"You mark that frame an eight, you're entering a world of pain."
Beneath The Shadows
Chapter 10
The hybrid had just gotten back in from his rounds. Vergil, Lady and Trish were all out doing the same, making sure there weren't large hordes of demons in the city. He had to be particularly careful though, making sure the cops weren't on him. However, it was merely to not attract attention. There wasn't worry about being captured. He figured that whatever tranquilizer the trappers had used to knock him out before had run out of stock in the city. When he disposed of the trappers, he was suspicious that the cops somehow had a supply of their own, and that if he tried to take them on, he'd likely get stuck with a needle. Unbeknownst to him, he was correct in his assumption. He made the right move by escaping the night of the killings. Had he tried to fight them all off that night, he most likely would have been captured.
But now he could take them on without having to worry about being captured. The police numbers were split, and, affirming Dante's other assumption, no longer in possession of the tranquilizer. They had lost their connection when Dante killed the trappers, and didn't bother to go to their direct source, which they knew were the ones paying them. The chief had decided it best not to get further involved. Still, he wouldn't seek them out directly.
He then started to wonder where something so powerful could have come from, and how it could have been created. He wondered why there was no reaction by those the trappers were selling the demons to, or what they could have been doing with them. It was enough to make his head spin. He had always stuck by the "Shoot first, ask questions later" method, but this situation called for some critical thinking, which he absolutely despised. Despite this, he knew in time everything would be revealed. It always did.
He placed his weapons upon the counter and went to the fridge for a beer. As he started to enjoy his beverage, he felt a chill come through, the room, and it wasn't from the open appliance. It was something else he was far too familiar with. He simply closed his eyes and smiled.
"Get anything out there?" He asked before taking another swig.
"Nothing since yesterday." His brother replied. "It seems as though they only attack at the same time."
"Well, you'd know, wouldn't you?" Dante turned to face his twin. "I mean hell, you had a whole tower full of them at your disposal years ago."
Vergil laughed.
"Unlike you, I embrace the demon blood that flows through my veins. The blood of our father. It was easy for me to control them."
"What's stopping you now?" He took another swig from his beer.
"I've no interest in world domination this time, or obtaining any further power for that matter. I came back for one reason."
"I'm sure you did, and we'll be getting to that in time." He smiled.
"That we will. And believe me, the outcome won't favor you so much this time."
"Third time's a charm, eh?" He finished his beer.
"You're arrogance is rather amusing."
"Ha. My arrogance? What are you, the shining example of humility all of a sudden?"
"Actually, my defeats at your hands have made me realize my faults."
"Well I'll be Goddamned. Now you're admitting your faults."
"Recognizing them. I've learned to hone my own powers instead of seeking it from other sources. You've no idea what I was doing while I was in hell."
"That's because I didn't give a shit."
Vergil smiled. "Just know, I have everything I need to defeat you."
"We'll see." Dante confidently boasted.
He brother turned to go upstairs. "Oh, and did you enjoy the free show last night?" His twin stopped.
"Somewhat contradictory you've become, brother. You'll kill certain humans for revenge, then treat another so affectionately, so passionately." He stared down at his brother. "I'm interested in seeing how you progress further. Maybe you'll embrace our father's heritage after all…" He continued up the stairs.
"So, I hear dip shit's back in town." Jose murmured at the end of the bar.
"Now are we sure that's him and not his fuckin' asshole brother?" Johnny asked.
"Nah, it's him." Eddy replied as he poured a customer a shot. "Cop was in here yesterday rantin' and ravin' about it."
"They goin' after him?" Another asked.
"I mean, I don't know what the fuck they think they're gonna do if they try. Like they're gonna just walk up and slap the cuffs on him."
"They kinda got close before."
"Well, according to my source…"
"Here he goes with his fuckin' sources again."
"It was a perfect storm of events, and it still didn't work. I think they'll lay off for awhile."
"Hell, they can't even hold shit down with these demons and gangsters." Eddy said.
"Speaking of which, are we any farther along in getting rid of all those demon fucks?"
"Nope. Matter of fact we're farther behind according to the news." Eddy replied.
"Great."
"I honestly don't even give a shit."
"You'll give a shit when a few of 'em come bustin' through your door."
"Jose, demons target heavily populated urban areas. This is the fuckin boondocks. There isn't even a gas station for twenty miles. They don't just go wandering off into the woods. And even if they did," He pulled out his shotgun. "I got shit covered."
"Wow, one man with a shotgun. Hope there's no more than two."
"Fuck you."
Chance's mole quickly searched throughout the evidence room, looking frantically for anything related to the Trappers. He had already been extremely useful in the short time he'd been inside. It was a huge return on investment in that it took minimal effort to get him in; simple identity theft of an incoming officer transferred from another station since there were plenty due to the rising conflict, followed by his murder, a few photo ID changes by professionals Chance knew, and his mole was in.
The mole found out who was buying the demons from the Trappers, and that while the cops were in league with the Trappers, they weren't in league with the buyers. Chance, his few top men, the police chief and his top sergeant were the only ones who knew.
And while Chance did not yet want to expose the buyers, he could get evidence linking the cops to the Trappers and thus could either hold it over their heads or land them a crippling blow. Chance figured it best to play the bluff rather than get the FBI involved. While the feds would have made the cops' lives miserable, so too would they Chance's. And amidst the demons, the cops, the buyers, and Dante, Chance decided it best not to incorporate another group of assholes with guns. Controlling the cops with the mere fear of federal involvement would serve his purpose much better.
However, he had to first obtain the evidence, and make sure the cops didn't know that he knew who the buyers were. If they found out, the cops would focus all of their efforts in taking down Chance because once Chance would give up the buyers, the buyers would give up the police because they knew the police had protected the Trappers.
Chance was close. His mole was about to get the evidence he needed. But unfortunately, eyes were on.
"Smith!" The police chief startled the mole. "What are you doing in the evidence room without my authorization?"
"Sorry chief, I was just getting… um…"
"Um? I don't think we keep any of that in here, Smith. Must be something else you're looking for."
"It's just some drug evidence for another case."
"We haven't made any major drug busts since you've been here." The chief stepped towards the mole, who was now silent. A few other officers including the chief's top sergeant made their way into the room.
"Ya' know, Smith…" The chief started. "We were taking a look at your profile from the station back in Newark… gotta' say, your profile photo and prints look awfully different."
One of the officers handed him a manila folder that he then threw down at the mole's feet.
"I mean, this yours, isn't it?"
The mole looked down, then was greeted with a nightstick over his head by one of the officers. Two more picked him up off the ground and dragged him out of the evidence room and towards the interrogation room.
"You think we're stupid, huh?" The police chief blurted. "Well don't worry, we'll gain plenty of knowledge from you."
On the way, they had passed three windows in view of the bridge. As the mole was in front of the fourth, the glass shattered and he collapsed.
"What the fuck?!" The sergeant said.
"Anyone shot?" The chief asked.
"No, just him!" One of the officers pointed to the mole, who was lying there motionless in a pool of blood.
The chief looked out the window to see the glimmer of light shine off the scope.
"That son of a bitch!"
In an attempt to make sure his mole didn't spill the beans, Chance instructed his marksman to get a vantage point on the police station. He knew when his mole was supposed to infiltrate the evidence room, and figured that it could go south. Chance was all about covering the angles.
"There goes any information." One of the officers groaned.
"I say we just kill this Chance asshole now." Another added.
"Sure, go right on and take down his 100+ soldiers, idiot."
"Well what the fuck? This is bullshit."
"What's bullshit?" The chief snapped.
"Getting our asses kicked by everyone; the demons, Chance, and now Dante. Shit, we should at least kill him and finish what we started."
"Well, that would be much more feasible if you all didn't waste every last drop of tranquilizer we had on the demons." The sergeant said.
"You talk as if it's squirrel hunting. How about you get the fuck out there and start shootin', instead of sitting in here all day with the chief."
"He, as well as the rest of you pricks will do what the fuck I tell you to!" The chief raised his voice. The last thing he needed was a corps of mutinous officers. "Now all of you get the hell out there. Find that son of a bitch sniper and watch for any demons. They haven't attacked in a few days, which indicates a giant shit storm on the horizon. Sergeant, make sure dispatch has S.W.A.T. on standby."
"Yes chief. The rest of you men, fall out."
The officers slowly walked away.
"You'd better get this disdain shit under control." The chief pointed at his sergeant and exited the room.
A tired Lady made her way up the stairs of her apartment building. She hadn't seen any demons for the day, and started to wonder what was keeping them. She figured the next day would be much more active.
Making her way into her apartment, she noticed that Trish and Vergil were gone. She went into the living room to find Dante sleeping on the couch. She sighed and shook her head.
"Get up, lazy."
The hybrid cursed and shifted around.
"Dante,"
"Gah, what, I'm trying to sleep."
"When aren't you?" She smiled. "Where's Trish?"
"She's still not back?"
"Would I be asking you if she was?"
"Is Vergil still here?"
"I don't think so."
"… Probably still looking for some demons. I know I barely found shit."
"Hope it doesn't mean anything."
"Like what?" Dante sat up.
"I don't know. Coordinated attack, maybe?"
"Maybe. I don't think demons are that smart."
"If there's more powerful ones coming through like you said…"
"Could be." He looked up at her. "Come here." He smiled.
She returned the smile and sat down, cuddling up next to him. He put his arm her and pulled her in close, letting her head rest on his chest.
"When do you think it'll be over?" She asked softly.
"Hell, I thought we determined it never would." He repeatedly stroked her hair. "But we'll get through it."
"Are you worried about your brother?"
"No, and you shouldn't be either." He looked down into her eyes. "I won't let anything happen to you, Lady."
In the past, Lady would have immediately slapped Dante in the face and blurted, "I don't need your damn help!" However, she knew this was something he meant. It was a true promise. She could see it in his eyes. He'd lost too many that he'd cared for in his mother and Patty, and he wasn't about to lose Lady..
She reached up to pull him down for a soft kiss.
"I know."
The two fell asleep in each others arms.
"Biker got found out." Ricky told Chance the bad news about his mole.
"Well, it was gonna' happen eventually." He put out his cigarette. "I trust it was taken care of..."
"Tony got him. Good thinking putting him out there."
"I knew Biker'd get caught."
"Why'd you send him in then?"
"Because he had worn out his usefulness save for that. Aside from the buyers' identity and some attack strategies he didn't get us much. Had to give him a shot."
"You still want to try to get that evidence?"
"Yes. Without it we have nothing on the cops."
"What is the evidence anyway?"
"Amethyst recorded every phone call he made to the cops when they were protecting them. Used it as leverage so the cops wouldn't fuck him over. Biker told me the cops scooped his recorder and recording equipment and stuffed it in the evidence room. We get that recorder, they're ours."
"What about the buyers?"
"… We'll manipulate that information to our advantage. I have a feeling it'll be revealed sooner rather than later anyways."
"Right. Anything else you need me to do?"
"Actually, there is something…"
Alright, this chapter was kind of an explanative/suspense building preliminary chapter to the craziness I have coming. I will tell you that the next few chapters will bring back the action and will get extremely involved. Will probably be a bit longer than this. I would have had this up earlier, but between 18 credits this semester, 25 hours a week at the shit hole, 3 other fucking alumni football games I got convinced into playing in, and getting my next and last semester of college set up, I don't have time for shit. I just thank God the election's over. Sick of all these fucking idiots who think they're political scientists blabbering on and on as if I or anyone else gives a shit about their political stance. But I digress. Hope you enjoyed this, and stay tuned!
"You haven't seen the boys around have you? We have a couple questions for them."
"I got a question for you, Randy! You know'm sayin', Free Willy. Does cheeseburgers ever blow out yer blow hole, you know'm sayin'? Peace!"
PEACE!