This is my contribution to the series of revengefics started by Slacker.
Earlier chapters can be found at http://www.angelfire.com/anime/Slacker
While oddly enough for a fanfiction most of these characters are mine there
are a few
exceptions. Most notably are the avatars of my partners in crime. Also
Nemesis who makes a brief appearance is the creation of Slacker. Thrawn who
is also in there was originally the property of the whoever owns the right on
the Star Wars novels written by Timothy Zahn although the version used in
this work comes from a fanfic by Andrew Wilson.
Warning: There are instances of graphic and extreme violence in this story
if you don't like that, or feel this is not something you wish to be exposed
to please don't read.
Payment plan
by Outlaw 1
Outlaw 1 and Darth were walking down a crowded sidewalk. While normally this
would not be cause for much comment however in this case the two authors were
dressed not in there accustomed mostly black ensembles and both felt like
total idiots. Outlaw 1 was dressed in a pair of lime green jogging pants
with buttons down the legs this was topped with a wife beater white T-shirt
and a gray sweatshirt tied around his waist a Nike duffle bag hung from his
hands. Darth's outfit was similar though varying in color. Blue pants and a
striped shirt if you are morbidly curious. Their faces were also disguised
Darth was sporting a goatee blond hair was hidden under a wig of curly brown
hair. Outlaw 1 was wearing a pair of sunglasses to hide his ruined right eye
and had dyed his hair a dark black to match that of most of the cities
population. Needless to say most of the other pedestrians gave the pair a
few extra inches of space.
Both were nervously scanning their surroundings, as they moved with a
purposeful gait. The pair were headed to a cafe where they were to meet
Slacker and Andrew another pair of authors that were running and hiding in
the sprawling metropolis.
Two weeks ago the four of them had, by various means, found themselves in an
alley in the middle of Tokyo in a universe that was not their own. Slacker,
Andrew and Darth had been rather upset by the whole event as they had only
recently learned that the characters in the stories they wrote actually
existed on another plain of existence, and were very angry. Toward dealing
with that anger they had kidnapped and tortured Darth before dropping him
off. Slacker and Andrew had gotten the worst by far their very bodies had
been transformed into the likeness' of Chibi-Usa and Sailor Pluto
respectively. To make matters worse only the newly christened Chibi-Slacker
had any powers to go with his new body.
Outlaw 1 had learned of the animates existence almost a year previously and
had escaped death at the hands of an enraged Ryoga only by the grace of God
and a large caliber handgun. He had spent a year running around Florida
fighting for his life and learning as much as he could about a variety of
fighting skills. So he was pretty calm about the whole thing. Until Darth
broke the bad news that snowed in Tokyo during the winter.
They had agreed to split up into two man teams to try and find a way to
return to home dimension and now it was time to meet up and share their
findings.
Outlaw 1's time on the run had left him a little paranoid, which explained
the duo's current getups. He also insisted on reconnoitering the meeting
place before entering into a possible trap. The chances of this were pretty
good seeing as the meeting time was half an hour ago and the gender switched
authors were nowhere to be found.
Continuing on past the meeting place Darth looked at Outlaw 1 with a
concerned
expression on his face. "So what do you think happened to them, partner?"
He asked.
"They are probably dead, it is a shame they were good people." "Now keep
your eyes open we don't want any surprises."
Silently they both vowed to seek vengeance for their comrades if at all
possible.
Continuing on through the streets they took several random turns, covertly
checking for tails all the while. Twenty minutes passed before their worst
fears were confirmed.
Idly glancing in a store window as they passed by Outlaw 1 saw a trio of men
that he had noticed the last three times he had checked his six.
"Shit" he muttered, "Darth, twenty yards back, three gaijin in cheap gray
suits."
"I'm all most insulted" Darth replied "They could at least have made an
effort to blend in."
"They were good enough to spot us." Outlaw 1 riposted. "Now we have to deal
with
them."
Spying an alley up ahead the author's quickly ducked in and started running.
Through the maze of passageways and alley's common to Tokyo.
"So what's the plan Outlaw?"
"If they catch up with us we assume they are hostile and kill them." Outlaw
1 said as he accelerated to a full sprint, dragging the panting Darth by the
arm.
Outlaw 1 frantically searched an ambush spot as they ran through the alleys.
Frequent glances back showed that their pursuers were not only running after
them but were actually gaining on them.
Outlaw 1 got an ugly grin on his face as he thought of a way to slow down the
men.
Reaching into his duffle bag he pulled out a small heavy paper bag.
As the pair made a right angle turn Outlaw 1 turned and hurled the bag at the
ground in front of the pursuer's feet. The paper immediately split
scattering over a hundred ball
bearings in their path.
Shouted oaths and assorted thuds told him that he had bought a few seconds
and as they rounded another corner he pulled Darth to a halt.
"Now it's time for some payback." He growled.
*************
The one eyed biker reached into his duffel bag and removed a device that
looked
remarkably similar to a happodaikarin. He handed the bomb to his partner who
lit the fuse with a Zippo lighter and hurled it around the corner.
As the fuse burned down it ignited a a small charge of home made black powder
that
spread two pounds of fine flour into the alley engulfing the three charging
men who once more started cursing. Outlaw 1 had an impassive expression as
he struck a match on the wall next to him and sent it flying into cloud.
With a thunderous roar the particles of flour ignited with a burn rate that
rivaled
nitroglycerine.
Calmly the two authors step out to view the results of their handiwork.
The alley was filled with smoke that smelled vaguely of baking bread.
As the two watched disbelieving two men stumbled from the smoke one slumped
against he wall apparently injured int he explosion. The other caught sight
of his tormentors and immediately charged at Outlaw 1 trying to catch him in
a flying tackle.
Acting on instinct Outlaw 1 turned aside and using an Aikido technique called
Sumi
Otoshi sent the gray suited figure flying ass over tea kettle into cluster of
garbage cans that had somehow remained standing through the explosion.
Outlaw 1 raised his hands into a defensive posture, and screamed in pain and
rage as a trash can lid was hurled into his face striking his nose. With
this distraction his opponent wasted no time and speared him to the ground.
They went in a biting clawing tangle with Outlaw 1 on the bottom. The angry
biker pulled his enemy closer by his hair and did his best to bite his ear
off. The stranger responded with a savage knee to the groin, using the
initiative created by that move to drive a forearm into Outlaw 1's throat and
begin to choke him to death.
Darth watched in shock as the uninjured man dove for Outlaw 1 and was sent
for a ride. Feeling something bounce off his foot he looked down to see a
strange looking gun that the stranger had dropped during the exchange resting
against his toes. Smiling gleefully he grabbed the weapon and tried to
quickly figure out how it worked.
He was so absorbed by his new possession that he almost missed movements of
the injured man as he fumbled an identical weapon out of jacket and tried to
align it's sights on Darth's bewigged head.
Obeying some primal instinct Darth shifted his attention to this new threat.
Rising almost on it's own his new weapon aligned perfectly with the man and
Darth pulled the trigger.
Instead of discharging a bullet the pistol fired a brilliant beam of coherent
light. It struck the gray suited figure square in the center of the chest
and the laser cored a hole through his vital organs before exiting out his
back and into the wall.
Darth stared in disgust at sight of the horrible burn on the man's chest, the
skin was black and cracked from the immense heat. As he watched dark blood
started to ooze from the wound.
Close to panic at this Darth turned around as he dropped the blaster pistol.
Fighting his nausea Darth looked to see his partner turning blue under the
grip his opponent. Red rage filled his mind as he charged this last
tormentor tackling him like an NFL lineman and ripping him free of Outlaw 1.
Outlaw 1 groggily looked over to see his opponent locked in desperate combat
with his partner. The mystery man seemed to be getting overwhelmed and
Outlaw 1 never one for a fair fight struggled to his feet to rejoin the fray.
Working together the two quickly subdued the man, and while Darth bound the
unconscious man with duct tape Outlaw 1 searched the alley for the third
man. After discovering he had died in the explosion his head dashed against
the wall. Outlaw 1 went to salvage any useful equipment from the dead men.
As soon as the new gear had been secured in Outlaw 1's duffel bag they
gathered up their prisoner and hightailed it away from the scene of the fight.
*****************
The authors and their sleeping prisoner had made it back out to main street
by the time the emergency personnel started to arrive.
"Damn we can't carry this guy out there someone will stop." Darth said as he
peered at the gathering crowd down the street from an alley where the men had
sought shelter.
Outlaw 1 observed the street beyond the alley and smiled at what he saw.
"Don't worry," he said, "I have a plan."
"Oh no, I hate it when you say that." Darth responded.
Don't worry you don't have to do anything except watch this guy." Outlaw 1
said kicking their captive lightly to make his point. "But first let's get
out of these disguises."
Quickly divesting themselves of the urban wear the to reveal jeans under
there jogging pants and pulling black T-shirts from Outlaw 1's duffel bag the
contents of which was transferred to a backpack.
Outlaw one put his shade into a pocket and removed a ladies make up compact.
Quickly he applied make up to the puckered area of his destroyed right eye
making it look as though he had a large shiner and that the eye had swelled
shut.
Appearance altered the one-eyed author stepped out onto the street slouching
as much as possible to conceal his height.
Walking along the street toward the bulk of the commotion he paid attention
to the cars parked along the street.
Finally finding the one he wanted he opened the door and started the car with
the key thoughtfully left in the ignition by a man who had hurried to gawk at
the grisly scene left behind in the alley by the explosion.
"Thanks chum, I'll bring it back with a full tank." Outlaw 1 quipped as he
pulled away
from the curb.
Pulling up next to the alley Outlaw 1 jumped out and helped an astonished
Darth load the captive into the car. Fortunately most of the people nearby
were more interested in the gathering of emergency services vehicles in the
distance.
Darth ran his hand along the upholstery, "Nice car. So where did you get it?"
"I stole it."
"No body saw you, right?"
"Nobody that knew what I was doing." Outlaw 1 replied.
Darth thought about this for a second. "Ok so what's the plan?"
Making a right turn, Outlaw 1 replied. "We're going clubbing."
**************
The pair drove through the city streets until they came to one of Tokyo's
famous dance clubs that was just beginning to discharge it's revelers even
though it mid-morning.
"Wow they sure know how to party hard here." Darth remarked as he watched
drunken partygoers stumble through the streets.
"That is why we came." Replied Outlaw 1 as they exited the car their prisoner
in tow. "We are going to be just a couple of guys helping there drunk buddy
home in a cab.
***********************
"I can't believe you did that." Darth said with a disgusted look on his face
and I can't
believe what we are about to do."
Several hours had passed since the duo had made it to their hotel room with
their prisoner. A rather harsh interrogation had followed the captives
return to consciousness. The prisoner had finally broken and revealed
himself to be an engineer who along with his buddies had seen the pair of
authors while out shopping and decided to pick up some brownie points with
their boss by capturing them and handing the pair over to their superior.
The man had been a wealth of information as he was involved in almost all of
their
enemies' plans. They had learned where Chibi-Slacker and Andrew had only
been taken that very morning from the cafe where they were to meet. They
also learned where the pair was being held, by virtue of the fact that the
engineer had helped build only one holding cell. This cell was located in a
just recently occupied building and so it's defenses were not complete yet.
Outlaw 1 had no idea why the enemy would build prisons before hardening a
facility sufficiently but wasn't dumb enough to look a gift horse in the
mouth, or any other orifice for that matter.
The engineers had been frightfully well equipped for a shopping expedition
making the pair wonder if there were as yet unrevealed dangers upon this
world. Outlaw 1's bag had revealed three blaster pistols, a pair of
vibro-knives, an assortment of grenades, and a thermal detonator. Under
questioning the captive had provided information on how all the devices
worked including the make-shift charging unit that could recharge the power
cells of the blasters from a wall outlet. The pair had tested everything
they could safely but were going to have to take the captives word on the
workings of the thermal detonator. The device was equipped with both a timer
to set it in place and a dead man's switch in the form of a button located on
top of the device that would detonate the explosive if it was released after
being depressed.
The most disturbing thing though was the identity of their adversary. He was
none other than Thrawn. The master tactician from Star Wars. This version
of Thrawn however had not come from the Star Wars universe however he was one
of Andrew's characters who had made his way to this world by way of a
Robotech/Rifts crossover.
Reasoning that the only way they would be able to rescue their friends was to
strike before Thrawn knew of the disappearance of of his men they immediately
set about making plans and gathering equipment for a rescue.
It was now one o'clock in the morning and their frantic work had led them to
this point, standing in front of a manhole cover that led down into the Tokyo
storm sewers.
*****************
Outlaw 1 and Darth made their way in silence under the sewers of Tokyo with
grim
expressions on their faces. Both were incredibly tense knowing the almost
impossible odds they faced to rescue their friends but they also knew that
there was no choice in matter.
They were as prepared for the mission as possible both dressed in black
jumpsuits with their faces darkened with black combat cosmetics. Both were
also wearing rubber boots to try and keep the awful smelling water off there
feet.
Outlaw 1 was carrying his signature 12 gauge Mossberg 500 with the stock
folded
hanging under his left arm. A Rube Goldberg suppressor made out of a 2 liter
bottle filled with various things was duct taped to the end of the barrel and
he had to take care that it didn't bounce off the Colt M1911A1 holstered
halfway down his thigh on a tactical leg holster along with several magazines
of ammunition for the pistol. A bandoleer of various types of shotgunshell
ran across his chest while a bulging pouch and seven inch long Cold Steel
Recon Tanto rode his right hip. A custom made Katana was strapped to his
back angled to be drawn with the right hand the sheath covered by a large
backpack full of essential supplies. He carried a captured blaster pistol in
his left hand attached to his neck by a lanyard made of paracord. In his
right hand was a half unfolded map and a very high tech GPS device, strangely
enough it was functioning perfectly despite them being below ground. Perched
on his head was a 3rd generation Russian night vision monocular originally
designed to be worn by helicopter pilots who need to keep one eye free for
there instrument panels. A black bandanna was tied around his head in a do
rag.
Darth was similarly attired in Commando garb only with fewer weapons, relying
on a
captured blaster pistol in his right hand and a vibro knife sheathed
vertically on the left side of his chest. Across his back however was not a
Katana but a chainsaw with a heavily modified muffler, to be used for opening
stubborn doors, or stubborn people. His hair was tucked under a baseball hat
turned backwards, while a pair of night vision goggles covered his face.
Oddly enough in his right hand was a lightweight folding aluminum ladder.
They hadn't gotten far when Outlaw 1 held up his right hand them motioned for
Darth to top and stay still using an agreed upon silent signal.
Curious Darth ask in a low voice "What's wrong?"
Outlaw 1 studied the terrain ahead through his nightvision device "Something
isn't right."
"What is it?" Darth replied.
Taking a closer look Outlaw 1 realized what had caused him to stop in the
first place. "The walls of the tunnel right here," he said gesturing towards
an area on the wall, "they are too clean."
"What do you mean, Outlaw?"
"Every part of the tunnel except this four inch strip is covered with thick
green lichen and mold this part is a different color on my NV gear, and there
is a corresponding strip on the otherside."
"So what, so one part of the wall is a little cleaner than the others let's
go," Darth
responded in a peeved voice.
Outlaw 1 slowly approached the suspect wall section as he did he exchanged
the GPS and map in his right hand for a plastic squeeze bottle pulled from
his belt pouch. Pointing the bottle at the air just to the side of the wall
he squeezed it sending a puff of chalk dust squirting out. He watched in
silence as a spiderweb of red beams was revealed in the dust. "Laser alarm"
he breathed. "If you had crossed this we would probably have had a dozen
Storm Troopers on our ass, or worse."
"Great, just great, how do we get by this little obstacle?" Darth asked.
Outlaw 1 looked around and then smiled as a plan came to him "Not around," he
said "under."
Darth looked at the 12 inches of scummy water they had been wading through
with
disgust. "Oh please God no." He muttered.
Outlaw 1's only response was a sickly grin as stripped off his pack and
handed it to Darth. Pulling out a twelve inch cyalume snaplight he quickly
activated it and used some duct tape to attach it to the wall. Using the
light from the stick to work by he removed his monocular and put it into a
plastic bag from his pack along with several other valuable electronic items.
Motioning for Darth to do the same he attached both of the pack to the ladder
with paracord and entrusted the contraption back to Darth.
Steeling himself Outlaw 1 knelt down in the water and drew his tanto as he
moved toward the barrier Darth stopped him "Hey what if there are lasers
under the water?"
"Water bends light," the one eyed biker replied. Seeing the questioning look
in Darth's eyes he gestured to the knife in his left hand, "If I had access
to a lot of high tech shit I would think seriously about using monofilament
wires where I couldn't use lasers." Darth's face already distorted by
camouflage paint and the yellow green light from the cyalume stick took on an
even more sickly pallor.
Probing ahead with his knife periodically checking the blade for damage
Outlaw 1 was finally satisfied that nothing fatal waited for him under the
water but away his knife. Taking a deep breath he slipped fully beneath the
surface and made his way under the invisible laser beams.
Darth quickly passed the ladder with the packs attached under the water to
him and after a few moments followed.
As Darth was taking his swim Outlaw 1 was getting re-equipped and after a few
minutes both men were ready to continue.
Checking the GPS they were amazed to note that they only twenty feet from
their
destination. Cautiously they made their way to the spot indicated by the
little electronic device.
Working quickly they set up the ladder and as Outlaw 1 held it Darth scurried
up with his pack in hand. Once he reached the top he quickly set to work
assembling the contents of his pack. Working quickly Darth secured what
looked like an empty picture frame to the roof of tunnel using yet more duct
tape. He then climbed down trailing a pair of thin wires behind him. Outlaw
1 carried the ladder back with him almost to the laser trap and left it
standing there. They secured the packs to the side of the ladder facing the
frame on the ceiling and Outlaw 1 removed a large 6-volt battery from his.
"Are you ready?" he
asked his partner, as they took cover behind the packs and ladder.
"I have been waiting for this since we made this stuff," the other author
replied. "Are you worried it won't work?"
"No." Outlaw 1 replied curtly. "Now remember when we get inside we cover
each other's back as we head for the stairs on the Southeast corner."
"Right," Darth replied, "Andrew and Slacker are being held in the basement
will be
coming up into the sub-basement, we make our way from our entry point to the
Southeast stairs."
Outlaw 1 nodded, "From the Southeast stairs once we reach the basement we
take the first door on the right. At the end of the hallway the first door
on the right leads to there is a door."
Darth clenched and unclenched his hands. "Past the first door on the right
there is a
hallway, at the end of the hallway there is a door, through that door is the
holding cell
where Slacker and Andrew are being held."
Outlaw 1 finished the recitation, "Through that door is the cell where
Slacker and Andrew are being held."
Outlaw 1 looked eye to eyes with Darth, they both nodded as one and Outlaw 1
said the magic words: "GO GO GO!"
On the third shouted go Darth touched wires to the twin terminals on the
battery. In an instant an electrical charge traveled to the makeshift
detonator in the home built linear breaching charge that the pair had made to
blow through the foundation of the converted office building.
Before the smoke cleared the pair started running carrying the ladder between
them.
Reaching the hole in the ceiling they grounded the ladder and Shotgun in hand
Outlaw 1 scrambled up into the light. His partner Darth following as soon as
he had cleared the hole.