The Ho Boat
It was noon at the Saints HQ. Vince had just gotten up after the wild night he had. He was drugged, shot at, and to top it off, went through all of this completely naked. Though he was a bit upset with Zimos for this, he realized that this plan worked. It wasn't long until the Saints had started to take over Safeword. He even texted some of his soldiers to start guarding the place. The next step was to renovate the place.
But he felt that the fight against the Morningstar wasn't done. Sure, he knew that he should try going after the Deckers and Luchadores next, but ever since he and the rest of the Saints came to Steelport, the Morningstar was the main thorn on their side. He even wondered if three years back, when Shaundi informed of a deal with the Brotherhood and some European organization at Wardill Airport if it was them.
He got up and went to take a shower. Oleg went to help Kinzie out on her own stuff. Angel didn't take part in too much of their activity, at least not when it involved the Morningstar or the Deckers. Johnny and Pierce went to go handle some other things. Like before, Shaundi was the only one left at the HQ.
After Vince got out of the shower, he had wrapped a towel around his waist to help finish getting ready.
"Hey, Vince, I…," a female voice said. Vince looked up and saw Shaundi standing by a door. She went full stop, her eyes widened, and her mouth opened a tad as she gazed at the sight of her leader's muscular frame, with his pectorals and abdominals visible, along with some tattoos on him.
"Oh, hey, Shaundi, is something wrong?" Vince said in a calm fashion.
"Oh, just wanted to see what you were up to," Shaundi said.
"Well, you could have knocked," Vince said.
"I know, it's just that I didn't expect to see you like this," Shaundi said.
"I see," Vince said and walked over to the closet. "Let me put some clothes on and then we'll talk."
"Okay," Shaundi said and she walked out of the room, but as soon Vince's back was turned, she leaned in a bit to take a peek at him once again. Not like looks and body type was that important, especially with her promiscuous past and seeing as she had slept with Veteran Child, Derek, and Zimos in the past, it seemed that she didn't have a type. But right now, she felt a bit funny at this sight and she had seen him in a state of undress before. So why was she feeling this way?
Vince had put on a white Saints letterman jacket with some jeans and a plain black T-shirt underneath. He also grabbed a pair of sunglasses.
"So, Shaundi," Vince said. "I was wondering about some of our old homies and contacts back in Stilwater. I was wondering if any of them could help."
"Who do you mean?" Shaundi said.
"Well, I was wondering if Tobias could try to help us sometime," Vince said. "Yes, I know Pierce could fly a helicopter sometimes and we know some other helicopter pilots, but I was wondering if he could come down and help us."
"Well, I guess he could," Shaundi said. "I talked to him a bit recently. He and Laura are still doing their thing, especially with Richie. One of Laura's kids is in their senior year and another has started high school as well, so a lot of their business is on Tobias and Richie right now as she is trying to help her kids. I could see if he should help us."
"Cool, anyway, I got to go help out Zimos again," Vince said. "We're closing in on the Morningstar. This could be it for us and then we move on the other two gangs in the Syndicate. You can come along if you want."
"Not right now," Shaundi said.
"Well, if shit gets heavy, I'll call you," Vince said. "I'll call you if I find something."
Shaundi nodded and watched him leave. It was weird. She wondered if she felt something for him deep down, but she never really expressed it. In some ways, she felt a bit of some sexual tension with Pierce, but he was often into his own stuff. Johnny, well she did care a lot about him, enough to want to avenge his death, but she wasn't sure if he was completely over Aisha's death. However, lately she had wondered about Vince.
But right now, she needed to see about contacting someone, as she felt that the Saints were getting into something big.
Vince had exited the elevator in the garage and went for his Phoenix, as he had acquired one rather recently. He got out his phone and went for the one person he needed to call.
"Hey, Playa,"Zimos said.
"Zimos, I need you to tell me how to hit the Morningstar," Vince said.
"I can probably come up with somethin', when do you want this by?" Zimos said.
"Right now," Vince said.
"Shit, you don't make it easy," Zimos said.
"Never said I would," Vince said.
"All right, come get me and we'll…," Zimos said.
Vince heard a sound and looked on his screen. It appeared that an unsaved number came up on the screen.
"Hold on a sec, Z," Vince said. "Someone's calling."
Vince clicked over. "Hello?"
A female voice said, "I don't have much time, so listen carefully. There's a container of girls being brought into Steelport by ship to replace the ones the Morningstar lost raiding the Saints, as well as the Saints taking some from them. I've sent you which ship they're on."
"Who is this?" Vince said.
"Do what you want with them, I don't care," the woman said.
"I'm not doing shit until you tell me who you are," Vince said.
"Viola DeWynter, formerly of the Morningstar."
"Wait, what?" Vince said and the call quickly ended. Zimos's call was back online.
"Zimos, change of plan," Vince said. "Get Pierce and Johnny, we got a boat to catch."
"Whatever you say, see you in a bit," Zimos said.
Vince got into his Phoenix and was headed off to the docks in Salander. He put it on K-Rhyme FM, as "Respect" from Tha Dogg Pound started playing. That station did sometimes play some old school rap and this was one of those days.
The question on his mind was why this woman was helping him out. He even wondered if he heard her correctly when she said "formerly of the Morningstar." In either case, he was ready to put more of a hurt on them now and then tie up any loose ends later, but first things first.
It was the afternoon. Vince had arrived to the docks and got out a pair of binoculars to get a good look of the ship that out at sea. It wasn't far from them. Zimos was close by, but Vince was told that Pierce and Johnny would arrive by chopper when needed.
"Lot a pussy on that thing," Zimos said when he walked up beside Vince.
A hobo came up to both men asking them for a cigarette, with Zimos having a cigarette of his own and putting it in the hole on his neck and signaled to the hobo to go away.
"And once it's ours, the Morningstar's sex operation is done," Vince said.
Through Vince's vision, several Morningstar soldiers stood near some crates, armed, with one woman sitting on the floor crying, and another being shoved into a crate.
"How you gonna move all the bitches?" Zimos said.
"Eh, just let me worry about that," Vince said. "Now let's go, I want to meet my new employees."
Vince and Zimos walked away, as Vince handed the binoculars to the hobo, who was looking through the wrong end.
Vince saw a Shark jet-ski near the docks. He got on, while Zimos sat behind him.
"Just need to say this, Z," Vince said. "Maybe these girls won't try to kill us."
"See, you had to bring that up again," Zimos said.
"Crazy bitches with guns are memorable," Vince said.
Vince started up the jet-ski and they were off to the boat. It was quite a distance from the docks to the boat.
"You taking your time gettin' there?" Zimos said.
"You want to drive this thing?" Vince said.
"Hey, just checkin', baby," Zimos said.
At the speed they traveled, it wasn't long until the reached the ramp to get on the boat. Sure, they had to step into the water before going up, but that was expected. They ran up to the main deck and saw a lot of the Morningstar crawling around close the crates.
"Hey, once you find the girls, send 'em to me," Zimos said. "I'll keep 'em safe."
"I'm sure you will," Vince said.
Vince saw a Morningstar soldier at the top of a stack of crates. Man, why is he open like that?
He wasted no time in getting out his D4TH Blossom submachine gun that was hanging on his back and blasted that guy and watched as his body fell off the stack. Another soldier came out and Zimos blasted him with his Grave Digger shotgun.
"This place will be crawling with assholes," Vince said. "Man, if only I had more support with me."
"Pierce and Johnny should be here soon, playa," Zimos said.
Now it was time to check the crates. The first crate was right close to port. Vince went forth and opened it and saw that it was nothing but weapons inside.
"They certainly stock up," Vince said. "I think I'll take a few of these."
Vince picked up a few magazines just in case he needed to reload. He also picked up a K-8 if he needed to switch between that and his D4TH. Some of the other crates seemed locked, except for one. He opened it and saw that there were more arms in there, as well as extra ammunition and frag grenades if needed.
"There they are!" a couple of Morningstar soldiers came running towards the two Saints and quickly opened fire.
Zimos ran behind a crate as a hail of gunfire went his way. Vince dropped to avoid a few shots coming towards him. While he was on the floor, he let out five shots to the soldier's legs, with blood spraying out of the limbs as the man shrieked from the pain.
The man dropped to the ground and the gun was right close to him. But Vince kicked the gun out of the way and looked down at the man.
"I'm usually not this nice, depending on the situation, but I thought maybe I could cut you a break," Vince said.
Vince walked away and the man looked on like he was shocked that he let him live, even though he may not walk again.
Vince walked around the crates and heard a growl coming out of one of them. He went forth and found another unlocked crate and opened it, only to find a machine with some dildos close by.
"What the hell are these for?" Vince said.
Close by, a sound was heard of a woman pleading to be let out through a crate. Vince figured that was a crate with women inside. He went up to that particular crate and opened it up and saw two women who were cowering. They were dressed rather provocatively.
One of them looked and said, "Thank you, kind stranger."
"You're welcome," Vince said. "Stay by the guy with the big 'Z.'"
Zimos walked up to the two ladies and gave them the "come on" signal.
"Come on, baby, follow the Z," Zimos said.
The two women walked out, with their hands close to their faces and their bodies trembling at what just happened to them. Zimos guided the two ladies to follow him. Vince went back to go check out some of the crates on the ship.
A few more Morningstar soldiers ran out with weapons drawn, ready to open fire. BOOM! A blast had occurred. Vince stood right before the explosion as he let out a few shots to a pile of missiles that were close to some rockets. But more growling was heard from a crate. The doors to said crate burst open, as a brute came out and started running towards Vince.
"Shit, who the fuck who put him in a box?!" Vince yelled.
He saw another stack of missiles right by that crate and quickly shot at them, causing another explosion. But it wasn't enough to take down that brute. He knew that it took a lot to take down those things. It made him wonder if any brute he came across were the remnants of Loren's cloning operation. After all, the Saints blew up the Syndicate Tower.
The brute was in flames and picked up an oil drum and threw it, but missed. Vince unloaded an entire magazine on him, until the brute dropped to one knee.
This always does the trick. Vince got out a frag grenade and ran towards him, pulled the pin off and shoved the grenade right into the brute's mouth and kicked him down. BOOM! The brute's head blew off, blood came out of where the head used to be, as well as splattered over some of the other crates the floor.
Vince heard some more female voices. More of the Morningstar came after him. Though the crates were made of metal, it wasn't a guarantee that the bullets wouldn't go through the crates. So he pistol-whipped a soldier and turned around, got out a flash-bang grenade that he picked up inside that crate and dropped it, causing a big flash. He went for the one in that was in front of him and grabbed him by the head and hurled it right towards a crate. He went for another who was ready to flank him and grabbed him and went close to starboard. He picked him up and threw him over the deck and he fell into the water. Whether the guy could swim was none of his concern. He just wanted him out of the way.
He opened it up. Saw two more women with the same level of emotion that the previous two felt. One of them looked up at him.
"Thank you for freeing me," one of them said.
Zimos was behind him with the other two women from before.
"Get moving and stay with him," Vince said.
Zimos signaled to the two women. "I'll keep you safe, sugar."
Vince opened another crate. Inside was a bed of some sort, like an operating table, maybe for kink or maybe torture.
"These guys are fucked up," Vince said.
He saw that more crates were on this boat. Some were even on higher deck as there were flights of stairs present. He went up. Another crate burst open. This time the brute was packing heat.
Fuck me. Vince thought.
The brute quickly started firing his mini-gun. Vince found a couple of more frag grenades that he picked up and had in his jacket. He pulled the pins from both of them and chucked them at the brute. The explosions incapacitated him a bit and went forth to open fire before the brute started shooting. He fired at the head until the brute dropped. Vince looked down. The brute didn't move. More female voices were heard close by. He went right for that crate and opened it.
One woman looked up as she knelt close to a woman who was lying down. She gave a laugh of relief.
"I'm actually free!" the woman said.
"Stick with us, you'll be safe!" Vince said.
Like before, Zimos guided the two women.
"Damn, ain't you a fine little thing," Zimos said.
Vince went up the stairs and saw more crates. "Jesus, how many crates did they bring in?"
He opened one crate, more weapons and ammo.
Now we're talkin'. He thought.
He opened another. He saw a weird sex toy with some kind of fist action.
This is like my freshman dorm. He thought.
But at the end, close to the foreword of the ship, more female voices were heard. This had to be the last set of women to be picked up.
"We better load these bitches up before your boys get here," Zimos said.
"Got it," Vince said and opened up the crate.
He turned to the women inside and also the women with Zimos.
"You want out of here, you get in the crate," Vince said.
One of the women said, "I've been in there so long already. One day, I'll be free!"
Motors were heard close by, like boats and helicopters.
"They're comin' for the boat," Zimos said.
"I hear 'em," Vince said.
"Think I saw some big firepower layin' on those platforms on the sides," Zimos said. "Don't worry about me, I'll keep the ladies safe."
"On it, Z," Vince said. He ran forth to one of the platforms. He jumped the railing to head there as he saw a mini-gun lying there. He looked to his right. Helicopters, boats, jet-skis, they were on their way. Someone must have tipped off the Morningstar.
Damn, and I thought taking the Brotherhood's weapon shipment was bad. Vince thought.
Vince's phone rang. He pushed the button on his earpiece.
"I ain't getting' too close until it's clear down there," Pierce said.
"Is Johnny with you?" Vince said.
"Yeah, he's right here," Pierce said.
"Well, I'll clear them off, but if there's anyone left, tell him to clear them off as well," Vince said.
"Got it, Boss," Pierce said.
Vince's phone rang once again.
"Hey, Boss," Shaundi said.
"Hey, what's up?" Vince said.
"Just bringing in some extra support, I'm with him right now," Shaundi said.
"Whoa, whoa, hold up, what's going on?" Vince said.
"Tobias is flying the helicopter right now," Shaundi said. "Thought you needed extra support."
"He better not be high," Vince said. "I got shit to do right now. I'll let you know when it's clear."
The call ended. He stood on the platform on the port side. The vehicles were getting close. He quickly unloaded a lot of rounds to the boats, jet-skis, and any chopper flying towards them. He managed to down a few of the watercrafts, but the helicopters had snipers. He took down at least one, but heard some clanking sounds as some sniper bullets barely missed him.
Oh fuck. He thought. But he didn't give up. He continued to shoot at any aircraft and watercraft that was coming towards them. But more just kept coming. For a gang that was getting weaker by the day, they still had more resources.
Vince's phone rang once again. He answered.
"We're almost there," Pierce said. "Hold them off while we're coming in."
"We're on it, Pierce," Vince said.
"You think they ain't happy with us?" Zimos said as he stood close by.
"They'll get over it," Vince said.
Zimos went to the crate with the women inside.
"It's alright if you need to hold each other," Zimos said to the women. "We'll be out of here in no time."
More gunfire came out as the other helicopters caught fire and crashed into the boat and into the water below. He looked up and saw Johnny on the side of one chopper. He saw Shaundi on the side of the other chopper. He looked up. Both of his fellow Saints waved at him. He waved at them as well.
"Alright, Pierce, we're clear," Vince said.
"Let's load these hos up then and get the hell out of here," Pierce said.
The call ended. Vince looked around and saw Zimos down there trying to protect the ladies.
"Feels like these guys knew we were coming," Vince said.
"Morningstar always protect their shipment," Zimos said. "It ain't nothin' new."
"With this many guards?" Vince said.
"Like I always say, pussy's big business in this town," Zimos said.
"You got that right," Vince said.
A couple of helicopters flew their way. One was a cargo helicopter, which Pierce was flying with Johnny in the cockpit. He had the door open in case he had to do some shooting.
Zimos went to the helicopter Vince was going but kept an eye on the ladies as well.
"Here's the heli, time to go, ladies!" Zimos said.
Another helicopter, which was an Oppressor flew towards Vince. Shaundi rode in it, with a shirtless man flying it. He had dreadlocks and a helmet with a cannabis leaf on it.
"Hey, Boss, here I am," Shaundi said.
"Great timing," Vince said and climbed into the chopper. "Hey, Tobias."
"Hey, man," Tobias said.
"I brought you something," Shaundi said and got out an Annihilator RPG launcher.
"My favorite," Vince said.
"I have something with me," Shaundi said and got out an AR-55.
Zimos got into the cockpit with Tobias.
"Hey there, I'm Zimos."
"Hey, man, I'm Tobias, I helped out the Saints before."
"I see, anyway, you looking for a good time?" Zimos said. "I got me some fresh ladies here."
"Appreciate the offer, man, but I'm married," Tobias said.
"Oh I hear ya," Zimos said.
The other helicopter had hooked the crate. It was open. As it ascended, one of the ladies was hanging on for dear life as she held onto one of her fellow hooker's hands.
"Okay, let's go," Vince said and looked to Tobias. "Keep us close to Pierce."
"You got it, man," Tobias said.
Lucky for the ladies, the one who was hanging was successfully pulled into the crate. Unlucky for the Saints, however, more of the Morningstar awaited them to start going, as some boats were still at sea with soldiers wielding rocket launchers.
"Shit, are those rockets?" Pierce said. "Get them off me!"
From the other side of Pierce's helicopter, gunfire went downward as Johnny kept firing and firing at anybody who went their way.
"Just keep going, Shaundi and I'll take care of them," Vince said.
Vince fired at any boat that went towards Pierce's chopper. Shaundi did the same with her AR-55. Many of the boats blew up and sunk into the water.
Both choppers flew, except Tobias flew ahead of Pierce, who noticed more boats kept coming their way.
"Another group down there," Pierce said.
"We see 'em," Vince said.
He fired a rocket at one. Shaundi loaded another magazine into her rifle. She opened fire. It didn't matter if she hit a person or the boat, as long as it could lead to taking out the watercraft. Vince loaded another rocket and launched it at a boat.
"Why are they aiming at us?" Tobias said.
"Probably because they want us dead, just keep flying," Vince said.
"Okay, man, take it easy," Tobias said.
Vince, Johnny, and Shaundi kept firing at whoever went their way. Shaundi looked around and noticed a red laser going around.
"Oh shit, Boss!" Shaundi said.
"Fuck, snipers," Vince said and fired a rocket at one of the snipers close to a bridge.
"Pierce, hang a left!" Vince said.
"Are those APC's?" Pierce said.
"Don't worry, I'll get 'em off you," Vince said.
Vince found some more rocket-propelled grenades nearby and kept loaded them when necessary. He fired at any of them he could take down. The choppers turned left.
"Jesus, they're all over the damn roofs!" Pierce said.
"On it," Vince said and turned to Shaundi. "Get ready."
"You got it," Shaundi said and loaded another clip into the rifle.
"A little more cover'd be nice," Pierce said.
Vince and Shaundi fired at any Morningstar soldiers that were on the roofs. Some of them were snipers that were outside of the helicopters. Johnny even provided some fire from the other helicopter. Vince fired another rocket towards any helicopter. If he wasn't going to take down a sniper head on, the blast from the helicopter certainly will.
"Hey, Boss, Aimee and Rocco are bringing a truck, would this be a good place to meet them?" Pierce said.
Vince looked down and noticed the Ultor factory on Arapice Island. There were some open spots and seemed to be void of any Morningstar, despite knowing that was where the Luchadores rolled.
"This would be a good spot," Vince said. "Tell them to meet us at this place."
Vince's phone rang again. The call went through.
"You have something that belongs to me," a man with a British accent said.
"Who is this?" Vince said.
"Someone who is willing to bargain," the young man said. "Bring the girls back to the Morningstar and I'll pay you top dollar a head."
"I'll think about it," Vince said.
"That's all I'm asking," the young man said.
Zimos turned around. "What was that about?"
"The Morningstar want to buy their girls back," Vince said.
"I can't do my thing if I got no pussy to sell," Zimos said. "The money won't come quick, but you bet it'll come."
Shaundi looked at Vince, who nodded.
"Why have a famous Steelport pimp if we aren't using him," Vince said. "The girls are all yours, Z. Put 'em to good use."
The helicopters landed. Pierce's landed first, as the crate lowered. A BPS truck drove in. A young woman with pigtails and glasses came out, as well as an African-American man with a black and purple fedora and black and purple clothing came out. They were Aimee and Rocco.
The Oppressor landed. Everyone got out of their helicopters.
"Thanks for flying us, Tobias," Vince said.
"No problem," Tobias said. "I have flown through Steelport before. If you ever want another favor, just call. Now I got to go see Laura."
"Tell Laura I said hello and to send me some snickerdoodles sometime," Vince said.
"Will do," Tobias said and flew away.
"Wow, that was a trip," Shaundi said.
Johnny approached everyone.
"Damn, Boss, that was a hell of a rush," Johnny said. "It was a little uncomfortable where I was, though."
"Don't worry about it," Vince said.
Zimos guided the ladies to the truck.
"Hey, Boss," Saint Rocco said. "Aimee and I brought the truck. What do you say we roll with y'all?"
"You two can ride with them in the back, keep an eye on them," Vince said.
"Sure thing, Boss!" Aimee said.
"Hey, Boss," Johnny said. "Me, Pierce, and Shaundi will meet you guys back at the crib."
"All right, see you there," Vince said and headed to the cab of the truck, as did Zimos. They made their decision. They're taking the girls for themselves.
3 Count Casino Sport Book
Inside this area, Killbane paced in front of the TV, where Senator Monica Hughes was shown giving another address.
"What the hell were you thinking, Matty?" Killbane said.
"It just seemed like a waste to lose all those girls," Matt said, with Barry sitting next to him.
Killbane turned towards both men. "I am the general, I'm the czar, I'm the Walking Apocalypse, and I make the decisions, not you!"
Killbane paused and took a deep breath. "Besides, this is Barry's problem. You shouldn't stick your nose where it doesn't belong!"
Barry turned to look at Matt.
Killbane picked up a steel chair, ready to swing at Matt.
"My bad, mate," Matt said. "So what happens now?"
Killbane yelled. "We buckle down. We focus. We don't do a run-in, we hit 'em with a Montreal screw-job."
Killbane paused again. "Yeah, that's it, now listen up you two. We have a way to take down the Saints. We all need to work together on this."
On the TV screen, Senator Hughes continued her address. The headline read "Breaking: Senate in Favor of S. Con. Res. 187." Under the headline, it read, "Resolution passes unanimously; STAG to begin deploying troops immediately; Steelport under martial law."
Monica Hughes said, "And now, my esteemed colleagues, the time is now. We have deployed STAG to Steelport."
She received applause for that. It was now time for STAG to take on the gang problem that Steelport was suffering from.
Author's note: Wow, what a chapter this was. First and foremost, I wasn't initially planning on including Tobias in this story, but then the idea hit me. He could join in on some favors and stuff, but that's about it. I doubt I will have Laura appear, though I found her character funny as she was a typical housewife/soccer mom who was a nice woman, but dealt in drugs.
I thought it would be better to have the other Saints involved, even though there wasn't much dialogue for Johnny in this one.
As you can see, I am going to the STAG bit soon, but I am a bit on the fence as to how I should do it. Not so much on how things will go down, but what I should do first or if I should do them interchangeably. Feel free to PM me about it.
In the meantime, I will also tie up loose ends. Stay tuned.