THE FASTER BLADE
The warehouses along Ikebukuro were always an eerie sight at night compared to the rest of the International District. The near abandoned warehouses cast a dismal and dark shadow over the area and the night wind was the most mournful sound. The gang controlled area had the most minimal of activity as a few trucks here and there would drive in and out of the warehouses, dropping off or picking up merchandise, otherwise the place was dead and dark.
Raven knelt on the roof of a warehouse she was going into, checking her equipment for tonight’s mission. Her black leather suit hugged her curvaceous body as it seemed to pull the shadows toward her. She checked, and then double checked her equipment and weapons until she was satisfied. This mission wasn’t going to be an easy one but then again assassination hits were never easy, especially when the “mark” was an exile. It’s like they had a sixth sense for danger, which is why they usually surrounded themselves with guards and alarms. Well, there’s always ways around those she thought, smiling ruefully. She tied a long scarf at the nape of her neck, partially covering her face. Her bluish-black hair was tied back, only her Asian eyes were visible. Standing up, she touched a button on her belt. She immediately began to fade from view until there was only an empty space where she stood. She headed across the roof to the door on the other side. Time to get to work…
Barloke cursed silently to himself as he hung upside down, suspended from an air vent. Some way to make a living he thought hanging here like a bat. But the bounty on this particular “mark” was very valuable, and truth be told, Barloke could use the “info”. Because the Matrix is a simulated world, money can be created as well, and although to a Blue Pill or an Exile it may hold value, to a Red Pill it’s worthless. Information in the form of data cards held more value, in that you could load programs for new equipment buffed clothes, training programs, and weapons. The Merovingian had tons of these data cards and a whole platoon of hackers that could make more, do enough jobs and you could end up with an impressive array of programs to load. Barloke checked his weapons and equipment again as he hung upside down. This wasn’t going to be an easy job, the “mark” was an exile named Lo-Tan. This particular exile was highly placed in the Phoenix gang and although the leader of this gang, Feng swore allegiance to the Merovingian he was starting to sway because of the influence of his right hand man, Lo-Tan. Barloke asked the Merovingian if the job called for taking out Feng as well. But the Merovingian felt that was unnecessary, besides the Merv reasoned a terrified employee is better than a dead one. So Feng was just supposed to get a “reminder” about where his loyalties lie and what happens when you try to double cross the Merv. Barloke scanned the area below with a pair of specialized glasses he designed to pick up varying code signatures in the Matrix. His BDU had sixth sense detection and currently all seemed clear. Barloke pressed a button on his belt and started to fade from view, with a flip Barloke released the wire and fell silently to the ground landing in a crouch. The only evidence of his landing was the small cloud of a dust that barely kicked up to be noticeable. Standing up he made his way deeper into the warehouse. Time to get to work…
On the lowest floor of the warehouse, Feng was pacing nervously. “Relax Feng” said Lo-Tan as he kneeled in front of the low table, drinking tea “Anyone trying to get to us would have to go through the seven hells to do it.” That’s not the point!” said Feng angrily “We shouldn’t be hiding like this in the first place!” Lo-Tan shrugged and said quietly “Those are the fortunes of war.” “What war?!” cried Feng “Things weren’t great but at least I didn’t have the threat of death on me because of this mad scheme of yours!” Lo-Tan eyed Feng thoughtfully, looking every bit like a Mandarin prince with his long red and gold robes and high cap. Quiet as a statue, even his long black hair was still he said in a soft deadly tone “silence” and Feng was instantly chilled “Remember who it was that you came to for help in these matters.” Feng sighed and slumped his shoulders; with his head bowed he said quietly “I asked for help dealing with the Frenchman, not to betray him.” Lo-Tan smiled and held up his hands so his long black fingernails at each end of his pinkie stroked the ends of his mustache that cascaded past his chin “And dealing with him we are doing right now” he said easily “this is not an act of betrayal, dear Feng, this an ultimatum.” “By holding his shipments?” asked Feng. “Of course” replied Lo-Tan “holding his shipments will send a clear message to this Frenchman that we mean business, he will act accordingly.” “Yeah” nodded Feng “and send a hit squad to wipe us out!” “Let him send his army” shrugged Lo-Tan “we have more than enough protection, and my personal bodyguard. Any army this Frenchman sends will be laid out on his doorstep.” Feng sat down heavily in front of the table facing Lo-Tan and said quietly “maybe it’s because you have been in the archive simulations too long that you don’t know danger we are in. The Merovingian is not a man to betray and before you say anything, that’s how he is going to see this. If we take from him, we will pay the price.” Lo-Tan just smiled again and said “We will see then.” Feng sighed and shook his head…
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