"The Gladiators"
Chapter 1
By Lorrie
Disclaimer: The following story is based on the characters of the TV Series "Walker, Texas Ranger". The characters belong to CBS Productions, Top Kick Productions, Washo Brother's Entertainment, etc, but the story is mine. ALL DISCLAIMERS APPLY. (No copyright infringement is intended.)
Ranger Headquarters:
Walker sat at his desk, drumming his fingers and staring at the phone. "Still no word?" Trivette asked, noticing his partner's distant stare.
Walker shook his head. "No, they should have checked in a little over two hours ago."
"Maybe they can't get away to get a call out."
"Yeah, I thought about that, but they've always managed before."
"You're worried about what Gage said before he left, aren't you?"
Walker shifted in his seat and nodded. "He's right. There definitely is a possibility that someone in this biker gang will recognize either he or Sydney from the Raptor case."
"They've taken precautions, I mean, Gage grew a full beard and Sydney cut her hair and even changed her eye color with contacts."
"I know, but I still just have a feeling that something isn't right."
The Gladiator's hideout:
Gage sat across from the head of the Gladiators, whom he had come to know only as "The Man". One of each of the men's elbows rested on a small wooden table and their hands were clasped in each other's grasp tightly as the crowd cheered them on.
"Come on honey, you can put him down." Sydney yelled out sweetly from behind Gage.
'The Man' stared coldly into Gage's eyes. "If I win, you're old lady is mine tonight."
Gage returned the stare. "Well then, I guess there's no way in hell that you're going to win." With that, Gage slammed 'The Man's' arm down hard on the table.
'The Man' was up in an instant, throwing the table aside and grabbing for Gage's neck. Two of the other gang members grabbed his shoulders and pulled him off of Gage.
'The Man' shook his two buddies off, straightened out his jacket and pointed his finger at Gage. "You and me are going to square off soon, Jack."
"I'm countin' on it." Gage replied, returning the glare.
When 'The Man' and most of the gang had left the room, Sydney put her hands around Gage's shoulders. "We need to get what we need and get out of here soon. That guy scares me."
"Don't worry, I'm not going to let him lay a hand on you." He then pulled Sydney into his lap and kissed her deeply.
"Hey Jack, you coming?" One of the guys asked as he came back into the room.
"In a minute." Gage replied as he continued to kiss Sydney.
"Aww, come on Jack. Jade ain't going nowhere and I owe you a beer."
"Alright, Slick, give me a minute." Slick left the room again and Gage whispered to Sydney. "Why don't you try to check in with Walker?"
Sydney nodded. "Anything you want Jack." She replied sweetly and gave him another hard kiss.
Gage was dazed by her kisses. He slowly opened his eyes. "Keep those coming and I won't be held responsible for what I do to you."
"I'm counting on it." Sydney replied as she got up from Gage's lap and left the room.
When Gage left the shack, Slick and four of the other gang members were waiting for him on their bikes. "Where are we off to?" Gage asked.
"Let's hit 'Wheels' and grab a beer and maybe shoot a game of pool."
"You're on." Gage said as he straddled his bike and switched on the engine.
Nicole Braden stood 5'7" and weighed around 130 lbs. and up until now had been the only woman in the gang that could even turn 'The Man's' head. She peered out of an upstairs bedroom window, watching Slick lead Jack, the new guy, off for a while as he had promised he would. That left her all the time she needed to set things straight with Jade. She was 'The Man's' girl and nobody, but nobody was going to take her place, at least not without a fight.
She tucked her switchblade inside her belt and then the leather-clad bombshell started down the steps with a confident air about her.
Sydney started outside to phone Walker, but stopped suddenly when she reached the porch, a strange feeling overtaking her. She shook it off and continued towards the woods. When she was sure no one else was around, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed Walker's number.
Walker grabbed the phone on the first ring. "Walker." He answered hastily.
"It's me." Sydney whispered. "We know that they've taken over the Raptors drug trade and have a new drug, but we don't have the specifics we need yet to take them down." She paused and pulled the phone from her ear for a moment, certain that she had heard something rustling in the leaves behind her. "I have to go now Dad. I just wanted you to know that I'm OK."
Sydney hoped that Walker would understand that someone was approaching and she needed to get off of the phone fast.
"OK. Make sure you call tomorrow."
"I will. I hope you feel better soon."
"Sydney, you two be careful."
Sydney turned around and found herself facing Nicole. "Cole. What are you doing way out here?"
"I could ask you the same thing Jade." Cole replied.
"Uh, I know it sounds silly, but my dad is sick and I needed to call him."
"Your dad? Yeah right." Cole jerked the phone from Sydney's grasp. "So if I hit the redial button, I'll get your father?" She hit redial before Sydney could say another word.
Walker's phone began to ring. "Aren't you going to answer that?" Trivette asked after three rings.
"I am, but I have a feeling it's someone checking Sydney's story out." He leaned over and picked up the phone and in a raspy voice answered. "Hello."
"Who is this?" Cole asked.
"This is Mr. Walker." He replied and then coughed afterward.
"Do you know a chick named Jade?"
"That's my daughter's name, why is something wrong?" Walker asked.
Nicole quickly hung up the phone and tossed it back to Sydney. "So, maybe you were telling the truth."
Ranger Headquarters:
"Was that Gage?" Trivette asked, staring at Walker.
"No." He shook his head slightly, a puzzled look on his face. "No, it was Sydney the first time and then someone else. I gather that someone caught her."
"Do you think her cover's been blown?"
"I don't know. She seemed to have talked her way through this one. She told them I was her father." Walker looked up at Trivette, almost daring him to laugh.
Trivette chuckled slightly and then recomposed himself. "Who called the second time?"
"It was a woman's voice. They just asked if I knew Jade." The worried look crossed Walker's face again.
The Gladiator's hangout:
Sydney pushed her way by Nicole and started back towards the shack. When she reached the porch, Nicole made certain that the other women were gathered around. One particularly large woman blocked the door when Sydney started inside. "Oh no, you're not going anywhere."
Cole forced her way through the crowd until she once again faced Sydney. "You and me have some unfinished business." She pulled the switchblade from her belt and Sydney didn't flinch as it sprung from it's casing with a loud 'click'.
"What's your problem Cole? I've got nothing you want."
"That's the truth, but evidently you have something that 'The Man' wants and I'm gonna make sure he don't want it no more." She lunged at Sydney with the knife.
"I have my own man Cole. Me and Jack have been together for going on ten years now. I don't want no other man."
"Then that's just too bad that your little body caught 'The Man's' eye. You see, it don't matter whether you're interested in him or not, he's interested in you and I don't like that. Before you came along, I was the only one he would look at and now, I'm not." Sydney dodged another lunge from Cole.
"I don't want to fight with you." Sydney said calmly as she got into position to knock the knife from Cole's hand.
"I don't give a damn what you want. I want you out of the picture." Cole held the knife firmly and started towards Sydney again. Sydney's right foot caught her wrist and flung the knife towards the door. It landed with a thud in the soft wood.
Now that she was unarmed, Sydney rushed Cole, knocking her to the porch hard. Cole recovered quickly and started throwing punches, landing two firm ones into Sydney's midsection.
The other women were cheering the fight on so loudly that they hardly noticed when 'The Man' and two of the other guys pulled back in on their bikes.
'The Man' leaned on his bike and watched the cat fight that had now progressed into the yard. He then motioned for the other two guys to break it up.
Cole made another lunge at Sydney just as one of the two men grabbed her from behind while the other one caught Sydney by her arms and pinned her back to his chest. "Easy hellcat." He said as Sydney started to buck against him.
'The Man' waited until the two women had been subdued and then he stood between them. He looked at Sydney's bloodied lip and bruised cheek and then turned to Cole. "I expected more out of you Nicole." He grinned at her and then nodded to the man holding her. She ran to his arms when she was released and he greeted her with a full kiss on the mouth.
Turning his attentions back to Sydney, his expression suddenly turned into a scowl. "Leo, take her upstairs!" He demanded, nodding at the man who had been holding Nicole. "Help him Spike."
Spike grabbed one of Sydney's arms while Leo held her other one and they half carried, half dragged her back into the shack, kicking and screaming.
"Why didn't you just let me finish her off?" Cole asked as 'The Man' focused his attentions on her again.
"I've got other plans for her Cole. She and Jack."
"I thought you liked Jack." Nicole said as she leaned back and looked into 'The Man's' eyes.
"I did until I got a tip that he and Jade are both Texas Rangers and are trying to put an end to our little drug venture."
Nicole's mouth dropped. "Texas Rangers, get out!"
'The Man' nodded his head. "Yep. That's the word Slick got from a guy that hangs out at 'Wheels'." He looked at his watch. "As a matter of fact, I need to get going. Slick has Jack at 'Wheels' right now and I want to be there when this guy comes in."
"Whatcha gonna do with Jack?" Nicole asked.
"If he is a Texas Ranger and wants to see our little operation so bad, I'm gonna give him exactly what he's looking for."
"What about Jade?"
'The Man' pulled out a syringe and handed it to Cole. "Let her stay up there alone for another hour or so, then give her half of this tonight and I'll give her the other half in the morning. We'll be long gone before anyone finds her and when they do, it'll be too late."
A smile spread across Nicole's face as she watched 'The Man' swing his leg across his bike and leave for 'Wheels'.
'Wheels' Saloon:
Slick slapped Gage across the back and handed him another beer. "You want to shoot a game of pool?" He asked, looking to the door as it opened again.
"Sure." Gage picked up his beer and carried it to the pool table with him.
Slick lifted his chin towards a guy at the back of the bar. The guy studied Gage's face for a minute and then nodded. Slick felt a strong anger welling up inside of him. He hated to be betrayed by anyone, but he had actually befriended this guy, Jack, and thought him to be on the up and up, but now it had just been confirmed, Jack was a cop.
"Shouldn't we be getting back soon?" Gage asked as he prepared to break.
"What's your hurry? Afraid something might happen to your old lady?"
Gage felt the hair stand up on his back at the mention of Sydney. "Yeah, as a matter of fact, I am. Where's 'The Man' anyway?"
At that moment, as if on cue, 'The Man' burst through the door of the saloon. "I'm right here, cop." He said loudly.
"Cop? I don't see a cop anywhere?" Gage replied as his eyes started roving the place for a back exit.
'The Man' picked up a pool stick as did Slick. The bar was a little less than half full and most of them were bikers who probably didn't appreciate a cop, let alone a Texas Ranger, being on their turf either. Gage watched as each person in the bar picked up a weapon of choice too. He knew that his only way out was through this angry mob. He held tightly to his pool stick and blocked the first three strikes thrown by Slick, easily taking him to the ground with a hard blow to the back of his neck.
Another guy advanced towards him with a broken beer bottle, slashing it from side to side. Gage avoided the first two swipes, but the third one caught his arm. Ignoring the pain, Gage delivered a hard punch to the man's jaw and landed two more into his chest, sending him sprawling to the floor.
'The Man' nodded to Spike and Leo. They worked their way behind Gage while he was busy fist fighting another patron. Spike laid his large hand on Gage's shoulder, twisting him around to face him and before Gage knew it was coming, Spike's fist landed hard into his cheek.
Gage staggered and was immediately pelted by two sharp blows to his back by Leo.
"Enough." 'The Man' announced as he patted his pocket. "Take him outside."
Spike lifted a semi-conscious Gage across his shoulder and carried him through the mob and out to 'The Man's' bike.
Before leaving, 'The Man' tossed a wad of money onto the bar and smiled at the rough looking bartender. "This should take care of the damages Sally."
Spike and Leo got Gage to his feet and held him in an upright position while 'The Man' pulled a syringe from his coat pocket. "Alright Mr. Texas Ranger, you want to see what our little operation is all about, I'm gonna let you see real close and personal like." He then jabbed the needle into Gage's neck.
The burning sensation was almost more than Gage could bare as the drug entered his veins. He could hear laughter all around him and realized that 'The Man', Spike and Leo were still holding him up.
After the initial effects of the drug passed, Gage had a nice buzz and felt that he could conquer the world all on his own.
"Get him on his bike." 'The Man' ordered.
"You've gotta be kidding. He won't even get a mile down the road like this."
"That's what I'm counting on." 'The Man' replied. "Once he's down, give him the rest of this." He handed Leo the syringe.
"You ain't gonna stick around for the fireworks?" Slick asked.
'The Man' shook his head. "I've got other business back at the shack, remember?"
Leo and Slick laughed as they helped Gage onto his bike. "Are you ready to go on the ride of your life?" Spike asked.
A glassy eyed Gage slurred back at them. "Lead the way!"
The Gladiator's hangout:
Leo and Spike had left Sydney spread eagle on the bed, her wrists and ankles each tied to a bedpost. Her sobs were stifled by the duct tape that had been pulled tightly over her lips and before they had left, Spike placed a piece of dark cloth over her eyes, leaving her helpless and in total darkness.
She shivered as she heard someone coming up the stairs. The doorknob turned and she heard the door open and someone come in. She squirmed against her bonds, hoping that someone would free her soon and hoping that Gage was alright.
"You don't look so tough now, cop." Nicole's familiar voice rang out.
Sydney stopped struggling and lay perfectly still. She knew that she was at this woman's mercy, a woman who just a short while ago had tried to kill her.
Nicole leaned over Sydney and whispered to her. "I'm going to ask you a few simple questions and I want you to nod or shake your head. Are you really a Texas Ranger?"
Sydney thought for a moment; "How could she know? Unless our covers have been blown, how could she know?"
Nicole was growing impatient. She slapped Sydney's face. "I need an answer. I'm trying to help you and we don't have much time before he gets back. Now, are you a Texas Ranger?" She demanded.
Sydney slowly nodded her head.
Nicole sighed loudly and continued to whisper. "OK, listen carefully, I'm only going to say this once because I can't risk exposure. I'm DEA Agent, Nicole Carter. I infiltrated the Gladiators almost a year ago and I've finally got myself close enough to 'The Man' to be able to keep tabs on him. The drug manufacturing is big, but this operation goes a lot deeper than just this biker gang. I will not take a chance on you and your partner, and I assume Jack is your partner, blowing my cover or ruining what I've worked so hard for this past year. Do you understand?"
Sydney once again nodded her head.
"He told me to give you half a syringe of his favorite hobby." She pulled out the syringe. "I won't give you that much, because this with the dose he has planned for you later would probably kill you, but I have to give you part of it or you won't have the physical signs of the drug."
Nicole pushed the needle into Sydney's arm and injected a small amount of the thick fluid. Sydney gasped at the burning sensation that began to creep through her arm.
Nicole looked at her sadly. "I know it hurts like hell. Just be glad I didn't give you the full dose. The burning will go away soon and you'll feel like you can do anything. I'm sorry you and your partner got involved in this, but understand, I can't help you anymore. I'm in real deep as it is and I'm not ready to make the bust or blow my cover." She then picked up the syringe, stepped into the bathroom and emptied it into the toilet.
Sydney began to squirm slightly as the drug started to take effect and her thoughts drifted to Gage. "Where was he and had his cover been blown too?" Nicole leaned over her once again. "I'm going to have to hit you. 'The Man' will never believe that I could come in here and not have another go at you, especially since you can't fight back." She drew back her fist and even though she pulled the punch slightly, a bruise immediately began to form on Sydney's cheek.
"Remember, you can't say anything to anyone about what I told you." She leaned over and pulled Sydney's cell phone from a concealed pocket. "I'll try to get a call out on your cell phone later to your dad."
Sydney didn't respond.
On the road, just south of 'Wheels':
Gage revved the engine on his Harley as he passed Leo heading into a sharp, hairpin turn. Spike looked at Leo and he nodded, giving him the go ahead. Spike hit the gas and pulled along side of Gage and then, just as they were entering the treacherous turn, he kicked his right leg out into Gage's bike.
The bike wobbled and Gage fought for control, but in his drug-induced daze, he couldn't hold it. He hit the guardrail first and then skidded along side of it until it finally gave way sending him and the bike tumbling down the embankment.
Spike and Leo pulled their bikes to the edge of the road and stared over the embankment. "Here." Leo handed the syringe to Spike.
"I'm not going down there. Man, he's dead anyway. There's no possible way he could have survived that crash. You saw how the bike doubled back on him. It definitely hit him once and now he's at the bottom of that ravine."
"All I know is that 'The Man' said to make sure we gave him the other half of the dose once he was down." Leo replied.
"Well, if you're so worried about it, then you go down there." Spike replied, throwing his leg across his bike again.
Leo took the syringe and threw it over the embankment.
"Hey, what did you do that for?" Spike shouted.
"I'm not going to waste my time going down there, but I don't want to be caught with the stuff on me either."
"Whatever." Leo replied as he started his bike.
Later,at the bottom of the ravine:
Hours had passed since Gage had landed on the rocks and Spike and Leo had left the scene. The sun was beginning to set behind the trees as Gage tried to open his eyes. A heavy weight on his chest, which he would later discover was part of his bike, was restricting his breathing and he couldn't seem to clear his head. He let his eyes slowly close again and fell back into the darkness.
Ranger Headquarters:
"They missed their second check-in, didn't they?" Trivette asked as he came back in from court and saw Walker, still sitting stoically at his desk.
Walker nodded. "Something's wrong Trivette. I can't help but feel that they're in trouble."
"Do you want to take a ride down there?"
Walker thought for a moment. "No, we'll give them a little while longer." He was jolted from his thoughts when the phone rang. "Walker." He quickly answered.
"Don't you mean Mr. Walker?" Nicole asked.
Walker coughed, remembering the voice as that of the person who had called earlier, checking out Sydney's cover. "Who is this?"
"Listen, your daughter, if she's really your daughter, is in a lot of trouble. 'The Man' knows that she and Jack are both Texas Rangers. She's locked in a room in the shack and I have no idea what they've done with Jack, but I do know that 'The Man' plans to kill them both and soon."
"Where are you?"
Nicole quickly gave him directions and then hung up the phone just as 'The Man's' bike could be heard in the distance.
"Trivette, let's go. Their covers have been blown." Walker said as he donned his hat and headed out the door with Trivette close behind.
The Gladiator's hangout:
'The Man' turned off the engine of his bike and sat there, watching and waiting as Nicole made her way to him.
"Hey babe!" She called out as she got closer.
"Right back at ya!" He replied, wrapping his arms around her as he got off the bike. "So, how's our little Ranger?"
"Probably feeling pretty good about now."
"Let's go check." 'The Man' put his arm around Nicole's waist as they headed towards the shack and up the stairs.
Sydney's head was spinning her body into utopia. She heard the door open and was vaguely aware of voices around her, but with her sense of sight blocked, she continued to be held a prisoner of her own thoughts . . . thoughts of Gage. His name came to her lips and if she hadn't been gagged, she would have called out for him, by his real name.
'The Man' leaned close to Sydney's bound body and lightly ran his fingers down her neck, tracing them to her breasts. She was immediately aroused, still thinking that this was Gage's touch, until 'The Man' suddenly slapped her already bruised face. He then roughly pulled the duct tape from her mouth, the stinging pain causing her to cry out.
"OK bitch, I want answers and I want them now. How did the Rangers get turned on to us?"
Sydney didn't answer and her insolence was met with another slap across her face. She barely flinched.
"I know you can hear me. Who else knows about the Gladiators? Besides you and Jack, who knows?" He demanded.
"Jack." Sydney said in a dazed voice.
"Did you give her half a syringe like I told you?" 'The Man' asked Nicole.
Nicole nodded her head, realizing now that 'The Man' must have included something else in the syringe, something to make Sydney talk.
"Maybe I miscalculated then." He pulled a small bottle from his jacket pocket. "Where's the syringe?"
Nicole pulled the empty syringe that she had used on Sydney earlier from her pocket ad handed it to 'The Man'.
He filled the small tube with the liquid from the bottle he held and then injected it into Sydney's vein. "Now, I'll bet you'll be more than willing to talk in a few minutes."
Another burning sensation made its way through Sydney's veins and she suddenly felt hot all over. She felt as though her lungs were being crushed by her own body and it was getting harder and harder to breath.
'The Man' looked at her, his eyes angry. "I call this one 'Devil's Tail', mostly because of the heat it generates. Here's how this works. You tell me what I want to know and I'll relieve some of the pressure on your chest with another shot. Deal?"
The pain was almost unbearable and Sydney knew that if she was to survive, she needed some relief. She slowly nodded her head, deciding that she would try to only tell 'The Man' some of the details.
"How did the Rangers get turned onto this operation?"
Sydney tried not to answer, but the pain was too much. "I don't know. Our boss sent us out here with just a few details."
"What details did you have?"
"We knew who you were and we knew that your brother was a member of The Raptors."
"You and your partner took down The Raptors, didn't you?" 'The Man' asked, anger welling up inside of him again as he thought of how his brother had been sentenced to 20 years.
Sydney nodded.
"Who else knows you're here?"
"My boss and his partner."
"Who's your boss?"
"Ranger Walker."
"Walker." 'The Man' seethed as he threw the recovery vial to the floor, smashing it to slithers.
"I thought you were going to give her the recovery shot." Nicole said as she looked at the worthless vial.
"It don't matter. She's going to die just like Jack did." 'The Man' looked Sydney in the eyes. "That's right, your partner is dead."
Sydney's thoughts drifted to Gage. "No, he can't be dead. He can't be."
'The Man' leaned in close to her and pulled the safety cap from another syringe full of the same thick liquid that Nicole had given her earlier. "No." She muttered.
"Sorry little Ranger, but I can't risk having you around." He stabbed her arm with the needle, sending the hot fluid through her again. She passed out as Nicole and 'The Man' left the room.
'The Man' rounded up all of the gang members at the porch. "Listen up! We're getting ready to head out. The cops are onto us and it's just getting too hot here. Spike, Leo, go to the lab and start packing up. The rest of you, get your things together and head North on the Interstate. We'll catch up with you at the first town."
Everyone began scurrying around. Nicole laid her hand on 'The Man's' shoulder. "What do you want me to do?" She asked.
"Come with me to the lab and help pack up." She climbed onto the back of his bike and they set out for another small shack a few miles from the one they had been staying in.
"You've never brought me out here before."
"Too much going on." He said as he cut the engine. "Let's get going. I don't know how much time we have, but I want to get back in time to set the shack on fire."
"What about the Ranger?" Nicole asked.
"What about her?" 'The Man' replied coldly.
End of Chapter 1
Disclaimer: The following story is based on the characters of the TV Series "Walker, Texas Ranger". The characters belong to CBS Productions, Top Kick Productions, Washo Brother's Entertainment, etc, but the story is mine. ALL DISCLAIMERS APPLY. (No copyright infringement is intended.)
Ranger Headquarters:
Walker sat at his desk, drumming his fingers and staring at the phone. "Still no word?" Trivette asked, noticing his partner's distant stare.
Walker shook his head. "No, they should have checked in a little over two hours ago."
"Maybe they can't get away to get a call out."
"Yeah, I thought about that, but they've always managed before."
"You're worried about what Gage said before he left, aren't you?"
Walker shifted in his seat and nodded. "He's right. There definitely is a possibility that someone in this biker gang will recognize either he or Sydney from the Raptor case."
"They've taken precautions, I mean, Gage grew a full beard and Sydney cut her hair and even changed her eye color with contacts."
"I know, but I still just have a feeling that something isn't right."
The Gladiator's hideout:
Gage sat across from the head of the Gladiators, whom he had come to know only as "The Man". One of each of the men's elbows rested on a small wooden table and their hands were clasped in each other's grasp tightly as the crowd cheered them on.
"Come on honey, you can put him down." Sydney yelled out sweetly from behind Gage.
'The Man' stared coldly into Gage's eyes. "If I win, you're old lady is mine tonight."
Gage returned the stare. "Well then, I guess there's no way in hell that you're going to win." With that, Gage slammed 'The Man's' arm down hard on the table.
'The Man' was up in an instant, throwing the table aside and grabbing for Gage's neck. Two of the other gang members grabbed his shoulders and pulled him off of Gage.
'The Man' shook his two buddies off, straightened out his jacket and pointed his finger at Gage. "You and me are going to square off soon, Jack."
"I'm countin' on it." Gage replied, returning the glare.
When 'The Man' and most of the gang had left the room, Sydney put her hands around Gage's shoulders. "We need to get what we need and get out of here soon. That guy scares me."
"Don't worry, I'm not going to let him lay a hand on you." He then pulled Sydney into his lap and kissed her deeply.
"Hey Jack, you coming?" One of the guys asked as he came back into the room.
"In a minute." Gage replied as he continued to kiss Sydney.
"Aww, come on Jack. Jade ain't going nowhere and I owe you a beer."
"Alright, Slick, give me a minute." Slick left the room again and Gage whispered to Sydney. "Why don't you try to check in with Walker?"
Sydney nodded. "Anything you want Jack." She replied sweetly and gave him another hard kiss.
Gage was dazed by her kisses. He slowly opened his eyes. "Keep those coming and I won't be held responsible for what I do to you."
"I'm counting on it." Sydney replied as she got up from Gage's lap and left the room.
When Gage left the shack, Slick and four of the other gang members were waiting for him on their bikes. "Where are we off to?" Gage asked.
"Let's hit 'Wheels' and grab a beer and maybe shoot a game of pool."
"You're on." Gage said as he straddled his bike and switched on the engine.
Nicole Braden stood 5'7" and weighed around 130 lbs. and up until now had been the only woman in the gang that could even turn 'The Man's' head. She peered out of an upstairs bedroom window, watching Slick lead Jack, the new guy, off for a while as he had promised he would. That left her all the time she needed to set things straight with Jade. She was 'The Man's' girl and nobody, but nobody was going to take her place, at least not without a fight.
She tucked her switchblade inside her belt and then the leather-clad bombshell started down the steps with a confident air about her.
Sydney started outside to phone Walker, but stopped suddenly when she reached the porch, a strange feeling overtaking her. She shook it off and continued towards the woods. When she was sure no one else was around, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed Walker's number.
Walker grabbed the phone on the first ring. "Walker." He answered hastily.
"It's me." Sydney whispered. "We know that they've taken over the Raptors drug trade and have a new drug, but we don't have the specifics we need yet to take them down." She paused and pulled the phone from her ear for a moment, certain that she had heard something rustling in the leaves behind her. "I have to go now Dad. I just wanted you to know that I'm OK."
Sydney hoped that Walker would understand that someone was approaching and she needed to get off of the phone fast.
"OK. Make sure you call tomorrow."
"I will. I hope you feel better soon."
"Sydney, you two be careful."
Sydney turned around and found herself facing Nicole. "Cole. What are you doing way out here?"
"I could ask you the same thing Jade." Cole replied.
"Uh, I know it sounds silly, but my dad is sick and I needed to call him."
"Your dad? Yeah right." Cole jerked the phone from Sydney's grasp. "So if I hit the redial button, I'll get your father?" She hit redial before Sydney could say another word.
Walker's phone began to ring. "Aren't you going to answer that?" Trivette asked after three rings.
"I am, but I have a feeling it's someone checking Sydney's story out." He leaned over and picked up the phone and in a raspy voice answered. "Hello."
"Who is this?" Cole asked.
"This is Mr. Walker." He replied and then coughed afterward.
"Do you know a chick named Jade?"
"That's my daughter's name, why is something wrong?" Walker asked.
Nicole quickly hung up the phone and tossed it back to Sydney. "So, maybe you were telling the truth."
Ranger Headquarters:
"Was that Gage?" Trivette asked, staring at Walker.
"No." He shook his head slightly, a puzzled look on his face. "No, it was Sydney the first time and then someone else. I gather that someone caught her."
"Do you think her cover's been blown?"
"I don't know. She seemed to have talked her way through this one. She told them I was her father." Walker looked up at Trivette, almost daring him to laugh.
Trivette chuckled slightly and then recomposed himself. "Who called the second time?"
"It was a woman's voice. They just asked if I knew Jade." The worried look crossed Walker's face again.
The Gladiator's hangout:
Sydney pushed her way by Nicole and started back towards the shack. When she reached the porch, Nicole made certain that the other women were gathered around. One particularly large woman blocked the door when Sydney started inside. "Oh no, you're not going anywhere."
Cole forced her way through the crowd until she once again faced Sydney. "You and me have some unfinished business." She pulled the switchblade from her belt and Sydney didn't flinch as it sprung from it's casing with a loud 'click'.
"What's your problem Cole? I've got nothing you want."
"That's the truth, but evidently you have something that 'The Man' wants and I'm gonna make sure he don't want it no more." She lunged at Sydney with the knife.
"I have my own man Cole. Me and Jack have been together for going on ten years now. I don't want no other man."
"Then that's just too bad that your little body caught 'The Man's' eye. You see, it don't matter whether you're interested in him or not, he's interested in you and I don't like that. Before you came along, I was the only one he would look at and now, I'm not." Sydney dodged another lunge from Cole.
"I don't want to fight with you." Sydney said calmly as she got into position to knock the knife from Cole's hand.
"I don't give a damn what you want. I want you out of the picture." Cole held the knife firmly and started towards Sydney again. Sydney's right foot caught her wrist and flung the knife towards the door. It landed with a thud in the soft wood.
Now that she was unarmed, Sydney rushed Cole, knocking her to the porch hard. Cole recovered quickly and started throwing punches, landing two firm ones into Sydney's midsection.
The other women were cheering the fight on so loudly that they hardly noticed when 'The Man' and two of the other guys pulled back in on their bikes.
'The Man' leaned on his bike and watched the cat fight that had now progressed into the yard. He then motioned for the other two guys to break it up.
Cole made another lunge at Sydney just as one of the two men grabbed her from behind while the other one caught Sydney by her arms and pinned her back to his chest. "Easy hellcat." He said as Sydney started to buck against him.
'The Man' waited until the two women had been subdued and then he stood between them. He looked at Sydney's bloodied lip and bruised cheek and then turned to Cole. "I expected more out of you Nicole." He grinned at her and then nodded to the man holding her. She ran to his arms when she was released and he greeted her with a full kiss on the mouth.
Turning his attentions back to Sydney, his expression suddenly turned into a scowl. "Leo, take her upstairs!" He demanded, nodding at the man who had been holding Nicole. "Help him Spike."
Spike grabbed one of Sydney's arms while Leo held her other one and they half carried, half dragged her back into the shack, kicking and screaming.
"Why didn't you just let me finish her off?" Cole asked as 'The Man' focused his attentions on her again.
"I've got other plans for her Cole. She and Jack."
"I thought you liked Jack." Nicole said as she leaned back and looked into 'The Man's' eyes.
"I did until I got a tip that he and Jade are both Texas Rangers and are trying to put an end to our little drug venture."
Nicole's mouth dropped. "Texas Rangers, get out!"
'The Man' nodded his head. "Yep. That's the word Slick got from a guy that hangs out at 'Wheels'." He looked at his watch. "As a matter of fact, I need to get going. Slick has Jack at 'Wheels' right now and I want to be there when this guy comes in."
"Whatcha gonna do with Jack?" Nicole asked.
"If he is a Texas Ranger and wants to see our little operation so bad, I'm gonna give him exactly what he's looking for."
"What about Jade?"
'The Man' pulled out a syringe and handed it to Cole. "Let her stay up there alone for another hour or so, then give her half of this tonight and I'll give her the other half in the morning. We'll be long gone before anyone finds her and when they do, it'll be too late."
A smile spread across Nicole's face as she watched 'The Man' swing his leg across his bike and leave for 'Wheels'.
'Wheels' Saloon:
Slick slapped Gage across the back and handed him another beer. "You want to shoot a game of pool?" He asked, looking to the door as it opened again.
"Sure." Gage picked up his beer and carried it to the pool table with him.
Slick lifted his chin towards a guy at the back of the bar. The guy studied Gage's face for a minute and then nodded. Slick felt a strong anger welling up inside of him. He hated to be betrayed by anyone, but he had actually befriended this guy, Jack, and thought him to be on the up and up, but now it had just been confirmed, Jack was a cop.
"Shouldn't we be getting back soon?" Gage asked as he prepared to break.
"What's your hurry? Afraid something might happen to your old lady?"
Gage felt the hair stand up on his back at the mention of Sydney. "Yeah, as a matter of fact, I am. Where's 'The Man' anyway?"
At that moment, as if on cue, 'The Man' burst through the door of the saloon. "I'm right here, cop." He said loudly.
"Cop? I don't see a cop anywhere?" Gage replied as his eyes started roving the place for a back exit.
'The Man' picked up a pool stick as did Slick. The bar was a little less than half full and most of them were bikers who probably didn't appreciate a cop, let alone a Texas Ranger, being on their turf either. Gage watched as each person in the bar picked up a weapon of choice too. He knew that his only way out was through this angry mob. He held tightly to his pool stick and blocked the first three strikes thrown by Slick, easily taking him to the ground with a hard blow to the back of his neck.
Another guy advanced towards him with a broken beer bottle, slashing it from side to side. Gage avoided the first two swipes, but the third one caught his arm. Ignoring the pain, Gage delivered a hard punch to the man's jaw and landed two more into his chest, sending him sprawling to the floor.
'The Man' nodded to Spike and Leo. They worked their way behind Gage while he was busy fist fighting another patron. Spike laid his large hand on Gage's shoulder, twisting him around to face him and before Gage knew it was coming, Spike's fist landed hard into his cheek.
Gage staggered and was immediately pelted by two sharp blows to his back by Leo.
"Enough." 'The Man' announced as he patted his pocket. "Take him outside."
Spike lifted a semi-conscious Gage across his shoulder and carried him through the mob and out to 'The Man's' bike.
Before leaving, 'The Man' tossed a wad of money onto the bar and smiled at the rough looking bartender. "This should take care of the damages Sally."
Spike and Leo got Gage to his feet and held him in an upright position while 'The Man' pulled a syringe from his coat pocket. "Alright Mr. Texas Ranger, you want to see what our little operation is all about, I'm gonna let you see real close and personal like." He then jabbed the needle into Gage's neck.
The burning sensation was almost more than Gage could bare as the drug entered his veins. He could hear laughter all around him and realized that 'The Man', Spike and Leo were still holding him up.
After the initial effects of the drug passed, Gage had a nice buzz and felt that he could conquer the world all on his own.
"Get him on his bike." 'The Man' ordered.
"You've gotta be kidding. He won't even get a mile down the road like this."
"That's what I'm counting on." 'The Man' replied. "Once he's down, give him the rest of this." He handed Leo the syringe.
"You ain't gonna stick around for the fireworks?" Slick asked.
'The Man' shook his head. "I've got other business back at the shack, remember?"
Leo and Slick laughed as they helped Gage onto his bike. "Are you ready to go on the ride of your life?" Spike asked.
A glassy eyed Gage slurred back at them. "Lead the way!"
The Gladiator's hangout:
Leo and Spike had left Sydney spread eagle on the bed, her wrists and ankles each tied to a bedpost. Her sobs were stifled by the duct tape that had been pulled tightly over her lips and before they had left, Spike placed a piece of dark cloth over her eyes, leaving her helpless and in total darkness.
She shivered as she heard someone coming up the stairs. The doorknob turned and she heard the door open and someone come in. She squirmed against her bonds, hoping that someone would free her soon and hoping that Gage was alright.
"You don't look so tough now, cop." Nicole's familiar voice rang out.
Sydney stopped struggling and lay perfectly still. She knew that she was at this woman's mercy, a woman who just a short while ago had tried to kill her.
Nicole leaned over Sydney and whispered to her. "I'm going to ask you a few simple questions and I want you to nod or shake your head. Are you really a Texas Ranger?"
Sydney thought for a moment; "How could she know? Unless our covers have been blown, how could she know?"
Nicole was growing impatient. She slapped Sydney's face. "I need an answer. I'm trying to help you and we don't have much time before he gets back. Now, are you a Texas Ranger?" She demanded.
Sydney slowly nodded her head.
Nicole sighed loudly and continued to whisper. "OK, listen carefully, I'm only going to say this once because I can't risk exposure. I'm DEA Agent, Nicole Carter. I infiltrated the Gladiators almost a year ago and I've finally got myself close enough to 'The Man' to be able to keep tabs on him. The drug manufacturing is big, but this operation goes a lot deeper than just this biker gang. I will not take a chance on you and your partner, and I assume Jack is your partner, blowing my cover or ruining what I've worked so hard for this past year. Do you understand?"
Sydney once again nodded her head.
"He told me to give you half a syringe of his favorite hobby." She pulled out the syringe. "I won't give you that much, because this with the dose he has planned for you later would probably kill you, but I have to give you part of it or you won't have the physical signs of the drug."
Nicole pushed the needle into Sydney's arm and injected a small amount of the thick fluid. Sydney gasped at the burning sensation that began to creep through her arm.
Nicole looked at her sadly. "I know it hurts like hell. Just be glad I didn't give you the full dose. The burning will go away soon and you'll feel like you can do anything. I'm sorry you and your partner got involved in this, but understand, I can't help you anymore. I'm in real deep as it is and I'm not ready to make the bust or blow my cover." She then picked up the syringe, stepped into the bathroom and emptied it into the toilet.
Sydney began to squirm slightly as the drug started to take effect and her thoughts drifted to Gage. "Where was he and had his cover been blown too?" Nicole leaned over her once again. "I'm going to have to hit you. 'The Man' will never believe that I could come in here and not have another go at you, especially since you can't fight back." She drew back her fist and even though she pulled the punch slightly, a bruise immediately began to form on Sydney's cheek.
"Remember, you can't say anything to anyone about what I told you." She leaned over and pulled Sydney's cell phone from a concealed pocket. "I'll try to get a call out on your cell phone later to your dad."
Sydney didn't respond.
On the road, just south of 'Wheels':
Gage revved the engine on his Harley as he passed Leo heading into a sharp, hairpin turn. Spike looked at Leo and he nodded, giving him the go ahead. Spike hit the gas and pulled along side of Gage and then, just as they were entering the treacherous turn, he kicked his right leg out into Gage's bike.
The bike wobbled and Gage fought for control, but in his drug-induced daze, he couldn't hold it. He hit the guardrail first and then skidded along side of it until it finally gave way sending him and the bike tumbling down the embankment.
Spike and Leo pulled their bikes to the edge of the road and stared over the embankment. "Here." Leo handed the syringe to Spike.
"I'm not going down there. Man, he's dead anyway. There's no possible way he could have survived that crash. You saw how the bike doubled back on him. It definitely hit him once and now he's at the bottom of that ravine."
"All I know is that 'The Man' said to make sure we gave him the other half of the dose once he was down." Leo replied.
"Well, if you're so worried about it, then you go down there." Spike replied, throwing his leg across his bike again.
Leo took the syringe and threw it over the embankment.
"Hey, what did you do that for?" Spike shouted.
"I'm not going to waste my time going down there, but I don't want to be caught with the stuff on me either."
"Whatever." Leo replied as he started his bike.
Later,at the bottom of the ravine:
Hours had passed since Gage had landed on the rocks and Spike and Leo had left the scene. The sun was beginning to set behind the trees as Gage tried to open his eyes. A heavy weight on his chest, which he would later discover was part of his bike, was restricting his breathing and he couldn't seem to clear his head. He let his eyes slowly close again and fell back into the darkness.
Ranger Headquarters:
"They missed their second check-in, didn't they?" Trivette asked as he came back in from court and saw Walker, still sitting stoically at his desk.
Walker nodded. "Something's wrong Trivette. I can't help but feel that they're in trouble."
"Do you want to take a ride down there?"
Walker thought for a moment. "No, we'll give them a little while longer." He was jolted from his thoughts when the phone rang. "Walker." He quickly answered.
"Don't you mean Mr. Walker?" Nicole asked.
Walker coughed, remembering the voice as that of the person who had called earlier, checking out Sydney's cover. "Who is this?"
"Listen, your daughter, if she's really your daughter, is in a lot of trouble. 'The Man' knows that she and Jack are both Texas Rangers. She's locked in a room in the shack and I have no idea what they've done with Jack, but I do know that 'The Man' plans to kill them both and soon."
"Where are you?"
Nicole quickly gave him directions and then hung up the phone just as 'The Man's' bike could be heard in the distance.
"Trivette, let's go. Their covers have been blown." Walker said as he donned his hat and headed out the door with Trivette close behind.
The Gladiator's hangout:
'The Man' turned off the engine of his bike and sat there, watching and waiting as Nicole made her way to him.
"Hey babe!" She called out as she got closer.
"Right back at ya!" He replied, wrapping his arms around her as he got off the bike. "So, how's our little Ranger?"
"Probably feeling pretty good about now."
"Let's go check." 'The Man' put his arm around Nicole's waist as they headed towards the shack and up the stairs.
Sydney's head was spinning her body into utopia. She heard the door open and was vaguely aware of voices around her, but with her sense of sight blocked, she continued to be held a prisoner of her own thoughts . . . thoughts of Gage. His name came to her lips and if she hadn't been gagged, she would have called out for him, by his real name.
'The Man' leaned close to Sydney's bound body and lightly ran his fingers down her neck, tracing them to her breasts. She was immediately aroused, still thinking that this was Gage's touch, until 'The Man' suddenly slapped her already bruised face. He then roughly pulled the duct tape from her mouth, the stinging pain causing her to cry out.
"OK bitch, I want answers and I want them now. How did the Rangers get turned on to us?"
Sydney didn't answer and her insolence was met with another slap across her face. She barely flinched.
"I know you can hear me. Who else knows about the Gladiators? Besides you and Jack, who knows?" He demanded.
"Jack." Sydney said in a dazed voice.
"Did you give her half a syringe like I told you?" 'The Man' asked Nicole.
Nicole nodded her head, realizing now that 'The Man' must have included something else in the syringe, something to make Sydney talk.
"Maybe I miscalculated then." He pulled a small bottle from his jacket pocket. "Where's the syringe?"
Nicole pulled the empty syringe that she had used on Sydney earlier from her pocket ad handed it to 'The Man'.
He filled the small tube with the liquid from the bottle he held and then injected it into Sydney's vein. "Now, I'll bet you'll be more than willing to talk in a few minutes."
Another burning sensation made its way through Sydney's veins and she suddenly felt hot all over. She felt as though her lungs were being crushed by her own body and it was getting harder and harder to breath.
'The Man' looked at her, his eyes angry. "I call this one 'Devil's Tail', mostly because of the heat it generates. Here's how this works. You tell me what I want to know and I'll relieve some of the pressure on your chest with another shot. Deal?"
The pain was almost unbearable and Sydney knew that if she was to survive, she needed some relief. She slowly nodded her head, deciding that she would try to only tell 'The Man' some of the details.
"How did the Rangers get turned onto this operation?"
Sydney tried not to answer, but the pain was too much. "I don't know. Our boss sent us out here with just a few details."
"What details did you have?"
"We knew who you were and we knew that your brother was a member of The Raptors."
"You and your partner took down The Raptors, didn't you?" 'The Man' asked, anger welling up inside of him again as he thought of how his brother had been sentenced to 20 years.
Sydney nodded.
"Who else knows you're here?"
"My boss and his partner."
"Who's your boss?"
"Ranger Walker."
"Walker." 'The Man' seethed as he threw the recovery vial to the floor, smashing it to slithers.
"I thought you were going to give her the recovery shot." Nicole said as she looked at the worthless vial.
"It don't matter. She's going to die just like Jack did." 'The Man' looked Sydney in the eyes. "That's right, your partner is dead."
Sydney's thoughts drifted to Gage. "No, he can't be dead. He can't be."
'The Man' leaned in close to her and pulled the safety cap from another syringe full of the same thick liquid that Nicole had given her earlier. "No." She muttered.
"Sorry little Ranger, but I can't risk having you around." He stabbed her arm with the needle, sending the hot fluid through her again. She passed out as Nicole and 'The Man' left the room.
'The Man' rounded up all of the gang members at the porch. "Listen up! We're getting ready to head out. The cops are onto us and it's just getting too hot here. Spike, Leo, go to the lab and start packing up. The rest of you, get your things together and head North on the Interstate. We'll catch up with you at the first town."
Everyone began scurrying around. Nicole laid her hand on 'The Man's' shoulder. "What do you want me to do?" She asked.
"Come with me to the lab and help pack up." She climbed onto the back of his bike and they set out for another small shack a few miles from the one they had been staying in.
"You've never brought me out here before."
"Too much going on." He said as he cut the engine. "Let's get going. I don't know how much time we have, but I want to get back in time to set the shack on fire."
"What about the Ranger?" Nicole asked.
"What about her?" 'The Man' replied coldly.
End of Chapter 1
