Chapter 14: Ally Search in Steelport

In the private quarters, a very lucky girl was bathing in a pool within the private quarters. As she looked around, taking in the sights and sounds of this hellish place, she could see garish architecture of horrible and haunting designs. Minion statues would glare at her with empty threats as the gloom of unnatural light colored the wide spaces of this Gothic chamber. At least there was a water-proofed remote control that could change the channels of the angled widescreen television hanging above the pool, despite how out-of-place the remote and widescreen TV was in this environment. The newscaster, named Callahan Callahan, described the events of the sudden appearance of a giant glowing hot metal ball with a bloody smudge on it that was rolling around town. Apparently, it rolled out of The Syndicate building and caused mayhem and severe damage to the city as it knocked into buildings, cars, and people.

January was lucky indeed, but she doesn't know what kind of fate will occur to her once it starts unfolding further. Gnarl was nice enough to put her here, but she could do without the lecherous stares of the minion caretakers, no matter how much they say they wouldn't peek. At least the minions provided a swimsuit, or 'bathing suit' as she would prefer to call it, that she requested. Despite the fact that one would normally bathe naked, a bathing suit wouldn't be necessary for such an activity. Still, she believes some kind of cover is preferred over being naked and ogled at by perverted bystanders. The water was cool, and it served as an oasis of comfort in this warm environment, the air itself heavy and laced with volcanic fumes.

She sunk into the bathing pool and silently exhaled. At least she was safe. For the moment.

Hard metal clanked onto the decorated stone flooring from a distance, and this sound escalated in volume while the echos receded. Looking up from the pool, she saw The Overlord in all his metaled glory approached her. Her breathing had stopped completely when he came toward her, fearful of the fate that she believes might come to pass. Was she going to be punished?

He leaned forward and gazed down at her with condescending eyes, glowing with a sliver of yellow. "... So this is where Gnarl had placed you?"

January swore that she felt like she was shrinking in the water. "Uh... Yeah. The water was cold, so uh... I asked the minions to get me a bathing suit."

"Hrumph. Leave it to Gnarl to give attention to a pretty girl." The overlord said, shaking his head and face-palming. "You have ten minutes to get dressed and get out of my private quarters. If you're not ready at that time, I'm going to throw you off the balcony."

"Uh... Y-you really wouldn't do that to a lil' girl like me, right?"

The overlord leaned down and stared at January again, giving her a silent answer.

"... Um... O-okay. I'll get dressed and get out of your way." She looked around for a brief moment. "... Where are my clothes?!"

The overlord exhaled, a sigh escaping his throat while he pointed at a direction. "He has them."

January looked up and... found a brown minion wearing her bra as a hat while sitting on her clothes in a messy pile. The minion was amusing himself by stretching the pink panties and silently laughing. Apparently, he found something more amusing to accompany his time and forgot that he was supposed to sweep the floor. January stared at this minion for a few seconds before turning to the overlord. "Can I have permission to beat up that particular minion?" She asked.

The overlord stared bemusedly at January for a few seconds before he answered. "... I'll give you twenty minutes to get dressed."

"Thank you." January said, getting out of the pool of water and gingerly wringing her hair before wrapping it in a towel.

Once she left the water and got her hair wrapped, she slowly walked toward the minion that was playing with her clothes and underthings. The minion paid no mind to her until she stood right next to him, and the minion finally took notice when he noticed gorgeous bare legs in his peripheral vision. He looked at the long legs for a couple seconds before looking further up to the wide hips, then to the firm belly, then to the breasts that were taught within her bathing suit, and then onto January's face. Her face emoted between resting-bitch-face and contemptuous anger. After a pause of approximately eight seconds, the minion held up her underwear. "You want?"

January moved her leg forward and placed a foot onto the minion's chest and gently pushed him to the ground. After the minion was resting on his back, January firmly and gently straddled him. The minion's eyes widened in excitement as this happened. She reached toward his arms and held his hands by the wrists, bringing his arms together above his head. "I want you to lay down."

A dumbfounded and excited smile stretched onto the minion's face, no doubt perversely thinking naughty thoughts. January then casually reached behind herself to grab something out of his view. Once she came back with the object, the minion saw that she was unscrewing the sweep from the broomstick he carried. Once the sweeper was off, January struck the minion with the sweepless broomstick and broke it in half! "UAGH! Aaaauuuhhhh..." The blow struck hard on the minion's head, giving him a concussion and made him unfocused.

January then took the broken broomstick halves and started beating up the minion she mounted, punishing him severely. "AND! I! WANT! YOU! TO! NEVER! EVER! FUCKIN'! TOUCH! MY! THINGS! YOU! DAMN! DIRTY! MINION!" After a minute or two of constant beating, January stood up and exhaled contently, and collected her clothes that the minion was rolling in and wearing. January then proceeded into the overlord's bedroom with her clothes in her arms. After saying the words "Get out." to the minions in there, they hurriedly scuttled out faster than expected.

The minion that was bludgeoned with his own broomstick was still alive, but a collection of minions slowly congregated around him. They chuckled as they prodded and kicked his body.

"Hehehe, looky like Krump got dumped." "No, Krump gots played. She are sneaksy like greens!" "Funny. She no looks like a green." "Human lady is not minion, so she obviously not greensy." "Yah yah, but she played Krump good." "How is being smacked with broomstick being played with?" "It look very fun! Krump got to be played with by pretty pink lady!" "Looks likes it hurts a lot." "He be's wishings he's killied after minions in burrows learns he played with pink dancer lady." "I are already jealous! Krump had fun time with pink lady!" "Is Krump dead? He look like he be a little killy." "No, he not dead. What was it that they call this again? Afterglow?" "He are not look glowy." "That because Krump got knocked in head lots." "Hah! Then pink lady beat Krump enough to make him sleepies! Gnarl not like it when someone sleeps on job!" "I'ma tattle! I'ma tattle!" "yeah. We's tattle to everyone in borrows about Krump having fun. Minions then get lots jealous of Krump, and they beat him up lots too!" "I hope pink lady plays with me like that~." "But then yous gets beaten up by other minions too!" "Yah. But I saw how she jiggle when she played with Krump." "Jiggle? Ooh~!" "Me like jiggly things~."

January shivered in disgust as she dressed herself, eavesdropping on their conversation all the while. No matter how good it felt to exact some revenge on a pervert, these minions were on a whole other level.

Once Carlon was certain that the girl in his private quarters received the command to dress up and get out, he proceeded downstairs and came back to the throne room. Why Gnarl had decided to put her in his private quarters was beyond him. In fact, a wrought iron cage would be an acceptable alternative than simply leaving her in the decadence of his personal living area! At least she has around... nineteen minutes or so until he would come up there and deal with her personally. She was supposed to be under the care of the elite minion squad after all. "Gnarl." Carlon called out. "Is The Syndicate building thoroughly searched by the special forces group yet?"

The ancient minion peered through his magic mirror, no doubt being vigilant in surveying the elite minion squad's actions. "They are working hard, my lord. A minion that hardly works often means that they don't have an overlord to give them purpose."

"Heh. I'm still surprised that minions are that subservient. But I suppose that is something to appreciate when when you are evil." Carlon said.

"Indeed." Gnarl said, staring at the magic mirror.

"... Anyway, how about our 'other' guest. How is he faring?"

Gnarl turned away from his mirror. "Ah, Oleg. Giblet and his assistant is taking longer than expected, but I'm sure that they have finished taking in his measurements, and is now starting to make several clay molds for his armor and weapon parts. It should be about another hour before Giblet gets his armor and weapon of choice ready."

"Grand." Carlon remembered that Oleg wasn't too reticent about his feelings when the giant agreed to join him. Despite being against the idea of wearing custom armor made just for him, Carlon was insistent on giving him some form of protection. Oleg was now partnered with The Overlord and his forces of evil, and Carlon would not see the day that a lieutenant was not properly protected.

And speaking of Oleg. "I suppose I have some time to kill before the little brown welder makes my armor. However, I don't know why you insist on making me my own set of custom armor." Oleg said. Currently, he was wearing a custom tailored suit of giant make. How he got that, Carlon would never know.

"It's simple, really. You said you'd help me get rid of The Syndicate, and I freed you because you have the look of a man that is true to his word. This is but one step of many of me, helping you, to help me." Carlon explained.

Oleg nodded. "I see."

Carlon gestured to Oleg. "Think of it like... An initiation bonus. Or a present in a gift basket. You may don it however you like, such as during ceremonies, Halloween holiday celebrations, birthdays, things like that."

Oleg raised an eyebrow to Carlon. "And you wear that armor all the time?"

Carlon scoffed. "Well... Not ALL the time. I just wear it a lot since I never had the need to sleep."

"Is that some kind of magic induced insomnia, or some type of anti-sleep spell?"

"Hahaha, ah no. Gnarl's special eye acid has the power to keep one from sleeping. But other than that, true evil never sleeps."

"... I'm starting to feel that I may have regrets about being indebted to you." Oleg hesitantly said.

Carlon turned away from Oleg and went to Gnarl. "As the expression goes, 'the devil is in the details'."

Gnarl decided to cut into the conversation. "Pardon me, but can you two remain quiet for a few seconds? I need to concentrate on what the squad is trying to tell me." After a pause in the conversation, Gnarl nodded and went on with his business. "Now then. What were you trying to report to me, Mud?"

"Rake said that he found something! He tell Mud that it hidden in basement. He says it very hard to break into. Rake says it a secret door!"

"Rather perplexing. I suppose it should bear some further investigation. Is Coot with Rake?"

"Uh... No. Coot is... Doing important mission right now! Toppy top secret!"

"Mud." Gnarl said condescendingly.

"What?"

"Standing in a toilet is not important to our mission."

"Uh... Really?"

"Get Coot and bring him to Rake. With the both of them together, perhaps we can get this secret door to reveal its secrets to us."

Carlon knelt down to get a better look at Gnarl's magic mirror. Oleg gazed down at the small walnut and seemed perplexed. "Hmm... You seem to be quite different from the other drekavacs around here."

Gnarl turned to Oleg. "Drekavats? YA ne prosto prostoy goblin russkoy skazki. YA master min'ona! Sluga nashemu temnomu lordu."

Oleg tilted his head and placed a hand on his chin. "Khm. Vash russkiy nemnogo stranno. No tem ne meneye, ya nemnogo udivlen, chto vy znayete, moy yazyk!"

Carlon looked at Oleg and Gnarl. "... Uh. Hey. I don't mean to be rude, but... Can we talk in English while we're within the presence of an overlord? Namely: Me?"

Gnarl bowed before his master. "Apologies, sire. It won't happen again."

Oleg looked like he was amused by Gnarl's knowledge of the Russian language. "As I said before, you are quite different from the other drek... I mean... Min'ony."

"Gnarl! Yoohoo! Mud got Coot and Rake together."

"Ah, excellent!" Gnarl said, returning to his perusing of his magic mirror. "Now Coot. Can you tell me why Rake is having difficulty trying to enter through this secret door Mud mentioned?"

Coot's voice came through the mirror. "Why did you need me here, minion master Gnarl?"

"So that you can identify the door and see why Rake has failed to crack it open." Gnarl replied.

"Stand by. Looks like this door was hidden by some carefully placed rotating bookcases. Hmm... Oh. Huh! Hmm. Mm. Rmh. Gah. Sorry Gnarl, but this door is titanium enforced, and the keypad is protected and wired into the door."

"Can't you, oh I don't know, hack into it?"

"I may be the smartest blue minion, but I don't know how to hack into technology. Electricity and my damp fingers don't really mix well together."

Gnarl slumped forward, his mirror making gentle contact with the ground and dragging on it. "Oh blast it! This technological age is too confusing to understand! If only we know of a tech-savvy individual that can assist us in this dilemma!"

"We could just enslave some Morningstar lieutenants, and ask who might know about the door's password." Carlon suggested.

"That is a good suggestion, sire, but I'm afraid with the lingering Morningstar lieutenants we DO find might not even know about that door's password! And the lieutenants you did find in this building is very much dead anyway."

Carlon sighed.

"Actually, I know of some people that can help. I can take you to them." Oleg announced.

Carlon and Gnarl turned to the giant of a man and stared at him with piqued curiosity.

In yet another night in Steelport, Carlon emerged from the darkness of the night and lead his horde of minions to another mission. He shifted his shoulders around and looked back on his gaggle of ghoulish soldiers. He wasn't sure what number of minions he wanted to bring with him, but the boat on the pier troubled him. It has the capability to seat seven people at once, but he knew that if the minions behaved, he could fit three to a seat, eight on the back seat, and perhaps five or eight to sit between the seats. The driver's seat would have to be occupied by him, since he doesn't trust a minion to drive him around. That should amount to a total of twenty two or twenty five minions coming with him.

"Alright Gnarl. As much as I regret saving people from a perilous fate, Oleg believes that we need these people. Who is the first lucky sap?" Carlon grumbled.

Gnarl replied to Carlon's question. "A woman called Kinzie Kensington is currently detained by a group called the Deckers. As we have gone over in our mission briefing, they are holding the lass on board a barge. They are currently anchored and... vulnerable. The watercraft before you will take you to them."

Carlon sighed, getting into the boat. "Five from each of the brown, red, and green tribes, get on the boat. I need seven blues getting on too. As for the rest of you, go back home."

The twenty two minions that Carlon requested got themselves onto Carlon's boat, while the remaining twenty seven of them walked away with heads hung low. "Aw. Me wanted to come with." "I knows. I too." "Weh."

Once the minions were in the watercraft, he turned towards all of them. "Don't rock the boat, or you'll fall out and into the water. So, whatever you do, don't go swimming unless you're a blue minion. But don't get off unless I say. Got it?" Once the minions behind him gave a thumbs up, nodded, or took hold of the seat they were in, Carlon jammed his thumb into the ignition and activated the boat. "Anything else I should know about this Kinzie person, Gnarl?"

"Oleg has informed me that she used to work for the Central Intelligence Agency, or simply CIA as many people would call them! She was apparently fired from her old job when she tried to present evidence of The Syndicate's criminal actions. The Deckers found a method to have her fired from her position, and she is now in their care."

"Hmm. Ex-CIA. That might be useful. But more importantly, I don't think I messed with the Deckers personally before." Carlon said, driving the boat to the location where this Kinzie person was supposedly located.

"Remember those preening teens dressed in those black and blue leather jackets outside our apartment? Apparently, THOSE are the Deckers."

"Really now?" Carlon said. A barge in the distance was coming into view. He took a deep breath before he growled his next words. "Then I think it's about time I 'educate' these kids."

In the room where the helm and communications were located, a red-haired woman in an blue FBI jacket and wearing a purple hoodie underneath, was laying on the ground. Her hands and feet were tied together, making her escape impossible. There were no tears for her to cry. She would not let her captors see her weakness. But here she lied, completely at their mercy and unable to do a thing. The Deckers thought that they were clever, having her fired from her old job and then stealing her away during an ambush she had not expected. She made the grave mistake of underestimating these cyber-punks and was now going to drown in the Steelport City river.

Guns broke the silence, prompting Kinzie to look up wildly and around herself. She could see that there were five, perhaps six or more, Decker goons around her. Judging from their expressions, something unexpected had came up.

"What the fuck? You hear that?" "You mean the gunshots that everyone here also heard? Yeah." "Oh shit, I hope it ain't the popo." "No, I don't think it is. They usually blast their sirens. It's, like, protocol for them or something." "The gunshots are getting closer, though." "Huh, right. How about we all go and check it out?" "What about the nerd?" "I'll stay behind." "Okay then. You stay while we go check it out." "Got it!"

One of the guards stayed behind, while the other guards left to investigate the noise. Gunfire from nearby barked and drowned out the gunfire from the distance, but one could assume that the gunshots from the distance were merely silenced by the unknown party. However, the nearby gunfire silenced as well with new sounds drowning them out. The sounds of manic screaming and melee combat.

"Uh... What the shit?" The lone cyber-punk said as he backed away from the only door into the barge's helm. But then a ball of fire flew through the only entrance in the room and struck the last of the Decker guards. Kinzie looked up from her perspective and saw that the Decker guarding her was flailing around madly as his face resembled a fresh burn victim from a burn ward. Kinzie looked toward her right to find something she thought she would never see in a lifetime.

Several ghoulish creatures filtered into the room and assailed the Decker guard, striking him with their weapons ceaselessly as they swarmed him. The yellowish-brown skinned monsters were around the height of a person with dwarfism, but they had long arms and stocky torsos that gave them a very odd appearance. They had large, glowing yellow eyes fixed upon scabbed faces and pointed, long ears, some of which looked like they were chewed on. These short monsters wore various equipment that was undoubtedly looted from their enemies and whatever house they targeted, but some also seemed to be equipped with armor that was undoubtedly made for them. They had the resemblance of a goblin from many number of fantasy novels, films, and video games. Once they were done with their prey, Kinzie counted five of these monsters and finally recognized them when they were still enough for her to get a good look.

Minions. They had to be minions. One turned toward her and cocked his head.

"Hurh? You no look like dick men." "They called Decker men, dumby!" "Why she all tieds up like that? Did she have fun-time?" "No. If it was fun-time, she be's more nakey. And on bed." "It not fun-time now, Daks! We needs to killy Dick men!" "Decker men, dumby!"

"That's enough out of you lot. Do you go by the name of Kinzie Kensington?" Kinzie turned her head and found another dreaded sight. A tall man in shiny armor towered over her, his armor glistening in the night as his eyes glowed a white, silvery color. The armor he wore was not of a knight's make, but something so much more foreboding and menacing, and spiked with gold tipped thorns. After two seconds of hesitation, she finally decided to give this man her reply.

"Yep."

The giant metaled man, of which she knew that he went by the title of Overlord, shifted his stance and leaned forward. "... You know, it is customary to thank someone when they have prevented your doom."

Kinzie didn't change her expression. "I'm still waiting to see if you plan to kill me."

"A sensible outlook in your situation. However, despite your pragmatism, someone says that you have abilities I could use. Abilities that can be used against The Syndicate." The metal man said, leaning down further and untying her bonds. Kinzie slowly got up and rubbed her wrists, looking up at the overlord in wonderment and surprise. A pregnant pause hung in the air before the overlord spoke again. "If you want to take down The Syndicate, join me. I will assume that you will agree to help me if you accept my offer to take you to shore first."

Kinzie was still very much dumbfounded at this point, but she knew what her answer was.

"You know about the next person I'm rescuing? What was his name? Zimmer, or something?" Carlon replied, getting off of the buat, followed by his minions.

"Well, the DeWynters are keeping Zimos at Safeword." Kinzie replied.

When Carlon had anchored the boat he commandeered to the nearest pier, he turned to Kinzie that was petting at one of his minions, gently tugging at one of its ears. "Excuse me?" Carlon said incredulously.

Kinzie patted the minion's head before properly explaining to Carlon. "The DeWynters are the twin sisters that run the prostitution in Steelport. Zimos was their competition, so the sisters locked him up. And Safeword is just a BDSM club that caters to acts of perversion. The name comes from wh-"

"Okay, I'll have to stop you there. I'd rather have my minions focused rather than getting distracted on a mission." Carlon said.

"Well... Okay. I'll tell you my safeword later." Kinzie said, looking downtrodden.

"Master. I know it's not any of my business, but could you ask her what her safeword is? For... Uh... Completely scientific reasons?" Gnarl pleaded.

Carlon made a fist with his left hand and banged the side of his helmet, making Gnarl screech as a result. The ringing noise pained Carlon's ears, but it also had the effect of hurting Gnarl's ears too. Kinzie stared at Carlon curiously. "... Did you just tried to swat at a bee and hit your head on accident?"

"No." Carlon groaned, speaking slightly louder than usual. "My adviser was just pestering me for something."

Kinzie's eyes grew slightly wider. "The overlord of Stilwater has an adviser. Is he talking to you through your helmet radio?"

"More like a magic radio." Carlon explained.

"There is no such thing as magic." Kinzie replied.

"Explain why my minions exist then." Carlon countered.

Kinzie paused for several seconds before she could answer. "... I'll get back to you on that."

Carlon sighed and turned to his minions. "...Alright. I need my greens front and center." Carlon said, holding up his left gauntlet to his horde. Green minions stood in front of the minion horde of twenty two. "Guard Kinzie. If she moves, you move with her. Coot's squad is going to join you to take her to the netherworld tower, and you may return with her. She is NOT to be harmed. Gnarl. Get Mud's squad and get the delivery in place."

"As you command, my lord!"

The greens looked at each other for a split second before facing their master and nodded, looking crestfallen with their new task. Kinzie decided to interrupt, her eyes wide with manic surprise. "Wait. Netherworld? THE netherworld? The one that is located under Stilwater city?"

Carlon turned to Kinzie and shook his head. "Don't sound so distressed. You are to be treated as one of my guests. Gnarl will see to that."

"Your adviser, I assume?"

"You'll know when you see him. Later." Carlon said, turning away and placing his left hand onto the side of his helm. "Gnarl. Is Mud's squad in place?"

"The second group is currently standing by, my lord. Ow. My ears." Gnarl complained.

Carlon nodded and proceeded to his mission, while Kinzie waited with the greens that were now her personal bodyguards. She refrained from touching them since they smelled so awful.

In a darkened dungeon, many other men and women stood next to one another in silent vigil. Many of them payed good money to be here, being nothing more but toys to their masters amusement, pulling them around willingly and braying mightily when it suited their fantasies. Such fetishes were hard to imagine as pleasurable by others of uncorrupted views, but the DeWynter sisters had jumped to the opportunity and used such a deprived means of travel and made a buck of it. In this part of town owned by the DeWynter sisters, sex is business.

But some of the 'ponies' down here in the pony barn was not there of his or her own consent. One in particular was called Zimos, whose pride has been broken by the DeWynter sisters, and is the oldest pimp in the city of Steelport. But now... He pulls around a pony cart for the benefit of others. He wore leather straps and two ball straps on his mouth and neck. At least he was thankful about keeping his pimp hat with this degrading getup.

Gunfire and yelling broke the silence of the pony barn in the basement. The other men and women looked at one another in confusion, but some had masks that prevented them from seeing and simply stood where they are and listened intently.

When short, goblinoid creatures entered the basement, followed by a tall, armored man in evil looking armor, many of the 'ponies' backed away and held their breath.

"What this place?" "I dunno." "Is this are where the pony barn is?" "I no see ponies though. Just humies." "Aw! I wanted to play with ponies." "We find ponies later. We need find Zimos." "That are funny name. Think he be here with these humies?"

A booming voice broke the chatter of the smaller monsters, emanating from the armored man with glowing eyes. "Step forward if your name is Zimos! If I find out you're lying, I'll break your legs." Zimos was hesitant, but he didn't want his legs to be broken. He took a few tentative steps forward, uncertain if this man really would break the legs of the other 'ponies' here, or break his own if he decided to not step forward and lie. The armored man looked his way and he could feel his silvery eyes judging him. Zimos recognized this armored man as the infamous Overlord of Stilwater. The overlord strode forward to Zimos and looked at him up and down. "... Shit. I think I'll be doing you a favor getting you out of here."

Zimos exhaled in relief. He didn't know that the knight in shining armor that would save him would be this evil asshole. But at least it was an asshole that seemed sympathetic to his current burden.

"They went this way!"

Carlon turned his head and sighed. "Grah. I could do with a few good greens right about now. Browns, go and play with the people following us! Reds, you're hanging on the back of that cart! Blues, you're helping with pulling the cart!"

Carlon walked behind Zimos and sat on the pony cart he was tied to, while the blue skinned goblins surrounded Zimos. Were they really assisting him? "HMnnnf?" A blue minion looked up at him and grinned a sharp-toothed, but friendly, smile.

"Sorry about this, Zimos, but you'll have to pull me and my minions out of here. Andale!"

"Mmmmmmn!" Zimos whinnied and complained. If he had to do this embarrassing act one more time as a means to earn his freedom, he would gladly do so. But the added weight of an armored man and the several red imps on the cart proved to be a bitch to pull around. But at least the 'blues' as the overlord called them, made things easier, despite how weak they looked, with the obscene pink lighting outside lighting their way.

And it was thanks to a plan that Carlon had thought up to make good on their escape.

A nearby semi-truck had been parked at the front of the BDSM establishment. The Peterliner, unknown to the Morningstar, was actually commandeered by a select group of minions that was ferrying special cargo with them.

Once Carlon made his escape out of the building with the help of Zimos and the blue minions, they were quickly set upon by Morningstar guards patrolling outside the front gate of Safeword. In fact, some of the Morningstar guards managed to get on two pony carts to chase after their intruders! Carlon cursed under his breath since he knew he wasted nearly all of his ammo and magic when fighting on the barge and in this depraved building. "Mastah! I found a shooty thingy! Can I breaks it?" A blue minion said, holding up a K-8 Krukov in his wet claws.

After a quick glance, he noticed that the blue minion found that weapon in a side compartment he didn't see before. After another perusal of that hidden side compartment... "Oh fuck yes." Carlon quickly snatched the Krukov from the blue and started aiming the new weapon at the forces wanting to stop his abscond. "GNARL! SIGNAL MUD NOW!" A split second later and the semi-truck's trailer door erupted open with a flock of minions! They looked around wildly before they spotted their master and ran after him, their small legs barely able to keep up. "MINIONS! FOCUS ON THAT CART!" Carlon yelled, pointing at one of the pony carts that was chasing him. The minions amassed their numbers and flung at the opportunity,swarming and overwhelming Carlon's pursuers. Carlon opted to aim at the other pony cart and shoot off the Morningstar pursuers that chased after him.

"Hahaha, well done my lord!" Gnarl praised. "Now that you are sufficiently away from that sinful palace of pleasure, perhaps we can now un-strap the ball straps from this, eh... strapping lad?"

"Here's good to stop, Zimos." Carlon said. Zimos replied by going to the curb and parking himself there. Once they were stopped, the blues and reds with Zimos and Carlon and the backup horde surrounded them, whilst Carlon had relieved Zimos from his purpose of being a pony cart puller. Once Zimos began undoing the ball straps on his mouth and... throat hole? ... Zimos turned around and pilfered into the pony cart's side compartment. Carlon decided to break the silence again. "... You uh... Looking for something?"

Zimos got out a silver cane with a microphone on the top and held it next to his throat. "I'm just getting my voice box~. I need it in order to talk~."

Carlon raised his eyebrow. An auto-tune voice box? "... Huh."

"This is a rescue, right~? Because this is too weird to be an elaborate set up for a gang bang~." Zimos said, making sure to keep his distance from the minions.

Carlon scoffed. "I think the minions would prefer a more female creature for such an activity. And speaking of females, Kinzie is currently with us." Gnarl chuckled.

"Wow! You look at the overlord like this all the time? Kinda feels like I'm looking in the perspective of a third person shooter."

Zimos stepped forward. "I'll go with rescue then~. I'd shake your hand, but these floors are a little sticky if you know what I'm sayin'~."

Carlon nodded. "I'll uh... Be sure to point you to where some moist towlets can be sold. But not right now. I'll need to talk to some people." Zimos nodded and backed away, whilst Carlon placed his left hand on the side of his helmet again. "Kinzie. I can hear you, so don't think about talking ill of me."

"Oh! No, I wasn't planning that. At least not with your uh... adviser in earshot." Kinzie said.

"Don't be a devious minx, my dear. We're all newly acquainted friends here!" Gnarl replied.

"Not done talking, scrotum-face. Anyway, forgot to say thanks for freeing me."

Carlon sighed softly. "About damn time. And uh... You're welcome."

"I took some time to find another person to help you. His name is Angel De LaMuerte, he was Killbane's tag team partner until he went crazy."

"... Which one?" Carlon asked.

"I should probably look into that. The point is: Angel hates Killbane more than you do... He should be willing to help."

"What's Angel's location?" Carlon asked, wondering who this Angel person is.

"That's the tricky part... The Luchadores are attacking him at the gym right now, you should probably hurry before he gets killed."

"By the abyss. I have to start going there now!"

"That's your fault for asking too many questions. I'd hurry up, you're on the clock."

"Gnarl. Contact Mud to bring the Peterliner around. We're gonna need it."

Gnarl took his turn to talk. "At once, sire. Mud! Have Bill drive to the masters position! He is in need of the semi-truck. M-hmm. Good. Sire, the truck is now coming to your position within a minute."

Carlon nodded and turned around to face Zimos. "Perhaps those towlets can wait for a bit. Want to help me kill some Luchadores?"

"Thanks playa~. I'll help you as a token of appreciation for bustin' me out~." Zimos said, nodding his head and smiling grandly.

"Great to know. But uh... please remember: Towlets after."

The semi-truck that had the trailer full of minions bust out of it came round the corner and came to a stop in front of Carlon, Zimos, and the minions. A window rolled down to reveal a minion with a riot helmet with a purple flag with a red cross on top of it. "Master! Mud and Bill is here!"

"Vacate the truck, I'm driving." Carlon said, jutting his thumb for the minions in the vehicle to get out. Carlon turned to his horde, of which now consisted of... twenty browns, fifteen reds, ten greens and seventeen blues. A total of sixty two minions. "Five of the weakest reds and seven of the weakest blues, return to the netherworld tower. Zimos. Get in. Were going to a gym."

Zimos raised an eyebrow. "Hmm~. Maybe I can get a shower there~."

Two men struggled with one another within a dilapidated building. Several workout equipment lay around this place, suffering from years of rust and neglect. There were several spots in the ceiling where rain would leak through, the smell of molding now already scenting the air with decay. But the main focus was of the two men fighting with one another.

One man was wearing a Luchadore mask, and was wrestling a man in black wrestling tights that are torn, yellow combat boots, and a hoodie with a gym emblem on it. The man wearing the hoodie was overwhelming the Luchadore, and had flung his opponent by using his legs. He turned around quickly to find that his opponent stopped moving, and he assumed that he had one this battle.

But the war against his most hated enemy, his once-been tag partner named Killbane, was far from over.

Footsteps echoed within the dilapidated gym. This had prompted the victor to turn and investigate the new sounds that were approaching him. He turned to see four unusual sights. From descending order of greatest to least in surprising was a brute that was wearing the suit. Next was the man in wicked looking armor, which had silvery glowing eyes. Then there was the midget sized goblins that seemed to follow the armored man around. And lastly was the gimp carrying around a silver microphone cane. He stared at the suited brute. "You're not one of Loren's brutes."

"Oh how droll. Way to go, pointing out the obvious!" Gnarl hissed.

Oleg decided to return the comment, pointing at the one they assumed was Angel. "And you're not one of Killbane's Luchadores..."

The screeching sound of cars stopping in the distance broke the awkward silence. Carlon sighed as he brought out his Krukov. "We can address the elephants in the room later. Oleg, I thank you for joining us in fighting those Luchadores and that brute outside. Want to stick around?"

"Might as well." Oleg replied, cracking his knuckles and getting into a combative stance. As the wrestler, pimp, giant, and overlord with his minion horde prepared for the worst to come, a brute in a tank top appeared from the entrance into the gym. Once it saw its targets near the wrestling ring, the simple-minded ogre of a man made a determined charge towards them. Oleg stepped forward and started charging at the brute. "Leave this impostor to me."

Zimos decided to voice his opinion as he began firing on the Luchadores that was filtering into the building. "What, that means everyone else is on us~?"

Carlon shrugged his shoulders and strode forward. "Minions. Wait here." The Luchadores noticed the armored man that was coming toward him and immediately fired upon his person. An aura surrounded him as he approached, which seemed to reduce the damage he received from his attackers. One the overlord was in range, he then summoned forth another spell, which seared the flesh of the Luchadores in quick fashion, killing them within seconds as they combusted. Once he was sure that the foes in the entryway was dealt with, Carlon turned and walked back to the ruined wrestling ring.

Despite the agape amazement that Zimos was experiencing, something more urgent gained his attention. "What the fuck is that guy carrying~?!" Zimos shouted as he redirected his aim to shoot at a different target.

Carlon heard Zimos' exclaimed question and decided to walk to him to see what he was referring to. Carlon gritted his teeth when he saw it. "Abyss! Mini-gun brute above us!"

The brute swiveled his mini-gun over the balcony and unloaded his weapon to his enemies on the lower floor, and started laughing maniacally and insanely. He bellowed as he continued his onslaught to his foes, his lead raining down on everyone. "You are so small! It's funny to me!"

Carlon ducked away under the balcony and waited out the storm of bullets. This was the absolute worst situation that he had ever got himself in! Even if Carlon decided to turn on his sanctuary spell and approach the mini-gun toting brute, he would be severely wounded from the brash attack as he calculated that the damage would deal a savage blow to his mana supply. Not only that, the brute has the altitude advantage, which would take Carlon longer to figure out a way to get up to him! For once, Carlon felt as though his magic was finally trumped by technology. With no way to get up to the brute, all Carlon could do was fire potshots and hope that his cover holds. Of course, he had been in worse spots than this, but that was when he had a netherworld gate to draw strength from.

The brute then did something completely stupid. He jumped off of the balcony and landed a floor down. On the floor Carlon and his allies were on. Carlon gave the brute three seconds of deadpan staring before summoning his slow spell. "MINIONS! ATTACK!"

The minions Carlon was keeping out of the mini-gun brute's range was now in getting closer so that their melee would be in range, but the brute was now too slow to quickly counterattack his new problem. The brown minions savagely struck the stupid brute at his arms and knees, the greens aiming at his neck and face with as much determination that they could muster, while the reds tossed and pitched their fire from a safe distance and the blues... they helped. After ten seconds of sustained combat, the minions finally took down the monster down to size. One of such minions held up a metal shoulder pad and decided that it was going to be his new hat.

Zimos sighed in relief as he slowly emerged from the cover of what looked to be some sort of... fat burning machine? Or was it a slot machine? Carlon was not sure if this gym in particular was actually a gym. Zimos spoke during the chaos. "You gonna pick up that fuckin' gun, or what~?"

"It's a bit big for me."

Suddenly, two brutes came into the main chamber from behind them. Angel decided to bark out his piece during the firefight. "Be careful, they have flamethrowers!"

"... But then again, there's a first time for everything!" Carlon said, reaching down for the mini-gun and heaving it's impressive weight up. After figuring out where the firing triggers were located, Carlon fired off a few rounds to test its power before giving orders to his minions. "ATTACK THAT BRUTE NOW!" After seeing his minions rushing toward one of the brutes with ecstatic glee, Carlon aimed the massive death machine to the other flamer brute and unleashed hell. "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-!" As the minions and Zimos focused on one flamer brute, Carlon, Angel and Oleg focused on the other. The fuel tank of the brute that Carlon was currently fighting ended up exploding, killing the brute in the process. The minions and Zimos focused on their target, eventually downing the frightening enemy seconds later. "-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-!" Carlon was still firing his mini-gun at the flamer brute's corpse, even when it was already dead.

"Overlord, stop!" Oleg shouted amidst the cacophonous rapid fire of Carlon's mini-gun. "He's dead!"

"-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaahhhhhhh... Holy fucking shit, I think I have a new favorite weapon." Carlon said, the ammo for the weapon already depleted.

Carlon dropped the mini-gun and felt his fingers tremble with numbness and twitching sensations. He finally took a breath and exhaled slowly. "Uh oh. He looks like a kid in a candy emporium all of a sudden." Kinzie teased.

"Oh hush you." Gnarl reprimanded. "Return to the netherworld, sire. I believe everyone is in need of some recuperation."

Carlon nodded, turning away and leaving the spent mini-gun. "Right. Oleg, Zimos, Angel! We're leaving!"

A tall, muscled man in a black shirt and a luchadore mask paced behind three people. His anger reverberated through the air, despite the face that much of his face was hidden by a mask. Kiki, Viola and Matt sat in solemn silence as Killbane fumed. The silence was soon broken by his furiously voiced announcement. "Well, ladies and gentlemen. Phillipe is dead and we are at a crossroads. And the question is: who will lead The Syndicate to a new era?"

Matt Miller decided to voice his opinion. "Viola and Kiki were Mr. Loren's right hands. Shouldn't they be the one's who-"

He was rewarded with a chair in the face. Killbane straightened his tie after punishing the black lipsticked leader of the Deckers. "I had someone else in mind."

"Excuse me?" One of the DeWynter sisters exclaimed, who wore white glasses.

"THE BARBARIANS ARE AT THE GATE! WE NEED A GENERAL, NOT AN AMBASSADOR!" Killbane roared at the offending DeWynter sister.

"Calm down, Eddie..." The pink glassed girl calmly replied.

Killbane turned around and narrowed his eyes at the other sister. "... What did you call me?"

"... What'd you like us to do, Killbane?" Said the white glassed sister.

"Something. Anything! Before I wonder why I keep you bookends around. I'm going to set up an attack. Come up with a plan before I return." Killbane growled, hitting the table aggressively and leaving the room right after.

The DeWynter sisters wanted to bring up the topic concerning the overlord's stolen treasures, but they were too intimidated by Killbane's anger that they had forgotten to brought it up completely.

A/N: Decided to forgo the bridge battle. Gotta keep in mind of all the paradoxes that are floating around in this story! Anyway, with the short break over, I think I'll return to this story for a time. :3