The floppy hat, colorful scarf and upturned collar of the long coated figure were becoming familiar to the street people who eked out an existence in the warehouse district. Initially concerned that the lost boys might not know that their home was being continually cased by the muffled figure, the denizens of the area eventually concluded that the team must have left town to be oblivious to the surveillance. Because of his unfamiliarity with the area and the standard operating procedures of the group in question, it took Nestor P. Enchanis considerably longer to arrive at the same conclusion. The dwarf illusionist, Madcap, was still observing Doc's doss (without having formed any rational conclusions) when Nestor called off the stakeout.
"....because we'd have gotten some indicator by now if they were around," the elf said shortly into his wrist phone. "Our assignment is too important and Quillum is too effective for us to waste time watching empty bases. We have to find where this 'Doc' character took the item before the albino does."
"Why are you assuming we've got ta contend wif the 'ole bloody team?" Madcap asked. "The little breeder didn't mention nobody 'cept this Doc swine and his employer."
"Because I, unlike you, don't believe in coincidence. It's just too much to assume that Doc's disappearance and the lost boys' absence is unrelated. No, Doc was the team's mage. He's gone and they're gone and were going to have to find them before Quillum does. Head back to base. I'm going to have to prepare a report and see what other assets can be mobilized. Out"
The muffled figure began moving out of the area and had gone two blocks before leaving the effective range of the crawler drone hidden in the sewer grate that had eavesdropped on the entire conversation.
"Find them" Quillum said with an undertone of violent menace that shook the Talismonger to his core.
"Trick or Treat" Madcap softly breathed as the Vice Lords' patrol approached his ambush point. As the words left his lips, each of the gangers came to the sudden realization that somehow Ghouls had infiltrated the patrol disguised as friends. This became obvious when whatever disguise spell the Ghouls used suddenly dropped away and each Vice Lord found himself surrounded by flesh eaters. Upon discovering themselves at risk from their obviously dangerous enemies, the patrol chose a fairly straightforward if predictable course of action to remedy the situation: to wit, kill the Ghouls. Total pandemonium ensued as knives, clubs and firearms were employed to devastating effect as each ganger fought for his life. Within seconds only Slick Willie remained standing among the dead and dying. Then the terror truly began.
The ganger looked around to see only his fallen comrades. No Ghouls. Just a standard patrol of 8 Vice Lords, 7 of which were dead. To his unending horror, Slick Willie watched as his own hand used the rusty cleaver he favored as a melee weapon to slowly cut off Cindy's pretty head. He screamed as he watched himself dip Cindy's long brown hair into the sticky black puddles of blood. His scream took on a higher pitch when he saw himself begin scrawling a bloody message on the alley wall with the horrible brush he had created. When he completed his graffiti, he was horse from screaming in disbelief and teetering on the edge of total insanity. Then he dropped the "brush" and began smashing himself in the face with the flat of the cleaver. Although helpless to stop the self flagellation, by virtue of the greatest assertion of will in his life, Slick Willie managed to twist the wrist on the hand that was holding the cleaver. This allowed the business edge of the cutlery to split the ganger's face, penetrating his brain and ending his torment.
Madcap "tisked" as he saw that the ganger had spoiled his fun, but stepped out of his hiding place in the shadows to admire his handiwork. "Trick or Treat" he read the gore spattered wall with a smile. He-he. Perfect. Just the way to relax the illusionist thought. Disdaining the ganger's goods and weapons, Madcap jammed his hands into his pockets and whistled to himself as he sauntered back to base. That fragging ugly elf would go right out of his mind if he knew, but at least I got ta have some fun before we quit this nowhere town, The dwarf thought as he walked away, He-he "Oh Gawd, make it stop, make it stop!" He-he. I love that trick.
The Shadorat and shapcano. Together again for the first time! This serial continues at Winterhawk's Virtual Magespace. To read Chapter 16 click here.
This story is copyright of the author. Shadowrun is a Registered Trademark of FASA Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Used without permission. Any use of FASA Corporation's copyrighted material or trademarks in this file should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights or trademarks.
"....because we'd have gotten some indicator by now if they were around," the elf said shortly into his wrist phone. "Our assignment is too important and Quillum is too effective for us to waste time watching empty bases. We have to find where this 'Doc' character took the item before the albino does."
"Why are you assuming we've got ta contend wif the 'ole bloody team?" Madcap asked. "The little breeder didn't mention nobody 'cept this Doc swine and his employer."
"Because I, unlike you, don't believe in coincidence. It's just too much to assume that Doc's disappearance and the lost boys' absence is unrelated. No, Doc was the team's mage. He's gone and they're gone and were going to have to find them before Quillum does. Head back to base. I'm going to have to prepare a report and see what other assets can be mobilized. Out"
The muffled figure began moving out of the area and had gone two blocks before leaving the effective range of the crawler drone hidden in the sewer grate that had eavesdropped on the entire conversation.
*******
"Transcript and chip of the exchange to be sent to Master Fitzhue under personal encryption code" the albino told the rigger after reviewing the chip. Quillum then added, "It wouldn't be healthy for it to go anywhere else or for any extra copies to be made, understand?" The rigger's smile and joking reply died in his throat at the look on the albino's face. Swallowing hard, Pops said "Yes, sir. I understand. No copies, no other addresses." Although he muttered internally, the rigger let no outward sign reveal his frustration at being cut off from additional revenue by the express orders of his employer. Can't spend nuyen if you're dead Pops thought, and something about this Quillum slot makes me think I could be in that non-spending mode right quick if I dick around. Better play this one completely straight.
"So what makes ya tink ya can come onta our turf an set up housekeeping, BOYS?" The ganger asked. His tone made it clear that he was implying that the team was made up of homosexuals looking to enjoy each other's company. The snickers that echoed up the alley indicated that the "humor" of the assertion appealed to several of the other Halloweeners. Either that, or their fear of the speaker was great enough to prompt some toadying titters.
With a small sigh, Cloak signaled his teammates to go along and asked, "Can we cut through the posturing and get down to biz or do I have to put somebody in the hospital before you people will take my coin and leave us alone?" Although he looked bored as he said this, internally he kicked himself for having led Tai-chi class that morning. Who would believe that our dawn exercise would be reported to the Halloweeners,he thought as he waited for the threats he was sure would be next on the agenda.
Although the question caught the speaker off guard, (so much so that he looked over at the gang's true leader for direction), the Jack 'o Lantern tattooed face quickly recovered. Having read the eye movements of the true leader, Leatherface said, "Aw, we don't need ya ta hospitalize anybody, pretty boy, we just want one a ya ta dance wit Ginga." He gestured at a long limbed and attractive black female norm with close cropped hair, large brown eyes and a brilliant smile. The woman said nothing but began swaying as though she were listening to music only she could hear. As the Halloweeners began clearing a large area, Cloak cautiously moved forward.
Ginga executed a lightning fast bencao with her right leg, (Capoeira front kick). When Cloak responded by ducking under the leg into a low spinning back kick at Ginga's support leg, the nimble Capoeirista executed an Au (Capoeira one handed cartwheel) to avoid being knocked down. She came back up grinning and continued dancing.
Ginga was fast and unpredictable but Cloak dodged both her right queixada (Capoeira high descending heel kick) and the Meia lua de compasso which followed it by simply stepping back. When Ginga completed the second move, a high spinning back kick delivered from a three point stance, she was facing away from her opponent. Cloak quickly shoved her away but did not strike. Although the fight was still young and moving at a speed that was frankly difficult to follow, Reaper, the actual leader of the Halloweener's chapter began to get a sinking feeling. Frag! he thought, Son of a slitch is fast. Even faster than Ginga. Drek. I don't want to see her hurt. Although Reaper would never have admitted it out loud, particularly when Linda was around, he found the Capoeirista very attractive and often fantasized about being with her.
Ginga also was beginning to worry. She had never encountered anyone as fast as Cloak and in her heart realized that the push could have been a crippling kidney punch had her opponent wished it. Ginga was, however, loyal to her gang and wanted to give it her best shot. She quickly closed the distance with her opponent and launched a devastating Voo-do-Morcego (Capoeira jumping double drop kick). Cloak then spoke the first word of the fight as he shouted "Ole" and side stepped his opponent's feet while sweeping his cloak aside like a matador.
More of the gang was coming to the realization that their best hand-to-hand fighter was outclassed. Although they were concerned, each knew that there was little they could do as they had set the terms for this test. Ginga twisted in mid air and caught her fall on one hand. She executed a Mecaco (Capoeira one handed back flip) in order to put a little distance between her and her opponent.
Ginga then danced in and attempted Meia lua Pulada (Capoeira one handed high spinning back kick). When Cloak used a kick of his own to block the incoming blow, Ginga felt her heart sink. Her forward momentum stopped, she dropped and rolled quickly away from her opponent. She was surprised (but pleased) to see he had not attempted any follow up stomp when she was on the ground. Game to the end, although now feeling it was an exercise in futility, she got quickly to her feet and began dancing again.
Desperate to at least tag her opponent, Ginga attempted a Rabo-de-Arraia. This heel kick to the face delivered from a handstand was classic of Brazilian Capoeira, but Cloak caught his opponent's foot before it struck and simply held it. Ginga was now doing a handstand facing away from her opponent and was completely vulnerable. There was no counter other than to try a kick with her other leg. When she did and Cloak caught this too, she was helpless. All of the gang could see that a simple kick to the back of the girl's head would leave her unconscious and possibly dead.
"Can we cut the crap now and get down to biz or should I break something to earn your respect?" Cloak asked. His tone of voice said it made absolutely no difference to him which the gangers chose as the entire fight had been just an annoyance. Before Leatherface could speak up, Reaper said "Ok. That's enough."
Cloak released Ginga's legs and watched as the young woman gracefully hand walked away. When she stood up she dipped into a graceful bow and said "Mestre", acknowledging that Cloak had defeated her in the way a master trains a student, without damaging anything but pride.
Before Reaper could get down to business, Leatherface said, "Yer fast, but you fight like a fag." Although Cloak was prepared to ignore the challenge, he saw Reaper's raised eyebrow as an indicator that the leader wanted to see what his lieutenant was up to. His patience at an end, Cloak said, "You seem awfully knowledgeable about the lifestyle. Perhaps based on personal experience?"
Leatherface roared as the opportunity he had been hoping for presented itself, and brought up his weapon of choice, a chainsaw. Before he could start the machine, however, Cloak moved in and tagged the ganger with an overhand right to the face. Picking himself up off the ground, Leatherface smiled as he said "Ya hit like a fag, too." He stood up into a left cross to the nose and promptly sat back down. "Is that all you've got?" the ganger asked as he again regained his feet. Cloak's spinning back fist to the mouth again deposited his opponent on his brains. "Now ya mahd mah mad" Leatherface mumbled as he spat a mouthful of bloody chickletts to the tarmac. Cloak waited until the ganger had started his chainsaw and was cutting the air before beginning his counter. After one particularly vicious swipe at nothing, before his opponent could bring his weapon back into line, Cloak danced in with two left jabs (one to either eye) and a right handed palm strike to the ganger's already broken nose. As Leatherface flew back to his accustomed position (flat on his back), Cloak turned away in disgust. He was about to address Reaper when he heard Leatherface's "AAAARRRRRRRRR" of challenge. He turned as the ganger, chainsaw forgotten, charged him like a bull. At precisely the correct moment Cloak launched an uppercut from his heels which shattered Leatherface's jaw and lifted him out of the world of the conscious.
"Wow, he's out cold"......."Geeze, nobody ever knocked out Leatherface before"....."Damn, quickboy just kept punchin em in da face"..."Yeah an fast as shit, too"......"Drek, tomorrow his head is gonna look like a catcher's mitt."
Amidst the Halloweener's post fight analysis, Cloak looked over his handiwork and observed "That's gonna leave a mark". He then asked Reaper, "Now can we discuss biz?"
"Yeah. You're all right. Leatherface gotta big mouth. Nice job cleanin his clock. Glad ya didn't bust up Ginga. The rest a you as good?"
"Aw, come on." Cloak said, "Yer not really gonna try an find out, are ya?"
"Naw. Just askin. You can stay but don't kill nobody from da neighborhood. Dey pay us fer protection and I mean ta see dey get it."
"Chill. How much?"
"First week's free. Yer still around after dat, we'll work somethin out."
"Frosty. Later." Cloak said as he turned and walked away. He led the team to the boarded up supermarket which had become their new home.
"Hoi? You guys got a name?" Reaper called after the team.
"Monster Squad" called the gruff voiced dwarf over his shoulder.
"Arctic" Reaper replied with a half grin as he went to check on his big mouthed first officer. Monster Squad in Halloweener turf. Very Chill, he thought as he surveyed the damage to Leatherface's physiognomy.Fraggin Cloak dude will be hauntin Leatherface's nightmares for a long time.
"Yes, yes. I understand that and believe you. That's no longer the issue..........I agree, they've gone. They've left the plex. Fine. Now, where did they go?...................THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING YOU, YOU CRETIN!!!" the diminutive Talismonger screamed uncharacteristically into the handset of his com. "It's not a quiz question, you moron. I need to find out! I'll pay good creds for solid information on the current whereabouts of Doc and/or his team....................yes, of course it will be confidential...............Well, find out, Damn it!
Pietr's fury at his contacts' incompetence was so great that he completely ignored the darkly menacing figure of Quillum. "It's no wonder it's called the world of shadows, " the small man muttered as he paced, "the light of reason never penetrates the fog of stupidity there." Noticing for the first time that he had an audience, Pietr self-consciously checked his fez and and explained "I've...uh...had no luck, so far, in finding the elusive elf or his team. I'm starting to get indicators that the entire group has left town but......""Find them" Quillum said with an undertone of violent menace that shook the Talismonger to his core.
"Trick or Treat" Madcap softly breathed as the Vice Lords' patrol approached his ambush point. As the words left his lips, each of the gangers came to the sudden realization that somehow Ghouls had infiltrated the patrol disguised as friends. This became obvious when whatever disguise spell the Ghouls used suddenly dropped away and each Vice Lord found himself surrounded by flesh eaters. Upon discovering themselves at risk from their obviously dangerous enemies, the patrol chose a fairly straightforward if predictable course of action to remedy the situation: to wit, kill the Ghouls. Total pandemonium ensued as knives, clubs and firearms were employed to devastating effect as each ganger fought for his life. Within seconds only Slick Willie remained standing among the dead and dying. Then the terror truly began.
The ganger looked around to see only his fallen comrades. No Ghouls. Just a standard patrol of 8 Vice Lords, 7 of which were dead. To his unending horror, Slick Willie watched as his own hand used the rusty cleaver he favored as a melee weapon to slowly cut off Cindy's pretty head. He screamed as he watched himself dip Cindy's long brown hair into the sticky black puddles of blood. His scream took on a higher pitch when he saw himself begin scrawling a bloody message on the alley wall with the horrible brush he had created. When he completed his graffiti, he was horse from screaming in disbelief and teetering on the edge of total insanity. Then he dropped the "brush" and began smashing himself in the face with the flat of the cleaver. Although helpless to stop the self flagellation, by virtue of the greatest assertion of will in his life, Slick Willie managed to twist the wrist on the hand that was holding the cleaver. This allowed the business edge of the cutlery to split the ganger's face, penetrating his brain and ending his torment.
Madcap "tisked" as he saw that the ganger had spoiled his fun, but stepped out of his hiding place in the shadows to admire his handiwork. "Trick or Treat" he read the gore spattered wall with a smile. He-he. Perfect. Just the way to relax the illusionist thought. Disdaining the ganger's goods and weapons, Madcap jammed his hands into his pockets and whistled to himself as he sauntered back to base. That fragging ugly elf would go right out of his mind if he knew, but at least I got ta have some fun before we quit this nowhere town, The dwarf thought as he walked away, He-he "Oh Gawd, make it stop, make it stop!" He-he. I love that trick.
The Shadorat and shapcano. Together again for the first time! This serial continues at Winterhawk's Virtual Magespace. To read Chapter 16 click here.
This story is copyright of the author. Shadowrun is a Registered Trademark of FASA Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Used without permission. Any use of FASA Corporation's copyrighted material or trademarks in this file should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights or trademarks.
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