Chapter 5: Paint the Town Red
PRESENT DAY -
TRIBECA - LOWER MANHATTAN
The safe house in Tribeca was very high end, a fifth story warehouse apartment. After months of tracking the Pure One and her mate, Quinn had successfully captured and turned the Male, the Pure One was still out there, but he had been needed elsewhere.
Instead of continuing his pursuit of the one calling herself Sara, Quinn had been assigned to infiltrate Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah and oversee the removal of certain vital research materials, namely the Helix Shard, however, Victoria "Vikki" Foster had absconded with the Shard and gone on the run.
After months of tracking her, he had finally located her in New York, living on the street and attempting to put the Shard into the hands of Journalists.
Quinn knew better than to attack directly, he would use local assets, untraceable, a high sum monetary reward for services rendered.
Viktor Nikolaev was the perfect candidate to use as a proxy, his Wetwork guys were known to be thorough. How hard could it be to interrupt a meeting between two journalists and a homeless woman and retrieve a cylinder?
From what he could tell from the police reports he'd been fed, the first part of the job had been completed, the reporters and Foster were indeed taken out.
However, a third party had gotten involved, killed the two Russians and the Corrupt Detective Nikolaev had used, then made off with the Helix Shard and whatever evidence data Vikki Foster had been keeping.
"This was supposed to be a quick in and out you know?" he said to Georgina as she lay next to him. She stared back wide eyed as he sat back and used his free hand to screw a cigarette into his mouth and light it.
"You see, it's never just simple, there's always got to be a fly in the ointment, a monkey in the wrench, you know?". Georgina still gave no response, but shifted slightly.
"I hire a guy to do a simple job, two reporters, a homeless woman and get something back that was stolen… and what happens?" Quinn Continued. Georgina still had nothing to say.
"Well, I'll tell you what happened, shall I?" Quinn waited for a response, none came "Ok babe, well, he went and fucked up… or maybe I'm being too harsh, I mean… there was a third party involved… but either way, there's now a loose end" Quinn said, blowing out a cloud of smoke.
Georgina had been screaming for a different reason about twenty minutes ago, now he was holding his hand across her throat to stop her pathetic whaling as her abdomen distended and new offspring, a new soldier for the cause came forth into this world.
After the events in the alley, Quinn decided there was a chance, however slim, that Eve might be in the city. The injuries that were inflicted upon those men could only have come one way, from someone like him… the police were at a loss, he wasn't. Quinn knew all too well the type of injuries his kind were capable of inflicting "It had to have been one of us… but Who?... Why?" Quinn asked and looked over at Georgina.
Georgina's abdomen finally ruptured, spraying blood and viscera across the bed, no trouble. Luckily, Quinn had already ordered a fresh mattress and covers online before he went out to the local bars this evening Always Plan Ahead he thought. He took his hand off of Georgina's throat, she would scream no more, and left the offspring to come forth in it's own time. "Oh, nevermind" he said.
Now that Viktor was bereaved of a Brother, there was a chance he would attempt to retaliate. That wasn't Quinn's concern, there was no way Nikolaev could stand against Him, or the entire Network, against Her.
What was a concern was that such action might draw unwanted attention.
Quinn was one of the children of Patrick Ross, however, his immune system was more stable than those of some of the others, meaning he could go longer without doses of The Serum, and despite not being the biggest, was physically stronger. He knew, he was also more of a thinker than some of the others, which is why he had been put in charge of overseeing this recent activity in New York.
Nevertheless, he knew he had to do something about Nikolaev, and then he would have to track down and deal with the mystery interloper. He reached over and grabbed his phone, then slid off the bed, pulling on a pair of shorts.
First he would deal with the Russian, for that, he knew there was a man, Sebastian Dankworth, he was outside the network, but occasionally did freelance work on their behalf, a man who could be trusted to get the job done.
Quinn typed out the Target's name, Location and the appropriate amount to get the job done and hit send on the encrypted app. While he awaited the response, he dialled someone else.
DEPARTMENTO DE PANDO - NORTHERN BOLIVIA
She was the fastest one, she was the best fighter, and the strongest, Always. She had completed every mission the Boss Lady had seen fit to give to her, so why was she still doing all this second rate Wetwork. She knew she was destined for greater things. Send me after Baker and Lennox, better yet, send me after the betrayer, let me hunt down Eve.
The only thing that Vesper ever felt held her back was her dependency on the Serum. Were it not for that, she could do anything. She made herself strong, she made herself fast, she educated herself, she knew that it would be nobody else, but Her, who would bring down the Betrayer, finish the Job, which that weakling, Portus, had started in the back of that Ambulance years ago. Eve was out there somewhere, and it would be Vesper who would find her, and drag her before the others.
This is Pathetic, small fucking patato's Vesper thought as she easily lifted the Cartel Fighter by the throat and dashed his brains against the wall.
She had been in Bolivia less than two days and already longed to have some real action. A small time Cartel had stumped across one of the distribution Labs and attacked it, believing it to be a rival drug operation. How wrong they were. These small timers were nothing, no challenge whatsoever, Vesper was due something better than this.
She charged into a group of them, she didn't even bother with The Change, no need for claws, she was a living missile and she knew it. She trained, she honed her skills, she was ready for anything this world could throw at her.
She unleashed a flurry of punches, kicks and finished off the last member of the group with a headbutt so violent, she felt his skull cave in.
Now there was only one left, the leader. He had made his way down to the lab floor, where he was being backed into a corner by Seth.
Seth was a brother of few words, he preferred to let his actions do the talking. He was known among the others as "Razorback" for his exceptionally large dorsal blades, Vesper was often paired with him for missions. An effective team.
"You got him?" The only response Vesper got was the only one she expected, a low grunt.
Vesper hopped over the railing and landed in the middle of the Lab floor, denting the grating. "No, Por Favor, Espera" the leader of the fighters held up his hands and sank to his knees.
"Hay Bro, isn't it funny how they always beg when they realise they can't win?" Vesper quipped over her shoulder to Seth. "Let's just get this over with" he replied in his usual low, gravelly voice. Vesper leaned forward, bracing her hands on her knees, regarding the leader of the fighters almost like a spider in a bathtub, completely at the mercy of the water faucet.
"Get it over with? Don't you want to savour this?" Vesper said through the side of her mouth "I mean, look, we always get the easy stuff, I wanna squeeze all the fun I can out of this" Vesper said as she gently placed her hands on each side of the Cartel Fighter's head. He was little more than a snivelling wretch at this point, not worth the effort.
Vesper twisted his head and heard a satisfying wet crack, then let go and stepped aside to watch his body collapse to the grated floor of the lab. "Hmm, maybe you're right" She said.
The lab was compromised, after downloading all the sensitive date and salvaging some of the research material, Vesper and Seth departed. Once they got to a safe distance, Vesper pulled out the detonator switch and activated it.
The old building facade that contained the Lab was consumed in a very satisfying fireball. A new one would soon be established in a new location, and hopefully better guarded so she didn't have to waste her time doing this again.
Vesper slapped Seth on the shoulder and turned to leave. Just as she did, she felt her phone buzz in her pocket.
The encrypted phone's caller I.D. said "Whitey" that could only be Quinn. Quinn was smart and vicious, to the point that he sometimes made the others nervous, he earned the nickname "Whitey among the other brethren for his pale, albino appearance, though, to her knowledge, none of them ever said it to his face.
Quinn was also higher up the Network's food chain and got the good jobs, hunting the Pure One, Eve's wayward Daughter, finding the missing Helix Shard… word had reached Vesper that he had run into some trouble, she hoped, she really hoped he was about to say what she thought he was going to say.
She hit the green phone Icon to answer the call.
"Hay Big Bro, How's New York?" Vesper said. The answer came quicker than she expected "Well, if you're wrapped up in Bolivia, then I need you here. Got a situation". However calm Quinn sounded, Vesper could detect in his voice that he was frustrated about something.
"Of course, what kind of situation are we talking here? " She asked. There was a slight pause and then Quinn said something she did not expect "I'm not sure, but it could be an Eve kind of situation… someone tore up the guys I hired pretty bad, and I don't know anyone outside the Network who could do that".
Every word after "Eve Situation" faded away for Vesper. She stopped dead in her tracks and slapped the back of her hand on Seth's chest, stopping his movement too. "You hear me sis?" Quinn's voice came over the line "This is what you've been asking for right? Well, this could be your chance".
Vesper paused, Quinn was right, she had been Vocal about wanting to catch the job of hunting Eve… if it was Eve in New York, then she was about to discover the true price of what she did that night in the barn.
She had turned on their Father, Patrick Ross, she led Hunters to their sanctum, Vesper and a few others had thankfully been cocooned a few hundred yards away in the woods and some in the old Ross estate. They had formed the new generation.
Vesper remembered looking out across the fields and seeing the army fire flames into the barn, she felt the agony through the mental connection of those still growing inside, Eve would pay for that!
"Don't you do anything Quinn, I'll be right there! If that bitch is in the city, I'll find her, she's mine!" Vesper growled down th line. "That's exactly what I thought you'd say, Sis" Quinn's voice sounded cheerful now.
Vesper took the phone away from her ear and put it to her chest as she turned to face Seth "You got a toothbrush, bro, we're going to New York" Vesper grinned "We finally get to hunt the bitch who got away". Seth grinned and started walking.
Quinn could tell by the sound of Vesper's voice that she was motivated. Quinn suspected it too. If it was Eve that was skulking around in this city, Vesper would root her out. Many of them had run as fast and as far as possible the night their sanctuary had burned, but Vesper had stayed on the edge of the woods the longest, just staring in the flames.
They had all sensed Eve's arrival, even in their cocoons. They knew of the passion between Their Father and the woman who would ultimately betray him. Vesper took it very hard. It made her extremely determined.
Quinn turned away from the window, where he'd been watching the late night party crowd going too and fro, completely unaware of what was going on in this room, and looked back at the bed.
A boy, rolled off of Georgina's body and looked around the room, his eyes eventually settling upon Quinn. Quinn gave a slight chuckle "Happy Birthday"...
"What?" Vesper's voice came over the phone. For a moment, he'd been distracted and put the phone back up to his ear. "Hay Vesper…" Quinn said with a grin. "What's up?" heard her reply on the other end of the line, she sounded eager. Quinn smiled at the boy and turned back to look out the window "Throw me a boy's name…" he said.
TERMINUS - BENEATH MIDTOWN EAST
The woman who called herself Nicole "Nikki" Toombs opened her eyes and took a long breath. Sometimes, in her dreams, she was back in Los Angeles, still going by her original name "Sil". Sometimes in her dreams, she was that girl who ran away to find her place in the world, only to find fire, blood and pain.
It had been two days since the incident in the alley, and it had brought it all back for Nikki.
After going through the files on Vikki Foster's drive, she finally knew what she was, why she was different, how she stood apart from all life on Earth. She stared up at the concrete and brick above, counting the cracks and seeing the parts that were crumbling. She lay there for a while just thinking.
Alien… So what I am is part Alien… Sent to Earth in some transmission to infiltrate and destroy all life on this planet… According to their theory.
Perhaps that was the purpose of the message, perhaps not, Nikki neither knew nor cared. I choose my own path in life. I've been doing it since they tried to kill me in my cage.
Not only that, but she might not be alone. She had been recreated. A cruel experiment to discover the weaknesses of her kind… but her other self, her Sister… this Eve had proven too much for the government to handle too. She had also escaped. Nikki had no idea whether she was alive, dead, captured?
Wherever you are, Little Sis, I do hope you're making good decisions, better than I did when I first escaped. Nikki chuckled to herself, Little Sis Nikki hadn't called her that, Connar har coined the term for her, it was accurate enough, but Nikki just couldn't… feel it.
The thought of having an actual sister, an identical one at that, was strange. No, Eve was a clone, a duplicate, not a relative.
Nikki had lain awake until the early hours with Connar just talking. Should I go looking for her, what would I even do, or say if I actually found her?
Connar had been supportive, as he always was. Saying that he'd help her should she choose to go looking.
Nikki had to admit, the idea of spending the summer on the road was appealing, but she still hadn't the first clue where to start, for all she knew, Eve was no longer alive. Unlike Nikki, when Eve had escaped, for the second time, the government knew she was alive. Meaning that she likely would not still be on US soil… at least not if she had any sense.
Because of this, there was also that added risk of running into government trouble, if she was still alive, and if she was still on the run, they would almost certainly be looking for her too. If they discovered she was still alive, it would all begin again.
Then, of course there was the matter of Patrick Ross, or "Captain Ken-Doll" as she had come to call him, thanks to Connar's hilarious comments about him the night he landed on Mars.
Nikki worked it out, HE had been the reason she had experienced a number of strange sensory episodes and dreams several years ago. She had been sensing him, he had also sensed her and connected with her. She had experienced one particularly disturbing episode where a man had appeared to her in a waking vision and beckoned her "Come back Sil, be with me". It had tempted her to the very edge of her restraint, but ultimately her priorities had won out, not long after that, the visions and connections had abruptly stopped.
According to Vikki's files, he had gone on a mating and killing spree around Washington DC and the surrounding areas, they had used Eve to try and track him down and it backfired, it backfired in a big way.
Had Nikki been in New York at the time of his return, with such close proximity, she may not have been able to resist, but had not been caught up in one of Connar's ventures again and as a result, she was half the world away, helping him and another Whisper, Maya Le Fauconnière, known as The Carpathian.
After a spate of kidnappings in New York, Maya had appeared, having tracked Connar down for help. They had spent three months tracking an Arms Dealer named Armin Sulaimann who had begun kidnapping Sighted children around the world and taking them to a hidden facility to be turned into "Shades" Lobotomized, ruthless killers. These were to become the next generation of Whispers.
Their journey had taken them from New York, to Paris, then Barcelona, Zurich, Murmansk, Egypt and finally the heart of Africa, where they had found Sulaimann's facility, a repurposed diamond mine, deep in the Kabobo Massif region of the DRC and commenced their effort to free the subjects.
It had been a ferocious battle, at the end of which, Nikki had personally killed Sulaimann, by dropping him from his observation deck, five hundred feet to the training floor.
Feeling the sensation of his arm draped across her, Nikki turned her head to see Connar sleeping by her side. Sometimes she didn't know why he stayed. With his skillset, he could go anywhere, be anyone, and yet he chose to live underground with someone who wasn't even human. Deep down, she knew why, because she felt the same way about him. Nikki allowed herself a subtle smile.
Nikki turned over and reached down the side of the Matress onto the slab floor. It was cold. Her bed consisted of a clean mattress and a mix of blankets, she stole a new mattress every few months. Her hand felt around until she found the spine of her scrap and sketch book that she kept on her nearly all the time.
Nikki rolled onto her side a began slowly leafing through the pages. This whole thing had her thinking of the past, she sketched most of them from memory, she found the page where she had sketched her "Father" he appeared much as he always had to her. In the image, he held up a hand, which he often lay flat on the glass of her enclosure. His sketch was surrounded by slithering shadows "I'm sorry" was scribbled angrily at the bottom, the last words he had whispered to her as the gas began to rise through the floor.
Moving on, she found the page where she had sketched the one they called Laura. Nikki had personally spoken to Laura, briefly in a bathroom and borrowed her perfume, she appeared much as she had in that moment, cracking a small smile and holding a small bottle of perfume. She had been annoyed at the time and claimed the perfume worked on her boyfriend "As a repellent".
Moving on again, the next page was a dark skinned man in a brightly coloured shirt and a white skullcap, the man they referred to as "Dan" she didn't know his last name, nor did she care. He was Sighted like Connar, but untrained, not a fighter, Nikki never knew how much control Dan had over his Psychic abilities, whereas Connar had full control. Dan had a telepathic ability, but he seemed to focus on his Empathic range. Connar had all of the psychic disciplines mastered.
Press was the next page, at one point, she had felt attracted to him, a strong man, a hunter, sometimes she cursed her instinctual side, she had fought hard to get it under control after L.A. it only ever led her into trouble.
Of course, L.A. was not the only time she had been in Press's proximity, he had been in New York. In a way… a violent way, he had introduced her to Connar.
Part of her wondered whether he recovered from the injury Connar inflicted or whether he died. The more she thought about it, she began to feel the beginnings of anger rising and decided to turn the page.
Staring back from the next page was Stephen Arden, the man she had spent the night with, the man with which she had had a child, then lost that child in fire and pain.
She had found some of his books, in an effort to "Get to know him" but whenever she had tried to read them, she became too upset and simply gave up.
She leafed past the page of the L.A. skyline on fire and onto the New York skyline. When she first came to New York, she had climbed to the top of Brooklyn Bridge and sketched the view of the island, just because she could.
Nikki flinched slightly, feeling Connar's warm hand caressing up her back. His other hand slid around her a few seconds later and pulled her close. He rested his chin on her shoulder and gently pulled back her hair "Hay… you ok?" He whispered. "Fine" She breathed.
His arm slid out along hers, and took her hand, he was looking at the book of sketches over her shoulder. "This thing doesn't come out when you're ok" he whispered. Nikki put the book down and rolled over to face him.
As she did, he grabbed the heavy blankets they used down here and pulled it right over them both, trapping the heat inside.
"Talk to me" Connar whispered. "I know you can read me" Nikki nuzzled up to his face "Yeah, but I'd rather hear it". "It's just" Nikki began "I was just starting to believe all this stuff was behind me, then all this shit starts again". "So why don't we just leave?" Connar asked.
Nikki thought for a moment "Leave, and go where?". The answer came fast "Anywhere" he said "We can go anywhere, and who says we have to settle anywhere? I grew up on the move, we had each other and we were happy, just like us right?".
He had a way of putting things that always made Nikki feel at ease "Yeah, we're happy" she finally said and followed it with a deep, gentle kiss "I just need to know this won't follow me, I don't wanna look over my shoulder".
"I get that" Connar said, "I did some checking around, the Police are all over Viktor Nikolaev and strong suspicion has fallen on former detective Nathaniel Ward". "That's the guy who I uh…". "The guy who's arm you tore off Nikki?" Connar quipped. "Yeah" she said "That guy".
"Nikki, only one small pointer for the future, just shoot them, that way the wounds are… well, explainable" Connar said. "You know me" Nikki countered "Angel's gotta leave her mark" once again, she nuzzled up to him and they kissed, more passionately.
"Well, you certainly did that" he whispered "As always".
"I'm sure it'll all blow over, the police have a connection to a big time crime boss, and that's their angle" Connar continued. "My concern isn't the Russian" Nikki said "It's who hired him, there's no way he would have gone after that Vikki woman if he hadn't been hired by someone else, someone worse".
"There's no word on the street, Nikki, believe me I'd know by now" Connar said, then added "The tunnels and alley's are whispering that The Angel Protects".
For the most part, Nikki didn't care about the urban legend that had followed her all the way from Detroit, sometimes she even found it irritating The Angel of Vermin.
Every time she found herself having to deal with a wayward, aggressive gang member or other such activities in her territories, the "Angel" would be whispered throughout the streets.
The small "Tributes" and "Offerings" that some left out for her would increase. She only ever took what she needed and left the rest for the others.
"Look, why don't we do something fun instead, take your mind off it" Connar said. With that, Nikki pressed her body up against him "What do you have in mind? She asked with another deep kiss. "Well" Connar began, definitely becoming distracted by her "How about we hop the Q-train and go spend the day over on Coney, have a drink in the Freak Bar, get some ice cream, a walk along the beach. Clear your head… clear both our heads…" Then he kissed her back.
"Sounds great" Nikki whispered "Not many people down there this time of year, it'll be quiet.. We'll do that… but not just yet".
With that she leaned into him and felt his arms slip around her. She kissed him passionately and he returned it with the same energy.
They both knew at that moment, they were going to have a good day, no matter what.
BRIGHTON BEACH - BROOKLYN -
DARK BOHEMIA
"I fucking told you, Detective, I know nothing about why my Brother was there, or Yuri". Viktor Nikolaev was a big man, Olivia leaned on his wide, black marble desk, knowing full well, that he likely had a gun, possibly more than one gun hidden within feet of her.
"His phone has over half a dozen calls from this club within an hour of his time of death" Olivia countered "You were in contact with him that night". "So fucking what, we talk on the phone, that proves nothing, you've got nothing, Detective".
Olivia stood up to her full height, knowing that if Nikolaev followed suit, he would dwarf her in size, and began to walk around his office. All black marble with expensive art on the walls.
Every wall seemed to have a dedicated section of exotic weapons from different cultures
"You like Weapons, Viktor?" Olivia asked. Nikolaev put his hands together over his chest and sighed, raising his eyebrows. When he didn't bite, Olivia continued "What kind of weapon would you say, could deliver blunt force trauma equivalent to, oh I dunno, an eighty mile an hour head on collision?".
Viktor stared at her and still didn't bite, clearly someone who had been playing the game for a while. "Well" Olivia continued, she had to be careful what she said next, give him something to think about, without giving too much detail away "I only ask, because in six years of working homicide, I've never seen that level of blunt force trauma… but your brother damn sure has".
"Enough Detective, if you have nothing, and only come down here to gloat, then I have better things to do!" Viktor said. Right at that moment, the doors to the VIP lounge slid open and a gorgeous young woman strode in, she was dressed a flowing black dress and carrying a clipboard, which she placed on Viktor's black marble office desk before turning to regard Olivia.
Olivia had met Viktor before, but only knew his daughter Katarina Nikolaev by reputation. She had the look of a beautiful young woman, Olivia wasn't sure her actual age, somewhere in her mid 30's perhaps, Blonde hair and an open, innocent looking face.
But to thing she was innocent was a grave mistake. Word had it that she was just as tough and vicious as her father when provoked. "Do you have any further business here, Detective Smithson?" Katarina asked. "Not right now" Olivia said "But I'll be in touch".
Olivia knew she had to watch Viktor, Katarina and the club closely. The Club was situated in a prime location on Brighton Beach Avenue, not far from the Oceana Condominiums, where both Viktor, Katarina and formerly Kirill held residence.
Viktor had strong-armed several business owners into giving up their property, then someone's palms had been greased in the local construction firms.
They had ripped up and reconstructed several buildings into one large complex.
Viktor's club, Dark Bohemia, was huge, consisting of four levels above ground and another two below, including Viktor's personal office and a two different VIP suites, one above, and one below. There was even an open rooftop area where Viktor took special guests.
It was one of, if not the greatest clubs in all of New York. It was also the place where many reports of illicit activity ended. The Club had no internal CCTV, as per its reputation "What happens in Bohemia, stays in the Dark".
Olivia knew that Viktor would likely make a retaliatory move sooner rather than later, to save face with other organisations in the city.
She would have a surveillance van place out on the street to monitor the comings and goings. If any of the city's Fixers entered the club, Olivia wanted to know about it.
Katarina looked at her Father, it was difficult to see him like this. He had definitely been shaken by what happened to Yuri and Kirill, not to mention their associate, Detective Ward.
The Detective had been coy with her words, but her father kept several police officers on the payroll and had already seen the crime scene report.
Kirill had been shot several times and had massive crush injuries.
Yuri had been torn open by some means and his neck had been snapped like twig… as for Ward, he had had his arm ripped off and been flung bodily against a brick wall, smashing his internal organs. Katarina had to admit to herself, she didn't know who or what could have done that kind of damage.
"Father?" Katarina said softly. She leaned forward and forced him to look into her eyes, placing her hand on top of his on the cold marble desk "Chto neobkhodimo sdelat'?" (What must be done?) She asked.
Katarina looked up as her Father took a deep breath and rose to his full height, there was the strength she needed to see. "I want every Fixer in the city here on Saturday night" he said "Someone fucked us, I want to know who".
Katarina smiled "I'll get right on it" she said".
CONEY ISLAND BEACH- BROOKLYN
It was getting towards the evening and they had spent the whole day hanging around Coney. It was cold but Connar didn't care, the cold didn't affect Nikki and it was good to see her smile and laugh.
They had spent most of the afternoon in the Freak Bar and now they were wandering along the beach with Ice Cream they had bought from a rather bored looking vendor on the beach front.
There was next to nobody around because of the cold, so they had the whole beach to themselves.
Because Nikki wasn't affected much by the cold, she simply bit into the top of her Ice Cream and devoured fully half of it "Damn Nikki, slow down, enjoy it". "Can't help it" she replied, with a full mouth "It's too good".
"We should come here more often" Nikki said as they carried on walking, then she gulped down the large piece of Ice Cream she had just bitten off. "You're gonna get a brain freeze" Connar said. Nikki half turned to him and grinned, eyeing his Ice cream "Yeah? Better hurry up, otherwise yours is next" she said, licking her lips. Connar knew she would, she had done it before.
"Oh hell no Nikki, this one's mine" he said, pointing at the cone and then back at himself "You get that… MINE" Connar said with a grin. She was clearly in a playful mood as she devoured the last of her cone and then licked her lips again "Too slow Shanty" she said and reached for his cone.
Connar pulled his arm back. "Give" Nikki said, grinning mischievously. "Hay, what are you doing?" Connar said and took several steps back, Nikki matched them and closed distance on him before he could break into a run "I told you, give" she said, still grinning. Connar knew he was about to lose his Ice cream anyway, but might as well have fun with it. "Hell no!... it's mine".
As Nikki made another grab for his Ice Cream, Connar half turned and extended his arm away from her reach. Her response was to grip him around his shoulders and slide him into a headlock. He still had his Ice cream in his hand and his arm out stretched.
They had reached the far end of the Coney Island beach where nobody was around. Connar, still in an unbreakable headlock, thought of his last possible option.
He reached down with his free hand and slapped Nikki's ass, then slid his hand down behind her knee, trying to lift her leg up off the ground.
"Hay, what are you doing?" he heard her shout "Get off my ass!". "Get off my Ice Cream! Connar shouted back, trying not to laugh.
Connar kept pulling until eventually, even with Nikki's immense strength, balance was balance and they both toppled over onto the sand.
Connar only narrowly saved the Ice cream cone by keeping it upright. The cold of the day had prevented it thus far from running… but nothing would stop Nikki now.
Connar tried to get up, but Nikki was already on his back, pinning him in another arm lock to the ground. It was useless.
Nikki reached out along his arm, but her own position prevented her hand from reaching the Ice cream.
His arm was out stretched again. All he could do with his free hand was pathetically slap at her ass and a playful dig in her ribs.
Nikki laughed "AHHH" and involuntarily issued a deep guttural growl, not unlike that of a tiger "Ok Shanty, you asked for it, I tried this the easy way, now it's mine".
She was nose to nose with him at this point, grinning widely. Nikki looked up, gave him a quick side eye glance and then opened her mouth.
Connar watched as Nikki's barbed tongue came forth from her mouth and then extended outwards like a snake, there was even an accompanying hiss.
Connar knew, he had seen her utilise this ability several times over the years for… various, sometimes lethal uses, but right now, she was using it to steal a cone of Rocky Road. "Hay, that's cheating, No! NOOOOOOOO!" Connar shouted, it only made Nikki laugh more.
It was just as he felt her tongue begin to coil around the cone that Connar became aware they weren't alone. "Nikki… Nikki", he said.
Nikki glanced down, smiling and saw the look on his face, she immediately knew he was being serious.
Connar watched her tongue retract fast and she turned, releasing her grip. Several feet away was a boy of roughly eight to ten years old, holding a ball.
Connar looked around and saw that although his parents were indeed with him, they were about three hundred yards away and not really paying attention.
Nikki stood up and dusted herself off, looking slightly self conscious. She shot Connar a serious glance as she did so.
"Hay Kid" Connar said, "What's you name?". The boy backed away slightly, looking at Nikki "It's ok, kid" Connar repeated "What's your name?.
Finally, the boy's eyes drifted over to meet Connar's "A… Arthur" the boy said, that was an obvious English accent, Northern too. "Well, Hi Arthur, I'm Connar, and that's Nikki. Where are you from, Arthur? You don't sound like you're from around here".
"We're on holiday" The boy said "We're from Liverpool". "Liverpool?" Connar said in an impressed tone as he handed Nikki his Ice Cream cone and reached into his pocket "I remember catching the Ferry many times back and forth to Dublin from the old Docks next to the Liver Building".
Connar took out a roll of notes and handed $50 to the kid, who looked at him, then at Nikki. Nikki gave a half smile and took a bite from the cone.
"Listen, Arthur, you didn't see nothing, ok mate?" Connar sensed the boy's Rhythms, which a minute ago were gearing up to a fight or flight response, begin to steady themselves. "Go on, get yourself something cool" Connar added.
Arthur regarded him one last time, then Nikki, then turned and jogged off across the sand. Connar breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at Nikki, who was now smirking and half way through his cone.
"Do not think" Connar began "That I won't get you back tor that". Nikki tilted her head and grinned "If you Coulda' you woulda'" she said, and licked her lips.
"Yeah, well, wait till later, I'll fifty shade you with your own damn tentacles! You see if I don't!".
Nikki raised her eyebrows and took a step towards him "Hay! I distinctly remember saying you weren't allowed to talk to me about Tentacles!" she said "You're cruising for a Robbie Special, Shanty".
"Breaking the Law, now, gimme back the rest of my damn cone!" Connar shouted. "Come take it" Nikki stepped back and held it up, much like he had a moment ago.
Connar made a grab for it, but Nikki now had the advantage, being inhumanly strong and also being able to sense his thoughts, when he attempted to grapple her, she once again got him into an Arm lock, then turned to face him and shoved the last of the cone into her mouth.
"AHHH" a few seconds later, the sand came up hard again as they both toppled over in an off balance grapple and she had him pinned.
This time, all she did was kiss him, soft, warm and gentle. He could still taste the flavour in her mouth.
Nikki pulled away "Better than a cone?" she asked. "Much better, but I wasn't finished" they kissed again, long soft and romantic. "You were right" Nikki said "I do feel better for coming out here". "You look happy" Connar said softly, brushing back her hair. "I feel happy" she said finally.
"Why don't we stay here for the night?" Connar said "I can't be bothered to go back to Manhattan now, let's just go over to the Coney Island Inn and stay there".
Nikki smiled and leaned in for another long, deep kiss.
They would spend the night on Coney island and make their way back to Terminus the next day.
FRIDAY MORNING - Q-TRAIN - HEADING BACK TO MANHATTAN
Nikki was jostled by the overweight man next to her on the Q-Train and fought the urge to nudge him back, it was crowded this morning. It was Friday.
Connar leaned back next to her and folded his arms "Wanna swap?" he asked. "I'm good" Nikki said, doing her best not to sound irritated, then added "Maybe next time, we'll take a cab". "That was a good night though" he replied with a smile.
"Yeah, well worth it" she said, and leaned against him. "I Imagine that hotel got some very strange complaints this morning, something about a wild animal, possibly even a tiger roaring in Room Twelve". "Shut up, Shanty" Nikki grinned and elbowed him.
Nikki felt Connar's phone buzz in his pocket, he took it out and opened the message on his knee so she could see it.
DARK BOHEMIA - 23:30 SATURDAY
"Dark Bohemia" Nikki said "That's Nikolaev's Club". "Yeah" Connar breathed "He's calling in Fixers to find out what happened… it's gonna go off". "Why are you getting the message?" Nikki asked "You're not on his payroll".
"No, but I do have a good rep as a Fixer and an investigator" Connar replied "Viktor needs to know what happened before he makes a move".
Nikki looked around and leaned into his ear "We know what happened". Luckily enough, you could talk about any strange thing on the Subway and nobody would notice, so many strange things happened on these Subway cars. "You're not gonna go are you?" Nikki asked.
"Not sure" Connar said "On one hand, I don't need to, obviously" but then he added "On the other hand, it might be an opportunity to figure out what he knows, I'll be the only Sighted person there, I can find out everything". Nikki shook her head "What? He knows fuck all, and with with every cop, fixer and whoever, in the city looking up their own ass, and you looking for me, I'd say we're in the clear".
Then Nikki started to think, and realised he had a point, she was also Sighted, it was just one of her abilities. "What if there are two Sighted people there? What If I go too?".
"What? Why would you wanna meet Viktor?" Connar asked, slightly perturbed by her sudden interest in going along. "Not Viktor, but ever since that night I haven't been able to shake the feeling that this is the start of something bigger" Nikki said "If both of us go, we might be able to find out who hired him to get that Shard thing and get out in front of this".
Nikki looked at him, those Whisper Wheels were turning. After a few moments, Connar nodded "Yeah, makes sense" he finally said. "Of course it does, I'm a higher life form" Nikki quipped.
"Oh yeah, you're gonna lean into that shit now you know what's up, huh? High Altitude Mermaid?" Connar nudged her.
"You better believe it, Whisper" Nikki nudged him back.
BRYANT PARK - MANHATTAN
After several changes, they exited onto the street at the MTA on 5th Avenue near Bryant Park.
It was cold out, but the sun was shining so after getting coffee and food, they took a seat in the park to come up with their plan.
"The first thing we have to do is get that Helix Shard thing squared away somewhere" Nikki said. "What?" Connar asked "Throwing the damn thing into the river isn't an option?". "Given what it did to the good Captain Ken-Doll, I really wouldn't" Nikki said "If a Grouper eats it, we're all fucked".
"Fish-Fucked, Yeah, I can imagine" Connar nodded "It'll probably be Kaiju time".
"Ok, back on track, Shanty" Nikki grinned, taking a drink from her cardboard cup "We'll hide it in the old service tunnel that runs beneath Terminus, and Vikki's Flash Drive with it".
"Ok, sounds good, nobody but you ever goes down there" Connar said, there was a slight pause, then he continued "We should also take some stuff up to the lockup, get it loaded into the car. Just in case we need to bug-out of New-York after tomorrow night". Nikki leaned in "You think it could get that bad?". "Just a precaution" he said, waving his hands.
"Ok, then let's make an amendment to the first part of this plan" Nikki said "We don't hide the Helix Shard and Vikki's drive in the Tunnel, we'll take it to the lockup". Connar frowned "If we have to get out of the city, you really wanna take that thing with us?".
"If we get into a situation, that Shard and those files are powerful bargaining chips, Connar, we could take them out to the desert and bury it somewhere till the time's right" Nikki looked around at the people walking by "The fact that that thing is in the city at all makes me nervous, this is beginning to feel like L.A. all over again".
There was no argument from Connar, clearly their logic was in sync on this issue.
"So what can we expect when we get in there?" Nikki asked. "Well, they'll expect us to be armed, they'll probably Wand us, but our nano-fibre jackets should block that".
"Doesn't matter to me" Nikki said "My whole body is a weapon if I want it to be". Connar frowned and put down his coffee "If shit goes down in that club, you won't be able to use any of your Party Tricks".
"I get it, no changing, no claws, no tentacles, no spikes… for that matter, if I get hurt I can't let anyone see me heal" Nikki said.
"Exactly… especially the tentacles" Connar said with a smirk. Nikki snorted "Where's the fun in that?... and the rule is back in effect Shanty, no talking about Tentacles to me!". Connar laughed.
"What about the cops?" Nikki asked. "There aren't any cameras inside Dark Bohemia, but I'd bet good money that the cops will have a surveillance rig somewhere nearby, watching the entrances and exits, they'll wanna know who comes and goes" Connar offered.
"I'm kinda camera shy" Nikki quipped "So we're gonna have to take care of that before we go near the place" Nikki said.
"About that" Connar grinned "As luck would have it, we know a certain fast talking Vice Detective who'd be more than willing to take care of that little issue".
"How are you gonna introduce me?" Nikki asked. "I'll say you just got into town from the west coast, and that I'm showing you around. That also alibi's you for the other night" Connar said.
"Perfect" Nikki leaned back in her chair, reached into jer coat and dug out a pair of sunglasses. She put them on and took a deep breath of the frigid air "We're gonna paint the town red!".
DARK BOHEMIA - BRIGHTON BEACH - BROOKLYN
Billy Rush had been with the Major Crimes Surveillance Unit for three months, he had initially been excited at the prospect of joining the squad, and he knew in the back of his mind that he was being put through his paces.
Stakeouts were long, boring and often nothing happened. Olivia Smithsen had had Billy, along with two other officers, Desmond Silva and Antonia Perez watching Viktor Nikolaev around the clock for the past three and a half days since his brother Kirill, along with Yuri Kuznetsov and Detective Nathanial Ward.
It was looking increasingly likely that Ward was dirty. Other than that, Olivia had been unable to find out what the Journalist Ramos was working on, or identify the homeless woman who got caught in the crossfire.
It was fairly obvious that there was a third party in that alley, and they got whatever they came for. The whole case stank to high heaven.
It was getting close to 23:30pm and word on the street was that Viktor had called a meeting of all the major fixers and Wetwork guys in the city.
Whatever was going on, it seemed he was also at a loss over who took out his brother and his best hitters. All they had to do was monitor who entered and left.
"Who's turn is it to get coffee? Silva asked while stretching, he was rubbing his eyes to stay alert.
"It's Perez' turn" Billy said. "Ahh no, I went last time, it's your turn, Rush, you better hurry back, Silva looks ready to keel over".
Billy was getting tired himself and needed a boost "Ok, I'll be back in a few minutes" He stretched and stood up, already feeling glad about the prospect of fresh air and stretching his legs.
When Billy climbed into the Van and opened the door, he was shocked to find someone standing there, a man in his thirties, wearing a beanie hat, glasses and leather jacket, he was carrying a tray of coffee from around the corner.
The man looked like he was about to knock before Billy saw him, but instead just gestured for him to roll down the window.
The hairs on the back of Billy's neck stood up, and he instinctively reached for his Glock19. He instantly had a feeling that they'd been made by Nikolaev's people.
Billy went for the door handle and opened it, just a crack "Can I help you?" he said firmly. "Yeah, I'm Sgt. Jimmy Sullivan from the Vice Squad, I was in the Area and your Boss Lady, Detective Smithson, said you guys might need a little pick-me-up".
"What's going on?" Silva's voice called out from the back "It's… It's". Before Billy could finish his sentence, Sullivan piped up again "Come on, man, this stuff's hot, take it off my hands so I can show you my badge" he said. When Billy hesitated again, he added "Come on, man, I made sure I wasn't seen".
Fine Billy thought. Irregular, but fair enough, Olivia Smithson was a good boss. He opened the door and took the coffee from Officer Sullivan, who promptly lifted his jacket and displayed his Badge and I.D.
Satisfied and relieved, Billy took the Coffee and climbed back into the van "Thanks Officer" he said "Stay safe, man". "Hay, you too, I'll see you around huh?" Sgt. Sullivan said and slapped his palm on the door before turning to leave.
The three of them were in bad need of this pick-me-up and spent the next few minutes drinking it while watching the entrance to the club. "Hay, it was good of Smithson to send that guy, huh?" Rush said, leaning backwards to look at Silva.
"Hay, Desmond" Rush said, reaching out to tap Silva on the shoulder. As he did, Silva's head lolled to one side and it was clear he was fast asleep, not just snoozing, he was damn near comatose. "Hay! Silva What the fuck man!" Rush nudged Silva who promptly flopped sideways out of his chair and collapsed onto the floor, he didn't move.
Rush turned, in a panic, but felt his limbs and eyes becoming suddenly very heavy. "Antonia…. Perez, are… you….". But when he saw Officer Perez, she was slumped back in her chair, unresponsive.
The last thing Officer Billy Rush saw before all the lights went out and he fell into an uncontrollable sleep, was Sgt. Jimmy Sullivan climbing back into the Van through the front and reaching up to the corner where the Hard Drives were running.
"You have yourself a nice long sleep there, Officer" Sullivan said. It was the last thing Billy heard before the lights went out.
Nikki leaned against a tree, secluded in the darkest corner of the Oceana Complex grove directly across the street from the Club. Behind her was a children's playground, but at this hour, it was quiet. The grove was bathed in shadows, separated from the street by a black iron fence. One of Nikki's talents lay in being able to find the darkest corners, becoming almost invisible.
Viktor's club Dark Bohemia wasn't much to look at in the day, but at night, it was a sight to behold, the glass and marble façade inlaid with an intricate LED lighting display and a pumping soundtrack drew in a large crowd, all on whom were eagerly lined up in front waiting to get inside.
It was located on Brighton Beach Ave almost directly across the street from the Oceana Condominium Complex, where Viktor had a penthouse, a fact of which Nikki made a mental note. She had already decided that if Viktor sent more of his men into any of her alley's or tunnels to do their killing, he'd be getting a personal house call.
Looking to her left, she noticed a dark figure getting out of a nondescript plumbing van and hopping over the fence.
With a cat-like grace, Nikki made her way though the shadows to the children's playground to see "Officer Jimmy Sullivan" remove a contact lens and put it into a small container before pocketing it. He took off his Wooly Hat and glasses and dumped them into the nearby trash can.
Connar had swiped the hat and glasses from some careless guy in a cafe on the way over here earlier in the afternoon, using the hat to cover the Celtic swirl tattoo on his temple.
He often carried the coloured contact lenses when he was "On a mission" to hide his distinctive looking eyes.
Thereby, if he ever ended up answering questions in an NYPD sweatbox, he could create reasonable doubt.
"Nicely done, Officer Sullivan" Nikki said. "Yeah, you damn right, slipped something in their coffee, thereby creating the opposite effect of Coffee. We ain't gotta worry about the cops tonight" Connar said, his accent still Bronx, he was still in full character as the fast talking Officer Sullivan.
Nikki rolled her eyes, she had seen Connar adopt disguises on a number of occasions, and she had to admit, he did it flawlessly "Alright, lose the accent, Brando, did you get the drives?".
Connar reached into his jacket and pulled out five high-capacity hard drives, which, just a few minutes earlier, were connected to the surveillance equipment in the back of the van.
He placed them on top of the trash can for Nikki to inspect "They won't be recording anything tonight" he said, back in his normal mixed English accent..
Nikki picked up the first drive and crushed it in her palm, discarding the remnants into the trash can. "How long do you think they'll be out?" Nikki asked as she took the next two drives and crushed them, throwing the remnants into the trash can.
"Not sure exactly, but a good few hours, they'll be fine, might have a splitting headache though".
"You have any idea how sexy you look tonight?" Connar said, sliding up to her. Nikki felt his arm slip around her weist. "Not so bad yourself" she replied, and they shared a kiss.
Nikki then reached over and crushed the final two drives and threw them into the trash "Ok, well, let's do this, shall we?" Extending her arm. Connar linked arms with her and they made their way across the street. They had, taken all of their precautions, been back to Terminus, cleaned up and put on fresh clothes.
Tonight, Nikki was wearing her black leather jeans and cut leather jacket, showing off her figure.
Connar was the same, having cleaned up and found some good clothes, he looked the part too, wearing all black with a form fitting leather jacket, only, these Jackets were unique, containing a Nano-Fiber lining provided by one of Connar's Whisper friends that could stop anything up to and including .308 rounds.
Nikki needed no such protection, her skin had always been the best armour.
They were, of course both Armed, Nikki had brought the modified, untraceable, modified Glock20 pistol she had taken from the late Detective Ward, and Connar, she had seen him holster the high-end Laugo "Alien" 9mm he had liberated from a rather dim-witted club owner on the same night.
The Nano-Fiber running through their jackets also prevented metal detector wands from picking up their weapons.
There was no reason to think things would turn violent, but it was always good to be prepared. If things went bad, she would need to only inflict explainable wounds.
They were met at the door by two heavy set bouncers. From the Puss-In-Boots tattoo's on their hands, they were clearly Vor V Zakone.
Connar spread his arms and the first doorman waved the wand across his body "Viktor nas zhdet" (Viktor is expecting us) Connar uttered to his bouncer. To which Nikki followed with "мы оба" (Both of us).
"Spread your Arms" the bouncer said to Nikki, and it was clear he was going to frisk her.
They both knew there was no need as he had already wanded her and found nothing, but her was going to do it anyway. Nikki stared at Connar and they both knew where this was going.
The bouncer began the frisk professionally enough, along both arms, then came her sides, and it started to become less professional as he moved down her thighs.
When he moved around the back and began to work his way around her ass, Nikki had had enough.
Before the Bouncer could reach between her legs, Nikki lashed out, seizing his wrist in a vice like grip, controlling his entire body weight from the pressure point, before forcing him to his knees and snapping his wrist.
The gathered patrons behind her all cheered and Nikki looked up to see a large, very muscular man with close buzzed hair, roughly fifty years old, obviously a lifelong bodybuilder, slow-clapping in the doorway.
Illuminated by the strobing lights. The man took a step forward and Nikki knew it was Viktor without even being told.
"Well done" Viktor said, he then turned to the bouncer who was wanding Connar and clicked his fingers "Otvedi yego vniz" (Get him downstairs).
He then came out of the doorway fully and loomed over Connar "I've heard of you, my daughter says you come highly recommended… we'll see" he then turned to Nikki, also looming over her, he was a large, well built man, Nikki could see the Vor V Zakone tattoos poking up out of his neck line, his sleeves were rolled up, they were also on his hands and forearms.
"But I've never heard of you?" Viktor said, looking her up and down. "Nikki's from…" Connar began but Viktor held up a hand. "Let the lady introduce herself" Viktor said, in an almost playful tone.
"Nicole Toombs, from Los Angeles, just got into town" Nikki leaned and nodded at Connar "I've known Shanty here a while, is getting me established".
Viktor regarded her for a moment, she held his gaze, he then stepped back and looked at Connar, then back at Nikki and cracked a wide grin "Vydayushchiysya!" (Outstanding) he laughed "I like these two, come on" he waved for them both to follow.
As Nikki followed behind Viktor, she stole a glance to Connar, who promptly winked and grinned We're in without saying it, causing Nikki to smirk. She had to admit to herself, she was beginning to enjoy this. The wub wub reverb of the music as they approached the inner entrance was hitting her deep in the chest, reverberating through her ribs.
[Writer's Note: Soundtrack - CYBERPRIEST - Shadow Tower]
Ahead of Viktor was a wall of flowing water, he came to a stop and held out his hand, Nikki hesitated and then saw that there was no other entrance to the club, this was the only way forward. Nikki cautiously stepped forward, past Viktor and the water parted for her, revealing the interior of Dark Bohemia in all its glory.
Nikki remembered the ID club back in L.A. where she had made the unfortunate decision to go home with Robbie Lewellyn and later she had lured the killers into a chase. This place was similar, but bigger, better, there was so much more going on.
The walls were an intricate LED and Pixel display, strobes, women dancing in alcoves on the walls, and well over a thousand people all on this level of the club alone. All gyrating and dancing to the beat and rhythm of the music.
"You like my club, huh?" Viktor stopped in the centre of the club at the edge of a balcony, from which Nikki could see there were two levels below and three above. Viktor draped his huge arms over both of them "No cameras here, we have a saying, what happens in Bohemia, stays in the dark" he said, over the thrum of the music "What do you think? Nicole Toombs from the West Coast".
Nikki looked up, every level was different, and also packed with people, all having the time of their lives. "I could become a regular" she finally said.
This truly was an amazing place, it put the ID, and every other club she'd ever been in, to shame.
Viktor led them downstairs, through several other water features and nast hundreds of gyrating partygoers and down into his private VIP suite.
"Looks like we're the last to arrive" Nikki said upon seeing there were five other Fixers already sitting around the corner sofa.
It was low light, with a soft red hue, meant to arouse passion, Nikki had to admit, it did have that effect. The thrum and reverb of the music fell away as they entered Viktor's private suite. The first thing Nikki noticed was the array of weapons displayed on the walls, old and new, from a number of different cultures.
Medieval Europe on one wall, next to ancient Chinese. The opposite wall had a distinctly Japanese section featuring a number of high quality weapons, they would also likely have significant historical value.
Over on the back wall, behind Viktor's large black marble desk, was a section that was distinctly Russian, and came up to the modern era. Two AK-47's were placed at slight angles facing each wall, below then were two Micro-Draco SMG's, also placed at slight angles facing the opposite walls. Viktor's empty chair was right between them.
The street code for AK-47's was "Angel King" so Nikki imagined that whenever Viktor sat in that chair, flanked from behind with those guns, he literally looked like it, a powerful impression. "I will be with you all shortly, I have some other business to dispose of" Viktor said "Please, make yourselves comfortable.
Viktor turned and the glass door slid shut behind him. Nikki and Connar exchanged a look, and then began to explore. Nikki recognised the other Fixers in the room.
The Brother and Sister duo, Petra and Jakob Write were present, Nikki had never met them, but knew them by reputation, the same as the smaller man on the edge of the sofa, she knew who he was, but he had never seen her, nobody saw her. Alonso Queen was a lethal hitman, he only stood 5'4 but could kill with the best of them. Known for his poison bullets and well placed explosives.
Kenji Sato had worked for the Yakuza for years, but had eventually broken away and gone freelance, they called him "Ronin" Nikki had met him before, but thankfully not in New York, they had encountered one another when she had accompanied Connar on a "Fix" which saw them both travelling to Miami.
Kenji could be a lethal killer, but he was decent, respectful and well mannered. He was one of only a few Fixers that she and Connar were happy to associate with again.
The last man in the room was one that Nikki had also encountered while in Miami, and had taken an instant dislike to him.
Benjamin Revas was a large, heavy set man who sported a wide grin full of gold teeth, he was known to do a lot for the Italians and occasionally, for the Irish as a facilitator, up and down the East coast.
Nikki knew the job that Viktor was about to set them all on would require finesse, investigation, something this man definitely lacked.
"Good to see you again, Ms Toombs" Kenji said as if he could feel her looking at him. He was standing admiring the display of sixteenth century Katana's on the wall. "You too Kenji, how long have you been in New York?" Nikki asked as she wandered over to stand with him.
Kenji half turned and looked around the room "Only about a week, I was here on something else, decided to extend my stay.
It was a good thing that the two people in the room who she had met before had met her in another city, Nikki never mentioned to them where she was from, thankfully it played into the illusion that she was indeed new in town. This was the first time Nikki had ever done anything like this in New York.
Connar wandered more down the centre of the room as if instinctively interposing himself between her and Revas, who she could feel staring at her ass.
Connar wasn't the jealous type, but he was naturally protective, and Revas had narrowly avoided both her wrath and his back in Miami.
Nikki glanced over her shoulder and, sure enough, they were staring at one another silently.
Alonso Queen also appeared to take notice of this and smirked slightly while cleaning his glasses, the Write twins were quietly whispering in each other's ear.
They all knew Connar better than her, she knew she was a mystery to them all, and that's the way she liked it.
"Trouble in paradise, Ms Toombs?" Kenji said next to her. "Not really" she replied. "So you're both here in New York now?" Kenji turned and regarded her. "I'm considering staying" She said, playing into the lie that she was new here "Depends how this Job goes, sounds like if this isn't resolved fast, this city is gonna go off".
"Truly" Kenji said, I've had my ear to the streets, as I'm sure your partner has, people are talking" Kenji said "They speak of this "Angel of Vermin" some local urban legend".
"I'm not familiar" Nikki said, A lie, but one that she actually wished was true. Nikki knew she would have to tread very carefully, Kenji wasn't Sighted, but he was perceptive.
"Supposedly a creature that rises from beneath the streets to punish the wicked, a predator of the ancient world so they say… some even say it was awoken when the first settlers built the city".
Nikki didn't know whether to feel uncomfortable or laugh, she opted to remain stoic.
"An urban legend? That's not much to go on. If that's all we have to start with, this job's going nowhere fast" Nikki half smirked, she had to play this very close.
Kenji shifted and pursed his lips "Perhaps faster than you think. The police have no suspects, so I've heard, but if you ask me, the whole thing reeks of Government".
"If it goes that way, I'm definitely out" Nikki said calmly "I don't do government".
"Long time, no see, you two" Revas said in his usual loud and crass manner. "Not long enough" Connar replied, not taking his eyes off the larger man for a moment.
Nikki didn't turn, she didn't want to give him the time of day. She already had a good idea where this was going and leaned towards Kenji "Let the games begin" she whispered, to which he smirked.
"You two fucked me out of that job in Miami" Revas said, announcing it to the whole room. "You fucked yourself out of that job in Miami" Connar began "This is a business or relationships… something you know very fucking little about".
Nikki didn't turn around, but she could tell from Revas's internal rhythms that Connar's words had irritated him.
"Yeah" Revas said, slightly louder "Well you watch, because I'm in my element here".
"Hmm… Thioacitone" Connar grinned, knowing he could run rings around this brute of a man. Nikki glanced at Kenji and they both smiled, knowing what was about to happen.
"What?" Revas said in an obviously irritated tone.
Connar continued "Thioacitone mate, and it's not an element, it's just a compound…mediocre chemical bond, smells like shit, and it's uses are few, outside of a laboratory environment… where you fucking belong".
Nikki could take it no more and let out a pronounced giggle. More at Connar's matter-of-fact, almost educational tone than anything else.
Revas wiped his mouth and took a step forward, although he towers over Connar, the smaller man held his ground, perfectly relaxed, however, Nikki could sense that he was in, what she liked to call Whisper Mode his heart was steadily increasing rhythm, and he was releasing adrenaline.
Nikki knew this was a deliberate thing. Whispers practised a form of Combat Meditation called Aspicio allowing them to view the world around them in aspect.
In Connar's own way, he was also sensing Revas's internal rhythms, so if.. Likely when he attacked, Connar would be ten steps ahead.
"Yeah, well you watch, you talk about relationships, mine run deep here, I'm gonna be the one who ends this" Revas growled.
Connar wasn't finished, this time he said it not just to Revas, but to the whole room "We all know why we're here, because the big man lost his brother, some job that went wrong, and nobody knows who did it or why… point is..." Connar stepped forward towards Revas "This job is gonna require a bit of finesse…" Nikki liked how he emphasised the word "So, if I were you …. and… I'm bloody glad I'm not, Benny" Connar continued "I'd just pack my bags and go the fuck home to Fiona now".
One insult too many for Revas, who marched at Connar, bearing down on him, Connar didn't move. Revas raised his fist and came down hard on Connar's head… but the blow never connected.
At the last possible millisecond, The Whisper sidestepped the oncoming fist, grabbed the heavier man's arm, jumped up, hooked both legs around the big man's girth and threw himself backwards.
Revas's jaw hit the corner of the black marble desk with an almighty wet CRACK.
Nikki felt something breeze past her head and bounce off the wall. She looked down and saw it was a tooth. Petra issued an innocent, girlish giggle while her brother began to slow clap.
Right at the moment the door's slid open again and Viktor regarded the scene. He gestured to the two men behind him and they strode forward, their faces were impossible to read.
Both men and Viktor looked Connar up and down for a few tense moments and then promptly collected Revas's body and dragged it out.
"There was a twenty thousand dollar bounty on that man's head out of Cincinnati, I was wondering which of you would claim it" Viktor said.
Nikki knew in that moment that Viktor was smarter than he looked. He had brought Revas in on this job as a test for the others.
"Come, sit" Viktor said, and took a seat at his desk. It was true, he was framed just like Nikki imagined between those guns.
As he did, the door slid open again and a young woman entered, Connar had told her about Katarina Nikolaev, she was as beautiful as she was ruthless. She took a passing look at the blood and teeth splattered across the corner of Viktor's desk and fell into position alongside her father.
"As you are all, no doubt aware, my Brother is Dead" Viktor began. "My condolences" Kenji said. "Than you Mr Sato" Viktor said as he took a file from his daughter, throwing it open on the desk, it revealed a crime scene photo of Kirill, another photo slid out from beneath it, revealing him laying on a Morgue slab.
Without his shirt, his massive crush injuries were visible. Several of them leaned over and looked at the photo.
Viktor tossed two more files onto the desk. Alonso Queen and Kenji both leaned forward and opened them. One was Yuri, Kirill's long time partner, and the other was Detective ward. Nikki looked up, Connar had a look on his face as if to say Really?.
If Viktor hadn't been looking right at them both, Nikki would have shrugged, but that might have been too much of a reaction.
"They were ambushed in the middle of a job" Katarina began "We don't know who the third party is" She let that hang in the air for a moment "What we do know, is that part of the job was to retrieve a classified file and an object of great value".
"What object?" Jakob Write asked. "I didn't ask, we were told that the homeless woman would be carrying it". Now it was Nikki's turn to ask a question "Told by whom?".
"Independant client, Ms Toombs" Viktor said "Confidential". That answer frustrated Nikki, she knew she couldn't push the issue without arousing suspicion.
"Have you spoken to the client since?" Alonso Queen piped up. Nikki noted his soft voice, everything about the man was non-threatening "What did they say". Viktor stood up "The client has been incommunicado since my brother died, but now, all eyes are on me, the cops, the other crews in the city, I need to know who did this".
"Reporters, classified files" Connar said "This has Government written all over it".
"As may be" Viktor said "But whoever did this is still going to pay for Kirill".
Just at that moment, Nikki felt something, sensed something. Something similar to the sensation, the connection she had felt several years ago. It was to a lesser degree, but still strong. She looked at Connar, who she could tell had not sensed it, but he was attuned to her, and knew what she was feeling at that exact moment. Nikki did her best to play this new development cool.
Knowing what she knew about Patrick Ross, those feelings and sensations, those mental connections she had experienced in Africa were a connection to another one of her kind, meaning that there was one somewhere close.
As Quinn stood in the grove across the street from Dark Bohemia, he couldn't help but sense her. She was strong, healthy, powerful, like Eve. She felt,very much like Eve, who Quinn remembered from the night she came for his Father. This, however, was not Eve, but uncannily similar. Whoever she was, she was inside that club.
The man he had hired to take care of Nikolaev strode up to his side. "My guys are ready, this guy won't be a problem after tonight". "Your men might have more of a challenge than I originally thought" Quinn said.
"My guys can handle anything, I even hired several small time crews from around the city, trust me, we've got this". Sebastian Dankworth was a mercenary of the highest order. Known as "Black-Flag" in certain circles, as he made his bones conducting anti-piracy operations off the coasts of Somalia and the Niger river delta.
Word had it, he would hang the bodies out as a warning. He commanded a crew of twenty highly trained men, who were collectively known as the Wild Bunch.
They were going to go into that club heavy, make it look like a localised gang attack, hence the bringing in of local small timers. "He's meeting with a bunch of independents in there tonight, make sure you get them all" Quinn said. "Hay" said Dankworth "It's me you're talking to, if I say it gets done, it gets done.
With that, Dankworth pulled on a full face helmet and waved to his men. Quinn watched as, a few moments later as two large vans came from either direction up the road, and abruptly screeched to a halt outside the club.
A number of men, the local small timers, burst out of the vans armed with SMG's and began exchanging fire with the Vor V Zakone doormen. The Russains took out two of the small timers before being cut down by automatic fire. The line of patrons scattered.
Dankworth then waved another signal to his men behind. These men were distinctively more professional, in full black tactical body armour, they would follow the small-timers and have select targets. Viktor was most likely downstairs in his private suite, a rat in a trap.
"Let's get this done" Dankworth shouted and they all moved tactically across the street and into the main entrance of Dark Bohemia.
Somewhere above, Nikki heard the thunderous sound of sustained automatic gunfire, accompanied by screams and the THUMP of explosions.
One of Viktor's men ran into the office "Viktor, nas atakuyut!" (Viktor, We're under attack"). Viktor stood up. Nikki was surprised to see Katarina grab one of the Micro-Draco's off the wall and check the magazine. "Lock the door" Kararina said "The glass is bulletproof".
Nikki looked at Connar and they both pulled out their guns in unison, surprisingly so did Alsonso Queen, who pulled a Beretta APX and Kenji produced an FN Five-Seven.
"Huh" Viktor said "I'm going to have to have a word with my doormen, if any of them are still alive… feel free to get more" he said, gesturing to the walls.
Nikki instantly marched over to the Japanese weapon display and pulled a black Chokutō out of its sheath, similar to a straight bladed Katana. Kenji did the same with a different Katana.
Connar was trained to use a Tactical Sword, but he didn't have it tonight, however he did have a tracker knife, that was all he would need. He didn't have his wrist gauntlet with the Explosive Gyro-Jets, but Nikki knew he was carrying at least three grenades on his person.
Several men in masks, who looked like small-time start-ups all piled down the stairs and began unloading Mack-10's and Modified Auto-Glocks into the bulletproof glass. "That glass won't hold for long, Viktor, you got a way out?" Connar said.
It was Karatina who answered "Not in here, at the other end of the Club, one level up, there's an old speakeasy tunnel from the prohibition era, we kept it preserved in case we needed it".
Viktor grabbed the other Micro-Draco and slung it under his arm, then selected one of the AK-47's and checked the magazine before reaching into his desk drawer and pulling out three more magazines. "We're gonna have to go through them.
The fire was sustained, and the glass was beginning to give way. Connar stepped away from the others and took cover beside an ornamental Marble block displaying some kind of Death mask. Nikki knelt next to him "When it happens" she said "stay behind me".
Connar smirked and racked the slide on the advanced Laugo Alien 9mm he'd bought with him "You know what they say" he said "behind every good woman is a man… using her as a human shield".
Nikki stifled the urge to laugh. Only Connar could make a joke like that, at a time like this. "Human huh?" Nikki smiled "Or, in your case, just checking out her ass from behind" Nikki quipped back. Connar laughed.
This was not the first fight they had been in together, they knew how one another operated. However, this was one of the few occasions when Nikki would be unable to make the change and do what she did best … rip and tear.
No, Vikki worked for the government, it stood to reason that they might have sent killers to hunt Vikki, and used Viktor as a proxy.
Vikki had, after all, stolen something related to the Alien Species. If the government were involved here, Nikki had to be careful. However, she still couldn't shake that sensation that someone like her was nearby…
A grenade went off by the glass, sending a spider-web pattern of cracks across the front. Nikki knew it was coming in the next few seconds, push forward, don't stop…show these wastes of oxygen who they're fucking with.
"How many do you think there are?" Petra Wright asked, pulling down the other AK-47 and throwing it to her brother. Katerina was in the process of handing her a Makerov from the desk.
"Last Census" Nikki shot back "At least 8.1 Billion". Kenji laughed "Ahh, you're a woman at war with the world, Ms Toombs".
Connar nudged her, he understood the true significance of her wisecrack, then he reached up inside his jacket again and pulled out an M84 Stun Grenade "When the glass breaks, close your eyes and open your mouths" he said to all present.
One-One Thousand… several bullets made it through, sending chunks of tile and marble all over the place, several weapons well…two one thousand…another grenade took out the door frame… three one thousand… a third grenade shattered the glass door and sustained automatic fire poured into the room.
Connar stood and hurled his grenade, Nikki saw the M84 actually hit one of the masked men in the head at the moment it detonated, taking out half his face.
[WRITER'S NOTE: SOUNDTRACK FOR THIS SCENE - LE CASTLE VANIA - SHOTS FIRED]
Everyone in the room opened fire. Nikki surged forward, she was first out of the door, firing all the way. Followed by Connar on the left and Kenji broke right. Viktor, Katarina, the Wright Twins and Alsonso Queen were the last out.
This wasn't her normal way of conducting a fight, she wasn't usually armed at all, but tonight she needed to be … Explainable. Can't let my true-self out to play, not here, not now, but I'm more than that Nikki thought.
Nikki held the Chokutō underhanded in her left hand, she took out the first one within reach with two precise slashes, then hurled the Chokutō at the second man, which impaled him and sent him spinning to the floor.
She took the third with a double tap to the chest and one to the head, the fourth with a single shot to the face.
A fifth man grabbed hold of her wrist, attempting to disarm her, not a chance she put her leg behind his, easily swiping his leg out from under him, once she had him on the floor, she held his head back and put a round through his temple before rolling free.
Nikki rolled, jumped to her feet and threw a punch, not hard enough to kill, but certainly to damage a man, it knocked him out standing, Nikki finished him off with a round to the back of the head as he toppled over.
Two more came from either side of the stairs, Nikki backhanded one in the throat with the pistol grip, then brought the gun up against the other man who was wearing a Bulletproof Vest.
Nikki grabbed him, jumped up, wrapped her legs around his chest and rolled him to the ground, once on top of him, she spotted three more coming and unloaded her remaining ten shots into them before flicking the magazine, reloading and firing a single shot into the man she had pinned on the floor.
"Get upstairs" She shouted behind. As Nikki did so, she looked up to see several Flashbangs come bouncing down the concrete staircase.
Flashbangs had little effect on Nikki, but, with a cat-like grace, she ducked, rolled and dove into cover as the barrage of rifle fire came down the stairs after them.
What came down next was a group of three men, all fully armoured and dressed in head to toe black body armour and tactical gear. Not your typical gang bangers, these guys were professionals.
Everyone but Nikki and Connar were disoriented by the blast. Connar was up first. He took the rifle of the first man and pulled the barrel upwards, while simultaneously firing at hip height into the man's lower abdomen beneath his armour.
Connar finished it by grabbing the front end of the man's helmet, pulling it up and firing three times into his exposed face before kicking and grappling the next man.
Nikki was on the third man, he brought his rifle to bear against Connar, who had hold of his friend, but Nikki seized the barrel, gaining control of it's direction.
The rifle went off full auto, spraying bullets across the ceiling and wall. Nikki lifted her leg and hooked it over the man's arm, simultaneously breaking his arm and pulling the rifle free.
Nikki kicked his legs out from under him and finished him off in much the same way Connar did the first man, by lifting up his visor with her free hand and putting a bullet through his eye.
"Push forward!" Connar shouted to the rest of them.
Viktor marched past him, followed by Katarina, Alonso Queen and the Wright Twins.
Kenji reloaded his pistol and holstered it, he clearly had the same idea as Nikki and Connar, he wasn't going up there without a more powerful weapon and began relieving one of the fallen Mercenaries of his Sig Sauer MPX Carbine and three magazines.
Nikki looked over at Connar, who had also holstered his pistol and was pulling an XM7 Assault Rifle from one Professional Mercenaries who came down the stairs.
He reloaded it and tossed it to her with some spare magazines which she stuffed into her back pockets. Connar went to the body of the third Mercenary and lifted a Frostech Origin12 Tactical Shotgun from the body and reloaded it.
The three of them stood and looked at one another, they were ready. Hearing sustained gunfire from the upper levels, they knew they needed to move.
Connar watched Nikki go up the stairs first, sometimes it could be hard to keep up with her, even though he was Sighted, and could sense the positions of the Hostiles, Nikki was just faster, stronger and more agile.
Still, he concentrated, he let his mind see the layout of the club there were still dozens of patrons taking cover, gang-bangers were everywhere, but these professional, armoured mercenaries, he had to admit, that was unexpected.
Nikki stopped at the top of the stairs, staying low. Instinctively he got into a low stance and slid up next to her.
Connar sensed at least Seventeen more professional mercenaries inside the club, and about half a dozen more common gang-shooters.
"What was that right before it happened" he asked. "I don't know, I felt something similar when we took down Sulaimann". Connar considered this for a moment "But that was Ken-Doll, he's gone". "No" Nikki said "This feels different". "What are you two talking about?" Kenji growled "Let's move!".
Nikki looked down at Kenji, who was right behind her, and back at him "Well" she said, with a wry smirk "Shall we?".
This time Nikki broke left, Connar broke right and Kenji went forward. There were two Gang-Bangers and two Mercenaries in front of Connar. He began firing, the Origin12 was loaded with 12g Steel Slugs. Most of the gang-bangers were not armoured, and the heavy slugs tore through them like paper men.
The first thing Connar saw was the body of Alonso Queen, having been riddled with bullets right out of the gates. "Shit" That was one less gun hand. Connar plucked the pistol out of his hand and stuffed it into his wristband.
The Mercenaries took several rounds each to go down. Connar flicked away the first clip, slung the shotgun, pulled his sidearm and send five rounds into another Gang-Banger who ran up on him. Connar holstered his sidearm and completed the reload.
He moved along one side of the floor, sticking near the wall, he could see Nikki doing the same on the opposite side, Kenji had moved up the central dance floor and stuck to the side nearest to Nikki.
The Dance floor, was miraculously still in full Pixel display, despite several bullet holes. Connar pulled his second M84 and pulled the pin, he sensed several Mercenaries coming up on him from a side room in the next quadrant.
He pulled the pin and cooked the grenade for two seconds before throwing.
It struck the first of four mercenaries on the shin before detonating. That Mercenary was instantly on his knees and Connar easily took him out with a headshot. The second tried to close the distance.
Connar struck out with the butt of the Origin12, knocking the Mercenary's rifle offline and then grappled him and rolled him to the floor.
Connar pinned the man's arms, pulled his sidearm and delivered two shots directly into the Man's visor. In the next second, Connar was up and firing again, eight rounds later, all but one of the Mercenaries was dead and Connar sensed his next move. The man pulled a Combat Knife and leapt at Connar.
The shotgun was empty, Connar let it fall by his side, he knew he wouldn't make it to his sidearm, so he reached out, grabbed the man by the forearms and went into a backward, submissive roll. The Mercenary was flipped over onto his back, and now Connar had him.
The Mercenary fought for control of the Knife, which Connar twisted down to point at his face. The man struggled, and Connar sensed he was about to try to roll.
Before he could roll free, Connar smacked the grip of the combat knife, forcing it down. It pierced the man's face and he screamed, but pushed back up with all his might, but it was useless, Connar hammered down a second time, and a third, until the knife was Hilt deep in the man's eye socket.
Two gang-bangers approached around the corner. Connar's shotgun wasn't loaded, he grabbed the corpse of the dead mercenary and pulled it up for cover. Several rounds hit the dead man's body armour, giving Connar time to reach for his side arm and take them both out.
Once they were down, Connar took a few seconds to reload his weapons and move on. Linking up with Nikki at the far end of the Dance floor, he saw that they were behind Viktor, who had ploughed through the middle into the next section and obviously sustained several wounds.
The Wright Twins were nowhere to be seen. "Where are the other two?" Kenji asked. Viktor shrugged "They beat feet up the fucking stairs, if they're still alive it's a miracle"
"Where's the fucking Tunnel?" Nikki shouted at Katarina, who in-turn pointed to the far end. They had a second dance floor area to cross and likely the same amount of Mercenaries.
This time Nikki led the way. As soon as she moved, she instantly grabbed the barrel of a Mercenary's rifle as he came around the corner of the next section, she pressed the barrel of her XM7 into his lower torso and fired two bursts.
Nikki then threw him out of the way, raised the rifle and fired several more bursts into a line of Gang-Bangers who were running up on her from the side of the next dance floor.
Nikki ducked back around the corner, flicked away one magazine and reloaded as rounds hit above her head. Connar took the opposite corner.
They moved in unison. Nikki aimed her rifle at the Mercenary approaching from Connar's side, and he took out the one coming up on Nikki.
Just as they were about to round sweep into the next section. Connar noticed three cords drop onto the far end of the dance floor.
Three mercenaries repelled down. A tall man in heavier armour than the others stood in the centre, upon making eye contact with Connar, he removed his visor. Sebastian Dankworth stood Illuminated by the Pixel Dance floor.
"Shit" Kenji hissed. "What? You know that guy?" Nikki said. "Sebastian Dankworth, they call him Black Flag. Kenji replied and checked his weapons "He hit the scene a few years back, the guy's a walking war crime".
"Is that Kenji Sato back there?" Dankworth shouted, clapping his hands "Walked into the wrong goddamn party tonight Sato".
"On that, we agree" Kenji shouted back "What are you doing here, Dankworth? I heard you were in Syria, doing some spring cleaning of the ethnic variety".
Connar stole a glance around the corner and then looked over at Nikki, who's expression had turned noticeably darker. She was clearly angered at Kenji's implication about the man on the other side.
"Ahh, that's nine to five stuff" Dankworth replied "I got a new employer. Better hours, improved health plan, you could have had it too". "No thanks" Kenji said.
Nikki gave a military style hand gesture to "Hold" as Dankworth slowly walked up the middle of the dance floor, flanked by two men armed with XM556 Miniguns. Connar sensed it before he saw it, four additional Mercenaries were bringing up the rear and taking positions along each wall on opposite sides of the dance floor.
Connar checked his weapons and got ready, reaching out with his senses to see the men in Aspect. He knew Nikki was doing the same.
"I'm here for the Russian, the rest of you are, unfortunately loose ends, so come on, why don't you step out, I promise I'll make it quick, easy, painless" Dankworth shouted "Idi nakhuy, suka!" (Fuck you, Bitch!) Katarina shouted, and let off a burst from her Micro-Draco.
It was returned with a prolonged burst from one of the XM556's which shredded the wall above Nikki, causing her to duck "Maybe don't do that!" Nikki hissed at Katarina.
When the guns stopped, Dankworth piped up again "Quick and Easy is still on the table Nikolaev". This time, it was Nikki who responded "Yeah, you have the look of a man who's used to making things quick" Nikki shouted back and poked her head around the corner.
Pissing Dankworth off was the smart thing to do.
"And who does that sexy voice belong to?" Dankworth said, and then he actually spotted her when she stole a glance at him.
What happened next was something neither of them expected. When Nikki poked her head around the corner, Dankworth noticeably stopped in his tracks "You" he said, in a low, surprised tone. Nikki looked over at Connar with a confused frown and shrugged "Me?".
"I was there that night… back when I served" Dankworth said, his tone was noticeably different, almost reverent "and I've never seen anything like it before, or since".
Nikki frowned and poked her head around the corner at him again "I don't know how to tell you this, Stankworth" Nikki began "But, If I was memorable for you, it wasn't mutual, Sorry. I don't know you at all".
Nikki looked back over at Connar and this time shrugged in a much more pronounced way, shaking her head at the same time, as if to say All joking aside, I REALLY don't know him.
"I stood on a line of fifty men, I watched you smash through a steel reinforced security door, and then you got up, after we put enough lead in you to drop ten rhino's". Nikki was wide eyed, there was only one possible explanation for this….
They knew, from Vikki's files, that when Eve escaped, she tore her way out of a high security Laboratory beneath a sealed off section of Monroe Air Force Base on the outskirts of Washington DC…
Dankworth's comment… "Back when I served"… Dankworth must have been stationed there when it happened… and then he went private and formed his own crew… "Shit!".
Clearly, Dankworth thought that Nikki was Eve... an easy mistake to make... and a deadly one.
Connar and Nikki exchanged a look, he knew she had arrived at the same conclusion. This night just got so much worse, and this Dankworth guy, was going to have to die as a matter of priority,
"That's a cool story" Nikki said "But I still don't know what you're talking about. "Our Commanding Officer, Burgess, he was a hardass, but if I bring you in, I'll have government contracts for years".
Connar was watching Nikki closely now, she went quiet for a moment and closed her eyes. He watched her pull in a long, deep breath and when she looked up, their eyes met. Connar shook his head Don't do it, there are too many witnesses.
Nikki shot him a hard look. She was definitely considering a Party Trick for a moment there. Sure, she could easily kill Dankworth in her alternate skin, or even in this one… but at what cost.
There were no cameras in Dark Bohemia but they sure were a lot of phones. Nikki knew it too, she took a deep breath and looked back at Dankworth.
"Yeah?" Nikki's voice was more upbeat again, that was a good sign "Will it be enough to pay for your funerals?".
It was at that moment, Connar could no longer resist, he had to say it. Hearing Dankworth's comments about Nikki, he saw a perfect window of opportunity and burst into laughter.
"I'm sorry…" Dankworth shouted "Is something fucking funny". Connar looked across and Nikki also looked puzzled. "No" Connar caught his breath from the laughter "It's just you said, fifty guys lined up and shot into her…".
Looking over at Nikki, she noticeably clenched her jaw "I mean I knew you were a connoisseur, Nik, but Jesus!" Connar continued laughing. Nikki shook her head and squeezed her lips together, slowly nodding "How? How do you make a gun fight weird?!" She hissed. Giving him that I'm seriously gonna fuck your shit up later look.
Dankworth's only response was a short sigh, followed by a loud "OPEN FIRE!".
The barrage from the two XM556's shredded the wall, instantly forcing both Nikki and Connar back into the section of the which they had just fought through.
Nikki dove across into cover next to him "Fuck" she hissed "This no party trick thing is starting to get boring". "Seven left" Connar said "One more stunner".
From Nikki's position, she was in a better place to see when they would reach the divide between the two sections. It was a choke point in the centre of this level of the club.
The Miniguns were loaded with tracers and were tearing everything to shreds. Viktor shielded Katarina from the storm of bullets, but both Connar and Nikki knew the next few seconds were going to be decisive.
Nikki looked at Connar, Dankworth's words had come as a shock. The same was true of her, she remembered being chased by hundreds of soldiers the night she ran from her lab.
Her re-created sister has apparently been through something similar, but if Dankworth's description of events was true, more violent.
Running into one of those soldiers, now a mass-murdering mercenary, only served to reinforce Nikki's belief that she, and by extension, Eve… were created by the true monsters.
Fine Nikki thought Maybe, a bit more violence is what we need right now. "Give me the Stunner" Nikki shouted over the barrage. Connar reached under his jacket and produced his last M84 "Last one" he called out.
Nikki checked the XM7 Connar had given her downstairs, she had two magazines left.
Nikki took the stun grenade, then reached behind her over to where Katarina was in cover and tore a strip off of her dress "What the fuck are you doing?" Katarina protested, Nikki shoved her down back into cover and then reached up onto a nearby table and grabbed a large bottle of Vodka which was still intact and mostly full.
Nikki used the strip of Katarina's dress to tie the M84 to the bottle and then, once it was tight, she pulled the pin, holding the striker down with her thumb and waited. She stole a glance at Connar, who nodded.
Taking cover behind a pillar, she heard Connar ready the tactical shotgun he'd picked up. "Ready?" Nikki asked. "Always" Connar said.
As the two heavily armed Mercenaries crossed the Choke point, Nikki made her move. She dropped, rolled and threw the Vodka-Grenade in one fluid motion.
The four additional mercenaries were stacked on to their heavily armed colleagues, moving tactically through the intersection of the club with Dankworth bringing up the rear.
The Vodka-Grenade hit right between them and detonated. The white flash of the flashbang sent up a plume of gaseous discharge, which quickly ignited into a giant blue fireball in the enclosed space.
The Mercenaries all screamed and began patting themselves, as their clothing and armour burned, no doubt they also had guts from the exploding glass.
Viktor was neither Sighted nor did he share the connection between Nikki and Connar, but he knew what had to be done, as did Kenji and apparently also Katarina.
Nikki saw Dankworth behind his men, he threw himself backwards out of the choke point, patting out a flame on his arm. There is no way I'm letting you live she thought.
Nikki clicked the XM7 into Full Auto and surged forward, firing. Connar was at her side instantly thundering away with the Origin12 sending jets of blood, as well as pieces of armour and torn flesh flying, Viktor, Kenji and Katarina fell in behind them, but it was Nikki and Connar who did the majority of the damage now. The enclosed space became a deathtrap.
Nikki surged through them, by the time she was on the other side, all of Dankworth's mercenaries were dead. Connar was behind her, she heard him flick away a magazine and reload the shotgun again.
Now only Dankworth was before her. The big man had been badly mauled by the exploding bottle and was only just putting out the last of the flames on his arm when Nikki approached him.
"BITCH!" he screamed and drew a HK-USP 45. Dankworth got off a single shot, but it was an involuntary one as Nikki was on him before he could aim at her properly, and his arm was snapped over her shoulder.
Nikki hooked her hand behind his head and used his own weight to throw him over her back and slam him to the floor where she pinned him with her knee and pushed.
Dankworth struggled against her but it was no use, the pressure she applied was just too powerful… she reached down, pulled out her sidearm and put it flush between his eyes, then leaned in close "Shhhhh".
The last shot that rang out was the one that ended Dankworth. It was also the last shot the pixel system beneath the Dance Floor could take, as the bullet passed through Dankworth's head and down into the display, causing it to glitch and finally deactivate. "Tunnel!" Nikki shouted.
Despite his injuries, it was Viktor who now marched forward and took them to a small room on the other end of the floor.
Once in the room, he slid out a hidden tile on the wall and pulled a small lever, causing a hidden section of the wall to open. It revealed a dusty old Speakeasy tunnel from the 1920's.
They were all over New York, used by patrons of illegal drinking den's during the prohibition era. "This will take us out back" Viktor said.
"Thanks for a lovely evening Viktor" Nikki said, and entered the tunnel. She was only a few paces inside when she heard Viktor comment, probably to Connar "She's quite something" to which he replied "That she is". Nikki smiled.
Upon entering the alley behind the club, it was immediately evident that the police were about thirty seconds away. "Thank you, Ms Toombs, for a lovely evening" Viktor extended a hand.
Nikki took it, his grip was hard as he shook her hand. He then turned and did the same with Connar "Thank you both".
Viktor and Katarina then turned and left around a corner. It was a tight maze of alleys behind the club. Kenji nodded at them "Ms. Toombs... Connar" then abruptly pulled up his hood and made off in the same direction as Viktor and Katarina.
Nikki went in the opposite direction, they were both still fully armed. Rounding the corner, Nikki abruptly stopped and raised the XM7, there was a large, black Mercedez-Benz Sprinter. "I know a covert troop transport when I see one" Connar said.
It must have been how some of Dankworth's men got in around the back. Nikki kept her rifle trained on the sliding door, while Connar rounded her, moved up to the door and pulled it.
The door slid open revealing more weapons and equipment, they had been ready for a sustained battle here tonight. There was even another XM556 in an armoured box in the corner.
"It's Clear, get in" Nikki whispered "We're taking this". Connar jumped inside and pulled the door shut. "Well, that was a shitty evening" Nikki said as she jumped into the driver's seat and began looking for a set of spare keys. "That's the second time in a week someone's mistaken me for this "Eve" and it's starting to get old".
Nikki pulled down the driver's side sun visor and the keys dropped into her lap. Nikki started the Van and drove slowly out of the alley. Naturally slowing to a crawl as she was about to transition out onto the street.
All of a sudden, she felt it again, and stood on the breaks. The van shuddered to a stop, she hadn't been going fast but it was a jolt. Connar braced himself and instinctively shouldered the Origin12. "What is it, Nikki?" he asked in a low voice. "I… don't know" she began. Nikki's voice was barely a whisper.
That's when he appeared. Slowly walking across the mouth of the alley in front of them was a smartly dressed man, smoking a cigarette. He turned and regarded Nikki with an expression that was hard to read, not quite awe, not quite hate.
He stood roughly five feet and six, not especially tall, broad or muscular, and he was Albino, with very pale skin and white hair. His hair was shaved at the sides. His eyes were a cold grey, blue and he sported a short stubble beard.
He walked slowly across the front of the van, never taking his cold eyes off Nikki, and eventually disappeared across the other side.
"Nikki…. NIKKI" Connar said, snapping her out of it, tapping her on the leg "Y…Yeah" she finally replied. "Come on, shake it off, we have to go".
Nikki and Connar were away and up the road as the first of the police cars began to arrive. Nikki glanced back in the mirror to see if she could see the strange man, but he was gone.
"Who was that, Nikki?" Connar asked as Nikki drove up Ocean Parkway.
"I…" Nikki couldn't form the words. "Hay, it's ok. They sure broke the mould when they made you, Nikki. You were amazing tonight, as always" Connar reached over and put his hand on her shoulder.
"You felt it before the attack… you felt him?" Connar squeezed a little, his grip was reassuring. "Yeah, but it was… not the same as before".
They drove in silence for several miles before Connar finally asked "Where to?".
A police car screamed past and they both checked it in the side mirrors to make sure it didn't turn. When it didn't, Nikki let out a breath, if she got into a chase, there was no way she was losing the cops in this thing.
She stayed to the speed limit and drove casually.
"Not sure" Nikki said, "But maybe we should unload this thing in the lockup and then go find a bar… because I need a strong fucking drink" Nikki said. "Amen to that" Connar quipped back, looking in the side mirror again.
Nikki then remembered his wisecrack back in the club "Oh, yeah, and there's one other thing I need" Nikki said. "What's that?" Connar asked, he was still looking out of the side window. "This" she hissed as she reached across and dug him good and hard in the ribs.
Connar let out a yelp which quickly turned to a laugh "You didn't think I'd forget a connoisseur? Asshole! … in the middle of a fucking gunfight!" Nikki shouted, only marginally hiding her mirth, by the end of the sentence she was laughing.
"I told you I was gonna get you back for that Ice-Cream" he laughed, holding his ribs. "Alright… Okay… fuck you, we're even!... Asshole" Nikki quipped back.
They looked at each other and it then became a competition to see who would last longest without laughing.
They both ended up laughing at the same time, long and loud.
The pale man was still on Nikki's mind, but he would not dominate her thoughts, she pushed him out.
"Long drive over to Hunts Point" Connar said "Wanna stop for something to eat?". "What do you have in mind? Or maybe I should just run down the next bicycle delivery guy I see and we'll have meals on wheels, you know, like you did a few days ago".
"That wasn't intentional, but not a bad idea. Anyway, I've got cash, Pizza?" Connar asked. "Nah, not twice in one week" Nikki shot back "Greek?". "Shwarma?" Connar returned. "Mexican?" Nikki said. "Thai?" Connar asked. There was a slight pause and they both settled on it in unison "Chinese it is".
They laugh and they joke as they drive away into the night. For their union is one of more than love.
There is power in their partnership, and the knowledge that together they can overcome the most overwhelming odds.