Load

0

Crom watched the news bulletin at the bar in Jackson Heights with intent interest. He sipped his pint and smiled.

Our top story: Will New York City and the surrounding boroughs be caught in the middle of a new deadly interracial gang war?One week after the death of his son, alleged crime boss Vito Marella and his wife Valerie were killed in a horrific drive-by shooting attack on their home earlier this evening along with ten others. Fifteen more were hospitalized at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center with only one being reported to be in stable condition while others are reported to be critical at this time. Police officials found a white handkerchief and a string of white, black and orange beads at the scene. According to N.Y.P.D. Gang Intelligence officials declined to comment but an official who spoke on the condition of anonymity stated that the items belonged to a gang based in Chinatown. The official even went so far as to say that it was the work of a possible Satanic cult. We have Michelle Lang with the latest.”

“A mixture of the occult and gang warfare ruled the day on this quiet neighborhood of Bayside, Queens Maureen where police sources say that hand grenades and AK-47’s were used in the worst drive-by shooting in New York history. The twist in this case was unusual items that were identified as Satanic paraphernalia were dropped at the scene. I spoke with Police Commissioner Miguel Olivera, who immediately responded to the scene upon hearing the 111th Precinct’s blotter.”

“Why are you so interested in what the zip-heads do to the wops anyway?” Squid, sitting next to him at the bar asked.

“Shut the fuck up.” Crom replied as he rubbed his bald head. “These motherfuckers have more balls than you’d ever know.”

“They’re zips, dude.”

“This racial shit is of the old Aeon. Don’t mean shit. Beyond means beyond race too dickwad. I’ve been talking to you about this for a month now.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Why are you so interested in this though?”

“Stay awhile and you’ll find out. If you’ve got what it takes.”

“What?!?” Squid almost spit out his beer. “You know that I’m the first one when there’s a fight, weapons or not.”

“What I’m talking to you about is the big time, my friend. Not this doing the dirty work for some elderly asshole whose still stuck on World War 2.”

“What? You talking about Geoff? He’s who we follow.” Squid said incredulously.

“Exactly. Follow. I’m tired of following. Hold on. I really have to get this.” Crom retrieved a cellphone from his jacket.

Squid looked at Crom as he spoke on the phone.

“Yeah, I saw it. It’s fuckin’ beautiful. I never doubted it for a second. To the new Aeon. Okay, I’ll be over in a bit. Later.”

“When the fuck did you get a cell phone, dude?” Squid asked as Crom hung up.

1

The elevated train roared by above as Toby smoked his cigarette on the corner of 82nd St. and Roosevelt Ave. Two Mexicans walked by warily as they observed Toby’s six foot plus frame, black flight jacket and burgundy Dr. Martens boots.

Toby ignored them and continued to smoke. He glanced across the street and smiled at Crom and Squid.

“Dude, it’s fuckin’ cold out here! I must’ve been here for twenty minutes.’ Toby playfully punched Crom.

“Stop being a fag. Gimme one of those.” Crom said.

Toby pulled a pack of Marlboro Reds and handed it to Crom. Crom smiled and took a cigarette. Then he tossed the pack to Squid.

“You fuckin’ ass holes need to get jobs. I’m tired of supporting your habits.” Toby said.

“I’m working on that, my good buddy. If things go right, I’ll drive up to your doorstep in a truck full of cigarettes.”

“You’re still not telling me where we’re going.” Squid said.

Toby and Crom looked at each other.

“Just keep your mouth shut. When this is over, you’ll know what the deal is.”

The three turned to the right on 86th St. Crom knocked on the side door of a laundromat three times, paused, then five, paused, and then twice.

A large Latino man in his twenties dressed in a jogging suit, baseball cap and beige construction boots opened the door. The three stepped in. Crom raised his hands as if to allow himself to be frisked.

The young Latino smiled at them.

“Go ahead, man. You’re good.” the young man said as he picked up what looked to be a two way radio.

Crom smiled and nodded at the man and motioned for Toby and Squid to follow him and they walked down a long, dark winding hallway.

“Dude, what are we doing at a putaria?” Squid asked.

“Didn’t he tell you to shut your mouth until we’re done?” Toby looked back at Squid angrily.

“Okay, okay.”

A pale yet attractive Latina woman in leggings and high heels heard their approach and opened the large heavy door at the end of the hallway. She smiled at Toby.

“Go ahead. We’ll wait for you.” Crom smiled.

The woman handed Toby a can of beer. She grabbed Toby’s hand and they walked through what looked to be a living room where customers and the girls dressed in short shorts or miniskirts and high heeled shoes sat around on beat up couches. Toby and the girl went into a room in anadjoining hallway in the rear of the living room.

Another lady, also attractive yet less provocatively in jeans and a sweatshirt motioned for Crom to follow her.

“Dude.” Crom looked at Squid. “Just have a seat. If Toby comes out before me, just have him sit next to you.”

2

Squid looked around the living room nervously. He watched as a pretty redhead in a tight black miniskirt made eye contact with a middle aged man sitting on the couch across from her. She winked and blew him kisses. The man then walked to a man seated at a desk and gave him money. The redhead grabbed the man’s hand and they walked towards a room that was next to where Toby and the other girl went into.

Crom walked into the living room three minutes later with two cans of beer, smiling.

“I thought that Toby was a three minute guy. It’s been a whole five minutes. I’m so proud of him. They grow up so fast.” he handed a can to Squid.

Squid began to drink and laughed. “He’s gonna kick both of our asses one day.”

“Yeah. I think so too. I’m gonna buy him a whole carton of cigarettes when he’s done.”

Just then, Toby stepped out of the back room. He turned and waved sheepishly at the girl, coming out behind him. She laughed.

Crom and Squid finished their beers and got up to leave. Toby followed.

3

As the three stepped outside and made a left back to Roosevelt Ave., Crom took the new cell phone out of his flight jacket pocket and dialed.

“Yeah. We’re good. Okay. Later.”

Crom hung up and put the phone back in his pocket.

A blue Honda Accord pulled up next to them. A young Asian man seated in the passenger seat dressed in a black sweatshirt nodded at Crom. The driver was an attractive tweny-something Latina wearing a leather jacket.

“Wait right here. Don’t move, I’ll be right back.”

Crom got into the backseat of the car and shook hands with the Asian man and kissed the driver on the cheek.

Squid looked confused but changed his mind about asking anymore questions as Toby shot him a glance that read, “Go ahead and ask something, motherfucker.”

Toby lit a cigarette and smiled. He handed the pack to Squid.

“Only one, you faggot.”

Squid smiled and took a cigarette.

4

Five minutes later, the blue Honda pulled up. Crom said goodbye and the car drove off. Crom smiled at Toby and Squid.

“We good?” Toby asked.

“More than good. Ten grand.”

“Holy shit! I think I’m gonna pass out.”

“Okay, now can I ask what the fuck is going on?”

Crom looked at Squid seriously.

“Know the Asians who shot up Dom Marella’s house? The shit I was watching at the bar?”

“Um, yeah?”

“They’re our new employers. We’re their collecting agents and our territory is Roosevelt Ave. from the 80th to 90th. The whole Jackson Heights strip, baby. Just us three. It’s usually an eighty/twenty split with the bosses and us but my new friend Johnny said that the bosses are going to give us one hundred percent as goodwill gesture on the house that we just hit.”

Squid’s eyes lit up. “Holy shit! How much was that?”\

“Ten grand.” Crom smiled.

“You’re gonna play nice and know that the New Aeon is here?” Toby asked Squid.

“Hell yeah.”

“Good.” Crom smiled. “Because we’re all Family now. Now the next step.”

“What’s that?” asked Squid.

“Telling Geoff that we quit. We’re making money now. We’re a conglomerate.”

Tendrils

0

Crew.

“And our top story tonight: Dominick Marella, the son of alleged LaManna Family boss Vito Marella was found dead in the back alley of the Queens sports bar, “First Edition” apparently from an overdose of heroin. Results are pending from an autopsy. The younger Marella was a Vietnam veteran who was also known for the murder of husband and wife Filipino immigrants in 1983. Suspected drug dealer, Peter Raspotnik’s body was found a few yards away from Marella. Raspotnik’s death looks to be the result of multiple stab wounds to the chest. An N.Y.P.D. spokeswoman stated that an investigation is still pending as well. Ernie?”

“Thanks, Maureen. Schools Chancellor Ruth West has approved a plan which will…”

Johnny Lam and Eddie Tsao were sitting at the bar in the pool hall drinking beers and laughing about the fight that they had just had an hour ago with 4 Jung Dragons who had refused to consolidate with the Sinister Shadows.

“You know you were gonna run.” Eddie laughed. “Then you saw that I was standing my ground and you ran back ’cause you knew I would say shit.”

“Dude, that’s not the way it went down. You’re so full of shit.” Johnny retorted. “Don’t make me kick your ass again.”

“You’d probably run.”

They both laughed heartily and ordered more beer.

Danny Wu, former leader of the Jung Dragons and now Eve’s lieutenant walked into the bar. He smiled at Eddie and Johnny.

“You two clowns getting into shit with some of my old set, I heard.” he said as he shook their hands.

“Yeah. Those guys don’t want to go with the program.” Eddie said.

“They’ll come around eventually. Especially when they see that there’s nothing moving in these streets without the SS having something to do with it. A nickel bag gets sold in the park, we get a piece.”

“What if the pie is too small for all of us?” pondered Johnny.

“The Tongs are going to fold without their muscle and without any money from the streets.” Danny said.

“Or we could just start fighting each other again.” Eddie said, only half-kidding.

“Yeah, I miss kicking the shit out of Guangdong Tigers.” Danny smiled.

“Yeah, okay.” Eddie said.

“Yeah you never were around when we used to get into it with your boys.” Johnny added.

“Let me buy you guys some beers even though you should get cut off because you’re getting delusional.”

Johnny made a gesture to the barmaid for one more. “Already covered.”

1

Old Acquantances Be Forgot.

Vito looked squarely into Claudio’s eyes. They were in the same strip bar that they were in when Vito first contracted Claudio.

“Don’t fuck with me, Claudio. If I find out that you killed my son, you’re a fuckin’ dead man. That chink bitch too.”

Okay, Don. This is what happened.” Claudio said evenly. “Dom was already convulsing by the time that I got over there. I then took out Peter and I dialed 9-1-1 for Dom. That the truth, Don.”

“I was born at night, not last night. I come to find out that those dead people’s daughter and you are fuckin’ running Chinatown after they found Dom dead. You’re a fuckin’ dead man, Claudio.”

“You don’t scare me Marella.” Claudio said flatly. “You’re getting soft. That’s the word on the street. You couldn’t get a handle on Dom. He makes a fuckin’ mess and Daddy’s always there to clean the shit up.”

“That don’t take away from the fact that you’re a dead man. Your little girlfriend, too.”

“I won’t be a problem. Unlike you, I ‘m not scared of dying. I haven’t been scared of dying since ‘Nam. Come down to Chinatown, and you’ll have a war.”

“I built this family through wars, Claudio.”

“The war with the Nocerinos was winding down when you took over from the old man, Vito. Who do you think you’re bullshitting? Joey Romano’s looking to take your spot.”

Vito grabbed Claudio by the collar. Claudio merely smiled.

“You’re fuckin’ dead, Giovanni! You hear me?!?” Fuckin’ dead!”

The music stopped and the D.J. yelled out, “Peacekeepers to the front!” Two large bouncers came over and pulled Vito from Claudio.

One of the Don’s muscle then approached the bouncers and held his hand up. One bouncer then said, “What the fuck? Get the fuck out of the way!”

The other bouncer quickly let Vito go and motioned for his co-worker to do the same. They walked back towards the entrance to the bar to check I.D.’s.

Vito straightened out his tie. “That’s power, motherfucker! The same that’s going to be your downfall. My reach extends beyond what your eyes see, Claudio. Remember that.”

Claudio finished his red wine and stood up, also fixing his tie. “You’re lost, Vito. Do what you will to me but it won’t take away from that fact.” He sat back down and watched as the girls cowered behind tables and pillars.

Vito and his muscle walked out of the bar and into the street.

2

Hybrid.

Boss Cho smiled at Eve from across the table. They were in a large Chinese restaurant.

“I like your style.” I agree to a merger with your conglomerate.” he said.

Eve smiled. “Good. There’s enough money for all of us.”

“I’m ready to go war. The Guangtong Tigers are now officially SS. All of them. Whoever is not with you is against you.” Boss Cho rose from the table and bowed to Eve with his eyes closed, a sign of trust.

“Please excuse me. I must attend to some business, Boss Eve.”

“Very well.” Eve bowed slightly. “I will contact you when I have made all of the arrangements.”

“Yes.” Boss Cho bowed again and took his leave.

As Boss Cho left, Stella Meng came into the restaurant. She was a pretty 20-something who was a Sister of Eve’s Sinister Tribe.

“Mistress, we have a problem. Can we talk?”

“Hi, Stella. What’s up?” Eve asked. “Sit down.”

Stella looked around. The restaurant was nearly empty so she felt comfortable.

“Word came down that Claudio’s got beef with the LaManna’s. There’s going to be trouble, Mistress.”

Eve thought for a second and then declared confidently, “Nothing that we can’t handle, Stella. We all have been in wars. Just because they’re Italian doesn’t mean that they don’t bleed just like us.”

“But Mistress, it’s the mafia!”

“Better for our glamour. Remember how we talked about Lesser Magick? This is what we need to put us over the top. We’re already respected as a merger of the Jung Dragons and Guangtong Tigers, two of the most famous organizations in Chinatown at present. Yet, they were only known for fighting each other and other Chinese organizations. Let’s fight the LaManna’s and we will only see progress. No matter what the outcome.”

3

The Vulgar Strike.

Irvin Jackson waited around the corner from Claudio’s condominium in Queens. He hated working for the Italians because they were so blunt, calling him “nigger” to his face but he took their money regardless. It would get the baby some nice toys and a few pairs of nice shoes for the wife.

Claudio was walking down the block towards him. Irvin straightened up and put the icepick between a rolled up newspaper. Don Vito had wanted it this way. To kill Claudio with the weapon that Claudio had been famous for.

Irvin hoped that this job would go well and that it would lead to future jobs.

Claudio looked at his watch and then went into his right pants pocket to retrieve his house keys. Just then he saw the blur of a rolled up newspaper and then a black man plunging something sharp into his chest repeatedly.

“Fuck, an icepick.” Claudio thought and then he crumpled to the ground. He lay on the cold sidewalk as he heard Irvin’s footsteps running away.

Claudio let out a slight laugh at the irony. He coughed and took his last breath.

At the same time, bullets riddled the restaurant as Stella got up to leave. Staff and patrons ducked underneath tables. Screams and broken glass was everywhere.

Eve was also under her table in an almost panicky state. She took deep breaths and the shooting had stopped. She low crawled to where Stella lay. Stella was on her back. Her eyes were open and she had no pulse.

“The LaManna’s.” Eve said to herself.

4

Education

“They have violated reichstandshaft and for that the education process will begin.” Eve spoke at the dining room table at Danny Wu’s apartment. Johnny, Eddie, Bobby and Danny listened intently.

Bobby then rose. “Grand Prix!”

“It’s the only way. After spraying the target, drop the chapelet and beausanct at the scene. It will not only be education, but fame too. Bobby, I’m going to have to send you out. I need your military planning out there. Any questions, Brothers?”

The room fell silent. Bobby smiled. He had been a crew leader for so long that it would feel good to get his hands dirty again.

“Good. Let’s go earn our paychecks. This is for Claudio. For Stella. Retribution.”

The stolen Nissan Sentra pulled slowly in front of the Marella house. Danny smiled as he saw that the looked to be full of people with almost every light in the house on and a multitude of silhouettes in the windows. Eddie ran out of the car and tossed 3 hand grenades through an open window in a room where the light was on. Screams were heard before the grenades exploded.

Johnny and Bobby, who was driving began to open fire on the house with AK-47’s. They saw no movement or shadows in the window and most of the lights were out.

“Drop it.” Bobby said.

Johnny dropped a string of colored beads (3 white, 5 black and 2 orange) and a white handkerchief on the ground.

Bobby drove the car off quickly, screeching the tires as he peeled off.

5

Blender.

“Our top story: Will New York City and the surrounding boroughs be caught in the middle of a new deadly interracial gang war?One week after the death of his son, alleged crime boss Vito Marella and his wife Valerie were killed in a horrific drive-by shooting attack on their home earlier this evening along with ten others. Fifteen more were hospitalized at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center with only one being reported to be in stable condition while others are reported to be critical at this time. Police officials found a white handkerchief and a string of white, black and orange beads at the scene. According to N.Y.P.D. Gang Intelligence officials declined to comment but an official who spoke on the condition of anonymity stated that the items belonged to a gang based in Chinatown. The official even went so far as to say that it was the work of a possible Satanic cult. We have Michelle Lang with the latest.”

“A mixture of the occult and gang warfare ruled the day on this quiet neighborhood of Bayside, Queens Maureen where police sources say that hand grenades and AK-47’s were used in the worst drive-by shooting in New York history. The twist in this case was unusual items that were identified as Satanic paraphernalia were dropped at the scene. I spoke with Police Commissioner Miguel Olivera, who immediately responded to the scene upon hearing the 111th Precinct’s blotter.”

Dragon [Arthur’s Tale]

The following is another perspective of King Arthur, presented here in the format of 120 Year of Fayen.

Chapter 0.
Morgaine spied upon Arthur in the castle courtyard engaged in weapons training with Lancelot and Galahad. Arthur looked up and smiled. Lancelot and Galahad bowed to both and excused themselves from their presence and walked swiftly to the barracks.

Arthur looked around and him and Morgaine ran behind the tall shrubs. She grabbed his member, exposed it and gently caressed it, making it erect. Arthur ran his fingers through her long, black hair and then grabbed the back of her head.

“You’re only involved with me to stop thinking of Gonnore and Lancelot.” she smiled, then got on her knees. She looked up longingly into Arthur’s eyes. Then she received Arthur’s member with her soft lips.

In his heart, he what Morgaine said was true. He felt the pain of Gonnore’s betrayal. Tales of Lancelot and Gonnore had spread throughout the castle and into the adjoining villages. Everyone had looked at Arthur with great pity and not reverance these days.

The woman of his dreams was drifting away before his very eyes. He felt her leave their bed in the middle of the night and a hand maiden take her place. Out of spite, he had planted his seed into Gonnore’s various hand maidens, pretending to be ignorant of Gonnore’s rendevous with Lancelot.

What of Lancelot that Gonnore found alluring? He was not what many call an intellectual. He was merely a glorified servant to Arthur. Yet many believed that Lancelot’s simplicity and “innocence.”

Morgaine felt Arthur going limp. She looked up and saw tears streaming down Arthur’s face. Through his tears, Arthur failed to see Morgaine suppressing her laughter.

“I’m sorry, my dear Morgaine. I am thinking many thoughts at present time.”

Morgaine stood up and touched Arthur’s face.

“I will be in my chambers if need be. Tonight.”

Arthur then looked after Morgaine as she walked away. Morgaine was Darkly beautiful and sensual. Yet, she was not the love of his life. The sun was setting in the distance, rendering a dark, yellow glow reminding Arthur of Gonnore’s hair. He clothed himself and then retreated to his quarters. Again, tears streamed down his face as he walked, staring at the sunset.

Chapter 1.

In the dining room, Arthur had entertained himself with the company of yet another of Gonnore’s hand maidens. Gonnore had claimed to have taken ill and could not be present for supper. Arthur was angry but obscured it in Gonnore’s presence.

As Arthur poured wine for the hand maiden, Tristan arrived in the dining room in full armor, bearing his helmet in his right hand.

“My Lord! Pardon the interruption!”

“Yes, Sir Tristan?”

“There’s an invading tribe en route to Long Mynd! They are approximately forty miles northwest.”

“Hmmm.” Arthur stood as the hand maiden took her hand from Arthur’s lap as she had heard the severity of the news. “They will be here at noon tomorrow. Alert the battalion. We wait.” he said calmly.

“Yes, my Lord.”

“Who is this tribe that is to be eradicated?”

“Just one of the chieftains from the North, my Lord.”

“Spread word that there will be no prisoners nor will there be conquering and assimilation into the settlements. They are overcrowded and the chieftains mistake my kindness for weakness. Tomorrow, it shall be offerings for the Goddess.”

Sir Tristan bowed and took his leave. He smiled as he left.

Arthur smiled at the buxom wench as he returned to the table.

“Show me why you are a hand maiden, lass.”

The hand maiden finished her wine and began to undress as she walked towards her King.

Chapter 2.

The King’s men had secured the castle’s perimeter during mid-morning. Arthur watched from a turrett with Sir Lancelot at his right and Sir Gawain on his left. He looked towards Lancelot and smiled. Lancelot returned Arthur’s smile.

Arthur once again felt Gonnore leave last night and a hand maiden taking her place to warm his bed in her place. Arthur slept soundly to prepare for this morning.

Arthur strained his eyes and spied lights from many torches in the distant forest. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation. Today, there was no prisoners to be taken and the Dark Goddess’ insatiable thirst for blood would be quenched.

Sir Tristan sounded the cornet to signal the approach. Sir Erec gave the command to fire the arrows.

“Hellfire, now!”

The sky was ablaze with fiery arrows swiftly approaching the forest towards the direction of the enemy torches. Soon, the forest was illuminated with flames. The sound of horses galloping towards Camelot.

As the horses appeared from the woodline, Tristan gave another command.

“Hellfire!”

The sky was again ablaze and once again Camelot’s best archers’ aims were true. Fiery arrows had struck much of the enemy, setting them ablaze.

“Lower the main gate!” Tristan commanded.

Just then, a large contingent of armored soldiers swiftly emerged from the castle and charged towards the enemy. At first contact, the enemy seemed overmatched.

Arthur turned to Lancelot.

“Let’s get down there.” he smiled.

“Yes, my Lord.” replied Lancelot.

Arthur, Lancelot, Gawain, Kay, Gereth and the brothers Balin and Balan ran down towards the bailey where their horses were.

They charged out of the gate and then the gate rose.

Arthur raised Excalibur in the air and beheaded the first enemy tribesman that he encountered. His knights were just as proficient if not more so and made the battle to appear simplistic.

A tribesman off of his horse looked up and watched Lancelot approach. The tribesman bent down to avoid Lancelot’s sword then quickly grabbed Lancelot’s right ankle, dragging himself in the process. Lancelot fell off the horse and rolled on the ground as the tribesman let the ankle go.

Arthur turned and watched through the fighting multitude of soldiers and tribesmen as Lancelot limped towards the tribesman and pierce through his chest with his sword. Arthur then turned his horse towards Lancelot.

Lancelot looked up and smiled at Arthur, raising both hands. Arthur smiled and then turned somber. He raised his sword and chopped off Lancelot’s outstretched forearms. Lancelot fell on both knees as blood sprayed from where his elbows began. Arthur doubled back and ran Lancelot over with his horse. Another tribesman walked towards Lancelot’s broken body and pierced his heart with his sword.

Gaheis spotted the tribesman and angrily approached the tribesman, raising his sword. He beheaded the tribesman in one motion and dismounted. He walked towards Lancelot.

“No! Lancelot!” Gaheis removed his helmet and bent over towards Lancelot, removing his helmet as well.

Kay, also dismounted and walked towards Gaheis and Lancelot. By then, the battle was over and a few scattered tribesman were retreating in two different directions.

Arthur remained on his horse and shouted towards the sky.

“No! My greatest friend! Why?!?” Arthur outstretched his arms for dramatic effect.

He then looked at the soldiers now gathering around him and he removed his helmet.

“Kill all remaining tribesman. Remove their hearts for the Dark One!”

Chapter 3.

Maerlyn the Wise, Arthur’s advisor stood next to him, facing the ellipse comprised of nine stones that enclosed Lancelot’s funeral pyre in the large clearing in the Southeast corner of the forest. Maerlyn’s apprentice and Arthur’s mistress, Morgaine stood behind Maerlyn and smiled. Everyone in attendance was donning the customary black robes.

Arthur looked with anger at Gonnore standing by his side and weeping inonsolably. He placed his arm around her as if to console her.

“I’m so sorry, my love.” Gonnore whispered. “I know that he was your greatest friend and the greatest of the Knights.”

“I don’t know how I will go on. I take solace in having you.” Arthur smirked, unbeknowest to Gonnore.

“I love you.” Gonnore said softly.

“As I you.” Arthur replied.

“May our memories linger to haunt the spaces and the Dark! So it has been, so it shall be again!” Arthur addressed those in attendance.

All present began to throw their empty wooden wine goblets into the fire and walked away. Sir Bors the Temple Guardian, Arthur and Maerlyn remained until the pyre was reduced to ashes. Bors would then spread the ashes along Marton Lake, along the Camlad River, the origin of Excalibur.

Arthur approached the pyre and spit on it. Bors said nothing for he knew of Lancelot’s trysts with Gonnore and empathized with Arthur.

“Traitor!” Arthur screamed at the pyre. “I didn’t execute you publically because Gonnore would hate me. In the very least, you perished as a hero.”

“Let us take our leave, my Lord.” said Maerlyn.

Arthur exposed himself and began to urinate on the pyre.

Cloaked

Pregame:

“You’re actually, serious?” Terrence asked the one known as the Temple Mistress. “I…I really don’t know about this. This is crazy!”

“Deadly serious.” the one known only as Lianna smiled. “When you were discharged from the Army two years ago, what exactly has Uncle Sam done for you after your two tours of Iraq and Afghanistan? The Department of Veterans Affairs even disputed your disability claim many times over.”

“Yeah.” Terrence said solemnly. Then he frowned in anger at the way his life had transformed for the worst after his last combat tour. It seemed as if the wealthier got wealthier while no one inquired about the resume that he had posted on the govenment employment website.

“Through Chaos will come Progression. The fulfillment of Wyrd as we had discussed many times over. Haven’t we taken you as Family after your wife left you? Didn’t we get you the help you needed for your nightmares? Didn’t you learn anything of value during your time here?”

Terrence thought. “As a matter of fact, yes.”

“Good. So you’ll do it.” Lianna smiled again. “You’re a soldier. Your personal honour will resonate with us all. Your wife, the government, they don’t comprehend the Way of the Numinous.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

“Remember, this has been a long time coming. Ernie’s going to grant you the access that you need. You’re the missing piece to the puzzle. The end to the brutal means will be glorious. It will be all because of your Insight, your skill, your cunning.”

Terrence smiled.

Lianna rose from her cahir and onto the loveseat in her study. Terrence watched her intently. She was wearing black see through neglige. Her curves seemed to invite him as she walked. She crossed her legs as she sat down. Her nipples were erect.

She looked into Terrence’s eyes. Her eyes went down to his groin area.

“Come over here. Let’s see if we can relieve some of that tension.” she smiled.

Endgame

11 Wall Street, New York Stock Exchange, 3:52 a.m.

Ernie, dressed in a blue security uniform, opened the loading dock and Terrence drove in with the large white van. He nodded as Terrence nervously smiled. He drove slowly, slower than average. There was enough C-4 plastic explosive in the van to take out the whole borough of Manhattan.

Terrence parked against the far wall of the building and then got into Ernie’s green Ford Focus that was parked a few feet away. Ernie took off his navy blue blazer and looked directly into the brown orb that hung from the ceiling. Inside the orb was a video camera. He waved and smiled, then got into the Focus. They drove through the same entry that Terrence had driven in.

They drove wordlessly through downtown Manhattan. Ernie lit a cigarette and admired the city lights at night.

“Now.” Ernie smiled at Terrence.

Terrence pressed the metallic button on the homemade remote.

Even as they drove onto the Williamsburg Bridge, almost a mile and a half away, faint exposion could be heard.

Ernie turned on the radio to find out just how quickly the media would present the breaking news.

Amerikanz

“Death is nothing. But to live defeated and inglorious is dying every day.” — Napoleon Bonaparte  

 

   0  

Fish.  

“Fish…fish…fish…fish!” 

 The burly corrections officer led Bobby Li down the “Walk of Fame” of the ADX Florence Maximum Security Facility in Florence, Colorado. It was 8:40 pm, twenty minutes to lights out. Cons were lined up at the cell doors shouting down to the newest con. Bobby looked ahead stoically. He was nervous and his knees felt as if they were going to buckle.    

Russell had advised him that there was a small Jung Dragons population who, since they were incarcerated, missed the memo about the merger with the Guangdong Tigers into the 352 Sinister Shadows.    

“Open cell 74!” shouted the c.o. The cell door opened. Bobby glanced at the bald twenty something white male with the swastikas tattooed on both sides of his head sitting on the bottom half of the bunk directly across from the cell door.    

The c.o. uncuffed Bobby. “Don’t turn around. The c.o. stepped out without turning his back to Bobby and his bunkmate.    

“Close C74!” The cell door automatically shut. “Have fun girls. Don’t stay up too late doing your hair.”    

The skinhead smiled at Bobby. “Wrong apartment. I didn’t order any Chinese food.”    

“I got your Chinese food.” Bobby retorted as he climbed on the top bunk.    

“We’re a tight-knit family here. You’re going to be one of the brothers.” the skinhead laughed.    

Bobby thought of the word “Family” and thought back to Russell, Eve and even the new guy Ray. He wished he was back in Russell’s pool hall drinking beer and getting smart with Johnny and Eddie.    

Eve had promised to make sure that his commissary money kept flowing and would use any connections that she had to make his stay as comfortable as possible.  The debriefing that Russell had given broke down Florence’s population. Aryan Brotherhood, Tres Puntos, Str8 Killaz, Jung Dragons. White, Mexican, black and Chinese cliques.

He thought that he could try to join the Dragons, but he was a Guangdong Tiger on the outside until recently, a Sinister Shadow. The philosophies did not mix. He would try in covert fashion. A Dreccian Adept always adapts and overcomes in any labyrinth.

1

Orientation.

Warden Michael Waldvogel was known as a fair but firm man unlike the man he succeeded, Melvin Roberts, who was known to extract sexual favors from the female cons and have hidden cameras set up in their cells.

Waldvogel believed in the straight and narrow and keeping his nose clean. He even went so far as to have a female c.o. present when he addressed any female con in his office.

He looked over Bobby as he stood in front of him.

“So, armed robbery, burglary, extortion, assault. Looks like you run with a bad crowd there, Mr. Li.”

Bobby looked down on the floor. The c.o. standing behind him harshly nudged him.

“It’s all right, Tommy. Mr. Li, I believe that if you simply follow the simple rules here and stay out of trouble, you’ll do fine. Circumstances considering. I don’t have a lot to say about the matter. Any questions?”

“No, warden.”

“Okay. That’s that.”

The c.o. lead Bobby to the mess hall in time for breakfast. Bobby grabbed his food and chose a table where the cliques didn’t sit together. A table of mixed races. The loners.

A young Chinese con approached him and smiled as he stood over him. Bobby didn’t trust the smile.

“You gunna eat this?” the con said as he put his bare hand all over Bobby’s food. Nearby, a table full of Asian cons snickered.

“Not anymore.” Bobby said. He reached in front of him and elbowed the con in the groin. Bobby then got up and dumped the tray of food on the con as he bent over in pain. Bobby then kicked the con in the face, sending him sprawling on the floor.

C.o.’s reacted quickly to the commotion and grabbed Bobby.

“Goddamn first day and already in the hole, fish.” one of the c.o.’s said as they led Bobby away.

2

Pop.

A week later out of the hole, Bobby walked into the exercise yard. Like the mess hall, the yard was racially divided. The Str8 Killaz were currently using the weights as the Aryans stood by not to far away, waiting their turn. Tres Puntos stood by the basketball court smoking cigarettes watching a pick-up game. The Dragons stood at the other side of the court doing the same. They spotted Bobby and started walking towards him.

“Stand your ground, Li.” he said to himself. “Stand your motherfuckin’ ground.”

The lead Dragon discarded his cigarette and went nose to nose with Bobby as the other Dragons surrounded them. The pick-up game stopped and everyone turned around with interest.

The c.o.’s standing by continued their conversation, but kept their eyes on the ensuing confrontation.

Bobby didn’t drop his stare. “The fuck do you want?”

“What the fuck do I want?” the Dragon laughed. “A punk ass Guangdong Tiger shows up in my house and asks me what the fuck I want?”

“Ain’t no more Tigers or Dragons. Just the Shadows.”

“Shadows? When I get the fuck out of here, the Dragons are gunna take over Chinatown. You’re gunna be lucky to be in here.”

“Listen. There’s enough resources in Chinatown to make us all comfortable. I didn’t mean to show up your Brother in the mess hall, but I was sitting there minding my own business, hungry and he messed up my breakfast. As far as Chinatown, even in lockdown, we can be comfortable if we pool our resources.”

“I’m listening.”

“All the cliques here are all focused on segregating themselves. Is anybody really gunna take over that way? Race is an abstract ideal of the old Aeon. It’s a meaningless structure built to hold everyone down.”

“I heard the Shadows were devilworshipers. You talk weird. I’m not into this occult shit.”

Bobby and the con were still nose to nose. The basketball game continued as well as everyone else in the yard going about their business.

“It’s not all about the occult. Let’s talk.” Bobby said.

The con made a gesture and the rest of his clique went back to the basketball court.

“My name’s Willie Ren.”

“Ah, duty!” Booby beamed.

Willie smiled. “Yes. You?”

“Bobby Li.”

3

Dealings.

It didn’t take long for Bobby and Willie to form a conglomerate. They pooled their resources, Willie with the manpower and Bobby with the finances as promised by Eve and Russell.

Willie was won over by talks with Bobby about “Sinister Numinousity” and personal honour. Bobby even had talks with Otto, his skinhead cellmate, about Reichsfolk Culture. 

Bobby, Willie and Otto were, in fact, the sole traffickers of cigarettes, marijuana and even small amounts of liquor within the facility. They even had certain c.o.’s on their payroll.

After a period of six months, the four main gangs slowly dissolved and splintered into a business enclave that Bobby was overseeing. He never declared himself to be an official leader, but his business savvy had forged strange alliances. Money talked and bullshit walked.

To Bobby, this was the American dream materializing before his eyes, even in lockdown. He referred to his enclave and other associates as “Amerikanz.”

As usual, there was always those who refused to go with the ebb and flow. The Str8 Killaz and Tres Puntos were still “radical” in their beliefs and were considered even more racist than the Aryan Brotherhood. The leaders, Diamond (Str8 Killaz) and Puppet (Tres Puntos) held on to the belief that the blacks and Mexicans should only be with their own kind.

Very few from those two remaining cliques defected and joined the Amerikanz.

4

Belly.

“Bobby, I’ve got an idea.” Otto said. He suddenly sat up in his bunk. Out of appreciation and respect, Otto bestowed the coveted bottom bunk to Bobby.

“I’m listening.” Bobby said. He was almost dozing off, having a picture in his mind of grassy hills and a clearing for Temple purposes.

“Let’s run hookers. We’ll make a fortune!”

Bobby smiled. “I don’t think anyone really wants to pay for transvestites and fags when they could take them themselves.”

“No dude. The female cons on the other side. There’s an underground passage that I saw when I used to have that laundry gig. I know that it connects to the female side. We could use for the exchanges! It’ll be the ‘Tunnel of Love!’ You know a lot of the c.o.’s, we can make this happen!”

“Holy shit! That’s a fuckin’ idea. Good job, man.”

“Dude, I got my kid the braces he needed yesterday.”

“Congratulations. It cost like five grand, you said?”

“Six, with taxes.”

“We need to do something about the Str8 Killaz, though. Diamond don’t wanna play ball. If he don’t wanna play, I know that they’ll stand in our way soon enough.”

“I got a plan.” Otto smiled.

5

Framework.

Jose Castellon easily defected from Tres Puntos to the Amerikanz because of one thing: Money. The fix was in.

Jose walked into the nightclub that Diamond still owned in Memphis, Tennessee. He opened his trench coat as he walked in and spied the full bar and dance floor. Surprisingly, the music was not overpowering nor overly loud.

He yelled out into the crowded club.

“Hey niggers! Tres Puntos for life! Tres Puntos!”

He reached into his coat and tossed grenades towards the crowd and ran out the front door.

The two Mexicans that Jose hired then pushed a dumpster to block the door.

Ronnie Williams walked into Puppet’s parents’ convenience store in El Paso, Texas. Both of Puppet’s parents were working behind the counter while a line of about ten people were waiting to purchase lottery tickets and beer.

As soon as Ronnie walked in, he took out the AK-47 and began to fire indiscriminately into the store.

“Str8 Killaz, you fuckin’ beaners! Str8 Killaz!”

There were survivors that would spread the word. Not many, though. 

6

Repercussion.

Diamond and Puppet spotted each other during yard time. They ran towards each other as their respective entourages followed suit.

All began to brandish improvised weapons created covertly, a meaningful accomplishment in a maximum security pen.

Willie and Otto stood up from their outdoor chess game and walked the other way. The now biggest clique in the facility, the Amerikanz all followed.

Chaos which was vital to growth ensued between the two gangs. Rivals were stabbing and clubbing one another to death. Within the first few seconds of the violence that erupted, Puppet and Diamond were already dead. 

Officers swooped in on the riot in full gear and dispersed the crowd with tear gas and rubber rounds.

About a hundred yards away, Otto and a few other Amerikanz were suppressing their laughter. 

7

Paths.

Otto hugged Willie and Bobby. His duffle bag lay on his bunk.

“I wish that I had a camera. A skin hugging two Chinese guys.” Otto laughed.

“Remember to look up my boy Russ at his pool hall. He’ll look out for you. You’re Family, now. If anybody asks, you’re a fuckin’ Amerikan and there won’t be any questions anymore. Got it?”

“Got it. See you on the outside, Bobby.”

“Yeah. I’ll meet your grandkids.” Bobby said somberly. “Fuck it. Freedom’s overrated. With your help, I smoke, I get high and I even get laid by real women. The fuck I need to be out there for.”

Otto laughed and walked out. The c.o. on the take who waited outside the cell smiled at Otto and the two made their way to the Walk of Fame.

“You’re the king now, Bobby. In less than a fuckin’ year, you came in here and became king. You son of a bitch.” Willie smiled. “What are you going to do now?”

Bobby laughed. “Nothing. Nothing at all.

 

 

Ariya [Severance]

“Reject all illusion and lies, for they hinder the strong.” — 20th Point of Satanism [The Black Book of Satan]

My name is Rhonda Runnels.  Things seemed to have taken a “downward spiral” as the media likes to say, but why, for the first time in my life, do I actually feel alive?

First off, I am the heiress to my zillionaire father, the “great” Peter Runnels’ Runnels hotel chains. “Relax at the Runnels.”

I thought my life was okay, partying and drinking. I was at all the hot spots with singers, rappers, T.V. and movie stars and having my photo picture taken and spread all over every major sleazebag tabloid. When I drank too much, when I picked my ass, the public needed to be in the know. Even my ex-boyfriend made his first million selling our sex tape.

How did I end up doing what I’m doing now? Here are excerpts from my diary.

120 Year of Fayen

11/14

I’m about to land in LaGuardia. The movie on the plane was lame so I ended up juggling songs in my i-pod. It’s like totally amazing how old 15,000 songs could get! I’m going to have to talk to Magic Dragon about getting some new songs.

Holy shit, Amsterdam was so off the hook! I never knew how many actors and actresses with so-called upright reputations go there and light up like all day! 

Anyway, Tiffany is okay, but she smells pretty horrid! Ugh! I think that it’s the cheap inorganic deodorant she uses – or lack thereof (lol). She totally smells. And this is the one that viewers voted as “The Next Big Thing?” Ugh!

She smokes like a fuckin’ chimney and she’s way too loose! (like I should really talk…lmao) We were at a bar and this not even decent looking guy strikes up a conversation with her. Then she’s totally trashed and blowing him in some alley next to the bar. With no rubber! Eew! Then we go to his place and him and his brother double penetrate her! I just blew the brother and just sat there and watched the slut. lol!

The layover in LAX was cool. I gave my number to this really cute guy walking by. We got totally trashed at the airport restaurant. It was a 4 hour layover, what do you want?

I hope that cute Asian chick that loads my bags into the taxi is there at LaGuardia. She’s hella hot. I’ve eaten pussy before and I wouldn’t mind sampling that muff.

Tiffany’s over here passed out as usual. If I hook up with that Asian girl, I need to find some way of ditching Tiff.

Anywayz, landing in about one hour. Time to catch some zzz’s. These airplane drinks are totally buzzing me.

Laterz.

11/16

Holy shit! That hot Asian chick’s a total bitch! We landed in LaGuardia Friday and she loaded my bags into the car as usual. When I turned around to ask her something, she pushed me into the car! When I tried to open the door, it was locked and the driver drives off and laughs hysterically.

He tells me to shut the fuck up and relax. I think that he said his name was Rick. Rick said that he won’t hurt me as long as I do what I’m told. He shows me a gun and I’m shitting a pill at this point. OMG!

I said that Daddy will pay him anything he wants and the Rick  just smiled. He scares the shit out of me. 

Rick takes me to some  really big house surrounded by a bunch of trees and him and some big Puerto Rican drag me into this room in the basement. At least they’re letting me write here!

They’ve been feeding me takeout food, ugh! Everybody who comes and checks in on me just ignores me!  That red-headed chick’s a total bitch!

11/17

Another day of everyone ignoring me. I keep talking about money when they come to feed me but no dice!

I just sat here and looked at the walls. No windows, just these four walls, the door and a toilet in the corner of the room. I think that there’s somebody sitting right outside because I keep hearing someone move but when I try the door, it’s locked.

I know that Daddy and Mommy are worried about me. I hope that these people talked to Daddy and he’s sending over the money. God, I’m so scared! What did I ever do to deserve this?

11/19

I slept all day yesterday and didn’t eat anything. Maybe it’s all the weed and drinking from the trip and belated jet lag all kicking in. I know that I was too scared to sleep when I first got here.

Where’s Daddy and the ransom money? Holy shit, are they just going to kill me just for the hell of it? I feel like I’m in hell.

God, why are you letting them do this to me? Why have you left me here?

11/20

That red-headed chick came in and actually talked to me today. She sat on my cot and asked me how I was doing. She said her name was Susannah. God, she smelled so good! She asked if I wanted to take a shower and change my clothes. Hell yeah!

She and the big Puerto Rican named Andy walked me to some really nice bathroom in the basement. Susannah sat on a closed toilet and watched me while I showered. The chick was older, but she was hella hot. She kind of reminded me of Diane Lane. I think that she wasn’t just watching me to watch me but also checking me out.

Susannah gave me pajamas, flip-flops and some cheap Walmart lotion. She said that she would see about getting me perfume, some books and magazines and maybe cigarettes if everything worked out with Rick.

Anyway, I hope that what she says is true because I’m really getting bored.

11/21

Susannah hooked me up today! She brought me my i-pod, some of my clothes from my luggage, my cigarettes and a bunch of magazines!

When she went to sit on my cot, she touched my shoulder and I got all these goosebumps. Damn, she’s hot!

Listening to some DJ PM stuff right now. ttyl.

11/22

Thank God that they let me keep my watch or I wouldn’t even know what day it is! I can’t believe that I’ve been here for a week!

I don’t even know what the fuck to write about because nothing’s going on.

I can only try to remember the good times and hope that there’s more to come if I get out of here. When I get out here. God help me.

11/23

That guy Rick came and actually talked to me today. I haven’t seen him since the first day they took me here. He said some mumbo jumbo about me being the “ten percent” and how my kind usurped his ancestors. I mean, whatever man. If you don’t like the way things are, just go out and vote!

Everybody is created equally. He can take his chances like everybody else. He doesn’t have to kidnap me to get my Daddy’s money. Just work for it like everybody else!

Anyway, he told me that Daddy had put out a full two minute ad on T.V. asking for my safe return. Rick said that he would let me watch it if everything worked out.

11/24

Susannah talked to me about personal honour, Family and dead books with dead ideas. I was so intrigued by what she was saying. I couldn’t believe that I was mesmerized by her every word. More so than with Rick. Maybe it’s because Rick dragged me here.

Anyway, I was so intrigued that Susannah agreed to let me have a pen and paper to write things down as I see fit.

She said that I might be out of here next week if Daddy comes up with ten million dollars. I told her that he is capable of getting to it by accessing the Swiss account, but it takes time. She said that there’s no rush. She would look out for me.

11/25

Susannah gave me two books to read today. They were “Opus Vrilis” and “The Black Book of Satan.” I just skimmed real quick through these books and I told her that they scared the shit out of me. She laughed and just told me to take my time with them. Everything will come into place.

11/30

I’ve been so busy trying to read these two books that I haven’t had any time to even sit for a full meal. I can’t believe the lengths that  people actually have to go through to even try to obtain a fifth of what I have! It’s so incredible!

Rick told me that my father and him made arrangements for payment and that I’ll be home way before Christmas, that Rick was trying to avoid detection from law enforcement agencies.

Why does it sound like I’m empathizing with these people? They kidnapped me!

Am I just going crazy from the isolation and loneliness? Are thay brainwashing me? Is this some C.I.A. operation because they want me to rat Daddy out? I don’t even know what Daddy’s typical day at work is!

12/3

I looked through some more old magazines that some guy named Jimmy gave to me. I went over some old articles about me and looked at some pictures of me passed out on some dance floor with my panties showing.

Then there’s that rock star who wrote a book about me that my lawyer told me to deny even though every word was true. Then the stints in rehab and the critics who wrote that I’m famous for nothing.

There’s something going on with me, internally. I’ve been doing a lot of reading and reassessing my whole life. As if I want to know why and how I’m here for the first time in my life.

This “Presencing the Dark” concept is also very intriguing. As if  there is an awakening inside of me.

12/5

I read more manuscripts about Reichsfolk Culture and the concept of the Numinous Way. I actually feel that I view things more profoundly. With Susannah’s guidance, I’m beginning to gain a powerful insight by just reading this fascinating material.

I almost see it as something that the powers that be in the mundane world don’t want want us to even begin to comprehend.

I also look back at those past articles and photos with deep shame. There was no purpose in my life. I was just there, taking up space. All my words and deeds were Earth-bound.

12/7

Rick was really angry today. He walked in and yelled about some “occult expert”, the F.B.I. Director Chloe Skinner, telling the media that negotiations for ransom are officially off and that a nationwide manhunt is being commenced.

I told Rick that the concepts that Susannah introduced me to resonate with me and that if the Nexion needs financial help, I would be more than happy to oblige.

He suddenly smiled from ear to ear and said that we’d talk soon. 

Epilogue

“Our top story today: kidnapped heiress Rhonda Runnels is caught on bank surveillance closed curcuit television holding what appears to be an automatic weapon, pointing it at bank employees and customers alike as alleged members of the infamous gang known only as Nexion 352 proceed to hold up bank tellers. According to law enforcement sources, it was long theorized that Nexion 352 had allegedly kidnapped Runnels last November from LaGuardia Airport but it is now feared to have joined them. We take you now to the Runnels Hotel in Midtown Manhattan as Federal Bureau of Investigations Director Chloe Skinner is holding a press conference. We now go to Collen with the latest developments of this breaking story. Colleen?”

“Thanks Julie. Here in a few moments, F.B.I. Director Chloe Skinner will hold a press conference discussing the abduction of millionaire heiress Rhonda Runnels and the developing story of Nexion 352’s latest bank heist. It looks like Madam Director Skinner has just taken the podium now.”

“Good evening. Before I field questions from the media, I would just like to give a brief synopsis of the case. The Satanic cult slash crime family Nexion 352 has in fact taken responsibility for the abduction of Miss Runnels last November 14th. The bank heist at the Waterhouse bank in the Bronx does indeed possess closed circuit television footage of what appears to be Miss Runnels brandishing an automatic weapon and assisting Nexion 352 members. We have confirmed from viewing the footage that the person is in fact Miss Runnels. That is what I have for now.”

“Madam Director…”

“Jenny”

“Due to past experiences with 352, would you consider this to be a personal vendetta?”

“Next question, yes?”

“Do you have any suspects at this time?”

“There’s a nationwide APB in conjunction with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies at this time. At this time, we only have knowledge of the responsible party and not individuals. Yes?”

“In your personal opinion, is this the new Satanic scare reminiscent of the late seventies and early eighties?”

“Truthfully, this bears no resemblance to those past incidents. This is a well organized group and as far as ritual sacrifices and such, there is no tangible evidence. Yes?”

“Any word from the Runnels family, Madam Director?”

“At this time, we have the family’s full support on bringing Miss Runnels on charges when apprehended. That is all I can comment about at this time. Thank you for your time. Good night.”

“Madam Director…Madam Director…”

“As you heard Julie, Skinner has stated that Rhonda Runnels will be brought up on charges when apprehended. This is Colleen McGahee reporting live. Back to you Julie.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ariya [Prequel]

“All that is great is built upon sorrow.” — 5th Point of Satanism [Black Book of Satan]

0

“Everybody get the fuck down!” Jimmy yelled. He let off rounds from the Uzi into the ceiling to accentuate his point. Fragments fell from the ceiling to add to the dramatic effect.

Everyone inside the bank complied yet there were some sobs of fear.

“Don’t worry! As long as no one plays hero, everyone will go home tonight. This is nothing personal. Your money is protected by the F.C.C.! Just stay the fuck down and don’t move until we got what the fuck we came for and we won’t hurt anybody!” Jimmy reassured the bank patrons behind a white handkerchief obscuring his nose and mouth.

Danny, also clad in all black with a white rag covering his face and brandishing an M16A2 rifle walked around and kept watch on the bank employees and customers laying on the floor.

Tellers scrambled into their drawers and emptied them out, scooping money into bags and shoving them underneath the bulletproof window. Susannah, the oldest of the 20 and 30-something robbers held the bank president in front of her by the throat with a .45 pressed against his temple in case the tellers wanted to activate the alarm and/or the first sign of incoming police sirens.

Outside, Tanya waited in the green ’99 Dodge Caravan. Not a fast car, but able to blend in with a highway full of soccer moms picking their kids up from school. The engine was on and she looked anxiously towards the bank entrance. Then she heard police sirens coming from maybe two blocks away.

“Fuck!” Tanya shouted. “Fuck! Come on, come on!”

Susannah also heard the sirens from inside the bank as Rick Ruiz grabbed the last bag. She angrily pointed her weapon at the tellers. Even though the glass was bulletproof, the tellers held their hands up with fear.

“Which one of you bitches tripped the fuckin’ alarm?” Susannah shouted. “Fuck. It doesn’t matter.”

She placed the muzzle of her weapon back on the bank president’s head and squeezed the trigger. The shot echoed throughout the bank as people screamed. Blood was everywhere. The bank president’s corpse crumpled on the floor. Susannah wiped the blood from her face.

“Let’s go, let’s go!” Danny shouted hurriedly.

Rick, Jimmy and Susannah made a beeline for the van. Danny brought up the rear. The first N.Y.P.D. Emergency Service Unit truck turned the corner of Northern Boulevard and Main Street.

“Get the fuck outta here!” Danny shouted as everyone jumped inside the van. “I’ll buy you some time! Get the fuck outta here now!”

Tires screeched as Tanya pressed the gas and hurriedly shifted to drive. Jimmy waved at Danny and Danny winked back. Then Danny fired on the ESU van.

Tanya hurriedly dodged vehicles on Main Street then made a right on College Point Boulevard. There, she slowed her pace down to 35 mph.

“Fuck…Danny.” Rick said somberly.

1 

The ESU cops pulled over and Danny tried to pick them off even as they tactically jumped from the van. Danny reloaded another banana clip into the rifle and clicked the lever from “auto” to “semi” to try to save rounds and buy more time.

Then, more squad cars and ESU vehicles converged on Main Street. Danny knew that he had no chance, so he kept his head down and lit a cigarette.

“NYPD! Put the weapon down! Now! You won’t get hurt.”

Danny kept the cigarette in his mouth and then fired in the general direction of where the police had converged. There was no visisble uniforms to fire upon so Danny fired to prove the point out that surrender and prison wasn’t an option.

A barrage of gunfire was returned from the police. Danny smiled and hit the ground. He continued smoking his cigarette.

2

The police sniper, Charlie Thomas crouched down on a rooftop 10 floors up at a 45 degree angle from Danny’s location and pointed his scope throughout Danny’s immediate area.

Sgt. John Giaccio’s voice came in through the headset.

“How many we got?”

“Just one, sir.” replied Thomas.

“You got a clear shot?”

“I got a partial of the top of his head.”

“Put him down.” Giaccio coldly ordered.

“Yessir.”

Thomas readied himself and assumed a comfortable position. He took in a deep breath through his nose and breathed steadily out of his mouth. The scope was trained right on Danny’s forehead. 

Thomas gently squeezed the trigger as he exhaled.

3

Danny sat leaning on a white delivery van. The barrage was reduced down to spurts of gunfire and then silence.

He lit another cigarette and exhaled slowly. He thought of his Family.

“They should be counting money by now.” he thought to himself and smiled. He felt the warmth of the noon sun on his face.

Then he heard one single shot and then he put the cigarette to his mouth. He felt a sharp pain at the top of his head and felt himself hitting the cold, hard cement sidewalk. He let the rifle go and felt his shoulder land on top of the butt of the weapon.

The pain was the sharpest he ever experienced. He felt his head and face wet. He felt as if a stampede of boots were running right at him and the ground was vibrating, making the pain in his head worse.

“Ten minutes. More than enough time…” he whispered.

He saw red and then black. Then, the pain was gone.

4

Tanya pulled the minivan into the garage of the large brown stucco house in Bayside. Susannah’s cousin was going to paint it later for the next job. Jimmy got out of the backseat and lit his third consecutive cigarette. He walked towards the backdoor of the house. Susannah quickly followed and put her hand on Jimmy’s shoulder as they both walked inside. Tanya felt hot tears roll down her face.

“I know, I know.” Rick said as he still sat in the passenger seat. “Let’s go get a drink.”

“No.” Tanya said. “Let’s just take a nap or something. Maybe we can all get some dinner later.”

“Okay.” Rick also wiped tears from his face. “He went down fighting, though. He was always fighting for our shit. Ever since high school.”

“I know. Jimmy’s not doing so great right now. Let’s go check on him.”

“Yeah. This is the life, babe.”

Strangely, the comment made Tanya smile. She kissed Rick on the lips as he grabbed the bags of money.

They both got out of the Dodge and walked towards the house. 

5

Thomas took another breath as he saw the mist of blood from the perp’s head. He watched as the rest of the ESU team run towards the perp as he hit the ground.

Charlie  felt his stomach turn.

“Good shooting, Charlie!” shouted Giaccio.

“Yessir.” replied Thomas as he began to pack up his gear.

“Go ahead and police up your brass and get on down here. Great job.”

“Yessir.”

“One shot, one kill! You got the war face on, Charlie!”

“Shut the fuck up…” Charlie thought to himself. He grabbed his gear bag and walked slowly towards the roof exit.

He looked down at a puddle and saw his reflection in the water. He looked at his uniform, his rifle, his headgear. The sun shone on his back.

After his first few drops, he used to get sick. After that, he became indifferent as if it were second nature.

His instructor once said, “The worst pain is when you don’t feel anything anymore.”

“How about when you have to shoot your own Brother just to keep this Game going?” Charlie whispered. “I’m sorry, Danny.” 

 

Ariya [Prologue]

“Test always your strength, for therein lies success.” –2nd Point of Satanism [Black Book of Satan I]

0

115 yf

 “So, do you consider yourself a Communist?” Dr. Annis stared straight into Rick’s eyes from across his desk.

“No.” Rick replied. “I give two shits about all people. Just mine. My Family.”

“Hmm.” Annis looked at the organized chaos of paperwork on his oak table. “Mr. Ruiz, you have no blood relatives on record. Are you referring to your gang?”

Rick laughed. “Yeah, whatever doc. My gang. It’s so much more than that if you bothered to think outside your shell.”

“Mr. Ruiz, I detect hostility in your voice when I bring up the people in your gang. Am I hitting a soft spot? Am I getting to you?”

“My Family is my strength, doc. On the contrary.”

“People that are convicted bank robbers, burglars and pimps? I find that they are your weakness, Mr. Ruiz. Then you wouldn’t find yourself in prison again.”

“These ‘crimes’ are but means. Fuck it. I don’t need to tell you shit. C.O.! Get me the fuck outta here!”

From behind Ruiz, the door opened and a burly corrections officer stepped into the prison psychiatrist’s office.

“Stand up, Ruiz.” he said.

Ruiz obliged and as if cued, put his hands behind his back. The officer put handcuffs on Ruiz for the walk back to the cellblock.

 “Wait.” Dr. Annis stood up and walked to catch up with Ruiz and his escort. “What is your deal, Ruiz? You talk tough, but I see you reading books that I read when I was studying for my Doctorate. Let’s cut through the chase already. What makes you tick?”

Ruiz, with his back towards Dr. Annis, smiled. The corrections officer was still walking away with Ruiz. “All I want is what”s coming. Simple as that doc. Simple as that. I’ll see you next Thursday. I’d like to talk to you about you S.P.S. diagnosis.”

“S.P.S.?” Annis asked.

“Small Penis Syndrome.” Ruiz said indifferently. The C.O. suppressed a snicker.

Dr. Annis also suppressed a snicker and watched Ruiz walk away. He looked forward to hearing from Ruiz again.  

1

 120 yf

The N.Y.C. Department of Corrections bus stopped and Ruiz stepped out. He deeply inhaled the air of Astoria, Queens and looked around. He watched as airplanes departed and arrived in the distance at LaGuardia Airport. 

“Hey, Ruiz.” the C.O. behind driving the bus said. “Step away from the bus or the warden will decide to keep you.”

Ruiz smiled and waved at the C.O. He didn’t hate all the cops and C.O.’s. He knew that they were just pawns in the mundane world for the most part.

A lone figure walked toward Ruiz as he followed the C.O.’s request. Ruiz stopped and smiled.

“Jimmy, you motherfucker!” Rick smiled.

Jimmy O’Connor ran towards Rick and embraced him.

“We’ve got some partying to do. The girls are waiting, dude.”

Ruiz looked towards another departing plane. “I just need to stop at the airport first.”

“Holy shit! It’s fuckin’ Thanksgiving weekend! Do you have any idea how the traffic’s gunna be in that place? What’s next, you wanna go to Macy’s tomorrow at nine? Did the C.O.’s whack you in the melon once too many times?”

“I have to see her, Jimmy. Seriously.” Rick turned somber. “She still works there?”

“Yeah. She’s still there.” Jimmy groaned.

“Good. Let’s go. Road beers on me.”

“Fuck no. Too many Port Authority cops doing traffic at the airport.”

Rick smiled. “Yeah, bad idea. Got any trees?”

“I rolled a fatty and it’s in the glove.” Jimmy smiled back.

Rick and Jimmy put on a Megadeth c.d. and smoked as they made their way towards LaGuardia Airport.

2

Jimmy pulled the black Nissan Sentra in front of the arrivals area at the U.S. Air terminal almost two hours later. The high from the marijuana was long gone.

“Rick, if you come out and I’m not here just wait. They’re gunna make me move.”

“Okay.” Rick smiled. “Gimme a piece of gum.”

Rick ran through the terminal in eager anticipation. He hasn’t seen Tanya in six years since his arrest after the last bank job. Tanya was driving and luckily received a two year sentence. A serious legal error and much research done by Rick had reduced his sentence by almost a third.

An attractive Asian woman in her twenties dressed conservatively held up a sign reading “Runnels.” She glanced at Rick then looked away. Then she looked again. Her face could not hide her pain.

“Rick. You’re out. I can’t talk right now, I’m working. Can I just call you later?”

Rick stopped short of Tanya. He wasn’t going to get a “Get out of jail” embrace.

“I don’t have a phone. Can I come back when you get off work?”

“Rick. I have a new life. Didn’t they tell you I got married?”

Rick felt his chest tighten. “Does he make you laugh?”

“He doesn’t make me cry.” Tanya said flatly.

Rick began to walk away. He looked back at Tanya and smiled.

“I’ll be back and I’ll keep coming back. I love you and I know that you love me too. You know that the only time that you ever felt alive your whole life was when we together.”

Tanya looked away. “You’d better go.”

“You still take your coffee black?”

Tanya ignored him and looked towards the arriving passengers.

Ten minutes later, Rick came back with a large cup of coffee and a bag with a chocolate donut and a blueberry muffin. He noticed Tanya helping a tall attractive lady with her baggage into a waiting black Lincoln Town Car. He waited for Tanya to see the wealthy socialite off and then approached Tanya.

“We used to steal from assholes like that. Remember, baby? This isn’t you. This isn’t you at all.” Rick whispered into Tanya’s ear with her back turned to him.

Tanya closed her eyes. “Yeah. The rich bitch didn’t even tip me.”

“Wanna take a break?”

“I got three hours until my next flight.” she looked at him curiously.

Rick smiled as Tanya turned around. She laughed as he handed her the large coffee cup and paper bag.

3

Rick and Jimmy stepped into the large mini-mansion in Port Jefferson, Long Island.  The cloudy skies and the surrounding trees made for a Sinister, yet consoling backdrop.

 An older attractive redhead with a summer dress with orange floral print greeted them at the door.

“It’s great to see you, Rick!” she greeted him with a more than sisterly embrace and slid her hand to his crotch.  Rick felt himself become erect. “Hmm, lonely, weren’t we? Let’s fix that.” She smiled at Jimmy in silent greeting.

Susannah walked away and picked up her cell phone. Rick and Jimmy followed Susannah into the spacious living room. The burly corrections officer from the prison psychiatrists’s office five years ago was seated in the couch nearest to the doorway. He was dressed in a black t-shirt and black jeans.  He stood up and embraced Rick in greeting. 

“Been taking care of business, Andy?” Rick said to the C.O.

“Citrine, Rick. Now that you’re back.”

Rick smiled. “You taking care of the girls?”

“It goes both ways as always, my friend. It’s the greatest job in the world.”

Just then, ten women of varying races dressed in tight provocative clothing walked down the stairs and into the living room and sat in the vast living room smiling. Balck, white, Latina, Asian. Susannah emerged from behind the bar with a tray of beers.

“All we’re missing is Tanya and we’d all be together again.”Susannah said flatly.

“Maybe in time.” Rick said.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” Jimmy said. He looked at the multi-racial Fleurdelits with lust. “Let’s party.”

4

Tanya read over the letter again. It was cold and impersonal – to break off a relationship with a “Dear John” letter. John was good to her, he had a decent job as an electrician. He made so much money that she really didn’t need to work at the airport but chose to so as not to go crazy with cabin fever.

She looked at John sleeping peacefully. She wanted to give him one last kiss on the lips but thought against it. Prolonging this goodbye wouldn’t serve anyone any good.

Staying here in this spacious home was against Wyrd, against Individual Destiny. She felt almost a void of nothingness in this simple life lacking excitement and plainly, life. It didn’t feel like living. An exultation of life was sorely lacking with John although this life was what the mundanes teach everyone to dream about.

“I’m sorry, John.” Tanya whispered softly as she taped the letter to the mirror of the large dresser. “I know that you would never understand. I never meant to hurt you. I truly hope that you find happiness some day.”

Tanya fought off the tears and walked off. John stirred in his sleep as if disturbed but settled back down. Tanya grabbed her small bag and walked out of the bedroom door, closing it softly behind her.

5

Rick awoke in the guest bedroom of the mini-mansion to the sharp knocking on the door.

He looked around. The three Fluerdelits were gone. His head was pounding from the dehydration caused by the previous night’s  alcohol consumption and the release of pent-up sexual frustration.

“‘Tis some visitor tapping at my chamber door – only this and nothing more.” Rick said, quoting Poe.

“Hey, Rick!” Jimmy exclaimed. “You really should come downstairs.”

Rick threw on whatever he was wearing last night and ran downstairs but then slowed himself  to a brisk walk.

He saw her first. Tanya was sitting on the love seat in the living room with her back towards the stairs.

Rick ran down and Tanya rose to greet him. They embraced and wept.

Words would only serve to obscure the Essence…

 

Wolves

0

Ray Wong opened the door to his modest one-bedroom apartment. He looked through the cupboards and the refrigerator and sighed. He went into the sparsely decorated living room and plopped down on a leather loveseat. He picked up the remote control from the small wooden coffee table in front of him, turned on the television and immediately turned it off again. He put his feet on the table, looked up to the ceiling and sighed. He felt bored and unfulfilled. He then stepped back out of his apartment and into the cold, crisp autumn air.

Thirty minutes later, Ray was playing pool in the rear of a dive bar against a young Asian man in his 20’s, about Ray’s age. They bet almost twenty on a game of 8-ball. Ray saw the man’s frustration as he missed the 8-ball. Ray made a tough bank shot to seal the win.

Ray held out his hand. “Okay man, you owe me $20.”

The man drank picked up his beer and nodded his head while drinking.

“Come on man, twenty bucks. That’s what we bet and I beat you.”

“Bullshit. Let’s play again.” the man said.

Listening intently was the man’s friend Russell, standing almost 15 feet away. He was with a large group of mostly young men and a few scantily dressed young women, late teens to early twenties. One man from the group took a step towards Ray and his friend, but the man watching held out his hand as if to stop him. The approaching man stopped dead in his tracks.

Ray then said, “I’m not fucking around. Give me my money.”

The man then grabbed a pool cue and attempted to swing at Ray. The man was quick and almost cat-like, but Ray was faster. He ducked and then lunged forward to punch the man in the midsection. The man bent over in pain and then Ray delivered an ax-kick to the back of his head. Another man from the group immediately charged at Ray and was greeted with a side kick to the jaw. More men from the group attempted to converge on Ray. Russell then held up his hand, “Wait.” The group stopped.

Russell approached Ray and they surveyed each other.

“You’re good. You’re not here with any friends?” Russell asked.

“I don’t need any friends.” Ray shot back defiantly.

Russell reached in his front jeans pocket and pulled out a pack of Marlboro Reds. “Everybody needs friends.” he said as he offered Ray a cigarette.

1

Captain Fulton sat pensively at his desk. Sitting in the chair in front of his desk was Deputy Inspector Thomas Leonard of the 13th Precinct. “Are you sure that we’re the right ones you need? This is more like the Detective Squad’s jurisdiction.”

Leonard rubbed his forehead. “Adam, how long have we known each other?”

Fulton smiled. “Are you trying to give me an ultimatum, Inspector?”

“No. I just need a big favor. This kid they took is like family. Me and his father have been friends for longer than the cops in your house have been alive. Just do me this favor Adam. If I give it to somebody that I don’t know, they’ll do a half-assed job.”

Fulton thought for a minute. “I’ll do the best that I can and so will my guys. You know I will. Just give me the file.”

“I owe you big time for this Adam.” Leonard dropped the manila envelope on Fulton’s desk. Fulton walked Leonard to the front of headquarters and gave his friend a brotherly embrace.

“Please find these people, Adam.” Leonard turned and opened the door of the navy blue unmarked Chevy Impala.

Fulton waved and smiled at his long time friend. A plainclothes cop walked out of the building and lit a cigarette. Fulton turned to face him.

“Hey Sal, give me one of those will you?”

2

Russell and Ray walked through the crowded downtown district. They walked into the laudromat and towards the counter. The young woman behind the counter gestured for them to go into the back room. Once outside the door, Russell knocked and the voice behind the door told them to come in. An elderly Asian man seated behind a desk facing the door greeted them with an apprehensive look and then reached into the desk drawer and presented a manila envelope, never taking his eyes off of Russell.

“Go ahead. Take it.” Russell instructed Ray while also fixing his gaze at the old man. Ray took the envelope.

“Let’s go.” Russell said.

“What was all that about?” asked Ray.

“In time my friend. I’ll take that package from you later. In time. Are you hungry?”

“I could go for something.” said Ray

They walked into a guadily decorated Chinese restaurant. The hostess, a beautiful twenty-something smiled at them from behind her podium and shouted abrupt instructions in Chinese. The waiter, a middle aged man, immediately approached Russell and Ray and showed them to a table. Russell then ordered in Chinese. The waiter wrote on a notepad as fast as Russell spoke and almost ran to the kitchen.

“Do you speak any particular dialect?” Russell asked Ray.

“No. I was born here and my parents never took the time to teach me. They were too busy working.”

“That’s a shame. You should really be closer to your roots.”

“Judging from the looks of it, you look like the mayor of Chinatown.”

“No, just a regular working stiff.”

At that moment the waiter brought them two bottles of beer and several appetizers. He never made eye contact with Russell nor Ray.

3

Captain Fulton eyed Ray from behind his desk and smiled.

“Unbelieveable. The infamous Russell Lee falls right into the hands of  my best guy, without him even trying.”

Ray smiled. “I’m your best guy, Cap?”

Cpt. Fulton smiled back. “You are now. You realize what you have?”

“Known gang leader, extortionist, burglar, pimp and not-so-garden variety devil-worshiper.  The last part is the only thing that really bothers me.”

“Why is that, Wong?”

“Devil-worshipers are usually those rebellious kids in high school who spray-paint churches and tombstones. Lee is way too sophisticated for that.”

“During his last stint in Rikers Island, it was reported that he spoke in front of Bloods, Crips, Aryan Bros. and the Muslims. He even went so far as to ‘annex’ splinter groups from the aforementioned gangs and formed a so-called ‘nexion’.  It was reported that he never spoke of Satan, but of family, honor and numinousity.”

“Yeah, he spoke about family a lot with me. Mostly traditional stuff that I’ve heard before. He’s smart though. He doesn’t do anything illegal in front of me, sir.”

“We didn’t expect him to make this easy.  My point is that I really need you on this one. There’s a kid named Mark Porter that’s very important to a friend of mine. This cult’s got him brainwashed. Your priority is to get him out. If you can bust Lee foe anything, then by all means. But I need that kid back.”

Ray frowned as he comtemplated what Fulton had just told him. Risk himself going deep cover for a personal favor?

“I know that this is a little unusual, Ray.” said Cpt. Fulton. “And I’ll justify this operation at all costs. I need this, Ray.”

“Yes sir. I’ll take care of it.” Ray said reluctantly.

Captain Fulton smiled. “I know you will Ray. I know you will.” 

Ray walked out of Cpt. Fulton’s office slowly and into his car. He thought of Russell’s thoughts on family. The family that made money for the sake of supporting each other and their ‘ceux sang.’ In Russell’s eyes, everyone outside the family was either profane, a “10 Percenter” or both. Ray even knew who Mark was. He was a newbie who had just joined, but was already moving onto Adeptship within the Family rather quickly. Ray would be next, Russell said.

“Financial independence.” Ray remembered Russell saying to him.

4

Mark sat nervously in the dimly lit living room of the large house that Russell drove him to. Russell said that Mark is a Disciple now after proving his loyalty through the ordeals and participating in “Fedding”/ taking care of business through the  education of the ignorant, profane rivals. 

Then Mark smelled a mixture of perfumes in the air. Then Mark heard the sound of heeled shoes on the hardwood floor approaching and an attactive Asian woman in her 20’s walked into the living room and sat on the chair opposite from Mark. She was dressed in only a silk robe and high heeled stiletto shoes. She smiled at Mark. Mark smiled sheepishly and shyly looked down.

 More heel sounds and a beautiful blond-haired green eyed 20-something woman walked into the room. She was dressed in an S&M leather outfit complete with a whip which she masterfully snapped above Mark’s head as she walked in. She took a place next to the first woman and looked at Mark. She flicked her tongue and Mark gulped.

Russell walked in and smiled at Mark.

“Stand up, Brother.”

Mark stood and Russell gave him a bearhug, almost taking away his breath. Yet, there was a genuine feeling behind Russell’s hug.

“I’m going to take you to meet Eve later.” Russell shoved a cold bottled beer in Mark’s hand. “Right now, I’m throwing you a little party, Brother. Choose one of these fine Sisters.”

Mark looked at the women. He then opened the beer and took a long drink, almost finishing it. He smiled at Russell with adoration.

“Wow, dude.” Mark whispered. “I’m…wow.”

Russell laughed. “Go ahead Brother. We’re all Family. Go have your party.”

Mark felt a lump in his throat. He walked towards the two women and put an arm around each of their shoulders. Russell laughed as they led Mark upstairs.

5  

The room was filled with the smell of cigar and cigarette smoke. Almost filling the room was a large round oak table. Around the table sat Asian and Italian men in expensive suits drinking expensive liquor. The lone woman, Asian, in her mid-thirties, sat at the head of the table. She had a lovely alabaster complexion yet her eyes rendered a cunning, ruthless demeanor. She surveyed the laughing men and held up her hand. They obediently stopped talking and looked toward the woman with respect.

“I want to thank you gentlemen for being here tonight. I am also proud to announce record profits for this quarter. ”

“Fuckin’ bitch…” growled an Asian man seated two people from her on her right.

All of the men turned their attention to the source of the outburst with shock on their faces.

“Boss Chang.” Eve addressed the disgruntled gangster. “I have an open door policy as I have stated before. I prefer for anyone who has an issue to discuss it with me in a private manner so that we may come to a resolution. Now Boss, since you have apparently chosen to air your grievance in a public forum, what seems to be the problem?”

Boss Chang didn’t look up. He guzzled his glass of scotch.

“I was the boss of the largest conglomerate back in Hong Kong. Now I am reduced to this.” he growled.

“You are still a Boss. This is a merger of resources, human and otherwise which proved to be more profitable.” Eve smiled gently at Boss Chang.

“I don’t want to work for a fuckin’ bitch!” Chang exploded and threw his glass against the opposite wall.

Eve smiled and stealthily jumped on the table. She bent over, took off her stiletto shoe and plunged it into the right eye of Boss Chang seemingly in one motion. He fell back on the floor. Eve pulled a .22 caliber pistol from her garter belt and shot Chang in the head. Eve stood on the table with her pistol pointed in the air.

“I don’t have a problem with anyone taking an issue with my management ability. But don’t ever doubt me because I’m a woman. Your profane minds still believe that this is a man’s world but you forget that it was a woman who birthed civilization. Anyone have a problem with anything that I can’t help?”

Eve’s bodyguard/Temple Guardian already had his .45 caliber trained on the other Bosses’ muscle while another had an uzi trained on the seated Bosses.

“Good. Now we can discuss business.” she said as she leapt from the table to retrieve her shoe from Boss Chang.

6

Cpt. Fulton grimly looked at Detective Doug Bravo as he handed him the black and white glossy photo of Eve.

“This goes beyond Russell Lee. It looks like this lady here, Eve Aquino is the real leader of this Nexion.”

“Eve of Destruction?!?” Bravo exclaimed. Esoterically, Bravo was the “criminal informant” for Eve, collaring rival drug dealers so that Eve was free to annex new territories as she wished.

“Yeah. I’m thinking of pulling Wang out and possibly calling in a favor from some Feds I know.”

“With all due respect sir, we wouldn’t look good doing that. The Feds ain’t gonna be interested in pulling that Porter kid out. Them college boys would just be interested in taking down the ‘Boss of Bosses.’ I’d just have Wang pull Porter out and not mess with Lee or Eve.”

“Mother Eve.” Fulton said grimly. “Yeah, you’ve got a good point there. I don’t want Wang taking any unnecessary risks.”

Doug pondered his relationship with Eve. Crime Boss and Temple Mistress. The Sinister Feminine Principle Incarnate. It was almost synergy, the way that one needed the other. Doug himself wasn’t a Disciple, but his time would come soon enough especially with the earnings that Eve had made last quarter because of his information.

“Yeah. I’ll leave Ray in there. He reports to me everyday now anyway. First sign of problems and he’s out.”

7

Ray sold almost all of the cold bottled waters at the busy intersection. He had bought cases of water at the discount supplier and put them in a large cooler of ice and sold them for $1 each. Russell told him that the ABC Rite was to set the Disciple along the Sinister Way and to prove that it was entirely possible to be financially independent from the Profane. Ray was to split the proceeds from his ordeal with his two witnesses and their leader, Mark.

Ray thought back on the other recent ordeals that he participated in. He and his witnesses had ‘Blood Opfered’ a crack dealer, someone of Ray’s choosing. They had also burglarized the home of an unemployed slacker who was collecting social security benefits fraudulently. Russell had told him not to feel bad. These were people who lacked true character he explained. 

The past few days had made Ray’s head spin. He remembered what his assignment was but he had never in his life felt that he was alive until now. The excitement, the exhilaration, the vitality of Being.

He knew that Mark was there under his own free will. Mark was a new ‘Disciple,’ respected among his peers even though those peers were Disciples for some time already.

Ray also felt a sense of family with Russell and Mark. He somehow felt “safe” with the matriarch figure Eve. It was as if everything was going to be okay because she said it was.

It was almost like a roller coaster of emotions because he hated himself for what he felt was being hypocritical.

Before Ray had undertaken the Rite, Russell approached him and said, “I know that you’re a cop, man. Even if you arrest me, you’ll never forget us, you’ll want to claim this because we’ve given you a real sense of family. Those cops are just your family during work hours, Brother. Even when you hang out off duty, all you do is talk about work. You’re never free. Consider this as going opposite and beyond. This is your personal quest to evolve my friend. To exult in life and go beyond the boundaries that the Powers That Be put in front of us. To quest and to die questing. No one cares about what you believe in philisophically. You complete what awaits and you’ll have your Family with you for life. We are now Blood. Forever starts today, Brother.”

That night that Ray had completed the ‘Business’ end of the Rite, he laid on his bed and thought of everything. He got up, reached into his pocket and threw his badge in the garbage.

-Nexion 352, Order of Nine Angles-

SK9

File SK9

Chapter 1

California, 14 miles outside Eureka City

“Skully,” Said Agent Molder, “Come here, look at this!”

Rich Molder was squatting with a dumb grin on his face staring at a big footprint.

“Molder, I can’t cross this swampy ground in my heels.” Said Skully.

“Who the hell fights crime in heels anyways.” He said, “It’s big foot, it was here Kayla!”

She rolled her eyes. Special Agent Kayla Skully was an FBI agent in a classy black and white pin-stripe suit, wavy dirty blond hair, and loopy earrings. She had been assigned to her partner Rich Molder a year an a half ago by the FBI Director Ms. Chloe Skinner.

“Molder, there is a cabin of half eaten bodies over there and you’re looking for big foot.” She said, walking back to the isolated wooden cabin.

Rich runs across the muddy dirt to catch up to his partner.

“I think big foot ate them Kayla, for reals.”

“Molder, I think it ate your brain.” She said, “Is that what you’re going to write in your report for Dir. Chloe Skinner?”

They were walked up to the crime scene which was yellow-taped off and surrounded by local sheriffs.

They walked up to the handsome sheriff with the cowboy hat.

“Agent Rich Molder.” Rich introduced himself to the sergeant, with his hand out.

“Sergeant Seti.”  He said, shaking Rich’s hand. Seti passed his right hand to Kayla and took off his hat.

“Seti, ma’am.”

She was impressed with his manners.

“Kayla Skully, thank you.”

“They just found a 5^th body about 60 yards from the cabin in the woods,” The Sergeant said to Molder and Kayla, as he started walking. “Head eaten clean off and blood sucked dry, this one.”

They were following Seti, to the fifth body.

“Oh my god,” Kayla said horrified. “Who do you think is doing this Seti?”

“Some local Satanic cult probably.” He said.

“Number 5’s genitalia missing?” Asked Rich.

“Missing like the cow’s.” Seti said to Molder.

“So what, you guys think devil worshipers are mutilating people now?” Kayla said, half laughing, and half disgusted as she sees body number 5. She covers her nose and mouth.

“Or aliens.” Said Molder to his new friend Seti.

“Zeta Reliculi!” Returned Seti.

“Reptilians.” Added Rich.

Seti pointed at Rich and raised his eyebrow: “David Icke.”

Kayla rolled her eyes and turned around: “Are you guys serious! Big foot and space aliens stealing people’s penises and eating brains? Molder there’s maggots on the body.”

“It’s a dead body Skully?” Rich said not getting it. Seti nods.

“Guys, his soft tissue is missing – his tongue and genetalia – the maggots ate it, not Satanists, big foot, or aliens.” She said annoyed.

“Wow, Skully, you’re starting to sound like Dir. Chloe. Something I should know about?” He said laughing.

“Ooh kinky, Director Chloe; do tell.” Added Seti, buddy slapping Rich.

Both the perverts laugh.

“Sergeant Seti,” she said kneeling beside the body, “Why is there a patch of skin missing from his right arm?”

The body had sleeves of tattoo work done on both arms.

“I failed to notice. Looks like he got a tattoo removed?” Rich said looking at Seti.

Seti nodded: “Standard procedure for motorcycle gangs and some skinhead gangs. When you leave the gang or are kicked out, they often remove your tattoo, skin and all.”

“Looks like he’s missing a patch on his shoulder, give me a hand Seti.” Rich said.

Rich and Seti both turned the body over. It wasn’t just a shoulder. The skin on his whole back was missing. Kayla made a look of disgust as the hundreds of maggots were pouring out of the back.

“Haha! Hot damn,” Exclaimed Seti, “Looks like he had a mural on his back done!”

Chapter 2

5:09 PM

Evening came. Agents Kayla and Rich were inside the cabin with Sergeant Seti collecting finger prints of the victims and going through the cabin for any clues that would shed light on the strange case.

The case itself began as a case of what looked like a homicide-suicide case. It had looked like the elderly victim had stabbed his wife and two thirty something year old sons to death with a home made knife made out of dear antler and an obsidian blade, which Seti had already put into a bag and had set on the coffee table along with a copy of the “The Turner Diaries.”

Kayla had her latex gloves on and was going down what looked like a cellar. She carefully steps down the wooden stairs. As she steps on the ninth stair, she hears a hollow and stops. Lifting up a plank of wood she sees an old book inside a hollow.

“Molder!” She yells out.

Agent Molder, followed by Sergeant Seti comes down to the cellar.

“Pet dog dead too?” Rich said half jokingly.

“No,” She said with a confused look, “Kiss Of The Spider Woman, by Manuel Puig?”

“Kiss Of The Spider Woman?” Said Seti with his thumb and finger on his chin.

“Ninth stair?” Pondered Rich.

Flipping through the book for any clues, she comes to the 19th page. Giving a weird look at the two guys she reads out loud the letters and numbers she sees written on the page: “SK9?”

The three are startled by the sound of the door of the cabin being kicked opened.

“Ah!” One of the officers had screamed, followed by a thud sound. Molder and Seti had already ran into the living room where the scream had come from. Kayla was in heels, so she was climbing up the stares carefully so as not to fall.

“Holy fuck!” Seti’s scream was followed by two gun shots.

By the time Kayla had made it to the living room, Seti and Rich were gone. Near the wall on the opposite side of what used to be the door was the officer. It looked like he was thrown across the room and hit the wall. His skull was cracked open and his jaw was broken. She bent down to check for a pulse: he was dead.

“Agent Skully, are you alright?” Asked a concerned officer, who had come in.

“Yeah. He’s dead.” She said.

She and the officer turn towards the woods as they hear four more gun shots. The officer ran out the doorway towards the woods.

Agent Kayla took off her heels to run after the officer to find Molder, she looks at the coffee table and notices the bag with the home made obsidian knife was missing. She sets the book she found down on the table and runs out into the darkening evening towards the woods barefoot with her gun drawn.

But before she made it far from the door she heard Molder’s voice behind her from the cabin.

“What the fuck!?” Rich said looking confused and turning in circles just outside the doorway. He was walking in and out of the doorway.

“Molder?! I thought you were in the woods?”

“I was!? It was fucking big foot! We shot it Skully! We ran after it into the woods and shot it. I was running behind Seti and his boys chasing it Skully! They all disappeared?!”

“What do you mean disappeared?”

“Disappeared! I don’t know? It was shadowy purple haze. We were inside it running after the thing! Everything went quite. I heard bells softly ringing. And the trees turned into the cabin. It’s a vortex of some sort Kayla!?” He was walking in and out of the doorway, as if to look for the vortex.

Chapter 3

Ms. Chloe’s office, D.C.

The Director was really hot. She had her hair in a sexy bun, and had cute black framed glasses on. Special Agent Rich Molder was sitting pensively in front of her desk as she was flipping through his crazy report.

“Agent Molder, were you on crack when you wrote this? This is the most ludicrous report I have ever read in FBI history or something.”

“Really? What did Agent Skully write?” He asked, shocked.

“Big foot came out a time warp to eat people’s brains and took six police officers with it, and you went through a vortex? Do you seriously expect me to believe that?”

“No, that’s the thing. It happened Ms. Director.”

“I’m taking you two off the case. You two have both lost it. Take a week off. I’m putting others on this case.” Said Director Chloe Skinner.

“Oh come on. It happened, they vanished with big foot!?”

“You’re dismissed Agent Molder.”

They were both off the case. Molder had called Skully the following day to meet him for breakfast at a local Denny’s for the “Grand Slam Thank You Ma’am” special they were having.

“She said I was on crack and that my report was the most ludicrous report in FBI history.” Rich bitched as he was digging into his sunny side up eggs, “What’d you say in your report?” He asked with his mouth full of eggs.

“That it was dark outside, the officers got lost in the woods, and the swamp gas affected you.”

“What the hell Kayla? Why are you off the case?”

“She gave me a week off?!” Said Kayla, as she takes a bite of her pancake.

“How the fuck did you pull that one off?”

“I took one for the team.” She said, giggling.

“Really,” Rich scoots closer to her, “You wanna tell me about it? Does she shave?”

“Eat your breakfast.”

“God I hate you women!” He said.

Kayla took a drink of her coffee. She still had the “SK9” on her mind.

“Listen, I’ll try and see if I can contact Mr. A tonight and get some information about that SK9 thing or any leads.” She said.

“Cool. I’d like to know. I experienced it Kayla. You believe me, right?”

She didn’t say anything.

Chapter 4

Mr. A

Mr. A was a shadowy person. Well dressed, older man. He doesn’t reveal his real name or what agency he works for, if he works for any. But he is a source of secret intelligence.

When Kayla needs to speak with Mr. A she emails him an encrypted letter “A” to a secret or private email thingy. Then he writes back with a meeting location. Mr. A had told her to meet him at a certain bench in a certain park at a certain time. The frustrating thing with Mr. A is that he only responds to questions, but doesn’t elaborate.

At the park feeding the ducks they sit together, Kayla and Mr. A.

“The Turner Diaries was written by a lunatic. A fictional work about a race war. During the 80’s the book turned the National Socialist movement from a theoretical organization into a revolutionary movement. Perhaps the highlight of the NS movement.”

“Kiss of the Spider Woman?” She asked him.

“It’s about a political revolutionary who is jailed with a homosexual man named Molina. Molina tells his cell mate a story of a French woman who falls in love with a noble Aryan officer.” Said Mr. A.

“A revolutionary cult?” Kayla asked confused.

“Perhaps.”

“I found something written on the 19^th page that just said: SK9.”

He nods: “SK9. Sangha Kona Nava. Sanskrit for Order of Nine Angles. SK9 is secretly used as an alternative name by a cell of this secretive order, sometimes known as Three Fifty-Two. This cell is heavily influenced by oriental philosophy and mysticism. Their numbers 352 is an Anglicized numerical rendition of the Sanskrit letters “OM-Ra.”

“OM-Ra?”

“OM Rudra. The equivalent of saying: Hail Satan. Rudra is a name of Shiva, meaning the Terrible, Wild, Feral One. They believe that by performing human sacrifice to Satan with an obsidian knife, that a vortex of some sort is opened from which comes out dark otherworldly beings and a form of energy they call Acausal energy. This acausal energy is said to basically gradually destroy the old order of the world.”

“Oh my god. Molder said he had seen a creature that looked like a big foot, which he chased into a vortex of some sort?” She said, as the pieces slowly fell together.

Chapter 5

Kayla Skully had dressed up and prowled her way to Bamboo 52 on 344 W and 52^nd in New York. She was visiting Rich Molder’s home city, when Molder unexpectedly got a call from a female friend of his and “needed time” alone with her. Kayla thought she’d stop by the sushi bar to pick up someone for the night.

The Bamboo was a classy oriental flavoured spot which attracted the local Asian gay and lesbian crowd. It was karaoke night. Some Japanese guy was trying to singing Sayonara as she walked in. She had been there before with Chloe who introduced her to the place.

Her eyes first wandered to a table of cute, well dress geisha like Japanese girls, but some Asian girl over at the lesbian part of the bar eventually caught Kayla’s interest. Maybe because the girl was staring her down with that piercing-yearning stare. Here eyes fixated on Kayla, even when she drank her frozen ‘rita. Kayla walks up beside the girl and orders a Long Island on the rocks.

“I love you’re top,” Said the Asian girl to Kayla, “Prada?” She extends her right and, “Molina.”

“Molina?” Kayla grabs the girls hand who gives her a soft limp handshake, “The Devil wears Prada.” She added with a smile.

“You’re not with your girlfriend to day?” Molina said, drinking her ‘rita.

“How do you know; she’s not my girlfriend.” Kayla said, intrigued.

“I come here often. I see things.” Molina said, pulling out a pack of Camels, “Cigarette?”

It didn’t take long. Before their cigarette was finished Molina had initiated the make out move. Kayla didn’t finish her Long Island. They had left the Bamboo for Kayla’s hotel room nearby.

They both fell asleep exhausted.

She woke up in the morning to a sharp pain on her side. She noticed Molina had left. In her place was the obsidian knife that was missing from the crime scene. Kayla jumped out of bed naked and grabbed her gun. Noticing that the bitch and made a little cut on her rib cage during the night. After making sure her hotel room was empty, she calls Rich.

“Molder, come over, they were in my hotel room.” She said to Molder on her cell.

“On my way, are you okay?”

“Yeah, bring an envelop, I got something here.”

It took Rich Molder about 4 minutes to get to her room.

As soon as Molder walks in, Kayla points to the obsidian knife on the bed.

“Whose blood is that on the sheets.” Rich asked, concerned.

“Mine… she must have cut me with it last night, or something.” She said, showing him the cut.

“Director Chloe? Or something for reals.” He said with a big smile.

“No; some other girl.”

Molder has a grin on his face, he grabbed Kayla’s shoulders, and sat her on the bed.

“Start from the beginning in graphic detail… I need to know everything… don’t leave anything out.”

“Molder, I’m serious. I could have died last night. They’re in this city following us.”

“That big foot came for that knife the other night and took off running. How did your girlfriend end up with it? Where did you meet her at?”

“The Bambo: 344^th and 52^nd. She said she hangs out their often.”

“Let’s go scope the place; I feel like a morning drink anyways.” He said, putting the knife into an envelop.

As they were driving to Bamboo 52 Molder gets a call on his cell.

“Agent Molder,” He answered, “Any luck?”

Rich makes a sharp you turn towards the airport: “On our way.”

“What’s going on?”

“They found Sergent Seti – in Malta.”

Chloe 352

Chapter 6

On the plane ride to Malta, Skully looked over to Molder.

“I still don’t believe that vortex thing, Rich. There’s got to be a perfectly logical explanation as to why Seti ended up in Malta.”

Molder looked out the window and smiled slightly. He was amused and irritated at Agent Skully’s need for everything to have a logical explanation.

“Do you have any ideas?”

“Not right now. I’m working out something right now.”

“Like some doorway took him there?”

“No. That theory was so totally not feasible, c’mon Rich. Are you going to eat those peanuts?”

“Knock yourself out. Do you want a piece of Nicorette gum too?”

“Oh yeah. I’ve got like 3 packs of cigarettes in my carry-on and I can’t even touch them.”

“Yeah, now you know I feel.” Molder thought out loud.

“What?”

“I said ‘Yeah, I know the deal.’” He said abruptly.

Skully felt the sharp bitterness of the nicotine gum in her throat and coughed. “Ugh!” She spit the gum out into her cocktail napkin. “I think that I’ll settle for some peanuts.”

“Yeah, have some penis.”

“Rich, stop fucking around and think about the case.”

“Well, we know that Seti didn’t take Air Force One over to Malta while you were at Bamboo 52. Something is amiss and you still think there’s an explanation behind it. I’m getting a headache just trying to think about it. I’m going to sleep on it.”

“Maybe you’re right. The only way we could really get some head way is to talk to Seti.”

“You should catch a catnap too. I’m going to dream about smoking a cigarette. Maybe a whole pack.”

“I’m just not going to think about it.”

“So, was she hot? You know, the chick at Bamboo 52.”

“What do you think?”

“Damn. I’m a lesbian too. I’m just in a man’s body.”

Kayla laughed. “Shut up. Good night.

“Night Kayla.” Rich closed his eyes.

Chapter 7

Director Skinner looked over Molder’s and Skully’s reports on the Bigfoot case. “Crack is wack, Rich. Get higher baby, and don’t ever come down!” Chloe laughed as she remembered the lyrics to the old rap song “White Lines” by the Sugar Hill Gang. The phone rang, startling Chloe.

“Yes, Brenda?”

“Hello ma’am. Special Agent Rikk Helt and Agent Angelina Tegan are here.”

“Send them in please.”

The new agents in the case walked in, rigid and eager. Helt was a young Thai-American man in his 30’s who was well-schooled in law enforcement. Like Molder, he was an ex-cop but was more into undercover work into Asian gangs who just received a Law degree unlike Molder, who spent 5 years in uniform while going to college at night to complete his Masters Degree in Criminal Justice. Tegan was an attractive Mexican-American woman who was fresh-faced and fresh out of college, and ten years younger than her partner and the FBI was her first fulltime job.

“Special Agent Helt and Agent Tegan reporting for duty ma’am.” said Helt in a military fashion.

“As you were.” Skinner followed Helt’s military manner, amusing herself. “Nice to meet you.” Skinner stood from behind her desk and extended her hand. Helt took her hand, looking into the Director’s eyes and smiled. Tegan also made eye contact briefly and shyly put her head down.

“Special Agent Helt, I understand that you were on the David Long case as well as the Kennedy Abduction. Mighty fine work.”

“Thank you ma’am.” Helt beamed.

“Agent Tegan. Hmmm, it looks as if this is your first case. When did you start?”

“I graduated from the Academy last month ma’am. I started last Monday. Your speech at the graduation was awe-inspiring if I may say so Director.”

“You may.” Chloe smiled. “Flattery will get you everywhere in law enforcement. If you have any questions or need some pointers, please come by my office anytime Agent Tegan.” Skinner gave Tegan the once-over look. Tegan started to perspire but felt exhilarated at the same time.

“Yes ma’am. I definitely will.”

Helt thought to himself in disgust, “Damn, it’s that kind of party huh? There goes my brownie points.”

“Let’s get to it then, shall we?” said Chloe. “You have already been debriefed about the Bigfoot case. Don’t let the ludicrous name fool you. A local police officer was killed and I’ve taken two of my best and maybe most controversial agents off the case due to some unseen circumstances. Because of that, I ask that you report to me directly. Agent Tegan, here’s my personal cell number. Um, because I know that as a woman in law enforcement, the transition from college can be a difficult one. Please don’t hesitate to call.” Chloe smiled at her. Agent Tegan blushed.

‘Give me a fuckin’ break! Yeah, she wants to show you around all right. Wait, this is hella hot! Stop the hate…appreciate!’ Helt thought to himself.

“We’ll keep you abreast of our findings!” Helt said. Angelina winced as if in pain.

Chloe smirked. He’s a wise ass but I like him for some strange reason. He reminds me of Molder, but not smoking crack. “Yes, do that.” Chloe had to hold back to try to keep a straight face. “You’re dismissed.”

Helt and Tegan walked out.

“She likes you. I could tell.” Helt told Tegan.

“I kinda figured.” answered Tegan.

“You should really give her a call. She’s a wealth of information.” Helt smirked.

“Fuck off, Helt. You’re buying coffee.”

“Whoa, you’re the rookie. As we both know, that’s your job.”

“If you want me to call the Director, you’ll do as I say.”

Wow, this college girl’s a lot smarter than she lets on. This is going to be the start of a beautiful relationship. “You want a bagel with that?”

“Extra cream cheese.”

Chloe kicked her shoes off under her big oak desk. The phone rang again.

“Ma’am. NYPD Captain Walsh on line 3.”

“Thanks. Director Skinner.”

“Hello ma’am. That favor that you asked me? You know, to keep tabs on Skully and Molder?”

“Yes, go ahead Captain.”

“It turns out that they’ve boarded a plane about two and a half hours ago to Malta.”

“What? What the fuck is in Malta?”

No idea ma’am, I’m Irish. I do know that tobacco is its chief import and that the architecture has a distinct Baroque influence.”

“Okay, I didn’t ask for the wikipedia version. It’s so goddamn hard to find good help these days.” Chloe fumed and hung up. “Well, they don’t have any jurisdiction there. Let them just try to score some cheap smokes and come home. If they try to be all buffy off-duty, I’ll have them working as crossing guards.” she thought to herself. She then envisioned Kayla in a crossing guard uniform, although not the conventional kind.

Chapter 8

Skully and Molder landed in Rome. There was no layover and they had 20 minutes to walk to the other side of the large airport in order to catch the flight to Malta.

“Rich! Wait for me!” Kayla was at most walking semi-swiftly in her four-inch heels.

“Why do you have to wear those shoes? Come on, Skully!”

“Damnit, Rich I’m always looking good no matter what, you know that! It’s not easy, it’s hard work!” Kayla took off the pumps and started running along with Rich.

“Hey, don’t you feel like OJ Simpson in the old car rental commercial running through the airport?” said Molder.

“That’s way before my time old man. Eat my dust!” Skully ran ahead of Molder.

They made check-in panting and were barely intelligible to the ticket agent in addition to the language barrier.

“Don’t you speak Italian, Kayla?”

“No dork, I’m an Italian-American.”

“Your parents never taught it to you?”

“No. Dude, you should’ve done some research before we decided to embark on another adventure.”

“Dude, stop saying dude. Some Colonel Frata of the Armed Forces of Malta contacted a friend of a friend and here we are.”

“Um, I meant to ask you: Why is the Maltese military involved?”

“Well, the law of the land is actually the Malta Police Force. The AMF backs them up, especially in matters of drug trafficking and, um, in the case of the good Sergeant Seti, illegal immigration.”

“Well, we know that he’s all right so we can laugh about it.”

“Right, but is he really all right. Is Seti really Seti? Or is something else up? We don’t know shit until we talk to him.”

“Yeah. We really knew him for less than an hour, but I felt a connection. You know, we happened to start a great rapport, hit it off right away.” Skully pondered.

“That’s why we’re here and we’re not even on agency time.”

“Yeah, I needed a vacation anyway. Even if we’re working.”

“So, who says that we can’t take in some of the sights and stuff?”

“Rich, you’re pretty sharp for a crackhead and for being the worst report taker in FBI history.”

“Come on, Chloe didn’t say all that.”

“That’s Director Skinner to you Molder. You’re not cool like that with her.”

“She wants me. She just doesn’t know it yet.”

The two agents snickered. Passengers were watching Skully and Molder the fifteen minutes that they were bantering back and forth while boarding the plane and taking their seats. The agents weren’t very audible, but people reading body language could sense the repressed sexual tension that existed between the two seemingly crazy Americans and were wondering why they weren’t members of the mile high club already.

“Ever rode a chopper, Kayla?”

“No. Is that really what we’re doing? I thought you were pulling my leg. Where are we going?”

“Gonzo. That’s where Seti appeared, uniform, gun belt and the whole shebang. There’s not much of a population on that island, just an old temple of worship named Mnajdra. Word has it that animal sacrifice occured there around the time it was constructed in 2500 BC.”

“Wait, so you did do research.”

“No, I was actually debriefed on the phone.”

“Ooooh, kinky! Oh fuck, I’ve been hanging out with you for way too long. I’m starting to think like a man!”

“Cool, so you think about sex like all day?”

“Nevermind. What else is up with Seti?”

“I don’t know everything yet. The Police took his shield and gun because they didn’t know what the hell was going on. Then they called AMF because they deemed this an immigration situation. Frata verified Seti’s identity on the International Law Enforcement database and is going to give him back his gun and shield upon his release from the hospital. They had to keep him because he seemed disoriented. What do you expect after making it from Eureka City to Gonzo, Malta in fifteen minutes?”

Chapter 10

Sgt. Seti opened his eyes and saw a man in heavily starched full dress military uniform seated by the door. He saw by the eagle that the man was of high rank and out of habit got a bit apprehensive in the presence of an officer. The man had a dark complexion, and a face with hard features, like someone who is very business-like and cunning. He looked to be Mediterranean or possibly Italian by ethnicity.

Seti looked around and observed that he was in a hospital bed.

“Um, hello sir.” said Sgt. Seti sheepishly.

The military officer who looked to be deep in his own thoughts looked at Seti, stood up and smiled.

“Ah, my friend! Good to see that you’re awake. We don’t see many Americans here on Gonzo Island. Especially one as American as a real life Sheriff! Do you remember how you got here, Sgt Seti?”

“Gonzo Island? Where’s that, sir?” asked Seti incredulously.

“Hmmm. Well, welcome to Malta Sergeant. I am Colonel Frata from the Armed Forces of Malta.”

“Malta?!? Holy shit!”

“I’ve made arrangements with the American Federal Bureau of Investigations to come. Would you like to wait for them before I start asking you any questions?”

“I don’t mind you asking me anything sir. I don’t know anything.”

“You don’t remember how you got here, Sergeant?”

“No sir.”

“Hmmm. Do you mind if I smoke, Sergeant?”

“You can do whatever the hell you want, sir. It looks like it’s your show. I would appreciate if you had another one for me.”

“Yes, of course. It seems as if you need it.” said Col. Frata, holding a gold cigarette case filled with unfiltered cigarettes. Seti took one and Col. Frata lit it with a matching gold lighter.

“What do you remember, Sergeant? How did you end up on Gonzo?”

“I remember I was back in Eureka City at night, on duty investigating some murders with some FBI agents in a house. Then some big hairy thing kicks the door in and kills one of the Deputies and one of the FBI agents and I chased it. Then some light seems to appear right in front of me and I’m running to fast to stop. I ran right into it. Then I find myself in the middle of what looks like Stonehenge but with less structures and smaller too and it was daytime. I tried to get up to look around and then I remember falling back down. Then I wake up here with you. Sir. Out of curiousity, why is the military investigating me and not the police or some other law enforcement outfit?”

“Well, here the Armed Forces also enforce the law and we assist the Malta Police Force in, um, immigration matters.”

Seti burst out laughing. Col. Frata also laughed.

“Well, I guess that that would make sense that they would classify this as an immigration matter.” Seti said. “I would’ve done the same exact thing.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Besides confused as hell, just fine sir. Uh, do happen to know where my gun and uniform went to?”

“You’re a fellow lawman, Sergeant. I had your equipment safeguarded until you were feeling better. I could give it to you now if you want but I’d rather that you wait for the FBI agents before leaving the hospital. I am not holding you, I believe you. Who could possbly invent a story such as yours? I just want the agents to accompany you for your own safety.”

“No problem, sir. I wasn’t in a hurry to go out sightseeing at this point. No offense to Malta nor you.”

“None taken. Can I get you anything? It’s a little past suppertime but I think that they have extra meals at the nursing station.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’ll be right back.”

As soon as Col. Frata left, Seti snickered. My old Marine buddies wouldn’t believe me if I told them that a full bird Colonel served me dinner in bed. On second thought, I’d better not. They’d turn it into something gay, Seti thought to himself.

Chapter 11

Kayla screamed with delight as the Huey military helicopter flew out of Malta Harbour and on the way to Gonzo. Rich looked at her and smiled. Kayla looked and pointed and laughed. They were seated side by side on the rear of the pilot side with the doors open.

“Damn, I should’ve brought my camera! Whoa!” Kayla screamed over the propeller noise.

“Here, use my phone and I’ll email them to you.”

“Cool!” said Kayla as she grabbed the phone from Rich and started snapping away.

The sight of the sun hitting the ocean made Rich sleepy and he started to close his eyes.

“Molder! You’re missing all the sights!” Kayla yelled. “How could you fall asleep when it feels like we’re going to fall out?”

“Like this.” Rich closed his eyes again.

“Hey,, remember ‘Predator?’” Kayla then did her best Shwarzenegger, “Arghhh, Get do dee chawpa!”

“Get do dee chawpa! Get do dee chawpa! Get do dee chawpa! Arghh!” Rich heard repeatedly as he drifted to sleep.

SK9 [II]

Chapter 12

Special Agent Helt and Agent Tegan were back in Eureka City at sunset, in the house in the woods where the case originated from clad in navy blue windbreakers with “FBI” emblazoned on the backs and rubber gloves on.

“The forensics team is pretty top notch for a small department. They didn’t mess shit up.”

“What are you trying to say, Rikk? I’m from a small town. You think that we all sit around and spit tobacco into spitoons, marry our cousins and end up on ‘Jerry Springer?’”

“No, I, uh…”

“Gotcha, you stuttering prick.”

They both laughed. “You know, you’re all right for a rookie.” Rikk said.

“Thanks man.” Tegan replied.

“I talked to one of the deputies that was on duty the night of the murders and of the disappearances.”

“Disappearances? They said that there was only a Sergeant James Seti missing.”

“They counted Special Agent Molder also.”

Tegan laughed at the mention of Molder’s name. “Did you read his report, Helt?”

Helt smiled. “Yeah. It was amazing. Not in a good way either.”

“Chloe told him to stop smoking crack.”

“Chloe? Director Skinner is now Chloe? Oh behave! On second thought, don’t!”

“No, it’s not what you think, you nasty pervert. Director Skinner is the consumate professional. She’s more of a mentor than anything.”

“I’ll bet! Mentoring…Boom chicka wah wah! Chloe Skinner. Angie Stone. Starring in ‘Debriefing’…another in the No Man’s Land Series….these agents will…get…their…information…at…all…costs!”

Tegan snickered. “Angie Stone?”

“Yeah, that’s your porn name. You lived on Stone Blvd, right?”

“Wait, how does that work out?”

“You take your middle name, in your case you don’t have one, then you take the street that you live on or the cross streets and wallah! You’ve got your porn name! In Director Skinner’s case, she already has a porn name. I don’t know her middle name anyway or the street she lives on.”

“Wow. And you were a cop?”

“How do you think I got this way. The Bureau’s where the money and the fame is, but they’re a little tight assed. Except for you, of course.”

“Yeah, my ass isn’t tight at all.”

“What?!?”

“I’m Angie Stone, remember?”

“Right, right. Damn, we’d better start looking around or something.”

“Shh! Get down!” whispered Tegan.

Outside, the sound of dead leaves rustling and twigs breaking was heard and then the sound began to grow faint, as if someone was walking away.

“Let’s follow.” Rikk said as he drew hi gun.

Tegan ran after Rikk into the woods and could feel her heart in her throat.

Chapter 13

Skully and Molder stepped into Seti’s room.

“Hey, Sleeping Ugly. Wake up!” shouted Kayla.

Seti smiled. “I am awake.”

“I know. I just felt like saying it.” Kayla kissed him on the cheek.

“Dude, you look okay.” Rich smiled as he grabbed Seti’s shoulder.

“Yeah. I’m okay.” Seti then told them what he had told Colonel Frata.

“Hmm. That’s strange.” said Kayla. “And why did you end up here?”

“It has to do with that Stonehenge-lite looking place that I ended up in.”

“Hello agents.” Col Frata said as he walked in. After a brief introduction, Col Frata gave a package wrapped in black plastic to Seti. “You’ll need this, Sergeant.”

Frata, Skully and Molder left so Seti could get dressed. “We need to look around if that’s okay with you, Colonel.”

“I don’t have a problem with it, personally. But I understand that you’re out of your jurisdiction. If you want to look around and find out what went on with your friend, we never had this conversation. We’re still all basically law enforcement agents and investigators. If any of your superiors catch wind of this, I will have to deny ever meeting you. You understand, of course.”

“Fully, Colonel.” Molder smiled.

“It was a pleasure meeting all three of you. Please apologize to Seti that I could not see him off at this time. I must attend to other matters.”

“Of course.” The three shook hands and Col Frata left.

“Okay, I’m decent.” Seti smiled as he opened his room door and walked out.

The three walked out of the hospital making sure they were out of the earshot of passersby.

“Mnajdra, guys?” Kayla said.

“Hell yeah. I had a feeling about that place when I found myself over there.” said Seti.

“Listen, let’s plan this out and head out first thing in the morning. Make sure that we’re all on the same page.” Kayla briefed them about what she had found out about SK9.

“Satanists, I knew it!” Seti said.

“Doesn’t sound like the garden variety Satanists though. Most Satanists that I’ve read about see Satanism as a reactionary belief to Christianity and really don’t believe in Satan as a god at all, but Satan as themselves. SK9 is more of a hands-on, practical type of Satanism. Human sacrifices, or culling. What we saw back in the cabin was a rite that SK9 calls ‘Hohes Opfer.’ The old man took his family with him as he knew that he was dying. SK9 believes that culling, whether by sacrifice or any other rite cleanses the human stock.” Kayla explained.

“So what was that bigfoot thing?” Rich asked.

“That wasn’t bigfoot in the traditional sense. If all this SK9 shit is true, that thing was just one of those ‘things’ that presenced themselves through the nexion because of SK9 and their real world shit.” Kayla shuddered.

“You don’t sound like yourself at all Kayla.” Molder said with concern. “Why didn’t you tell me all this?”

“I knew you’d believe me. I have this feeling. A bad one. And you know that I don’t believe in anything paranormal.”

“When we get back home, we’re going to talk to this Mr A.”

“He won’t talk to you, Rich.”

“You need to take him in then. We’ll be covert and I’ll back you up.”

“Okay. If Skinner puts us back on the case.”

“Wait, you guys are off the case?” Seti asked.

“Yeah. We came to get you. Now that we’re here, we want to know what happened to you. And to me.” said Molder.

Seti felt himself choke up. “You guys only knew me for less than an hour.”

“You’re a cop. I know that the FBI and municipal police departments don’t usually have the best realtionships, but we all have to look out for each other, regardless of the bullshit. Besides, we all seemed to click right away. You don’t find that with everybody.”

“Okay. Let’s find a local watering hole and talk.” James suggested.

The three found a local bar which was empty. They sat at a table and drank moderately discussing whatever else they knew about SK9, 352 and general knowledge on Satanism.

“Hmmm. This is heavy shit. 352 or SK9 are involved in rapes, burglaries, and murders. Do we have an estimated membership number? Prior arrests? Convictions?” Seti inquired.

“No. In the Satanic Community, it is believed that SK9 is fake. Unfortunately, we’re finding out that that’s far from the truth.” Kayla said.

“Damn. This is some serious shit that we’ve fuckin’ stepped in. I don’t know about you guys, but I’m getting drunk as hell.” Molder announced.

“I second that.” Kayla said.

“Goddamn peer pressure.” Seti added with a smile.

Kayla ordered a double Long Island iced tea while Rich and James downed the very non-Maltese Dos Equis beers and argued about baseball. Rich is a Mets fan and James likes the Giants.

“Bonds is a fuckin’ juicer and Randy Johnson is not, I repeat not going to get his 300th career win.” Rich argued.

“And the Phillies are going to take over first place again. And the Mets are going to choke. Again.” Seti retorted.

Kayla drank her tea deeply and felt a buzz. She ordered another double and went over to the cd jukebox. Ah! Mostly American music, she thought to herself.

James excused himself and told Rich that he was going to check them all in at the hotel down the street and leave their keys with the clerk in the main lobby. Seti needed to call the Eureka Sheriff’s Department and come up with a story as to his disappearance.

“Hey You” by Pink Floyd blared into the bar. Kayla moved her body alluringly in time to the music. Rich ordered two more beers and a shot.

“Wow.” Rich said, looking at Kayla. She was swaying her hips and seemed to be in her own world. Then she turned and looked at Rich over her right shoulder and didn’t drop her stare. Molder sat frozen in his seat and then walked to Kayla. She turned around and they were locked in an embrace. So many things were understood without saying a word. Kayla had put “Hey You” on repeat.

Chapter 14

Helt and Tegan stopped to listen to which direction the footsteps were heading. “Through the bluff!” said Tegan in a hoarse whisper. They didn’t have to stop very much to listen for the footsteps because they were nonstop. Whoever it was wasn’t aware that they were being followed. Or worse yet, didn’t care.

A purple shroud of light seemed to engulf the wooded area and the footsteps were gone. Then the purple haze was gone as well. Tegan looked around bewildered. “What the fuck?!?”

“Exactly” Helt reiterated. “Maybe Molder wasn’t high on crack.”

“I don’t know about you, but I’m about to mosey back to the cabin and shit-can this purple light thing.”

“What? But Rich was right and we’re going to pretend like he wasn’t? I don’t know about that.”

“Well, let’s think about it. In the meantime, we still have an investigation to conduct.”

“You’re learning too quickly for your own good, kid.”

The figure in black watched Tegan and Helt walk back towards the direction of the cabin. Mr A smiled to himself and walked in the other direction.

Chapter 16

“Look, it’s the Order of Nine Angles sigil.” Seti said as he pointed to a rock in the Mnajdra site carved with the infamous sigil.

“So, that means that human sacrifice did occur here.” Skully said grimly. “And no one knew what the fuck that meant.”

“Or they did and just covered it up. Here on Malta the O9A Nexus is Still Ta Demm. ‘Blood of Stars.’ The membership numbers are of course, unknown. Anywhere from twenty to two hundred.” said Molder.

“That still doesn’t give us shit. Anyway, how do you know about all this shit?” James asked.

“The internet.” Rich smiled. “The Order has various Nexuses worldwide. I don’t know if the ones who post O9A manuscripts on the ‘net are the real deal or providing the free press for the actual doers. There’s no crime in posting somebody else’s material with consent. Besides, the O9A welcome that sharing of information. What we’re concentrating on is SK9/352, a Nexion of O9A. Stilla Ta Demm is purportedly another 352 Nexion. Scary shit, if you ask me.”

“So, the animal sacrifices were just lies. James! You went through a Nexion.” Kayla exclaimed.

For a moment, Rich was scared. In the year and a half that he was assigned to be Kayla’s partner, she was always the skeptical and over-logical one while he tended to believe that things outside of the norm actually existed. Kayla was starting to cross over, but it was a sign of the sinister things to come.

Chapter 17

Director Skinner left the office at 7pm as usual. She passed by Brenda. “What are you still doing here, Brenda?”

“Just catching up on some work, Madam Director.”

Chloe looked at her as Brenda looked at her computer. She looked at the “Believe” tattoo on her right hand. Brenda also had a sleeve of tattoos on her left arm. Dragons, fairies, kids’ names, hearts, even a pentagram. Chloe looked at Brenda’s long platinum blonde hair and didn’t see any roots. “Only one way to find out if she’s a real blonde.” Skinner smirked. Brenda only worked for the FBI as an administrative assistant for only three months so the fascination phase was still there. Chloe wondered if Brenda had anymore tattoos that were covert in nature. It was against FBI policy to have visible tattoos, but Chloe hired Brenda on the promise that Brenda would only roll up her sleeves before 9 am or after 5 pm or if weekend work was necessary.

“Want to go for a drink, Brenda?” Chloe asked.

“Ma’am?” Brenda looked up with amazement.

Chloe made a cup symbol with her right hand, raised her hand to her lips and mouthed “Drink” and pointed at Brenda and back at herself.

Brenda laughed. “Um, sure ma’am. Why not?”

“Call me Chloe off duty, Brenda.” Skinner looked at Brenda’s almost six foot frame and legs that seemed to go on forever. Those would look good wrapped around my my head, thought Chloe. This is what power is.

“Yes, ma’am. I mean, Chloe.”

The bar in downtown DC was trendy and full of yuppie types hoping to hook up. All eyes, male and female, turned to Chloe and Brenda as they entered the dimly lit bar. Pop music blared in the background.

“Not your type of crowd?” Chloe asked Brenda.

“It’s okay. I’m not picky at all.”

“If you want, we could go to the heavy metal bar two blocks down. I’m easy.” Chloe smiled.

“Oh no! I wouldn’t dream of it. I just want to unwind. It’s my kind of music but I don’t feel like getting amped up. Oh, there I go just going on and on.”

Chloe smiled. Was Brenda nervous because she liked her or because she was intimidated by Chloe’s authority? Only one way to find out, Chloe thought slyly to herself.

“What’re you drinking?” Chloe asked.

“Coors, please.”

A chick who drinks beer, Chloe thought. That’s a fuckin’ turn-on!

“Two Long Island Iced Teas and two Coors.” Chloe told the bartender.

“Are you trying to get me drunk, Chloe?”

“Whatever gave you that idea, Brenda?” Skinner winked at her.

Brenda shrugged and laughed.

Forty minutes later at the bar, Chloe and Brenda were drunk and talking to each other in close proximity.

Chloe got out of Brenda that she’s 34 and a single mom of 10-year-old twins. The father ran off with another woman when the twins were two months old. Skinner tried the “men suck” approach and the only one to understand a woman is another woman.

“I’ve been with another woman before.” Brenda said. “It was a girl named Adrianna and we were in a threesome with some guy named Rich back when I was eighteen.

Could it be the crackhead Special Agent? Chloe thought. Nah, it couldn’t be. Could it? Rich never saw Brenda at Central Office before. I always debriefed Rich and Kayla in the field. Hmmm, debriefing Kayla. No it can’t be him. Rich is a dork.

“How old was this guy Rich when you did it?” Chloe asked.

“He was a little older. He was 22.”

Damnit. Rich is now 38! Brenda’s 34. It can’t be him!

“Did you like your experience with Adrianna?”

“Oh yeah….she knew what I liked and I knew what she liked. But this guy Rich was an animal. He was so awesome. He handled us both like nothing. Mmmmm. I wonder what he’s doing now?”

“Enough about that crackhead!” Chloe accidentally thought aloud.

“Huh?”

“Uh, look at that guy’s blackhead, gross!”

“It’s just so cool that you’re like the boss of the FBI and stuff and your so down to earth or something.” Brenda said drunkily.

“Do you like girls?” Chloe almost demanded.

“Well, I’m not strictly dickly if that’s what you’re asking. But that was the first and only time I was with Adrianna and Rich.”

Frustrated, Chloe grabbed Brenda and started to French kiss her. Again all eyes were on them. Brenda reciprocated the kiss and grabbed the back of Chloe’s hair.

All the hearts of the males at the bar were beating faster but not because of the alcohol.

Chapter 18

“Let’s spread out and look around.” Molder said.

“Wait, I just thought of something. How am I going to get back to the States? I don’t have my passport with me.” Seti said. “Even though I’m in uniform, they don’t give anybody a break.”

“Better learn Maltese and get a job, then.” Kayla teased.

“You should save up and look for a place too.”

“You guys are assholes. I’m totally serious about this and all you guys do is fuck around. You guys are fuckin’ FBI agents? Holy shit!” Seti could feel his face turning red.

“Relax James. We wouldn’t be kidding if we didn’t have it under control. I’ll call Colonel Frata personally.” Rich said.

Skully began to mock James. “You guys are fuckin’ FBI agents? Holy shit!”

Seti smiled sheepishly. “Okay, sorry.”

“Holy shit! You guys are assholes!” Molder chimed in.

“Wow! You guys are real pains in the ass. What would you do if I wasn’t around?” Seti asked.

“We’d actually be working.” said Skully. “We should really look around.

The afternoon turned up different 352 sigils carved in stone but no evidence of any wrongdoing. “I think that we should plan to head back to the States. Let’s go back to the hotel and make arrangements, smoke a whole pack of cigarettes.” said Skully.

“Yeah. Okay James. You have a good one. Nice knowing you. Keep it real!” said Molder.

I’ll just ignore them and they’ll stop, Seti thought to himself. He just started walking with Rich and Kayla toward the hotel.

Colonel Frata saw them off at the airport the next day. “Call me if you’re ever in Malta again.” He then looked at Seti. “Use a plane next time.”

Seti smiled and shook Col Frata’s hand. There was much work to do back home and quite possibly without being on the FBI’s payroll.

 

SK9 [III]

Chapter 19

Chloe woke up to find Brenda performing cunnilingus on her in a cheap motel. They were both still naked from the night before and hungover.

“Mmmm. Good morning Brenda…”

“Hey Chloe…”

“Well, I’ll be Madam Director here in the motel too. You’re such a good girl, Brenda!”

“Holy shit!” Brenda looked at the clock. It read 11:00 am.

“Um, who told you to stop what you were doing?” Chloe demanded. “What are you worried about that for?”“Oh yeah.” Brenda giggled.

At the same time, Helt and Tegan were a coffeeshop about 2 miles down the road from the crimescene. They surveyed the house and the surrounding area and produced no new findings.

“What made you join the Feds?” asked Helt while sipping black coffee.

Tegan was twirling her eggs and bacon with a fork but didn’t eat. “It’s going to sound corny, but I wanted to do something different than the traditional occupations that my family got into. My father’s a rancher, so was my grandfather and his father. My mother’s a nurse, my grandmother helped out on my other grandfather’s ranch, her mother did too. I was also fascinated with investigating crime. Solving a case is obviously rewarding but working on leads is always intriguing. I also get into sick stuff like getting into the mind of a criminal, see what makes them tick. How about you?”

Helt stuffed a piece of toast in his mouth and laughed. “I don’t know. I just wanted to do something exciting. Something that doesn’t get monotonous. Plus, chicks dig the gun and credentials. Only kidding about the last part. Sort of.”

“Well so far, we’ve got two texts left at the scene. Just leafing through these books, what is going through these peoples’ minds? White supremacist with a bit of the occult mixed in, perhaps?”

“You think that we could close this case? No suspects, nothing.”

“No. This begs for investigation, Rikk.”

Mr A walked in and smiled at the agents. Tegan and Helt glanced at him and just nodded. Mr A then turned his back and walked towards the opposite end of the counter from where the agents sat.

“What more can we get from this?” Rikk asked.

“I don’t think that this is the end of it. Neither do you Rikk and you know it.”

“Okay, we’ve got a fictional race war story and another story about a French woman and an Aryan bigwig. So, the white boys have strange tastes in literature. We have a body about 60 feet from the cabin, decapitated, head not recovered, and sucked dry of blood, genitalia missing and missing pathes of skin. Inside the cabin, the old man wastes his wife and two grown sons before taking himself out and the murder weapon is missing. Hmm, what the fuck was I thinking? There’s too many doors left open, but we have no leads.”

Mr A got up from the counter without drinking coffee. “Bamboo 52.” he said quickly and left.

“What the fuck? Follow him!” Rikk yelled.

Rikk and Angelina ran out of the coffeehouse and saw nothing. As if Mr A vaporized.

“Fuck!” said Rikk. “Fuck!”

“What is it?” asked Angelina.

“Can’t you see? they’re fuckin’ playing us! Somebody’s fuckin’ playing us. Here we are saying we have no leads and that weirdo says ‘Bamboo 52′ and fuckin’ disappears. Like something out of a cheesy movie!”

“Well, we’re going to have to play the game and see where it takes us. We have to find out what the fuck Bamboo 52 is.”

Chapter 20

9:30 pm EST the night before:

Skully, Molder and Seti strode down 52nd St in Manhattan with a purpose. Molder immediately made a left into the back alleyway and Seti crossed the street and waited. Skully walked into Bamboo 52. Molina was in the same place at the bar where Kayla first met her. She tried blending in with the crowd while walking towards Molina. Molina spotted Kayla about 10 feet away and jumped over the bar, spilling drinks on patrons. She ran into the back towards the kitchen and Kayla went after her.

Molina ran out the back door and Molder tried to grab her. Molina rolled on the ground and avoided Molder’s arms altogether and proceeded to run out into the street. The evasion tactic caused Molder to stumble but he recovered quickly and gave pursuit as Kayla burst through the back door. Molina was fast but Seti ran across the street and pushed Molina right into a light pole. Molina fell to the ground badly dazed and Seti quickly placed handcuffs on her and pulled her to her feet as Kayla and Rich ran up.

With perfect timing, an NYPD detective that owed Rich a favor and pulled up in an unmarked black Ford Crown Victoria. Kayla opened the rear door and Seti shoved Molina inside. Rich and Kayla ran around to the passenger side of the Crown Vic with Rich jumping in next to Detective Valle while Kayla jumped in the back. Seti jumped in right after he shoved Molina inside.

“Let’s go, Frankie!” Rich shouted.

Tires screeched and Detective Valle sped toward the 59th Street Bridge towards Queens.

“Where the fuck are you pigs taking me?” Molina said weakly.

Kayla reached back, made a fist, and punched Molina in the face. Molina’s head drooped towards Seti. Kayla grabbed her and shook her. “That’s for stabbing me, bitch!” Molina opened her eyes briefly then collapsed on James’ shoulder.

Ten minutes later, they pulled up to a warehouse on an empty street on the Queens side of the bridge. Kayla dragged Molina out on her side. Seti ran around the car to help. Rich was about to get out of the car when Det Valle grabbed his shoulder. “We’re good now, right?”

“Yeah, Frankie. Thanks a million.”

“Take it easy, Rich. Don’t get jammed up.”

“Be safe Frankie.”

The Crown Vic left at a casual speed.

Rich took out a large ring of keys from his jacket. He found the key he was looking for immediately and opened the sidedoor to the warehouse.

They dragged Molina off to the left to an office. Rich again found that key and opened the office.

“What, you got a side job as a night wachman or janitor of this shithole?” Kayla asked.

“No. The Feds pay a generous salary. I’m just cashing in on some favors.” Rich said as they sat Molina down at a chair directly across from a desk.

Rich went to the desk and turned on the desklamp and shined it on Molina’s face.

Molina woke up with a start. She remembered that she got grabbed outside the sushi bar and cuffed. Fuck, I’m not at the precinct though, she thought to herself. She was scared. The light shined in her face and all she could see was shadows.

“Who the fuck are you really, Molina?” said a voice.

“Fuck you!” spat Molina.

Then someone slapped her. The sexy blonde chick that I laid and stabbed, she thought.

“I said, who the fuck are you?!? Don’t make me ask the same question twice.”

“That’s neither here nor there. Imperium Galactica exists within me. I am but a shell.”

This time, James slapped her. Kayla smiled at him.

“Once the nexions are completed, no one of the profane will be beyond reichsstandshaft.”

“Kill her.” said the voice in front of the light.

Kayla grabbed Moina as James began to duct tape her too the chair. When James was done, Kayla had the obsidian blade pressed up against Molina’s cheek. “I want to cut her face up, first.” She pricked Molina’s face and licked the trickle of blood.

Molina’s started to cry, making the cut burn. Then she started to laugh.

“Agios O Baphomet! Hail Shub Niggurat!”

Fuck. This bitch isn’t going to tell us shit, Rich thought. Hmmm, what the fuck to do now?

Just then, they could hear the side door of the warehouse being torn open. As they looked around, a purple mist could be seen in the darkness of the warehouse.

All three drew their guns as Rich shut the lamp off.

Molina stopped laughing.

Chapter 21

“Bamboo 52 is a sushi bar in New York City. I’ve been there before. I don’t know what the hell that has to do with anything. Yet, a lead is a lead regardless. Get down there.” Director Skinner looked across her desk at Helt and Tegan. “You’ll get all the backup you need. You know that. If they’re playing us Rikk, it doesn’t matter. It’s a slow, grinding process. We’ve got the resources and the firepower. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

Helt got up. “I understand Madam Director. It just bothers me that we’re going in there not knowing shit.”

“It’s your job to find out. This is where the line between a cop and an agent is clearly seen. The cops are reactive, doing their jobs after something happens. The agent is proactive. Above and beyond, sometimes running to the scene as things are occuring. There’s no clocks to punch here, Rikk.”

“Yes ma’am.” Helt walked out and Tegan followed.

“Are you feeling okay, Rikk?” Tegan asked as they walked out of FBI Headquarters.

“Yeah. I just don’t like the feeling that these people, whoever they are, have the drop on us. To tell you the truth, it’s scary. And I don’t like to say that.”

“We investigate crimes and apprehend criminals. There’s a lot to be scared of out there.”

“But…” Rikk wagged his finger and said grimly, “This is different. We’re dealing with something that seems to be one step ahead of us.” Rikk looked around and lowered his voice. “I have a funny feeling about Skinner. Either she doesn’t feel the magnitude of this or…fuck, I don’t even want to say it.”

“What, what, Rikk? What the hell?”

“I don’t quite trust her.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you? You’re getting paranoid!”

“Maybe. But I don’t feel good about this whole thing at all.”

Helt and Tegan watched the sunset. To Rikk, it didn’t bring beauty or comfort, only a sense of dread that he couldn’t comprehend.

“Oh fuck!” whispered Kayla.

James was on one side of the office door back flat against the wall, gun drawn. Kayla was on the other assuming the same position. Rich was prone with a small portion of his face and his gun peering around the corner of the desk. The purple haze was around them now that illuminated the darkness only slightly. Molina was still in the chair, silent and smiling from ear to ear.

“In here!” Molina screamed. Kayla walked up to the chair and shot Molina in the head at close range and ran back quickly to her position.

The door in the office broke open and hit the back wall behind the desk. Shards of the door scattered everywhere. The purple light was brighter now.

Chapter 22

The FBI, with the assistance of NYPD Emergency Services Unit planned a full convergence on Bamboo 52. They would enter through the front door and back door and had the whole strip blocked off. No vehicles entering 52nd St for six blocks and more importantly, no vehicles exiting.

Rikk knew in his heart that it was bit overkill and that possible civil suits may follow, but he never managed to shake the grim feeling about the case. He managed to obtain a Federal Warrant on the basis that this was a multiple murder investigation.

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Bamboo 52 was closed for business at 10pm on a Friday night. The sign outside read “Temporarily Closed.” The closing occured only fifteen minutes after Molina was snatched off the streets by “vigilantes of the profane,” as described by the few in the crowd inside the sushi bar.

The first ESU teams to go in through both doors simultaneously were met by hails of gunfire. Rikk and Angelina were standing with Captain Davis about seventy-five feet from Bamboo 52 behind an ESU van. “Officer down! Officer down! 10-13! 10-13!” was heard on Cpt Davis’ radio. “Holy shit! What the fuck did we get the fuck ourselves into?” Cpt Davis yelled to the agents. He was talking to no one as Tegan and Helt ran towards the sushi bar.

Kayla and Seti began to fire towards the door. Rich assumed a semi-kneeling position behind the desk and also began to fire at the door. The purple haze was gone. In the dark, gunfire was returned. “What the fuck?” yelled Rich.

“Let’s get out there!” Kayla yelled back.

The three then ran out the office door and into the wide open area of the warehouse while dropping to the floor and firing their weapons. The purple haze returned.

Chapter 23

As Helt and Tegan ran inside Bamboo 52, a purple haze converged on them. “Get down!” Tegan screamed. “It might be gas!”

Helt assumed a prone position and yelled back, “It’s that same purple shit back in the woods in Cali! Fuckin shoot at that shit!”

Helt and Molder stood almost fifteen feet away from each other. Upon seeing each other’s profiles within the purple haze and on opposite sides of the battle, they fired upon each other. Helt was a fourth of a second faster. Molder clutched his chest and collapsed on the floor.

“Fuck!” Kayla screamed as she shot Rikk five times in the torso area. Rikk went down. Tegan was a little faster than the usual quick-drawing Sergeant Seti and James went down. Tegan faced Kayla, who stopped firing when she saw in the haze that Rikk was wearing an FBI windbreaker.

“FBI! Throw the fuckin’ gun down!” Tegan yelled at Kayla.

Kayla complied. She put her hands up with bewilderment. “I’m Special Agent Skully. FBI.”

Tegan lowered her weapon and replied with shock and fear. “What? Skully? Um, what the fuck are you doing? You just fired upon and killed 3 NYPD ESU officers and 2 FBI police officers. I’m taking you in.”

Kayla looked around. “How the fuck did we end up in Bamboo 52?”

Tegan looked at Kayla with disgust as she approached her and trained her weapon once again on Kayla. “Turn around and put your hands behind your back.”

Kayla complied and was crying out of confusion and out of grief. “We were in fuckin’ Queens! How the fuck did we end up in Manhattan at Bamboo 52? What the fuck is going on here?”

At that moment the purple haze subsided and disappeared. More uniformed cops entered Bamboo 52 and surveyed the fallen.

Tegan walked out with a cuffed Kayla, who was disoriented by this time.

4am, Washington DC:

Director Skinner took the agency helicopter to Manhattan as soon as she received the phone call at home about the shootout at Bamboo 52. She cursed aloud on the chopper, and was then overcome with grief as she thought of the deceased agents Helt and Molder. What the fuck went on, how did her agents get into shooting? And with each other?

Chapter 24

Director Skinner, in the back of an unmarked agency car manned by two FBI police officers, was busily typing on her laptop computer. She was sending a secured agency message to Special Agent Laura Scott, the agency’s top forensics expert, telling her to catch the next chopper to New York and more specifically, the crime scene. How the fuck can this be a crime scene and it’s all law enforcement personnel involved. Her first task would be to speak to Captain Davis at the Midtown North Precinct, the command that covered the confines of the crime scene. Her next task would be even more grim than the first. To speak with ex-Special Agent Skully, who was now confined in a Federal Corrections Facility in Fort Dix, New Jersey. Ex because she and her accomplices shot and killed five uniformed police officers and a fellow FBI Special Agent. Then, off to see Agent Tegan, who was admitted to New York University Hospital for a gunshot wound to the right shoulder. Sergeant Seti had been just as quick as Tegan, but not as accurate.

Skinner cursed to herself quietly as she caught sight of a large contingent of reporters and photographers in the parking lot of the precinct. Captain James Davis was at a podium nodding his head. Good, Chloe thought. He’s not telling the vultures shit. Not that any of us know shit right now anyway.

“Madam Director, we’re going to have to through the front if you don’t mind.” the cop driving said.

Skinner smiled at the cop. “We’ll do whatever you think is best, Officer.”

“Roger that, ma’am.”

Skinner was about to leave the vehicle as they got to the front when the cop in the passenger seat said, “Madam Director, would you like me to accompany you? NYPD is going to be hostile territory for us. Considering, well, you know ma’am.”

“Well, we lost officers in that operation as well. I appreciate the gesture, though. I need to get this over with so that we can move forward and find out what happened tonight. I’ll be right out, hopefully in one piece.”

“Yes ma’am. Holler if you need us.”

Skinner smiled at them and turned to walk into the precinct. An NYPD cop standing outside was about to open the door for her, but when he saw who she was, he let the door go, smirked and turned his back. His partner, standing beside him, walked away.

“I’m not going to ask you open the door for me, officer. You’re a cop, not a doorman. But if you don’t turn around and address me with the proper courtesy, I’ll have your gun and shield and mount it on my mantle at FBI Headquarters. I’m aware that you lost people, I lost people too. Don’t fuckin’ play with me.”

Upon seeing Director Skinner having words with the city cop, The two FBI officers got out of the vehicle. Chloe put her hand up as if to say “It’s okay.” The city cop saw the two FBI cops and turned around to address Director Skinner. “Good evening, ma’am,” he said and opened the door.

The Chief of Police, Miguel Olivera, was standing by the Desk Sergeant’s podium. Upon seeing Skinner, he straightened up and said, “Madam Director. It is unfortunate that we could not meet under different circumstances.” He extended his hand in greeting.

A political man indeed, Skinner thought. Chloe took his hand. “Chloe, Chief. And you are?”

Chief Olivera smiled slightly. “Miguel.”

“Miguel. What we have here is a tragic situation. I would like us to work together to get to the bottom of this.”

“Of course.” the Chief said. “I’ll let Cpt Davis know that you’re here.”

“Thanks Miguel.” Chloe was about to sit on the nearby bench when Chief Olivera stopped her.

“No, don’t sit there ma’am. That’s the ‘perp chair!’ I’ll let you into Cpt Davis’ office.

“Thanks, Miguel.”

Cops in the precinct were nervously trying to look even busier than normal, even though they were as they saw the Chief walking with the FBI Director.

Skinner sat in the chair that was directly in front of Captain Davis’ desk. I wonder how many cops he chewed out while they sat in this chair? Better this chair than the crackhead chair. As soon as she though ‘crackhead,’ she began to weep quietly.

Five minutes later, Captain Davis walked in. “Hello Madam Director. We’ve got a mess on our hands.”

“Hello Captain Davis. Right you are.”

“Do you want to head to the crime scene now? Forensics just left there and I’ve got some uniforms posted.”

“Yes, let’s go. Would you like to ride in my vehicle?”

“I’ve got one ma’am and a uniform too. I never go withou them.”

“I’ll follow you then.”

They got to Bamboo 52 in five minutes. The cop standing at the front saluted and raised the yellow crime scene tape. The lights were on and the sushi bar was in shambles. There were tape outlines of the dead on the floor, spent shell casings that were marked by different colored flags so as to determine which round originated from which firearm. Broken tables, chairs, plates, and glass was everywhere. Blood still stained the walls and floors.

Davis and Skinner surveyed the area together, not out of camraderie, but of common mistrust that the FBI and NYPD famously held for one another.

“The two agents and the Sheriff fired at the front door from here.” Davis said pointing at the center of the room. Why they weren’t behind cover is beyond me. They began to fire upon the ESU and FBI officers entering through the front door and into the bar area.”

“Didn’t cops enter through the rear door as well?” Skinner asked.

“Strange thing, though. When they attempted to enter through the the kitchen door behind the agents and the sheriff, they couldn’t get the door open. It then took an additional minute and a half and by the time the unit bringing up the rear enetered, the agent in question was already handcuffed.”

Skinner walked pensively towards the rear of the sushi bar and into the door that led into the kitchen. “This door swings both ways. There’s no signs of soldering or welding, only burn marks from where you guys used a blow torch to remove the hinges. Who the fuck put this door back up?”

Davis shuddered at Skinner’s harsh, yet inquisitive tone. “The owner had someone come in about a half hour after the incident.

“What the fuck for? Are you guys fuckin’ slow? I want to talk to the dumb ass who authorized it. You had a fuckin’ civilian walk right up to the crime scene?!? Why don’t you guys call motherfuckin’ Bob Villa to fix the whole fuckin’ sushi bar?”

“It’s ESU policy to have repaired whatever they destroy.”

“Why so soon after the shooting?” Skinner was losing her temper. “Cops died here! Yours and mine! And you fuckin’ idiots are worried about a fuckin’ door? Who authorized this shit?”

“Sergeant Catherine Cedeno, Emergency Service Unit.”

“Stupid bitch!”

Davis was slack-jawed. “Ma’am!”

“Cops died here, Captain Davis. I want to talk to this Sgt Cedeno yesterday.”

Cpt Davis was already dialing his cell phone.

“Tell the dumb ass bitch that I want to see her in your office in one hour, no more! My guys and me are getting fuckin’ breakfast.”

Chief Olivera and Director Skinner stormed into Cpt Davis’ office three hours later. Cpt Davis and Sgt Cedeno stood up nervously. Upon seeing the Chief of Police, Captain Davis looked to the floor and wrinled his face as if someone had kicked him in the testicles. Sergeant Catherine Cedeno was a pretty young Latina cop, yet she had eyes that seemed shifty and untrustworthy, as if she stepped on people to get her rank. She looked disheveled after being made to wait two hours to get the ass chewing of her life.

Skinner stepped right up to her and removed her glasses as if she was going to fight Cedeno. “This your first gun battle, dumb ass?”

“No ma’am. As an ESU Sergeant, I’ve been involved in several.” Cedeno said shakily.

“Then what the fuck made you spaz out and let a fuckin’ no-name civilian walk right through a fuckin’ crime scene? If you didn’t have those stripes, I’d say that you were a rookie. Fuck, even a fuckin’ rookie is thinking too much and wouldn’t make such an asinine mistake as that. Why don’t you just call and get the fuckin’ whole building renovated?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Cedeno sounded as if she wanted to cry. Chief Olivera was trying hard to suppress a laugh.

I want to know who the fuckin’ owner is and who the fuck this ass-clown was who fixed that fuckin’ door and tampered with our evidence. Can you do that Cedeno or is that too much for even you?”

“I’ll handle it, ma’am.”

“Yeah fuckin’ handle it. Do you have anything that you want to say to your cop, Chief Olivera?”

“Nothing that I wouldn’t have told her myself.” said the Chief grimly.

Skinner never took her eyes off of Cedeno. Cedeno nervously said, “I’ll get you that info ASAP, ma’am.”

“Do it faster than that. What the fuck are you still standing here looking stupid for? I’m fuckin’ through and so are your bosses. Get the fuck out of my site!”

Cedeno almost ran out of the office and bumped into the office door before opening it and letting herself out.

“Hard to find good help nowadays, huh?” Skinner asked Olivera.

“Fuck yeah. Nobody wants to start off at the cheap salary we get.”

Cpt Davis was also enraged at Cedeno, but now pitied her and the downward spiral her career will take when the smoke clears and Skinner was through with her.

Skinner of course did not have any say in NYPD business, but it was a huge blow to have the FBI Director chew out one of the ESU Sergeants in the precinct commander’s office. Cedeno would find herself working traffic detail for the next two years even though she was an ESU Sergeant. She would also be facing a demotion and transfer from the elite ESU to a less than glamorous foot post in the South Bronx.

Chapter 26

ADX Florence, Florence Colorado – Maximum Federal Correctional Facility:

Skinner was on the agency helicopter again via Fort Dix, New Jersey when she received a call reporting that Skully had been transferred to ADX Florence. She quickly had the chopper refueled in Dix and re-routed to Florence.

Only two hours after ripping Sergeant Cedeno a new asshole, Skinner was walking through the intimidating gates of ADX Florence, the same facility that Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma bomber, had been executed in June 2001. The reality that Kayla would be facing the death penalty for the murder of five uniformed cops and an FBI agent was like a cold slap of reality. Not only did she mourn Special Agent Helt and Special Agent Molder’s deaths, she would soon possibly be mourning Kayla’s as well.

At the main door of the facility, Skinner was met by Warden Melvin Roberts, nicknamed “Mega Toes” and “Bigfoot” because of his size 15 shoe. We found him Rich, Chloe thought to herself. Roberts seemed to have the same shifty eyes that Sergeant Cedeno did. As if he liked to look at the closed caption TV of female prisoners’ cells and masturbate. Skinner immediately felt like scrubbing her hands after shaking hands with Roberts. After the brief meeting, Skinner was accompanied by a Bureau of Prisons officer, an imposing hulk of a man, as expected. The hulk peered through a slot on Kayla’s cell door to make sure she was away from the door.

“Skully! You have a visitor! Step away from the door.”

Skully was doing pushups and stepped to the wall on the extreme opposite of the cell door. She was still extremely attractive in her orange prison jumpsuit and no makeup. Chloe was angry at herself for being stimulated for a second.

Skinner walked in and waited for the officer to close the door. She then ran over to Kayla and hugged her. Then she broke the hug and slapped her.

Warden Roberts looked intently at the monitor in his office showing Skully’s cell. He then smiled, rubbed his crotch and unbuckled his belt.

“What the fuck happened last night, Skully? Why the fuck were you, Molder and Seti firing on cops and Helt and Tegan?”

“I have no fuckin’ idea. I’ll tell you everything I know.” She took Skinner’s hand and they both walked toward Kayla’s bunk and sat down.

Skully recanted all the information that she obtained from Mr A, SK9 Satanism and the strange purple haze. Skinner also shared all the information that Helt and Tegan gave her.

“According to all the SK9 edicts that purple haze is a nexion. A gate to the Acausal Darkness. Somebody or something set us up to get into that shootout with each other. It’s because we were getting close to finding out. The key to this is SK9. No arrests either. Just fuckin’ waste them.”

“I can’t believe that I’m hearing about the paranormal from you.” Skinner said.

“Then you know that shit is beyond fuckin’ reason. Just keep in mind what those other agents told you Chloe. And we don’t even know each other. Tell me something. Did Rich make it? How about James?”

“Sorry Kayla. They’re gone.”

Tears stung Kayla’s cheeks as she screamed, “Get these motherfuckers, Chloe! I don’t give a fuck! You’ve got to get them! Especially that motherfucker Mr A!”

“This case is mine now. Fuck protocol.”

They hugged once again and Chloe walked towards the door and knocked on it. The Hulk then peered in and opened the door.

Roberts looked away from the monitor in disgust. Skinner didn’t stay long enough for him to finish pleasuring himself. He put his pants on and buckled his belt. He walked out of his office and prepared to see Director Skinner off.

Fifteen minutes, with the Hulk in tow, Skinner prepared to exit the facility.

“It was good to meet you Madam Director.” Roberts extended his hand.

“Fuck off. I’ll be back when Skully gets released.” Skinner walked out as the Hulk suppressed a snicker.

Mr A walked by the two NYPD cops stationed outside of Agent Tegan’s hospital room. He made no eye contact, but the two cops watched him suspiciously. Mr A walked to the elevator bank. One of the cops knocked on the door and walked into Tegan’s room while other cop watched as Mr A boarded the elevator.

“She’s gone!” said the cop running out of Tegan’s room.

They both ran to the elevator bank. One shoved his arms into the elevator before the doors closed. They tackled a surprised Mr A after he pressed the “Close Door” button.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Mr A demanded as he was being cuffed.

“Where’s Agent Tegan, you fuck?”

Skinner was headed back to New York in the helicopter. She knew that it would’ve made more sense to have visited Tegan at NYU Hospital in Manhattan before heading out to Colorado, but she wanted to know what happened from Kayla’s perspective. She had a strong feeling that Kayla was telling the truth, but strong feelings about innocence did not spare anyone from the death penalty. Where the fuck do I start with this Mr A? Chloe would have to get Kayla’s computer and run a trace. The satellite phone rang.

“Skinner!” Chloe yelled into the phone over the propellers.

“Madam Director, it’s Special Agent Scott. I found something at the coroner’s!”

“What you got, Laura?”

“I went to the sushi bar and everything was pretty much cut-and-dry. Then I attended the formal autopsy and I acquired and categorized all the spent rounds. There was an extra round that was lodged in the base of Special Agent Helt’s skull. As if he was shot execution-style. The round that was discharged didn’t belong to any of the weapons fired by Skully, Molder or the sheriff. The round belonged to Agent Tegan’s gun.”

Skinner dropped the phone on the floor of the helicopter.

Detective Frank Valle, Special Agent Molder’s NYPD connection, walked into the Interview Room and eyed Mr A seated at the table, who was smiling at him. Valle returned the smile.

“Cigarette?” Valle offered.

“Thank you.” Mr A said.

“Smoke this asshole!” Valle reached over the table, grabbed Mr A and punched him repeatedly in the face.

Captain Davis and Detective Tim O’Brien, watching the interview from behind the one way glass wall in the other room, ran into the Interview Room.

They practically peeled Valle off of Mr A. Mr A was laying on the floor bleeding and unconscious.

“What the fuck is wrong with you, Valle?” Davis demanded.

Valle pulled free and managed a stomp on Mr A’s chest and sidestepped Davis and O’Brien as they tried to restrain him again.

Valle ran over to the door, punched it and yelled, “He might not have killed Richie, but the motherfucker has shit to do with it! They’re fuckin’ playing with us! I don’t fuckin’ play! You hear me faggot? I don’t fuckin’ play!”

He then sat on the floor and sobbed.

O’Brien grabbed Valle by the shoulders. C’mon Frankie. Get it together. Let’s get a bagel.”

Valle rose to his feet and walked out with O’Brien. Cpt Davis looked at a bleeding and still unconscious Mr A and snickered. He then walked into the Observation Room and ejected the videocassette from the monitor.

“Listen Frankie.” O’Brien said. “You can’t go off on a tangent like that. Fuckin’ boss man was watching. Keep it up and you’ll end up with time on the streets. Why do you give a fuck about that fed anyway?”

“That fed was my old partner at the 110th before going over to the feds. That motherfucker pulled my ass out of the fire a few times. Like I did for you and that problem that you got with hookers.” Valle smiled.

“Okay, I get it. Cap is all right. He knows that you wouldn’t fuck with anybody for nothing. You won’t get jammed up, but still, be careful. Those fed cops picked up that guy in the hospital on a hunch, nothing but. Don’t read too much into it.”

“I read the whole fuckin’ thing, even the feds’ shit. That asshole led the two agents into a shootout with Rich and his people. That fucker isn’t leaving the stationhouse for shit for at least another fuckin’ night. Not until the Director sees him.”

“That sexy boss lady with the glasses? I wish she came to see me.” O’Brien smiled.

“She’s way out of your league. Besides, it’s all business now until these fuckers get fried.”

“So, Frankie. Tell me: How’d you get access to the FBI’s files?”

“Need to know basis. And you don’t need to know.”

As soon as Chloe retrieved the phone from the chopper floor, she found that Laura got disconnected. Now, she had another reason to see Angelina in the hospital.

The phone rang again. “Skinner.”

“Ma’am, we got Mr A here at the house.” It was Captain Davis.

“James! Keep him there!”

“I was going to. Agent Tegan’s gone missing too.”

“Fuck! when?”

“Twenty minutes ago.”

“I’ll be at the house in about an hour.”

“See you then.” Davis hung up.

“You didn’t tell them anything, did you Cathy?”

“No.” Cathy stammered. She looked across the desk at the fresh-faced young woman staring at her with piercing brown eyes.

“Good.” said Tegan. “The Master will be pleased.”

“Have I completed my ordeals? Am I now a Sister?”

Tegan looked at Cathy angrily. “If you have to ask, then you aren’t!”

Cathy put her head down with embarassment.

“There is one thing that you might be good for.” Tegan smiled.

“Yes?” Cathy felt reassured.

“Yes. Come with me.”

Outside of Tegan’s large study, the Temple Guardian grabbed Cathy from behind.

“What…what are you doing?”

Tegan slapped her. “You have no loyalty. You have a weak spine! We of 352 are one of the many Sinister Tribes who revel in Sinister Darkness and to Presence the Dark. You have no place but for this.”

The large Guardian ripped Cathy’s uniform pants and threw her duty belt on the ground. He then mounted Cathy and began to enter her with his large member.

“Nooo!” Cathy screamed.

Chloe stared at Mr A. Then she reached across the table and slapped him. He whimpered in pain.

“Im…tired…of all you…cops…hitting…me.” Mr A stammered. “I’ll tell…you anything…you want to know.”

Chloe slapped him again for good measure. “I want to start from the beginning. What the fuck happened in that cabin outside of Eureka City?”

“Old George. George Waller was dying. He is a 352 Brother and the Founder of SK9. Better known as 352.”

“Yeah. An Order of Nine Angles Nexus. I got that far. Go on asshole.” Chloe raised her arm again.

“No, no! He performed the Rite of Hohes Opfer because he wanted his wife and sons to be with him in the Cosmos.”

“Who the fuck was the other vic with the missing skin?”

“He was a traitor. He wanted to leave 352 because he was scared. He found that the Darkness was real and he couldn’t psychologically handle it. George and his family opfered him first. Then they peeled off all his tattoos that referred to 352, SK9 or the Order.”

“Who the fuck are you?”

Mr A laughed. “My daughter has infiltrated the greatest law enforcement agency in the land. I am Anthony Tegan.”

Chloe restrained herself from hitting him again. Her next strike would be to kill him.”

“Why did you target the FBI?”

“Our Sinister Intent is to sow the seeds of disruption and Chaos. The Purple Haze is the Nexion at its lowest strength. Once it reaches full stregth…” The elder Tegan laughed maniacally.

Chloe reached across the table and punched in the face so hard that her hand hurt. She jumped over the table and knelt over Tegan.

“Homo…Galactica.” Tegan smiled. “My Angelina…” Tegan passed out.

Chapter 27

Kayla had one hour a day of general population. She was actually given the option to reject general pop since she was a ex-FBI agent, but she opted for it just to see other people for an hour, to escape the isolation.

An attractive Latina prisoner with a white bandana eyed her. She then smiled and approached Kayla. Kayla was apprehensive at first because a white bandana was considered 352, but 352 was such an anomaly at this point. No membership numbers, no arrests, no nothing. Just that Eureka City incident.

“Got a cigarette, beautiful lady?” the Latina asked.

“Sure.” Kayla reached into her shirt pocket. As she looked down, the last thing that she saw was the makeshift shank going in and out of her chest with blinding speed. The Latina then whispered hoarsely into Kayla’s ear, “352.”

The latina walked away as Kayla collapsed on the ground, The Latina then passed the shank to a passerby who walked a few steps and passed it to another, who in turn, passed it to another.

Kayla looked straight into the sky. Kayla thought of all the people that she ever loved and who reciprocated that love. She thought of Molder and Seti and Chloe. Kayla tried to smile. She knew that Chloe had things all worked out. Kayla took her last breath.

Anthony felt like he was drowning…and being scalded at the same time. Skinner had doused him with a cup of coffee.

Detective Valle then grabbed Tegan and threw him back in the chair. “Stay awhile. Our chat’s not over yet.”

“I already know that the current location of your Temple is in Forest Park in Queens. Write down the coordinates and the next meeting time here. If they’re incorrect, I’ll kill you.” Skinner slid a piece of paper and pen in front of Anthony.

Valle opened his mouth in shock and then smiled. This fed’s all right. And so fuckin’ hot, he thought.

Anthony hesitated and then wrote on the paper.

Chloe snatched the paper from him. “That’s in three hours. Hey Valle, you got some guys in place?”

“Hell yeah.”

“Now, Anthony, how the fuck did Sergeant Seti end up in Malta?”

“The Nexion in Malta is Stilla Ta Demm. I don’t control the Presencing of the Dark. My Sisters, Brothers and I only help to ensure of its occurence.”

“How the fuck did you know to send my agents to Bamboo 52?”

“The Darkness that makes itself known to me. Then it stops. That’s how the cops grabbed me at NYU Hospital.”

“How’d Angelina escape?”

“The Dark workings enabled her. The purple haze, the Gates, of course.”

“The cops didn’t report no fuckin’ purple haze.” Valle added.

“It most likely converged on her when she was in the bathroom.”

A uniform knocked on the door. Valle said a brief word to him and left. The uniform took Anthony and went out the back door. Chloe followed. The cop then dispatched Anthony into the backseat of a familiar Ford Crown Victoria.

Skinner and Valle rented a storage locker in College Point Queens with a “borrowed” credit card from the evidence locker. Inside the unit, they left the hancuffs on Anthony and duct-taped his feet.

Chloe knelt over to Anthony and said, “Don’t try to struggle or make any noise. Once this door closes, you’ve got about 3 hours of air. If you want all 3 hours, try not to exert yourself. If all goes well at the Temple, then we’ll come back for you. If we die, then you die. Got it?”

“Okay.” Anthony said weakly.

Chloe then duct-taped his mouth. She then nodded towards Valle and they left and locked the storage unit.

“How’d you know about how much oxygen he had? Some high speed FBI gadget, ma’am?” Valle asked.

Chloe smiled. “I saw it in a movie once.”

Twenty minutes later, they met with Detectives O’Brien, Newman and Martinez in the parking lot near the band shell in Forest Park.

Chloe addressed her compatriots. “I appreciate your help. This is strictly off the record and under the radar. There’s going to be no medals in this for any of us. Just payback for those fallen cops and agents. Everybody’s got the coordinates and I’ll take the point. Once we get to the Temple, we’ll disperse and then go as planned. Save the Temple Mistress for me. In the trunk, just grab whichever toy you want to play with.”

Chloe opened the trunk and presented more borrowed items from evidence. Newman grabbed the sawed off shotgun, O’Brien took the M16A2 and Matinez grabbed the uzi machine gun. Chloe had an M1 while Valle grabbed another uzi and a .45. Then she closed the trunk and the five descended into the wooded area.”

Ten minutes later, they spotted a group of fifteen people in black hooded robes gathered in a clearing and seemed to be listening to a woman dressed in a scarlet robe. The Temple Guardian stood nearby, also with a black robe on.

“Remember, the lady in red’s all mine. Everybody else gets heavy metal. Take your positions, count to five and shoot these pieces of shit.”

The four others dispersed behind the covering of the trees. Five seconds later, the woods brought death.

It was all simultaneous. The five stepped out of the trees firing in what appeared to be a straight line. All purposely avoiding the Mistress, who was too shocked to even react at this point. Could it be that she never expected anyone else to use Sinister Strategy?

Black robes were falling everywhere. The Temple Guardian pulled out a .38 from beneath his robe but was not quick enough. The one called Martinez cut him down with the uzi. Bodies of the congregation were strewn everywhere.

Tegan stood and looked in shock and awe at the five who had just massacred her Brothers and Sisters. In the darkness, she made out Skinner, who seemed to be walking toward her in slow motion. Tegan put her hands up. When Skinner was close enough to get a clear shot, she deliberately shot Tegan in the right leg.

“Put your fuckin’ hands down. Don’t worry, I’m not taking you in.”

Chapter 28

An hour later, Skinner and Valle arrived at the storage facility with the wounded cuffed and bound in duct tape Tegan in tow. Chloe opened the storage unit turned on the light. She went over to the elder Tegan and ripped the duct tape from his mouth. Tegan opened his eyes and moaned weakly in pain.

Then, Chloe’s phone rang.

“Skinner.” It was Warden Roberts.

“Yeah. Okay.” Chloe began to cry. Valle went inside the storage unit.

“What’s wrong?”

“Some fuckin’ con just shanked Kayla. Let’s waste them.

“I’m sorry. Yeah, yeah.” He dragged the younger Tegan into the storage unit. Anthony looked at her.

“I love you, my Angelina.”

Angelina wept as she looked at her father. Chloe ripped the tape off her mouth.

Valle positioned them on their stomachs.

“No, no!” cried Angelina.

“Ready?” asked Skinner.

“Ready.” answered Valle.

Skinner shot the elder Tegan in the base of the skull while Valle shot his daughter also in the base of her skull. Then they switched places and shot again.

They stepped out of the storage unit and locked it. Chloe wiped the keys clean on her shirt and threw them into the shrubs nearby. Valle put his arm around her and they walked to the car.

Mnajdra:

The Stilla Ta Demm Nexion were gathered and watched in awe the purple haze that seemed to engulf them. Suddenly, the haze was gone and the congregation looked around confused. Then all felt a sense of loss. Some openly wept.

The Temple Master removed his hood. Colonel Frata wiped the stinging tears from his cheeks.