Chapter Six
Alex's Chevelle slide sideways into the emergency room parking lot with black smoke trailing off the tires; Alex climbed from the driver's side window, grabbing his club as he ran through the parking lot into the ER. Inside the ER was partially empty, with two patients waiting to be seen. Alex hurried over to the window.
"May I help you?" the nurse behind the counter asked.
"I'm here to file the Police Report in the recent rape case," Alex said.
"I'm surprised, Sheriff. Usually a deputy comes out to file the reports," the nurse replied.
"I'm a new breed of sheriff," Alex responded as the nurse handed him his badge to get back.
Following several different hallways, Alex finally found himself in the heart of the ER. He approached the nurse's desk and saw a familiar face.
"Maggie?" He asked cautiously.
"Alex Ruler! You hound dog! Where have you been hiding?" asked the brunette nurse behind the counter.
She wore her brunette hair in a bun behind her head. Her glasses covered her deep hazel eyes. Her voice was like a sweet harmony. She smiled brightly as Alex approached.
"I'm here to file the rape report. Where is the victim?" Alex asked.
"She's in there. Alex, before you go in. Promise me you won't do anything stupid," Maggie said.
"Me? Do something stupid? Maggie, I've matured since high school." Alex responded, as Maggie stepped between him and the door.
"Alex, you and I both know who is behind that door. You and I both know what happened when the Shelby Football Player slapped her butt before a football game in high school. You, Tai, and Ken took on the entire football team. Don't let that happen now," Maggie said.
"Maggie, you and I both also know that I don't care how badly the odds are stacked against me, I'll do whatever it takes to protect my loved ones," Alex said, pushing past Maggie.
Keitaro, Ken, and Tai were all gathered at Watts Diner. They were having lunch before Ken had to return him. His right was in a sling from his encounter with Tommy. They were all concerned about Alyson.
"I'm more worried that Ruler will do something extremely stupid after he gets the information for the police report," Tai said, breaking the silence that had fallen over the three.
"Me too. Alyson was the only person who understood Alex. She was the only one who could control him to some extent," Ken said.
"You two sure know a lot about Captain Ruler," Keitaro said. "Did you both grow up with him?"
"Excuse me, Captain Ruler?" Ken asked.
"Yes. Alex lead a platoon of soldiers he hand picked himself to deal with the Garza Gang when they were causing problems in the northern states. I was one of those soldiers. He ran a tight ship during that little scuffle. But if it weren't for his leadership skills, we woulda all been killed," Keitaro said, rubbing his chin.
"Ken and I were Alex's closest friends in school. We met each other in kindergarten and became fast friends. We knew Alex before the Marines. Even before the Marines, he was sort of our leader," Tai responded to Keitaro's question. "What brings you to Polkville?"
"I came to visit the Captain. Myself, Ruler, and two other members of the platoon remained in close contact. Alex chose us due to our specialties in combat," Keitaro replied. "I'm a long range fighter who isn't scared to close the distance. Kuro was the explosives expert, his physical prowess also had a huge bang to it. Aidan, well Aidan was like Alex in a way, well rounded. He was our Breaking and Entering Specialist on that mission. Aidan could crack any code, disable any alarm, and pick any lock,"
"Sounds like Alex knew how to pick the teams," Ken said, rubbing his chin with his left hand. "I was the computer geek, Tai was the martial artist, and Alex was the gamer. Until Tai's grandfather saw an excellent student in Alex, and they began training together. Eventually we all three started training," Ken said.
"I would have been honored to meet your grandfather, Tai," Keitaro said, "Alex spoke very highly of him. It was your grandfather's stories that gave us hope and encouragement throughout that entire mission,"
"Really? Grandfather was pretty close with Alex and myself. Alex became the Tiger Style Champion while I studied the Dragon Style, together we were known as The Kwondo's Crouching Dragon, Hidden Tiger," Tai said.
Keitaro blocked the out the last portion of the conversation, as he spotted Mark Bagwell and three other men laughing as they entered the hospital. To the untrained eye, it looked like they had been painting. Red paint covered the front of their wranglers and their plaid shirts, as they approached the front counter and ordered their food. Keitaro knew that beneath that red paint was blood. He could sense it, he could smell it. Keitaro watched as they received their food and actually paid for it. He stood up.
"Excuse me, gentlemen. I have an errand to run," Keitaro said, politely.
He stood up and followed Mark and the others out of the building.
"Alex," Alyson said weakly, reaching for his hand. "They did this to me. The Leons boys did this to me,"
"I know, Alyson. They did it to you because of me. They knew it would hurt me," Alex said, looking at the ground.
"Alex, look at me please," Alyson coughed, "The things they said about you. The things they said about you not wanting me. Tell me its not true,"
"Alyson, I truly do love you. I came back to this town for you. Not for Ken or Tai, or Mom or Dad or Amy or even Chase. I came back here for you," Alex said. "Nothing those guys do, can cause me to not love you,"
"Do you really mean that?" Alyson asked.
"Have I ever lied to you?" Alex asked, kissing her forehead. "I'm going to bring them to justice. You watch and see, Alyson,"
"Alex, come back to me in one piece," Alyson said.
"I came back from Iraq in one piece, I'll come back from Leons in one piece," Alex said, smiling as he left.
"Excuse me, gentlemen. I appear to be lost. Could you point me towards Mr. Leons' office?" Keitaro asked, as he approached Mark and the other men.
"Why does a freak like you want to see Mr. Leons'?" Mark asked, cocking his head to the right.
"I wanted to simply apologize for how I behaved last week when I was first introduced to Mr. Leons'. Also, he has my blade, which I will kindly need back," Keitaro said, his hands entering his pockets.
"I know who you are. You're that guy who saved Manson from getting what he deserved. I think you deserve an ass whooping. You don't look so tough, so I won't be needing these guys to serve you what you ordered!" Mark said, sending the others away. "How about we move somewhere more secluded, I don't want the entire town seeing you get your ass whooped,"
"Lead the way," Keitaro said, waiting for Mark to move, "Thought I personally thought you would love to have a crowd around us,"
"No, having a crowd means more witnesses to call Ruler. We don't need Ruler coming to save your sorry ass. You don't look as tough as Tommy said you were," Mark said, his right eye twitching again.
Alex placed his cellphone in the cup holder in his Chevelle. He had made one important phone call to Judge Odoms. Odoms and Alex hadn't been the best of friends in high school, but they were able to agree on one thing. Justice for all. Odoms faxed Alex a warrant, straight into his car. The warrant was Alex's legalized way of proceeding with bringing justice to his friend.
He pulled the car slowly into the parking area of the casino. The very same casino he had busted up earlier in the year. Tommy still hadn't replaced the front door. Alex walked towards the door, armed with his firearm. A nice, smooth grip on the nine millimeter beretta felt good in his hands as he gently pushed the door open.
"Attention all customers, faculty, and staff! This place is under Police Quarantine, get out now!" Alex said.
Several people groaned but they all filed out. Tommy saw the activity from behind the mirrored glass in his office. He could not see why his casino was emptying so quickly. He didn't have cameras outside, so he couldn't see Alex. He hopped out of the office and stood at the top of the stairs looking at the vacant area before him.
"What in the hell?" he shouted, "Where'd everyone go? Bingo Night? I own the Bingo Parlor you bitch,"
Tommy heard the front door open and slam close. Straining his eyes, he saw Alex enter with his gun drawn. Tommy began laughing.
"You ain't supposed to be in here, Sheriff. I have a restraining order against you," Tommy sneered.
"This says otherwise," Alex said, holding up his warrant. "This says I have permission to evacuate the building and search it. This building is under my control for twenty-four hours. I am to be supplied with access to all of your computers, online accounts, and your bank vault," Alex said.
"No judge can grant you access to that information, Marine," Tommy said.
"You don't know how extensive the judge can be, Tommy. Give me the information I need," Alex said, walking over to the bar and opening the cash register.
"I'll be in my office printing out all your information requested," Tommy said, angrily.
"I'll also need all assets you have acquired over the past five years, including those in partnerships with Antoine Demarco," Alex said.
Alex counted the money in the cash register, as Tommy hopped back upstairs.
Mark led Keitaro to the old saw mill. He opened the gate, then closed it behind Keitaro. Keitaro shrugged, it didn't matter where they talked at, if Mark was going to fight he would get his ass whooped.
"For a military man, you sure are calm as I lead you to your downfall. I will make you pay for every ounce of pain you brought to Tommy," Mark said.
"For the record, Tommy brought that on himself," Keitaro replied. "I just want to receive my blade back,"
"You mean this blade?" Mark asked, brandishing Keitaro's combat blade.
"That is my blade," Keitaro explained.
"And your blade is going to rip your guts out," Mark said, rotating the blade in his right hand.
"If you insist," Keitaro said, grabbing his right shoulder with his left hand, and ripping his shirt off, revealing the knife sheaths beneath the wrists.
Keitaro simply pressed to two release buttons and dropped the blades.
"I won't be needing those slowing me down," he said.
Alex was typing away on Tommy's computer. He was searching for information that could lead to an arrest, solid proof. He came across a video that caused his eyes to widen and his blood to boil.
Mark and Tommy's goons. They raped Alyson and filmed it! Alex thought. He copied the video to a memory card and left the office, taking with him the papers Tommy had printed out. Tommy stood in the doorway.
"Find everything, Marine?" Tommy asked.
"Found enough," Alex said, as left. "This building is still under my control. It is to be locked down for the rest of the day,"
"Y-YOU CAN'T DO THAT MARINE!" Tommy said.
"I can, and unless you wanna be locked in here, I suggest hopping down stairs and out the front door," Alex said, pulling a thick logging chain from his pocket.
Tommy hopped out the front door and Alex followed him, tieing the logging chain around the door and padlocking it. Alex got into his car and drove away.
Tai walked around the Police Department waiting on word from Alex. He hadn't heard from his superior since earlier in the morning and it was nearing three o'clock. Sitting behind his desk, he picked up the phone and called to check on Alyson. Instead of getting the hospital, someone answered the phone laughing.
"Excuse me, this is Deputy Kwondo, requesting information about Alyson Jergens," Tai said, confused.
"I am very sorry, Deputy. Ms. Jergens is rather busy with testing at the moment. Would Sheriff Ruler happen to be around?" the voice asked.
"No. Who the hell is this?" Tai demanded.
"This is your worst nightmare. Demarco and Leons will vanquish you bitches," the voice said before hanging up.
Mark smiled at Keitaro as Keitaro's blades hit the ground. This man has got to be stupid, he is unarmed and I have his deadly blade that pierced through Leons' leg. Mark thought, as he rotated the blade once more.
"You know, a true swordsman would know that the blade can be used for man than just a fan," Keitaro said.
"That ancient Chinese bullshit doesn't phase me, you loon," Mark said, as he lashed out with the blade.
"Very well," Keitaro said, stopping the blade by wrapping his right hand around it as Mark swung. "You have not yet mastered the blade, therefore, it is not an extension of your body. You can say you've mastered the blade when you can do this," Keitaro said, tapping his index finger upon the blade, sending a shockwave down the blade into Mark's body.
The next few seconds, would happen so fast, that Mark would not be able to remember what exactly happened. Keitaro was all over Mark hitting him with every combination imaginable. Mark finally stopped the assault by throwing dirt in Keitaro's eyes when Mark hit the ground.
Keitaro stumbled backwards, as Mark climbed to his feet and grabbed a steel pipe that was lying near by. Mark beat Keitaro with the pipe several times. He brought the former soldier to one knee. Just before delivering the finishing blow, Mark made his fate sealing mistake.
"Kiss my foot and I'll spare you," Mark said.
"Why?" Keitaro asked, spitting blood. "Why would I lower myself to a level below you?'
"Because this pipe says I'm your master, and you're my bitch!" Mark said.
Keitaro raised an eyebrow.
"You sure about that, chicko?" Keitaro asked, getting back on his feet.
"No way! Those blows I dealt should have injured you!" Mark said.
Keitaro held up a small capsule. He spit another one out of his mouth. Laughing as Mark stared wild eyed at the capsule.
"I'm built tougher than a slouch like you. I was in the military, fool. That blood as fake, from capsules. I'm about to whoop your ass!" Keitaro said.
With that, Keitaro proceeded in beating the living hell out of Mark. Before Keitaro delivered the final blow, he stopped.
"This one is for Alyson Jergens," Keitaro said, palm uppercutting Mark into the air to deliver an axe kick to the man's head. "Instant Knockout,"
Just as Tai was preparing to leave the station for the night, he heard an explosion outside. Looking out the window, Tai saw his cruiser crashing to the floor, with flames pouring out of it.
"What the hell?" Tai asked, before live ammunition began tearing through the building.
Tai hit the ground and slide beneath a desk. He grabbed his cellphone and tried calling Alex or Ken. Nothing happened. Whoever is out there, they are using a signal blocking device. Tai thought.
"Deputy Kwondo! Come out with your hands up! Or else!" A sinister voice called from outside.
Before Tai could respond, more live rounds were fired. Tai could hear the rounds whizzing past his ears, missing him by centimeters. How am I going to get out of this mess? Tai asked himself.
"Who is that?" Tai heard someone outside ask.
Looking out, Tai saw a thick blue smoke drifting around the building. I'm not doing this, Alex is busy, and Ken is injured. Keitaro maybe? Tai asked himself.
For several minutes, he heard grunts, groans, and shrieks of pain from outside. Those sounds were followed by another explosion. Tai controlled his breathing and kept quiet. He heard footsteps echoing through the desolate building.
"Where the hell is he?" a voice asked.
The voice had an air of arrogance, yet experience to it. Like the owner of the voice had been through hell and back several times. It held wisdom beyond its years.
"What do I look like, Kuro, a psychic?" a much younger voice offered.
This voice seemed like one of these energetic spitfucks Tai had saved from being made fun of in school. But what the voice lacked in experience, it made up for in sheer energy.
"I thought Captain Ruler said the deputy was around here somewhere. Someone had to be in here, because those bastards where sure as shit shooting at something," the older voice, called Kuro, said. "Aidan, take a perimeter sweep. Check everything,"
Tai carefully climbed from his hiding spot. He figured if these guys knew Alex, they would be allies. Boy was he wrong, as he rose from his hiding spot, the one called Kuro drew a gun on him. Judging from the man's stance, Tai assumed he was ex-military just like Keitaro and Alex. He held a gun that would make most men piss their pants, VP70 Desert Eagle Handcannon.
"Hi! Are you Tai Kwondo?" the younger voice, Aidan, popped out of nowhere, and asked.
Judging from him, Tai would also agree ex-military like Keitaro and Alex. This man held a small handheld computer and a flashlight thought.
"I'm deputy Kwondo, who are you guys?" Tai asked.
"We're the saints who just saved your ass. I'm Kurokon "Kuro" Armstrong. This is Aidan Collins. We're here to reconnect with our former teammates, Alex Ruler and Keitaro Halls. I assume you're a friend of the Captain's?" Kuro asked.
"He just said he's Tai Kwondo," Aidan said rolling his eyes. "Why were those men shooting?"
"Alex has been cleaning the town up. Apparently those guys don't like how he's handling business," Tai said. "Perhaps we can go to a better place to chat? And perhaps you can remove the Eagle off me?"
Alex stopped his car in front of Bingham's Hardware. Climbing out, he walked inside and saw Chase and another student sweeping. He walked to the back and saw Frank, arm in a sling, working diligently.
"Mr. Bingham, I need your security tapes please?" Alex said.
"Alex, you've gotten all my security tapes," Frank said.
"Alright. I just need to see one," Alex said, as he followed Frank to the office.
"Why do you need to see another?" Frank asked.
"I need to check something," Alex replied.
Keitaro panted heavily looking down at the lifeless body of Mark. He took great joy in getting a little revenge for his friend's girl.
"Man, why couldn't you have wanted to do this in town?" Keitaro asked, as the doors to the mill opened and a hundred men came out each one brandishing a different weapon.
Backing himself into a corner, Keitaro smiled at the odds. If I am going out, I'm going out swinging he thought to himself. Bracing himself for the asses he was about to whoop, Keitaro found himself being covered by dirt and his ears ringing from a loud explosion. As soon as the dust settled, he saw three figures walking towards him. He recognized all three of them.
"Kuro, Aidan, Tai? What brings you guys here?" Keitaro asked.
"We were in the neighborhood and saw you having a little trouble with the odds there," Aidan said, "So we figured we'd lend a hand,"
"My question is, why the hell did you pick a fight with the entire mill?" Kurokon asked.
"Better yet, why were their people in the mill?" Tai asked, "This mill has been closed since my second year as Martial Arts Instructor,"
"I can explain the details later. Right now I wanna know why no one bothered hollering 'Fire In The Hole' or 'Get Down' before lobbing that grenade?" Keitaro asked, knocking dirt out of his hair.
"Grenade? You think I would waste a grenade on these sorry sons of bitches?" Kurokon asked.
"Good Point, what the hell was it then?" Keitaro asked.
"It was a new type of weapon I invented. I call it The Big Bang. All it does is temporarily knocks out anyone who is within range of it's explosion. You weren't in range, therefore you weren't affected," Kurokon explained.
"Thanks for saving my ass, Kuro. But don't think I owe you anything," Keitaro said.
"It's nice to see you again too, Keitaro," Kurokon said.
"How about we go to dinner? Keitaro's paying!" Aidan suggested.
"Sounds good to me," Tai and Kuro said simultaneously.
"Alright, Dinner! Wait what?" Keitaro said as they headed towards town.
