Misfit Mercs Saga

Rebirth Redux

Part 1

Reborn From the Ashes

By Nick Maro

The wooden box exploded as the limp body crashed through it. The man groaned painfully and looked up at his attackers. He felt his jaw and looked at the blood on his fingers. He spat more blood out of his mouth at the feet of the three leather clad figures. "I toldja, I ain't saying nothin'!" He reached into his pocket, pulled a long knife and lunged for the person in the middle. They easily stepped out of the way, grabbing the man's arm and twisted.

"You can talk or you can scream. The choice is up to you, Zipper." The man brought his hand down hard on Zipper's elbow, shattering it with a sickening crack. "Now tell us were you paid by Kevin Ross to frame Stormer of The Misfits and blow up the Gabor residence?"

Zipper held his arm in agony. "I told ya before, I'm not talking."

The brown haired man motioned to the red haired woman. "Alison, teach him a lesson." The redhead balled her hands into fists as she approached him.

She walked over to him slowly as Zipper was hunched over in the agony of his elbow being shattered. "Don't worry, luv. This will be painful." She snap kicked Zipper under the chin, sending him flying back into the side of a steel dumpster. He smacked his head hard on the metal. Alison gracefully walked up to him with her hips swaying. She grabbed him by the hair and slapped his face hard. "Are you ready to answer the man?" Zipper spat a mouthful of blood into her face. "Right, Anne, your turn, luv."

Anne walked up to Zipper, crouched down in front of him and looked him in the eye. "I made a promise to my husband over there, a promise that I wouldn't kill you. You're lucky and you will talk." She found a fresh bruise on his face and punched it. Zipper screamed in pain while Anne covered his mouth with her hand. "For a guy who says he's not going to talk, you sure tend to scream a lot. Now I'm giving you the chance to talk." She stepped on his hand on his broken arm. He muffled a scream. She grabbed his jaw as she dug her nails into his flesh. "Now talk."

"Fu-fuck yoOWWWW!" Zipped screamed in agony again while Anne ground his hand under her boot heel and tearing some skin from his face with her nails. He fell silent again and sobbed softly.

Turning her head Anne looked at the brown haired man. "Nick, looks like it's up to you now." She turned back to Zipper. "I really wish you had told us right away." She backed off as Nick strode forward and towered over the injured man.

"Y'know, Zipper, you're just making this harder on yourself." He reached into his jacket and pulled out what looked to be an energy gun of some sort. He looked it over curiously. "I honestly have no idea what this thing will do. A friend of mine made it and said that it was for shits and giggles. It's really an odd expression, don't you think? So as far as I know this gun can make you explode or maybe it shrinks you. I don't know. Let's try it shall we?" Nick took aim while Zipper's eyes got wider. He lowered the gun so it pointed at Zipper's gut with an evil smirk. "Anne please move, dear, no idea what this may do." He squeezed the trigger and a bolt of what looked to be electricity fired out. Zipper doubled over and clutched his stomach moaning in torment. It was then when the smell hit.

"Cor! I think the blighter shit himself!" Alison cried holding her nose shut.

Anne waved her hand under her nose. "You're right. I think he did. Ugh, what a stench."

"Well looks like we found out what this does." Nick smirked again as he put the gun away. "And I get what our friend meant. He shits himself. We giggle." Nick and the two women started laughing at Zipper, who was now in a fetal position crying as he defecated over and over. Nick knelt in front of Zipper and made him look him in the eye. "Last chance, were you hired by Kevin Ross or not?"

Zipper opened his mouth and only moaned. He tried it again. "ye-yes, I was. b-but I didn't blow up the mansion. I-I don' know wh-who th-that was." He said slowly and in obvious pain. "Make it stop."

Smiling, Nick stood up, took the chloroformed rag from Alison and knocked Zipper out with it. "And now to edit our names out of the tapes." Nick quickly edited the taped confession and put it in a plastic bag next to the sleeping man. "I'm going to phone the police and get the hell outta here."

"Won't he wake up by the time the police arrive?" Alison asked on their way to a pay phone.

Nick shook his head no. "That will keep him knocked out for about six hours." He picked up the phone receiver and dialed the emergency services number. He gave the operator on the other end the address and where to find Zipper. He left the phone dangling as the operator asked him questions.

Pizzazz hung up the phone and turned to Stormer. "Well, that was David or should I say Nick. He, Roxy and Jetta took care of Zipper. He wouldn't confess right away so they had to interrogate him." Stormer gave her look of shock and disgust. "Oh he's alright, Mary, just in some pain and desperate need of a fresh pair of underwear."

Stormer laughed despite herself. "Phyllis, there's been something on my mind. It's really been bothering me since we faked out deaths." She sat on stool in front of Pizzazz. "What's going to happen when we find the person who did this? I mean, everyone thinks we're dead. What about our homes and our belongings." She paused for a moment. "Our banking accounts. We won't have any of that when we return." She rested her head on the workbench.

"That's something that never occurred to me." Pizzazz handed Stormer a fresh cup of coffee. "David and I will be fine financially once this is over, but you, Roxy and Jetta," Pizzazz sipped her cup, "I have no idea but we'll think of something. I know in Roxy's will it says that none of the money goes to her living relatives. Instead her money goes to Misfits Music. Jetta's money goes to her parents."

"And most of my money goes to the Starlight Foundation and the rest to Craig. I recently put Kimber in my will. She gets my house. I felt it was only fair seeing all the things she'd done for all of us. Plus I didn't want to kick her out." Stormer pushed her coffee mug aside and went back to reading the paper. She was following up on the news reports of their deaths.

Techrat came up behind Stormer. "David asked me to take care of that, Stormer." She whipped her head around startled, her black hair flying over her shoulder. "Oh, uh, sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." He smiled and put his bowl of ramen noodles down.

"What did David ask you to do?" Pizzazz asked with a hint of suspicion in her voice.

"Can't tell you, sorry. David asked me not to tell any of you about his plan." Techrat gave a slight shrug.

Rubbing her tired eyes, Pizzazz sighed. "That's my brother, him and his damn secrets. I'll beat it out of him later." She looked at her two friends. "I'm exhausted. G'night you two, don't stay up too late. Mary, I want to go over some things with you. Just want to be rested. Sleep well." Techrat and Stormer bade good night to Pizzazz. She waved to them over her shoulder.

Stormer turned back to Techrat. "Are you going to be awake when the others get back?" He nodded. "Good. Just tell them I said good night. Also I need to talk to Roxy. I found something out. She's not going to be happy about it. Night Techie." She gave him a small hug and went to her bedroom.

Picking his bowl of noodles back up, Techrat looked around the room he was in. It's amazing that I lived above this complex. It's incredible. I can't believe Jetta stumbled across it…

"I can't believe I hafta clean this room for meself." Jetta complained to herself as she moved another box out of the back room. "But I had to suggest we draw straws for whom gets this room. Bloody figures." She dropped the last box and went back into the room. The room was finally empty. Jetta smiled to herself and set up her cot in the corner. She grabbed a bottle of beer and opened it.

Leaning against the wall, she took a long drink. A clicking and whirring of gears made her turn to find a hidden door opening behind her makeshift bed. Slowly Jetta brought the bottle from her lips stared in awe. "wot the bloody hell?" she whispered. She started to turn to tell the others but stopped as she pulled a small flashlight out of her pocket and flicked it on. She slowly walked to the opening and shined the light into the darkness. The light revealed to Jetta a set of stairs leading down. She searched the wall for a light switch, finding only smooth metal. Taking a deep breath, she cautiously began descending down the metal stairwell.

At the bottom, she found that stairs led to a short passage way. Jetta again searched for a light switch when she exited the passage way. This time she found one. She flicked the switch and the slow hum of electricity surrounded her. Slowly, one by one, the lights came on overhead. Jetta was standing on a catwalk that overlooked a vast empty area. She guessed that it served as a motor pool by the oil stains and tire marks. Painted on the far wall was a huge stylized cobra head with the same symbol on the floor.

Jetta cautiously walked the length of the catwalk. At the end she found stairs leading to the garage bay to her right and a door to her left. She approached the door and it opened automatically. The lights were on in the hallway. Down each side of the hall were evenly spaced doors. She began walking down the hall and tested a door, it slid open easily. She turned the light on and peeked in to find that it was an empty bedroom. She shrugged and tried another door finding the same.

After twenty minutes of searching, Jetta headed back to her friends to tell them about what she had found. The other rooms that she had found were a kitchen, a recreation room and what looked to be a training hall and a planning room. Jetta found The Misfits in the room they had converted into a rec room. "Techrat, Pizzazz, you'll never guess what I just found."

Pizzazz looked up from reading their obituaries. "There you are Jetta! We thought that you went out or something."

"No, I just found what looks to be the bloomin' main buildin'. It's bloody huge! I think it's served as a base of some sort." Jetta led The Misfits down to the complex.

David smiled after she showed them the massive complex. "Well, looks like we get to sleep in beds. You're right Sheila, this is amazing!" He turned his friends. "My friends, it looks like we have a new home."

Techrat smiled at the memory. He stood up and went into his new workshop to begin working on his newest gadget. When Jetta, David and Roxy got back, he gave Roxy Pizzazz's message. She nodded and went into her quarters to take a much needed shower.

"They're doing what?!" Roxy yelled in disbelief. She threw the newspaper across the kitchen area. "How dare they!"

"What's goin' on in here?" Stormer asked while yawning. She walked into the kitchen and pushed herself up to sit on the counter.

Roxy smiled sheepishly at Stormer. "Sorry if I woke you up." She picked the paper up and showed it to Stormer. "Pizzazz just showed me an article. It's about my goddamn relatives. My aunt and uncle are disputing the legalities of my will. They say that the will isn't binding because it was drawn up by a friend. Now they want the money I have given to Misfits Music saying that it's rightfully theirs." She leaned against the counter next to Stormer. "Even in my death they're a bunch of assholes."

Stormer was about to speak when David came in. "I heard Roxy yell. What's wrong?" He pushed his glasses back up on his nose.

"She's all right, David." Stormer said still in her light Japanese accent. "She just found out that her relatives are being giant pains again. Going for a new look?" She pointed to his glasses.

"Huh? Oh! No, I just didn't have my contacts in. I'm nearsighted remember. Besides, I kinda lost one of my contacts down the sink. Techrat is getting another colored pair in my prescription later. Till then I'm stuck in glasses." He turned to leave.

"Actually," Roxy said stopping him in his tracks, "you look kinda cute in them." Stormer snorted a silent laughed. Roxy lightly backhanded her. David left the room smiling to himself. Roxy looked over her shoulder at Stormer. "Wanna log in some time in that gymnasium? I could use something to release my stress."

Stormer shook her head slowly. "Some other time, as morbid as it sounds, I want to go see our gravesites." She hopped off the counter top and began to leave the kitchen.

"Mary," Roxy called, causing her to stop and turn around. "You're looking into our deaths quite a bit. I'm just worried that you're not regretting this."

Letting out an amused sigh, Stormer leaned against the door frame. "No, I'm fine. Just never been dead before." She gave Roxy a sideways smile reassuring her that everything was okay and left the kitchen. Roxy sighed to herself, went to her room and grabbed her jacket to go for a walk.

Jetta chewed her thumbnail while she watched Zipper being dragged into the police station on the news. Something about what he said bothered her. He said that he did kill Malone but he didn't set the bomb in the mansion. If it wasn't him then who did? Her gut told her that she wouldn't like the answer at all.

The channel changed and Pizzazz sat next to her. "The news is always so damn depressing." Pizzazz turned it back after Jetta glared at her. "Sorry, you didn't look like you were paying attention at all."

"It's all right, Pizzazz. The segment I was watchin' was over." Jetta sipped her morning tea. "I've been thinkin' about what Zipper said, luv. That he did kill Malone but didn't blow up the mansion. He didn't know who was responsible for that job. I actually believe him. No one shits themselves and lies." Jetta heard Pizzazz chuckle under her breath. "I guess there is some sort of hidden wisdom behind that comment."

"You're right though. Why lie when you've been punished in that manner?" Pizzazz studied the floor and her feet while she thought. "So now we've hit a dead end of sorts. What do we do now?" Jetta was chewing her thumbnail again. "Thumb taste good?"

Jetta looked at the nail she was gnawing on. "Sorry, bad habit. I picked it up in college before I joined the Azure Blades." She put her hand in her lap, hiding the chewed nail. "Think it could've been another gang that had a past affiliation with us or possibly Eric?"

Pizzazz looked up at her in sudden realization. "You don't think it was Eric who did it, do you?"

"No, I truly don't think Eric would do anythin' like this. He really does seem reformed. Well as reformed as a sleazy manger could get."

"I just know that Kevin Ross is the mastermind of everything. We just have to find the link to him. I'll talk to David later about this. Maybe he has an idea." Pizzazz stood and started to leave the rec room. "I'll talk to you later, Sheila." She waved over the back of the chair to her friend.

The racquetball bounced off the metal wall. David slapped it with his hand, sending it ricocheting to the right. He chased after it and smacked it again. The ball bounced to the left and again he chased it. He was tracking by watching it in the air and didn't see Clash standing in his way until the last second. He fell to the ground, sliding under her and stood up on the otherside. Clash stood there stunned and blindly caught the racquetball. She looked at the ball in her hand and smiled at the pleasantly surprised David. "I believe this is your ball."

Out of breath, David nodded and took the ball. He swallowed hard and cleared his throat. "Thanks, Clash. Nice catch there." He paused and wiped the sweat off his face with his shirt bottom. "What can I do for you?"

Clash threw him a towel. "Just wanted to talk is all. Been thinking about this situation." David sat on the floor and leaned his back against the wall. He patted a spot for her to sit and closed his eyes. Clash sat next to him and hugged her knees. "So what's the plan when you find out who did blow up the mansion?"

"Hand the person or people responsible over to the proper authorities. What else can we do? We can't take the law in our own hands. I mean, we already are by acting like vigilantes." He gave her a weak shrug. "By the way, how's the production company coming with Video?"

"Oh! Techie didn't tell you?" Clash said with a wide smile. David just shook his head no. "We have a name; Clashing VideoRat Productions. Video is working on finding a recording studio for sale. She has a few leads but nothing solid. Techie found some nice equipment here in the storage area. The equipment is the best I've ever seen. Whoever owned this facility had some great technicians working for them."

"That sounds great. I can't wait for this to be over. I really miss Kimber. Hell, I just miss my life. This was a stupid idea faking our deaths. What the fuck were we thinking?"

Clash put her hand on his. "You were protecting your loved ones. You were making sure no one went after Kimber or Suzaku. This all will be over before you know it. Just hang in there. I can tell you're scared. We all are." David looked at her and tried to smile. "I saw Kimber at the Red Rock Café. She looks good. Depressed and out of it, but good."

David let out a sigh. "I'm happy that she's looking well and thank you for caring, Connie."

"Could I have everyone report to the briefing room?" Pizzazz announced over the intercom. David helped Clash to her feet and they both walked together to the briefing room. On the way, they caught up to a returning Roxy fresh from her walk.

Pizzazz waited for her friends to take their seats before she spoke. "Techrat and I have an idea that we want to run past everyone. We need to cut all loose ends, meaning there is one person out there that knows all our secrets." She waited a moment to make sure she had everyone's attention. "We have to take care of Eric Raymond."

Everyone looked at her in confusion until Stormer cleared her throat nervously. "Wh-what do you mean take care of him?" Her eyes flicked back and forth at everyone rapidly.

"You're not plannin' what I think you are, Pizzazz?" Jetta said pulling her red hair back into a loose ponytail.

Pizzazz flashed a cunning little smile. "I am. Techrat and I have been working on this for most of the day. If you don't want to be involved just say the word." Slowly everyone agreed to hear her plan. "Great. Now, I found out where Eric has been hiding and it's not too far here." Pizzazz pressed a button on the table and a holographic map appeared from the center of the table. She pressed another button and a rundown apartment complex was highlighted in green.

"Wow. When did you discover this feature?"

"Techrat showed me it earlier, Roxy. Now this is the apartment building he's hiding in. He's in this apartment here on the third floor." A red dot appeared when she mentioned the apartment. Another building was then highlighted in yellow. "Jetta, I need you to watch the apartment from an empty apartment that's two floors above Eric's. It's directly across from his building. You'll be armed with a sniper rifle. You're to shoot anyone who isn't Eric or us. That includes The Stingers. Are you up to this?"

Jetta thought about what was being asked of her for a moment. "Yeah, I am. I've done much worse in my life." She thought back to when she shot Eddie.

"Great. Now I need David, Roxy and Stormer to head up to Eric's apartment and just talk to him. We need to know what he does. Got it?" The three nodded slowly. Pizzazz turned to Techrat. "All right, you know your job. Let's go everyone."

Jetta watched her friends turn from the bed Eric was laying in. A piece of cloth slipped out of Roxy's back pocket. A squawk of static came over Jetta's headset. "Okay, Alison. The mission is a scrub. Clean up the mess." Jetta fired two rounds into the chest of Eric Raymond's body and one into his head, killing him instantly.

TO BE CONTINUED IN "SMOKE AND MIRRORS"

PART 2 OF REBIRTH REDUX