Atonement: Lincoln Clay
Episode 9: Rolling Stone
A/N: Sorry I missed Christmas guys but here's another chapter. I don't know if did this right but please don't flame me if I did. Also, I'm thinking about putting up a Halo crossover and I figured I'd mention it, but the keyword is 'thinking', not entirely sure what I will cross it with yet if I do it. An RDR2/RWBY Crossover is also possible but I make no promises. Oh and what would you all think if I found a way to bring in Enzo somehow? To be clear though, I have not yet decided on a route for this story.
[Gamelover41592: Thanks, I hope you like this chapter.]
[Pyrogreninja: Thank you for your support and I'll consider RDR2/RWBY crossover.]
[march4fun: Glad to hear it, I'll try to put more light moments with the kids later on.]
[Wombag1786: I hear ya man, and sure I'll see what I can do about a badass flamethrower scene!]
[Disabled-doctor: Thanks.]
[Review Dude: Aw thanks, and I think I may have read it. I will do my best to finish the stories I'm working on, although new ones may pop up in due time.]
[Reads to much: Hmm, you've got a point there dude. that's 1 for a partial Rule]
[Guest 1: Glad to hear you're happy man. I'll try to keep it coming.]
[Wolf: Yeah, I hear ya. that's 1 for redemption.]
[buzzsaw935: Now that's 2 for rule.]
[Guest 2: That's 2 for redemption then, and I might do one.]
[Sam hill: Yeah now that's 3 for redemption!]
[Guest 3: Here's to redemption 4!]
[Eye: I might, and this is Redemption vote 5.]
[Guest 4: Lincoln and Sienna might fall in love, I just have to find out how and even if I can make it work.]
[Guest 5: I watched the episode and Those gods are horrible for what they did to Salem and Oz. If anything the creation god could've at least offered her an alternative and all the madness would've been prevented. I don't remember her needing to destroyed but there is another option, she just needs to disappear.]
[Guest 6: That's rule vote 3.]
[Big Benjamin: That's redemption vote 6! Hmm, good ideas, and having Jack in love with Yang sounds great.]
[IAmPedobear: Thanks man, and I've actually been thinking the same thing. It'd be way beyond interesting to see how it unfolds when they get wind of what Lincoln has done behind their backs. I promise I will try to keep this story alive.]
-2 DAYS LATER-
The night sky of vale was filled with light pollution from the rest of city, obscuring all but the brightest stars. Cars were driving along the highways in in their usual late-night rush traffic to reach whatever destination the drivers of said cars had to arrive at. in the streets below those highways, people were out doing their business, with the occasional shady character passing by or a drunken man or woman stumbling out of a bar. So far it seemed like just another night in the kingdom's capitol city, and a decent night of business for one Hei 'junior' Xiong. The shady nightclub owner was minding his own business and tending to his bar as he normally would, watching the patrons either dance to the thumping music or drown their sorrows in liquor.
Just as the man was about to serve another drink, a new patron strolled into his club. The man had a dark complexion a, military style haircut, green jacket, and blue jeans from what Junior could see. As a somewhat experienced criminal Junior knew enough to keep his eye dangerous people like the new patron. As he cleaned a glass, the man in the green jacket approached the counter with a military swagger in his step. Within a few second the man had sat down, and signaled to junior that he wanted a drink. Without missing a beat, the bartending info broker promptly moved over to serve him a glass of liquor.
"What'll you have pal?" Junior asked as he polished a glass.
"Whiskey, on the rocks." Lincoln answered the bartender. "You the guy who runs this place?" he asked, looking the bartender directly in the eyes.
"Here you go, and I am." The bartender replied as he slid Lincoln the drink.
Without any hesitation Lincoln downed the shot alcohol and then set the cup down on the counter. "I'll make it simple I need some intel and word on the street is you tend to hear things, I've also got a business proposition for you." The soldier relayed a half truth of his intentions for being in the club.
"Hold on a minute, if you want to talk business, then follow me. Oh, and what you want to know probably won't be cheap buddy." Junior said cautiously as he stepped away from the counter and signaled for one of his men to take over the counter.
"We'll see about that." The man replies coolly as he follows junior to a VIP room. After a minute or two of walking the two men reached the room and Lincoln went in first. The veteran knew he could handle whatever his mark was going throw at him, and to refuse any offered drinks in case of poison. He smirked to himself as he recalled how Donovan spiked the funeral party's wine with military grade LSD. Of course, he had a feeling what Junior probably used would most likely be far less psychedelic. Lincoln casually sat down on one side of the booth and Junior on other, both of them having concealed weapons just in case.
"So what do you want to know?" Junior asked coolly and leaned back in his seat to relax.
"I want to hit Mistral banking, and I figured you might know someone inside who wants to get paid." Lincoln casually explained to the local info broker. "I also want anything you can get me on a Tyrian Callows, as well as any associates."
"We all want to get paid buddy, it just depends on how much is involved. I mean that's a big job, lot of risks involved." Junior rubbed his fingers together in an effort to put emphasis on the cost. "But sure, I can get you want you want to know about this guy and anybody he runs with. It'll take a few days though to get my sources out there. Of course I want the standard fee for my valuable services."
"Can't say exactly until I know the full score, but it's a big take. If I had to give a rough guess, 40k." Lincoln replied. "And here's your pay for the intel." He then slid a stack of lien cards that he'd earned from a few underground boxing matches over to Junior. The info broker checked the cards with a machine to see if they were legit or fakes. The device beeped positively and the info broker grinned coolly at having received his payment.
"I'll ask around then, but I think I know a guy who needs to pay a few bills." Junior said coolly.
"Hold on a minute, there's another thing I wanted to discuss." Lincoln raised a hand.
"Oh?" Junior raised an eyebrow curiously.
"A partnership." Lincoln said with a serious look on his face.
"Heh, and why would I do that tough guy? I'm mostly independent." Junior chuckled insultingly despite the intense situation he was now in.
"I know you've got ambitions Junior, and if we come to an understanding here there's a piece of my operation that'll need a man to run it." Lincoln tried to ignore his prospective employee's abrasive behavior and crossed his arms.
"Me, running a part of a big operation?" Junior said with a cautious look. "I just sling drinks and share what I hear." He waved his hand dismissively.
"I found out how your family treats you, all they need to see is what you can do with some help they won't give you." Lincoln added in an effort to persuade the man and avoid any unwanted trouble.
"You want to help me?" Junior asked suspiciously and leaned a bit closer.
"I figure it's mutually beneficial for the both of us, and you can't deny that they won't let you prove yourself." Lincoln explained and reminded the Xiong mobster of his low level status.
"Let's say I was interested in what you're building, how do I know I can trust you? Trust is what matters in this life, and most can only trust what's in their wallet." Junior retorted cautiously, bringing up an unspoken code between skilled criminals. He knew all too well that without trust business was far less profitable.
"That's a fair question, but what if I told you there was someone out there who wanted you and everyone else in the city dead." Lincoln threw in the reality of a growing crisis that would strike the city in due time. "Now you and I both know something like that is very bad for business."
"I'd say that's not really anything new. Someone is always going to want someone else dead. Hell the grimm are always going to try eating everyone in sight." Junior said as he reached for his concealed weapon.
"Well I want to take a hold over this city to keep it safe from the ones who want it to burn, and bring down the grimm while I'm at it. So at this point you have a choice, either join up with me and get paid, or get the fuck out of my way. Of course that doesn't mean we won't see each other later, probably as enemies." Lincoln stated with an eerily calm tone that made Junior feel a chill in his spine that this guy wasn't someone to fuck with.
"So I either work for you or pack up shop?" Junior was visibly shaken by Lincoln's warning.
"That's the size of it." Lincoln answered with an intense look on his face. "Now choose, the money or a bullet."
"I'm not an idiot, I know you fought the Branwens and almost took on their queen. Fine I'm in." Junior growled disdainfully and crossed his arms.
"I knew you'd see it my way, just remember who's in charge." Lincoln smirked and moved to stand up.
"We'll see about that." Junior reached for a pistol he'd hidden.
"I'd think twice before pulling that gun of yours by the way, it won't end well for, I guarantee it." The former soldier snarled, having paid attention to the info broker's subtle movements.
"Tell you what, you kick my ass, and we have a deal." Junior said as he pulled out a pistol and started firing at Lincoln. The veteran predicted his opponent's shots and sidestepped the line of fire. He then spun around and whipped out his M1911, firing it rapidly at junior's hand to knock away the broker's gun. The bar owner yelped in pain as the gun flew out of his hand and froze as Lincoln's intimidating form closed in on him. In seconds Lincoln had started pummeling the man who had stupidly challenged him to a fight. The soldier picked up Junior and threw him at a thin wall, causing a huge hole to be punched in it. Coughing roughly, Junior stood back up with a slight stumble only for Lincoln to shoulder charge him and slam against another wall. The experienced info broker managed to land a punch to Lincoln's face but it seemed to have little effect. Junior slammed his knee against Lincoln's torso and managed to force him back slightly but that seemed to make him angrier.
Junior ran forward and tried to hit Lincoln with some hand to hand moves but he soon found out that the big brute was not only persuasive, but a really skilled boxer too. Lincoln slapped away a high kick with his bare fists and then blocked straight punch. As an act of retaliation Lincoln started throwing a series of rapid straight forward jabs to Junior's face and chest. The info broker managed to block at least one and smacked Lincoln's jaw. It made Lincoln grunt in pain but he just continued his assault, throwing another jab, following with a right cross and left hook. Lincoln then rammed his fist into junior face again, breaking his nose and causing a tooth or two to fall out. The info broker then spat some blood in the veteran's face out of spite, making him remember another brief moment from New Bordeaux. After gritting his teeth and holding himself back from killing Junior, Lincoln let the battered man slink to the floor. He then decided to hammer his point home and picked up a chair, bashing it on his opponent's skull. Junior groaned in pain as he felt his bones crack from the severe beating he was taking at Lincoln's hands. The veteran war fighter stood over him and then kneeled down, grabbing the Xiong family mobster by the back of his head. With amount a second of hesitation Lincoln began smashing Junior's face against the floor repeatedly until it looked like the fight had been knocked out of him.
"Are you done?" Lincoln asked the severely beaten bar owner.
"Yeah whatever you say… boss." Junior groaned in pain.
"Good, I'll be in touch. Make sure you tell your folks not to retaliate, we're associates now and the last thing this city needs is a turf war between us." The newly crowned boss ordered to his subordinate.
"Right, sure." Junior replied as a tooth fell out of his bloody mouth. On that note Lincoln walked toward the club's exit with Donovan waiting for him, several knocked out thugs being barely visible in a nearby booth. Lincoln raised an eyebrow and Donovan shrugged with a grin at what he'd done to keep some extra trouble off of his friend's back. What was lucky is that they had managed to keep damage to a minimum and even avoid alerting the patrons to the disturbance. All in all, the work they'd done that evening had been very productive for their future operations. The both of them then returned to their own bar to rest for the night and continue working on more plans to set in motion for their efforts to take over the city. As the two of them drove home, Lincoln couldn't help but feel grateful that Qrow had gotten his friend to look after the kids for the night. He knew the drunken bird was probably suspicious of why Lincoln had asked for that favor so Lincoln gave him a believable half-truth such as gathering intel.
Once they returned to the bar the both of them got their guns and headed to a local shooting range for some practice and relaxation. The range just so happened to be owned by a local entrepreneur with a shady reputation. The two of had been debating for a while whether or not to give the place a try, and they did agree that it was more responsible than getting drunk. They parked the pickup out front and pulled out their weapons from duffle bags in the cab. Above the seemingly inconspicuous store was a large sign that read in animated letters 'Kincaid's Guns and Supplies'. The two men looked at each other for a brief moment before walking into the storefront. A guy was trying to haggle with the shopkeeper who didn't seem to be really listening to his customer.
"Can I have a refund for this gun it doesn't seem to work." The customer replied in a suspiciously shaky voice as he looked from side to side.
"Hmm, I don't know…" The owner said as he inspected the customer's revolver. Suddenly without any warning he cocked back the hammer and fired the weapon at the scammer's foot. The guy squealed in pain as he held his leg and rolled on the ground in excruciating pain. "No refunds, now get out." The shopkeeper said bluntly. He then emptied the cylinder and tossed the gun at the writhing man before turning his attention to Lincoln and Donovan. "Ah welcome to my humble shop gentleman, my name is Marcus Kincaid. Can I interest you in anything today? Perhaps you might like a quality firearm from my stock."
"We're Just here to use the range pal. Although we might be interested in some ammo, provided you don't shoot us with it." Donovan said coolly to the store owner, following with a snide remark.
"If you're referring to him, he's tried to scam me out of money several times before and he has a record, so I'd say he should get the hint now." Marcus pointed at the squealing scammer. "But sure go ahead use the range, that will be 20 lien for both of you." He then gestured to the range and stuck his hand out for the fee.
"Fair enough pal." Donovan said as he handed Marcus a lien card.
"Thanks and be sure to support your local store." The shopkeeper grinned and buzzed open the range door for them. With that over the two men went inside and began shooting at the various targets as they popped up.
"Hey Lincoln, bet you can't hit as many as me!" Donovan fired his M1911 at a target, getting a bullseye. "That's 1!"
"Oh you're on!" Lincoln shouted as he started rapidly firing his own pistol down range and grinned at his own feat of accuracy. "That's 2!" He shot back, and just like that the two of them went at it for two hours in good gun toting fun.
-END CHAPTER-
