CHAPTER EIGHTEEN—LOCK AND LOAD

“It’s cozy in here,” May said as the glanced about the walls where all the guns hung. At the very top of the room near the ceilings was a bar of purple light. “Your own little disco clubhouse.”

“It’s just for the guns,” Kyle said. “It’s not like we hang out in this secret room.”

John was certain she was poking fun, but apparently Kyle felt the need to be defensive. Why couldn’t he just chill out around her?

It was just big enough for all three of them to fit in and arm up.

“So what are you going for?” Kyle asked.

“You guys really do like ballistics,” she said thoughtfully.

“The truth is,” John said, “security teams are rarely prepared for them.”

“I can see why. They’re ancient.”

The guns were actually in very good order—old new stock in many cases—and some of the others were newly manufactured, but John decided not to say anything.

“Well,” May said, “I’ll take that Miatsu 92FQ.”

The pistol was a tiny little thing, but packed a pretty good punch. The clip was capable of holding five rounds with an extra in the chamber for six rounds of .50 Caliber.

“Do you have a silencer for it?”

John nodded with a smile. “Sure do.”

“Nice choice,” Kyle said.

“Thanks.”

It was a good gun for May. It would fit her grip well, but the real advantage in her choice was obvious. The Miatu 92FQ was a modern ballistic firearm—and despite the weapon being rather small—the silencer was massive, making the weapon very nearly completely inaudible.

Excellent for stealth, John thought.

“Here,” he said, pulling out the shoulder holster for it from the drawer below. He handed it to May.

“And the gun?” she asked.

“Oh right,” Kyle said. “Let me get it for you.” He had to stand on his toes, and even then he could barely reach it. “Gotcha.” He handed it to her.

“Why thank you, Sir.”

Kyle laughed.

“What about you boys?”

“Got my rail pistol here,” John said tapping his shoulder holster.

“A bit big, isn’t it?”

“Got my other puppy over on this side,” John said.

“Not bad,” May said.

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Damn, Kyle thought. If I bring something fun, she’s going to make another penis reference.

Nodding, he said, “You know what? I’m going to bring the other Miatsu.”

As Kyle reached up and took the second pistol, May said nothing.

At least that’s something.

He’s probably afraid I’m going to make another dig at his junk.

John saw her smile, but he seemed to pretend not to notice as he handed May extra clips that were full of rounds before checking his own hardware once again.

As she turned to leave the little nightclub she saw Kyle pick a blade from the plethora of other knives he had. He doubted John used any of those.

She wondered if he was actually good with any of those. She quite liked knives herself and always kept an ankle blade under her clothes at minimum.

“All right!” Kyle said as he sauntered out of the secret room. “Let’s do this!”

May was in the main room tucking her loose blouse into her leather pants. Gods, she looked so hot, but he made sure not to ogle her for a third time today.

Hells that would be bad.

“Be careful, everyone,” Lexa said.

“You say that like you’re not coming with us,” John said.

“No no, I’m coming!”

“Good,” he said. Then he tossed a band to May and Kyle.

Kyle looked at his topo band. It would change the physical topography of his face and work in conjunction with his holo-mask so the biometric scanners wouldn’t be able to pick them up.

Not visually at least.

“What’s in the bag?” Kyle asked.

John looked down. “Anything else we might need.”

May nodded. “Prepared. I like it.”

“Damn,” Kyle said.

“What’s wrong?” May asked.

“John one point. Me zero.”

John rolled his eyes and May actually snorted out a laugh. “What do you mean, Kyle, you’re bringing the same tiny gun along as I am. That should make… other areas seem bigger.”

“Ouch!” John said.

“Man…”

“Kyle,” Lexa said. “You walked into that one, I’m afraid.”

May stepped into the elevator and whirled around on her white sneakers, the smile on her face barely contained.

“Let me know if you want some pointers on interpersonal banter.”

“Shut up, Lexa.”

The elevator opened up to reveal the garage.

Apparently that’s what these guys call it.

May’s mouth almost hung open, but of course she wasn’t nearly enough of a loser to let that actually happen.

“So you’ve got your own car dealership?” she asked as the lights at the back end were still flickering on. The lights were actually pretty high quality.

“Yeah,” Kyle said.

“You could host a show in here.”

“That’s the running joke,” John said.

“Now that the Corvo is gone,” Lexa asked cheerfully, “what’s the second best pick?”

“Don’t remind me about the Corvo,” Kyle said as he walked forward with intent. “Of course we’re taking the Kc-88!”

“A Kcoshoib?” May asked, glancing at the black car. It had a slightly angular look with square bevels and large back thrusters. This car was a sky car, through and through if the lack of street tires and the huge back spoiler didn’t give it away.

Kyle glanced behind his shoulder as he hit the car lock. It beeped, the shrill sound echoing through the space. “You know your cars, huh?” He grinned.

“A bit,” May said. “I always thought the Kc-88 had a funny name.”

“Funny or not,” Kyle said, “this car is radical.”

May chuckled.

At least this dork’s got a tiny bit of charm—even if it’s dad charm.

“Nuh-uh, Kyle,” John said as he circled over to the driver side. “I’m driving.”

“Man, come on.”

“You know how we do things.”

With a heavy sigh, Kyle went to the back and loaded up the bags. “You can sit up front, May.”

“Are you sure? I’m okay in the back.”

“It’s fine.”

Getting into the driver’s seat, John wondered what extra toys Kyle had slipped into the bags. They were heavy.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, Kyle sat in the back with his legs spread, Lexa beside him. She was wearing knee-high boots with a metallic glint and short black shorts. Her top was little more than a tight pink T-shirt with a logo of Life City on the front.

“Are we all ready?”

“I’m good to go,” May said as she put on her shades.

“I can’t wait to tear shit up.”

“Not so fast,” John said as he hit the ignition. The Kc-88 hummed to life, the cab lights illuminating the beige interior. “This is definitely more my style to those tacky colors we had in the Corvo, Kyle.”

“Say what you like—that care was awesome.”

Glancing to his right, John saw May smile. “Anyway, stick to the plan, Kyle.”

“And… the plan is what exactly?”

May leaned back to look at him. “You nodded your head to my plan the whole time.”

He shrugged. “Yeah, so?”

“He has a habit of not listening,” John said.