Sixclaw
Chapter 39
HOVERCRAFT
A storm raged over the southwestern ocean, drenching everything with rainfall. But Sixclaw and her fellow "diplomats" were inside a hovercraft that Coggs had assured them, was watertight.
"I don't think this thing is watertight." said Crabfang, his voice filtered through a black mask that covered from the bridge of his nose to his lower jaw.
"Relax, Crabs. Coggs said it was watertight, so it's watertight." Sixclaw was sprawled sideways across two seats, trying to catch up on sleep.
"Are you blind?!" rumbled Crabfang. "There is a leak right there."
"Don't give a damn." said One-Eye. "It'll get us to the Bullet Farm, leak or no leak."
Deyna was fairly relaxed. In fact, the otter was as relaxed as could be, for some beast who just found out that the world is a lot bigger than he had previously thought. "How can any of this be real?" muttered the warrior.
THE BULLET FARM
"Woah!" exclaimed Sixclaw, all dignity forgotten. Outside the storm, there was an island covered in trees, but instead of green blooms on top of the trunks, the trees were covered in silver. The ground was dark gray and had the texture of sand. Ash, perhaps? thought Sixclaw. No, it's gotta be gunpowder. This was not hard to figure out, as the whole island reeked of gunpowder.
When Sixclaw got out of the plane, they were greeted by a large water rat, who clutched an ostentatious gold plated semi-automatic rifle in one claw, along with two guards who wielded standard issue LMGs.
"Give me one reason why you don't get shot right now." said the rat, pointing his rifle at One-Eye.
"Because we want to make a deal." said Sixclaw, stepping in front of the barrel.
"Oh really?" said the rat. "You know who funds us, and you and I both know what will happen if we double-cross our employer."
"If everything goes according to plan, she will be dead by the end of the week." said Deyna, who immediately regretted giving away part of the plan.
"Well if that be the case…" the rat switched off the safety catch on his rifle and fired a large caliber, organically grown bullet at One-Eye. The round embedded itself in the wildcat's armor, sticking right above the heart.
One-Eye looked down, and locked his claws around the projectile. The wildcat pulled it out with effort, dropping it on the landing pad beneath their feet. "Shooting a potential business partner? I'm surprised at you!'' He grabbed the barrel of the gun and wrenched the weapon out of the rat's hands.
"The Queen offered us wealth and power, how could we refuse?" said the water rat, who seemed to have contracted the shivers.
"Ah, but Sixclaw here offers you life." said One-Eye, who's scarred visage was split in a cruel smirk.
"Deal." said the water rat, sticking out a claw.
"No deal." said Sixclaw, drawing two ivory sabres and plunging them into the water rat's chest. "I was talking to you two." said the cat, gesturing to the two guards.
"But we are guards! We cannot agree to any of your terms." said one of the guards, a fox with a scar on the side of his neck.
One-Eye rolled his single working eye. "Do you take us to be fools? I count three gold tailrings, and unless I'm not mistaken, that scar is synthetic. You and your partner are the Bullet Farmers, and have adopted these pathetic disguises to discreetly check for weaponry. Please, raise your game or hire someone intelligent."
"You caught us." said the other guard, an identical fox. "Now, to the negotiations." The Skullian envoys followed the two foxes off the shuttle and into the large building.
"We bioengineered the trees on this island, giving them specific minerals and changing their genetic code to turn the fruit and leaves to projectiles." said one of the Bullet Farmers.
"This island once made a ballistic missile, payload and all. Took about a year to grow, but was evidently worth it to the Skullians."
"I remember that one." chimed in Sixclaw. "The city contractors had quite the job fixing the crater that one caused."
"That was a real mess," said One-Eye. "The launch was scheduled a month later, but Longtail got impatient and launched it himself thirty-something days ahead of schedule."
"Good times, eh?" said one of the Bullet Farmers.
One-Eye let out a genuinely happy smile. "You could say that."
Suddenly, Crabfang's long range communicator buzzed. "Speak of the devil." the feral cat accepted the call, and Longtail's raspy voice filled the hallway.
"They've attacked, and we need you here as soon as possible."
"The hellgates are you talking about?" said Deyna, elbowing his way up to the communicator.
"We need all the help we can get. The war has begun."