El Paso: The Mean Streets #9
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The Boneyard, Outside El Paso
Siwang parked the stolen Ducati and dismounted in the sea of broken down vehicles that made up the infamous ‘Boneyard’, a disposal facility for both military and civilian vehicles before a local strongman had taken over. Walking past the beached trucks and mountains of estate cars Siwang knew she was being watched by the wrecking crews hired by Ace Thomas, El Paso’s most well-known scrap metal dealer, among other things. Coming to a stop by the hulk of an M2 Bradley IFV, Siwang knocked on the hull, the sound echoing around the junkyard as clearly as bells chiming in a church steeple. Before the last peel could be heard, the attack came as three men dressed in boiler suits and gas masks bum rushed her from inside the IFV, their combined onslaught tackling her to the floor.
“Well, well if it isn’t another agent from those b*****ds in town.” A strong accented Texan voice announced, as a fourth man emerged from the IFV. With gleaming green eyes, long brown flowing hair and a bare chest save for the tattoo of an eagle flying with a cruise missile in its talons, the man looked like he belonged on a cat walk not in a junk yard. “Hmm, you don’t strike me as one of the Merchant’s girls, Smithy always sends his doppelgangers and El Aquila’s men never leave the car. All of that makes me think you represent someone new on the power spectrum.”
“Or someone old.” Siwang replied, “Boccanegra wants you working for the El Tarantula Cartel again Thomas, or should I call you the Buzzard?” She added, as she silently gauged the strength of the wrecking crew pining her to the floor.
“What are you trying to pull girl?” Thomas asked, as he pulled a nail studded knuckle duster from the pocket of the jeans he wore. “Old Man Negra is dead, killed by that Aztec freak, at least that’s how the rumours go. And even if he were alive he wouldn’t send an escort to do business with me, he respected me too much to do that. Still I’ll humour you, what does Negra want from me and my boys.”
“The same thing he has always wanted.” Siwang purred. “You can start with these three!” She hissed, as she slashed out with a knife concealed in the sleeve of her motorcycle leathers, the three men holding her down going limp as blood leaked out onto the dusty floor. Shoving them off of her Siwang got to her feet and watched Thomas for signs of his next move. “What do you say Buzzard? Will you join my boss in his return to glory?”
“Maybe, I’ll see how the gang war plays out, once the dust is settled then I start making allegiances.” He stated as a car pulled up behind the motorcycle, and three people stepped out of the vehicle. “Just on time, the next bidders have arrived to try to succeed where you failed. Now be a doll and move on before me and the boys show you our nasty sides.” He added, as one of the figures removed a megaphone from the car.
“Siwang this is the Revolutionary Reactionaries!! We are here to bring you in for the crimes you’ve committed against the city!!” The speaker yelled, as his two comrades drew arms, a Milkor 32 Grenade Launcher and a SPAS-12 Shotgun, and aimed them at the pair of criminals standing before them. Siwang recognised Cruiser Weight as one of the assailants, partially from the costume but also the way he held his head.
“I’m sorry I don’t have time to deal with you three right now!!” Siwang yelled back, before turning to Tom and tilted her head to one side. “So about your allegiance to…” Before she could finish the voice called again.
“We are deputised by the city council and have been ordered to take you down, permanently if we have to!!” The voice yelled. “This is your last chance to…”
“…make the deal.” Siwang told Thomas before turning to face the three mercenary heroes standing before her. “You have until these three are dead or broken to give me your answer.” She added, as she walked over to the Reactionaries, her hands raised above her head. Behind her Thomas clicked his fingers, and a member of his wrecking crew came scuttling over.
“What do you need boss?” The man asked from behind his hood.
“Get this on video, and prep acid-tank C.” Thomas ordered, “We may have a chance to deal with all our problems in one fell swoop.” He hissed, as Siwang reached the three heroes, her face contorted in delight masked with disbelief and annoyance.
“Stryker, Cruiser Weight keep her covered.” The man in the megaphone stated, as he threw the tool towards the car before pulling a set of handcuffs from the belt of his blue and yellow costume. Heading towards her, he noticed a small half smile flick on her face, before a foot slid out, the sudden blow sending him toppling backwards into Cruiser Weight. Seconds later Siwang was moving, the SPAS-12 ripping out of his hands before flying onto the floor, a stream of shells ejecting from the weapon.
“Get off me b***h!!” Cruiser Weight roared, as he made a grab for Siwang’s leg, only for her to shift for a second before slamming the boot she was wearing down into his hand. Roaring in pain Cruiser Weight got to his feet, flinging Cloud Jumper off of him straight into Stryker, the military woman catching her partner before pushing past him and firing a few shots at Siwang, as she sprinted towards the nearest mountain of vehicles, the impact of the grenades knocking a bus loose followed by an avalanche of wreckage.
“There, she’s there!!” Cloud Jumper yelled, as he caught sight of Siwang running up the bus, before dropping down the other side of the pile of rubbish. “Get her!!” He roared, as he drew a Glock 18 handgun and lead the pursuit, his teammates following past the collapsed mountain of trash and down the over side to the shores of a massive pit filled with hydrochloric acid but no sign of the Patron Saint of Crime.
“Where is she?” Stryker asked, as Cruiser Weight arrived carrying a baseball bat. “Did we scare her away?” She asked just as a crossbow bolt came flying towards Cloud Jumper, the projectile stabbing through his pistol and hand with enough force to cause him to recoil in pain. With a snarl Stryker opened fire at the source of the crossbow bolt, the grenade causing an avalanche of junk rolling into the acid bath, fumes erupting from the debris that was being melted by the chemicals to form a burning mist that hung low over the paths around the pit.
“What did you do?!” Cruiser Weight spluttered as Cloud Jumper pulled out the bolt in his hand, cursing and spluttering.
“Shut up she could be right behind us waiting to strike!!” Cloud Jumper yelled, as he threw his pistol away before drawing a second pistol from his holster. “We can’t stay here though, we’re going to choke to death before we catch Siwang, head back to the car and we’ll wait her out.” He ordered before turning away from the pit.
“Is he kidding?” Cruiser Weight asked, as he felt something stab into his leg, and then feel something tugging at him. “What the hell!!” He roared as he was tugged towards the pit, his bat hitting the floor as he made a grab at the metal floor of the pit, before hitting the acid, his skin burning as he was pulled under the surface.
**
Cloud Jumper arrived back at the car, his eyes fixed on the wrecking crews and their boss watching him from a safe distance. Opening the door he suddenly felt a foot slam into his chest, knocking him out of the car as Siwang landed on top of him, her hand batting away his pistol. Snarling and spitting he fought back, knocking the Asian hit woman off of him, before reaching for a rusty piece of metal, only to see her intercept his fist attack and force the adhoc blade away from him, before turning the force of the push into a twist sending Cloud Jumper onto his back.
“Now what was that about arresting me?!” Siwang asked, just as Stryker appeared and tackled her to the floor.
“You b***h, you killed Cruiser Weight.” She snarled, as she slammed the grenade launcher into Siwang’s face, the blow cracking the bones in her left cheek. “I’ll kill you!!” She screamed, only for Cloud Jumper to pull her away.
“We need her alive!!” He yelled, only for Stryker to push him away to reveal a bare patch of ground where Siwang had been lying, an inhuman scream sounding from her lips.
“THAT’S IT!!” She screamed, as she walked over to Cruiser Weight’s bike. “You bring her in alive, but if I get to her first she’s dead!!” She snarled before gunning the bike and heading out of the graveyard. A few minutes later Cloud Jumper followed, leaving the salvagers to their own devices as Thomas looked at the footage shot by one of his subordinates on the edge of the acid bath.
“Now that is interesting.” He purred, as he saw Siwang stride towards him, her crossbow in her hands, a bolt knocked and ready to fire. “I’ve come to a decision, me and my mates will do business with Boccanegra.”
“Good, you can expect an email and a joining fee sent to your usual business account by the end of the week.” Siwang stated as she eyed the camera in the Buzzard’s hands. “I will also personally ensure that the cost of the body floating in your acid bath is paid for, as a sign of good faith, but I’ll need the footage you shot.”
“Why do you need that?”
Because Thomas,” Siwang purred as she took the camera from him, “sometimes the best way to destroy your enemies is to let them do it for you…”
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