TEP Chpt 9

=The Eagle's Perch=
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==Chapter 9 - People==
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Sardis, Free Worlds League
2731 AD
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Abdullah Ottovordemgentschenfelde
The Sardunian Meat Lover Taco was a combination of roasted and shaved bacon, lamb, and tenderloin beef cuts like a doner, drenched in barbecue sauce and accented by sweet and acidic garlic chili aioli. Every cut of meat was cut in such a fashion as to be end cuts. It was all richly basted in its own juices, herbed, and spiced, with a hint of char that only end cuts have.
 
Fresh lettuce, julliened carrots, a spoon of perfectly caramelized red onions and freshly squeezed juice from ripe lemons elevated the whole dish to something else, something more. A hearty pint of warm amber ale and recently plucked, skinned, and sliced rabbit figs complimented the meal.
 
From the delicious food, to the warm sunny weather, and the slight sea breeze, everything was so perfect.
 
It was a rare moment to sit down and simply appreciate the gift of life.
 
"So, what's this I hear about starting your own grav ball team?" Alas, work waited for no one. Though, I appreciated the little moments of relaxation that I had.
 
My guest took a moment to swallow his bite, took a long draft of ale, before answering me. "The recent grav ball competitions had me and the rest thinking." His eyes flitted to the side, down the road and towards the more upscale side of town. "Why not start our own league." He stated simply.
 
That was interesting. The various clubs and lodges of the John Locke Foundation were usually content to stay at the sidelines. The most active they got was to organize letter campaigns to press the local governments to be more attentive to the needs of the 'larger whole'.
 
At my silence, he took it as a sign to continue speaking, "The broad idea was something everyone could easily agree to. We're all fans, after all. We even started some local games, had some good performances too!" He sported a small smirk at the end. "So, after some thinking, we decided it was high time to put in the hard work and get the ball rolling. Pardon the pun."
 
 "Sounds like you lot have been thinking about this for some time. Wouldn't it be hard to convince the rest of the world to watch and play?"
 
 "Aye, it would be, though we've got the equipment we don't have much of a plan yet. But, it would be good to get the world off all that old stuff with something new and fresh. Something they could see and feel themselves." He took another long draft of ale to end his speech.
 
 "It would be, wouldn't it." I happily replied. While I'm not happy with terrorism, it was always my Master's plan to push for more democratic governance, in whatever form they may take. If the gentleman before me believes armed insurrection is necessary, then for as long as it serves my Master's plan, it is agreeable. "I'll see about asking our mutual friend about getting you guys help."
 
 Before he could reply, a soft thump echoed from the seaside. There was a small rising column of black smoke from the Shenandoah manor. Nothing good then. My guest and I quickly cleaned our hands and rose, I left the payment for the bills down at the table.
 
The rest of the populace was completely oblivious to what was happening. They unhurriedly continued on with their day, only mildly curious as to what caused the boom and rising smoke. Most probably assumed it was an accident, Sardis was not at war, after all.
 
As expected, a call came from my phone a half second later while I walked towards my car and chauffeur. Answering it, I was immediately met by Elijah's screaming, "We're under attack at the manor. Send help! Get the bats over here now!"
 
"I getcha, I'll be right over," I answered calmly. Turning to my new friend and I said, "Another of my friends has been talking over a deal, I'm afraid he needs some help. I'll catch you later?"
 
"Sooner or later, yeah." He replied. We shook hands and waved each other goodbye.
 
In the corner of my right eye I spotted a hatted black suited man conspicuously reading a newspaper on the second floor balcony of the local bar. My guest put on a bowler hat and tipped it upwards, which was mirrored by the man. He was an ally then.
 
A quick scan around showed three more individuals huddled near a broken down car. They weren't completely out of place, but they also had black and white suits with bowler hats.
 
Black and white suits are classically good fashion, and still in vogue with the upper and middle-class of most of the Sphere, despite the vibrancy of the noble courts. A few were even in Shenandoah's manse.
 
These men and women blended in well with the rest of Sardis' non-noble population.
 
I signaled my driver, Johnny, to prepare for trouble. As I got inside the front passenger seat, bullets punched through the car! I dove and made myself as small as possible until the hailstorm of lead ended. Taking a peek through my arms revealed Johnny was dead, slumped forward onto the wheel.
 
A proper scan showed that Johnny primarily took the bullets to his head and upper body. The gunshots came from behind, so that meant the bulletproofing of the car's body worked at least.
 
Glancing in the rearview mirror showed three men in builders' overalls, with high caliber pistols, walking slowly towards the car. Their guns were at a low ready position. No other equipment on them, not even a comm link on the ear. One was on the passenger side, and the other two were on the driver side of the car.
 
Slowly, I inched up my seat, and gave the rearview mirror my full attention. The street was pure pandemonium. The civilians were screaming and running to take cover inside the buildings, but I spotted at least one woman dressed in red, intensely watching my coming battle. She was nestled in the restaurant I left on the second floor, third window on the right. Most likely, she was the mission lead, and had more backup nearby.
 
I took a deep breath to steady myself. Reaching my left hand into my suit, I pulled out my old revolver. The high caliber six round Smith and Ruger Charavaaha served me and master Boris' family well for years. It was going to serve me well today.
 
I exploded into action, throwing the passenger door open and diving out. I used the car to hide me from the other two gunmen and shot once, hitting the passenger side gunmen in the chest.
 
The return fire was immediate and deafening. The bullets were bouncing off the top of the car, grazing past my hair.
 
I ducked down and aimed at their feet. I saw one running towards me, so I shot his feet first. The man collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, and another bullet put him out of his misery.
 
The other gunman disappeared behind another car. With all his buddies dead, he was prioritizing staying alive, and keeping me from running.
 
Nothing to stop me from driving me away.
 
I got inside the car again and shoved Johnny's corpse out. Thumbs firmly pressed on the steering wheel's scanners as I slammed the gas pedal.
 
A loud screeching drowned out the world as my car pounced out and down the street. Gunfire chased me, but thankfully nothing hit me.
 
The road was relatively empty as I wove my way down the street. I was heading towards the more upscale side of town, hoping to surround myself with allies.
 
From the way the hit was performed, I would bet my left kidney they weren't SAFE.
 
SAFE wasn't nearly this unprofessional, poorly armed, or poorly trained. SAFE was a real threat, something to be feared. If they wanted my death public, I would have taken an explosive bullet from a kilometer away. If they wanted my death private, my food would have been poisoned by someone breathing on it, and I would die by 'aneurysm' that night. This was almost certainly an attack of opportunity by some local power.
 
A truck came charging out one of the alleys behind me and leapt onto the street, further down the road a perfect replica exploded out. Both came charging towards me.
 
The truck behind me slammed one, twice, and then thrice trying to maneuver me into sidewalks. I barely hung on to the road before the truck rammed me in time with the rear smashing. The car crumpled, and the airbags blinded me. There was nothing I could do as I spun out of control and slammed into an apartment building.
 
I gasped and stumbled out, taking in my surroundings. A small barbershop greeted my spinning eyes. The clear glass walls of the barbershop lead into an atrium. There was very little in the way of cover, but it was better than chancing it outside.
 
Just in case, I reached inside my car and flipped a discrete button underneath the driver's seat. With that done, I stumbled into the atrium and quickly looked around. A fire exit leading to the upper floors and two elevators caught my eye.
 
The screeching of tires interrupted my thoughts. At least three vehicles abruptly stopped in front of the apartment. Possibly fifteen gunmen.
 
Running forward, I shot open the fire exit's lock and pushed through. I bounded up the stairs, three steps at a time. As I was huffing up the apartment, I heard the fire exit below slam open. My hunters had arrived and wasted no time opening fire on me.
 
Twelve men. Lightly Armed. No armor.
 
I dodged backwards into the wall and away from the railings. The thumping footsteps of my enemies told me they would be soon upon me. I continued climbing the steps upwards, slower to avoid being hit, and pushed open another fire exit.
 
The third floor greeted me, when I stumbled in. Fake linoleum marble floor, gray painted wood walls, and absolutely no cover.
 
I turned back into the fire exit and shot once and killed the lead man. The hunters fell backwards as the lead fell onto them, buying me a few more seconds. But, that meant that I had no bullets left in the chamber for my enemies.
 
I turned back into the third floor only to look down the barrel of a large rifle held by an angry accountant.
 
"You've got five seconds to explain, boy."
 
A woman in a suit with a bowler hat peeked outside the door the Accountant came from.
 
I knew what to say then.
Holding my hands up, but not letting go of my Charavaaha, I took a deep calming breath before answering, "I'm a friend of the grav ball league organizer."
 
The Accountant's eyes opened up wide before he pushed past me and sprayed down into the stairwell.
 
"Follow me." he gruffly said.
 
I followed him into his home, and saw the other doors open. The hallway was soon filled with armed men and women. As the Accountant's door closed, I heard gunfire erupt from the hallway.
 
"Follow Mimi, she'll help you out."
 
Mimi gestured towards an open door leading outside, and I went after her. A retro wrought iron guardrail wrapped around a balcony overlooking a small garden enclosed by low wooden fences. Mimi kicked some protrusion and a wrought iron ladder fell down. As she climbed down, I did the same, though a question burned on my lips.
 
"Are you with the John Locke Foundation?" I tentatively asked.
 
"Nay," her voice firm. "I dress like this because when I go to their speeches… I noticed they all dress like this."
 
Well, that answered that. Not the Foundation itself, but sympathizers.
 
"Go to the speeches often?"
 
"All the plebbys do."
 
"And, the guns?"
 
"We're in a Civil War." she deadpanned.
 
That was embarrassingly obvious in hindsight. The Civil War going on meant that purchases for military surplus were at an all-time high. No one would bat an eye at anyone buying extra guns, rather, it was prudent, expected even, to do so.
 
All of this also told me that my friend at the restaurant was actually a grav-ball league organizer on top of being part of the Foundation—that his hidden words also contained truth in his actions. Quite clever. I wouldn't be surprised if he and his friends succeed in overthrowing the local government, if they were that prepared.
 
We jumped the garden fence and into the neighboring apartment. The neighbors were also armed and greeted Mimi warmly, though curiously.
 
"Bullyboys," she said, nodding her head towards the apartment we left.
 
The neighbors simply nodded at that.
 
"My friend here needs a ride," she asked, and a boy, who couldn't have been older than sixteen, ran up to us.
 
"I've got ride, Miss Mims! You can take that," he vomited out his words in a rush. "It's in the chop shop down the street, near Jenny's." He pushed forward a key into Mimi's hand. An elder took the boy inside, pushing a first aid kit into his small hands.
 
"Thank ye."
 
The shooting was dying down, so I didn't worry when Mimi casually vaulted over another set of low wood fences. Our pace was steady, and no new gunfights erupted during the short trek to the chop shop.
 
Apparently, 'Jenny's' was a flower shop inside a repurposed auto body. That also explained why there was a chop shop nearby, because just behind the flower shop was a row of warehouse facilities. In an open entrance stood a gruff looking woman in blue overalls.
 
Mimi trudged over to her and said, "Need a getaway car, Alby volunteered his."
 
The woman grunted before nodding and pointing with her chin towards a beat down Crucero. How a kid got his hands on a century old budget car I'll never know.
 
Mimi gave me the keys and simply left. No goodbyes or anything else, she just left. A true woman of few words, that one.
 
I turned the key and got the car started up, I also took out my phone and called headquarters. We would need to mount a rescue as soon as possible. I quickly reviewed the facts as I waited for someone to answer my call. A local power, attacking as a matter of opportunity, utilizing resources that were already on hand.
 
Whoever it was, they couldn't have been hitting with more than a battalion, if that. Which means they should be nearly equal with Shenandoah's defenders. Elijah and I's own reinforcements would take roughly thirty minutes to arrive, but they'll be more than enough to overwhelm the attackers. Of course, that wasn't mentioning the Baron's own forces likely barreling towards the mansion.
 
It's all on Elijah and Shenandoah to survive long enough, I thought as I drove into the afternoon sun.
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