Now, Las Vegas
Elliot walked behind the hotel’s lobby counter and into the offices.
The maze-like warren of closed doors was disconcerting. He hated being reminded of what the old world had been like. He couldn’t help but imagine the silent halls being filled with shoes and heels clacking against the floor tiles. He saw the ghosts of office workers clicking away at their keyboards and shooting the shit. He had been there once. 3 hours of productivity in 8 hours of real time.
Oh, how he’d used to complain about that.
“Why can’t I just get in do my work and leave when I’m done?” he had said to anyone that would listen.
Now, however… well, he was fifty-fifty on whether he’d go back to being a wage slave if it meant the spires had never showed up.
One door was open.
“Come in. Have a seat,” Cal said from behind a desk.
“Well, at least you took the effort to clear out all the pictures,” Elliot regarded the office. “Would’ve been grim putting a face to the person that used to work here.”
“Actually, it was already empty. That’s why I picked this one instead of one closer to the lobby. Like you said, I didn’t feel like clearing all traces of the last occupant. Seemed disrespectful since I’m only using it once,” Cal said.
“You know, it’s funny that you sent that message. Cause I needed to talk to you about something too.”
“I imagine your thing is related to my thing,” Cal smiled.
Elliot kept his expression neutral.
He took care because this man was personally powerful. Anecdotal evidence was all around him in the form of a giant resort casino cleared and claimed. He had sent scouts combing the city and the outskirts for evidence of a hidden army, but they had come up empty. So that meant Cal had done it all by himself. It hardly made a difference even if the woman and the baby were also secretly powerful. Dayana’s story of what had gone down inside the new encounter challenge was stronger evidence.
Still, he couldn’t appear weak. The Golden Eagles’ reputation had to be defended. He couldn’t let one man walk all over that by poaching their people without consequences.
“Would you like to go first?” Cal said mildly.
“No. I’d prefer you start,” Elliot said.
Take control. Dictate the flow of the conversation. Maneuver for supremacy.
“What are your rates?” Cal said.
“Excuse me?” Elliot blinked. “I… what do you mean? I mean, it depends on what you’re asking for,” he recovered smoothly.
“For your services. The Golden Eagles functions as a sort of mercenary company, right?” Cal continued. “If, in the future, I was interested in you doing jobs for me how much would it cost? What sort of pay would you take? Cash? Gold?”
“That’s all negotiable.”
“With you?”
“I do have the autonomy to do that in this place and time. Seeing as how I can’t communicate with my boss. But that only applies to the personnel here and now. Any job that requires more will need to be set up with the boss.”
“How independent is your company from the governing structure of your settlement?”
“It’s a city, San Antonio,” Elliot bristled. On the outskirts, sure, but they were doing well considering the circumstances. Much better than many of the other settlements he had been to or observed at a safe distance. “And we’re very independent. The mayor has more fighters, but ours are better in levels, training and experience. We’ve traveled extensively in the local region and have killed a lot of mutated animals and monsters. We’ve fought and defeated bandit and raider groups. Even faced and beaten some of the Meat Parade, though that’s an experience none of us want to repeat.”
“You’re going to have to give me a more detailed breakdown of this Meat Parade,” Cal said.
“I’m willing to negotiate a price for that exchange of vital intelligence.”
“How much?”
Elliot thought about it for a moment. Truth was they didn’t need material goods. A few weeks of looting a wide variety of stores in the city had filled their coffers. They got plenty of food, water, medicines and other vital supplies. They also picked up a ton of cash from all the cash registers and a visit to the bank. They had filled sacks with silver, gold and other precious metals in the form of coins, bars and jewelry, along with every type of gem he could think of.
“Maybe I can answer that with a question of my own. What kind of services are you willing to offer?”
“The only thing I think you’d be interested in. An escort,” Cal said.
“To be clear, you’re referring to joining my fighters in clearing spawn zones and encounter challenges?”
Cal blinked. “Yeah, what else would I mean?”
“Nothing… that’s what I thought. I’m interested.”
“Is that valuable enough to offset the ill feelings in regards to the Furies?” Cal said.
“You reading my mind or something?” Elliot frowned. Calm, he thought, don’t let him put you off-balance. Maintain. Keep on top of it. Dominate. “They’re under contract. I, the Golden Eagles, don’t appreciate theft of our best talents.”
“I understand they’re independent contractors?”
Elliot nodded. He knew how to answer this avenue of attack. He had expected it. “Non-compete clause. They can’t work or otherwise take on jobs for competing companies and other such entities.”
“Ah, but I’m merely an individual and I haven’t drawn up anything so formal and binding as a bunch of words on a piece of paper,” Cal smiled.
Elliot felt he was being mocked, but kept his cool. “That isn’t for you to dictate. If you give them jobs that conflict with our operations then they’re in breach.”
“What would you do then? Force them to keep working for you under the threat of violence?”
“Of course not!” Elliot snapped. That was non-starter. Violence against team members wasn’t something Leon would countenance. He’d rather just let people go if it came to that. This wasn’t about forcing the Furies to stay. It was about gaining something from them leaving.
“Look, man. I’m not saying they can’t still do jobs for you. Just that I may have jobs for them that would take precedence. All the while I’m offering them what they want in exchange for them risking their lives. All with the goal of building a world where we’re no longer on the back foot against all the monsters,” Cal said.
“A commendable cause, but I can’t ignore the fact that you’re compromising one of our best assets. We’ve relied on them and it will be damaging to the company to lose that.”
“Then build up a new set of elites,” Cal said. “How would you like my help in giving you a hand in that?”
“The service you mentioned? I don’t know if that’s enough. I’d need that, plus something more tangible. It has to be worth losing everything the Furies can do for us in the future.”
“What about a base of operations in this city,” Cal opened his arms wide, “just like this place?”
“A lot of large encounter challenges in a relatively small space. Good farming. Could relocate the entire company. Increase recruitment,” Elliot mumbled as the possibilities flashed through his thoughts too fast, yet also starkly vivid.
“All that and I’m not even stopping the Furies from continuing to do jobs for your company,” Cal said.
The smug bastard grinned like he had Elliot over the desk.
Still… it sounded like a great deal.
What was the catch?
“I’d like to form good relationships with people that hew in the same vicinity as I do when it comes to outlook on the world and our fellow humans,” Cal said. “Like with the Furies and I hope, with the Golden Eagles.”
“Mandalay Bay. Help us claim that and we won’t have any problems. Prove yourself beneficial to us and we can have a good working relationship moving forward.”
“Out of curiosity, why that place?” Cal said.
“It’s the biggest place in the south part of the strip. The road we took from Texas comes up from the southeast.”
“It’s a deal,” Cal said. “One thing though,” he raised a finger, “claiming a place is one thing. Keeping it is another.”
Shit! he thought. That was true. If his company’s collective presence wasn’t powerful enough then they’d have to fight off mutants, monsters and other people. Which meant he’d have to leave some here when he had to return home with the rest. Splitting their numbers was a good way to fail both in both.
“As an added bonus, I’m willing to add my name to the ownership,” Cal’s grin seemed to grow wider.
“There’s the catch,” Elliot said calmly.
“The first taste is free,” Cal snorted. “Not my intention. I promise it’ll be on a purely temporary basis. You can remove my name from ownership whenever you feel you’ve brought enough numbers to keep it fairly safe from invasions. That way you don’t have to deal with splitting your strength for the journey home. I understand you lost something like 20% of your dedicated fighting complement just getting here.”
“Due to it being uncharted territory. Now that we know what to expect we won’t lose nearly as much on the way back.” Elliot tried to find another catch. Then decided that it was the best deal he was going to get. Ultimately, he didn’t have a choice. The Furies would do whatever they wanted. It was best to swallow his pride. Only idiots would stab their eyes because their ears heard something they didn’t like. At least he was going to get the company something out of it.
“I’m biased, but I think you’re getting a great deal,” Cal said.
“I don’t know about that, but you have a deal. Pending the boss’ final approval. If he doesn’t then the deal is off. We won’t try to keep the resort.”
“Great!”
Cal stood and shook his hand over the desk.
Firm grip from a smaller hand. An easy strength that had a frown flicker across Elliot’s face. He had tried to grind down as one last, admittedly, petulant power move.
Elliot stared down at Cal. He had forgotten that he had over a head’s height advantage.
The other man seemed to have an out-sized presence despite his physical shortness.
“Let me know when you’re ready to go,” Cal said.
“Give me at least two days. I want to make sure everyone’s rested. Is it going to be a problem if I bring most of my company? Even support. I want to give anyone that wants it the chance for the points and any bonus rewards.” He wanted to maximize the gains for the company.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
“I don’t guarantee life, nor death. As long as they understand the risks you can bring anyone you want… with one exception,” Cal said.
Elliot could guess. “The Dread Paladin?”
Cal nodded.
“No problem.”
“Alright, you know where to find me. Just send word when you’re ready and I’ll meet you there,” Cal said.
Elliot knew a dismissal when he heard it. “Thanks. I’ll have someone write up everything we have on the Meat Parade. The Golden Eagles looks forward to a mutually beneficial relationship.”
“Thank you and I hope for the same,” Cal said.
----------------------------------------
Ledge watched the Furies go through the process of packing up their shit from the doorway of their dingy motel room.
“And just like that you’re all gone,” he said.
“Not yet. We’re just moving into the actual hotel,” Dayana grunted as she stuffed a pile of clothing and assorted small blades in a duffle bag.
“Each of us gets our own room with a king-sized bed and hot tub. Jealous?” Jayde sneered.
“Yes, yes I am. You think he’s got a job for me?”
“My impression is that if he needs your skill set and you’re worthy then you’d have a shot,” Hayden said.
“You could’ve just said ‘no’.”
“I was trying to be nice,” Hayden said.
“Failed.”
He regarded Prim.
The slim girl had grown much over the last few months. She definitely grew an inch or two and her gangly limbs had filled out a bit with muscle.
“As long as it’s safe for the Swanteen,” he grinned.
“I trust them,” Prim said. “And everyone’s coming along with me to make sure.”
“Good to know.”
“I didn’t get any lying vibes from Cal,” Dayana said.
“Yeah, you got to trust people that travel monster land USA with a baby,” Jayde said.
“Technically, the little guy is a toddler,” Dayana said.
“What’s the fucking difference?” Jayde said.
“It’s in the word. Toddler, toddle, what toddlers do when they stumble around on their feet,” Dayana continued.
“He was toddlering all over the place,” Jayde mused. “That was pretty funny when he fell into the pool,” she laughed.
“So was Nila’s twenty-foot leap,” Hayden said.
“Yeah, I wonder what class she has. Ain’t no knight I know that can do a standing leap like that,” Jayde said.
“I thought knight classes don’t exist,” Prim said.
“That we know of,” Jayde nodded sagely.
“I’d bet she’s like you and Cal, Hayden,” Dayana said. “No class. Superpowers.”
Ledge whistled. “I see why you want to join up with them. Especially, after what you,” he eyed Dayana, “told me about what he did down in the bat people city,” he shook his head ruefully, “you think you’ve seen the weirdest things already…”
“Trust me, you’d think it was even crazier had you been there,” Dayana sighed. “Bat people complaining about their boss…”
“I don’t know if that’s weirder than the fact that you could understand them. I guess the universal translation thing wasn’t bullshit,” Ledge said. “Human languages being translated I can accept, but another species’ clicks and screeches…”
“That’s when you know it’s legit,” Jayde said. “Hayden, we should go visit. Dayana can be our guide. They know her. I’m super jealous that you got to be all first contact and shit.”
Dayana snorted. “I didn’t contact nothing. I held my breath and tried not to piss myself.”
Jayde leaned closer to Prim. “I heard she failed,” she whispered. She cursed as Dayana threw a sock-wrapped rock at her stomach.
“I’m surprised that Elliot isn’t putting up more of a stink,” Ledge said.
“Not that he could’ve, but I think Cal cut him a deal for something else,” Hayden said. “He mentioned something like that.”
“Probably, there’s a big all hands meeting later tonight before dinner. I’d bet we’ll hear about it then. Too bad the boss got all pissy and brought us back to this shit hole. Back to rations,” Ledge said. “What’s next for you guys?”
“We fly back to San Antonio. Grab the rest of our things. Take care of some other things and we fly to our new home base,” Hayden said.
“SoCal… beaches and bikinis,” Ledge sighed wistfully.
“Creep,” Jayde through the sock-covered rock at his face.
He barely ducked as it sailed out into the parking lot.
“You’re going to get that,” Dayana said.
“Nope,” Jayde stuck out her tongue.
“I’ll get it,” Prim hurried out despite Dayana’s calls for her to leave it.
“The former, but not much of the latter,” Hayden addressed Ledge. “Apparently, they have landsharks.”
Ledge’s face twisted. “Like those in that one casino with the aquariums?”
“Yeah, but bigger. They’ve got great white sharks, er, great white landsharks,” Jayde said.
“That sounds terrible, those other ones were bad enough. Sharks shouldn’t have legs,” he shuddered. “So, when you say ‘fly’…”
“You heard what Dayana said,” Hayden said.
“He flies, so I’m guessing he can carry others,” Dayana shrugged.
“Wonder if we can pay him to fly us all back. Save us from the terrifying drive,” Ledge said.
“Maybe that’s what Elliot’s going to talk about,” Jayde said.
Prim returned with Dayana’s sock-rock. “What’s that for?” she said.
“Surprise weapon. People see and watch out for the blades. They don’t expect the rock in the sock,” Dayana said.
Prim nodded thoughtfully.
“Well… I’ll leave you alone so you can finish packing and head on over to your Bacchanal dinner,” Ledge said with equal parts jealousy and sadness. “I’ll miss some of you. Don’t be strangers. Although it’ll probably be hard to visit when you’re depending on a flying man for transport…” he paused. “You sure he’s not the flying man?”
“Says he isn’t,” Hayden shrugged. “Don’t care either way. Stories say you only worry about him if you’re a piece of shit.”
“I’ve heard the same stories. The first time I couldn’t sleep for weeks. Reminded me of this independent short film from a long time ago. Flying guy shows up over the city and randomly picks people up and drops them. I thought it was some kind of monster,” Ledge said.
“Are you an asshole, Ledge?” Jayde eyed him.
“I’m lazy and mildly alcoholic,” Ledge shrugged.
“Then your balls are safe,” Jayde laughed.
Ledge raised a brow. “On that note. Take care.
Prim rushed up to hug him goodbye. “Thanks for keeping an eye on me.”
“My pleasure, I only wish we could’ve spent more time together. Especially, when that would’ve meant you weren’t out there risking your life. Not that I’m judging. You’re free to choose your path in life. Don’t let anyone try to force you down a road you don’t want to travel. Not even these cantankerous bitches,” he grinned.
The rest of the Furies jeered as a rock in a sock sailed perilously close to his head.
“If you can work on that laziness and drinking problem then I can put in a good word with the new boss. You’re sharp when you want to be and you’re a good man. I think he puts a priority on the latter,” Hayden said.
“Sounds like work,” he grinned, “but I’ll consider it. Bye, Swanteen,” he patted Prim on the head and left the Furies to their packing.
----------------------------------------
Cooper felt the dread in their hearts wane. It was replaced by excitement at Elliot’s words. A great opportunity to gain strength. One that he wasn’t going to be permitted to join.
Cal Cruces.
The name filled him with disquiet.
There had been no fear in the man. Nothing to gain, so Cooper hadn’t made a further effort to get close. Not that he had the opportunity in any case. He wasn’t allowed in that casino.
He shrugged and left the meeting before it was finished.
He sat in his dingy motel room and ate MRE’s while thinking about his next steps.
Perhaps it was time to end his association with the Golden Eagles. He had created many stories for them to carry with them. Fear into dread. They’d spread word of the Dread Paladin when they returned home. The same way they spoke of the Meat Parade in hushed tones and eyes darting around as if they expected them to be just around the corner or over a shoulder.
The story about that new encounter challenge was more intriguing. He had pieced it together from listening to the words of dozens over the last week. Where there was shadow, he had ears.
If the fury could be believed there was a city in the depths of the mountain. Populated by thousands of bat people. An entirely new species of thinking creature to spread knowledge of his existence to.
How much fear and dread could he generate and take?
He weighed the risks versus the rewards for the next hour.
Could he do it himself?
A dark cave meant shadows in abundance.
The bat people hadn’t faced anything like him. Or had they?
No. That was foolish to think.
They had come from another world through the spires. That meant they had likely dealt with monsters of their own.
In that case he simply had to be a worse monster.
A knock on his door broke his concentration.
He sensed a familiar dread on the other side.
Elliot shied away as soon as Cooper opened the door.
“Just wanted to let you that we won’t be needing you for the operation,” Elliot managed to stammer the words after an awkward silence.
“You mean the Quest.” Cooper had heard the excited conversations. Whispers in the shadows.
“Er… yeah… funny that… turned into an actual Quest,” Elliot laughed nervously.
“And why don’t you need me?”
“Not my call. The client specifically said that you weren’t to be included.” Elliot firmed up a little.
The client was presumably Cal Cruces.
The thought of that man having Elliot’s back in this appeared to take away some of the dread he carried.
“You’re not taking the entire expedition.” A statement, not a question. He already knew the answer. He listened to those excluded complaining in the other rooms.
“Not everyone volunteered and we need enough to defend this place,” Elliot said.
“You’ve nothing to fear from me… for now,” Cooper waved the man away and shut the door in his face.
An opportunity had presented itself to him.
Cal Cruces would be occupied with most of the expedition.
He only had to wait till morning.
On the following day he waited exactly one hour after Elliot and the others departed the motel to go speak with the one lieutenant left behind.
Being left out of such a big and potentially profitable Quest must’ve stung. The man would be angry, bitter in his jealousy.
He found Tyson in his room along with a half dozen of his personal squad.
The scowl turned into a wide-eyed stare when the man saw that it was Cooper knocking on the door.
“Um… what can I do for you?” Tyson stammered out.
Cooper took a moment to pull on the dread in the man’s soul.
“It’s what we can do for each other,” he said.
It was a simple proposal. If you were denied a Quest, then why not try to get one yourself. There was a new encounter challenge out in the mountains. Think of the rewards one could gain by being the first to go through it. They might be enough to risk getting your boss mad at you for disobeying instructions.
In the end it didn’t take much to convince Tyson.
Cooper had pegged the man as wholly motivated by self-interest. Dangling potential rewards was enough to override the dread of Cooper’s presence. He helped this along by dampening the effects of his aura.
Tyson gathered the rest of his squad and geared up while Cooper waited patiently.
Nearly 20 piled into two vans for Cooper to take to the encounter challenge.
He donned his armor and summed his steed to the dread of the them all. Even with the aura weakened the sight of the dark gray armor and the massive, monstrous black horse was more than enough.
“Stay close to me. I’ll keep the mutants and monsters away,” the Dread Paladin rasped.
“Right, yeah, right. I was going to say it’d be rough if we had to spend our strength on the way…” Tyson’s words failed as the Dread Paladin’s glowing eyes burned into his own.
“You heard him!” Tyson hurried into the lead van.
The Dread Paladin urged his steed into a gallop.
It was on the rest to keep up.
True to his word, they were free from attack all the way to the other side of the mountain. Then all the way up the hike to the entrance.
“So… uh… what’s the plan?” Tyson said.
“Don’t get in my way.”
The Dread Paladin dismissed his steed back into the shadows. The cramp confines of a cave wasn’t the place for something so large. She tossed her head derisively.
You’ll need me, she seemed to say.
Perhaps. I will call on you if that turns out to be the case, he thought.
He stalked to the dark, circular void in the side of the mountain and strode inside without hesitation.
“Shouldn’t be too bad. We just keep him between us and the worst stuff, just like always,” Tyson said.
“I don’t know about this, LT.”
“Don’t be a pussy,” Tyson scoffed at his man. “Think of what we might get from being the first to kill some bat fuckers. You could always stay out here,” he regarded the sparse mountain side, “with the mutant rattlesnakes and bunnies.”
They hurried after the Dread Paladin.