disappeared and a larger group of eight more crossed the entrance, never once looking up the road. When the last of the eight had disappeared she slowly edged her way forward. At the entrance she saw the group had stopped and was looking at a map of some kind. They headed off down right back tracking down the secondary road that joined this secondary with the main road. She indicated for Sandra and Abs to move and they did. Tina who was looking up the street didn’t see anything that would cause them a problem and pointed at the alley-way between two apartment blocks. Sandra and Abs headed for the alley-way and stopped in the entrance and signalled that it was clear to move.
In the distance she could see the top of the spire of the religious building. “Almost there guys,” she said as they moved up the alley way and crossed a minor road. They entered a garden of a house, inside she could see more people all of them again young, just a bit younger than she was, she guessed. “Control, Nibs. What is the status of extraction teams being ready?”
“We have a couple of units in and they are preparing to head out and conduct an extraction of a couple of groups, why?” asked Jaboc.
“I have a couple of groups containing youngsters that seemed to be holed up in places. It would be good to see if we can help them.”
“Very true,” replied Jaboc. “The young are the future. Vixen Bravo is back online with us.”
*****
Vixen Bravo arrived at the manhole they wanted to use and Ren disappeared up the ladder. At the top he forced the manhole cover out of its hole and found that a car had been parked over it. He replaced the cover and climbed back down. At the bottom he said to Hell Bright, “A one second double tap at the cover. It’s blocked by a vehicle.”
Hell Bright nodded her understanding and stood directly beneath the up tunnel whilst the other three moved away slightly.
Amy who was watching Hell Bright saw her skin change from a flesh colour to a colour that mimicked stone. Hell Bright then brought the A-7 to her shoulder and fired one ball and then a second later she sent a second ball up the shaft.
Ren disappeared up the ladder and found the car was no longer blocking the man hole. He headed for an alley-way; Paul appeared and headed for the same alley-way. A couple of seconds later Amy’s head appeared and she too joined him and Paul. Hell Bright appeared beside the group.
He looked around and saw in the distance the spire of the building they were heading for. “Control, Ren. We are out of the tunnels, what’s the status of Vixen Alpha?”
“Ren, Vixen Alpha has asked that you contact them when you were out of the storm drains,” said Jaboc.
“No problem, out. Nibs, Ren. We are out of the storm drains.”
“Good, what is your status, where are you in relation to the target building and how is everyone?” asked Nibs.
“Everyone is good. I can see the spire, I would estimate it’s a couple of miles away now.” He stood and headed towards the spire.
“Ok, so can we, I would estimate we are about thirty minutes out.”
He felt someone tap him on the shoulder. He looked at Hell Bright who pointed at a street sign. He nodded his reply to where they were. “Nibs we are going to check on our friends as we are on the road where they live.”
“Ok, keep me informed of your situation.”
“Will do,” he replied.
The four headed up the road to a set of steps down. He headed down them whilst the rest waited at the top. He hammered on the door.
A few seconds later he heard a voice from the other side which said, “Who is it?”
“It’s Ren and Hell Bright, how’s you and the others Jacqui?”
“We’re good thanks. Why are you here?”
He looked back up the steps and signalled to Hell Bright that they all seemed safe.
“Checking on you and also rescuing someone important,” he replied. “I can organise extraction for you and the kids if you want?”
A couple of seconds later Jacqui’s voice said, “Thanks Ren, Hell Bright. How long before you think we can leave?”
“A few hours maybe a day. We’ll need to organise it back at the club, just stay put and we will organise something.”
“Ok, chat to you soon.”
He headed back up the steps and the group crossed the road, they turned down an alley-way and in the distance they could see the entire spire.
*****
Vixen Alpha had stopped at the edge of an alley-way looking directly at the building from the north side. It looked fortified; it had sand bag emplacements covering most of the doors in to it and the surrounding buildings. Nibs was looking at the map of the area when she saw the four position locks of Vixen Bravo appear on the edge of the area. “Vixen Bravo, Nibs. We have you on the map.”
“Confirmed Nibs, likewise we have you as well. Stay put we’ll join you,” replied Ren.
Fifteen minutes later Vixen Bravo rounded the corner of the alley-way from the back street and joined Vixen Alpha at the entrance.
“Hell Bright, can you direct us to where Ithian is?” she asked.
Hell Bright nodded ‘yes she could’ and took point, she headed back down the alley way and turned west. Very soon Hell Bright was leading the group up a back street towards a court yard area.
The group stopped at the entrance to the yard and saw a gent backing away from a group of five thugs. The yard looked like it was a dumping ground for rubbish. Setadar pipes and rods, wooden tables, chairs and other items of unwanted and very likely busted items of house hold appliances and general rubbish were piled, in places quite high.
“Is that Ithian?” she asked.
Hell Bright nodded, ‘Yes it is’.
Chapter 4
She bonded her MA260 to her hips and drew her short staves, she headed around the corner and stood in the entrance way. Tina, Sandra and Abs all joined her. She said, “Gents I would advise leaving the gent alone as he is now under our protection. You have two options, leave or we deal with you.”
“Yeah right, not before we’ve dealt with you,” said the largest one and he grabbed a piece of setadar pipe. The others with him also grabbed pieces of wood or setadar pipes and rods.
Sandra and Abs both drew their combat knives, Tina unattached her short staves from her back.
The four friends then stepped into the yard area and they split up. She headed straight for the largest one and his slightly smaller colleague. The larger person of the pair swung the pipe he was carrying, and long before the pipe was anywhere near hitting her left stave was in position to block the attack. Her right one was already on the counter-attack and impacted against the gent’s gut. The power behind the attack forced the gent to double over and collapse to the ground.
She then heard the second one swing his piece of wood and that hit her side. The armour went solid and stopped the blow; she didn’t even feel the impact. She turned to face him and as she did her boot was already on the rise going for his head, the impact forced him to take off and spin. This gent landed face down very much unconscious.
She looked around and saw the others were dealing with their opponents; two of them were already on the floor in pain. Sandra slashed her opponent across the neck and from what she could see he dropped.
She placed her staves back against her leg and slowly walked with her hands palm towards Ithian. She said when she was close enough, “Ithian, we have been sent by Nicolai and Jane Chancer to take you to safety.” She looked at him and he was defiantly favouring his left arm and shoulder.
“Can I take it you have an idea who I am?” asked Ithian as he stood up, his face was one of concentration.
“Other than that you are someone they don’t want in enemy hands, no.”
Ithian stepped towards her and he accepted her offer of help. She helped Ithian over the piles of rubbish and heard a fire fight happening down at the entrance to the back street.
“Sandra is anyone medically trained?” she asked.
“Yes Paul is,” replied Sandra.
She headed for the corner of the back street and a main road. She tapped Paul on the shoulder and said, “Ithian needs looking at.”
Paul looked back up the road and saw Ithian sitting on an old wheel, he headed to him, as Paul walked back he had already swung his pack off.
She took his place at the corner and fired a short burst from her 260, the APEX rounds destroying a car in the progress. “Paul, Nibs. I need to know how long to stabilize Ithian?”
“He’s stabilized now. He’s got a busted left arm and I think a dislocated shoulder.”
“Thanks,” she responded. “Guys we are leaving. Control, Nibs. I need a fast safe route out now?”
Hell Bright fired again this time at one of the APCs that was operating with the unit, who now were hidden from view. She knew the presence of her MA260 and Hell Bright’s weapon was enough to make most people take cover.
“Nibs, Jaboc. The quickest route out of the area is the deep subway. You have a station entrance one street over directly opposite the building opposite the yard.”
“Thanks Jaboc. Sandra, Tina, Abs, Nibs. Stay with Ithian we are heading for the subways. Sandra the back door opposite should lead us to a station entrance.”
She glanced back up the street and saw Sandra move and kick the door so it opened. Paul helped Ithian to his feet.
“Hell Bright, Amy, Nibs. We are leaving.”
Hell Bright with Amy appeared beside her in the entrance way and they both headed back to where the fight had happened. Ren and her moved back up the street after she pumped the grenade launcher and both of them sent a grenade in direct fire arc towards the now burning wrecks of the two APCs.
*****
Amy walked down the back street to the junction of it and a main road. At the corner she glanced around and saw heading in their direction at least ten people all wearing the uniforms of Wacker Security and carrying assault weapons. Also up the road was at least one APC. ‘Feck me! No way are these guys going to get the jump on us.’ She placed her back against the wall and readied herself. “Control, Amy. I have a unit of security troops heading this way, permission to engage?”
“Amy, Jane. Permission granted.”
“Amy, Nicole. I’m confirming the command, you may engage.”
She lifted her D300 to her shoulder and turned so just the weapon her arms and a small section of her head were visible around the corner of the building. She pulled the trigger and sent a shortish burst up the street. It hit the two closest to her on the same side of the street. The APEX rounds she was using killed the pair instantly, but it got the rest of the security goons to take cover. “Hell Bright, Ren, Paul, Amy. I need help. I am engaging some security people.”
Very quickly she was joined by the rest of Vixen Bravo. When Paul and Ren had arrived she moved so she was behind a parked car. She had seen four of them slowly, cautiously moving down the other side of the road, using the cars as cover. She fired a second burst at one pair and hit the car they were behind. The car exploded as the rounds ignited the fuel tank, the fireball instantly killing the pair. The pair who were slightly behind them took cover in an alley way rather than the cars. Hell Bright appeared beside her and she stood up and double tapped her A-7 at the APC as its turret moved and swung its main weapon towards them. The two balls of plasma went right into the open rear area and destroyed it from the inside out.
Paul fired a short burst at a pair who had decided to return fire the rounds impacting against the brick work. A couple of rounds hit him in the arm, but the armour went ridge and stopped the bullets one actually got stuck in the armour. He brushed it off and fired a second burst at the exposed commander of a second APC that had just appeared from a junction. He then felt someone tap him on the shoulder and he turned to face the person.
*****
“Commander, we are under attack, returning fire,” said one on the security personal. “It looks like they are using advanced ammunition, as the first burst blew two apart.”
“Fecking hell, APEX ammunition. Command we are engaging hostiles they are using APEX ammunition.” The turret of the APC started to turn so the gunner could bring the 20mm cannon to bear on the attackers. “What the fe.”
The sergant saw two white balls go into the back of the APC and it just exploded. “Command, we need support. The attackers are using weapons I’ve not seen before. The APC has just exploded after two balls of white went into the rear section. It is now a burning wreck.”
“Sergant pin the attackers down, we are deploying forces to assist, they should be with you shortly. We’ve just lost two more, one of the cars exploded and killed them in the fireball.”
From the junction came the high fire rate of an MA260, the Sergant knew that weapon as he had used it when he was working for the mercenary command before joining Wacker security. ‘Feck me these guys are well armed.’
“Sergant, I know I’ve just hit one of them and he instantly returned fire as if the bullets had not effected him at all,” said one of the security personal.
“Thanks Conners,” the sergant replied. ‘Who the hell are these guys. Our weapons are suppose to be able to defeat street armour.’
*****
“Richard, Jaboc, the first of the Echo Tactical response units have arrived top side. What are your orders,” asked Jack from one of the terminals.
“What power armour have they been equipped with?” asked Jane from her station.
“Standard security ET-4 Jane,” replied Jacks.
Jane stood and said to Nicolai, “Shall I go and break out the heavier stuff.”
Nicolai thought about it and then said, “Yeah I think they might need it.”
Jane headed off in the direction of the exit.
Richard said, “At last.”
“Control, Nibs. I need a fast safe route out now?”
Jaboc who was looking at the sub-ways said, “Nibs, Jaboc. The quickest route out of the area is the deep subway. You have a station entrance one street over directly opposite the building opposite the yard.”
“Thanks Jaboc.”
“Nicolai do you want to deploy a couple of units to the sub-way station off 4455th Street, I’ve just sent them to the Deep Line.”
“Ok, will do,” responded Nicolai.
*****
Sandra led the group through the long corridor until they had reached the front door. A small window allowed her the chance to look out. She could see the entrance building opposite. Normally across the entrance was a metal gate, this was open, which meant people had gone into it or come from it. “Control, Sandra. The sub way, where do the tunnels go to and from and does any of them go near Wacker HQ?”
“Yes, the deep line runs close to the HQ,” replied Nicolai.
“Thanks, just wondering.” She opened the front door and Abs and she headed out after checking both up and down the street. They both went to ground on the steps down looking up and down the street. She signalled for Paul and Tina along with Ithian to move.
They did and they stopped on a landing about halfway down. Hell Bright and Amy crossed next and they went past Paul, Tina and Ithian and stopped at the bottom of the stairs. She could see Nibs and Ren in the door way, they were waiting for something, they had to be.
She saw both of them fire back down the corridor and then they ran across the street. Nibs paused for a brief second and fired a grenade down the corridor. As Nibs and Ren ran down the stairs she and Abs followed them. At the bottom, she noticed Nibs was chatting to control and both her and Ren disappeared.
“Control, Sandra. I need the plans for the sub-way station and where did Nibs and Ren go?”
“Uploading the plans now. They went to take out the electrics, Nibs reckons they are not ready to fight in darkness as none of them seem to be using enhanced vision options or smart gun links,” said Richard. “Damn you are vicious Sandra, that last slash I reckon you almost removed that guy’s head.”
‘Damn. I wanted to remove his head.’
A couple of minutes later her, Abs, and Tina were watching the street entrance when the lights went out.
“All forces, Nibs,” came over her communication head set. “The enemy are now working in complete darkness. Paul, Abs, stay with Ithian.”
She looked around as Nibs and Ren walked out of a door labelled ‘Maintenance Personal Only’. She watched Nibs as he walked up to Ithian who seemed to be at ease in the total darkness. Ithian smiled at Nibs and she heard Nibs say, “You ok Ithian?”
“Yes thanks. I’m quite alright thanks to you now.”
“Good, I’ve detailed Paul and Abs to stay with you. We can see in total darkness, how about you?” Nibs asked Ithian.
“Do not worry about me, I can see quite well thanks, even in this level of darkness. I am just happy that I am with friends.”
She looked up the stairs out and saw no one coming after them. She looked at each person and noticed Amy was not that happy. She walked to where Amy was knelt down. “What is wrong Amy?” she asked.
“I can’t see,” replied Amy and she sounded scared. She wasn’t surprised at Amy’s current situation.
“Amy give me your hand.” Amy did and she moved it to the switch on the HUU and switched it. “Listen to me. Use you eye as if it was a moulzua, one blink selects something, two in quick succession activates it.”
Amy nodded that she understood. “Do you see the menu bar at the top of your screen?”
Again Amy nodded ‘yes’. “Third menu item is the vision options, select and activate the High frequency Infra-red.”
Amy did, she looked at the menu bar and selected the third menu item and the menu dropped, she looked down the list and selected the line ‘High Frequency IR’. She activated it and the screen changed. She was looking directly at Nibs.
“Look at the bottom right, see the half circle?”
“Yes I do,” she replied.
“Activate it and then you can move the screens around.”
She did just than and the various screens separated a bit. She then moved them around and when she was done, she switched the system off.
“It’s an eye scanner that allows the user to change the way the information is passed and processed.”
She nodded and she knew she was a bit happier as she could now see the rest of the guys. Paul was with Ithian as was Abs. She stood and moved so she was close to Paul in a position to cover him if he needed it.
Nibs then turned and headed off in the direction of the stairs down, she knew they wanted the very bottom platform and that was beneath a second set of lines. The ‘Deep Line’ ran from the very north of Suraban to the very south, 235 kilometres of sub-way and one of the crowning achievements of the Suraban Subway system. The fact someone in the north could travel to the south with out ever leaving the confines of the subway.
She led the entire unit to the stairs down and saw knelt in one corner was a small group of Wacker Security, they were looking terrified as she guess they had not been trained to operate in total darkness. She led the group with Sandra just behind her and Daraus at her heel down the central concrete stairs and at the bottom she turned left and moved using the walls of the tunnel towards the deep line stairs.
As she approached the stairs down a couple of people at the bottom fired up the stairs. The muzzle flashes illumating the seven men and three women at the bottom all of them were looking up the stairs. A couple of them were using small flash lights that shone about half way up the tunnel. She stopped and indicated for everyone else to stop. ‘Damn, a grenade isn’t going to take them all out.’
Ren who was just behind Sandra asked, “What’s the hold-up?”
“Men at the bottom of the stairs, grenades aren’t going to take them out.”
Hell Bright stood up and moved to the top of the stairs and she started to concentrate on something, her hands moving in a specific way, repeating the various positions. She could hear very faintly words being said, she didn’t understand any of them. Suddenly a ball no bigger than a foot maybe a foot and a half flew from her hands. She followed the path down the tunnel where at the bottom it hit the ground and exploded. The fireball that was created shot back up the tunnel with the edge of it coming to about half way up the tunnel. After it had cleared she saw that the men who had been down there were now crispy and black with charring. She went down at speed and at the first entrance to the deep line she headed down the stairs. The explosion had blackened the walls as well. She exited the passage way and could see the men down here were huddled together as what ever had done that was very powerful and something not to be messed with. She realised that if she had shouted ‘Boo’ a few would probably have heart attacks. She headed for the end of the platform and the door that led to a service tunnel that ran down both sides of the main tunnel. She looked around the platform at the remains of the Mole people’s homes, all of them had been busted up, computers smashed, walls ripped away from the sides, beds and other household furniture destroyed.
She opened the door hoping no security was beyond it. None was so she led the group though the service tunnel to the station nearest to the Club.
Stood on the platform at the exit were two suits of Power Armour, both of which turned and asked, “Nibola Calton?”
“Yes that’s me,” she replied.
“We’ve been sent to escort you back to the club.”
“Thanks,” she replied and followed one up the stairs and escalators. Back in daylight that was streaming through the larger station complex, she guessed that this one was a major junction building, probably had four or five major railways or sub-lines.
The two troopers were joined in the air by two more; both were using even more advanced versions. They both had long barrelled weapons and what looked like a couple of missiles under each wing. The engine blocks were much quieter than the ones she had heard on the trip to Misty’s.
After ten minutes of walking through the streets they reached the club, where Ren led the group through the maze of tunnels to the ground floor of the control room. Stood at the map table were four people. Richard and Jaboc along with the other two were smiling when they saw Ithian and he smiled back at them.
“Welcome back Ithian, I wish it was in better circumstances,” the left one of the pair said.
“Thank you Nicolai, Jane.” Ithian nodded at the pair. “I wish it was in better circumstances. I must thank this group for the professional way they met me and dealt with the problem of getting me here. You train your youth well.”
“Thank you, but they not trained by us, a lot of it is from needing to survive in a hostile and sometimes dangerous world,” said Jane.
“If you wouldn’t mind I think we will go and get changed and meet you in the canteen. I need some food,” she said realising she hadn’t eaten since breakfast this morning and it was now almost 18:00 and she had been very active.
“Yeah and I need this looked at. Thanks to you for what you did, but I think the break is slightly more major than the treatment provided was aimed at dealing with and with the equipment carried.”
Jaboc walked over to one of the controllers who had indicated they wanted to see him.
Richard said, “Yes meet in the canteen in an hour.”
She nodded and the group turned as Jaboc walked back to them, where he said, “The club is now secure, we control the road on our north side and the area going two blocks east and a block west and three blocks south.” Jaboc said as he lent over the map table. “Map control zoom out to current area plus our controlled area.”
The friends now left and again Ren led them through the corridors to the armoury.
In front of the armoury window she turned and said “Well done everyone, that was an excellent operation, and especially well done Amy for her cool head and her quick thinking to engaging the corporate forces.”
When Nibs had finished everyone clapped and cheered Amy. Tina and Abs walked over and gave Amy a hug and said, “Welcome to the Vixens.”
Amy responded to both by giving them both a hug back and she said, “Thanks for inviting me.”
She then took her case down and opened the top. She placed her 260 in along with the rest of her weapons. “Ren what is the situation concerning the carrying of pistols on Club grounds?”
“Security are all armed with SMGs and Mk2 Black Light, the same version as you guys had. Other than that, both me and Hell Bright don’t generally. We carry our combat knives mainly and pistols when off the grounds.” After everyone had returned their cases to the main Armoury they all walked to the changing area, where they stripped off and headed for the communal showers down the left wall.
Chapter 5
After changing and walking to the canteen the group saw Richard with, a now very defiantly, Nicole and Jane sat at one of the tables. They seem to be looking at something on a tablet style computer. Jaboc was walking out of the food run with Ithian who had his arm in a cast and it also looked as if he had his left shoulder bandaged.
She led the group to the food run and they all collected a large meal, each.
When they had reached the end someone wearing chef whites walked out of the kitchen and said, “A bowl of food for the pup. We’ll make sure one is out in the morning and evening for him.”
“Thanks,” she replied and took the food bowl. Sandra who was behind her took the bowl that contained water. In the food bowl was a mixture of meat and biscuits.
The group walked to where the five adults were sitting and joined them.
Richard looked up and said, “Hi again guys. I guess you are wondering what the hell is going on?”
“Yeah,” she replied as they sat down. She placed the food bowl on the ground and Sandra placed the bowl of water beside it.
“Right, what we currently know about the situation is that it looks like Wacker and we think five light and mechanised infantry mercenary commands have taken control of this area.” On the Tablet screen was a map of the area under their control. “They don’t like the fact the Club has set up combat roadblocks directly opposing ones they’ve setup.”
“The other thing is that we are still looking in to the legal situation concerning water and electricity supplies,” said Jane. “From what we know the switch has been thrown through out the area and has effectively closed down most of the corporate controlled areas. The Corporate Enterprises and Cybertek sites are still working but that’s due to having advanced back-up generators, but even they can’t operate without water.”
On the projector screen that had been set up in the corner of the canteen came the leader of the largest party in Suraban government. His voice came over the speakers after one of the staff turned up the volume. The leader said, “I’m here to read a joint statement from the board of Wacker Inc and the government of Suraban. With the help of Wacker Incorporated the city is funding a major rejuvenation scheme in the area currently controlled by Wacker Security forces. The general plan is to demolish all unoccupied apartments, and I mean unoccupied as having less than three flats rented out and fully paid for, at least a month in advance.”
“What the feck is he on about,” Nicole said.
“Hang on,” said Jane, “Let him finish.”
“All the confirmed empty blocks have been listed for demolition, and after demolition Wacker Incorporated through its housing and construction arm will construct modern apartments to replace the ones torn down. No questions, thank you.”
“Leader of the Council, does it matter if the people are in occupation or not?”
“No, to my understanding they have been served with eviction notices.” The Leader of the Council turned and disappeared back into city hall.
Richard just stared at the screen. “That’s it. Bye Wacker.”
“Tell me about it,” said Nicole and she took out her PDU like item and started to compose a message. “If Wacker wants a land grab, they’ve picked the wrong corporations to go head to head against.”
Jane just huffed.
“If what you guys showed us is true then they’ve also gotten into bed with a major interdimensional corporation. The CSMR you saw, and we can confirm at least nine more, all originate from a corporation called Nanurai. From the reports other members of the Council have brought back, they are nasty and in the end they will collect payment from the parties on the contracts. They don’t care if it’s in the form of slaves, property, minerals or money, they do collect. It means the Conspiracy is also involved in this and we rarely take prisoners.”
Sandra looked at the group and asked, “Can I take it then the street at least are going to be fighting Wacker.”
“Very much so,” replied Jaboc. “We have an extraction team preparing to leave in about half an hour to go and get two elite operatives, Surat and Bret.”
“Then if I may suggest contact Sarah she should be informed as I know for a fact the Gangrels are not going to take this laying down.”
“Already done,” said Jane. “At the moment Sarah is preparing the Gangrel’s response to the take over, and if I know Sarah it’s not going to be a pleasant response.”
“Well Ithian, what brings you back here?” asked Nicole.
“What brings me back, a fuck up in the D-Door I was trying to cast. I was planning to arrive on Phase world and got dropped off here. What I do know is the building I was near is being used as a cultist base for worshipping something. I’ve not seen the statue before but it didn’t look nice. I almost got caught by the High Priest, and the goons you guys stopped had been sent by him to bring me back, he knew I was a Line Walker.”
“That changes a few things,” said Richard. “Would you say he was in possession of skills or abilities.”
“Don’t know, I would say abilities, but that’s only a guess on my part.”
She looked at Richard as he looked slightly spaced. She guessed he was mulling things over in his head.
“In the long run it does mean it is going to need looking at and I would say pretty quickly, as this and the Wacker issue may be interrelated,” said Richard when he had come back to the present and now.
“Not for the next couple of days it’s not,” said Jaboc. “At least six of the young ones have just been in a situation they’ve never been in before and should be allowed a couple of days to relax.”
“I agree with Jaboc,” said Jane. “This can wait, in a couple more hours we will have a full Echo Security Tactical unit on site, we can use them to contain the site. Plus we don’t have the forces to launch any major Conspiracy operations yet.”
Richard looked at Jane and Nicole and said, “I know, I wasn’t even thinking about launching any major operations until we can field at least four complete combat units, and we have one on site at the moment. You guys are now one of those units.”
She looked at Richard in utter shock. She then noticed everyone else including Ren and Hell Bright were also staring at him, again in shock.
“I concure,” said Nicole. “You all handled the patrol and the rescue of Ithian in a fashion that I would say marked you all as beyond professional. We in the Conspiracy look for those people, professional, understanding of situations and I would say you all are willing to go the extra mile to protect Darra Von.”
“I’ve already sorted out accommodation for all of you here in the main club,” said Jaboc. “You all understand that everything you guys do for the Conspiracy can not be told to anyone at all, unless they are in on it.”
She nodded that she understood. “A question, how much does Misty know?”
“Misty is a member of the Conspiracy, and has been for a few years now. The rest of her team know nothing of the work, to them she is their team leader. She is training them to make them ready to become members but they’ve not reached that point yet.”
‘That explains the smile.’ She took a piece of roast Jibum and also a piece of roast Tatan.
Ithian turned to Nicole and asked, “I have a question. Who received my Mana Call message, as I sensed it being received, but I also sensed something else, it was as if it got transferred?”
“I think I may have received your message Ithian,” replied Amy. “Hell Bright took it from me and that was how we knew about your situation.”
“Arh, right. Hell Bright may I say that the fireball was a little excessive but effective none the less.”
Hell Bright signed at Ren who translated the message, “Thanks Ithian.”
Ithian then looked as if he was concentrating on something and said, “May I say this I sense that both of you are powerful, but your aura is uncontrolled my dear.” Ithian was looking at Amy when he said it.
Amy cut a piece of meatloaf and shoved it into her mouth. “Until a couple of days ago I never knew I was different.”
“Whilst I am here, I am right in saying that my lab is still here?”
“Yes it is Ithian,” replied Jaboc.
“Yes then, whilst I am here I will teach you both some basic controls and a few basic spells that you both might find useful. Hell Bright other than the Fireball, what other spells do you know?”
Again Ren translated for his sister, “Fireball, Blink, Flesh to Stone, and a couple of simple spells that allow me to juggle small balls of fire and also help in my work here at the club.”
“Ok, give me a couple of days to get over the injury and then come and see me. We’ll start on teaching you two to control your abilities.”
She noticed both Nicole and Jane were not exactly staring at Ithian, but they did have looks of surprise on their faces. ‘I think Amy and Hell Bright might become something of a special team. That and us four anyway.’
*****
After dinner was finished and the plates cleared away the group followed Ren and Hell Bright led them to a large room in which was some Yallam Ball games, a large tele, a few computers and a few arcade machines. The rest of the evening was spent relaxing and enjoying the company of friends.
During the evening she said to Amy, “At some point over the next couple of days can I have a chat to you about the entire mission?” Nibs asked.
“Yeah no problem. Can we do it in a few days, what with everything that has happened over the last few days I want to have some time to think things through and try and work out where I’m going now, especially having the offer of someone helping me to understand my abilities. I have a feeling me being able to do what Hell Bright can do is only the start of the things I can do.”
“Yeah no problem, when ever you are ready.”
*****
The following morning in Command and Control stood Richard, Jaboc, Bret and Surat, who was heavily pregnant. Jane and Nicole both walked in from online conferences they had had with the chairs of the various companies, and the government of Echo County effected by Wacker moving to control the area.
As the pair approached the table Richard saw them smile at Bret and Surat, Bret had his arm around Surat’s waist.
Jane asked when they had arrived, “How are the pair of you and how long?” Jane indicated she meant the baby.
“Just under a week now, and I think we are both now fine thanks. We’ve already said thanks to Jaboc and Richard for the extraction yesterday evening.”
“We were waiting for you two before we made our report,” said Bret.
“Ok,” responded Nicole.
He looked at his older brother and sister and saw their faces’ were ones of concern.
“What we can tell you is that it looks like Sec Com are also involved. We saw a couple of four man units all packing advanced weapons move past the main doors of the apartment during the day, they all were heading south towards the Church of the Reformed.”
“When during the day?” asked Jaboc.
“About 03:30AN,” replied Bret.
He looked at the pair and said, “Right around the time of the fire fight.”
Jane looked at him and shook her head. “If those teams were heading for the fire fight, then it would mean Sec Com are also involved and highly likely providing the elite elements.”
Jaboc looked at the pair and asked, “How were your conferences?”
“Good would be the answer,” replied Nicole. “One of the Cybertek sites is on the borders and can be supplied via a storm drain. Site security has secured the drain 200metres from the fence line. The other is in a little bit more of a situation as they have no direct way of supply other than the Sub-way. Site security has not moved yet to secure the entrance way, they are waiting for reinforcements from other sites to be in the area which should be by late today, early tomorrow.”
Jane who had been working on a tablet computer looked up and said, “The Corporate Enterprises site here.” The site highlighted on the map table. “Currently has water supplies for five days, if it’s rationed then they should last for a couple of weeks. That’s not the issue, this is.” Two more sites highlighted both in the north, but completely surrounded by the area controlled by Wacker. “Both the sites are conducting research that the board of Corporate Enterprises, Echo Tech and Delatron Mineral Conversion does not want to ruin. Both sites are working on creating Anti-Matter on an industrial scale, rather than the small scale David Fost and Andrew Allburn were able to do at the Academy six years ago.”
“Hell!” exclaimed Jaboc and Bret.
“How close are they?” asked Bret.
A controller walked over and whispered something in Jaboc’s ear. Jaboc turned and walked to the station where he sat down at it.
“The last report given to the board of Delatron was they were a few months away from producing the first few pounds. It’s not that, the site is also this site of the actual reactor vessel it is to supply.” The larger of the two sites highlighted. “I can tell you now Delatron is preparing a military response to make sure the sites are supplied and kept supplied.”
Nicole took her PDU from her pouch and looked at an email it had just received. “Ok I can now confirm that the Prime-Minster has contacted the chair of Wacker and has informed him that the current siege situations surrounding all the sites linked to Echo Tech Inc is being looked upon in a serious light and may bring a serious response from them. He has contacted the two task forces in the Allan Straight and has placed overall command in mine and the council’s hands.”
Richard stared at Nicole. “What land units are assigned to the two?”
“The 3rd, 6th and 7th Seabourne Assault, the 12th Jaggen and the 10th Hakkan Heavy divisions. The 6th, Jaggen and the Hakkan have just undergone a refit and are now equipped with Conspiracy rated CSMRs, and combat vehicles.”
Jaboc stood up and returned to the table. “I have Captain Hoster on a secure channel.”
“Put him through,” said Jane.
On the screens above the map table appeared the Captain and two of his officers. They looked unhappy.
“Good morning Captain,” said Nicole.
“Good morning Nicole, Jane,” responded Captain Hoster and he looked a little more happy at the fact the pair were on site. “This is serious for you two to be present.”
“Not really, we’ve both retired to Life President positions and are here as Street Ghosts rather than as chairs. The chairs are being kept well informed of the happenings as it has affected a few corporate sites.”
“Ok. I was wondering what the hell is going on and if my force’s presence will help or hinder the situation.”
“At the moment, we are unsure of the total situation ourselves as we are still gathering information concerning it. From what we know, it would likely help the situation. Where are you at the moment?”
“We’re currently heading for the port of Ria-acap. I’ve promised the force some shore leave.”
“How many days out are you?”
The captain looked at his diary and replied, “One day at the current speed of 20 Hirrans.”
“Be ready, I would advise captain,” replied Nicole.
“No problem, I’ll broadcast to the fleet and organise shore leave rotas, the ones who’s been on duty the longest going first,” replied a tall blonde haired commander.
Richard felt his shoulder get tapped and he turned to face the person tapping it. He saw Sharra standing behind him. “You might want to see this, the street are looking like they are going to mobilize a full armed response to the Wacker Take-over.”
He looked at her in shock. “I thought they might. What type of response are they looking at launching?”
“Take a look, it’s all over BlackNet.”
He followed Sharra to her station and on the screen was a page from the Suraban Forum board. He looked at the screen and saw the page count was already in the high twenties. “That’s what? Into high 400 responses already, when was the topic started and who by?”
“This one was started by Harry Cutter, Andres son. It looks like a few notables have also responded, Damien, K-dog and others. It also looks like the world Street Ghost population are preparing to go to war against Wacker if what I read from the other boards is right,” said Sharra.
He smiled an evil smile at the thought of the world’s Street Ghost community going to war. “Wacker has no idea what’s about to hit.”
“No, and the rest of the Corporations should take note as well,” said Sharra. “I’ve noticed a trend on the boards towards a more militant aspect concerning the corporations and governments.”
He felt his PDU vibrate as it received a message. He took it out and looked at the sender, it was Damien. He opened the message and it read-
I’m seriously thinking about getting the team back together and helping in the upcoming war against Wacker, you up for it?
He hit the reply button and typed-
Bring the team to Club Milana and join the fight. I’m already here along with Nicole and Jane. I think the team might have increased by at least two assuming they are not busy with their own team.
He knew that would bring a response for Damien and likely bring him to the command centre as well.
He walked back to the table and said, “Guys, I think Wacker are have opened a Fradan box.”
“Your kidding Richard,” said Jaboc as Ithian walked into the command centre.
“No, Andres Cutter’s son started a thread and it has over 400 responses in, how many hours, Sharra?”
“It was started yesterday evening.”
“All of them are saying we heading to help kick Wacker from the area.”
Nicole smiled at the information. “Oh feck me.”
“And it looks like the Street Ghost community world wide is going to war as well.”
*****
At 13:00 the group of eight friends gathered in the garage and Nibs said to Amy, “Today we go shopping to gather you a new wardrobe. My treat.”
Amy looked at her and smiled. “Thanks Nibs.”
The group walked down into the main parking area and saw a unit of four Echo Tech Tactical response troopers getting ready. They were in a large room under the garage.
As the group walked past Ren said, “That is where the specialist power armours are kept.”
She nodded that she had heard him and thought, ‘If they’ve ordered the deployment of specialist equipment then they must think this Wacker incident is very serious and along with the cultist base this can only mean they are taking things very seriously.’
At the vehicles Paul asked Amy, “Do you want to drive hun?”
“Mm.” Amy looked as if she was thinking about it and said, “No. I want to just ride today.”
“Ok hun.” Paul gave her a kiss on the forehead.
Nibs climbed onto her motor-bike and rammed the kick start down. “Hun where would be a good place to go, and I don’t think it is wise we go to far from the club.”
“Githage has a branch in South Cliff District let’s go there and then spend the afternoon window shopping in Naks,” replied Sandra.
The group headed out of the back entrance and after a few minutes they were driving through the area the refugees had now made home. Even after one day the area was not looking that good.
As Ren drove the FAV through the street following the bikes both he and Hell Bright were looking around at the area. “This is not good sis. This area use to be so nice.”
“I know bro, but it’s up to us to get their homes back now.”
“I know.” He looked around and saw a couple of city security officers in an alley-way they had one young guy against the wall and they looked like they were roughing him up. In other places women worked the street corners for pimps and drug dealers.
When they drove towards the Naks shopping precedent they saw an Echo Security vehicle drive slowly past them, the officers looked as if they were looking for something, their heads were constantly moving looking at the various groups of youths and young adults.
The group parked up in the underground car-park and he said to Nibs, “Did you see the streets?”
“Yes I did. I’m not very happy with what I saw especially from the City Security units,” Nibs replied. “It’s something to look at, but as the adults said, we do not have the forces in place to help the refugees or the inhabitants.”
The group walked out of the car-park and right in front of them was Githage. The shop front was similar to the branch in North except it had a low wall on which the glass was resting, the door was in the middle and on either side was a couple of manikins all of them were wearing standard Gith clothes, baggies, tops with logos from the famous bands of the scene or various places the Gith community held special. The group walked in and just inside was a couple of early twenties Giths. Holstered at their waists was a MA4 pistol and beside the holsters was a long side handle baton.
The inside of the shop was similar to the other branch in that down one wall was the House of Gith and the rest of the shop was laid out in a similar manor except down the back were a few dresses from the High Line.
Amy turned to Nibs and asked, “How much?”
“What ever you think you need hun,” she replied, “I’m also going to buy a couple more items here.”
After an hour of browsing and trying on items Amy had purchased a complete new wardrobe. They took the bags back to the FAV and placed them all in the storage compartment under the hood.
The group returned to the precident where she suggested, “Coffee I think?”
“Yeah,” responded everyone else.
Sandra asked, “Any good places, Ren, Hell Bright?”
Ren stood thinking for a second and replied, “Naks Coffee Emporium is good.”
“Does it serve Chai?” she asked.
“It does, I’ve not tried it, but people say it is good,” replied Ren after Hell Bright had signed something.
The friends turned down the precident and started towards Naks Coffee Emporium.
She looked around whilst her and Sandra’s arm were intertwined. The crowds seemed nervous, she could not place the nervousness to any specific event other than the starts of the Wacker takeover and the refugees that suddenly descended on the communities. She hopped the Street Ghosts would fight Wacker as it might set a precident that becomes unstoppable in a few years.
From the Creation Universal store on the right hand side ran gent who looked around 22, 23 years old, he was wearing a blue hooded top and the hood was up covering his head. In the gents hands were a couple of high tech items. She released Sandra’s arm and moved so she was closer to the path of the thief. The thief sprawled over her leg and stumbled for a few steps. Two Creation Universal Store Security persons, one a woman the other a man, were in close purisut of the thief. As he stumbled, after tripping over her leg, they grabbed his jacket and he ended up in the air and landing hard on the concrete slabs that made the walk-way.
The gent grabbed the items from the thief’s hand and the woman heaved him into the air. The two security guards walked him past the friends. The pair smiled, ‘thanks’ at them. The thief’s face was one of ‘You’ll pay for that’. She just smiled at the thief and thought, ‘In your dreams mate.’
The friends approached the end of the precident the sign for Nak’s Coffee Emporium was gently blowing in the light breeze. They took up some seats in the front, Daraus sat under the table whilst Ren Paul and Abs all dragged chairs over.
“Did you see the thief’s face when the two grabbed him?” asked Paul when the waiter walked over to them.
“I did Paul, such a horrid face as well, as if he thinks he can get even with us.”
The waiter asked, “Can I take your orders please?”
The group gave their drinks to him and he disappeared back inside to sort it.
“What does Chai Latte taste like? I’ve seen it advertised on menu boards, but I’ve never tried it,” asked Amy.
“That depends massively on what type you try, I know of eight different receipts being served from coffee shops. That doesn’t include my own receipt or those from friends I know. The nicest one I’ve tasted is the type that Demology Café serves, sweet, but not to sweet, and the various spices do make it a good drink. We do have a supply of Big Malla’s Chai, but I want to know what the ingredients are so I can make my own.”
A few minutes later the waiter returned carrying a tray on which was eight tall cups and a small plate on which was the bill.
When the waiter had placed all the cups and plate down Ren picked up the bill and handed the waiter a 20deck note and he disappeared back inside. “Is it me or does the area seem like it’s on a knife edge?” Ren picked up his cup of Latte and took a sip.
“I’ve felt the same,” Nibs replied. “It’s as if the area is nervous about something. I just can’t place what it’s nervous about.” She took a sip and as the various spices hit the mouth she smiled as this was a slightly new flavour than the other’s she had tried and liked.
“Nibs, may I try some?” asked Amy.
“Yeah, of course,” she replied and passed Amy her mug.
Amy tasted it and placed the cup back down and smiled as the spices and other ingredients were tasted. “Very nice, I think I’ll have to try some soon.”
“Most coffee shops sell it,” said Ren. “I think the canteen at the club has some, it’s kept in the kitchen in a large urn by the door for staff to help themselves.”
She looked at Ren and smiled at the fact. Walking down the precident came three Giths all of them looking around and they smiled when they saw the group sitting at the table.
The three walked over and one of them asked, “What Unit?”
“The Bitch Vixens, what unit?” replied Sandra.
“South Cliff Mashers,” said the same person. “You guy’s involved in the problems?”
“If you mean are we involved in getting Wacker to give up the area they seized, yeah we all are,” Nibs replied. “You three want to join us?”
The one who seemed to be the leader looked at his watch and said, “Can’t, we have to be someplace soon.”
“Ok, we hope to see you on the front lines,” said Paul and smiled at the three.
“We’ll try and make it,” said another member of the group. The group then stood and left the friends sat, drinking their drinks.
*****
Sat in a small plain office in Wacker Headquarters was Sergant Deems, the most senior of the security troops to survive the first real engagement of the war. Sat opposite him was a grey skinned female and a similar skinned male, they both looked like they had considerable amount of cyberware beneath the skin.
“You are telling us that all you saw was two foot across balls of white energy and these destroyed the APC from the inside out,” asked the female.
“Yes, that along with the fact they had advanced armours and they all seemed to be using APEX ammunition. We tried to pin them down but they had an escape route,” he replied.
“Yeah and another 10 dead. You have no more information to give us on the matters?”
“No, I wish I could help,” he replied. ‘I know one thing, who ever that was I want to know who they are. That equipment was far more advanced than anything I’ve seen or heard about on the forum boards.’
*****
“What the feck, this should have gone without any casualties, now I hear we lost 16, 10 to being burnt to death. How the feck did they burn to death?” the chairman asked sitting behind his desk on the top floor of the head quarters.
“That we are still looking into,” replied a grey skinned female. “From the reports it was as if a nuclear explosion had happened, according to one report. The other weapons used included MA260s D300s and what we think is some form of advanced plasma weapon. We have versions but they are still on the drawing boards of Sec Tech.”
Chapter 6
Savraday 20th Auar 09:30BN
Amy and Paul were laying in their guest apartment. The pair were enjoying the warmth of each other when Amy said, “The last few days have been hectic as hell. What with you guys taking me out of school and then the invite and Nibs’ birthday, the restaurant and club, and then straight into a fully fledged war.”
“I know hun,” responded Paul, “But welcome to the world of the Vixens. We have weeks like that, when one thing just leads into the next thing, but then we can weeks we do feck all, and you do wonder why you do it.”
She looked up at the ceiling and thought, ‘I love it, the life, and I love Paul, Nibs, Sandra, Abs and Tina. I love Hell Bright and Ren. I love this culture that is the only way to see it; I love the Street and Gith culture.’ “Yeah,” she replied smiling. “Then the fun starts all over again.”
“That’s it,” said a voice from the darkness.
She recognized the voice as Nibs’. ‘This is strange, I never took Nibs for being that way inclined.’
“Nibs is that you?” asked Paul.
“Pretty close Paul well done,” said Nibs as she turned the dimmer switch up a bit. Ren was stood at the foot of the bed.
Ren then said in exactly the same voice as the earlier voice, “Good morning Amy and Paul.”
“We where wondering if you two love birds, wanted to join us this morning for some combat sparing, Richard, Jane, Jaboc and Nicolai, have said they would join in, teach, practice and critique,” said Nibs.
“Sounds like a bit of fun,” said Paul.
She looked at Nibs and thought, ‘If I didn’t already love Paul. I would for you Nibs in a big way.’
“It should be as the plan is for everyone to wear basic black light. Which will mean we can fight closed fist and at full power and hopefully avoid breaking bones and such.”
“Now that sounds like an idea,” she said. She swung her legs out, and realised very quickly both Ren and Nibs were still in the room. “Feck me Ren, I think the Vixens have an open policy on things, but I am a night shirt. NOW GET.”
As Ren and Nibs disappeared up the passageway past the bathroom she called, “Where you two going?”
“Canteen,” said Nibs.
Paul joined her and swung his legs out and took the Cambar cigarette that was in the ashtray and said, “See you in a bit then.”
“Oh yeah, two coffees on the side,” called Nibs as she shut the door.
“Coffee, where!” exclaimed Paul.
“Right here,” she said and passed him the other cup.
“Thanks hun.”
The guest room they where living in was about seven metres square. A couple of wardrobes, a dressing table, a couple of comfy chairs and a large double bed made up the rest of the furnishings. Other than that is was simple but effective. She walked up the short corridor and turned left into the en-suite bathroom.
When she returned Paul was up and had finished his coffee and disappeared into the bathroom, and when he came back she was putting on her new boots, which she had bought the previous day. “Come on slow coach,” she said.
Paul quickly grabbed his trousers and quickly put them on and they are closely followed by Paul's boots. She had already grabbed her shoulder holster and put it on.
“Hun, a piece of advice, always check the ammunition is there, you never know,” said Paul.
“Thanks,” she said. She slid the Y7 out and checked the ammunition in the magazine. After sliding it home she opened the door and was stepping out when Paul came around the corner in hot pursuit. “Hey hang on hun.”
“Yeah I am just this side of the door,” she said as Jane walked past her on route to the canteen.
“Have you one up the spout or not?” asked Paul.
“Don't know,” she said and smiled at Jane who returned the smile and waited for the pair.
“Hi Amy, oh. Hi Paul,” said Jane as Paul stopped in the entrance and made sure he had everything.
“Keep one in the spout,” said Jane. “It speeds reaction times, as you can draw cock and shoot, faster than draw, load and shoot.”
“I’ve got everything I need for the day. Let’s go and get some breakfast.”
“You heading for food then?” asked Jane when the group started to walk towards the ramp down into the Canteen.
“Yeah, then to the armoury to change for the sparring session,” said Paul.
“Yeah good point, I did say I would enjoy a good workout. I think it will be interesting actually. I know Richard, Jaboc and Nicolai have all said their up for it and I think Ithian may watch if he doesn’t join in.”
“It does sound fun,” she said. “Can I ask you a couple of questions that have been bugging me?”
“Ask away, I’m very much like my brother and half sister. I have no secrets.”
“Thanks.” She smiled at Jane’s reply. “What’s it like to run one of the most powerful mega corps and being one of the leading powers behind the Conspiracy?”
Jane laughed out loud. “The big one first.” Jane paused and continued, “It’s a fun, its actually quite fun, on one side I get to see the Corps, how they do business, how they try and cover their more nefarious schemes and on the other, I get to.” Again Jane paused and thought for a bit and continued, “No you can’t say it any other way, get my lovely hands dirty in the trenches.”
“I mean you’re what 300 years old, from what Richard said on Ulleam, doesn’t it get annoying that the corps never learn, they can’t win,” she said as the group turned down the ramp to the canteen.
“No, I find it quite interesting especially when the Corporation conducting some illegal activity has a large army massed some place in the mega verse, but is powerless to use cause in doing so they would start a war none of them can win, cause what starts here may spread, and they know that. The best bit is seeing how underhanded they can be in their schemes at world domination via the backdoor.”
*****
Sat in the canteen were Nibs, Sandra, Tina, Abs, Ren and Richard.
“It should be an interesting session this, especially with Nicole and Jane both getting involved,” said Richard. “I wonder if Ithian will watch, I remember the last time he was here, he enjoyed sparing with some of the students at the Academy.”
“Yeah it should,” Nibs said. “Ithian has been here before?”
“Yeah it was when he taught Sharra and Emily to be Line Walkers. I still think the pair carries their training toys.”
She noticed Jane, Paul and Amy, enter the canteen and head for the food run. Nothing was out on the run as the kitchen staff had cleared it at 09:30BN. She watched Jane lead the pair to the kitchen doors and she opened the kitchen door and after a few minutes she closed it and led the group to where the others were sitting. Ithian and Nicole walked in from the direction of the Armoury and also walked towards the group.
When Jane had arrived she sat down beside her and said, “Good morning Nibs. This should be an interesting session, all of us sparring with True Adepts and I think experts in Gangrel Street. It will be interesting to see how Gangrel Street has progressed over the years.”
“What Jane?” she asked sounding some what surprised at what Jane had said.
“Oh, you don’t know the history of the Gangrels, Nibs?”
“No,” she replied shaking her head at the same time.
“Right, myself and Sarah started the Gangrels 150 years ago to provide the Conspiracy with well trained caring foot troops. We invented Gangrel Street as a way of bringing people together as training you were always being watched and critique by the rest of your group. Everything a Gangrel does during basic training is designed around being a team player and a unit member.”
“Arh. Sandra said something about most of the new members go and do Basic Training, only in a few cases does basic training not happen.” Her face was one of ‘now I understand’.
“How long have you been a member then Nibs?”
“Since the Frodar 14th Juwar, I was asked if I wanted to join at the party the Bitch Vixens held to celebrate the end of the exams and schooling. It was also the time I came out of the closet and became Nibs.”
“Interesting, and might I say you have turned into one hell of a unit leader, I’ve noticed all of the group look up to you. You have an understanding of the streets and, I don’t know, but you seem to understand people.”
She smiled at Jane’s description of her. “I think you’ll find I know how people will react to events and how various stimulai will effect the reaction. Take this situation, across the street to Home Base was a drug dealers home that controlled the local community through loans and similar. Because of where Amy lived right next door, she was bullied by a group of students. Me, Sandra, Tina, Abs and Paul all decided that it’s time for them to move, and so we go in full force, fully armed and by being vicious and very blunt, they leave. They thought they had rights, and yes they do if we had been security, but as we were Street Ghosts, they got the message and left the following day. We need to check to see if they have left.” She looked up and noticed Hell Bright was walking towards the group carrying something, just behind her was Nicole.
Hell Bright sat beside Amy and reached over, she tapped Ren on the shoulder who then smiled at his sister. Hell Bright signed something.
As Ren said, “Amy, please accept this gift as a gift of friendship and the offer of me helping you and us both learning from Ithian whilst he is here.” The same words Amy heard in her mind. “At some point I will tell you why I don’t talk.”
Hell Bright then handed her the item she was carrying. She looked at the small leather bound book. On the cover were a few strange looking patterns of lines. As she looked at the various groups of lines she saw that took the form of symbols and runes she had seen on her father’s shrine. The more she looked at them the more she realised, ‘I know what they mean. That’s Teeam which is protection. That’s the rune for Cruum.’
She looked around the friends sitting with her and saw everyone of them had smiles of their faces. ‘Damn it, I am going to become something more, I have friends, people likely willing to train me and a friend who is also learning.’ “Teach me Hell Bright.”
She felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist and the lips of Paul kiss her on the neck. She looked around and looked into the face of her partner. “And everyone else, teach me what I need to know.”
“We will Amy, that I promise,” replied Paul.
“If everyone has finished breakfast she we head for the armoury so we can get ready.” Everyone got up and headed for the armoury after placing the dirty bowls and plates on the racks.
Everyone entered the Armoury as Ithian walked in the opposite direction and stopped, he lent against the railing for a ramp which led into a second level.
Nibs walked into the area between two runs of lockers and heard Nicole ask Ithian, “You going to come and watch, it might be interesting.”
“Yeah I will,” responded Ithian.
As everyone got changed Sandra said, “You and me hun?”
“No, Paul. Me and you?”
Paul looked at Nibs and replied, “Ok, armed or unarmed?”
“I don’t mind.” She slid the knee pad into its pocket and sealed the top closed. She took from the case the plates that made the back of the leg protection for her left knee.
“Armed, I fight with short blades.”
“No problem, I’ll fight with my short staves, rather than the Naj Blades.”
Jaboc walked through the armoury on route to some place when he stopped and turned towards the lockers. “I wasn’t planning on joining the session, but seeing you all getting ready, I think I will.” Jaboc then opened his locker and removed his t-shirt.
The friends all move to the middle between the two sides of lockers. She saw Jaboc look and think about something. “Use the main club the rings are still present from Ulleam.”
“Ok,” responded Richard and led everyone towards the back entrance and the ramp up to the main building.
“Amy, how much street fighting have you done?” she asked as they walked up the ramp.
“None, I have vague memories of dad teaching me and Bill some basics but that was over 10 years ago,” replied Amy.
“Allow me Nibs,” replied Jane. “I’ve been told I’m very good at the basics and you never know that training might come back.”
She smiled at the pair and thought, ‘You impress me Jane, you, Nicole, Richard.’
*****
Inside the main club the raised area is still present with the four rings that closed the evening’s entertainment. Nibs, Paul, Nicole, Richard, Abs and Tina all take to the rings, with Nibs and Paul in one, Nicole and Richard in a second and Tina with Abs in the third.
Paul stood opposite her, in his hands were a pair of short blades. They were about the same length as her Naj Blades. In Nibs’ hands were her short staves, both running up her arms. She placed her left fist in front of her face and placed her right one just above and then she dipped her head in respect at Paul.
Paul dipped his head in response and swung his right blade at her upper left arm. As the attack started she had the left stave in place to block and her right foot on route towards Paul’s head. Paul ducked under the first foot but completely missed the fact she had started a spin which meant her left heel was also coming in as well. As the right foot touched the ground the left heel hit Paul’s left shoulder and the armour went ridged and stopped the actual damage from transferring to the wearer.
“Nice combo Nibs,” said Paul as he rubbed the area. “I felt that impact.”
“That’s the idea Paul. Fight at a power level that will be felt and full speed. Then if you get hit you know about it and can learn.”
Ren stood at the side watching the fight said, “Even I missed the left heel, and I’m experienced in the realm of street fighting.”
She then continued and brought her right stave in and picked up the back of Paul’s knee. Her left stave she brought and placed enough force to knock Paul from this vertical base through the point of no-return and into over balance. Paul ended up on his back with her looking down offering her stave to help him back up.
Outside the ring sat on the first level were Amy and Jane. Jane asked Amy, “How much do you remember?”
“Very little,” Amy replied. “The only time I’ve actually hit anyone with enough force to hurt was on Ulleam when I broke Abilgail’s nose. I used this.” She showed Jane the position for a Flat palm strike.
“Do you know that attack’s name?” asked Jane.
After a couple of seconds she replied, “No.”
“That is a flat palm strike and it used exactly how you used it in breaking bones and shattering joints. How about defences?”
“Again not really I think it might when I start practicing, I realised sat in the canteen I knew what the runes were on the cover of my Spell Book.”
It was Jane’s turn to look shocked. “How could you, you’ve never been taught. Have you?”
“No I think I would remember something like knowing the names of and functions of runes.”
She noticed Jane slightly shake her head at something. “Ok, if your ready. What type of close quarter weapon do you see yourself favouring?”
“Something along the lines of these style.” She showed Jane the two blades her father had given her on the Darabar.
Jane smiled at the pair and took the shorter one. Jane unscabbarded the short Karack blade and looked at it. “If I didn’t know better I would say this was made a very long time ago. I would say before the meteorite hit. Which would make these blades probably older the 2600 years,” said Jane as if she was musing over something. “Do you know how the previous owner came in to possession of them?”
“Yes, the previous owner is my father Duggie.”
“Accept my appologise then.”
She smiled at Jane and replied, “Accepted. Dad did say I shouldn’t mention this to anyone I don’t trust, and I trust you Jane. My father is a Chaing-Ku dragon.”
Jane’s eyes opened wide and she just stared with her mouth hanging slightly open. “You must be mistaken he can’t be, the last Chaing-Ku left Darra Von 270 years ago.”
“No Jane I know what dad told me Torbar evening, I also saw pictures of him and my mum Sam. He was in his lizard form in some of them. You must be adopted by Duggie then as Chiang-Ku can’t have children with a human.”
“They can if the woman has the copier mutation.”
Jane again stared at her. “How many brothers and sisters do you have?”
“One older brother and two younger sisters and one younger brother, why?”
“All by Sam?”
She nodded ‘yes’.
“Amy I think you and Sam could be the saviour of the race. They are a dying race, some scholars estimate 3000 years and we won’t have any Chaing-Ku left in the mega-verse. Which would be a travisety, they are a noble race with many fine examples of why people should be helped.” Jane stood up and said, “Let’s re-start your training, and if your father did as good a job as I think he would have, then you will be in the rings in no time.”
*****
After twenty minutes of Nibs and Paul sparring and Paul learning a lot, as was she. She was learning the methods the Gangrels used in their street fighting. ‘Gangrel Street is vicious and very to the point.’
Paul said, “Enough Nibs, you’ve battered me around this ring.”
“You’ve done the same to me Paul,” she replied as she helped him up again. “You know how to fight the gangs of Suraban and likely fighters from the various schools and similar, I know how to street fight in the arenas of places like Ajar, Teabban, and other similar sites. I need to learn a lot myself. I have the skill base I don’t have much experience.”
Paul looked shocked at her. “You lacking experience, no way Nibs, you are excellent you see an opening and go for it, your blocks and dodges happen long before you are under threat from being hit.”
She smiled at Paul’s words. “Those are due to more being an adept than anything else and having trained with people learning similar fighting skills.”
Paul turned and jumped down, he was replaced by Sandra who said, “You and me hun?”
“Yeah, give me a chance to recover,” she said and like lightning used her right short stave to stab Sandra in the gut area.
Sandra moved as the attack came in. “You bitch.”
“Nice dodge, you remember the third rule of fighting me, expect the unexpected.”
“What like this.” Sandra swung her fist in towards her gut area and she dodged back and missed the opposite fist as it came in and landed against her cheek.
“Nice attack.” She went down and started a spin which brought her leg around and the speed of the spin swept Sandra’s legs out and she sat down rather hard.
“Bitch.”
“I know I am hun,” she replied. “I use momentium to assist me. You punch to the face started the spin move.” She looked at where Richard was standing watching, Nicole and Ithian were also both watching.
“Damn Nibs is good. All she needs I think to become a Tiranna master is self control and experience,” Richard said from outside the ring.
“Tell me about it,” said Nicole. “I would love to know how come though. You said you were the last of the Tiranna Masters Richard.”
“I am, to my knowledge that is.”
*****
After spending a good twenty minutes practicing and re-learning the skills her father had taught her Amy and Jane both sat down to watch the various fights in the rings. Nibs and Sandra were fighting in the ring.
“Watching those two and the others, I have a lot to learn,” Amy said.
“No you don’t Amy. You have all those skills, they are just not at the front of your mind, with experience and practice you will. With out knowing what fighting skills your father was trained in, I would say you have the potential to become very skilled.”
She noticed Ithian and Hell Bright walk towards where the pair was sitting. Ithian asked, “May we join you?”
“Yes,” responded Jane. “I need to go and have a work out, so I’ll leave you three to chat.”
“Ok, thanks for the lesson Jane,” she said as Jane left and headed for the rings.
“Anytime.”
Ithian and Hell Bright both sat down. Hell Bright said in Amy’s mind, “For the period Ithian is here he is willing to help us learn the arts of Line Walking.”
She looked at Ithian in shock which after thinking about what Hell Bright had said turned to a one of smiles. “Thank you Ithian.”
“Your welcome, both of you. Last time I was here I trained Sharra and Emily to be Line Walkers as well.”
Hell Bright looked at Ithian as if to ask, ‘Sharra from here’?
“Yes Sharra from here Hell Bright. I see she never told you she was a Line Walker. I think Emily is the same, she keeps that knowledge hidden from people unless they already know. It’s to protect them selves and others if it was to get out.”
She along with Hell Bright smiled and saw Paul walking towards them. “Hun, you up for some practice?”
She sat there and replied, “Yeah, I am.” She stood up and followed Paul towards the rings.
“Armed or unarmed hun?” asked Paul.
“You choice, as the whole point is for me to learn.”
The pair climbed into the ring as Nibs and Sandra finished and jumped down, only to be replaced by a couple of new people.
“Unarmed.”
“No problem,” she replied as Paul turned to face her and dipped his head to her. She bowed and took up a traditional defensive stance. She looked around and saw quite a few of her friends were watching the fight. She smiled as from the 20 minutes with Jane, a lot more of the skills her dad had taught her had become re-learnt.
Nibs stood watching Amy and saw in her body something she had not seen in any of the others. She seemed to glow a faint dark green. With out knowing what Sandra saw her she looked at people’s auras she would have said it was an aura of sorts. She watched the pair and as she stood in her defensive stance she saw it was similar to the stance Sensei Hume had taught them and the other students when they first started at the school.
Paul came in using a stance similar to the street fighters that had a base in the South Aticcian fighting art of Gittar (Jet-a-tar). Paul lashed out a punch kick combo and Amy pulled back as the punch came in and as the kick landed she again went with the blow. As Paul brought the attacks back Amy twisted and launched a punch, punch, kick combo and all three attacks hit. Each impact forced the armour to go solid and they also forced Paul onto the defensive.
Sandra said to her, “That was a nice counter.”
“Yeah it was,” she responded. “Paul’s on the defensive and Amy is on the attack.”
Amy span down Paul’s left hand side and landed right back heel against his back. Amy span away as Paul was forced to take a couple of steps and stop.
Paul turned and said, “That was a sneaky attack.”
“Learn from it Paul. Expect the unexpected,” she said from outside the ring. “Who taught you Amy?”
“My dad did when I was two or three. Jane has helped in unlocking the training.”
She nodded her understanding of the training.
*****
A little while later Nibs saw Richard was stood on the first floor chatting to someone. She looked closely at the gent and recognized him as Damien Cameron. She walked over with Daraus at her heels as Sandra was sparring against Sam, Sharra’s number two in the Club security department.
“Hi Damien,” she said. She looked at him as if to say, ‘It would have been nice to have heard from you’.
“Sorry, do I know you?” asked Damien.
Richard looked at Damien and replied, “Do you remember when I emailed you I said the team may have increased by two?”
“Yeah I do, I was wondering what you meant by that,” replied Damien.
Richard replied, “Meet one half of that pair, Nibola Calton also know as Nibs and you knew her as Nick Calton.”
Damien looked at her, his eyes opened wide in shock. “My creator!” exclaimed Damien. “Saying that I do see Nick in you Nibs, and may I say you look very cute in that.” Damien’s face was one of mirth as he said that.
“Thank you Damien,” she responded. “I hope to add the breasts in a few months, but this is as close as I can get it. Richard forgot one member of the partnership and that was Daraus.” She bent down and picked up Daraus and gave his head a ruffle. “Some people should learn that as a Gangrel I accept all as equal, no matter what that person is or may be.”
“I saw you fighting the female, from what I could remember of you when you and Richard sparred, you’ve gotten better.”
“The female as you called her, is actually my partner Sandra.”
Damien looked rather embarrassed at the fact. “Sorry Nibs.”
“Not to worry.” She looked at the fighters in the rings and saw Jane was fighting Nicole and Jaboc. Sharra was going at a bloke she had seen in the armoury on the Darabar.
“Can I ask, was it you know had the fight here on Ulleam?” asked Damien.
“It was,” she replied. “I wonder where Metzza went to when he left here.”
“That was a vicious fight you had. I could feel the impacts and I was watching it on the net.”
“Thank you. Richard, who’s Sharra fighting?”
Richard looked at the rings and replied, “That’s Benny the master of arms here at the club. He runs the specialist armoury courses the club runs for the Street Ghosts and the City and Echo Tech Security forces.”
Benny landed a double kick, elbow attack and this caused Sharra to go face down and then roll out of the way as Benny went to stamp down on her back. Sharra back rolled and thrust kicked Benny in the upper chest and neck area. Benny stopped and allowed Sharra to regain her vertical base.
“Nibs, would you, and your partners be interested in joining me on a Street Ghost operation paying 250K each?” asked Damien.
“Yeah, when would you be looking at going and who else is on the team?” she asked.
“Andres Cutters, Richard, Nicole if she’s up for it and a couple more. The employers want to listen in on a conference that is happening in a hotel on the north west side. From the intelligence from them, even with the Wacker problems the meeting is still going ahead, and it likely to incorporate profiting from the current situation.”
“Who’s the group we’re going to bug?” she asked and noticed Richard was intermating the same.
“One of the major crime syndicates. A second one are the employers.”
“I’m all for that,” said Richard whilst his face was one of smiles. “Having some competition in the crime families is good, it make’s our lives more fun.”
*****
After a couple of hours the friends gathered in the changing section of the armoury, where she suggested, “Anyone know a place off club where we can relax for the afternoon before getting ready for the Gathering this evening?”
“The beach house,” replied Ren. “It’s where me and Hell Bright grew up before coming here. Dad and some of the local notables hold parties and similar there.”
“Now that sounds like a good place to go to,” said Paul.
Chapter 7
“Whilst we are there we can start to think about getting you your own bike Amy,” she said.
“I’m not ready for my own motor-bike,” said Amy.
Ren looked at her and then said, “Rather than us look let the Club look, you never know you might get a motor-trike instead.”
She look happy with the idea.
Ren turned and walked towards one of the guys working on a pick-up. One of the guys looked over at the group and smiled at Ren. The gent took a note book and wrote something, he then turned and headed for a store area. Ren walked back to the group and said to Amy, “Fred, the head mechanic said he has the prefect bike for you Amy.”
Fred walked out pushing a low bike. The seat was low in the bike, not high over the back wheel, the back wheel, which was more two black racing bike tires were in a box behind the seat. Running from the around the front wheel was a full fairing. Fred pointed at Amy and then indicated like a old fashion mime did that it was hers.
“The motor is a 120kw electric in the box, the power is provided by an 125kw water fuelled fuel cell, it’s the same that’s in the FAVs,” said Ren.
Amy walked to it and looked down at it and said, “Thank you Fred, you will have to teach me how to maintain it.”
Fred took out his note book and wrote something.
Nibs along with everyone else headed down into the car-park and quickly the all drove up the ramp and waited for Amy to join them.
Fred walked towards the group pushing the motor-bike, she stared at it. ‘That’s mine.’
In her head came Hell Bright’s voice, “Hun, when Fred gives something, accept it. These gifts are given rarely and only to those he respects, I think someone might have said you’re very new to the scene and Darabar was your first operation ever.”
She looked at Hell Bright and smiled at her. Hell Bright just simply returned the smile with one of her own.
Ren said something about the motor being electric, she was still caught up in the fact someone she had never met before today was giving her something that must be worth 14,000dks.
She walked towards it and said, “Thank you Fred, you will have to teach me how to maintain it.”
Fred smiled and took out his notebook and wrote, ‘I will. From the reports you handled yourself well on Darabar.’
She looked at Fred asking, “What do you mean?”
Fred wrote, ‘One of the controllers, works as a mechanic.’
She looked at Fred and said, “Now I understand.” She stepped over and sat down. She placed her left foot on the foot plate and Fred pointed at the button on the right controller. She pressed it and the electrics went live. The screen in front of her had a digital readout and said, 5kw. Down the left hand side was various indicators they were all off on the right hand side was the fuel meter which read full. Also under the fuel indicator was a section, dimmed saying ‘Vehicle Control System’ ‘I wonder what that it.’ She heard the vehicles come up the ramp.
“Ren, Hell Bright as you know the way, you have point,” said Nibs.
She looked at Hell Bright and saw she wasn’t wearing a communication rig.
Ren pulled up the ramp heading for the front of the club. She turned the throttle and the number in the kW rose, she released and gingerly lifted her foot from the ground. The bike didn’t fall over, she placed her right boot on the foot plate and she felt the bike change slightly. She operated the throttle again and this time the bike moved and on a digital read out beneath was displayed three zeros’.
As Abs turned up the ramp out she slowly followed Abs, she removed her right foot and the bike started to slow. She put it back and the bike accelerated again. She quickly caught up the guys as they left the club grounds and turned south. They passed under the CW6 and where the main road forked, Ren took the right hand fork and headed for the coast. A short while later the group pulled up outside a set of large gates. Ren did something at the front and the gates opened and they group drove up the short driveway. In front of them was a small building, with a set of double doors and a couple of windows either side. Ren walked up to the door and opened it, he disappeared inside and a couple of minutes later he pulled the double doors open.
He turned and walked down a set of stairs that ran down. They started some four metres in. Hell Bright led the group to the cloak room where everyone hung up their jackets.
Nibs walked just behind Hell Bright as she walked down the stairs to the landing that ran both ways. The group exited the passage way into a large open area, the ground some twenty feet beneath them. The bridge they were on was supported from the roof by cables, running down from the roof to the ground was a long thin pole and in front of it was a gate. She looked over the landing and saw a large open plan area the entire wall facing the sea was glass. The floor was a very large living area, a large open plan kitchen and a bar, standing behind which was Ren filling eight glasses with Cabilla.
Hell Bright opened the gate and grabbed the pole and was a couple of seconds later stood on the floor.
Ren looked up and said, “Hi, welcome to the Beach House.”
She opened the gate and soon joined Hell Bright on the floor. Daraus trotted down the landing and down the stairs at the end.
Ren said when everyone was at the bar, “I thought about just spending it enjoying the sun and the pool outside.”
“That is a great idea, but none of us have swimming costumes,” she said.
“Not a problem,” said Ren. “Dad holds events here and has a supply of swimming gear in the changing rooms.”
“Shall we invite Misty and the rest of the guys,” suggested Tina.
“Why not,” said Sandra. “Why not invite Misty and the Raiders to the Gathering this evening.”
“Now that is a good idea,” said Paul, he then took a mouthful of Cabilla.
After the drinks were finished, the group followed Ren and Hell Bright to the changing rooms, which were off a corridor that ran away from the back wall. The pair led them into the two one for men and the other for women, in both were racks where different types of costume were hung up. The friends changed and soon were walking out onto the veranda that over the sea and cove.
The veranda was a large affair with a 20metre long by ten metre wide swimming pool and a large ten person hot tub/spa to the right hand side. Around the pool were sun-loungers and easy chairs, a few tables also dotted the area. Running from both sides was a long ramp that took people to the beach proper five metres below them.
Nibs and Sandra walked to a pair of loungers and Daraus jumped up onto one of the loungers at the foot and lay down.
“Bath him today hun?” she asked Sandra.
“Yeah, might as well.”
Paul who was also sitting on a lounger asked, “Ren how come, this must be expensive. Private Cove?”
“Yeah private cove, dad’s last Ghost operation earnt him 1.2million decks, dad has 35million in cash and another 15million in stocks and shares. One of the first lessons dad taught us, was take payment in shares, they may be worth less to a Street Ghost, but by running a proxy, you get the final accounts and reports automatically sent to you, you can attend the main meetings and you have the right to walk into any office and demand to see the local accounts,” replied Ren. “Me and Hell Bright have 100,000dcks worth of shares in Forden, and Bratish Airliners from our last two operations.”
“Nice amount of money tied up there,” said Paul.
Nibs stood and walked to the pool side and slid in, she grabbed one of the two airbeds that were floating on the water. Sandra picked Daraus up and passed him to her and she placed him on the airbed and then she pushed it slightly so it drifted out into the middle of the pool.
“Why did you do that,” asked Tina.
“It’s time Daraus had a bath, pool, bath time,” she said. “Especially if he wants to come this evening that is.”
A short while later a buzzer went and Ren reached down to a small control box and asked, “Who is it.”
“It’s Gary, Darla and the Twins, Misty and the Raiders couldn’t make it.”
“Come in, we’re on the Veranda out the back, the front door is open,” replied Ren.
A couple of minutes later the rest of the friends walked out of the door and stood looking at the scene.
“Swimming costumes are in the changing rooms down the corridor this side of the bar, and the bar is open,” said Ren.
The four friends walked back into the house and disappeared down the passageway. Five minutes later Gary walked out carrying a tray of Cabillas and distributed them to the friends without a drink.
A few more minutes later Darla and the Twins walked out and the twins slid into the pool and swam underwater to where Daraus was floating. They came up and tipped the airbed over dumping Daraus in the water.
Nibs just quietly chuckled to herself.
Darla said in a stern voice, “Twins, here now.”
The pair swam to the side helping Daraus as he paddled to the side. They placed him on the side and as they climbed out he shook himself dry. The Twins walked to where Darla was sitting on a easy chair.
“What do you say to Nibs and Sandra,” said Darla in a tone that didn’t warrant arguments.
“Sorry Nibs. Sorry Sandra.”
“Not to worry, we had said Daraus should get a bath and you save us the problem of doing it ourselves,” said Nibs.
The Twins smiled at her answer. Daraus walked over and gave sat between the pair for a few minutes and then the lashed out his tongue and caught both.
‘That is a damn long tongue,’ she thought.
“So how has the club been?” asked Gary. “And whose bike is the dark red low motor-bike?”
“The bike is mine, gift from one of the mechanics at the Club,” replied Amy.
Gary stared at her, “Nice motor-bike.”
“Yeah, very nice. What’s the engine?” asked Darla.
“A 120Kw electric motor,” replied Amy.
Nibs took a sip from her Cabilla and smiled at the thought, ‘I love being me, I love Sandra, my friends from around the Darra Von, Jum, Wong, Tammeria, Fredicks, Cubaddar, Greetza, Nimbo, Matt, Chic-Dar, and everyone, I need to email the girls on the Young Transgender.’
Sandra passed her the Camber cigarette, she had been smoking.
Nibs accepted it and joined Amy as she walked into the house heading for the bar. “Any chance I can have a chat?”
“Yeah, let me take Paul, me and Tina a drink and then ok?” replied Amy.
“Yeah, I could do with a refill as well,” she replied and sat at the bar. “How you finding it?”
“What the last few days.” Amy started the pump and the glasses started to fill.
“Yeah,” she responded.
As the second glass filled Amy looked deep in thought and again whilst the third glass filled. She moved onto Nibs’ glass and said, “It’s been interesting. That’s the best way I can describe it. It’s been interesting and fun.” Amy picked up the tray and headed back for the outside. Paul was standing on the end on the diving board looking down at the surf breaking beneath.
“I thought there was a pool down there, but it’s just the sea,” said Paul.
“No it’s not, when dad built the house he dug a ten metre deep pool the sea fills it when it washes in,” said Ren.
Amy put Paul’s glass down, she handed Tina hers and took the last one herself. She turned and walked around the pool and said to Daraus, “Paul needs a swim.”
Nibs noticed Daraus lift his head and look at Paul, he jumped down and padded to the start of the diving board. Paul turned round and saw Daraus sat at the entrance. He stood and padded onto the diving board and stopped four steps in.
Paul looked down at the surf breaking, he stepped off the end. Kersplosh was heard Daraus then padded off the diving board and returned to his sleeping on the foot of Nibs’ lounger.
Nibs and Amy turned down the ramp.
“How have you personally been finding things?” she asked. The sand at the bottom felt nice under her feet the last time she had been on a beach was whilst she was in South Aticca.
“Being serious, the last few days have been a roller coaster for me. For the last couple of years I’ve been suffering from depression caused by the bitch I floored on Ulleam. She joined after me and she immediately started to call me names and things.”
“Interesting,” she said. She knew she sounded interested. ‘Most bullying comes from people within a group and from those already there.’
“The school did nothing. Bill was also enrolled in the same school and one day a month was his average attendance. Most days he just simply walked out the door and headed in the opposite direction. He would wait for dad to leave and go home. In the end he looked after Hemma, Beatrice and Damien when dad was working and helped around the house or ran errands for the drug dealers. It had gotten to the point when I was beginning to seriously think about killing myself.”
The pair reached the rocks and she handed her glass to Amy whilst she stepped up and then she took the two glasses from Amy with her elbow she helped Amy up.
The pair sat on a smooth large boulder and Amy continued, “Then I met you. You changed everything I became a lot stronger and I thought who would I be effecting by killing myself, my family and mum. You know what happened the Torbar. The evening after the walk, I had a chat with dad and he confirmed everything that I had dreamt. On Ulleam morning I went and chatted with a couple of my favourite teachers, Mark and Angelique Hill. Oops I meant to go and see them a couple of days ago.”
“Not to worry. Go and see them in a couple of days, I think they may want to help but need you to be present to help,” she said.
“When Daraus jumped up and got me to follow him I knew you and the others were close. I walked right past them and didn’t care what they were saying. I knew why you were there, but to see you walk up to the table and actually stick up for me in that way.”
[The Author is not happy with this bit - Any suggestions email me please]
“Its nothing special hun, we would do it for anyone we called friend without question,” she said.
“Yeah, maybe, but it was nice to see, and then I was in heaven. The clothes, the food, and just the company made that evening, but the icing on the cake was Paul, when you where fixing to go head to head with that guy.” Amy took a mouthful and looked out across the cove and the Datum Ocean.
“Yeah I do, I know I’ve made an enemy there.”
“I was groped but some random twat, Paul saw his gestures and said he wanted the twerp, and then to have him say that he kind of likes me.”
“Its more than like hun,” she responded. “Paul loves you, with all his heart. He would do for you what I would do to find Sandra. He would move heaven and hell. We all would.”
Amy sighed a happy sigh. “I think I do love him too, no I would do the same for Paul, no actually for all of you including Ren and Hell Bright. Realising that has put a lot of my feelings in place and I understand them,” said Amy. “The feeling of wanting to be on the same side as Paul, but doing what my natural instincts told me to do and stop and wait. The abject terror I felt when I was going to engage professional soldiers in a fire fight, never having even fired a weapon before. Then my natural cowardice said no when I decided to move to engage people on the far side of the road after the rest of the unit had joined me and engaged the enemy. Then to have Hell Bright appear put two rounds at the lead vehicle, then the sudden total blackness as I guess we must have used Magick to travel cause I was back in the alley way when the blackness went.”
“Yes that’s a lot of it. Its been said a combat patrol is 90% boredom, 10% abject terror as you are fighting to stay alive and to keep everyone else alive,” she responded, “What about yesterday?”
“Yesterday and today, have been great, oh shopping for new clothes rather than the second hand ones I’ve been use to for the last couple of years, that in its own right was great, but to go shopping and have friends who would give me their honest opinion about the clothes, what they looked like on me, I’ve never had friends like those, not even when I was attending the Rotork Academy did any of the students give me 'their' opinions rather than the opinion of the group. That brings us back to today, and this morning, having Jane, the chair and chief exec of a AAA-rated corporation actually teach me the basic combat attacks and defences was something I don’t think anyone could dream about happening.”
“Well don’t get to use to it. In a couple of sessions you may be training with the rest of us, and we not that easy,” she said.
“Yeah, you could be right,” said Amy, and the two of them slid down from the rocks. they where both standing on the ground Amy turned and gave Nibs a kiss on the cheek and a hug. When Amy had released Nibs, they both walked back to the Veranda.
Sandra who was sitting had Daraus curled up on the floor just in front of the loungers, and most of the group looked incredibly happy.
“Can I ask what’s happened up here?”
“Yeah, Darla, Gary and maybe the Twins if they want to, are thinking about starting a North Stevran Vixens, the unit will be run along the same lines as the Vixens. As Darla said, the six of us live either in the same house or in very close proximity to each other and with both Gary and her living on the North Side it’s very hard to get to us for combat training and the other jobs that would be needed to be done, seeing as we are now a ghost team as well as a gang unit, and that’s the other bit of news, Sarah is holding a Gathering tonight, and as Gangrels we are all invited,” said Tina.
“Formal wear only, which means formal dresses and such for us girls and formal wear for the men,” said Darla.
“Hang on, isn’t the plan to formally introduce me to the gang on the next gathering event?”
“Yes hun it is. Why?”
“Then wouldn’t it be better if Amy was introduced as well tonight?”
“Hell yeah,” said Paul, “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Yeah introducing you and Amy would really put Timothy’s nose out of joint. Another two members supporting Sarah’s position,” Sandra said, “The gathering is when we as a gang play politics.”
“Well anyway, what are we going to wear for the evening?” asked Amy, “I know the stuff we brought yesterday wasn’t formal wear.”
“Leave that to us, girls,” said Tina and Abs.
“Nibs also needs something formal for the evening,” said Sandra.
“Do I, Gary's present is formal,” Nibs said.
“That it is,” said Sandra.
“Does the invite also include us lot?” asked Misty and Ren.
“Yeah of course it does, the more the merrier,” Gary said.
[End]
“The time is 17:20, shall we say meet up at Gary’s at 21:00 and then travel from Gary’s to the Gathering,” inquired Sandra.
“Yeah, that sounds like a plan,” said Darla and got up and began to clear away the dirty glasses and plates. Everyone got up and helped make sure the house looked as good as it did when they arrived. When it was finished everyone went and got changed back into their outdoor clothes and wandered through the house to the small entrance building on the clifftop.
Everyone climbed on to their transport and pulled out of the grounds of the house and headed to their respective homes. Ren and Hell Bright both said they would follow Sandra’s group to their home and change for the trip to the Gathering.
When Nibs and Amy had walked back up the ramp from chatting, Sandra said to the pair, “You two ready to go and get ready to be introduced to the Gangrels.”
The pair smiled at the friends.
“You do realise that you two are also invited,” said Abs
“You intermated that fact earlier, but I didn’t think you guys meant it, we’re not Gangrels,” said Ren.
Hell Bright also looked slightly shocked at the invite.
“You may not be Gangrels, but you have the same attitudes as Gangrels, are Street Ghost and so therefore know the same stresses as Gangrels, and bloody hell your our guests,” said Darla. “We’ll meet you at command, around 21:00 in the entrance lobby.”
“We’ll meet you there,” said Sandra.
“Everyone come to mine to finish and we can organise I lift from there,” said Gary.
Everyone stood and cleared away the dirty glasses and got changed back into their street clothes.
“The dress code for this evening, what is it?” asked Ren.
“Formal attire,” replied Abs. “Women in formal or smart dresses and the men in suits.”
“We’re going to have to go back to the club and collect them from there. We’ll meet you lot at yours then in an hour to hour half,” said Ren. He was looking happy at something.
Hell Bright said to Ren, “Keep this conversation a secret bro.”
“Ok,” replied Ren. “I’m surprised you remember my side of the link.”
“That is something you don’t forget. Do you know something, I think the adults are hiding something, but I don’t know what and I think it’s something to do with them.”
“I know sis. I think so to, but how do we go about finding out?”
“Let things lie, it might come out at some point, but I think we should keep our eyes and ears open. You have realised who the current commander of the Gangrels is?”
“No, the current commander is Sarah,” replied Ren.
“Yeah, you should keep your eyes of the Mercenary sections of BlackNet, the Sarah they speak of is Sarah Cutherlate,” she said.
Ren knew his face was one of shock. “Council of Twelve Sarah Cutherlate!”
She sent a symbol which was her nodding her head in a yes reply.
*****
Everyone walked up the spiral stair case to the ground floor and where the bikes were.
Chapter 8
Nibs, Sandra, Daraus, Abs, Tina, Paul and Amy all arrived back at Home Base and walked up the steps.
Sandra opened the door and said, “Me, Nibs and if Amy wants are blagging the shower first.”
“Ok, sis. I guess you two will have it afterwards then.” Paul was looking at Abs and Tina when he said it.
Tina nodded and replied, “You are a bloke and don’t need the amount of time us girls need to get ready.”
All the girls smiled sweatly at him and disappeared through the doorway heading for the bedrooms.
“Get sorted in mine,” said Sandra.
The three girls all walked into Sandra’s room. “As Amy is closer to your size and build Abs, I’ll leave you to sort out her formal wear for this evening.”
“No problem. I know the perfect dress,” replied Abs.
The three of them got undressed and put on bathrobes. They crossed the passage-way and entered the bathroom. Sandra turned the shower on and adjusted the temperature knob so the water would be the right temperature for them. She then climbed in and let the running jet of water drench her long brown hair and body. She reached over for the shampoo and gave her matted hair a really good clean and then applied conditioner.
Nibs stood in front of the sink and took her shaving kit down from the small cupboard and gave her face a good close shave, as this night she wanted to look her best for the gathering. Upon finishing shaving she turned around and got a kiss from both Amy and Sandra.
“Thank you both,” she said in a happy sounding voice.
Sandra said after she had stepped out of the bath, “I love you more than you’ll ever realise Nibs.”
“I also love you in the same way hun,” she responded.
“Anyway, your next,” said Sandra looking at her. “Get that dirty hair washed and conditioned otherwise I will do the washing.”
“Ok hun,” she responded. She stepped into the bath and allowed the warm water to get her hair wet.
Sandra who was also shaving her underarms and other areas that needed it passed her the bottle of shampoo. She dropped an amount into her hand and massaged it through her hair.
“When was the last time I did this, actually wash my hair rather than just rinsing it?”
“A long time ago, I think either during the break down week of the Festival or the weekend we came home,” said Sandra.
“Yeah a while ago.”
She finished in the shower and patted her self down and stepped out of the bath. Amy stepped into the shower and let the water run down her body.
Sandra said to Amy, “Right you, sit on the edge of the bath, whilst I shave your legs and arms, and you need a touch up with the razor Nibs, especially in the chest area.”
“I know, I need to start looking at starting hormones and getting on the books of a specialist soon,” she said. “So what are you going to wear tonight then hun? Oh I almost forgot, hun Damien Cameron has offered us a 250K payday to help him and others bug a conference in the nearish vicinity.”
“Interesting.” Sandra thought about something. “I think I will dress slightly down so not to spoil the look of you two. I have a feeling Abs and Tina are going to wear the same make-up. I was thinking of making the five of us look the same, as the five of us are all Vixens and I think we should look the same in the make up stakes and slightly changing it for Hell Bright.”
She stood in front of the small mirror and gave her chest area a shave. She turned around and sat on the edge of the bath to wait for the expert hand of Sandra to arrive so to finish the job.
Quite quickly Sandra finished shaving the legs and arms of Amy and then moved onto her. After finishing with her the three of them walked back across the corridor.
Nibs called out when they were in the corridor, “Abs, Tina we’re finished in the bathroom.”
“Thanks,” came Tina’s reply and the pair appeared in the corridor. They dropped off three dress bags and the pair’s make-up cases in Sandra’s room.
She asked, “Drinks?”
“Please,” responded Amy, “Have you got any Chai?”
“We do Amy,” she responded and looked at Sandra. Sandra smiled her reply and roughed the head and neck area of Daraus who was sitting on the bed watching the going ons.
She crossed the corridor and knocked on the bathroom door. “Drinks?” she called through.
“Please, Cabilla thanks Nibs,” called Abs in reply.
She knocked on Paul’s door and asked him the same question and got the same reply. She turned and headed for the kitchen. She gathered the glasses and as she was pouring out the Cabilla and sorting the milk for the three Chais Ren and Hell Bright walked through the door carrying dress and suit bags along with a make-up case. “Drinks you two?” she asked.
“Please, two coffees thanks, Nibs. Where is everyone?” replied Ren.
“Paul is in his room, furthest door on the right, and the girls are in Sandra’s room, first door on the left,” she replied as she poured the coffee from the percolator jug into the two cups. Ren finished the coffees and carried his and Paul’s Cabilla to Paul’s room.
She placed all the rest of the glasses and cups onto a tray and headed back to Sandra’s room.
Sandra had hung all the dresses on the doors of the fitted wardrobe, and on the dressing table were the three make-up cases and other make-up items. Hell Bright was sat on the bed wearing just her bra and knickers, Amy was similarly dressed and sat on one of the two comfortable chairs. She distributed the drinks to the various people present and left the tray with the two glasses of Cabilla in on a small low table she had seen in the wardrobe.
Sandra took her water-pipe and loaded the bowl and took a draw through it. Sandra offered it to her and she took a draw through it and checked the bowl. She reloaded it and took a second drag. She offered it to Amy who also took a draw and then offered it to Hell Bright, who refused it.
Tina and Abs walked in and closed the door behind them. “Right lets get started,” said Tina. “So what is the plan for the make-up?”
“I thought everyone the same, and altering it slightly for Hell Bright to indicate her status as a guest,” suggested Sandra.
Abs looked at the dresses hung up and nodded her head in acceptance of the idea but said, “The main colour the colour of the dress.”
Tina nodded yes and grabbed the water-pipe and took a draw through it. She then reloaded it and offered it to Abs, who took it and also took a draw and offered it to the room.
Everyone turned it down which got Abs to place it back on the table.
Tina said, “Sandra, Abs, I’ll let you two sort the bases out whilst I sort out the finishing touches.”
“Done,” replied Sandra and Abs.
She walked to the make-up cases and rummaged through the three and also Hell Bright’s. She knew what she was looking for the eye liner and containers of eye shadow. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled at her face. She looked at Nibs getting her face covered with the concealler, which would be followed by the foundation, onto which she would add the finishing touches.
She picked up the pot of matt white foundation and the moisturizer. She noticed Hell Bright and Amy were both applying a quantity of moisturizer as well. Abs passed her and she kissed her partner happy in the knowledge that tonight was going to be a special evening as it was the first time in just over three years since the Bitch Vixens actually introduced anyone, she had been the last member introduced. ‘I need to go home and see how mum, dad and Dominic are.’ She thought back to Githage and the gent called Dominic. ‘No can’t be.’
A few minutes later she had applied the foundation and had started to apply her nail polish which was dark maroon as her dress was the same colour. She would get Sandra to complete the eyes as she had to close her eyes to finish it.
Nibs walked over to where she was applying the final coat of nail polish.
She looked at Nibs’ face and said, “I would start by applying some nail polish Nibs.”
Nibs took the dark purple and started to apply the first coat.
She finished applying the clear topcoat and after that was dry she asked Nibs, “Look at me, now close your eyes.”
Nibs did and she started to apply the finish to her face. She looked at Amy as she walked past her with Abs.
Amy sat down after walking in from the bath room and reached for her bra, she slipped it on and then slipped the knickers up her legs. She noticed Sandra looking her and then she noticed Sandra’s face which was one of she was thinking about something.
Sandra walked past her and took each of the three dresses Abs and Tina had brought in out of their dress bags and hung them behind the garments. She looked at each and said, “My creator they are beautiful. Even the dresses some of the girls from The Rotork Academy had weren’t as beautiful, and some of them were daughters of chief executives and chair-people.”
“This is the one you’ll be wearing Amy,” said Sandra as she dragged one forward. “You going to wear that bra this evening?”
“I wasn’t sure, but seeing the dress, no I can’t really,” she replied as the door opened and in walked Hell Bright carrying her dress bag and make-up case.
The dress joined the three hanging on the doors and she walked to the bed and sat beside Daraus.
Into her head came Hell Bright’s voice, “I should have said at the Cliff House, but those tattoos are beautiful.”
She smiled ‘thank you’ at Hell Bright.
“Your welcome hun,” responded Hell Bright.
Sandra handed Amy a matching bra and knickers and said, “These would work.”
She looked at the pair and looked at the dress and smiled. “Yes they would.” She quickly changed the bra and knickers and the two tattoos on her breasts were now fully visible.
When Nibs walked in, she was carrying a tray on which were four cups and two glasses, she handed out the drinks and placed the two glasses on the low table Sandra had gotten out of the end wardrobe.
She looked out of the window and thought, ‘I love you guys, each and ever one of you.’
Nibs offered her the water-pipe. She took it and took a draw from it. She then reach over for her tin and loaded it. She offered it to Hell Bright who put her hand up to stop the offer.
“I’ve never smoked before,” said Hell Bright in her head.
Tina and Abs walked in and Tina said, “Right let’s get started. So what is the plan for the make-up?”
“I thought everyone the same, and altering it slightly for Hell Bright to indicate her status as a guest,” suggested Sandra.
“The main colour the colour of the dress?” asked Abs.
Tina grabbed the water-pipe and took a draw through it. She then reloaded it and offered it to Abs, who took it and also took a draw and offered it to the room.
Amy stopped Abs from offering the water-pipe to her. She stood and walked to the dressing table and took a quantity of moisturizer and she started to massage it into her face. She remembered Wendy saying, ‘When ever you apply make-up you should make sure you moisturize and cleanse first.’ Hell Bright joined her in applying some moisturizer.
She looked at Nibs and Sandra as Sandra worked the concealer in and that was followed by the matt white foundation the unit favoured on formal occasions. She finished and asked Sandra, “What colour nail polish?”
“The colour of your dress or closest to it,” replied Sandra.
She looked back as Sandra was blending the join of the breast forms to the skin with a more natural looking foundation.
She rummaged through the make-up and found a deep midnight blue and a slightly lighter royal blue. She looked at the colour and took the midnight blue. She opened the top and started to apply the first coat.
Nibs stood and walked to where Tina was sat doing her nails.
Sandra said, “Your next Amy.”
She moved to the chair and closed her eyes and let Sandra sort her face.
“Whilst Sandra is sorting your face, I’ll sort our nails it’s one of my many skills. I’m a trained beautition thanks to the Echo Tech Academy on the Club grounds and being Conspiracy wise from a young age,” said Hell Bright.
‘I’m going to have to ask about that, as I don’t think the school is going to let me back not now I broke Millers nose. Hang on, what did dad say, more than 6 tattoos and you become a supernatural person, I’ve never cut myself with a knife and I should have on a few occasions. Was that a glare or was it shock.’
“You lot even close to being finished?” Paul asked through the bedroom door.
“No, and we won’t get finished any quicker by you asking us,” Tina replied, “Your just going to have to wait.”
*****
It took another hour for the makeup of the six to be finished. Each of the girls’ main dress colour was the colour that Tina used to draw a spider’s web design on the eyelids; they then filled in the holes in a checker board fashion, using a colour coordination, The colour of the dress with a contrasting lighter shade for the rest of the spider’s web. Tina then ran black liquid eye liner from the inner corner of the eyes to the side of the face just over the cheek bones; they then drew in a maroon red an eye-liner line from the bottom of the ears to about two thirds the way along the chin. Then each one completed the make-up with nail varnish and lipstick.
The girls slipped the dress bags over the dresses and got changed into their normal street clothes, as it would be easier to make the run to Gary’s and change there. From there it was more than likely Gary had already organised transport to Command using one of the shuttle busses Command ran.
The girls walked out and Nibs noticed Paul’s face was a bit dejected. “Paul its better to drive to Gary’s and change there. Otherwise we are going to ruin the dresses and we wouldn’t want that now.”
“No we wouldn’t, not tonight,” replied Paul looking a lot happier.
She looked at the clock and saw the time was 19:00. “What's the time table from Gary’s?”
“We should arrive at Command at about 21:00 and the introductions from about 21:15, so forty five minutes from Gary’s, about thirty minutes to finish getting ready,” replied Sandra.
“And about forty five minutes from her to Gary’s. We should leave now then.”
Everyone picked up jackets, dress bags and their travelling makeup containers. The dresses and make-up containers were stowed in the FAV’s storage area. Ren and Hell Bright climbed into the FAV
“What about Daraus?” asked Ren.
“Call him Ren,” Nibs replied.
“Daraus here,” called Ren.
Daraus ran from around the sleeping wing and jumped into the gunner’s seat of the FAV. Ren backed it out of the driveway. All the bikes followed and were soon driving down the main road heading for IC7.
*****
Forty minutes later Sandra who was leading the group turned onto the driveway in front of Gary’s home. The entire frontage of the house was a driveway, which was behind a low wall and small flowerbed. The house itself looked like it had five bedrooms and they felt like large rooms. From the driveway the group could see the room behind the front ground floor window looked like it was a store room of some kind.
“What does Gary’s dad do?” Nibs asked as they parked up.
“He runs a small electronics company. From what I know they supply small and medium sized companies with security gadgets,” replied Sandra.
The group took the dresses from the FAV and walked to the door which as Sandra went to ring the bell the door opened and Gary stood inside in his suit.
“Come in. Sandra do you want to take the girls to the spare bedroom at the top of the stairs,” said Gary.
“No problem,” responded Sandra and started up the stairs that ran from just inside the door.
The rest of the girls followed Sandra up the stairs and into the spare bedroom just left of the stairs on the opposite wall. Daraus followed the gents to the living room.
‘Strange. I would have thought Daraus would have stayed with us. No matter,’ she thought.
The room was about five metres square with a single bed under the window that ran for three metres along the back wall. On the opposite wall was a dresser and on the right hand wall was a small wardrobe. Everyone put their dress bags on the bed. Tina, Abs and Hell Bright placed the small travelling make-up cases on the dresser.
The girls walked down the stairs and turned towards the living room that stretched for two thirds of the back. The last third was the large kitchen that stretched up the side of the house. The girls walked into the living room sat in the arm chairs and sofas were Paul, Ren and Gay, all three had drinks. A large set of double doors led onto the garden via a conservatory. The room itself had a three piece matching sofa set a low coffee table which sat in front of a modern gas fire, above the mantle piece was a large flat screen television and sat in a large glass fronted cabinet next to the fire place was an expensive stereo. Near the exit to the garden was a small four seat dining table which had a vase containing what looked like real flowers in. The floor was covered in a thick green and cyan coloured carpet which felt slightly springy under the feet. Working in the kitchen was Anna, Gary’s mum. The kitchen was divided from the living room by a long work surface and a solid back. Also sat in the living room at the dinner table down the left end of the room was Gary’s dad Bob, he looked like he was working on some paper work.
He looked up and said, “Hi Sandra, Abs and Tina.”
“Hi Bob, Anna, some introductions are needed,” said Tina. “Nibs, Amy and Hell Bright.”
All three waved their hellos. All the girls grabbed a seat or in the case of Amy got grabbed around the waist. Sandra grabbed Nibs’ hand as she moved to the seat beside her and dragged her so she was sat in Sandra’s lap.
“A piece of good news Tybias has offered to give us a lift today, it looks like a few members of his command aren’t coming. He said he would arrive about 20:10,” said Gary.
“What do you girls want to drink; we’ve got most spirits, a few cans of larger and a couple of bottles of Carbirra?”
Nibs answered, “A glass of Carbirra, thanks Gary.
“What spirits are there,” said Sandra as she sat down and dragged Nibs so she was sitting on her lap.
“Most types,” responded Gary.
“Velleem, please,” Sandra responded.
Hell Bright gestured that she wanted the same as Sandra. Abs and Tina answered, “BarKam, thanks.”
Amy who was being hugged from behind by Paul, replied, “Carbirra thanks Gary.”
“Gary you said, you might know someone from the Gangrels who may be interested in some security system testing,” said Bob looking up from his work.
“I did, didn’t I dad, Nibs, you interested?” asked Gary.
“Might be, what’s the job entail?” Nibs asked.
“I run a small security firm and I have a couple of pending contracts that require the security system I install to be tested. I don’t think they care who tests it, but they want it tested,” replied Bob.
She thought, ‘Could be a good job, I might even get the two people I’ve seen advertising their skills on the Young Transgender involved if they are interested.’ “What’s the pay like?”
“50,000dcks to who ever does the break in,” said Bob.
“Can I get back to you, as I might do it for a small amount and train a couple of young people I’ve seen advertising similar skills and give them the bulk,” she replied.
“Anyway, enough talk about work, we need to look at getting ready,” said Sandra.
She stood up off Sandra’s lap and helped her up. The girls left the living room and headed for the spare bedroom.
“Sounds interesting that job Nibs,” said Tina as she checked her make-up in the mirror.
“Who you thinking of training hun?” asked Sandra.
“The Young Transgender site has a job forum board and a couple of people have put adverts up saying they are security specialists,” she replied as she lifted the dress Gary had bought her for her birthday. It felt good, [Description to come]
Soon all the girls stood ready and slipped their jackets on over the dress. She picked up her Naj Blades and slipped them into the pockets in the lower back section of her trench coat. They walked down the stairs just as a horn was sounded from outside.
“Tybias is here,” called Sandra.
Paul, Ren and Gary appeared in the door way and walked to where they had hung their jackets. Gary opened the door and Tina and Abs walked out first arm in arm.
Sandra stood and offered Nibs her arm. She accepted it and followed Tina and Abs out into the early evening. The sky was almost cloudless and in the distance you could see the start of the evening proper with the sun creating a light red colouration in the sky. Paul and Amy followed them out arm in arm like them and Tina and Abs.
Tina opened the side door and they climbed in and sat just behind the driver’s seat. Beside them was Ben wearing a very smart suit. Nibs Sandra and Daraus climbed in and headed for the back seats in the corner was Simon like Ben he was wearing a smart suit and looked rather handsome, his dreads were tied up in a top knot style affair. Daraus lay under the chair. In the front were Tybias and two of the women that had been working at the workshop. Amy and Paul climbed in next and they sat in front of Sandra and her. Ren sat in the last seat of the three. The last two free seats were taken by Gary and Hell Bright. Gary slammed the door closed and Tybias pulled out and headed for IC7.
For the duration of the journey Nibs was looking out of the window concentrating on nothing and everything. She brought each of her senses to their current peak and let them settle. She was listening to the conversations as they happened and keeping quiet throughout the journey. Her thoughts skipping through all the lessons she had learnt on control, and self control. ‘Hume taught that self control came through the control of one’s own actions. To control an action is to have self control. To land a punch and leave no mark, but do damage at the same time is total control, but to do it with no obvious attack was mastery of one self. Cubbadar taught to attain the perfect control one must learn balance and to judge a balance point. You can always maintain and control all balance points. You can be to one person overbalanced, to you it is the judge of a balance point. Uthura taught that to control one’s surroundings is to control you, control your actions and know your enemy. And lastly Richard, the most fundamental truth summed up in to be come a master you must learn mastery.’ These and the one of the old lady in Ne-u-Bar ‘What did she mean when she said, ‘I am very important to the future and have special gifts that will allow you to truly fight the evil that is coming.’
As Tybias turned on to the dirt road that led to Gate One Sandra, whispered in her ear, “We’re almost at command. What have you been doing?”
“Thinking, remembering, controlling hun. Thinking about the lessons the people who taught me my street fighting skills said about mastery and control. Remembering an old lady who said something to me in Ne-u-Bar, and controlling my various senses, you can never be too prepared,” she replied.
Sandra gave her a kiss on the cheek and said, “That’s why I love you Nibs, you are always alert and ready.”
The van slowed and stopped by what looked like a gate house of some kind. She looked around the outside, the evening was drawing on quite quickly but the scenery she could see was one of a heavy industrial environment. Dotted around the area was fuel cracking towers, storage vessels and what looked like a Setadar foundry and production site as well. In the distance she could see the towers of more fuel cracking areas and other industrial sites.
“The Gangrels own about 60 square miles of industrial and old residential. Some of the older members and ex members say the site belonged to Corporate Enterprises and was as you see it a major setadar and fuel producing centre five miles north is the old port before Stevran was dredged and it became the centre,” said Sandra.
In the front, on the passenger’s side a guys headed appeared and he looked around the mini-bus and called to another one, “Cleared, open the gate.” As the Minibus slowly accelerated she looked at the gate house and saw four people working the gate, it looked like two were inside the gate house itself and a little distance away were two pick-ups both were had a twin, what looked like a Twin belt fed MSW on a pole in the open back area.
The van drove down the dirt track towards a small building.
“Where’s the Gathering, I can’t see much that would be able to hold the numbers you quoted?” she asked.
“Wait and see, not all things are obvious to those unknowing of us. Remember this is when most new recruits are told the finer details about Gangrel membership,” whispered Sandra in reply.
The van stopped and the side and front doors were opened by ushers wearing camouflage trousers and green tops, who stood ready to welcome to arrivals. The friends in the van exited and congregated waiting for everyone to arrive. They walked down the plush carpet towards the building.