Corporate Warfare Part Two - Three Kings

Dawn’s early light began to shine as the Nighthawk touched down on The Outeryard. The outcome of Cyntech’s assault was still being felt as corpses were being dragged away by Chaudary’s men to be burnt, while others focussed on refortifying the outer defences. As Miyuki disembarked the Nighthawk, Slackjaw approached her.

‘Boss wants a word with you. Now.’

‘Nice to see you too, Slackjaw.’

‘Can it, lady. Let’s go. Now. I’m to escort you up to see him. Boss’ orders.’

‘I don’t need an escort. Especially not from a brain dead ape like yourself. I know where I’m going,’

‘Lady, I don’t want to escort you in the first place. Now cmon let’s go.’

Miyuki followed Slackjaw through the open shutter door and towards the elevator. Inside the 1st floor were crates of unloaded weapons and unarmed ordnance. A few dozen troops sat in the middle of the room, unloading and field stripping their rifles before putting them back together blindfolded. Slackjaw hammered the elevator button and held it open for Miyuki as she crouched underneath his colossal forearms. The elevator dinged open and Miyuki made her way towards Chaudary’s office. The two door guards noticed Slackjaw and stood on opposite sides holding the door open. Inside the office, Chaudary was loading and unloading his sidearms, each gold plated, before placing them down on his desk and looking with an intense stare at the two people stood in front of him. His finger pointed at Miyuki.

‘You. There’d better be some good news. Tell me that the Cyntech CEO is out of the picture.’

‘No.’

‘WHAT?!’

Chaudary slammed his fist down on the table.

‘This is why you never trust a woman to do a man’s job. What else do you have?’

‘I have plans for an upcoming assault. ‘

‘Plans?’

‘Yes. Cyntech plans to strike all 3 major Paralya gangs simultaneously. They’re activating the cybernetics they installed into people in the Upper and Lower Quarters and bringing them down here to soften us up for the main assault.

‘Goddamnit. And you uncovered this how?’

‘Managed to gain access to a secret briefing by the CEO’

‘Well, that’s it then. How long have we got until the assault?’

‘It begins tomorrow.’

‘My men are in no condition to repel an assault of that scale. We’ll be crushed within a matter of minutes.’

‘What do you suggest then Chaudary?’

‘Meet with the other gang leaders. We’re gonna need they’re help if we’re to survive this. Take these. It just so happens that these gang leaders owe me some favours. If you can convince them to join us, that would be a massive help.’

‘How convenient.’

‘Indeed. Now get going. It’s already dawn. You only have a few hours to get this done . If I were you, I’d start with The Sons of Las Pereras. You can find them inside Devils Park. ‘

‘Got it.’

‘Help yourself to some of the hardware downstairs. My men intercepted a Cyntech supply drop. Slackjaw! Show her out. ‘

‘Of course Sir,’

The elevator door pinged once again as it carried Miyuki downstairs. As the door opened, there were a few dozen extra soldiers fixing and repairing damaged Cyntech drones. On a table next to the elevator sat an extra black and yellow coloured Cyntech K9-43 Assault Rifle, complete with an under-barrel grenade launcher that could fire up to three different types of grenade, as well as an inbuilt tactical scope. The weapon fit snugly at home on Miyuki’s back as it clicked into place onto one of her equipment slots. After walking outside into the warm air, she boarded the Nighthawk and flew back towards Devils Park. As people were waking up and beginning to enter the city, the gambling, prostitution and drug side of the city scurried away into the shadows ready to emerge once again come dusk. The Nighthawk was suspended in flight above the abandoned post office as Miyuki headed inside via the adjacent staircase towards Molenda’s lab. As she opened the door to the basement, a quiet silence blanketed the area. Passing through the laboratory, there was a faint noise coming from the kitchen. As Miyuki got closer, the sound of broken glass filled the air, causing her to slowly grip the door knob and gingerly open the door, sub machine gun in her hand. As the door opened, the kitchen was empty. Suddenly Miyuki felt a cold steel press against the back of her head.

‘Drop it intruder!’

Miyuki recognised the dorky voice of Molenda.

‘Molenda? Is that you?’

‘Holy crap, Ms Miyuki! Sorry please don’t bash my lights out!’

‘Put the gun down. Where is Hanan?’

‘Hanan? I think she’s sleeping upstairs. Anyway, good to see you, although you look like you just crawled out a trash pile. ‘

‘Right. Listen, have you got another suit of armor? My current one got kind of.. shredded’

‘Shredded?! Dammit Ms Miyuki what have you done with my armor! Lemme take a look. Damn. Well, the back armor plate is definitely shredded. The chest plate doesn’t look so hot either. The wings have bullet holes in them. Ok, wait here. I’ll bring it out.’

Molenda headed into the laboratory. The sound of boxes crashing together became audible for the next several minutes until Molenda emerged with a blue attaché case under his arm. He placed the case on the kitchen table and unlatched it, revealing a similar suit to the one Miyuki currently used.

‘Ms Miyuki, this is the Mark II Combat Suit. The chest plate has been reinforced with ubefchtsteel, creating a soft body shield to protect against bullets, explosions that sort of thing. The gauntlets come equipped inbuilt spikes to disarm a bladed opponent. The tactical hood has been completely removed seeing as how you rarely used it, and I’ve taken those resources and put them into the shin armor. Finally, at the back, there’s now an extra slot for a weapon or item. As well as a belt pouch for storing smaller items of equipment. Ok that should cover everything. I’ll step outside while you change.’

There was a heavy clang as the old combat armor dropped to the ground. Miyuki’s body began to shine in the light as she strapped her new armor on, the cobalt blue colour reflecting her face as she tightened the straps on her chest and back. After slotting in her equipment, Miyuki headed out.

‘Ms Miyuki why don’t you stay for a while? You need sleep.’

‘Thanks, Molenda but I have work to do. Sleep can wait. Tell Hanan I was here when she wakes up. ‘

Miyuki exited the laboratory and stomped up the stairs.

‘She’s gone Hanan. You can come out now.’

‘ OK. Thanks Molenda.’

‘She’s not looking well Hanan. You’ll need to give it to her straight at some point.’

‘That’s not for you to decide Molenda. I’ll tell her when she’s ready.’

‘Well you’d better get to telling her. At the rate she’s going she’ll end up like her mother and we don’t want that.’

Hanan let out a heavy sigh.

‘Yes Molenda. I’ll tell her. Eventually.’

As Miyuki left the post office behind and headed into the heart of Devils Park her earpiece began to buzz.

‘Hey runt. Chaudary here.’

‘Chaudary. What do you want?’

‘Listen, if you’re going after the Sons, you’ll need to know where they congregate. There’s a bar in the centre of town. It’s called Bottom Feeder. Everyone in town knows who runs it. The Sons use it as their main base of operations. Go there and speak with their leader, Jakub. You’ll know it’s him when you see him. ‘

‘So then what? I’m just going to give him what you gave me?’

‘Correct. . One thing beforehand – Jakub only takes the best. You may have to be canonised before you’re able to speak with him. Anyways I gotta go.’

The earpiece clicked off as Miyuki headed into the heart of town, by now dozens of people had begun to flood the streets, their shoes kicking up so much dust reminiscent of a desert sandstorm. As she made her way through the dozens of market stalls and cheap hotels, a swarm of people were gathered in the market square. Miyuki climbed on top of a nearby market stall to get a good look at what was happening.

‘You think you can sleep with another man’s girl and get away with it?! You’re a dead man. You hear me? Dead! What’s the matter huh? Ya ain’t got the stones to fight back?’

‘Johnny I swear man I-I didn’t do it, she’s lying to your face!’

‘Boy don’t you dare lie to me she told me you crawled into her bed when I was at work for the night and I take her word over yours!.’

The crowd roared with excitement as they began to egg the two men on,

‘Yeah! Kick his face Johnny! Kick his lights out!’

Johnny began to repeatedly kick the other man in the ribs until he couldn’t breathe, then climbed on top of him and using a nearby brick began to pummel the man on the floor until his face turned into a red soup. The brick shattered in half from the force of Johnny’s last blow. As he began panting like a dog, he turned around and faced the crowd, pointing at the front row.

‘All of ya! Drinks are on me at Bottom Feeder!’

Miyuki climbed down from the stall and blended in with the front row crowd as they began to follow Johnny towards the bar. The bar itself was a rickety old wooden building, featuring one large room and a basement which was off limits to patrons. A shoddy neon sign read ‘Bottom Feeder’ with most of the letters dimly lit. Inside, there was a row of couches in the back and towards the front of the bar itself lay a row of five stools. A row of cheap liquors and wines sat behind the bartender along with a piss yellow colour drink, a local delicacy called Peachy Keen. The locals already in the bar had been drinking the yellow concoction by the truckload as cups of it lay on the table next to several empty bottles. Johnny turned to the bartender and ordered a keg of Peachy Keen, before one of the crowd came forward complaining.

‘Man I don’t want that yellow crap. Gimmie the good stuff! Stingy asshole you said drinks were on you but we don’t get to choose? What kind of-‘

Johnny lifted the man up by his shirt collar and slammed him into the bar before taking a cup off of one of the tables and smashing it in half then sliced the man’s throat open.

‘Any one else feel like complaining?’

The entire crowd shook their heads in unison. After the keg had arrived, Miyuki noticed Johnny heading downstairs and began to follow him before she was stopped by the bartender.

‘ hold up there missy. That area’s off limit to folks. Can’t go down there unless you have a good reason. I never seen folks wearing that getup ya got. What are you supposed to be? Some kind of soldier off duty?’

Miyuki stared at the bartender blankly.

‘Tell ya what. Take a free drink of PK. Lucky for you, you’re easy on the eyes, so it’s on the house.’

The bartender slid the drink towards her and watched as Miyuki gulped the whole cup down in one go. It reminded her of peaches, albeit ones that had been rotting in the sun for a century.

As the bartender had his back turned, Miyuki sneaked off and headed downstairs to follow Johnny. The door to the basement was a simple wooden door which Miyuki was easily able to open. Inside, the entire basement smelled of cigarettes. There was a chair in the back of the room behind a desk with a stack of papers and maps stacked on top of it in a crumpled messy pile. Some people sat punching a punching bag, whilst others practiced firearms training. On the chair there was a big heavy set man. His black hair folded in on itself as his brown eyes noticed Miyuki walk in.

‘You. Who are you?’

Miyuki turned to face the heavy set man.

‘Are you Jakub? The leader of the Sons?’

‘Jakub, I mean err Boss, who is this chick?’

‘Talbot. If you just shut the hell up for five seconds maybe we’ll find out. You. I’m not going to ask again. Who are you and why have you come here?’

Miyuki began to speak.

‘My name is Yukoshita. I’m here because I need your help to-‘

‘OUR help? Help with what? You need some drugs deliverin? Want someone dead? ‘

‘No it’s not that. It’s- listen. Have you heard of Cyntech?’

‘Cyntech? That tech firm that’s been tryin to get people to use their cybernetics? Yeah I’ve heard of em. What’s this got to do with-‘

‘Take a look at this.’

Miyuki protruded Chaudary’s letter and handed it to Jakub who snatched it out of her hand and began skimming over its contents.

‘Damn I heard about what happened over at The Outeryard. ‘

‘Boss! She’s with Chaudary? We needa kill her!’

‘Talbot! For the last time shut up. Or I’ll tear your throat out. Now as I was saying, me an Chaudary been going back an forth over the years. I can’t forgive him for what he did to my boy Leon. But I’m willing to hear him out this time. But before we go any further, you gotta prove to me you’re legit. Chaudary better have not sent no weakling to grovel before me. We gotta cull the herd. Talbot!’

‘Yes boss?’

‘Get in the middle. Johnny, you get in here too. The rest of you, get in the middle. We gonna begin the canonisation. Yukoshita, whatever your name was, if you can beat my boys here in unarmed combat I’ll lend an ear. Now, begin!’

Miyuki was soon surrounded by 7 men as they all prepared to bludgeon her to death. As the first two men rushed her, Miyuki was easily able to incapacitate them by grabbing both their heads and slamming them together. As the third and fourth joined in the fight, Miyuki was able to target their knees and slam them on the floor on their backs, before knocking them out with a quick punch. The remaining 3 men all rushed Miyuki at once and overwhelmed her with a flurry of punches. The first man to attack Miyuki was Talbot, Jakub’s trusted right hand. Talbot stunned Miyuki with a heavy punch to the ribs then grabbed her waist and suplexed her to the floor. The other two men began to grab Miyuki by her hair and hoist her up before delivering multiple punches to the stomach. Miyuki was able to get free from her hold by kicking the man who was punching her stomach in the groin, knocking him down before biting the man holding her hair and twisting his right arm, dislocating it before punching him in the face. Finally, only Miyuki and Talbot were left standing. Both fighters looked at each other for a brief moment then began throwing punches. Talbot managed to grab Miyuki’s left hand mid punch and twist it, causing her to recoil into pain and fall to the floor. As Talbot neared for the kill, Miyuki swept his legs and delivered punch after punch with her right hand until his face turned into mush.

‘Enough. Ms Yukoshita, you have passed my little test. Now run on back to Chaudary and tell him we will lend a hand. Go!’

Jakub rose from his chair and pointed to the door.

Miyuki cradled her hand as she walked out of the basement and up into the bar walking outside into the street. The warm air blasted her in the face as she emerged back into the town. Taking her right hand, she grabbed the left hand and relocated it, the bones making a satisfying click as they locked into place. The earpiece clicked on.

‘Runt. Chaudary here. How’s it going with The Sons?’

‘I managed to convince Jakub to help.’

‘You did? Good. He may be as dumb as a pile of bricks but he’s got the manpower we need. I take it you’re going after the Alpha Pack now?’

‘Yes. What do you know about them?’

‘ They’re very territorial let’s just say that. They have a penchant for torturing or killing people who aren’t a part of them. They’ve been known to kill enemies that surrender.’

‘Where can I find them?’

‘In the old subway system below. They’ve built their own tight knit community down there.’

‘How do I get into the subway system?’

‘You can gain access through the old ElizBeth tunnel network. Was supposed to be a part of this whole city rejuvenation project but that never quite panned out. Anyway you can gain access from there. ‘

‘Copy that. Heading there now ‘

Across the street from the bar lay a sign giving directions to the subway tunnels. Soon the noise from the hordes of people walking around in the town came to an end as Miyuki descended further into the subway system via a stone staircase that was covered in moss and arrived on a platform. On the train tracks lay a dormant early model of a bullet train, it’s driver’s body now a skeleton. The railway track ended prematurely as a pile of steel lay unused next to the incomplete track. Opposite the platform lay a further four platforms, each featuring a dormant empty train. The sound of wind rushing through the tunnel was the only sound that could be heard. The subway tunnel was a ghost town, a relic of a long dead plan for a future that could never happen. As Miyuki wandered over towards the other platforms, a sea of lights flooded her eyes in the otherwise pitch black darkness of the tunnels. Following the lights, Miyuki heard chattering and laughing as she soon emerged at the end of the tunnel into a horde of people sleeping drinking and eating in torn tents. Kids began to run around laughing to themselves. Some women were sitting down cooking, others knitting or tending to children, while the males patrolled the grounds wielding firearms constructed from pipes. In the sea of torn tents lay a large khaki green tent, the command tent. Dodging the various individuals who occupied this outsider society, Miyuki made it to the command tent before a knock to the back of her head knocked her to the ground. Her vision became blurry as she struggled to make out the figures now surrounding her, before one of them grabbed her by the legs and dragged her into the command tent. Inside, lay a desk with a map of Lost Ember spread flat on it. Additional maps and scribbled notes and drawings lay scattered on top of the map and on the floor. Miyuki’s vision began to clear as an old man with white wispy hair approached her.

‘I know why you’re here. Why you’ve come. So don’t bother introducing yourself. You’ll be leaving soon to head back to Chaudary anyway.’

‘How did you-‘

‘Listen to me girl. You really think we would’ve survived as long as we have done down here without a wealth of knowledge at our disposal? Any piece of information that flows through this city we already are made aware of. I’m aware of Cyntech’s goals. Those people at the top look down on us, they look at us through their armored tour buses wearing clothing that costs as much as it does for us to keep this entire place contempt. This place serves as a reminder for how quickly the city abandons those it thinks are unable to be saved. . We’ve survived down here for generations. If Cyntech wants to destroy all that we have built they had better bring their best. Know that I want something in exchange. In return for the information at my disposal I want Chaudary’s help in taking over the world upstairs. Can you say you’re willing to help me in that?’

‘I-I’m not sure.’

‘Then go. Have a think about it. And don’t worry about the envelope, I already took it from you. Now get out of here girl. ‘

As Miyuki left the tent and exited the subway her earpiece clicked on.

‘Runt. Did you manage to convince the Pack to help us?’

‘Yes.’

‘Good. Then come back here and we’ll begin final preparations. My men have been hard at work getting things in order and I’ve called a meeting with the Pack leader and Jakub. ‘

‘Chaudary – the Pack leader has something he wants in exchange.’

‘Exchange?’

‘Yes. He wants you to help him invade the city above.’

‘ I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t want to do that. But I’m no position to launch an attack on the Quarters, not yet anyway.’

‘I see. Well he’ll probably bring it up at this meeting.’

‘Then let him. I’ll be sure to tell him what I think of his little exchange. And you? What will you do when this is all over? ‘

‘Paying an old friend a visit.’

‘ I see. Well anyway we can talk the future some other time. For now just get back here. Your Nighthawk is in position at the tunnel entrance.’

The earpiece clicked off as Miyuki headed back into the world above as the sun began its slow descent into the abyss.