Chapter 5: Aisha's Request.
October 1995 - Sunnyvale Gardens Private High School in Stilwater.
Hey Jack! Come along
Learn from the street now
You got to learn from the street
I say learn from the street
Then you'll find your way
Several days had passed since Jack officially joined the Saints and to say the least, he was obsessed with joining them to the point of sometimes skipping classes or sneaking out of his boarding school at night. This obviously did not escape Tyrone who saw his friend transforming but especially to see him tired so much he neglected his sleep in favour of his nightly trips.
That morning, Jack, or rather Nate, was dozing with his head resting on the palm of his hand. His previous day's outing had lasted into the wee hours of the morning and prevented him from sleeping, so he was naturally catching up on his classes.
- Nate! Nate, are you fucking asleep, man? Ty whispered to his friend while kicking him discreetly.
- Let me go..." he replied, without opening his eyes.
Unfortunately, this did not escape his teacher either, who slammed the table in front of his student, who was startled.
- Collins, aren't you interested in my class?
- Honestly, not really, Mr. Evans. It's actually quite boring," Jack replied, knowing full well that his answer was intolerable.
- So you take the door and don't come back here.
With a big smile, Jack got up and left the class, but this time he was met in the hallways by the principal who called him into his office. He knew the young man and his potential well, and he also had a fatherly attitude towards him, knowing that he was on edge.
- Nathan, you've been excluded from a class twice in a short time, can you explain?
- I had a headache, I closed my eyes for 30 seconds and Mr. Evans didn't like that.
- Other teachers also brought to my attention that you seemed really tired the last few days. You also lost your class stuff a couple of weeks ago, are you worried?
- No, I'm not.
- You can tell me about it, you know, I've known you for a long time now.
- I'm fine, I'm fine, I just haven't been sleeping well the last few days, it feels like the world is ending.
- Nate, you know we're training tomorrow's elite here. And you belong here, but you know that I will not accept your behavior as a problem. I advise you to get your act together quickly.
- Or what?
- If you don't, I'll call your parents in the first place.
- My parents? The good joke, you don't believe that they will come for me.
- Don't make me exclude you for some bullshit, you're so much better than that.
- Okay, okay, I'll get it together, it's fine.
- I'm counting on you Nathan, otherwise I'll have to take action.
- Can I go? The boy asked, hating that kind of threatening tone.
- Go ahead, but be warned.
Jack grabbed his bag and left the office, sighing to express his dissatisfaction. He was tired of feeling that everything in his life was being imposed on him. His way of being, of behaving, of fitting into a mold that had been chosen for him. In the middle of his rebellious age, he lived it all the more as an injustice.
In the corridors where the bell rang to indicate the end of classes, he crossed paths with Lindsay who gave him a glare. Since their last fight, they hadn't spoken to each other and, too proud of each other, neither of them took a step towards the other, even though they were dying to.
Tyrone caught up with him too, still shocked by his attitude.
- Nate, what the hell were you thinking? Mr. Evans was furious!
- Yeah well, fuck him. He's always on my back, he gives me a hard time.
- You were sleeping! And did you see how you answered him?
- I don't care.
- And where were you last night? Did you go out? I woke up around 4am and you weren't there.
- I was on Saints Row. We raided a gang that was squatting in a building there. We took them all out, they never saw it coming. It was awesome!
- What are you talking about? You're still going on about the dontknowwhat Saints?
- The Third Street Saints, yes ! By the way, I'm going back there, I have an appointment with Nassim, you know, the former mercenary I told you about, he's teaching me to shoot, do you want to come ?
- Why are you learning to shoot?
- Because there's a war on, Ty. Look at the way the city is being ravaged by gangs, we can't let that happen!
- And at what point did this become our fight, you explain?
- I don't understand how you don't care? Do you really want to get shot for free, or mugged for no reason at all?
- Nate ... I know there's some bad stuff going on in town. But I don't feel particularly threatened, no. In Sunnyvale, we're pretty well protected, so we're not afraid of anything.
- But damn Ty, is this your life? To be locked up here and end up in an office where you're stuck for the rest of your life?
- No, it's not. I'm here to get away from all this. I don't plan on rotting in Stilwater.
- But neither do I, but I don't want to be stuck in this fucking boarding school until I'm thirty. I want to get out, enjoy myself, meet real people, not just be around guys like me who will never teach me anything about life.
- I'm a guy like you...
- Don't take it personally, you're my friend, that's why I'd like you to live a bit too.
- Dude... I spent my whole childhood in the hood. It was shitty, not stimulating. There were only poor guys, junkies, losers. I wasn't unhappy, but it wasn't a dream childhood either. I don't want to go back there...
- At least you lived. I wasn't so lucky, since I was a child, I've been in foster care or in a boarding school, I can't see anything outside, I can't stand this prison life anymore... I need to exist too much now.
- I understand, but I think you're on the wrong track. The saints are a gang too. They are no better than the others.
- Yes, I assure you they are. We have values, convictions. We fight for a cause, we share everything, we're a real family, close-knit.
- You've only just met them, aren't you getting carried away a bit?
- Come with me then, you'll see!
- I don't know about that... Now you only see the good side, but when they ask you to kill guys for free or to sell drugs for them, you're going to find yourself in a mess you can't get out of.
- Okay. I understand," Jack said calmly. In fact, you're a coward Ty, you're wallowing in this little life reserved for the elite. Except I don't want to be the guy who looks down on people and thinks he's superior. I'll be superior because I deserve it.
- Stay in your rut Nate, I'm not following you.
- Okay, fine! All right!
Vexed but confident, Jack turned on his friend and ran to catch the next bus. As he was getting used to, Jack was making do with his two-hour commute and was already looking forward to being "trained" as promised by Julius. Recently, Jack and other purple-clad boys had been gathering around Nassim, a tough, square, fifty-something ex-mercenary who was teaching them the art of combat and how to handle weapons like in the army. The boys were fascinated and drank in all his words without question. Julius, on the other hand, was watching them turn into brave little soldiers. He knew that unlike his rivals, his boys would become real war machines in time, as long as they fought to the death for an ideal.
Nassim had fought in wars, in Vietnam, in the Gulf, and more recently in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He came out wounded but alive and regularly told the boys about the horrors of war and how only the brave had survived. His motto was simple: discipline. And this was not obvious to all the young Saints who already imagined that joining a gang was an easy way to earn money and enjoy all the pleasures of life. Many of them were shocked when they realized that power is acquired and does not fall into the hands of the masses.
Jack, who was resistant to all authority, found this man fascinating because he had so much to say about his life. He was in total admiration and sought at all costs to be seen. He followed his sports program scrupulously and stuck to it despite the difficulties. In addition, he was learning to hold and use firearms and was getting a certain satisfaction and a feeling of immense power from it. Nassim had noticed him in this herd of little purple soldiers and had taken a liking to him because he was so involved. But the boy's age bothered the mercenary, who also felt that some of the saints were just teenagers barely out of childhood and that perhaps education was more suitable for them than combat.
In the church on Third Street, Julius was waiting for the briefing of his Lieutenants and collaborators, as usual. Dex was quietly researching the Carnales, while Johnny was making plans against the Kings that Julius disapproved of, which reinforced Johnny's belief that any plan was a waste of time and that only improvisation worked. As for Lin, no one had heard from him, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing for an infiltration.
Nassim saw Jul more discreetly, far from the ears of the young Saints.
- Ah Nassim, good evening, welcome, how are you doing with the youngsters? Julius asked, offering him a seat.
- Good evening Jul. It's mixed but not everything is to be thrown away.
- I'm listening to you.
- Overall, it's going well, they are rather motivated and athletic but they are too impulsive, I don't know if it's a good idea to arm them all.
- King and Lopez do it well, I don't stand a chance if my boys can't shoot.
- Yeah, sure, but I'm just telling you there will be accidents.
- We are at war, it is inevitable.
Nassim winced, but out of friendship for Julius, he didn't reveal what he was thinking about his pseudo-war stories.
- I have a few young people who stand out. I'm thinking of Dexter Jackson in particular. He's very smart, he's cool, he's a good guy. He's reliable and solid, a real good guy.
- Yeah, I realized that, so I gave him the Carnales case.
- Then I have Johnny Gat. He's physically impressive. He's a natural fighter, extremely good in hand-to-hand combat, and is even more formidable with a gun than with a gun. On the other hand, he is very impulsive and rebellious. You will need strong arguments to hold him.
- I already have a formidable one.
- Oh yes, which one?
- Little Aisha, he's crazy about that girl. If he gets into trouble, that will channel him.
- Next, I've written down three interesting guys. Kendrick Chatman, Diego Mendoza and Johmarcus Joyner. All three are very athletic, pretty meticulous, not too stupid, you can bet on them.
- Ok, thank you Nassim. Anyone else reliable in the new recruits?
- I need more time to figure out the others. But don't get the wrong idea, most of them will be motivated by the time they see that gang life is complicated. They'll give up as soon as they see the first drops of blood.
- I guess so... I had one more question. What do you think of young Jack? My last recruit.
Nassim smiled at him, he was expecting to hear about him.
- Jack... He's amazing. I find him quite incredible as a kid. He's relevant, cold, thoughtful and calculating. He's got great physical attributes, he gives it his all and does pretty well.
- Ah, very good! Exclaimed Jul, satisfied.
- But psychologically, I don't feel it. It is still a child Jul, you should not. I bet he's 14 or 15 years old. He seems to be looking for recognition in an almost disturbing way. As soon as the opportunity arises, he's going to get into excesses like drugs or alcohol or both.
- I'll protect him from that.
- It won't be enough. He's easily manipulated because he's young, but prepare yourself if you keep him, as an adult he'll be formidable and you won't be able to stop him. He is brilliant all around, I have rarely seen someone with such an analytical capacity. It's never good to manipulate people who are too smart. When he realizes this, he will make you pay dearly.
- I can make him a very powerful ally on the contrary. Why should he become an enemy?
- Julius, you are a friend. But you know that this gang thing will end badly. Between the fools and the ambitious, you'll end up with war machines with very different expectations. One of them will kill you one day, take my word for it.
Nassim's insinuations did not please Jul, who took a very dim view of these dire predictions.
- So make sure we can keep them.
- It will be easy with drugs, money and sex, but it won't last forever.
- Thank you for your valuable advice Nassim. I'll keep it very carefully.
- Be careful Jul, that's all I have to say.
A little further on, Dex and Johnny, still freshly energized by their appointment as Lieutenant, had taken their places in their offices.
Johnny had redecorated his with posters of Aisha on every wall. This pretty young African-American woman was the rising star of RnB and was starting to be displayed on all the walls of teenagers and slightly gravelly men. But more importantly, she had been Johnny's neighbor since they were kids and his occasional girlfriend when they weren't fighting. They were very close, Aisha not hesitating to call on Johnny whenever she needed him, or on a whim, and he would come to her without question. But a major problem was getting in the way of their great love story and friendship, Aisha was part - by default - of the Vice Kings by signing with their label. It was not a good idea for her to hang out with a member of the other gang. For Johnny, nothing had changed, he hoped to impress his girl by being part of a bigger gang than his own.
But for the time being, he was bragging and calling the Saints as if he was the boss, making himself comfortable in his office. That day, he called on Jack, whom Julius had imposed on him.
- Sit down," Johnny ordered as the boy entered his office.
Jack didn't argue and took a seat across from Johnny.
- So, you're Julius' new guy? You don't look so bad. On the other hand, I don't look like I've got an eight-inch tail, so I guess we're both full of surprises.
Jack and Dex gave each other a desperate look.
- The reason you're here today is because Jul wants you to assist me on the Vice Kings. By "assist" I mean you do what I tell you, no questions asked, no conditions attached. Okay. The Vice Kings are named after Benjamin King. That only happens when you're a true professional or a true kingpin. And King is both. That implies that...
Johnny's phone began to ring, and a delighted, slightly goofy smile appeared on his face.
- Hold on, I have to take this call. Aisha, what a fucking nice surprise. Whoa, slow down. No... Now it's louder, not slower. Where the fuck is she going? Don't worry, I'll take care of it.
- Your girl? Dex asked.
- Some bastard kidnapped Aisha's sister! Right out of school!
- Fucking... That's the sixth girl this month. Do we know who's doing this?
- Yeah, the Vice Kings.
- No way, man. Kidnapping's not King's thing.
- Maybe that bitch Tanya's plotting behind King's back. I don't know, man. I don't care. But according to Aisha, they drive a yellow sedan. I don't know where they're going, but we're going to follow them and get those girls back.
Johnny pointed his finger between Jack's eyes and Jack stepped back.
- You're coming with me.
- I don't care about your personal stories. We didn't have to do this, Dex?
- This is about the Kings, you're coming with me," Johnny ordered.
Johnny waved his arms and walked like the devil out of his office, Jack rolled his eyes and followed him unhurriedly as Dex looked on apologetically.
Johnny drives like a madman down Saints Row, looking for a yellow Sedan.
- Damn, but it's not possible, it must be around here!
- Pull over and ask people, someone must have seen it.
Too panicked, Johnny didn't even think about it and Jack called out to a few passers-by who informed him. A big yellow sedan was not going unnoticed on the Row.
- Okay, we'll go down to Mission Beach, to the south," Jack explained.
- Why?
- People saw the Sedan going down that way, if they wanted to go home, they would have gone west.
- Uh, yeah! Said Johnny, who wasn't sure where east was from west.
- The Kings aren't supposed to be on Saints Row, so I guess they're hiding the girls. There's a disused cardboard factory nearby, which is the perfect place, right?
- Or maybe they took them straight to the brothel.
- To the brothel?
- Yes, to the whores.
- No, but I know what a brothel is, thanks. But King isn't into prostitution, is he?
- He's not. But Tanya is.
- Who's Tanya? His wife?
- Nah, nobody marries that kind of woman, you have to be sick. Tanya is one of the Kings' lieutenants, she's banging Tony Green, King's bodyguard and Warren Williams, the former hip-hop star. She's kind of a dark whore, in every sense of the word. She runs the Raykins Hotel in Prawn Court, you know?
- Uh, not really, no.
- It's a whorehouse. If she's kidnapping girls from our quarters, believe me, it's not for nothing. Aisha's sister is only 16 years old, can you imagine what kind of person Tanya is knowing that?
- I think I can guess, yeah.
- We got to get Dee-Dee out of there. Besides, if we don't do something, Aisha is going to kill me.
The two young men arrived at the abandoned factory, not too hopeful. A Sedan was parked out front, but there was no sign of the Kings.
- Damn, man, you were right! They're here for sure," said Johnny, reassured.
- There's only one car, so there probably aren't that many of them.
- Let's get going then!
- Wait, Johnny! Shouted Jack as his colleague stormed into the factory, kicking the door open.
There were three Vice Kings sitting on boxes, not expecting visitors. Johnny fired without warning and hit one of the Vice Kings who screamed in pain. The other two took cover and fired back. The two clans exchanged shots blindly, well hidden behind the thick cardboard boxes.
- You're a fucking dead man! Yelled one of the Vice Kings.
- You're the one who's dead! Johnny replied. Kidnapping a kid, frankly guys, you should be ashamed to death.
- We obey Tanya!
- She's just a big whore!
While Johnny insulted the remaining Kings, Jack snuck into the factory in search of the girls. A closed door caught his eye. Since Johnny was particularly loud, he was able to enter without alerting anyone. Inside the room were three young women in tears who looked terrified.
- Be quiet," Jack whispered to them.
He turned quickly to a young black woman with braided hair who looked very young.
- Are you Dee-Dee?
- Yes," she said, her voice tight.
- Aisha sent me. I'm going to take you back to the Saints.
- The Saints? Are you one of Johnny's men? Dee-Dee asked.
- That's right, my name is Jack. Now stay behind me and don't make any noise, there are still Vice Kings.
Trembling, the girls got up and stood behind Jack, who was holding his gun and seeing if the coast was clear. As Johnny and the Kings were still shouting at each other, he managed to simply walk back the way he came and ran to the car with the girls.
- Aren't we waiting for Johnny?
- No, he'll take the Kings' car," Jack said, turning on the ignition.
The car stalled immediately. It must be said that Jack had never driven before.
- Do you even have a driver's license? Asked one of the young women.
- Ahem. I've been watching how the others drive and I think I know the rules of the road now...
- Fuck, that means no. Great, we're still going to die today.
Shots were heard inside the factory, then nothing.
- Is Johnny...? Dee-Dee asked, concerned.
Before Jack could answer, Johnny ran out of the factory and jumped through the open car window.
- Drive fast! They called for backup, they all came from behind!
Jack restarted the car and it took off in a rush that sent everyone to their seats.
- Is it normal for it to make that noise? He worried.
- Maybe we should put it in gear... Answered a young girl.
- Where the hell did you get your license? Said Johnny.
- Well...
- You don't have a license, man! Can you drive?
- Absolutely not... ! Jack confessed as he crashed into a trash can.
Of course, the Kings were not so easily defeated and the boys' little car was overtaken by their rivals' sedan, which was shooting at them.
- We're going to get killed! Dee-Dee shouted in panic.
- It's not impossible," Jack admitted.
- I'm going to fucking smoke them," said Johnny, shooting out the window.
- We have to get to the church, they won't dare follow us.
Jack maneuvered the car, which was wiping away bullet holes as the girls screamed. As he approached Third Street, another purple car came to the rescue and rammed into one of the Kings' cars. In the Saints' neighborhood, they didn't stand a chance and Jack managed - to his surprise - to get to the church. The young women got out of the car screaming and Dee-Dee ran into the arms of Aisha, who was waiting inside, in tears.
- Oh Dee-Dee! Thank God.
- Aisha, I was so scared!
- You have to be careful Dee-Dee! I beg you.
The two young women hugged each other in tears.
Jack and Johnny also arrived at the church with great pride.
- Thank you for saving my sister," Aisha said to Johnny.
- He saved me," Dee-Dee corrected, pointing at Jack.
- My God, you haven't changed, have you? Aisha sighed, looking at Johnny.
- Not everyone has a million or two dollars to change... Johnny grumbled.
- It's always the same with you.
- Oh, here we go again!
- And what did you want me to do? Not take a chance?
- No, I just want you to remember where you came from.
Jack looked at the scene and didn't quite understand what he was talking about.
- Oh, fuck you Johnny!
- Fuck me? No, you go fuck yourself. You're the one who ran away to become famous. The only time you remember where you came from is when you want something.
- My sister was kidnapped!
- And I brought her back, right?
- No," Aisha corrected. He did.
- That's nonsense! I told him to do it! No disrespect," Johnny said to Jack, who nodded to him that everything was fine.
- Well, if you want to help me, that's fine, but don't give me a hard time about it.
- I'll do it.
- All right, fine.
- Fine! Johnny insisted, wanting to have the last word.
Aisha and Johnny glared at each other before they both calmed down.
- Well..." Johnny replied. Jack, I'd like you to meet Saints Row's rising star, Aisha.
- Nice to meet you, and thank you for my sister," said Aisha as she went to kiss Jack on the cheek.
- Oh, it's really you Aisha? My roommate and I love "Bounce like my checks"!
- Really? Thank you, that makes me so happy," smiled Aisha.
- Yes, it's good! Johnny said impatiently, a little jealous. We have a mission Jack. Tonight we're going to kill her.
- What?
- He likes to be dramatic," explained Aisha. I'm signed to Kingdom Come Records.
- And the label is owned by the Vice Kings, everyone knows that," Johnny said reproachfully.
- But the real catch is that once you're in, you're stuck. They bleed you dry and they force you to extend your contract. I talked to Johnny about it and he said maybe you could help me.
- Get this, Eesh is going to be in the studio in a few hours. That's when we'll make her disappear. We'll take the opportunity to put her deep into the Vice Kings. I want you to take Aisha to the studio. We'll rig the car with C4, then you park the car at the studio and get the hell out. Eesh, make sure we see you before you go out.
- Johnny, I really appreciate...
- I was gonna blow the place up anyway.
- I still don't have a license for the last 15 minutes huh, Jack reminded.
- Eesh will drive!
- When the car is full of C4? She took offense.
- Well, if you have a better idea!
Aisha sighed and went off into a mindless argument that had nothing to do with the mission, especially because of Anissa, on whom Johnny had apparently laid his hands a little too much. While waiting for them to settle their dispute, Jack waited outside by the car where he lit a cigarette before being joined by Dee-Dee.
- Thank you for what you did earlier," the young woman smiled at him. It was really brave.
- You're welcome, that's what Saints do when there's trouble in the neighborhood.
- Maybe. In any case, thanks to you, I escaped a real nightmare.
- Yeah, apparently that Tanya didn't mean you any good, I'm glad you got away with it. Nobody deserves that.
- Do you know my sister at all?
- Like everyone else, I heard her on the radio, but I don't know her personally.
- The Kings probably wouldn't have done the same thing to her as they did to me. We're not as valuable as she is.
- I understand that the Kings don't respect her too much either. Extorting it is not exactly a sign of appreciation.
- That's true," Dee-Dee admitted. You seem nice.
- Do I? Nice guys don't usually get much respect, especially girls.
- Do you have any problems with girls?
- Problems, no. No, I was just saying that.
- Okay. I think you have beautiful eyes.
Jack was very flattered that a girl as pretty as Dee-Dee complimented him, but he was wary now and didn't want to make a fuss.
- I think you're a very pretty girl, he finally admitted.
- You do? Dee-Dee nodded, delighted.
The two teenagers looked at each other and smiled, each a little embarrassed but flattered. But their romance came to a screeching halt when Johnny and Aisha arrived, still on the outs.
- If the lady would like to get in," Johnny said sarcastically, opening the car door for his girlfriend.
- Be careful, big sister," said Dee-Dee, worried.
- Jack, you take our Diva to the studio, you stop by the underground garage first to stock up on C4 buns. Your contact down there is Samson, he knows the job. Dee-Dee, don't just stand there, I'm not going back to rescue you twice in one day.
Johnny left, muttering inaudible things in the direction of the church.
- Dee-Dee," Jack called out to him before getting into the car. We can... we can meet maybe, just the two of us, if you want.
- Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that.
- Cool," he smiled at her, "so see you soon.
- See you soon Jack.
Jack felt invigorated, very sure of his attraction to women, and got into the car beside Aisha.
- You're not leering at my little sister, are you? Aisha was suspicious.
- Didn't you? No, no," lied Jack.
- Too bad, you don't look as stupid as Johnny.
Jack didn't try to understand and didn't engage in a conversation that would surely be the umpteenth settlement of accounts between the two lovers.
As agreed, Jack went to the underground garage where the famous Samson was waiting for him with the stuffs. Neither he nor Aisha were very reassured to have explosives in the car, but the unscrupulous mechanic assured them that they would be safe if they drove carefully.
- I don't feel very reassured... Confessed Aisha.
- I must admit that I wish I didn't die today either... Said Jack.
- But why doesn't Johnny do it himself too! Frankly, he's exaggerating, it's always the same with him!
- You seem to know him well.
- Do I know him? Oh, I know him a little. When he arrived in Stilwater with his family, they moved into the same building as me. We've known each other for a long time.
- I didn't quite understand what kind of relationship you had. Are you exes?
- Certainly not!
- Ah... You are together then?
- Not even close! No, Johnny, he's just a friend.
But Jack was not fooled and could see that it was not true.
- Johnny he is..." sighed Aisha. He's unbearable. We can't be together, we just fight. We can't stand each other.
- You're pretty close for people who can't stand each other. I don't judge, I just see it.
- It's just that... We just can't seem to not be together you know. I need him, he needs me. So we always meet up. He's the most irritating, adorable person I know.
- Okay. Jack replied without really understanding. I understand better why everyone always says that women are complicated.
- What do you mean, complicated? Does he ever talk about me?
- I don't know, I haven't known him long. We're not very close actually, he barely talks to me except to give me orders.
- But he did say something about me, right?
- Aisha... You're making me uncomfortable with your questions...
As Aisha and Jack got back into their car, a man in the distance was watching them.
- Aisha... Why didn't you call me back... ?
Feeling watched, Aisha turned her head and recognized the man waiting for her.
- Oh no, it's not true! It was him again!
- Who was he?
- That guy in the car there, he's been harassing me for months, I can't get rid of him! Jack, please, he scares me!
- Hey you," the man called out to Jack. Stay away from my girlfriend!
- She's not your girlfriend, man, look at your face, be reasonable.
But the fan didn't hear it that way and pulled out a gun.
- Oh fuck! Get in the car Aisha! Jack shouted at her as he pushed her into the car.
- Aisha, I love you! If I can't have you, no one will! Screamed the love-struck fan.
- He's a freak! Aisha yelled, covering her ears.
- Don't shoot the car, man! Jack begged.
But too obsessed with his idol, the fan didn't listen and Jack got behind the wheel and sped off.
- But wasn't I supposed to drive? Aisha asked.
- I think if we stop, we have a better chance of dying than if I drive.
- When you put it that way...
The two cars sped through the Union Square area, the fan not hesitating to run into the back of the two Saints' cars.
- He's going to kill us all, this jerk! Aisha shouted in panic.
- Look, he doesn't seem to have any bullets left, otherwise he'd keep shooting. Take the wheel, I'll try to stop him.
- And how do I do that?
- I'm trying to get out of the way here! I'm doing my best, I can't fax myself.
- We're gonna kill ourselves.
- Take the wheel I tell you, I've got my foot on the gears again, I'm going to let go, ok?
- What are you going to do?
Before answering Aisha, Jack opened the window and pulled half his body out so that he was sitting on the door.
- You're going to kill yourself Jack.
- We're going to die no matter what, he's going to blow up the car. Approach him slowly.
But the fan ran into them from behind, nearly knocking Jack off balance.
- I won't forget your sacrifice," Aisha promised him.
- When I think I'm going to die virgin, fuck...
- What...?
- Come closer, I can get it there.
Cautiously, Aisha approached the car of her psychopathic fan, and Jack fired a bullet into the passenger side window of their attacker. He was surprised, but not as surprised as when Jack jumped into his car. He managed to sneak up on his enemy, and as soon as he entered the car, he hit him, forcing him to stop on the side of the road. Completely stunned, the fan let go and Jack was able to get out of the car, almost unharmed.
- Oh my God, Jack! Aisha exclaimed. You're totally sick! Are you okay? Are you safe?
- I just cut my hand, but I'm fine. He's not going to bother you again.
- I don't know how to thank you.
- Take us to Kingdom Come Records and get it over with.
This time, Aisha drove carefully while Jack bandaged her hand with tissues. They finally arrived at the studio safely, and Aisha parked the car in the staff lot.
- We do like Johnny said, you make yourself seen and sneak right out through a fire escape. The whole building is booby-trapped, so don't hang around. There is a car ready to welcome you in two blocks from here.
- Ok', she blew, stressed.' I can't believe I'm finally getting out of the label.
- It's okay, go, go!
Before getting out of the car, Aisha took a deep breath. She readjusted her hair and opened the car door before taking the elevator to the studio's front desk. Confident, the young singer approached the receptionist.
- Are we a little late today? he asked kindly.
- For the sound to be good, the look has to be good," Aisha answered without thinking too much.
- Do you want me to tell them you're here?
- Would you do that for me? Aisha purred.
Too flattered to have gotten a smile from the young woman, the receptionist immediately went about his task.
- Mr. Williams? She is here.
While the poor man confirmed his presence, Aisha discreetly slipped away through an emergency exit and went to join Jack who was waiting for her down the street.
- We saw you, is that okay?
- Yes, he called Williams, he thinks I'm at the studio.
- Okay, great. Now, keep it down, we don't want anyone to see you. We don't have much time.
Jack grabbed Aisha and checked the street. The street was clear, so the two Saints ran to the car and hid inside. They had just enough time to turn on the ignition when an explosion was heard, destroying all the windows of Kingdom Studios. A second, much larger explosion rocked the entire Union Square area and the building caught fire.
- Damn, that was a hell of a thing to do, Johnny," said Jack, surprised at the extent of the damage.
- I can't believe it's over...
- So, you're officially a Saint now?
- I've always been a Saint, it's just... I just wanted to make it in life... I got this opportunity, I really thought it was a good thing for me. It was only after a long time that I realized that I had made a mistake...
- You stop your singing career now?
- I've made a lot of money, I guess I should be happy with that. After all, freedom is not about money.
- It helps though.
- Yes and no, it didn't make me happier. Looking back, I tell myself that money is just an illusion... I should never have sold my soul to the devil, it wasn't worth it. We can go home, I'd like to thank Johnny.
Jack let him take the wheel, and they headed back to the church on Saints Row.
But they weren't exactly greeted as heroes as Julius and Troy were waiting for them, looking disgruntled as Johnny seemed to argue with them.
- But come on! You said it yourself, it doesn't matter how you do it as long as you get results! Johnny argued.
- You blew up a building! You're crazy! Interposed Troy.
- So what? It belonged to the Kings!
- And the innocent people around? What about the staff who couldn't help it?
- You're not innocent if you work with the Kings, that's all.
- You're a sick man Johnny. And worse, you dragged the kid and your girlfriend into this.
- It was Jul who wanted me to take him on, I didn't ask for anything.
- Okay, let's calm down... Johnny, I know you cared about saving Aisha, but I never thought you would do something like this," Julius began.
- No action, no results.
- Was there anything less extreme than that?
- No! The Vice Kings would not let me go! I was going crazy, but at least Johnny had the balls to do something! Aisha stepped in to help her beloved.
- Aisha, we could have found a solution... Julius tempered.
- Oh yeah, what? Johnny and Aisha asked in unison.
- The damage is done no matter what... Johnny, tone it down a bit, please. Aisha, I'm glad you're safe, you're going to have to lay low now.
- Yeah, I know.
- And Jack, I see you're hurt... I'd like you to stay away from this for a while...
- Away? But you're the one who told me...
- I know what I said," Julius cut him off. I heard you took a car full of C4 and you don't know how to drive. It's good of you to get involved, but I thought you'd be a little more thoughtful than that. It's reckless at this level. Frankly, I'm disappointed.
- Disappointed?
Jack was stunned, he had given his all on this mission and Julius saw the expression on his face change.
- Listen," he tried to make up for it. I'll teach you how to drive and we'll forget about this. I have big plans for you, son, and it's important to me that you don't take unnecessary risks.
Since Jack still looked deeply depressed, Julius put his arm around him and led him away.
- I'm going to fix you up first, you've cuted yourself up pretty good, how did you do that?
- By jumping out of a car window... Jack replied, lowering his eyes.
- God, you're so full of energy, come on, let's not let this get infected.
While Julius looked after Jack, Troy finally gave up any hope of a calm, adult discussion with the Johnny-Aisha couple, who were united against all odds. The young man left the church, furious.
- What a fucking badger," Johnny concluded, before turning to his girlfriend. Well, the media will soon announce your death officially, so how does it feel to know that you're now a living dead?
- I don't quite realize it yet.
- You're going to be all over the radio, it's going to be cool!
- Do you like my songs then? Aisha asked hopefully.
- But of course I was just saying the opposite to piss you off. The truth is, Eesh, I've always been proud of you.
- Are you kidding me?
- No, not at all!
- So you're not mad at me about the Kings thing then?
- Yes, very much so.
Aisha bit her lips and looked down.
- I'm mad at you because there was a time when your songs started playing on the radio and were a hit, I thought you were going to tour the world and I'd never see you again," Johnny admitted.
Aisha looked up.
- I thought you were going to forget about me.
- Oh Johnny... I could never forget you!
And as if to ward off the spell, Aisha jumped into the arms of the man she called an unbearable character and kissed him.