Soldier: parts 11-15
chapter 11: The pick-up
An unmarked brown paper bag sat in the train station.
Across the room quite a distance away sat two figures,
seemingly unconnected to the innocent looking bag.
Agent glanced at his watch. 3:15, and still no sign
of anyone to grab the fake bag. Whoever did this must
be cautious. Or as Max had pointed out several times
"not interested in the money". Max never had made
sense to Agent. Why would someone do this if not for
the $10,000?
As if reading his mind Max asked, to no particular
person, "Why would anyone expect Linkin to even have
$10,000? Whoever did this was after something besides
money. They must have not even bothered to try to
pick it up?"
"But if they didn't want the money, why did they leave
a ransom note?" Agent asked for the tenth time. And
again came Max's usual reply.
"To throw him off the trail of what they really
wanted."
"But what do they want?" This was the part that left
Agent unconvinced.
"I don't know!" cried Max in frustration, banging his
hand on the armrest.
"Look, maybe whoever it is knows that we left the bag
and is waiting for us to leave before coming to get
it. How about if we get up and walk away, then circle
around and come in the other door?"
"Fine," agreed Max. "I guess it's worth a shot."
-------------------
Moments after the two departed, another figure rose
from his bench and crossed the room towards the paper
bag. He picked it up and turned towards the door on
the far side of the room.
It was a typical silent train station with several
people seated scattered throughout the room, reading
various forms of literature. It remained this way for
only a few moments until the peaceful tranquility was
shattered.
As the figure reached for the doorknob, the door swung
open revealing two figures, each with a gun pointed at
his head. He turned to run, but Agent's aim was
flawless. He held his arm steady as he tracked the
man's motion, squeezing the trigger twice and putting
a bullet through each of his legs.
The man collapsed headfirst onto the floor. Max ran
to him and spun him over "what's your name?" he
screamed.
The man gasped, coughing. After several tense moments
he managed to cough out "M-Monkey"
"Who sent you?" Max shook him frantically, praying
that he would get an answer before he died.
Monkey managed to cough out a single word: "Charton."
And then he died.
An unmarked brown paper bag sat in the train station.
Across the room quite a distance away sat two figures,
seemingly unconnected to the innocent looking bag.
Agent glanced at his watch. 3:15, and still no sign
of anyone to grab the fake bag. Whoever did this must
be cautious. Or as Max had pointed out several times
"not interested in the money". Max never had made
sense to Agent. Why would someone do this if not for
the $10,000?
As if reading his mind Max asked, to no particular
person, "Why would anyone expect Linkin to even have
$10,000? Whoever did this was after something besides
money. They must have not even bothered to try to
pick it up?"
"But if they didn't want the money, why did they leave
a ransom note?" Agent asked for the tenth time. And
again came Max's usual reply.
"To throw him off the trail of what they really
wanted."
"But what do they want?" This was the part that left
Agent unconvinced.
"I don't know!" cried Max in frustration, banging his
hand on the armrest.
"Look, maybe whoever it is knows that we left the bag
and is waiting for us to leave before coming to get
it. How about if we get up and walk away, then circle
around and come in the other door?"
"Fine," agreed Max. "I guess it's worth a shot."
-------------------
Moments after the two departed, another figure rose
from his bench and crossed the room towards the paper
bag. He picked it up and turned towards the door on
the far side of the room.
It was a typical silent train station with several
people seated scattered throughout the room, reading
various forms of literature. It remained this way for
only a few moments until the peaceful tranquility was
shattered.
As the figure reached for the doorknob, the door swung
open revealing two figures, each with a gun pointed at
his head. He turned to run, but Agent's aim was
flawless. He held his arm steady as he tracked the
man's motion, squeezing the trigger twice and putting
a bullet through each of his legs.
The man collapsed headfirst onto the floor. Max ran
to him and spun him over "what's your name?" he
screamed.
The man gasped, coughing. After several tense moments
he managed to cough out "M-Monkey"
"Who sent you?" Max shook him frantically, praying
that he would get an answer before he died.
Monkey managed to cough out a single word: "Charton."
And then he died.
It didn't make sense thought Max as he sat in the car on the way to Chicago. Why would Charton do this? It
just didn't make sense. He had to know Linkin
couldn't pay $10,000. Why, why why?
He thought and thought looking for a possible motivation. Maybe it was something from Charton's organization that didn't come from him personally. Or, more ominously, what if it had to do with Max's background. But that didn't make any sense either. No one could possibly know where he was, and the connection to Linkin was even more well hidden. It made no sense for this to be directed at him. And what would it accomplish anyways? No, it had to be something else. Max picked at his fingernails, a nervous habit as he thought.
In the end, the problem turned out to be too much for him, and he drifted off to sleep, listening to the gentle noise of traffic.
Agent glanced over at his sleeping friend, and turned down the radio to let him sleep as they continued down the road to their destination.
---------------------------
Linkin paced Mario's house. It was so frustrating to be stuck with nothing to do for twelve hours. He glanced at the clock again, as he had been doing all day. By now they had gone to the money pick-up. For all he knew, Murasaki had already been killed since he had failed to pay the money. All he could do was hope.
Still, in his heart, Linkin vowed that whatever happened to Murasaki, he would kill whoever was responsible for this. If Max's doubts were correct and it wasn't Charton, he would track whoever it was down no matter how long it took. If it was Charton, it would all end tonight.
just didn't make sense. He had to know Linkin
couldn't pay $10,000. Why, why why?
He thought and thought looking for a possible motivation. Maybe it was something from Charton's organization that didn't come from him personally. Or, more ominously, what if it had to do with Max's background. But that didn't make any sense either. No one could possibly know where he was, and the connection to Linkin was even more well hidden. It made no sense for this to be directed at him. And what would it accomplish anyways? No, it had to be something else. Max picked at his fingernails, a nervous habit as he thought.
In the end, the problem turned out to be too much for him, and he drifted off to sleep, listening to the gentle noise of traffic.
Agent glanced over at his sleeping friend, and turned down the radio to let him sleep as they continued down the road to their destination.
---------------------------
Linkin paced Mario's house. It was so frustrating to be stuck with nothing to do for twelve hours. He glanced at the clock again, as he had been doing all day. By now they had gone to the money pick-up. For all he knew, Murasaki had already been killed since he had failed to pay the money. All he could do was hope.
Still, in his heart, Linkin vowed that whatever happened to Murasaki, he would kill whoever was responsible for this. If Max's doubts were correct and it wasn't Charton, he would track whoever it was down no matter how long it took. If it was Charton, it would all end tonight.
chapter 12: Leinad’s Casino
KillerBee bowed low before his master. “Sir, Monkey has failed to return. Do you wish us to kill the girl now?”
The dark figure in the back of the room considered. “No, she may remain useful, who knows? Monkey’s failure is of no consequence. The solution has miraculously fallen into our laps. Soon we shall have what we require. What news do you have of Shadow?”
“He contacted me this morning. He in en route to our location. He has the disk.”
“Good, everything is proceeding as planned. Oh, and send word to Identity not to strike until later tonight. As soon as everything is in place he is free to eliminate the nuisance in whatever way he sees fit.”
KillerBee turned and walked out of the room, blinking his eyes as the adjusted from the eternally darkened office – necessary to protect his boss, to the bright outdoors. He hurried down the street to call Identity.
---------------------
KillerBee bowed low before his master. “Sir, Monkey has failed to return. Do you wish us to kill the girl now?”
The dark figure in the back of the room considered. “No, she may remain useful, who knows? Monkey’s failure is of no consequence. The solution has miraculously fallen into our laps. Soon we shall have what we require. What news do you have of Shadow?”
“He contacted me this morning. He in en route to our location. He has the disk.”
“Good, everything is proceeding as planned. Oh, and send word to Identity not to strike until later tonight. As soon as everything is in place he is free to eliminate the nuisance in whatever way he sees fit.”
KillerBee turned and walked out of the room, blinking his eyes as the adjusted from the eternally darkened office – necessary to protect his boss, to the bright outdoors. He hurried down the street to call Identity.
---------------------
They left early. Linkin simply couldn’t stand waiting around the house any longer. He had to get out. The group arrived at 6:30 and waited around outside for a while.
When the doors finally opened, they headed in, but as they passed through the metal detectors, Linkin set it off. He was pulled aside by two of the bouncers, Eggman and Wutafreek. They searched him and took his gun. “You can have this back when ya leave.” Grunted Eggman, a large black man with an afro. His partner, Wutafreek seemed small and scrawny next to Eggman, but despite relative appearances, was a formidable bouncer, for a white guy.
It was a bright flashy casino inside, lined with rows of slot machines and table scattered throughout the room for various games. Not a high class place at all, but rather big.
Linkin headed towards the bar, the others in tow behind him. He sat down next to a young couple and introduced him self. Their names were Dark and Crazi, and they seemed to be quite pleasant people. Linkin only chatted for a couple minutes before pulling the bartender aside to inquire where he could find a manager, leaving Zinovia to socialize; Mario and Butter were walking around the place to scope out potential exits and anything else they might need to know in a hurry if things got ugly.
“You mean Leinad?” asked the bartender. “Why do you want to talk to him?”
“Let’s just say we have business,” replied Linkin, surreptitiously sliding a fifty dollar bill across the counter.
“I’m sorry sir, I can’t accept bribes,” Replied the bartender. “If you have legitimate business with Leinad you can see him, but if you attempt to bribe me again, I’ll have to call security.”
Linkin grabbed his money back up and turned away from the counter, when Dark came up to him. “You need to see Leinad?”
“Yeah,” replied Linkin, cautiously.
“He’s not around tonight, but I can tell you where the back room is. That’s where you’ll find whoever’s really running this place. Leinad’s got a whole chain of casinos across the United States, but there’s something going on with this one. Just remember that it’ll be risky, the door’s guarded, and if you fight with the guard, he’ll probably sound an alarm. Besides which, he has a gun and you don’t. Oh, and when you get caught, I don’t know you.”
“Why should you help me?” asked Linkin suspiciously.
“Cause Crazi seems to have developed a liking for Zinovia. If I want anything tonight I have to go along with her.” He cracked a smile, and Linkin laughed along with him. “Okay,” continued Dark, “I’ll show you the door.”
When the doors finally opened, they headed in, but as they passed through the metal detectors, Linkin set it off. He was pulled aside by two of the bouncers, Eggman and Wutafreek. They searched him and took his gun. “You can have this back when ya leave.” Grunted Eggman, a large black man with an afro. His partner, Wutafreek seemed small and scrawny next to Eggman, but despite relative appearances, was a formidable bouncer, for a white guy.
It was a bright flashy casino inside, lined with rows of slot machines and table scattered throughout the room for various games. Not a high class place at all, but rather big.
Linkin headed towards the bar, the others in tow behind him. He sat down next to a young couple and introduced him self. Their names were Dark and Crazi, and they seemed to be quite pleasant people. Linkin only chatted for a couple minutes before pulling the bartender aside to inquire where he could find a manager, leaving Zinovia to socialize; Mario and Butter were walking around the place to scope out potential exits and anything else they might need to know in a hurry if things got ugly.
“You mean Leinad?” asked the bartender. “Why do you want to talk to him?”
“Let’s just say we have business,” replied Linkin, surreptitiously sliding a fifty dollar bill across the counter.
“I’m sorry sir, I can’t accept bribes,” Replied the bartender. “If you have legitimate business with Leinad you can see him, but if you attempt to bribe me again, I’ll have to call security.”
Linkin grabbed his money back up and turned away from the counter, when Dark came up to him. “You need to see Leinad?”
“Yeah,” replied Linkin, cautiously.
“He’s not around tonight, but I can tell you where the back room is. That’s where you’ll find whoever’s really running this place. Leinad’s got a whole chain of casinos across the United States, but there’s something going on with this one. Just remember that it’ll be risky, the door’s guarded, and if you fight with the guard, he’ll probably sound an alarm. Besides which, he has a gun and you don’t. Oh, and when you get caught, I don’t know you.”
“Why should you help me?” asked Linkin suspiciously.
“Cause Crazi seems to have developed a liking for Zinovia. If I want anything tonight I have to go along with her.” He cracked a smile, and Linkin laughed along with him. “Okay,” continued Dark, “I’ll show you the door.”
Chapter 13: To Charton
The door Dark indicated was guarded by a large man. His casino badge identified him as Man of Five. Linkin pulled his group aside to strategize, “if we attack him he will call for back-up. We might be able to take one man with a gun, but there’s no way we could overpower even 3, and there probably would be more than that. We’ll need a distraction to keep other guards from coming.”
“I’ve got an idea,” said Butter. “I saw a news story yesterday about how women fighting in clubs are becoming a bigger and bigger problem. Maybe me and Zinovia could get in a fight – not really hurt each other,” she added in at Zinovia’s shocked look. “If we make it big enough, it should create enough chaos to get you a couple minutes.”
After glancing at Zinovia for approval, Linkin nodded. “All right, we’ll do it.”
-----------------------
Linkin and Mario loitered around for several minutes, waiting for the commotion to ensue. Finally, just when they were starting to wonder in Butter and Zinovia were going to go through with it they heard a slow rise of yelling just out of sight behind a row of slot machines. Another security guard ran by, but Man of Five remained at his post.
With only a quick glance at each other, Linkin and Mario charged the guard. Man of Five fought with the ferocity of five men, knocking down Mario with one blow of his powerful fist. Linkin tackled him in the stomach, his muscles straining to bring down the large man. Man of Five grunted as he brought down his hand on Linkin’s back. Pain coursed through Linkin’s body, but he held on, struggling to knock down the brute.
Mario rejoined the fight in the nick of time, landing a solid right Man of Five’s face, causing him to stumble backwards, and giving Linkin the leverage he needed to knock him over. Without waiting to see how long he would stay down, Linkin and Mario threw open the door and dashed inside.
It was a sparse room with only a desk in the center of it. Seated at the desk was a rather large and muscular man. He smiled as they came hurtling through the door. “Hello, my name is Charton. I’ve been expecting you.”
Linkin sprung across the room at the man he had been after for so long. He was cut short by Charton’s next words. “You won’t gain anything by killing me. I still have your girl. You need me to find her.”
“Where is she?”
“Now, now, why should I tell you that?” Charton was still completely calm.
“Because I’ll kill you if you don’t.” Linkin’s reply was short and to the point.
“You kill me, the girl dies as well. If I don’t call within the next hour, they will assume I’m dead and kill her. And even if you could fake the call. You won’t get any closer to finding her without me.”
The door Dark indicated was guarded by a large man. His casino badge identified him as Man of Five. Linkin pulled his group aside to strategize, “if we attack him he will call for back-up. We might be able to take one man with a gun, but there’s no way we could overpower even 3, and there probably would be more than that. We’ll need a distraction to keep other guards from coming.”
“I’ve got an idea,” said Butter. “I saw a news story yesterday about how women fighting in clubs are becoming a bigger and bigger problem. Maybe me and Zinovia could get in a fight – not really hurt each other,” she added in at Zinovia’s shocked look. “If we make it big enough, it should create enough chaos to get you a couple minutes.”
After glancing at Zinovia for approval, Linkin nodded. “All right, we’ll do it.”
-----------------------
Linkin and Mario loitered around for several minutes, waiting for the commotion to ensue. Finally, just when they were starting to wonder in Butter and Zinovia were going to go through with it they heard a slow rise of yelling just out of sight behind a row of slot machines. Another security guard ran by, but Man of Five remained at his post.
With only a quick glance at each other, Linkin and Mario charged the guard. Man of Five fought with the ferocity of five men, knocking down Mario with one blow of his powerful fist. Linkin tackled him in the stomach, his muscles straining to bring down the large man. Man of Five grunted as he brought down his hand on Linkin’s back. Pain coursed through Linkin’s body, but he held on, struggling to knock down the brute.
Mario rejoined the fight in the nick of time, landing a solid right Man of Five’s face, causing him to stumble backwards, and giving Linkin the leverage he needed to knock him over. Without waiting to see how long he would stay down, Linkin and Mario threw open the door and dashed inside.
It was a sparse room with only a desk in the center of it. Seated at the desk was a rather large and muscular man. He smiled as they came hurtling through the door. “Hello, my name is Charton. I’ve been expecting you.”
Linkin sprung across the room at the man he had been after for so long. He was cut short by Charton’s next words. “You won’t gain anything by killing me. I still have your girl. You need me to find her.”
“Where is she?”
“Now, now, why should I tell you that?” Charton was still completely calm.
“Because I’ll kill you if you don’t.” Linkin’s reply was short and to the point.
“You kill me, the girl dies as well. If I don’t call within the next hour, they will assume I’m dead and kill her. And even if you could fake the call. You won’t get any closer to finding her without me.”
Chapter 14: And then what?
Linkin tensed his muscles as though about to make a run at Charton, but Mario put a hand on his arm. “Relax; we’ll have to negotiate with him.” He looked at Charton. “What do you want?”
“I am looking for a person. You are one of the few people who knows where he is now. A notorious hacker who mysteriously vanished from under the noses of the feds a couple years back. He is now perfectly hidden and free to do whatever he wishes in the cyber world. He is known to most only as m6514309, but I would assume you know his real name. I would like it and his current location. Once I have that information and have confirmed that it’s accurate, both of you, and your girlfriend are free to go.”
Linkin reached for his gun, and then remembered that it had been taken at the door. Again it was Mario that added the voice of reason to the situation. “We don’t know exactly where he is right now, but we could find out for you. You’ll just need to give us more time. Make the call to stop them and we’ll go find him for you. Once you have him, we get her back.”
“You’re lying!” Exclaimed Charton, showing frustration for the first time in the conversation. It was all the show of weakness Linkin needed to turn the conversation to their advantage.
“Well, if you don’t believe us, we’ll just leave and find her ourselves.” Linkin turned towards the door, Mario following him.
“You’re bluffing,” replied Charton smugly. “You need me to find her, and you know it.”
“How much is he worth to you?” called Linkin over his shoulder. He reached for the doorknob.
Charton held back until the door knob turned before his desperation got the better of him. “Okay, I’ll make the call and give you 6 hours.”
Linkin stopped, but did not turn back to face him. “Fine, make it now. I want to make sure you won’t go back on our deal.”
Charton picked up the phone, dialed, and relayed the order to keep Murasaki alive, “but only for six more hours.”
As the phone clicked down, Linkin had had enough, he charged across the room at Charton. Charton went for the gun in his desk drawer, but was too slow. Linkin had him in a headlock and Mario wrestled the gun from his hand and held it to his head. “I’m not going to ask more than once, where is she.”
Charton smiled, “I won’t talk. I die, she dies. I’m the only contact you have to give the hacker to. He’s the only way you can save her.”
Mario punched him in the gut. “We can do an awful lot before we kill you.”
Linkin was only using one arm in the headlock, and with the other, produced a knife from Charton’s desk, handing it to Mario, who quickly cut off Charton’s right pinkie. Charton responded admirably under torture, not even screaming. “You have nine more fingers,” said Mario, grimly, then we start the toes. I would suggest you start talking sooner, rather than later.”
Charton’s next finger came off much slower, and a gasp escaped his lips. After a moment of silence, Charton sighed. “Fine, she’s –“ A single gunshot rang through the air.
Linkin tensed his muscles as though about to make a run at Charton, but Mario put a hand on his arm. “Relax; we’ll have to negotiate with him.” He looked at Charton. “What do you want?”
“I am looking for a person. You are one of the few people who knows where he is now. A notorious hacker who mysteriously vanished from under the noses of the feds a couple years back. He is now perfectly hidden and free to do whatever he wishes in the cyber world. He is known to most only as m6514309, but I would assume you know his real name. I would like it and his current location. Once I have that information and have confirmed that it’s accurate, both of you, and your girlfriend are free to go.”
Linkin reached for his gun, and then remembered that it had been taken at the door. Again it was Mario that added the voice of reason to the situation. “We don’t know exactly where he is right now, but we could find out for you. You’ll just need to give us more time. Make the call to stop them and we’ll go find him for you. Once you have him, we get her back.”
“You’re lying!” Exclaimed Charton, showing frustration for the first time in the conversation. It was all the show of weakness Linkin needed to turn the conversation to their advantage.
“Well, if you don’t believe us, we’ll just leave and find her ourselves.” Linkin turned towards the door, Mario following him.
“You’re bluffing,” replied Charton smugly. “You need me to find her, and you know it.”
“How much is he worth to you?” called Linkin over his shoulder. He reached for the doorknob.
Charton held back until the door knob turned before his desperation got the better of him. “Okay, I’ll make the call and give you 6 hours.”
Linkin stopped, but did not turn back to face him. “Fine, make it now. I want to make sure you won’t go back on our deal.”
Charton picked up the phone, dialed, and relayed the order to keep Murasaki alive, “but only for six more hours.”
As the phone clicked down, Linkin had had enough, he charged across the room at Charton. Charton went for the gun in his desk drawer, but was too slow. Linkin had him in a headlock and Mario wrestled the gun from his hand and held it to his head. “I’m not going to ask more than once, where is she.”
Charton smiled, “I won’t talk. I die, she dies. I’m the only contact you have to give the hacker to. He’s the only way you can save her.”
Mario punched him in the gut. “We can do an awful lot before we kill you.”
Linkin was only using one arm in the headlock, and with the other, produced a knife from Charton’s desk, handing it to Mario, who quickly cut off Charton’s right pinkie. Charton responded admirably under torture, not even screaming. “You have nine more fingers,” said Mario, grimly, then we start the toes. I would suggest you start talking sooner, rather than later.”
Charton’s next finger came off much slower, and a gasp escaped his lips. After a moment of silence, Charton sighed. “Fine, she’s –“ A single gunshot rang through the air.
Silver Knux lowered his gun and turned towards Whiteout. “The fool is dead. At least he didn’t talk.”
Whiteout shook his head. “It wouldn’t have mattered. His mission objective was completed long ago. He knew nothing of importance anyways. What we need is about to fall into our hands. Let’s just clean up here and leave.” He raised his gun towards Linkin and Mario, both of whom were still staring at Charton’s lifeless body, with fresh blood oozing from the perfectly round bullet hole through his forehead.
Lordofthefarm entered the room and grabbed Whiteout’s arm. “No, these two are to live. They still have importance. Identity will finish the job when we are done.”
Whiteout opened his mouth to protest, but Lordofthefarm’s glare stopped him. The three turned and left the room as quickly and quietly as they had entered, before Linkin and Mario even had a chance to react to their presence.
Whiteout shook his head. “It wouldn’t have mattered. His mission objective was completed long ago. He knew nothing of importance anyways. What we need is about to fall into our hands. Let’s just clean up here and leave.” He raised his gun towards Linkin and Mario, both of whom were still staring at Charton’s lifeless body, with fresh blood oozing from the perfectly round bullet hole through his forehead.
Lordofthefarm entered the room and grabbed Whiteout’s arm. “No, these two are to live. They still have importance. Identity will finish the job when we are done.”
Whiteout opened his mouth to protest, but Lordofthefarm’s glare stopped him. The three turned and left the room as quickly and quietly as they had entered, before Linkin and Mario even had a chance to react to their presence.
Chapter 15: Searches
Max and Agent arrived at Mario’s house around 8:00. It was dark and quiet inside. They must be off after Charton, Max decided.
Agent, an excellent lockpick, opened the door, and they sat down to wait for the other’s return.
It was less than fifteen minutes before Linkin, Zinovia, Mario and Butter walked in the door, looking dejected. “What happened?” asked Max.
Linkin quickly filled him in on the whole story. “So, now we have 6 hours to find her, and no idea where to start looking.”
“I’ll handle that,” said Max, “now that we know Charton was involved, we can assume she is being held in Chicago. That’ll narrow our options; I should be able to get you a list of places to search fairly quickly.”
“Why did he want you?” asked Linkin.
“I don’t know,” replied Max dismissively, “it could be any number of reasons, loads of people are after me. It’s probably revenge for one thing or another. I made quite a few enemies back in the day.” He turned towards Mario. “The first thing we need to do is get me to a computer so I can run my search. Do you have a good one?”
“Are you kidding?” asked Mario. “Come one, this is me you’re talking to. I bet that me and Butter got a better system rigged up than even you.”
“We’ll see,” said Max, laughingly. “Where is it?”
Mario showed Max to the computer room, where he instantly began searching for their next objective.
In the living room, Zinovia and Butter chatted casually while Linkin and Agent each cracked open a can of beer
While Max searched and the others reminisced, Mario left to fulfill his debt to Lord of Light.
----------------------
Ganondorf straightened up from the body. “He was killed late last night. It’s defiantly Shadow’s work. But where is he now?” He was thinking aloud, not expecting answer, but Cloud answered him.
“Sir, when we got the box it was en route to Chicago, perhaps Shadow is taking it to its original destination.”
Znights agreed. “It is our only lead.”
Jadept expressed. “Chicago’s an awfully long way to go on a maybe.”
Ganondorf paused for a moment, considering. “If we want to find Tlozoot, it’s our only lead.”
“But, with all due respect sir, if they did this to Funky, they might have done it to Tlozoot as well. We have things to do here, we can’t afford to go all the way to Chicago for him. It’s like in that movie, what’s it called, you know ‘he who falls behind is left behind.’”
“It’s Pirates of the Caribbean.” Cloud, always the most culturally literate of the group, answered. “But we can’t just abandon Tlozoot.”
Cloud and Jadept glared at each other. Znights looked at Ganondorf, still weighing the options in his head. After several tense moments, Ganondorf spoke, “You both have valid points. We’ll split up. Me and Cloud will go to Chicago and look for Tlozoot. Jadept, you and Znights can continue our operations here.”
They all nodded their agreement to his plan.
Max and Agent arrived at Mario’s house around 8:00. It was dark and quiet inside. They must be off after Charton, Max decided.
Agent, an excellent lockpick, opened the door, and they sat down to wait for the other’s return.
It was less than fifteen minutes before Linkin, Zinovia, Mario and Butter walked in the door, looking dejected. “What happened?” asked Max.
Linkin quickly filled him in on the whole story. “So, now we have 6 hours to find her, and no idea where to start looking.”
“I’ll handle that,” said Max, “now that we know Charton was involved, we can assume she is being held in Chicago. That’ll narrow our options; I should be able to get you a list of places to search fairly quickly.”
“Why did he want you?” asked Linkin.
“I don’t know,” replied Max dismissively, “it could be any number of reasons, loads of people are after me. It’s probably revenge for one thing or another. I made quite a few enemies back in the day.” He turned towards Mario. “The first thing we need to do is get me to a computer so I can run my search. Do you have a good one?”
“Are you kidding?” asked Mario. “Come one, this is me you’re talking to. I bet that me and Butter got a better system rigged up than even you.”
“We’ll see,” said Max, laughingly. “Where is it?”
Mario showed Max to the computer room, where he instantly began searching for their next objective.
In the living room, Zinovia and Butter chatted casually while Linkin and Agent each cracked open a can of beer
While Max searched and the others reminisced, Mario left to fulfill his debt to Lord of Light.
----------------------
Ganondorf straightened up from the body. “He was killed late last night. It’s defiantly Shadow’s work. But where is he now?” He was thinking aloud, not expecting answer, but Cloud answered him.
“Sir, when we got the box it was en route to Chicago, perhaps Shadow is taking it to its original destination.”
Znights agreed. “It is our only lead.”
Jadept expressed. “Chicago’s an awfully long way to go on a maybe.”
Ganondorf paused for a moment, considering. “If we want to find Tlozoot, it’s our only lead.”
“But, with all due respect sir, if they did this to Funky, they might have done it to Tlozoot as well. We have things to do here, we can’t afford to go all the way to Chicago for him. It’s like in that movie, what’s it called, you know ‘he who falls behind is left behind.’”
“It’s Pirates of the Caribbean.” Cloud, always the most culturally literate of the group, answered. “But we can’t just abandon Tlozoot.”
Cloud and Jadept glared at each other. Znights looked at Ganondorf, still weighing the options in his head. After several tense moments, Ganondorf spoke, “You both have valid points. We’ll split up. Me and Cloud will go to Chicago and look for Tlozoot. Jadept, you and Znights can continue our operations here.”
They all nodded their agreement to his plan.
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