"You understand the specifics of the job?" A voice, modulated came through the speaker.
"And in return, all debts will be cleared?" The unmistakable voice of the Emperor reached their ears.
"Si. All debts, and we'll also make sure that your entire crew will travel through Iberian lands unmolested."
Emperor adjusted his sunglasses. "And the package?"
"As per our original agreement, there would be no questioning the contents of the cargo. The only thing of import is its delivery. Are we clear?"
"Crystal." And with that, Emperor dropped the call.
"I don't like this." Texas opined as she took a chocolate covered wafer stick and munched on it.
"This job's got bad news written all over it." Croissant added sipping on her beer.
"Boss, Sora's ready and waiting by the docks." Exusiai chimed in as she happily ate her favored snack, her fingers working on her communicator.
Pinching his forehead, Emperor gave a mixture of a sigh and grunt. "Got no choice, if we don't smooth things out with the Iberian Cartel, we'll have a whole mess of trouble down the line."
"In any case, the transportation and cargo -whatever it is- are ready." Texas thumbed to back of the warehouse they were in.
Further in the building a truck sat waiting, a small cargo container attached to it. To further discourage anyone nosy enough, several bolts and stern looking lock was attached. At the very least, they would not be able to investigate the contents they were supposed to deliver without their clientele getting wise.
"Alright then, let's pack up and get going. Our route will take us through a checkpoint." Emperor groused pointing at a key point on a map of Siesta.
"Wouldn't it be better to find a way around the police?" Texas asked.
"None that wouldn't arouse too much suspicion." The penguin answered.
"Means that the boss got an in." Exusia chuckled.
"You think we can sell some items to the guys at the checkpoint while we're there?" Croissant wondered.
"Quit your yapping you three and let's get moving. We're burning daylight." The leader of the logistics team ordered.
"But Boss…. it's already nighttime." The resident Sankta opined.
The warehouse was filled with the sound of chuckles and grumbles.
The drive through Siesta was calming. A few cars here and there showed that the city still had a form of life after dark. Lampposts provided an almost hypnotic rhythm to vehicles moving through the streets. And the salty air coming from the ocean reflecting the starlit night sky painted a scenic picture for passengers to look at.
Soon enough, the team of four arrived at the checkpoint.
So far, so good. Emperor was already taking the lead in chatting with the guards, dodging a question here, an omission of truth there. And for the three females with him, they understood the veiled conversation he was having -the price the guards were setting for the team to get through unmolested-.
"Disculpe," A soft, demure voice caught the attention of Exusiai. To the side, near the pedestrian entrance of the checkpoint, a Lupo woman dressed as a maid was talking to one of the other guards. In her hands she held an umbrella and by her side, a rather sizeable suitcase sat innocently.
She spoke in hushed tones. Her long, braided hair, her rounded spectacles, and her shabby clothing gave her an air of naiveite.
Of course, they also noticed the leer she was receiving. The guards were no doubt planning to take advantage of the woman.
"Not our problem," Texas softly admonished from behind the wheel.
"I know, I know." Exusiai replied as she leaned back.
It was unfortunate, but they were on a job. And for now, that took precedence.
Besides….
"And I told you…!" Emperor's raising voicing was starting to be a concern.
It looks like negotiations with local law enforcement were starting to fail.
"Croissant." Texas didn't need to say anything more. The Minos carefully began position herself to grab their boss if it was necessary.
Another minute of arguing and the building tension finally reached its tipping point, and a loud gun shot rang into the night.
Albeit, the source was unexpected.
Turning their heads around, everyone (Emperor and the guards he had been arguing with) saw the body of a guard flung back, denting the boom barrier. His body filled with bleeding holes, a look of surprise etched on his face.
And standing in as she was before was the Lupo maid. In her hands, the same umbrella was pointing towards the now rapidly cooling corpse. Nobody missed the fact the tip of the umbrella was smoking.
"Croissant!" Another wordless order from Texas and Croissant had quickly opened the door of the truck before scooping their boss in. And once their boss of a penguin was safely in their hands, Texas floored it.
Bullets started to fly, some at them, and others at the maid. And as they drove further away, explosions started to light up the scene.
"Damn." Emperor cursed as he straightened himself in his seat.
"Well, that went better than expected." Croissant's sarcasm was not lost, and her wide and aggravating smile did little to improve the mood.
"Imbeciles were trying to wring us dry." Emperor complained. "Texas, how much further are we from the docks?"
"At our current speed we should be there in a few minutes provided we're not caught by the police." Texas eyes flickered to the rearview mirror. "Exusiai, we got a tail."
"On it!" Gleefully rolling down the window, the red head poked her head out only to bring it back in twice as fast. "Whew, that was close!" The Sankta laughed, blood trickling her cheek from where a bullet grazed her face.
"Texas, evasive maneuvers! Exusiai, take a shot when you can! Croissant, get Sora on the horn. Tell her to warm up the engines to get us out of here as soon we hit the docks!" Their boss ordered.
And like a well-oiled machine, the members of Penguin Logistics started to show why their reputation was well earned.
And behind them, the hum of a motorcycle got louder and louder.
But if you were to listen carefully, below the drone of the machinery, below the rushing air, the growl of a wolf made its presence known.
She gunned the engine on the motorbike she had taken. Her target was trying to escape.
Already the truck had jumped onto the opposite lane and was beginning to weave through the incoming traffic.
As she continued her hunt she had lowered her frame. Bullets were once again being sent her way.
"Apple Pie!" The Sankta laughed gleefully as her automatic weapon opened fire.
She gritted her teeth, she wouldn't lose them. She couldn't lose them.
And as she returned fire with the pistol in her hand, her mind recited her creed.
A blessing for the living.
She swerved to the side to dodge another burst of fire.
A flower for the dead.
Accelerating to be side-by-side with the truck.
With the sword of justice, a punishment of death to evildoers.
She slowed down again, dodging another burst of fire from a rather large penguin.
And we will arrive at the altar of saints.
Something small and round was tossed from the truck as beams of light begun to descend on her position.
The world around her went white and she became enshrouded in heat and flame.
Sora couldn't help but hum a tune as she waited patiently. She had the grand task of securing a cargo plane for their package. Engines primed and ready for takeoff, she tapped her finger to the beat waiting for her companions.
Croissant had already sent a message and it looks like the mission had started to go belly up.
"And it looks like things got a lot worse." She opined to herself.
The reason? A chain of explosions getting closer and closer.
Soon enough, the gate to the docks was broken down as her teammates arrived in a truck as was expected. She didn't expect, however, for the back of the truck to be on fire.
A figure leapt from the back of the truck and cushioned its fall by rolling onto the pavement.
As for the truck, it barely slowed down. The vehicle made an abrupt turn before falling onto its side. Angry sparks screeched into existence as the automobile crashed into other cargo containers.
Grabbing her microphone and her laptop, Sora started to hack her way into the dock's wireless loudspeakers.
And people said that there was nothing to do at Siesta in the dead of night.
It didn't take them along to the members of Penguin Logistics to regain their bearings. The heat of the flames, the smoke slowly filling the inside of the vehicle, the aches of their bodies, adrenaline did wonders in getting them to move.
Croissant was the first to get out. Not surprising given she was the most physically oriented of the team. Pushing the door open she immediately started to haul the others out.
First was Texas who was already in the process of shaking off the unsteadiness that came from the crash. Next was Exusiai, "Hmmmm….. Apple Pie…." She mumbled.
"Snap out of it, Exusiai!" Emperor was last but not the least as he helped push their halo sporting companion out of the truck.
"Croissant, check the cargo." With Emperor attending to Exusiai and Texas already on her feet, the Minos obliged the order form her boss. Thankfully, the crash had been enough to damage the lock to container they were delivering. She could work with that.
"Boss." Texas called out and the hair on everyone's neck started to stand.
Already on her feet, moonlight glinting off her glasses. It was the maid from the checkpoint. With almost nary a scratch on her she stood in front of them a pistol in her hand. Her gaze was laser focused, like a hound that had caught the scent of its prey. She walked - - no, stalked towards them.
Slowly, they raised their hands in the universal motion of surrender.
"Boss!" Croissant called out from the back of the truck. Her cry was tinged with surprise and perhaps a little fear.
And as the orange haired member of the team stepped out into the open, everyone's eyes trained on her and what - - who - - she was carrying.
"Bison?" Emperor couldn't believe that their cargo was the son of the founder of MountainDash Logistics. The penguin could feel a migraine forming.
"Master!"
Correction, the migraine came in with full force not unlike Croissant's hammer. Their hunter was familiar with the young Pides and was concerned for his safety.
Already, the maid was taking Bison from Croissant and laying him on the ground. The young Minos groaned as he slowly regained consciousness.
"Roberta?" His eyes slowly focused on the face of the bespectacled maid.
Concern, relief, and happiness oozed from the maid's face. "Yes, I'm here, Master. I'm here to take you back home."
"What happened?" Sitting up Bison looked around. "Where are we?"
"You're in Siesta, kid." Looking at his side, Bison couldn't help but be surprised. "Mr. Emperor?"
Taking a puff from a cigarette he just lighted, Emperor waddled forward. "Looks like things are a lot more complicated than I thought."
"Told ya this job was bad news, Boss." Croissant chimed.
"Shut it." Emperor shushed his employee.
"It looks like the Iberian Cartel had kidnapped you and tasked us with delivering you to them." Texas explained as she started to help and awakening Exusiai up.
"This stinks of something bigger." Emperor added. "We got a string of jobs that landed us here in Siesta. Then the Iberian Cartel -who we've been having problems with lately- asks us to make a delivery in exchange for a clean slate. Something doesn't add up."
"And I don't see how that is concern of yours…. Emperor." Floodlights had opened, momentarily blinding the members of Penguin Logistics.
"Rafael Delgado…. I might have known." Returning the greeting, Emperor noted the many firearms trained on them courtesy of the Iberian Cartel members.
"I recall that the contract specifically mentioned that you do not open the container and inspect its cargo." A slender Aegir in a checkered business suit step forward. A slick moustache, a grin that was just mocking them, and a glint of greed in his eye, this was a man was the posterchild for cartoon villain cliché.
"Tell me Rafael, does Vasquez know what you're doing?" Taking another puff and adjusting his glasses, Emperor stood tall and unintimidated.
"Do you actually expect me to answer your question, pendejo?" Rafael sneered at the question.
Taking another drag of the cigarette, Emperor just shrugged. "You're right. I'm just stalling."
"What?" The confusion on the cartel member's face morphed into drowsiness as a familiar voice started to fill the air.
"Texas! Croissant!" Drawing his sidearm, Emperor took aim.
"Let's go." With an affirmative from Texas, the Lupo drew her blade and charged forward.
"H'all righty!" Following her teammate, Croissant brought forth her hammer and shield.
"Roberta, if you would." And softly, and in direct opposition to Emperor's gruff orders, Bison asked the Lupo maid as he was helped up.
"Of course, my Master." With a loving smile, Roberta turned around with pistol in hand. "After all," she continued and her smile turned sinister. Her blood began to sing at the prospect of the hunt. "I swore in the name of Santa Maria to smite the unrighteous with my iron hammer."
Notes:
Crossover with Black Lagoon. Character in question, Rosarita Cisneros (a.k.a. Roberta).