Screeched to a stop, people shouting and screaming as they almost ran over. Kyouki stumbled out of the car, her gun in her pocket and Aisha behind her. The metal detector went off and people tried to stop her. No avail. They ended up on their backs. Security came with Dex, looking on from the safety of his office. He saw the news. He let the woman go through after the first four guards were looking up at her.
Ky went up to the 71st floor and passed Jamie, who didn't hesitate to allow the woman through.
"Mr. Vogel, Ms. James."
Dane looked up, surprised to see his lover come to him. Had been looking at the drafts her cousin had for him. She was doubled over on her climb of the small steps with Aisha helping her.
Dane went to stand, but she was much faster than he anticipated. "My Lady- woah!"
The barrel of her gun was in his face as she climbed onto the desk between them. Her hand on the drafts, she was looking pale, disheveled and furious.
"W-w-what is this a-about?" His hands raised in defense.
"What the hell do you have going on with Maero? Tell me now." She was panting.
Dane told Kyouki what had happened. Everything. He sang better than she or Aisha. As he spoke, her interest peaked.
"What about his shipment?" Her head tilted to the side.
"He offered it as compensation for getting his people out." Dane continued his spiel.
"Hm." Kyouki hummed. "If you ever make deals with people I personally gift wrapped to be locked up. There won't be politeness in the next meeting."
She tucked her pistol into her pocket once more. Looking down as she climbed back off the desk, the paintings Tracey did. There were other areas, her areas. She pointed at the beautiful pictures once she was on her feet. Holding on to the side of the desk, she tapped repeatedly.
"No. Mine. You won't touch it." She left.
Dane swallowed hard. And sat in his seat. He fucked up. He knew he fucked up.
Gat gladly did as he was ordered, especially with Ramon with him. They had blown the buses, killing all of who were inside. Others took the newly freed Brotherhood out. Blood once more drenched the streets. Less than twelve hours after their release, they were chalk outlines.
Maero seethed, this "has been." Was killing off his crew faster than they could scout for new recruits. She had obliterated them as they made their way to the halfway houses when they were dropped off. His hard work was failing. Kyouki was closing in on his HQ as if she were a human typhoon, thwarting him at every turn.
He was here while she was burnt and laid up. He held the city as the rightful ruler he was. How was she doing it? His anger knew no once more made his way to the Phillip's building of Ultor. He paid a hefty price, and he was going to kill Vogel for betraying him.
Jamie heard the ding of the elevator and immediately pressed the intercom button. "Mr. Vogel, Mr. Maero is-"
Maero hefted past smashed through the doors, the newly replaced doors
Jaime just wasn't quick enough. "See… You..." she treated herself to an early lunch at the request of Mr. Vogel, who prepared for Maero's possible arrival.
Dane continued to look over his paperwork. When the call came through. "Thanks for the heads up, Jaime. Is there something I can help you with?"
Maero raged as he paced the floor. "They hit my boys when they were on the prison bus."
With a snort, Dane couldn't care. "Between your girlfriend and your gang, I'd say you're a magnet for tragedy."
Maero's brows drew so close they could have connected. "You think this is fuckin' funny?"
Dane smirked, then stopped. He cleared his throat, trying to hide his amusement. "No, but I think it's a you problem."
Maero wiped his mouth. He came closer, ready to flip the table once more. "My problems are your problems… Or do you need some fresh air to remind you?"
"No, see, my problem is that a sideshow freak is messing up my paperwork… A pissed off fiancée who came in here with a gun in my face. But your problem is that there's a group of security guards with assault rifles pointed at your back."
Maero looked down at the supposed paperwork on the desk. Dress designs and photos of Kyouki were once more sprawled for anyone to see. The man was affiliated with Kyouki.
She has Dane and the police Chief in her pocket.
Maero looked behind him and sneered. "Your security guards look more like a private army."
Dane shrugged. "Call 'em whatever you want, the point is that they have big guns. And my fiancée is terrifying. I'm sorry you couldn't protect your friends, I really am… But Ultor is done doing you favors… Come back here again and I'll have you shot on sight."
"Go fuck yourself Vogel."
"That's what my fiancée is for. While I've enjoyed our brief time together. I think it's time to move on. Gentlemen, could you please show our guest out? Oh, and Maero… Don't worry about your little shipment. Ultor has already appropriated it."
Maero turned to look over his shoulder. Dane stood, leaning on his desk. "What did you say?"
"I said, Ultor security has taken control of the boat carrying your goods… It only seemed fair that we get compensated for letting your boys out of jail. You may go now."
Maero snorted. He couldn't believe this prick. He will sink it before Ultor gets their hands on it. "That boat is never gonna make it to shore."
"What the little woman wants, the little woman gets. Goodbye Maero."
"You'll regret that." With everything crumbling around him, the hulking man needed a new game plan.
"My Lady, allow me to appease your anger with a gift. Head to the address. I just text you. Can we call this an engagement gift?"
"My short list, you are on, Mr. Vogel."
"And what I offer will more than make up for my lapse in judgment."
"It better be worth it."
"I assure you."
She hung up. Dane needed this to get back in her good graces. Even though she said no to the remodeling of areas, he still needed to sway her gently.
Kyouki called from the bedroom. "Johnny?"
"Yeah?" His phone beeped. Looking at the message. "Oh. You're good?"
"Yeah. We're going to sit with Carlos."
"Aight."
"Thanks." Ky kissed his cheek.
Aisha followed, Gat grabbed her arm. "What the Doc say?"
Aisha was hushed. "Didn't get to be seen yet. I'll get her checked out." She reassured him.
Another quick kiss, Aisha was off. Gat was off after shooting out a text to Pierce.
- Get ready Boss. Needs us on something.
Shaundi had called Ky. "One of the dock workers just called and said this big guy with tattoos and a scarred face was shakin' people down trying to find out when some shipment was rescheduled to arrive."
"Why would Maero need to ask about the time of his own shipment?"
"I dunno. Maybe it got delayed."
Kyouki nodded. That's what Dane had for her. "Are you sure, I mean plenty of guys with tattoos and scars, could have been a big biker?" Kyouki was messing with Shaundi.
Shaundi sucked her teeth. "I'd bet my life on it."
"Aight, deal." Kyouki chuckled.
Shaundi panicked. "Wait… Don't hang up, waddya mean deal?"
"Call Gat." Ky said, still chuckling.
Pierce and Gat were at the docks. They had several with them as they found the ship that was handed to them.
Pierce had hit Gat as they came to the large cargo ship. "Check it out. I got some more dirt on the shipment..."
Gat looked at the spot on his arm Pierce hit. Gat's phone rang. "Yo?"
"OK, I just got off the phone with Boss. I got info on Maero's shipment… Maero's bought enough guns to take over...something that needs a lotta guns to take over. The point is that if you get to the cargo hold, you should find some nice toys to play with…"
"Good shit. Thanks."
"No problem. Bye." She hung up.
Gat stashed his phone in his pocket. "You were saying?"
Pierce hit his fist in his hand. "Yeah, Maero's got a shit ton of ammo stashed in the-"
Gat smirked, holding his hand up, indicating he had the call and knew already.
Pierce's face fell. "Are you fuckin' kiddin' me? I'm the one who told Shaundi about it."
Gat chuckled as they boarded the ship. They searched all the cargo. When they found the ammo, it also had big guns. And that made Gat happy.
They had moved the cargo into their trucks. And there was still more to be hauled out.
Gat put a crate down to answer his phone. "What's up?"
"Are you ok?" Shaundi sounded worried.
"I'm fine. What's up?"
"I was listening in on the police scanner and the coast guard is reporting a lotta Brotherhood are comin' towards you."
"Oh word? You sure?"
An explosion rocket the boat, Gat tipped, and a few of the crates tipped over spilling their contents.
"Gat? Gat? You there?" Shaundi shouted.
Gat notices a RPG Launcher at his feet, a wicked grin spread across his face. Shouts throughout the ship also alerted Gat. The Boss arrived and is gunning down the approaching Brotherhood.
"I'm fine, Shaundi... suddenly I'm not so worried about the Brotherhood."
When the fire fight died down. Kyouki shouted from the dock below.
"Gat, Pierce… I came to save ya'll. See, I helped!" Kyouki waved from the dock when she saw Gat.
Gat snorted. "Like a fucking lil kid!" He called over the railing.
"Whhaaaaat?" Ky shouted back up to Gat when she came to see what the crates had in them. "Oooh! Early Christmas!"
'Damn, I love that woman.' Gat smirked to himself.
Maero sat rocking his leg. His elbows were on his knees. He underestimated her. He really did. There was no way in hell anyone could come and go like the wind. No one. His shipment was the last thing, the only things he needed to regain his foothold. And now he doesn't even have that.
"Torque. Get whoever is with us ready. We push that bitch out!" Maero demanded.
"On it! Let's go, we got shit to do!" Torque, Maero's newly appointed enforcer, echoed gathering all he could who were held up in the HQ.
All the trucks arrived in Purgatory and they were stashed in the mission above them and trickled onto the steps of the Saint of all Saints' statue.
"I'm so glad ya'll seem to like the new hardware the Brotherhood hooked us up with. We should thank him. And send Dane Vogel a thank you card."
Kyouki took a seat on one of the large crates. She smiled. Still looked a bit pale. But she felt better. "Ya know, up until this point I've been having you toyin' with Maero… Had him kill his bitch here, stolen his money there... When this is all over, this will be considered good times. We know where he lives, we have his guns, and I say it's time we take that motherfucker out, whatchu all think?"
"Yeah!"
"Hit 'em hard!"
"We witchu Boss!"
"Brotherhood going down!"
"For Carlos!"
Kyouki nodded. "For Carlos."
A half hour after, all the Saints loaded up and plowed, not plowed, that would be far from what they did. It was more like a freight train hitting a line of livestock on the tracks who didn't get out of the way fast enough. It seemed the Brotherhood got the memo because the odd sound from the roof alerted Kyouki.
A barrage of bullets ate through the metal of the vent Li was taking cover behind.
Li saw the metal plating getting smaller, taking a glace when the firing halted. She took a chance ducking behind a brick chimney blind firing as she went. Catching Maero in the shoulder he shrugged it off opening fire once more. She was in serious trouble and she dropped her phone and was now trying to reach it. A few of his remaining goons were keeping her pressed along with the mini-gun that was being fired. Trapped, the gun stopped firing once more, and she took her chance. She dove for her phone and took some cover under Maero.
"COME OUT BITCH JESS WANTS A FEW WORDS WITH YOU!" Maero bellowed as he aimed the gun downward opening with a new stream of bullets, Li watched in surprised stupor as the floor was giving way to the weight, Maero was so busy trying to take her out he was going to kill himself in the process. Li's finger hit the number for Pierce accidentally as the floor caved above her.
Maero came down like a tank causing the already unsteady boards to collapse under his weight taking Li with him, crashing through the decrepit building three floors Li landing on top of Maero with a sound thud. Dust and debris Li covered her head.
She went to push herself off on the man when she heard him groan and reach for her. Grabbing her by her face, he rolled quickly, slamming her on the concrete floor.
Torque came running in, sweaty, as he panted. "The shootings stopped. You think it's over?" He saw the woman Maero had in his hands.
"Get out of here..." Maero wanted them safe. What he was about to do would be quick. "Your little buddy screamed like a bitch when we trussed him up… How 'bout you, bitch? You gonna scream?" Maero pulled her up to his face, reminding her of her fate.
Matt and Torque headed out of the large bay doors.
Matt called when three high-speed cars came and almost ran down Torque. "Torque, look out!"
They skidded to a stop and Matt ran back to where Maero still held Li. "Maero, get outta here!"
Matt screamed as they shot him in the shoulder and leg.
Things started going black from that one blow, but it wasn't enough. She was still too weak. "Get up, fight this!" a familiar voice called Li was struggling for air, and grabbed Maero's wrist, digging her nails into his skin. She kicked him in the arm. She fought with all of her remaining shots rang out and once the Brotherhood leader let her go, she scrambled for the gun.
She couldn't see straight, her vision blurred, and she missed grabbing the weapon, Maero growled and went to throw himself atop her, and she grabbed the gun flinging herself to her back she opened fire missing but kicking him in the balls with her steel-toed boots.
Doubling over, he started heaving. Li got to her feet groggily and aimed the gun again, squinting. She missed once more and prepared to fire, doing her best to aim for his head.
The sound of gunshots rang once more. A screeching car and roaring truck pulls up the should of a crash sounded in her ears.
"Get in, man!"
"No…" Kyouki rolled over, trying to stand.
Kyouki woke up with Pierce and Johnny patching her up. "God damnit, my head." Ky went to sit up and was holding her head.
"He went to the Arena, now lay the fuck down!" Johnny pushed her back down by her chest.
"I have to go after him! Get off me!" Kyouki screamed as she thrashed to get out of bed.
"Lay down, you are in no way getting up!" Pierce ordered his commander. Li looked at him as if he grew a second head.
"I need to do this." Getting to her feet, she stumbled, then righted herself, grabbing a bottle of water and some aspirin from the nightstand. "I'll be back. You have my word." And she left, heading to the Stilwater Ultor Dome.
They followed her, Donnie, Ramon, Pierce, Gat and a slew of others. She wanted to kill Maero fine. But she ain't doing it alone. When they got to the stadium, Kyouki told them to bring the chopper. "I'll open the dome. Hurry."
Pierce and Donnie left for the chopper. Ramon went to get into position on the roof with Johnny.
The Ultor Dome interior was littered with bodies as some Brotherhood barred her way to the office. Once there, she saw a massive control board with buttons blinking. A mic and the dome controls.
With a flip of the switch, the mic sounded around the speaker's system. Along with the dome button that creaked open loudly.
"1, 2 Li is coming for you…
3, 4 You should have offered more.
5, 6 I have many more tricks.
7, 8 But now it's too late.
9, 10 This is the end…"
Ky repeated as she carried the mic down to the floor. If Maero was here, she couldn't see him. But he will have heard her.
The lights flickered on from the bright headlights as Ky stood in the middle of the dirt covered floor.
"I didn't think you'd show..." Maero sneered.
Kyouki shrugged with her eyes covered. "Unfinished ass whopping I owe you. I'm surprised you have the balls to come alone..."
Maero snorted."I never said I'd be alone..."
The stadium lights up, revealing several Brotherhood members surrounding Li in their vehicles, revving their engines. Ky shook. It felt too familiar. She circled, counting the number of trucks against her. Then turns to face Maero, who roared his monster truck.
"Well, shit." Kyouki said.
Truck parts, some were on fire and blood covered most of the dirt flooring. Li was on the ground, heaving felt like they had canonized her, but with a bat to the left side of her stomach. Forcing herself to move, she got to her knees, Li hurt - she felt a stabbing pain and couldn't process where it was exactly, Maero wasn't present or Li just couldn't tell. Shots whizzed, taking out a few of the Brotherhood, let her catch her breath… if for a moment.
"Come on Li, get your shit together." She chides herself, then the sound of a monstrous engine revving was heard echoing around the arena.
Li flinched as another one of the monster trucks exploded behind her and within that split second distraction, Maero's truck was roaring towards her. With his foot on the gas, the Leader of the Saints was going to be splattered on his multi headlights.
Blinded by rage, the man plowed through the debris on the field. "I have you now, BITCH!" He roared along with the sound of his truck. The driver's side door flew off the hinges and something ejected shortly thereafter him.
The Saints Leader shielded her eyes, as she couldn't move her body fast enough. She expected the impact. A black and purple blur tackled her to the ground, knocking the wind out of her. "Fuck!" She loudly exclaimed upon impact. Groaning once more, she tried to push whoever was on her off. Ramon panted. He had rolled off of her to lie on his back. "Gat said, 'Hurry the fuck up, he won't stay down long."
Pierce was also just overhead.
Very confused, Li pushed herself up as she was leaning on one barrier, hurting even worse. She looked to where the newly crashed truck was and to see where Maero was now laying. Hobbling over, clutching her side even tighter, seeing a gun laying on the ground, she picked it up along the way.
"See…. ow…. See, I keep having to repeat myself…. ow. One… ooh boy, shit hurts, you should have apologized. Two made a better offer, gotdamnit! I might need a doctor. You seemed like a pretty chill dude…. fuck's sake, this hurts… Two, you should have never messed with Carlos and Ren."
She doubled over to catch her breath, looked at the gun in her hands and threw it at The Brotherhood sideshow freak's head.
The hulking man groaned as he was stirring. Li turned a bit, wincing. "That thing is too good for your dumbass. Just stay there for a minute, I… muthafu…. I got something for your ass. Pierce…. Firefly!"
Donnie came running over with the napalm, modified flamethrower.
Pierce covered his nose, taking the Flamethrower from Li. "Damn, that's harsh." He turned to walk away from the charred, burned corpse. Donnie took it back, shaking his head, thanking god he picked the winning side. Ramon and Gat were still plucking off the Brotherhood, who strayed too close. With the others running for the hills.
She did it for Carlos, and she was in serious pain. She doubled over once again and promptly vomited. Wiping her mouth, she felt warm, like she peed herself, saw blood on her jeans from between her legs, "Oh, shit…. The fuck?" Ky went to turn and screamed in pain.
The two men mounting the flamethrower turned around, seeing her hitting the ground once again. "Boss!" Pierce ran back to her. "Yo, Boss, you aight?" He saw her sweating and looking paler. Picking up his cell, he called Donnie over.
Pierce had her in his arms, heading to the chopper when Donnie closed the doors to open them, seeing Li being carried.
"What?!" was all the mechanic could get out."We need to get her to the hospital quick!" Pierce said in a rush as he and Donnie frantically got Li into the chopper, securing her and closing the doors, taking off skyward.
Donnie grabbed Pierce's cell and looked over the numbers as he rode in the back of the blackbird. "Second menu and the third one down." Pierce called to Donnie as he knew what he should have been looking for, the 'All Call' was to the Lieutenants.
"What do I say?" Donnie was panicking, looking in the back to see Li laying still looking worse than ever.
"Just put me on speaker." Pierce ripped his headphones off. "Aye, Boss is hurt badly. Passed out, I am taking her to the Hospital, she's not looking well."
"Shit!" Gat didn't bother to shoot the few Brotherhoods who were exiting the stadium from his post; he let them go. "Where you heading?" Slinging his sniper rifle over his shoulder heading to the ladder leading to the ground. "Ky is hurt. Less roll." He said to as he hustled to his car.
"The Barrio, Encanto." Pierce shouted.
"How bad is it?" Both Carlos and Shaundi asked at the same time. Carlos could be heard talking to Ren, telling her that Kyouki was injured.
"Got the location and I'm on my way with Noel!" Shaundi called over the others, leaving one other to watch the cams.
Donnie took over talking. "She's bleeding bad, and she looks pale!" Donnie looked up to see Pierce nod his head in thanks. They had another ten minutes before they reached the Sangre Sedienta Hospital in the Barrio.
Shaundi frantically rang the loft's doorbell. When Aisha answered, she had tears and was already dressed.
They all sat in the waiting room. They had been waiting for a word for two hours. Johnny was now pacing, running his hands over his face. Pierce was shaking his leg with his hands resting on his chin.
Shaundi kept looking at the door every ten seconds when it sounded like someone moved.
Donnie went to get snacks, but the Cafe was closed, so he and Ramon went out to the closest store.
Aisha was rocking back and forth, her fear coming to light.
A doctor walked out and passed them. Johnny cursed under his breath. "How the fuck long is this going to take? I'm going in there." "Johnny, wait, give them a few more minutes huh?" Aisha called, then stealing her gaze to the door as the doctor came through.
An older woman came through the doors. Doctor Adams looked over the chart in her hands and at the group in front of her. "Are you all here for Ms. James-Akuji?"
The others, besides Aisha and Johnny, were surprised.
"Yeah, what's the deal?" Johnny asked. The other two lieutenants shook their stupor nodded in agreement.
She cleared her throat. "Well, for starters." As Dr. Adams called off the list of things that they checked over and procedures they had done, one thing rang louder in their ears and to Johnny, everything came to a crawl.
The three of them sank into the waiting room chairs. Johnny, for the second time in his life, had tears falling from his eyes.
"Oh, Johnny." Aisha held his hand, tried to hold back her tears. She quietly asked the Doctor if she could see Kyouki. Gat wasn't 'with them' right now. Dr. Adams led the way to her room. Smell of disinfectant, the hum of machines and her and the Doctor's footsteps sounded as they walked along the corridor to Ky's room.
Opening the room door, the Doctor stepped out of the way, allowing the petite woman through. Ky was sleeping, and hooked up to two bags of meds and a few smaller ones underneath that.
"What's this?" Shaundi whispered. Right there with Aisha, she looked at the labels. 'Shit.' Her mind went back to what the Doctor told them a few minutes ago.
Aisha checked what was in Kyouki's notes. "Infumorph P/F for pain, ibuprofen to reduce swelling and Clindamycin, I'll give you a few minutes." The Doctor said. She exited, leaving the women alone.
Aisha grabbed a seat next to her girlfriend. The tears came, they came with provocation. Is this what Ky felt like seeing herself once sleep in the hospital bed?
Never has she seen her still always moving doing something. It had been some years since she joined the Saints and this is the first time seeing her like this. They had an additional reason to mourn. Ish wiped her eyes and sniffed, holding Ky's couldn't ask for a better friend, getting and keeping her ass safe.
Kyouki groaned a bit. "Who hit me with the elephant tranqs?" Ky could taste meds in her mouth. "The fuck they give me?"
"Morphine—Well the generic kind." Shaundi said. "How you feeling?"
"Nothing, the last I remember was... I was at the Dome. What happened?"
"Pierce and Donnie brought you here. The others are here. I made sure Carlos and Ren stayed at the hospital. I told them I'd call when you woke up." Aisha nodded to Shaundi, who went for her phone.
They heard the ring in the quiet room. "She's woke, fine but woke. Yeah. Yeah… Uh Huh. Alright, I'll tell her. Yeah, later." Shaundi looked up. "They say get well soon."
Kyouki nodded her best. "Ish, you were crying… You didn't think I was dead, did you?"
Aisha shook her head. New tears spilled. She couldn't find the words to tell her. She couldn't.
Worried, Ky went to sit up. Her body didn't allow it, she didn't feel right. She felt light, empty. Aisha crying not saying anything, Johnny not here, where is Johnny? "What's wrong? Is everything alright? Tell me?"
Shaundi paled a bit, biting her pierced lip; she didn't know how to respond.
"Shaundi?" Ky asked her.
She flinched. "Yeah Boss, everything's alright. Pierce and Donnie brought you in. Imagine that… I'm just going to…. I'll go get Johnny..." Shaundi quickly exited the room.
Ky closed her eyes and groaned; her head felt foggy, wanting to sleep. She slowly felt herself drifting off to sleep as Aisha petted her hand. Then crawling in the bed with her rested her head on Kyouki's shoulder.
When the sound of her door opened, her eyebrows raised as her heavy lids opened slightly. Pierce walked in, shutting the door a bit too hard. "Sorry." He crept over. Ky snorted softly. "Pierce, thank you. You saved me, how I'm not sure what happened, but thank you."
Pierce smiled a bit, then frowned. "You're welcome. We knew you weren't in no condition to fight, but we knew you wanted to go it alone. Mad respect Boss." Pierce looked shaken a bit. "Boss, you know that…" Before he could finish, Gat tapped on the door. Pierce sighed in relief and excused himself. Looking over his shoulder as the door closed, he shook his head.
They sat in the room's quiet. Johnny climbed into the bed on the other side of her, avoiding the tubes in her arms. "I still love you, no matter what."
He broke the news to her. Aisha closed her eyes. Ky, feeling their warmth, she turned her head and gave him a kiss.
"We'll be back tomorrow. I think they'll be keeping you for a few days. I'll bring you something to eat." Aisha said out of the bed.
Gat gave Kyouki a kiss that even the morphine couldn't numb. "Get some rest." He whispered against her lips.
Kyouki watched as he left. She placed a hand on her stomach, and she turned over, crying herself to sleep.
Victories, no matter how big, always have a sacrifice.