Misfit Mercs Saga
Rebirth Redux
Part 3
Dangerous Krossings
By Nick Maro
The crowd felt like it was dancing in slow motion to the heavy bass beat. Bodies pressed tight and writhed together. Just about all eyes were staring at the stage before them. The music reached a peak and Kimber came out on stage and the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. She smiled and waved to audience and began to sing with a passion that she hadn't felt in weeks.
The door to The Elbow Room flew open as three leather clad shapes walked through with a purpose. "We're looking for the leader of The Skulls. Show us where he is quickly and no one gets hurt. Stall in any way and you'll have nice trip to the hospital." The blonde woman said walking briskly to where a couple of bald men were playing poker.
"Girly, play tough girl in the schoolyard, we're busy here." One of the men said without looking up at her.
The brown haired man kicked the chair out from the biggest one, who fell hitting his face on the table. He stood over him with an intimidating glare. "The lady asked you where your leader is. You will answer her." He leaned in closely over the bald man, lowering his voice to a near growl. "And you will be polite."
The brute swung blindly at him only to be struck by the redheaded woman, knocking him out. "Listen, luvs, all we want is to question your boss. So be a dear and get him for us."
"Okay, enough of this horseshit." The bald man, who spoke first, rose from his chair. "Just what the fuck do you want with our boss?"
"We have a few questions we want to ask him." The blonde said flatly.
The bald man thought about it for a moment. "What are the questions relating to?"
A small smile spread across the blonde's lips. "The Gabor Estate, we want to know who blew up the mansion with The Misfits in it. We have reason to believe your boss was involved."
"Bullshit. We'd never have anything to do with a murder like that. Take your quiz show elsewhere." The man told the three strangers as he sat back down.
The brown haired man sighed and glanced over his shoulder at the blonde. "Anne, looks like it's the hard way after all." He cracked his knuckles and smiled wickedly. "All right, let's dance." The three intruders rushed The Skulls who were playing poker.
Kimber was singing harder than she had in a long time. Music was helping soothe the pain of losing David and The Misfits. She smiled at her fans and danced with Aja who came on stage. She was starting to rethink about the tour that Evelyn had discussed with her before the show. Yes, The Misfits and David were dead, but Suzaku and she were still alive. After the tribute, she decided to tell Evelyn that they'll do the tour after all. It didn't start until after New Year's anyway.
"Nick, behind you!" Anne warned her husband of the sneak attack as he spun around and back handed the attacking Skull in the face. It only proved to annoy him. He backed off from his attacker to figure out a new strategy while rain splashed on his face in the alleyway.
Alison kicked her opponent in the face. "Who blew up the Gabor Estate? Tell me, ya bloody wanker!"
"Go t'hell, bitch. I ain't talkin' t'you." He spat blood at her feet. The thug pushed Alison into a pile of trash. He swung at her face but she blocked it and kneed him in the groin. He fell to the ground clutching his crotch.
Anne ducked a sloppy punch it was obvious that her opponent was undeniably drunk. "C'mon, big boy, come get me." She waved him towards her. Instigated by the taunt, he rushed her with a drunken yell and leapt at her. She grabbed his belt and flung him into the wall behind her, where he bounced off and landed in a pile of wooden pallets.
The door behind Anne flew open knocking her down as a tower of a man walked through it. He had a tattoo of a white skull on his forehead. He scanned the alleyway quickly and locked eyes on Nick. "I hear you're looking for me," he shouted in a deep, bass heavy voice. "Well here I am. What do you want?"
Nick pushed The Skull he had in a headlock down and knocked him out with a blind kick. "I want to know if you were involved in anyway with the explosion that destroyed the Gabor Estate and that killed The Misfits."
The Skull leader let a small grin slip on his face. "What explosion? Just what are you talking about?" He stepped closer to Nick and poked his chest. "I don't know what you're talking about. Now I suggest that you and your little sluts get the hell outta her before you join The Misfits in the afterlife." Nick grabbed the man's finger, bent it back and snapped it in two. The leader screamed in pain. "You're going to pay for that, asshole."
Alison and Anne both rushed toward the leader of The Skulls. Nick held his hand up, signaling for them to stop. "No. This is my fight." He turned back toward the leader. "Let's dance, Sunshine." A small grin now slid across his face, he didn't want to admit it but this fighting was very cathartic.
Dancing hard and fast on stage, Kimber let her fans become part of the show. She realized not long ago that the fans were the reason why she was who she was. If it wasn't for fans, Suzaku, Jem and The Holograms and all other bands would not exist. She let another fan on stage let them sing and dance with the band.
The fist impacted Nick's side like a brick. He didn't let on that it hurt by sweeping The Skull leader's legs out from beneath him. He backed away down the street a bit further. The leader got to his feet and began advancing towards Nick. "You've got some moves, kid. I'll give ya that. But it ends now." The leader rushed towards him.
"What did you have to do with their deaths?" Nick demanded as the leader came running towards him. He grabbed the leader by his shirt and threw him through the doors of the club they were in front of. He followed after The Skull leader into foyer of the club and tackled the leader's midsection as they tumbled through a second set of doors into the main area of the building.
Through the front doors tumbled what looked to be one man. A few moments later Kimber noticed it was two men fighting. The smaller man head butted the bigger man in the face causing a spray of blood arc through the air. Kimber jumped down from the stage and slowly worked her way closer to the fight. The crowd that was once dancing was now panicked and gathering around the two men.
Hitomi grabbed Kimber by her arm and shouted above the music and yelling, "Let's get outta here. It's too dangerous." Before Kimber could respond Hitomi began dragging her to the back stage area. She slowly turned away from the spectacle and followed her friend to the back stage.
On her way into the back, Jeff Wright ran past her with security to help break up the fight. "Jeff, let me know what was going on." Jeff nodded as he stopped for a brief second, nodded then walked backward toward the crowd. "One more thing! Find out who they are, okay." Jeff just smiled and then mixed in with the crowd of people. Kimber went to her dressing room and shut the door. Something about the way the man who attacked the larger one moved reminded her of David. She chewed at her the inside of cheek as she paced the dressing room in thought. "That's crazy. He's not the only who fought like that." Jerrica checked in on her a few minutes later to see if she was all right.
Nick head butted The Skull leader again only to be met by the roar of the crowd. He didn't hear them. "Tell me, dammit! If it wasn't you, who was it?!" He shook the leader by the remains of his torn shirt.
"I-I don't know." The leader coughed up blood. "W-we only w-worked for Raymond a few t-times."
Nick pulled his arm back to punch the man again but it was stopped by a sandy haired man. "Hey! He's had enough." He relaxed his arm and Jeff let it go.
As he backed away from The Skulls leader slowly got to his feet. Nick turned around to leave when he jumped in the air, spun around and kicked the leader in the head, knocking him out. Nick turned to Jeff and looked him in the eye. "Now he's had enough." He ran to the door where Alison and Anne were waiting for him. They left the club quickly and headed to their van.
Once inside the van Nick laid on the backseat and groaned in pain. "I saw Kimber in the club. It looked like she was throwing a concert."
"You didn't know about the tribute concert?" Roxy asked looking at him from the passenger side seat. He shook his head confused. "It's been all over V-TV and the radio. From what I understand the event sold out in a matter of minutes. The event was to honor The Misfits and you. It was all Kimber's idea."
David combed his fingers through his brown hair. "Guess I've been too busy to catch up on current events. I just feel bad that I ruined it for her."
"I'm certain things will be all right. Kimber will have found a way to get things to continue. She's pretty clever when she wants to be. I'm sure the tribute has resumed or somethin'." Jetta said sounding confident as she drove home.
"You're right, Sheila." David replied staring at the van roof, waiting to get back to the base so he could rest up and figure out their next move.
A light knock came from the dressing room door and Jeff poked his head through slowly. "Hey, uh, Kimber, everything is calmed down now and the audience is waiting for you. That is if you're up to it. I could always just tell another band to start if you're not ready."
Kimber looked up at Jeff with a faint smile. "I'll be ready in a few minutes, still a bit shaken up by what happened. I'm so happy that everyone stayed."
"Same here, by the way, I could've sworn I saw David in that fight. The brown haired fighter looked a little like him. Well not in the face but in the eyes and body language, y'know." Jeff laughed to himself. "Okay, I sound like an idiot now. I'm just getting wrapped up in the spirit of the event. I'll go tell the Limp Lizards to go on stage."
Giggling softly Kimber's smile grew. "Yeah, I thought so I saw him too. Thanks, Jeff. You're a good friend."
The constant banging on the door grew louder as Roxy woke from her deep sleep. She looked at the time on her alarm clock to find that it was way past the time she had set the alarm for. Quietly she swore to herself as she discovered that she had completely forgotten to turn the alarm on and had only set the alarm time.
The banging continued as she sat up and groaned. "Alright! I'm awake!" she yelled at the door. "I heard you the first hundred times." She muttered under her breath as she pulled her pants on. She jerked the door open to find Stormer was standing before her. Roxy stifled a yawn and glared down at Stormer. "What is it?"
"Pizzazz told me to wake you. She was worried that you had a concussion and had gone into a coma or something." Stormer handed Roxy a tray of food that she didn't see before. "Anyway, here's breakfast for you. It was David's idea."
Roxy pushed the door all the way open. "Come on in, Mary." She led the younger woman into the small kitchen area. "I just forgot to turn the alarm on is all I was so tired last night. I forgot how much fighting takes it out of a person." She swallowed her bite of toast. "Thanks for bringing breakfast."
Stormer absentmindedly played with her hair. "Umm, Roxy? I-I've been thinking." Roxy looked up from her plate. "You've been getting awfully close with David. I know you're supposed to be husband and wife, but don't you think you're playing the role too well? "
Before she could answer David walked in through the door. "Sorry if I'm interrupting, just wanted to see if Roxy was awake yet."
"Stormer just woke me. I forgot to set my stupid alarm clock." Roxy laughed lightly as she sipped her coffee.
David let out a little chuckle. "I figured as much. Anyway, I just came to see if you're up for more training in about a half hour?" Roxy and Stormer both nodded. "Great. See you then." He waved to his friends and left the room.
Roxy finished her breakfast with Stormer's question unanswered. "I'm going to take a quick shower. Meet you in the training room?" Stormer nodded slowly and started to leave the barracks. "Great. See you then."
Pizzazz pulled the mask from her face and set the air brush gun down. She had just finished painting the van that they had bought from the odd college kids. Taking a step back she looked at her handiwork. What was previously neon green and teal was now solid black with a red stripe along the side. She figured this van would be perfect for night strikes against the gangs that Eric had used in the past. Pizzazz looked at the roof and figured it needed something up there perhaps a fin or spoiler.
Picking the gun back up Pizzazz started taking it apart and cleaning the pieces. Auto shop in high school paid off with The Misfits van before and it was paying off now. She dried the pieces off and set them next to the sink so the insides could dry. While washing her hands Jetta came in to see her progress. Pizzazz smiled at the British redhead. "So how does it look? Did I do a great job or what?"
"Very nice Pizzazz, I knew you were goin' for somethin' different but I didn't know what. This is perfect for tonight's job." Jetta tossed a bottle of beer to her friend. "Here you go, figured you would want a nice cold one to celebrate."
"Thanks!" Pizzazz opened it right away and drained half the bottle instantly. She didn't realize how thirsty she really was. "Say, who are we going after tonight?"
Jetta shrugged as she leaned against the worktable. "Dunno, haven't talked to Eric all day. All I know is that he was talking with Stormer earlier and she had an idea that she could only tell him. So your guess is as good as mine." Jetta inspected the paint job on the van again.
"Okay well, I'm going to find out who it is. I need to come up with a strategy for you guys. See you later, Sheila."
Jetta nodded her good bye and continued admiring the paint job.
"I have to run an errand, David. I'll see you before you guys leave tonight." Stormer yelled running out of the women's showers. She was gone before David could say anything.
"What's gotten into her?" Roxy asked giving him an affectionate hug from behind.
David shook his head. "I dunno. Maybe she's visiting our graves again. Who can tell anymore?" He picked up his gym bag and began walking down the hallway. Roxy quickly caught up with him as he glanced at her sideways. "You're learning very quickly, Rox. I'm very proud of you." Her smile showed the pride she had in the compliment. They walked in silence for a few moments. "If you want I can continue your training when this is over. You seem to be a natural at it."
Stopping in her tracks, Roxy grabbed David's upper arm and pulled him close. She couldn't hide the joy that she felt at his words. She always felt like she was a failure at everything but making music. She tried to put her feelings into words. "I'd like that, I'd like that a lot." She then hugged him tightly. "Thank you," she whispered in his ear. "Thank you for giving me confidence in myself and to the others. You've helped me in so many ways." She gently kissed his cheek.
Holding her hands in his David rubbed the backs of her hands with his thumbs. "You're very welcome." He led her down the corridor again and stopped before the door to her quarters. "Listen, you and the other Misfits have helped me also. For a longtime I was so scared that Phyllis would reject me because of what happened. That she would feel betrayed by me. But when the time came it went smoothly and we grew as close as we were when we were eight years old. I can proudly say that Phyllis Gabor is my sister. I can proudly say that Roxanne Pelligrini is one of my best friends and my best student. It means a lot to me." He looked at his watch. "Anyway, go change and I'll meet you for dinner."
Roxy opened the door and turned back around to face him. "Hey, we're all Misfits deep down. I even consider Kimber a Misfit now. And Misfits stick together no matter what."
"Ah, truer words have never been spoken. You're wiser than you let on. Listen to your wisdom more often." David smiled and left as Roxy shut the door.
Roxy stormed through the door while Eric tried to get up before the furious woman could get near him. She pushed him back in the chair and held him there. The anger in her eyes spoke volumes. "How many other fucking gangs do we have to go through until we get the right answer?" she growled deeply.
"N-now Roxy, just calm down, o-okay? We'll find the right gang e-eventually," Eric stammered nervously. He desperately tried not to wet himself.
"Eventually, Eric, eventually? Jetta was almost killed out there. A bullet struck a mere fraction of an inch above her head. David might have broken his arm saving me from falling off of a building. He took the impact of the fall with his body. And what do we get for our trouble?" Roxy grabbed Eric by the throat. "We get the Gimp saying that we'll eventually get to the right gang. Only thing we'll eventually do is wind up dead for real." She squeezed his throat under his jaw tighter as she began lifting him from his seat. "Now, tell me who we should go after. Right now, Eric. I'm not fucking around anymore."
Eric gasped for air as his eyes bulged in pain and terror. He finally rasped a single name. "T-torcher. F-find T-torcher. H-he may know."
Roxy tossed him back into his chair by his throat. Eric rubbed his throat and gulped for air as she stared deep in his eyes again. "This had better be the last one. I'm tired of jumping through your hoops and letting you play your manipulation games." She turned and began to leave the room. "The only reason why I don't kill you where you sit is my sense of honor and that David seems to think you can change. I still think you're the manipulative asshole you always have been." She left the room slamming the door behind her.
Walking on unsteady legs, Eric went the bar and fixed himself a much needed drink.
David winced in pain when Techrat poked his ribs. "Good news is that you don't have any broken bones. But you're going to be sore for a few days. How's your shoulder and elbow feel?"
"Better since you gave me the pain killers. I'm just glad that my stuntman training paid off." David slowly stood up and sucked in a breath as a sharp pain hit him again. "I'm going to hit the whirlpool. I used to do that after I took a fall wrong in Japan. It really helps."
Stormer wrapped her arm around David's shoulder. He nodded his thanks and let her lead him out the medical room. "I'm glad you're okay. Pizzazz's heart just about stopped when she heard you and Roxy fall. I'm just glad that you hit the dumpster."
"Would you believe I was aiming for the pile of mattresses that was next to it?"
"I can tell you're feeling better. You're back to making smartassed comments." She helped him to his room. "Okay, I'll go change and meet you back here in say five minutes?" He nodded and she hurried to her room to change into her bathing suit. She knocked on David's door three minutes later. "You okay?"
"I'm fine, Mary. Just takes a bit longer because of my ribs. I'll be okay." He opened the door a few moments later. "I just learned that I'm okay walking. Bending over is the problem." Looking up and down the hallway David turned back to Stormer. "So where did Roxy go? I haven't seen her since we got back. I would've thought for sure she'd be by my side."
Stormer started giggling to herself. David loved how her laugh sounded with the voice modulator. "She went to go have a talk with Eric. With how mad she was I can guess that there wasn't much talking on his part."
David shook his head slowly. "I just hope that she didn't hurt him at all." They reached the whirlpool and sank into the warm waters. Stormer turned it on and they both relaxed immediately. "Oh this feels so good."
A slender form slid into the pool next to David and kissed his cheek. "Thanks for saving me." Roxy rested her head on his shoulder.
"So what did Eric have to say?"
Roxy looked across at Stormer. "He said to talk to Torcher. Personally I'm fucking tired of this wild goose chase. I want my old life back!"
"Tomorrow we'll find Torcher. If he doesn't know, then we'll go after our prime suspect. Kevin Ross. I'm also tired of this." David lifted himself out of the whirlpool and started to dry off. He wrapped the towel around his waist. "I'm going to bed. I want to also heal up a little. See you ladies tomorrow." He walked out of the pool area.
Stormer and Roxy sat there awhile enjoying the warm bubbling water. "You never answered me earlier. Do you think you're playing your role of husband and wife too well?"
Roxy got out of the tub and put on her robe. "I think I'm going to bed also." She began to leave the spa.
Stormer got out the whirlpool and chased after her. "Dammit, Roxy! Why won't you answer me?" She caught up to her, grabbed her arm and pinned her against the wall. "What's wrong with you? I thought we could talk about anything!"
Hanging her head Roxy stared at the ground. After a few long seconds she brought her head back up and looked Stormer deep in the eye. "I'm in love with him, Mary. I've fallen deeply in love with him. I told him that I did during our little war games. He thought I meant like as a friend." She wiped a tear away. "No. I really want to spend the rest of my life with him."
The anger faded quickly from Stormer as she pulled Roxy into a tight hug. She hugged Stormer back. "I really would like to talk about this, Mary. Are you up to it?"
"Of course I am." Together, Stormer and Roxy went back into the calming waters of the whirlpool and talked late into the night.
The roundhouse kick finished its strike sending Torcher flying through the bar wall. David, Roxy and Jetta stepped through the hole. "Now, are you going to tell me who destroyed the Gabor Estate or do we get to cause more property damage?"
Torcher sat up and spat out blood, he held his hands up in surrender. "No more. I give up." He slowly stood and sat in a close by chair. "I knew nothing but trouble was going to come from this job."
David looked at the two women he was with in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm the one who was hired to set the bomb." Torcher winced as Roxy started to lunge at him. Jetta and David were both straining to hold her back. "Wait! I'll tell you who hired me! Trust me when I say that it wasn't personal. I was paid twenty-five thousand to do this job."
"Who the fuck hired you?!" Roxy growled at him.
Torcher heaved a sigh and looked at his three attackers. "Ross. Kevin Ross hired me. Actually Ross and I never spoke. I spoke to a middle man named Mr. Lassiter. He's the one who paid me in cash. But the word on the street is that Kevin Ross has always had it in for the Gabor family."
Roxy finally calmed down enough that David and Jetta let her go. Jetta turned back to Torcher. "Are you willin' to testify against Mr. Ross and Mr. Lassiter?" Torcher nodded as he wiped the blood from his mouth. "Then I want you to head down to the fourteenth district precinct and turn yourself in to a Detective Steven Evans. He's the lead investigator in this case. Tell him everythin'." Her gaze then turned deadly. "But if you bolt I'll send Anne here after you. Do you understand?"
"Y-yes." Torcher swallowed hard and got up to leave. Before he left, he turned and looked at them again. "If it makes you feel better. I didn't intend to kill the people inside, just wanted to blow up the house." He left the bar, got on his motorcycle, leaving the three people behind.
"Can we trust him?" Roxy asked into a hidden microphone.
A squawk of static burst in her ear. "I'm tracking him now. It was smart of you to put the tracer on his bike just in case he left like that."
"Keep on him, Rumiko. Make sure he goes to the station."
"You got it, Anne."
"I say we go after Ross tonight. He must have people inside of the police station. We have to strike while he's still unaware." David said walking out of the bar. He opened the passenger side door of the new van for Roxy.
A pop of static came in his ear. "Rumiko and I will meet you in front of the building. This concerns us also. We'll bring the cloaking devices to grant us safe passage. I warned him to never fuck with the Gabors again. Obviously he didn't listen."
Jetta started the engine and spoke to Pizzazz. "Alrighty, meet you in about a half hour?"
"You got it. Take care you guys. Over and out."
"Body feels exit." Roxy sang quietly while waiting for Pizzazz and Stormer to arrive. She then punched David in the arm.
Surprised, David rubbed his sore arm. "What the hell was that for?"
Roxy just shook her head. "You got that damn Namie Amuro song stuck in my head that's what!"
David just stuck his tongue out at her. "Oh real mature there, Nick." Pizzazz said coming up the sidewalk. She entered the side door of the van and handed out the cloaking devices. "Remember we're not invisible from heat sensors. Also the doors are all locked, so we have to trick the guards into opening the doors so all of us can sneak in. I have a map of the building floor plans that Eric made for us. Ross' office is on the sixty-third floor. We're taking the stairs. Elevators will be too obvious. Any questions?"
"How do we know that he's there?" Roxy asked the most obvious question.
Pizzazz smirked. "Clash made a wrong number call. He answered. Clash did this about five minutes ago. Now, let's get moving." She opened the side door. Keeping her cloaking device off, she signaled the four others to turn them on. She then opened the driver's side door and started the engine. Taking the piece of wood she found, she jammed the gas pedal down and kept it place by propping it in front of the seat. She then turned the wheel so the van was aimed at a safety fence. She turned on her device, put the van into gear and got out of the way.
As the van sped towards the fence, she ran to the double glass doors and waited for the crash to occur. The van hit the fence with a loud crash making the horn blare loudly. The guards inside the building looked out the door. One of them unlocked the door and the two guards ran to see if anyone was hurt. Pizzazz grabbed the door before it could close and snuck inside. She propped her foot by the door to keep it open. After waiting ten seconds she whispered, "everyone here?" David and the three other Misfits gave an affirmative. "Okay, there's a stairwell on the left side that we'll use. Meet you inside."
Instinctively ducking down Pizzazz ran at a quick pace and reached the stairwell door. She opened it carefully and slipped through. The door opened three more times after her After confirming they all were present, all five intruders carefully made their up the stairwell. They reached the sixty-third floor after twenty minutes of climbing. Everyone agreed to take a few moments to catch their breaths from the long climb.
Pizzazz opened the stairwell door and crept out into the plush hallway. The door closed silently after Jetta came out last. Together they snuck up to the engraved main office door of Kevin Ross. David pounded on the door and waited for an answer. He pounded harder when no one answered. This time he yelled, "Boss! Come quick there's been an accident!"
The door flew open and Kevin Ross walked out. "What the he-?!" Pizzazz punched him in the face, cutting his sentence short. Kevin stumbled back into his office as his five invisible intruders followed him inside.
Stormer quickly ran to his desk and flipped a few hidden switches. "All clear!" she shouted and turned off her cloaking device. The rest turned visible after she confirmed that she had turned off all cameras and hidden microphones in the office.
Kevin rubbed his jaw in confusion and anger. "Who the hell are you people?" He looked at each of them then stumbled back again. "It's impossible! You're dead! I saw your bodies!" He fell backward, landing hard on his bottom.
"That's right you bastard! We're not dead!" Pizzazz kicked Kevin in the side. "Why did you do it, you bastard? Why did you have to take away everything that mattered to us?" She kicked him again.
Kevin blocked another kick and slowly got up. "Let me talk, dammit! I can't talk if you're kicking me every five damn seconds!" Pizzazz stopped but stayed close as he walked his way to the bar. "Excuse me if I'm not a gracious host but I tend to forget my manners when dead people start beating the hell out of me after breaking into my building." He mixed himself a drink.
Pizzazz knocked the drink from his hand and punched him in the face again. "This isn't a fucking social call. We're not here so we can invest in your fucking company." She grabbed his throat and began squeezing. "Answers. Now." She put on a fake, sweet smile for him as a rage she had never felt before burned in her eyes.
"Let go of me!" Kevin squirmed out of her hand and rubbed his throat. He looked over at Stormer. "You know, just about all my life I had a grudge with the Gabors. That included you as well, my dear Mary Phillips." He casually walked up her and cupped her face in his hand. "Even under that facade I can see the family resemblance." Stormer pulled her chin out of his hand and glared at him. "Oh please, don't sneer at me. It's so unbecoming." He snorted while he walked to the other side of the desk. "Now, I did have a point here. What was it? What was it? Oh yes! My revenge started with you, Mary. It started with your mother."
Stormer's eyes went wide with hatred and realization at his words. She quickly leapt over the desk at him. "You mother fucker! You blew up the store so you could strike back at the Gabors." She kneed him in the stomach and pushed him down. Sitting on his chest Stormer began punching him in the face. David and Jetta tried to pull her off him while she grabbed his shirt in her fists. "Let go of me! He killed my mother!"
Roxy helped in pulling Stormer off of Kevin. The shirt finally gave way, tearing in Stormer's hands. Jetta and David held the enraged Stormer back while Kevin stood again. "I should've expected that reaction." Stormer spat in his face. He casually wiped the saliva off his cheek. "Charming. Now, you might be wondering how I knew that Mary was part Gabor. It was easy, really. I'm in the medical industry. I can have anyone's medical record at anytime." He turned to Roxy. "I'm so glad that HIV test came out negative. Never know what you might get in that profession." Roxy threw a wild punch at his face as he stepped back and easily dodged it.
"It seems I've managed to make everyone in this room hate me outside from blowing up your mansion. Well, with the exception of the lovely Sheila Burns there. Might I add that you look lovely with red hair?" She simply raised her middle finger toward him while he chuckled.
"Enough bullshit. Tell us why you did it, Kevin."
Kevin turned and looked at David. "To scare you, I told Adrian to tell Torcher to make sure you weren't there. All I wanted was to take everything you owned away from you just like how your father did to mine." He tried to make his shirt look more presentable.
Jetta caught a quick flash of something intimately familiar. She ripped Kevin's shirt off in a flash. There it was the same tattoo she shared was on his chest. She swept his foot from under him and pressed her forearm across his throat. "You're a member of the Azure Blades? When did you join?"
"Ah, I knew that would set you off." A devious smile spread across his lips. "If you really want to know who set this up simply ask them. Surprise! I'm a pawn this time!" Kevin began laughing hard at some sick, private joke. Jetta got off of him while kicking him for good measure.
"Pizzazz, Detective Evans will be here any minute. I just saw him pull up in the security camera."
"Thanks, Stormer." She looked around the room unsatisfied with the results. "We came in with questions and we're leaving with some tough answers and even harder questions. We'll figure out what to do tomorrow. For now, let's disappear and then get a good night's sleep." She activated the cloaking device and everyone followed her lead.
As they left they left the office the elevator doors opened and Detective Evans came running out with two officers after him. Almost thinking alike everyone rode the elevator down. The sound of Kevin Ross' laughter echoed in their ears. The elevator car stopped, they exited the elevator and headed for the doors they entered through. It was a short quick walk to the old white van. Pizzazz drove the van back to the base as they all sat in silence for the trip back.
Pizzazz parked the van in the parking garage and climbed out. She wrapped her arm around the crying Stormer, comforting her. David walked alone and went into his quarters. Jetta and Roxy headed to the kitchen looking for a bottle of whiskey.
"Here's what I learned about where the Azure Blades currently located. We have one faction that's in England but we have a second faction that's in Egypt. I did some looking into the Azure Blades' history and I discovered that they come from the Middle East and northern Africa. So my guess is that we have to go Egypt and find out who told Kevin Ross to blow you up." Techrat explained pointing at a holographic map.
David looked around the room. "I guess it's safe to say we're going to Egypt." Everyone at the table each nodded and agreed. David took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Techrat, Clash, get our papers together. We're going to Egypt!"
TO BE CONTINUED IN "SANDSTORM"
PART 1 OF DOUBLE EDGED BLADE