The official mission title for this one is Homeland Security. I've been playing through this whole game again as I've been writing this and it's just been so much fun! First Saints Row is amazing. I've been trying to keep gang chapters roughly equal, so, next chapter is going to be Johnny and the VKs again
The chapter titles are pretty much named after relevant (or semi-relevant, or not-really-that-relevant-at-all) songs from the game. This one is actually "Lolita" by Stereophonics, but it's called Girl in-game so that's what I'm going with. Internal consistency!
"Okay," Dex said. "So, the Carnales have a drug lab here-" He pointed to a spot on the map spread out on the table in front of him. "-And we're going to take it over. Don't go in and blow up everything, got it?" His voice echoed within the stone walls of the Church.
"If we get rid of it for good," said Troy, "that's gonna hurt the Colombians. If it can't be processed here, they won't be able to move it onto the streets as fast. They'll have less reason to stick around."
"Uh, yeah," said Dex. "Exactly. We don't want that. We're not gonna break the chain, we're just going to replace a couple of links."
"But-" Troy was cut off by his mobile phone ringing. He took it out and scowled at it before holding up a hand and backing out of the room to take the call. Dex rolled his eyes.
"Why don't you like Troy?" asked Kate.
Dex looked up at her. "I don't not like Troy," he said.
"Well, you act like you don't," she said, with a shrug. "Are you just being a dick or what? Is it some kind of issue about the Los Carnales?"
Dex ran a hand over his face. "Not you too," he said, his voice muffled.
Kate grinned. "Honestly," she said. "People are saying 'the Los Carnales' just to piss you off, at this point."
Dex groaned.
"Is it the drug thing?" she asked, still curious. "He's so weird about it."
Dex waved a hand. "He told me he had a sister that OD'ed," he said. "But no. I don't know. You just don't get on with everyone you meet. He asks a lot of questions, I guess, but - apparently you do too." He raised an eyebrow. "So - maybe it's me that's got the problem."
Kate laughed, self-consciously. "Sorry," she said. "Still just trying to figure everything out, I guess."
Dex relaxed a little. "You're doing okay, kid," he said. "You're tougher than you look."
"Who are you calling 'kid'?" Kate folded her arms, although her tone was teasing. "You can't be that much older than me."
He folded his arms with a smile, mirroring her. "Well I might not be much older, but I've been-"
"Dex!"
They both looked up to see a Saint stumble into the room, breathing heavily. "Dex, we got trouble, they're coming. They're here."
The smile dropped off Dex's face. He took a step forward and dropped his hand to the gun at his side. "Who's here?"
"Fuckin' Carnales," he said. "They're tearing this place up."
Dex turned towards Kate. "You're riding with me," he said.
"I don't need you to babysit-" she began, but Dex cut her off.
"No need to worry about that, you're going to see plenty of action. Come on."
She followed him out of the door, reaching for her SMG, and ran down the stone steps outside. The sky was as red as blood, smoke rising from the shell of a burnt-out car down the street.
Dex swore under his breath and leaped into the driver's seat of his purple raycaster. Kate followed him, vaulting over the door awkwardly.
With a shriek of tyres, he pulled out into the street. The wind whipped Kate's hair as he drove, and she had to narrow her eyes against the wind in her face. Gunfire rang out through the neighborhood, and Dex turned the car sharply towards the sound.
Kate gripped the side of the door as they passed a Carnales car, and sent a volley of fire into the driver's side door, leaving the driver slumped over the wheel. Dex tapped the brakes, just for a moment, and followed up with three careful shots of his own, taking out the passengers. They left the car, still running, in the middle of the street.
"Not a bad start," said Dex, noncommittally, as they drove off. "Gotta work on your spread."
"My what?" she called, barely able to hear him, over the wind whistling past as they headed towards the coastline.
He raised his voice. "Your-" His eyes widened and he yanked the steering wheel to the right, suddenly. An explosion to her left was so close that she the heat against her face was almost painful, the blast hot enough to burn her eyes dry. She pressed a hand to her face, not even able to cry out in pain.
"Get your head up!" Dex yelled. "We need to do this fast!"
She lifted her head, eyes watering, as Dex accelerated towards the Carnales group with the rocket launcher. Blinking rapidly, she lifted her arm as they passed and sprayed the group with bullets, not stopping until the clip was empty.
The car stopped at the next intersection.
"I get them?" she asked, her fingertips pressed to her eyes once more.
"Hell yeah you did," said Dex. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all."
She grinned through her pain.
