7

Em Cal took a good look at the newcomer. He was tall and good looking with sleek blond hair, tanned skin, and pale blue eyes. He looked more like a life guard than a potential member of Black Venom.

"So you think you got what it takes to be in this club, pretty boy?" said Em Cal, disdain etched in every syllable of his voice.

"Yes, sir," said the new comer.

"Well, we'll see, won't we?" Em Cal said.

He circled around the new comer slowly like a wolf stalking his prey. Then those icy green orbs met his blue ones, before Em Cal struck him with a stiff right hand. As he fell to the ground, Em Cal advanced on him, kicking and stomping the other bikers jumped in it, stomping every available part. This went on for five minutes. After the beating surceased, the new comer slowly got to his feet, his face bloody and battered. But Em Cal could see determination in the eye that wasn't swelling up.

"Alright, kid, you survived this one," said Em Cal. "But you've still got alot of work to do. You will go on trial for a week and if you're up to our standards, we'll let you in."

"Thank you, sir," said the new comer through swollen lips.

"Don't mention it," said Em Cal. "The rest of you get out of here."

Bit by bit, the rest of the men began to depart, leaving Em Cal alone.

Em Cal slipped on his leather trench coat and sunglasses. Then he stepped outisde into the warm summer night. He got on his Indiana and sped off.

It had been two weeks since Em Cal and company torched the noodle stands. While there was no response from the Dragon King Triads, Em Cal and S.D. were expecting one. As a result, he and S.D. decided to recruit new members for their respective gangs. Em Cal had at least 20 new members of Black Venom.

Em Cal pulled up in front of his house. That's when he noticed that his door was ajar. That was odd; he specifically remembered locking it.

Quickly pulling out his .44, Em Cal walked quietly into his house. There were a few items knocked on the floor, but the living room was empty. Next, Em Cal went into the kitchen. Still nobody there. He checked the laundry room. It was also empty. He was about to check into the basement when he heard a noise upstars. He stalked upstairs, the .44 leading the way. He then went into his bedroom. It was empty. He looked under the bed. There wasn't anyone under there.

"Maybe I'm just paranoid," muttered Em Cal. "There's no one in here."

That's when the closet door opened. Two masked assailants came toward Em Cal with silenced pistols pointing at him. Ducking their shots, Em Cal aimed his .44 at first and fired twice, hitting him in the chest and stomach. The second one, charged at Em Cal, knocking him down. The two scuffled on the ground for a while, the second assailant getting of best of Em Cal, striking him repeatedly with the pistol. Out of desperation, Em Cal grasped the hired gun's windpipe. The hired gun tried to pry Em Cal's hand off of his throat, but Em Cal's grasp was too strong. He passed out.

Ignoring the gash above his right eye, Em Cal took off the dead assailant's mask. He was an Asian man with short blond hair. As he examined him closer, Em Cal noticed a tattoo on his neck. It was of a dragon with a crown on its head.

Em Cal took off the other's mask. He was also Asian with long hair and a scruffy beard. He had the same tattoo on his neck.

One by one, Em Cal carried the bodies to his basement. He put the unconcious one on a cot and tied him down. Then he lit up a cigarette and waited for the hired gun to wake up.

The hired gun finally came to. Em Cal crouched down to his level and said in a low dangerous voice, "How did you find me?"

The hired gun spat at Em Cal. Em Cal let out a mirthless laugh and disappeared. He reappeared with a giant axe.

"I've never used this before," said Em Cal, a dark leer on his face. "Congratulations, you get to be my first victim."

Em Cal raised the axe in the air. The intruder screamed, "No, please!"

"Does this mean you have something to say?" he said. "If not, you lose a limb."

"Okay,okay, I'll talk," said the hired gun. "We've been following you for the past week. We got a tip from a witness, who saw you pull off after blowing up the noodle stands. It was pure luck that we happened to see you coming out of Dirty Dan's Diner. So we decided to pounce on you when you least expected it. Please, DON'T KILL ME!"

"Well, that depends you piece of shit," said Em Cal. "Did Chao Ming Li send you?"

"Yes," said the hired gun." "The Dragon King Triads have put a $50,000 bounty on your head. I have failed to kill you, but someone will eventually."

Em Cal's lip curled.

"Is that right?" he said. "Well, don't go mistaking me for an easy kill. You done fucked with the wrong man. You best believe I'mma bring it to you guys. Now I've got a date with Chao Ming Li. You, you've got a date with death.

As the hired gun shouted, "NO!" Em Cal brought the axe down on his throat. His head fell to the floor with a dull thud.

For the next few hours, Em Cal went to work. He buried the bodies deep into the desert. Then he cleaned up blood that was smeared on the floor and walls. The house wasn't safe enough anymore, so Em Cal, packed up his things and checked into a motel.

The next day, he traded in his Indiana for a cherry red Harley chopper. Then, he went to S.D's shop. S.D. wasn't there, so he had to wait until he arrived.

It was a couple of hours later when S.D. returned, he was driving a battered blue Chevy Caprice.

"Hey, S.D., we need to talk," said Em Cal

"Sure," said S.D. "What's up, Cal?"

Em Cal told S.D. about the two hired guns.

"Holy shit," said S.D. "How did they find you?"

"They spotted my bike," said Em Cal. "Listen, I think you and Angela should check into a hotel for a while. They probably have your house under surveillance too, waiting for the right moment to pounce.

"What're we going to do about the Dragon King Triads?" asked S.D.

"Nothing yet," said Em Cal. "Let them make the first move, let them think we're intimidated by then."

"Sounds like a plan," said S.D.

"Yeah," said Em Cal. "You should go home and start packing now." If you see anything suspicious, don't hesitate to call me."

"Alright," said S.D.

He got back into his car and drove off.

"Can you tell me why you chose this bar?" Em Cal asked.

"This has a relaxing vibe to it," said S.D. "Besides, you need a break from the Se7en Spades."

Both men were in the Red Flamingo, a night club. Em Cal didn't care too much for the bright neon lights and the hardcore techo music.

As they sat at a stool, a man with bright pink hair said to them. "What would you like to drink?"

"Give me a Jack and Coke," said Em Cal.

"Man you always order that," said S.D. "Try something different for a change."

"I don't want-" Em Cal began, but S.D. cut him off and said , "Hey bartender, cancel the Jack and Coke and give him a sour appletini."

The bartender nodded. Em Cal scowled at S.D.

"What?" said S.D. "You need to change up a little. "Try a little variety for a change."

"I ain't changing nothing," said Em Cal, lighting up a cigarette.

Two ladies walked over to where Em Cal and S.D. were.

"Hey, would you too like to dance?" asked the one with long red hair.

"Hell yeah!" said S.D. "What do you say, Cal?"

"No, I'm fine where I am," said Em Cal

"Your loss," said S.D. "C'mon ladies,"

S.D. disappeared with the two women. Em Cal grunted and muttered , "Why did I agree to let him take me to this place?"

He took a sip of the appletini. It wasn't bad. He looked around at the crowd, dancing and having a good time. It was all so boring to him. He'd rather be with Angela.

Em Cal continued to observe the crowd. It was then when he saw an Asian man, sitting in the back. A jolt of recognition surged through Em Cal's body.

S.D. came back. He had lipstick all over his face.

"Yo, I'm having one helluva night," he said "You should have joined us, Cal."

"S.D.." said Em Cal, "Chao Ming Li is here."

"What?" said S.D. "Are you serious?"

"As a heart attack," said Em Cal. "See him?"

"That's him alright," said S.D. "Let's go bust his ass."

"I heard that," said Em Cal.

The both of them went over to where Ming Li was sitting. He looked up at Em Cal and S.D. with a nonchalant expression on his face.

"Well, well," said S.D. a looked of hatred on his face. "Nice to finally meet you, Ming Li."

"Do I know you?" asked Ming Li

"Yeah," said S.D., cracking his knuckles. "I'm the one you went your boys after, the one whose laundry business you took away.

"You must be S.D., said Ming Li with an arrogant smirk that made Em Cal wish he had his gun on him."That wasn't anything personal, it was just business."

"Well, it's going to be just business, when me and my partner here kick your ass from here to Hong Kong." said S.D.

Ming Li laughed.

"You're so funny," he said. "You wish to fight me when you're totally outnumbered."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Em Cal demanded.

Ming Li snapped his fingers. Eight Dragon King Triads rose from their tables. S.D. looked dumbfounded.

"What're we going to do, Cal?" he whispered.

"Fight," said Em Cal. "You take the four on the right, and I'll take the four on the left."

As the first one approached him, Em Cal picked up a chair and brought it down on his head, breaking it. People began to scream and headed for the other three circled Em Cal. Em Cal quickly pulled out his pocket knife and gored the closest one. One of them jump on Em Cal's back and tried to choke him, but his neck was too wide. Em Cal flipped him over onto the table, breaking it in half.

"Cal, I could use some help here!" shouted S.D. as he fought off two Triads at once.

Em Cal rushed to S.D.'s aid, pummeling the Triad into oblivion. There were three Triads left standing. Em Cal lifted S.D. up and threw him at the remaining three. They fell to the floor, unconcious.

"Damn, you could have gave me the heads up," said S.D., holding his ribs.

They walked out of the club, breathing hard. Waiting for them were twelve more Triads.

"Oh man," groaned S.D. as the Triads surrounded him and Em Cal. "We're not going to win this one."