Pray for Rain Part 3

By Dangerous Walker

Having done the job he was hired for, Ben Grant and his crew went after the crime boss Gothra in order to get to the Desard Crime Family. Now they are targeting four of the Desard's operations to bring them out of the shadows.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dangerous Walker
• Release date: Nov 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370920570

Dangerous Walker

WELCOME.Welcome to the Library of the Universes.In it you will find many tales; adventures and horrors; love and loss. You will find heroes and heroines of all temperaments and backgrounds. You will fly through space; fight in wars; face beasts and ghosts.And as you read, you will find yourself drawn into this place, this Library of ancient Lore, and discover the truths that lie in the Universes and between them. Tales of ancient Evil that may still rise again and the Good that opposes it.Through the words and the pages will you lift the veil and then, O weary traveler, you might find that which you seeked, though I warn you, you might find more than you wished.But come then, find a seat, make yourself at home. Let me show you some books that might take your fancy and let's go on some adventures, you and I.

Book preview

Pray for Rain

Part 3

Know Your Enemy

‘Dangerous’ Walker

Copyright Grahame Walker 2016

Published at Smashwords

WHERE WERE WE?

Ben Grant and his cadre had rescued the people from Gothra’s casino and then had gone to Earth, Bangkok to be exact, to stop a defection from Gothra to the Shen Mi. Turns out it was a trap, but Grant got Koleermeer out and extracted the information they needed. Not only that, but they had come across Koey V who was able to give them even more information. Armed with all this info they infiltrated and attacked Gothra’s building, taking her out and gaining valuable information at the same time. Perhaps most importantly, they had gained information from Koey V about four locations of Desard criminal enterprise and that is where we pick up the story…

CHAPTER 45

Kaskey had considered that between jobs (as he thought of Haffir, Bangkok and Pelluu) Regrette and Tsyrker disappeared to follow their own jobs, only coming back when Grant needed help. Now he understood that they were going off to gather their own intel on the situation. He wondered, not for the first time, why they were helping Grant and, if they had their own agendas, would they put those first? Whatever the truth, neither had gone anywhere after leaving The Dead Planet of Callevetto. They all sat aboard the Albatross going through the information that Gulch had liberated from Gothra’s computer. Thinking about it, perhaps they had stayed because of that information. He guessed it was an insight into the Underworld that, Tsyrker particularly, would want to read.

Well, it wasn’t his issue; he wasn’t the plan maker. He just found things. He smiled to himself from the cockpit of the Lark as he brought it into atmosphere. While the others discussed the best way to proceed, he had been charged with collecting their friends from Vexupulla as they needed a bigger crew for the ideas that were coming out.

He wasn’t landing in Vexupulla though; he’d made his own detour.

Any problems? Rorckshift asked as he exited the ship.

Nope.

You were faster than I would have thought.

The opportunity came up; supposed to be picking up some friends.

Rorckshift merely nodded.

Well, good. Let’s get it moved off and into safety.

Once all was done they sat with a drink that Rorckshift had brought.

Thank you for this, Rorckshift said.

You helped us in return, remember?

Still…

Still what, man?

Rorckshift broke into a rare smile.

I was going to say this is somewhat more important than what you are doing, but that is only my opinion, he thought about what he had said. I’ve been too long with Hendricks and learnt some tact.

Kaskey smiled at that.

You’re probably right though. We’re gunning for some criminals. Others will take their place if we’re successful. This though? This is bigger than the Universe.

It is, it is. Hardly believable is it?

You’ve checked?

Yes. Seems real enough, but I’ll have better equipment here.

Then you best get on with it, man; I gotta keep going.

Yes. Yes. I must get back to Callevetto. There must be more to find than this.

Well, good luck, man, Kaskey held out a hand and Rorckshift shook it.

And to you. I hope we shall meet again.

Real shabbus. I want to know what you’ve discovered.

Real shabbus?

It means ‘definitely’.

Ahh, street talk, he nodded to himself.

Perhaps you need to get out more, man. Just a little.

Very well. Until next time.

***

Hey, hey, hey! Looking forward to your holiday? Kaskey called out.

Oh yes. Our, er, holiday, Tandish said.

That’s right, just one big holiday, Kaskey grinned. How’re you doing, big man?

Good, Kas. You? Loveritto replied shaking his hand.

All clear in the big blue, my man.

Hey, Kas.

Hey, Kov. You got bags?

Over there. I’d help, but, Kov waved his little robotic arms around.

Not to worry, just go up into the Lark.

What’s a Lark? Tandish asked as they took seats in the cockpit.

A what? Kaskey asked as he took off.

A Lark? Your ship.

Oh right. No, it stands for Landing and Reconnaissance Craft.

It’s also an Earthen bird, Kov said.

Yeah? Kaskey asked. That makes sense with Grant. The ship we’re going to is the Albatross.

Another Earthen bird, Kov told Tandish.

Never been. Would love to, Loveritto commented.

Yeah, it’s pretty wild, Kaskey grinned to himself.

You’ve been? Tandish asked.

For the first time recently.

With Grant, she said.

I’ll fill you in.

***

They caught up with The Albatross in the Evuloxian Galaxy and met the others in the meeting room.

We always gonna be waiting on you, boy? Regrette asked.

Only when I’m late, Kaskey smiled back.

I can make you ‘late’, boy, with a raised eyebrow.

Yeah? You gonna mess with my alarm clock?

Yeah, wipe your dial.

Can we start? Grant asked and they kept quiet. Good.

Once again Tandish didn’t know if they were joking or not, but then Kaskey went and sat down next to Regrette so she assumed everything was OK. She didn’t like this Regrette, he just seemed, what? Wrong. Just, well, she was a little scared of him, if she was honest.

Come and sit down, Grant said with a smile. Thanks for coming.

It’s a pleasure to work with you, Grant, Loveritto said.

Shabbus, but everyone’s flirting, Tsyrker said.

Enough, Rain, Grant said sternly, but she was already distracted.

Gulch had raised an eyebrow at Kaskey and he’d given a slight nod back. Serious faces. Now what was that all about? She remembered they both seemed pretty pleased with themselves when they’d all got back to the Dead Planet from Earth. And of course Rorckshift and Hendricks had agreed to join them. Interesting.

First up, you don’t have to stay, you don’t have to get involved, Grant said. We’ll run through everything and if anyone wants to back out, that’s fine. We’re straying into dangerous territory here.

Straying? Regrette asked.

Marching, Kaskey said.

Drunkenly shambling.

Regrette, Grant rebuked and Regrette went quiet.

Tsyrker grinned at Regrette and Kaskey until Grant gave her the eye and she looked at the table. Shabbus, but it was like teaching at primary school. At least from what he’d heard; he’d rather go after the Desards than be a teacher. Far less stressful being shot at.

Let’s go through the basics, Gulch told the table. We’ve got two branches here. We’ve been told that a ganger named Cobroy can lead us to Maggie Desard and also that if we hit four targets it will bring her out.

Namely? Kov asked.

Kagar, Polince, Randaritchia and Wiloth.

They all looked at him blankly.

And? Tandish asked.

And we’re not getting to that yet, Grant said.

You were all brilliant at the casino, Tsyrker said, but this is something else. This Cobroy is on a different level to Gothra.

Right, Grant said. We’re getting into shoot-first-don’t-bother-with-questions-later territory. They think something is going to mess with their operation, then they’ll shut it down.

Fast and, Regrette clapped his hands together, hard.

Tandish jumped a little. She really didn’t like this man.

We’re not scared, she still managed to say.

Really? Regrette peered at her. It felt like he was examining her soul.

Really, Loveritto said. He pulled a bag off of the floor and opened it on the table, its contents spilling out.

Ooh, Regrette clapped his hands together. Guns.

We’ve been practising, Tandish told Grant. Well, not Kov, but me and Loveritto.

I like you, I do, Regrette told Loveritto gleefully.

They’re just a tool, Loveritto told Regrette.

People say that as if tools aren’t important; tools built this Universe, Regrette said.

Is that a Yernolt Pulse? Tsyrker asked reaching out to it.

Yeah, er, I got that… he trailed off.

Worry not, my friend, see this? Regrette pulled out a pistol. Stole it from an orphaned widow; or was it a widowed orphan? Point is, you put it to good use then it doesn’t matter where you got it from.

Ignore his shabbus, but he’s right, Tsyrker said. May I?

Of course, Loveritto pushed it over to her.

She picked it up and she looked way too content holding it in her hands; like holding a baby, Tandish thought.

What is it? Kaskey asked and Tandish was glad that someone else was as lost as she.

It’s just a gun, Gulch said dismissively.

Just a gun? Regrette shrilled and Gulch glared at him.

Yernolt found a way to store, briefly, the laser blast so that it built up into a stronger blast, Tsyrker explained. Due to the charge time they never found a good use for it during the war and after no more were made.

Quite the collector’s item, Grant chipped in.

Well yes, Loveritto said a little sheepishly. I quite like guns.

Finally a man after my own heart. Boy? You’re fired, Loveritto here’s taking your place.

Can we get back to the matter in hand? Gulch asked crossly.

Yes, you’re very right, Grant conceded.

Regrette? Gulch asked.

Alright, alright, but, he looked at Loveritto, when this is done, you, me and some Pargkats.

Loveritto merely nodded, he was a little embarrassed that they’d been told off by Gulch.

Now where were we? Gulch asked.

We’re not scared, Kov said.

Right, Tandish agreed. You called and we came.

But this isn’t casino security, this is a gang. This is the gang that kidnapped those girls in the first place, Grant said.

Then I’m in all the more, Tandish said firmly.

We’ve been asked to listen first, Kov said calmly.

Right, OK, sorry.

It’s cool, Kaskey smiled at her.

If you agree to join us, then we’ll split into teams, that’s why we called you in on this, Grant explained. We have two hits on getting to Maggie Desard and we want to go for both. Our information tells us that this Cobroy might know Maggie better than we might have thought. Gulch?

Right. So we need to do a stake out on him and we also need to go and get eyes on the four targets. This information is great, but it doesn’t replace our own intel.

So what are these four places? Kov asked.

Good question, Gulch smiled at him. Nice to have another level head in the room.

Wiloth is a port; Randaritchia is a hotel; Kagar is an area of bars, restaurants and the like; Polince is a, well, what we’re interested in is a bank, Grant said.

We’re hitting their money, Loveritto said.

He’s quick, Regrette said. Should’ve hired him instead of the boy.

Right, Grant said ignoring Regrette. That’s how it’ll bring the Desards out.

But we can’t bring them out without knowing what we’re getting into, that’s why we’re still hitting Cobroy, Tsyrker said.

What do we know of him? Kov asked.

I’ve created information packs for you all. I’ve tried to tailor them as best as I could to you, but please tell me how to do better, Gulch told the three new arrivals.

As an overview though, Grant said, he’s a Fixer, not just a gang leader as we thought. He fills holes; makes deals to cover ones that fall through; takes out trouble.

It would have been him that would have secured new slaves for the Loggajello after our sudden emancipation of them, Gulch continued. It would be him that would hunt us down for causing so much trouble.

Swift and brutal, Regrette nodded.

And is he? Tandish asked a little worried. Hunting us?

No, Grant shook his head. The casino was Gothra’s and we suspect her bead on us in Bangkok was hers alone.

That being said, Rainsford said, we’re there if they look hard enough. Any future actions might lead to our past involvements.

You warned us about joining you; does he worry you? Tandish asked.

Nope, Regrette said.

No, Tsyrker said at the same time.

Shabbus, yeah, Kaskey said.

Loveritto, Kov and Tandish looked at Grant.

Yes, he said finally. We can’t treat him lightly…

Mssh.

…but we can take him. We’re a strong team. We work as one and, yes, we can do this.

Tandish, Loveritto and Kov looked at each other.

Then we’re in, Kov said. What do you want us to do?

***

Entering a man’s world, Rainsford sat down.

Sorry? Tandish looked up from her dossier.

Entering a man’s world.

Is that how you see it?

It’s how it’s seen. It’s how we’re seen. We’re the weak ones, the ones with the innate desire to nurture, not destroy.

But you’re not weak, Tandish argued and Rainsford smiled.

And neither are you. I want you to remember that. Men think strength comes from muscle and size, but it doesn’t. It comes from the heart and mind. It’s harder to build than destroy.

Tandish nodded, though she still didn’t feel that strong.

Grant knows this, that’s why we work for him; it’s why even you guys naturally deferred to him. Most of the bad people in the Universe, most of the criminals, are bad because it was the easier choice.

What about Regrette?

Tsyrker smiled.

He scare you?

She started to shake her head, then: Yes.

He should, he’s a dangerous man.

He loves guns.

Tsyrker gave a short laugh.

He does. He does because he doesn’t have to, Tandish gave her a confused look. Guns are a tool that take over the job of the hands. To Regrette they are an interesting toy.

Tandish’s face went from confused to disgust.

That’s not right; they’re a weapon to kill people.

As am I. As we sit right now I have ten unique ways I could kill you.

From disgust to fear, but Tsyrker smiled kindly.

But I’m not am I? Martial arts are used for defence and they take patience and training. Guns only destroy, Tandish, what does that mean?

That they’re weak…?

Very good. You are here because you wish to do good, that makes you stronger than anyone you will come up against.

Tandish looked at her. She was a killing machine, but she was strong. From what she had said she was strong not because of that, but despite it. And she, as a woman, could bring life into the world; raise and protect a child and that was a greater strength than any gun, any weapon. She nodded slowly to herself. She was strong because she was a woman. Tsyrker smiled at her as if she could read the understanding on her face. Which she absolutely could.

OK. Yes. Still, a few of those ten ways couldn’t hurt. For self-defence…

Rainsford laughed.

Stand up and I’ll show you some basic moves.

CHAPTER 46

That was some pretty impressive shooting, Regrette said.

Well, it was nothing compared to you, Loveritto replied.

Mssh, it’s my job, I have to.

Hey, where you been? Kaskey asked.

All over, boy, shooting range, workshop, hanger.

Well, we’re just about ready to go. Grant’s looking for you.

Well, why didn’t you say?

I just did.

Come then, fellow minions, let’s see what the master orders.

Regrette strode off and Kaskey gave Loveritto a look, who just shrugged in reply. Kaskey nodded and they caught up with Regrette.

Look at this, Regrette said to Kaskey.

It’s a gun.

"Mssh. No. Loveritto here has tweaked it. Did you know you could get twenty-five