Realistic or Modern Carnival of War - A New Wardens Side Story

[Infab]

A NEW WARDENS SIDE STORY



Prologue

APRIL 1ST, 2024
7:13 AM
HAVANA, CUBA​

What you see when you die... it varies between people. Some see just... blackness. A void in which no light exists. Others see flashbacks of their life. Memories, flashing before their eyes like still shots. Polaroid pictures, of the most important moments of your life. Yet even more see tunnels... that oh so brilliant light at the end.

"...Firebird!?...FIREBIRD!!..."​

Jackie's death was... more of the void kind. Naked, in an empty black abyss. Its how it always was. As she floated silently and still, knees pulled to her chest in a sea of darkness, she rested her chin on her knees as she hugged them. This was it, it seemed. She had finally reached the end of her rope, and she'd soon be joining her parents and brother in oblivion. She exhaled a soft sigh. She hoped that Valéry did what she told him to do. Just run. Get away from there.

If someone had to die there... let it be her.

"...Merdemerdemerdemerde... FUCK YOU!..."
​

Honestly... This was peaceful. Alone, floating in this... emptiness... quiet and serene. She faintly smiled. This was... really the most peaceful place she had ever experienced.

"GET THE FUCK OFF ME!... Merde... Please work, please please please..."​

Suddenly, Jackie felt a sharp pain shoot through her chest. Her heart pulsed with searing pain, forcing her to violently flail in the black abyss. She screamed out in pain, her voice echoing into eternity.

Then... she woke up.

​

Jackie's eyes darted about, rolling around rapidly in their sockets as she tried to take in what's going on. As she glanced down, she soon noticed a large needle jutting from her chest. An adrenaline shot. Her vest had been ripped off, and her blouse shirt had been torn open to expose her chest. Now, all that was left from the shot was poking straight up into the air. She gritted her teeth, as she reached up and took hold of the needle. A quick tug pulled it from the flesh of her chest. Before she could toss it aside, however, a clattering objects being knocked over and glass shattering forced her to look over to her left.

A moment later, a man tumbled on top of her. Black uniform. Ski mask. He was struggling with another androgynous man who fell on top of him, who was clad in a tattered blouse shirt, black vest, a silky blue tie, and matching slacks. He was trying to wrestle the shotgun out of ski mask's hands. Jackie recognized the weapon immediately. It was hard not to. A SPAS-12. Italian semi-automatic shotgun.

Jackie made her move, just as the man saw she was awake. He went to move the shotgun's barrel towards her head, in an attempt to blow Jackie's head off, but she jerked her head to the side just as he pulled the trigger. The blast deafened her briefly, the muzzle flash singeing her ear, but managed to react before he could correct. She drove her forearm across his throat in a downward chop, smashing through his windpipe and turning his spine just below his skull into a fine powder.

Blood oozed from the massive wound to his throat, and he went limp almost immediately. That didn't stop the androgynous man from finishing him off. As soon as ski mask released the shotgun, he snatched it away, spun it about, and pressed the muzzle against ski mask's nose before pulling the trigger. Everything above his jaw was erased in a flash of red, splattered across the floor and wall next to Jackie. Jackie simple rolled him off as she sat up slowly.

Her hand went to her chest, taking deep and rapid breaths. Adrenaline was pulsing through her system, activating parts of her she'd have rather left dormant. She was hyper alert, and felt no pain at all. Though she could see that she probably should be in immense pain. As she looked down at her body, she could see various bleeding cuts. A gunshot wound in her side was most prominent, along with another one in her thigh. Both had been bandaged up, padded with gauze and taped down using duct tape.

They wouldn't need patching up for very long. She could already see the wounds rapidly closing. Healing at an accelerated speed.

"Firebird!! Are you okay!?" soon called out the man with the shotgun, trying to get Jackie's attention. "Do you remember who I am? Where you are?"

Jackie knew exactly who he was. Valéry Laflèche, also known by his callsign 'Ankou'. French. Arms dealer, working for Leviathan Special Services. Jackie was tasked with protecting him. Currently, they were in Havana, Cuba, to visit a private gathering in order to finish an arms deal with Irish militants. Which, of course, turned out to be a trap.

Valéry stepped over and offered his hand, which Jackie took without hesitation. She pulled herself up, putting a bit of weight onto the leg she had been shot in as she stood. It didn't give out on her, so she soon judged it was fine. Then, her hand went to her thigh... only to find her pistol wasn't in its holster. She must have lost it somewhere.

"Gun." she muttered, her attention snapping up to the man and the shotgun in his hands.

Valéry gave her a confused look. "Wh...What?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

Jackie then reached over and snatched the shotgun from him. "I said gun." she muttered under her breath in response, as she racked the weapon's pump.

"...O-Oh." said Valéry, watching Jackie for a moment before speaking again. "...A 'thank you' would be nice. I just saved your life."

"I told you to run." was Jackie's response, as she knelt down and pulled the vest off the dead man at their feet. She slipped it on, tightening the straps against her body before snatching the belt of shotgun shells off his waist.

Valéry folded his arms, watching Jackie slip the vest on and secure it. "They have most of the building covered. I wouldn't have made it far." he soon stated, motioning a hand towards the open doorway nearby. "They'll probably be here in a minute or so."

"No, they won't." responded Jackie bluntly, before slipping a shell into the tube from the belt. "Wait here. You'll hear me on the dead guy's radio when its clear. When you hear me, make your way to the fire exit at the back of the kitchen. I'll have the car ready at the end of the alley."

"What, you're going to fight them all by yourself?" asked Valéry, a bit stunned by Jackie's plan. "That's how you went down just a moment ago!"

"Valéry, I've died twelve times already. That was number thirteen. I'll be fine. Now, shut up and sit tight." spat Jackie, before brushing past him. Valéry watched her walk away, a look of confusion now painted across his face. Died twelve times already? What?

​

It wasn't long after that Valéry started hearing gunfire from outside the door, and pure chaos erupting on the radio fitting to the dead guy's belt at his feet.

-={["SHE'S HERE! SEVENTH FLOOR WEST SI--"]}=-
-={["THIS IS BRAVO THREE, WE NEED BACKUP! SHE JUST TOOK OUT BRAVO ONE AND TWO!"]}=-

-={["This is Charlie Team, we're en-route to your position!"]}=-

-={["NO! NO WAI--"]}=-
-={["WE NEED REINFORCEMENTS NOW, DAMN IT! SHE JUST RIPPED BRAVO THREE'S HEAD OFF!"]}=-

-={["SUPPRESSIV--"]}=-
-=[{"THAT'S A GODDAMN AXE!"]}=-

-={["This is Alpha One. I want all units to converge on Charlie team's position. TAKE THIS BITCH OUT."]}=-

-={["HOW IS SHE SO FUCKING FAST!?"]}=-

-={["She's a super soldier, dipshit. Didn't you pay attention to the briefing!?]}=-
​

Valéry shifted a little, moving over to the radio. He soon knelt down to pick it up, simply listening in as the radio transmissions grew more frantic and full of fear. Jackie apparently was terrorizing these grown men and women. Soon, however, Valéry felt the need to try and make his way down. If she was carving such a bloody path through them, he could use the chaos as a distraction. Slip into the elevator, or down the main staircase, and make his way to the emergency exit at the back of the hotel's kitchen.

He'd need a gun, though. There were probably plenty lying around, now, that he could grab. The dead didn't need them.


The character that these choices affect will change at times, allowing for fresh points of view during the narrative. Currently, you can choose what Valéry does. Select from the options below!

1. Stay in the room.

Jackie did say to wait. The woman seems to know what she's doing, and its probably not a good idea to make an apparent super soldier angry.

2. Leave the room.

Now would be the best time to make a break for it. One could probably make it down without much fuss while Jackie's on the rampage.

3. Continue to listen in on the radio transmissions.

These soldiers belong to someone. Why were they here? Maybe they'll let something slip in the chaos? Or... maybe its time for a little role play?

 

[Breadman]

3

 

[EdwardDewey98]

3

 

[demytra]

1

 

[Infab]

3. Continue to listen in on the radio transmissions.

These soldiers belong to someone. Why were they here? Maybe they'll let something slip in the chaos? Or... maybe its time for a little role play?



Valéry continued to listen in as the rampage continued, broadcast loudly over the mercs' comms. Through the frantic shouting and terror filled screams of the mercs being assaulted and put down by Jackie, he could make out snippets of information through back and forth chatter between Alpha One and the leaders of each of the other teams. It seemed that they were here pretty much just to take both him as well as Jackie by force. Mainly Jackie.

That didn't seem to be going too well, really.

-={["THIS IS ALPHA ONE, PULL THE FUCK BACK! I REPEAT, PULL BACK! WAIT FOR HEAVY SUPPORT, GODDAMNIT!"]}=-

-={["This is Mother. I'm authorizing helicopter support. A Little Bird should be closing in on your position."]}=-​

...Mother? Who the fuck?

The voice was posh. British in origin. Valéry couldn't quite place the origin of the accent, as it reminded him of that simplistic, proper sounding accent that presenters for the BBC would put on. Nothing like someone from, say, Birmingham, or South London, or even towards Wales or up towards Scotland. Maybe they were doing it on purpose? Muddy the waters so they'd be harder to identify over comms?

Valéry could pin down an accent fairly easily. He was, after all, a communications officer for a time back home. This one was tricky.

Soon, over the sounds of the fighting downstairs, Valéry could hear something new: sirens. The police were incoming, likely drawn by all the shooting and yelling over the course of the past ten to twenty minutes. They needed to get out of here, and quickly.

Valéry searched the dead merc's hip, eventually finding a pistol tucked into a holster on his left thigh. An H&K USP, with a silver slide and a compensator. Valéry cocked an eyebrow. Asshole thought he was Gordon Freeman or something. A little more digging through his gear allowed for Valéry to procure two spare magazines for the pistol. Nine millimeter ammunition. He checked to see if a round was chambered, before moving towards the doorway with gun and radio in hand.

Swinging to the right outside the door, Valéry got a good view of the hallway leading towards the central staircase. Light orange wallpaper, floral carpeting. Tropical in feel, but certainly not in smell at the moment. There was a body at the end, another merc clad in black. That must be either Bravo One or Two.

Valéry eased down the hallway, pistol pointed at the body until he arrived at it. Apparently some of the buckshot from Jackie's shotgun had caught him in the throat, the steel pellets ripping open a gaping wound. If she had aimed a little more to the left, it would have taken his head off. He seemed to be missing his primary weapon, and judging from his vest pouches, it was an assault rifle of some sort. A spent STANAG magazine next to his body narrowed down the type to something Western in origin.

Valéry moved over to the railing, peering down into the lower levels of the building, and soon spotted another body at the bottom in a pool of blood. That must be the other of Bravo One and Two. As he gazed down, he soon saw flashes of gunfire a few floors down. Jackie was still fighting with the other mercs, and soon enough would pop into view. Valéry watched as Jackie dove over the railing of the fifth floor, dropping straight down and landing with a thud on the ground floor. The tile beneath her cracked and shattered, her impact creating a small crater next to the body of the Bravo team member.

-={["She's on the ground floor!"]}=-
-={["LIGHT HER THE FUCK UP!"}]=-
​

A handful of mercs soon peered over the railing of the fourth and third floors, taking aim with their weapons and opening fire on Jackie. Impulsively, Valéry took aim with his pistol and fired off several shots at those on the fourth floor below. Two shots connected with one of the mercs, the bullets ripping through his shoulder and the back of his thin helmet. He'd tip over the railing and fall to the ground below, but his death would alert his friends.

-={["Shit! Charlie Leader is down!"]}=-
-={["That other fucker is still alive! Up top!"]}=-
​

"GOD DAMN IT, VAL!" shouted Jackie from the ground floor, before swinging her rifle up to open fire on the mercs. The bursts of assault rifle fire and pistol fire from the pair would deal with the exposed mercs, the bullets tearing into them and spattering blood across the staircase railing.

"SHUT UP AND JUST KILL THE REST OF THEM!" shouted Valéry in response, leaning over the railing to put some oomph behind his voice.

"I'M FUCKING TRYING." was the loud response, before Valéry watched Jackie sling the rifle in her hands away and draw something from her hip. She had found her pistol, an MK23. Another video game gun. Valéry shook his head. What is it with people wanting guns from movies and games?

Jackie's pistol sounded off below, the .45 caliber shots ripping through whatever she had chosen to fire on. Meanwhile, Valéry made his move. Down the stairs he went, pistol leveled before him in the event he needed to fire on something... and he did, once he reached the third floor.

One of the mercs had managed to survive their crossfire shots, dragging himself away. As soon as he rolled over, preparing to raise his rifle, Valéry put two rounds through his chest and one through his head. Then, he grabbed his rifle. One of the many variants of the M4A1, of course. A western staple. This one seemed to be the shorter Mk18 variant. Valéry grabbed a few magazines from the pouches on his vest, tucking them into his pockets and his belt, before continuing down the staircase to find Jackie.

More gunfire, more terrified yelling. Just as Valéry reached the ground floor, he bore witness to Jackie breaking a merc's knee with a swift and brutal kick near the corner of the front desk. She then grabbed him by his vest, shoved the muzzle of her pistol against his eye, and fired off two shots. He went down in gory fashion.

"...Merde, Jackie." breathed Valéry, looking over his bodyguard as he approached. Jackie was covered head-to-toe in blood. Some of it hers, most of it not.

Jackie simply cut Valéry a look, before reloading her pistol and racking the slide. "I fucking told you to stay put." she soon spat, looking around. Searching. Her eyes darted to and fro, her head shifting in the direction of the slightest sounds.

"Do I ever listen?"

"Fuck no."

"Correct. Anyway, they have a helicopter inbound, and the police are coming."

Jackie cut Valéry another look. "We're not fighting the cops. As for the chopper, we'll deal with that when we have to." she soon muttered, before motioning her pistol in the direction of the kitchen. "Out the back, quickly."

Valéry did as instructed, moving towards the kitchen area with Jackie following close behind. They bobbed and weaved through the silver tables and cooking equipment in the back of the hotel, passing through the kitchen with minimal hindrance before bursting through the rear fire exit into the back alleyway. Once outside, they bolted for the side parking lot where their car sat silent. The sirens were extremely close now, the police likely arriving just as they depart.

Valéry glanced over to Jackie as they emerged from the alley into the parking lot, moving between cars on the way towards their own. "Who's driving? You or me?" he'd soon ask, as they arrived at the white Geely Emgrand.


"You, obviously. I'm the better shot." responded Jackie, moving to the trunk of the car and popping it open. She soon began to shed her clothes, tossing the bloodied clothing aside and slipping into fresh clothing from a bag in the trunk. A t-shirt and cargo pants, from what Valéry could tell. Once she had on fresh clothes, she grabbed a rifle from the trunk. An AKM, a rifle commonly seen in most Soviet nations.

Valéry climbed into the driver's seat, firing up the engine as Jackie prepared herself. As she made her way around to the passenger side of the vehicle, however, the police soon arrived at the front of the hotel. A van arrived with the police cruisers, out of which stepped a handful of slim black humanoid robots wearing berets.

"Fuck, they're here. Looks like they have some of those Gadyukas with them, too." muttered Jackie, as she quickly slipped into the passenger seat.

"Gadyukas? Those export knockoffs of that old German robot?"

"Yeah. Try to avoid them. We don't need the Soviets getting involved in this shit."



Valéry's POV


1. Find an alternate route away from the Hotel.

There's an alleyway just across from the parking lot that leads to the next street over. It'd probably be a good idea to cut down that street and try to circle around them.

2. Go through them.

Fuck the police.

 

[EdwardDewey98]

1

 

[Breadman]

2

 

[demytra]

1

 

[Infab]

1. Find an alternate route away from the Hotel.

There's an alleyway just across from the parking lot that leads to the next street over. It'd probably be a good idea to cut down that street and try to circle around them.



"I'll cut through that alleyway, over there." responded Valéry, as he pointed to the narrow strip across the street from the entrance to the parking lot. "We get on the next street, then find a way out of Havana. Grab the radio and tell Tristan to prep the plane."

Jackie was already way ahead of him, digging through the glove box till she found the big, brick like radio. "Gargoyle, you there? Its Firebird. Over." she said, eyeballing the robots that were spreading out at the entrance to the hotel.

"This is Gargoyle. How are we doing, Firebird?" was the response. The German accent on the other end was as clear as day.

"Fucked six ways to Sunday. The meeting was a setup. Mercs in black swarmed us, and shot me up good. Ankou gave me the juice, and now I'm back."

"Scheiße. Get back here, asap. I'll fill Dullahan in, and get things in motion. Gorgon's not gonna like this."

"I'll buy her a nice big bottle of tequila next time we stop somewhere a little friendlier."

"...She might go for that, honestly. I certainly would. You know none of us have had a good drink in a week."

"Had some damn good cigars, though. See you in twenty. Out."

Jackie then tossed the radio into the backseat, cocking the AKM and pressing a foot against the dashboard as she sat back in the seat. Her expression soon shifted from intense focus to curiosity, as she started to look across the dash of the vehicle. "...This thing have a radio?" she soon asked, glancing to Valéry before reaching over and pressing buttons on the dash.

Meanwhile, Valéry peeling out of the parking lot, darting across the street and into the alleyway. The Gadyukas managed to spot them just as they disappeared into the alley, and shouted in Cuban Spanish to their human comrades. A few aluminum trash bins were knocked over and crushed by the car as it plowed through the alley, along with some boxes and beer bottles. It wouldn't be long before the car would explode out the end of the alley into traffic, Valéry spinning the wheel to the right to force the car to turn. Tires squealed, rubber was burnt off, and the car darted down the street.

"Hope you like reggae, jazz, salsa, and mambo. There's a lot of that here." responded Valéry, after Jackie finally managed to turn the radio on. "It's honestly grown on me. I like the local flavors."

"Yeah, of men."

"Excuse me? I'll have you know that I have quite refined tastes in men."

"I honestly don't care, Val." responded Jackie, twisting the dial on the radio in different directions as she cut him a look. "My only suggestion is to choose men that know how to lock the door. Well, that and text me when you decide you want to invite 'friends' over."

An intense blush washed over Valéry's face. "...Well, I did tell him to lock the door. Both of them. Besides, how the hell was I supposed to know that you'd be coming back to the hotel so soon?! You told me you were going out for the night!"

Jackie rolled her eyes. "First restaurant gave me food poisoning. That tends to cut the night short, eh?"

After a few moments of trying to find something suitable to listen to, Jackie eventually sighed in frustration before digging into the console between the seats. A moment later, she drew out a small container. Wireless earbuds, the headphones to her phone. "Dotify it is." she muttered, flicking her thumb across the screen as she slipped the earbuds into her ears.

Valéry cut her a look, shaking his head gently before looking back ahead of them. Just in time to see a van stop in the road, the door sliding open and revealing another merc in black with a scoped rifle. He took aim and fired, the bullet ripping through the windshield and zipping by Valéry's head as he snapped it to the side. It hit the headrest of the seat, ripping through and hitting the backseat immediately afterwards. He shouted a string of French obscenities, as he shoved the gas pedal into the floor.

It wasn't long after that Jackie braced herself and opened fire, shooting out through her side of the windshield at their attackers. A pair of bursts struck the side of the van as the door slid shut, but the van wouldn't get the chance to move out of the way in time. The car struck the side of the van at full speed, just in front of the passenger front tire. The impact rocked both Valéry and Jackie, and spun the front of the van around to face the same direction the car was going.

Funny enough, the airbags didn't deploy... which helped Jackie as soon as the merc in the passenger seat of the van shook off the stunning impact. He drew his pistol and went to aim it at Valéry, but soon caught a burst of AK rounds to the face. Jackie had leaned forwards, pointing the rifle past Valéry as he cranked the car back up and floored it again. Two more cars appeared behind them, emerging at high speed from the same street the van had come from. Both gave chase, while the occupants of the van regained their bearings.

It wasn't long after that Valéry and Jackie heard a thud on the roof of the car. On impulse, Jackie swung the AKM upwards and opened fire in spots on the car's roof. In response, a few shots ripped through the roof back towards her. One struck her arm, while another hit her in the thigh. The exchanging of gunfire forced Valéry to jerk the steering wheel back and forth in an attempt to shake off their hitchhiker. However, it simply made the foe reveal themselves to them.

​

A woman in black tactical gear appeared on the hood of the car, a Desert Eagle in hand. She had long black hair, which flapped wildly in the wind and barely gave them a chance to view her face. When they did catch a glimpse of her face, however, they saw a pair of emerald green eyes locked firmly on Jackie and a slasher smile stretched from ear to ear beneath them.

"JACKIE-BABY!! LONG TIME, NO SEE!!" spat the woman, before pointing the large pistol in her hand at Jackie. As she pulled the trigger, a burst from Jackie's AK caught the woman in the side, throwing her aim off and forcing her to shoot the seat beside her arm.

"FUCK YOU, LAURA." barked Jackie as she pulled the trigger again. However, the gun would make an alarming click. The magazine was empty. SHIT.

"HAHAHA!!! RUN DRY!?" cackled Laura, before moving the Desert Eagle to point at Valéry. "I HAVEN'T."

Valéry jerked the steering wheel as soon as he saw the flash of chrome on the Desert Eagle's barrel, forcing Laura to squat an attempt to maintain her balance. Then, the empty AKM came sailing out of the windshield to strike Laura in the face. She fell backwards onto the hood, but wouldn't go sliding off. Instead, Jackie grabbed her by the leg and pulled her into the car with them.

Then, the fist fight began.

"DID YOU MISS MY FIST KNOCKING YOUR FUCKING TEETH OUT!?" growled Jackie, as her fist collided with Laura's face twice. However, Laura's boot soon connected with Jackie's face and knocked her halfway out of her seat.

"YOU SURE YOU'RE REMEMBERING THAT CORRECTLY, JACKIE!?" called out Laura, climbing further into the car after Jackie. Their fighting moved to the back seat, with Laura climbing on top of Jackie and punching her repeatedly. "IF I RECALL, I WAS THE ONE THAT BEAT YOU TO DEATH."

Suddenly, a trio of shots rang out, with all three bullets peppering Laura's side. She yelped in pain, before her head snapped around to see their source. Valéry had drawn that USP he had picked up earlier, firing shots into her side while attempting to maintain control over the vehicle. It helped just enough for Jackie to turn the tables, as she drove her fist into Laura's windpipe.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" she barked, as Laura recoiled from the blow to her throat. Then, she pressed her boot into Laura's chest and shoved as hard as she could. "GET THE FUCK OUT!"

Laura exploded out of the rear passenger door, sailing through the air before being caught across the shoulder by a passing truck. She spun about in the air like a rag-doll, before landing on the pavement. She wasn't dead, however, as Jackie could see the woman slowly starting to stand from her view out of the back windshield. Though, Jackie also saw something else. Those two cars still tailing them, as well as a helicopter on approach.

She drew her MK23, checking to see if it was still loaded, before leaning out the door and taking aim. A few well placed shots later, and she managed to put shots into the driver's side of the windshields on each of the cars. Now, the real issue was apparent. How to deal with the chopper?

Soon, they heard it open up. The chain-guns whirred up, before unleashing a torrent of lead which rained down on the asphalt around them. It cleaved through cars like butter, and even pelted the sides of buildings as Valéry attempted to make the car dodge the gunfire.

"I'll cut down the alleys! Maybe we can lose them that way!" shouted Valéry, before swinging the wheel around and forcing the car down a narrow alley. The Little Bird lost track of them for a moment, darting past the alley before circling around to try and locate them. Valéry would do this a few more times, each attempt throwing the Little Bird off temporarily before it would eventually reacquire them. However, soon they were out on the open road outside the city.

Playa Baracoa Airport would be their destination, if they could actually make it to it.

Jackie would take shots at the Little Bird with her pistol, the bullets smashing into the bullet proof glass of the cockpit. It helped to distract the pilots, at least. Throw their aim off as they tried to rain hell down upon the car with their chain-guns.

Then, a surprising sight caught Jackie's eye. A hunk of metal darted by, before smacking into the tail rotor of the helicopter. The Little Bird soon went out of control, spinning around until it eventually collided with the ground just outside the airport. The car rolled to a stop just a short distance away from their waiting aircraft, stopping next to a simple storage shack.

"Fucking finally. What the hell wa--" was all Jackie managed to get out, before she suddenly felt a hand grab her around her neck. Then, she was weightless, as she was yanked from the car and thrown out onto the asphalt. Her pistol skipped across the ground, eventually sliding to a stop a few feet away from her. Valéry, wide-eyed after seeing what had grabbed Jackie, quickly rolled out the driver's side and darted down the airstrip towards the plane.

Jackie groaned, as she eventually rose up to her knees and looked up at her attacker. Soon, she was wide-eyed too.

Kommisar Kaluga, along with his pet pooch, Laika. Two of the very things Jackie really didn't want getting involved here. Kaluga didn't look particularly happy, but Laika was giving her a curious look.

"...L-Look, we didn't mean for any of this to happen. They tried to kill us, we defended ourselves and ran away. That's all we did." she said, clutching at her chest as she spoke. The adrenaline was wearing off, and now the pain from everything that just happened was setting in. "I don't... know who they are or why they're here... but they seem really intent on killing me and my friend."

Soon enough, more vehicles could be heard on approach. Mercs, in more vans. However, they hesitated as soon as they got out of their vehicles and began to approach. Most of them recognized Kaluga. Not many wouldn't. The man was an icon in the Communist world.

Kaluga soon redirected his attention to the mercs, as did Laika. Jackie, meanwhile, shifted her attention towards the plane. Valéry had stopped halfway, looking back at Jackie and waving to her.


Jackie's POV

1. Time to leave.

You've got a plane to catch, and we're short on time. Let the man in red do his thing, and maybe we can avoid a prison sentence.

2. Stay and watch.

A thought passes through your mind. I wonder how much of a fight they'll put up?

 

[Breadman]

2

 

[demytra]

2

 

[EdwardDewey98]

1

 

[Bingotron 9000000]

1

 

[dikdik]

2

 

[EzSnakeOven]

1

 

[Roda the Red]

2

 

[Infab]

2. Stay and watch.

A thought passes through your mind. I wonder how much of a fight they'll put up?



Jackie soon shifted her attention back around to the mercs. They're probably going to all get their asses handed to them. It's Kaluga. The man cleared Mosul almost single-handedly. However, she soon noticed Kaluga shift his attention back to her. She looked up at him, eyes widened. What, was he going to talk to her? However, he soon shifted his gaze to Laika.

"Does she think I'm stupid, Kroshka?" he asked the dog, with a faint hint of laughter in his voice. Laika looked up at him almost happily. What came next caught Jackie entirely off-guard.

The dog spoke. Not physically, but somehow psychically. The voice of a young Russian girl manifested inside Jackie's mind, and it honestly sounded adorable... and it utterly weirded her out. Jackie really didn't like this.

"I think she's a bad woman! Ruining the peace! Bad woman!" said Laika, ending it with a audible yip inside her helmet.

Me? A bad woman?! I'm not the one shooting up half of Cuba with a band of mercenaries!

"You are right, Kroshka..." was Kaluga's response. Then, in a flash of movement, his fist collided with her jaw. She snapped over and hit the asphalt, rebounding off of it. She lay there for a moment, twitching, before slowly forcing herself up.

"...O-Ow..." she managed to groan, using her hands to steady herself. Blood poured from a new wound on the side of her head, where it had struck the asphalt, and a bruise had already began to spawn where Kaluga had punched her. That hurt like all hell, but it didn't knock her out. Maybe there was a hint of adrenaline still in her system. Enough to keep her awake and cut the edge off the pain.

Kaluga looked surprised. "Huh. You have powers?" he muttered, before hearing the arrival of another vehicle over where the mercenaries were. He glanced to Laika, giving her a simple statement. "You know what to do, Kroshka."

Suddenly, Jackie felt lighter. Too light. What the fuck? She was being lifted of the ground by something. She flailed about, trying to grasp at something on the ground to hold onto but only finding her pistol and asphalt. She glanced over towards Laika, and noticed the dog was intensely focused on her.

Was the dog fucking lifting her up with her mind!?

Then, what came next hurt even more. Laika flailed Jackie around in the air, waving her to and fro before smacking her against the asphalt of the airstrip repeatedly. Jackie managed to yell out obscenities and pleas for her to put her down, but Laika wasn't listening. She seemed to be enjoying herself quite a bit.

Meanwhile, Kaluga had fully redirect his attention to the mercs. Out of the newly arrived van stepped a woman in a black tactical outfit, with long black hair and a Desert Eagle in hand. Jackie noticed who it was for the briefest moment as she hovered in the air. God damn it, Laura!

"Ah! If it isn't Captain Communism himself!" called out Laura, as she approached the trio. She twirled the Desert Eagle around her finger as she casually approached, the chrome finish gleaming in the morning light. "What was your name again? Caligula? Bavaria?... I'm not good with names, you know. Faces are easier."

Before Kaluga had a chance to respond, Laura glanced back at the other mercs. She held her hands out at her sides, cutting each of them a confused look. "Why the fuck are you just standing there? The target is right there!" she barked, motioning her pistol in a sort of waving motion at Jackie. "Do I have to do your fucking jobs for you?"

The mercs looked between themselves, all terrified at the prospect of actually having to fight Kaluga. Laura, however, didn't seem too worried about it. Probably didn't help that she lost her mind a long time ago. "Ah, well. You know the saying! 'RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!'" she soon spat, before darting towards Kaluga with immense speed.

Kaluga, however, was ready for it. As soon as she was in striking range, he gauged where she would approach him from and launched a sharp jab. The blow caught in the side of the face, forcing her to spin and stumble sideways. As she righted herself, however, a wicked grin appeared on her face as she snapped the pistol up sideways and fired off three .44 magnum shots into his chest.

The shots did nothing. She frowned. "Fuck, you're no fun." she spat, before charging him again.

Meanwhile, some of the mercs had grown a little gutsy. They began to move in, taking aim at both Kaluga and Jackie and opening fire. Laika dropped Jackie, letting her fall to the asphalt, before turning her psychic powers on the mercs. Men were picked up and bashed against one another, guns were stripped and ripped apart.

Jackie, meanwhile, struggled to get up. She was in serious pain now, the adrenaline having completely worn off. However, it wouldn't be long before more was shoved into her system. The moment she looked back towards the plane, Valéry blocked her view. Then, with a sharp jab, something was shoved into her chest. She cried out in agony, as more of that precious fluid was forced into her system. The pain vanished. The healing began. Jackie was back to full strength.

"There! NOW CAN WE LEAVE!?" barked Valéry, as he grabbed Jackie by the arm to pull her up.

Jackie wouldn't get the chance to properly respond, as Valéry was soon smacked into by one of the mercs being tossed around by Laika. Jackie shifted her attention back around, and soon saw Kaluga moving for her. Laura was stunned on the asphalt, apparently having taken a pretty nasty punch to her now bloodied face.

"SHIT!" breathed Jackie, as she quickly ducked to dodge a punch from Kaluga. Immediately after, she attempted a punch of her own. A sharp strike to his kidney as she stepped around beside him.

It felt like she had just punched solid rock. She recoiled in pain, grabbing her now busted hand as she stumbled back. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU MADE OF, CONCRETE AND FUCKING REBAR!?" she shouted, before snapping her own pistol up and taking shots at Kaluga's face as he turned to face her. One missed, and the others simply hit and mushroomed as they collided.

Suddenly, Laura appeared, leaping onto Kaluga's back and trying to drive a combat knife into his neck. He managed to grab her arm as she drove it down to stab him, twisting and jerking her off onto the asphalt. She didn't stay there long, as she was back up and on the attack again a moment later. Blood smeared across her face, her mouth twisted into that slasher grin, and eyes full of rage.

"COME ON, CAPTAIN COMMIE! I WANT TO SEE WHAT YOUR INSIDES LOOK LIKE!" she barked, the combat knife twirling around in her hand as she darted for him again. "LET'S SEE IF THEY'RE JUST AS RED AS THAT GOD DAMNED OUTFIT!"

As she moved in, darting to his side and quickly shoving the blade towards his ribs, Kaluga reacted quickly. His hand snapped around, grabbing onto her wrist and giving it a sharp twist. Then, his forearm collided with her elbow. A loud crack sounded off, her arm folding the wrong way. She cried out in immense pain, before flashing him that grin once again. "GIVE ME MORE, BIG MAN! I CAN FUCKING TAKE IT!" she spat, before Kaluga's head collided with hers in a nasty headbutt. She stumbled backwards, falling back onto the asphalt. However, she was already attempting to stand after just a moment.

"Jesus christ, Laura." muttered Jackie, as she moved away from the pair. It was time to go. She wasn't going to just stay here and watch Laura get her kicks out of fighting Kaluga... or risk Kaluga setting his sights back on her again. She darted away using her own enhanced speed and agility, snatching Valéry's unconscious body up from the ground before moving towards the plane.

The plane itself was a C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane, refitted for personal use by Leviathan's owner and founder. Great for carrying shipments of weapons to buyers, or mercs like Jackie to drop zones. It was currently loaded with several crates of M16s, formerly the standard issue combat rifle of the United States of America, and their numerous variants. Didn't look like anyone would be getting them now, unless they found another buyer soon.

The plane was already moving about the runway, preparing for takeoff with its rear cargo door still down. Jackie could see Tristan, aka Gargoyle, standing at the top of the ramp. A G3 battle rifle firmly gripped in hand and ready to be used should any of those mercs close in on the plane. The tall German man was quite lean, though mostly muscle from years in the Bundeswehr, and his long blonde hair was tied back in a messy ponytail. He was clad in a simple black button-up shirt and blue jeans, with a pair of simple black sneakers on his feet.

He didn't seem too thrilled about seeing Kaluga, Laika, and the mercs scrapping behind them.

"What the fuck did you two do!?" he shouted, as Jackie and Valéry neared the plane. "I'm surprised the rest of the fucking Red Guard aren't looking for you!"

With a sudden jump, Jackie propelled herself almost twenty feet, sailing through the air to land just near the top of the cargo ramp. As she straightened up, she cut Tristan a look. Then, proceeded to carry Valéry further into the plane as Tristan shut the cargo bay doors.

The C-17 made its way to its section of the runway, before promptly taking off. Isabel, aka Gorgon, at the helm with bloodshot eyes, a cheap cigarette, and one very large cup of coffee in the cup holder on her seat.

As the plane went airborne, Jackie took the time to place the still unconscious Valéry into a seat to himself. Tristan soon approached, looking down upon the smaller man before them.

"...What happened to him?"

"Kaluga's pooch used telekinesis and hit him with one of the mercs, just after he hit me with more adrenaline."

"...Guess we can let him sleep. We'll be heading to meet the boss in London. He wants to take stock in what we have, and see if he can scrounge up some buyers for it all. You should get some shut-eye too... once the adrenaline wears off."

Jackie chuckled loudly. "I'm going to be hurting so fuckin' bad when this wears off, I'll be begging you to shoot me." she responded, the laughter filling her words. "Strongest painkillers we got, first. Then, I'll be in la-la land."

"Sounds like a plan. Skip the shitty booze, though. Drink water." responded Tristan, giving her a pat on the shoulder. Afterwards, he walked away. Likely to go and check on Gorgon up in the cockpit.

She nodded to herself, glancing down to her hands briefly. The one that she had broken punching Kaluga had healed up, thankfully. "Yeah, yeah." she muttered, "...Water."

Really, she had too much on her mind now to get any proper sleep. Who were those mercs? What was their deal? Why did they want her so badly? Badly enough to hire fucking Laura of all people? Maybe the answers would come to her soon enough, or maybe she'd have to do some digging. Either way, she really didn't like any of this. Not one bit.

END OF PROLOGUE

​

 

[Infab]

CHAPTER ONE
A MORE CIVILIZED KIND OF PREDATOR



NOVEMBER 23, 2024
12:15 PM
DE BARAHONA AL CORAZÓN, THE BRONX
NEW YORK CITY, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

​

"So, who's your favorite superhero?"

Jackie glanced up from her phone, tilting her head slightly so that she could look across the booth table at Valéry. The man had his fingers shoved in his mouth, as if he were sucking the flavor off them. He did say he loved the food here, but she didn't think he loved it that much. She watched him for a moment, before responding. "...What?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Your favorite superhero. Everyone has one, so who's yours?" he asked again, after drawing his fingers from his mouth and wiping them with a napkin.

"...Everyone doesn't have a favorite. You seem to be forgetting all the villains and goons of the world." muttered Jackie, returning her attention to her phone. As she scrolled through social media, Valéry spoke again.

"Don't dodge the question, Jackie. Tell me. I know you've got a favorite." His eyes shifted to her face, as he grabbed his drink and took a sip. Jackie's gaze shifted to meet his, and soon she rolled her eyes.

"Sentinel. There. Happy?"

"Aw, come on! Everyone likes Sentinel. That's a bullshit answer. I want to know your favorite."

Jackie frowned. "Is this because of that shit that happened in Los Angeles a few days ago?" she asked.

Valéry flashed her a toothy grin, just as Tristan walked up and slipped into the booth next to Jackie. He had gone to refill his drink just moments before. "What did I miss?" he asked, glancing between them.

Valéry shifted his gaze to Tristan, and immediately asked him the same. "Who's your favorite superhero, Tristan?"

"Lightning." responded Tristan, with no hesitation. The response earned him a surprised look from both Valéry and Jackie.

"Lightning? Really? Why's that?" asked Valéry, glancing to Jackie briefly before looking back to Tristan.

"She's cool. Fastest person alive. Even outran Sentinel, I've heard. Also super friendly." he said, before taking a sip from his drink. "Plus I like her accent."

"I learn something new about you every day." muttered Valéry, eyeing him for a moment before shifting his gaze to Jackie once more. However, before he could redirect his questioning to her, Isabel plopped down into the seat next to him. She sat back, folding her arms as she rested her head against the booth seat's cushion.

"Bathroom door was stuck. Thought I was going to have to call one of you to come get me out." she stated, peering through her aviators at each of them. "Anyway, what did you learn?"

"Tristan likes Lightning, the Speedster." responded Jackie, before motioning her phone slightly towards Valéry. "Val's asking who our favorite superheroes are."

"Ah. I like El Águila Gris."

"That's on brand for you. You and older men--"

"Fuck off, Tristan."

"I do admit, he's pretty badass. The Sinaloa cartel is gone because of him and Los Guardianes, and he's taken down several other supervillains too. No powers, just guns and intelligence." stated Jackie, shifting in her seat. She set her phone aside, and rested her head in her hand as she propped an elbow on the table. Valéry nodded in agreement, before shifting his gaze back to her.

"You still haven't told me yours."

"Damnit, Val." she responded, with an annoyed tone. "I don't fuckin' know."

Tristan glanced over at Jackie. "Haven't found the right one, eh? It happens." he said, before sucking more of his soda through its straw. "You'll find one you like eventually. May even be one of that bunch that saved LA."
"True. That Nikandros guy is pretty cool." said Valéry, which earned a snort from Jackie. He cut her a look. "...What?"

"We know damn well why you like him. Probably a thousand fantasies running through that head of yours every time you see him." she responded, flashing him a smug grin. Tristan also grinned when Valéry's eyes shifted his way. Isabel simply shrugged. "Everyone's got their thing." she muttered.

"Well, what about the others?"

"Panzerfrau's reappearance surprised the hell out of me. I thought she got scrapped or something." said Tristan, "Germany's reunification changed a lot of stuff. Ask me how I know." He made his natural German accent a bit thicker as he said the last sentence, flashing a smile before drinking more of his soda. "Dunno who that Lucky Cat guy is, but he seemed like your kind of thing, Val."

"Ha ha. Funny." responded Valéry, "...He is pretty attractive, I will admit. Anyway, Looked like there was a vampire with them too. Thought they were all the horrible, murderous type of villain."

"There's probably one or two here and there that are exceptions. Wonder if they're like the movie versions or more mythology based?"

"Would suck if it were the latter. Shitty burials turning you into a vamp?"

"Eh. There's worse ways to be changed into something horrifying." said Tristan with a shrug, "I saw there was another German guy with the group too. Cool looking combat armor. Wonder what his deal is?"

"How about that cyborg guy? He seemed kind of skittish around the cameras. Got something to hide, I bet."

"Could just be camera shy. I was like that growing up. Then I just stopped giving a shit. I liked that Karma chick, really. Real tough one."

"...Honestly, I kinda liked that Titan Bruiser kid. He seemed like he was handling himself really well. That girl with the horns and pink hair too. She looked cool. Think one of the news stations called her the 'Demon Detective' but that really doesn't seem like something I'd want to go by."

"There's also Black Dove and that knight guy. They seemed like they were working pretty well together. Probably friends or lovers or something."

The four continued to discuss the superhero group that had intervened and saved LA just days prior, until Valéry's phone buzzed in his pocket. He drew it out quickly, swiping a finger across the screen before pressing it to his ear. A few hushed words were exchanged with whoever was on the other end of the phone, before he tapped the screen and hung up. As the others quieted down and looked to him, he spoke.

"Alistair says we need to head to Paris. Wants to meet with us. Apparently we have a fancy little gathering to attend as representatives of Leviathan." he said, a smile appearing on his face as he spoke. "Formal gathering too. So, we have to dress our best."

"What's the gathering about?" asked Jackie, cocking a brow.

"Selling our services as mercenaries to potential buyers. You know the deal. Other groups will be there too. Trinity Corp, Blackwood, and so on." responded Valéry, "...Do you have a good suit to wear, Jackie? You really don't seem like the type to wear a dress."


Jackie's POV

1. Suit.

Yeah, you've got a nice suit. What kind of merc wouldn't have one?

2. Dress.

"Hey, I wear dresses sometimes. Fuck off."

3. Nope.

You don't have either. Guess it might be time to do a little shopping in Paris.

 

[simj26]

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[EdwardDewey98]

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[AriAriAbabwa]

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[Breadman]

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[dikdik]

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[demytra]

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[Roda the Red]

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