The Damascus Chronicles (36 page)

Making a stop in the red light district, Michael called Paulie at a pay phone to inform him. “Hey Paulie it’s me Mike. We got a big problem on our hands,” said Michael.

“I’m listening,” said Paulie.

“The chinks, cholos, and sovs are going to make a hit on us at the train yard and old airbase tonight.”

“Fucking Oobatz, stop it!”

“I’m going to need some help on this one,” said Michael feeling uneasy for what he was going up against.

“Call your crew and the people you hang out with. Do this and I’ll pay you three million. We can’t have anyone fucking with that train yard and airbase. I don’t care how you do it, but stop it!” Paulie ordered. Paulie hung up and then called the Don to tell him what was happening.

On the other side of town, Phillips had enlisted a team of mercenary vampire slayers to hunt down the vampires and destroy them.

However, Julius’ spies had traced Phillips and the other vampire slayers .

Julius contacted Michael telepathically. “Phillips has slayers coming for you.”

“I know; we will be ready.” Michael could sense the danger. “Where are they?”

“They are scattered throughout the city, but it’s more than likely that they will be in your old neighborhood looking for you and Serena. Be careful,” advised Julius.

Cutting off his telepathic connection, Michael found Serena in the hallway of Zoratus Enterprises and explained things to her. “Phillips has strike teams of slayers looking for us on the streets.” “How many?” Serena was ready to fight.

“Don’t know but let’s go.” Heading to the weapons room, Michael, Serena, Darius, and Marianna loaded up with guns and ammunition for the attack. They also took swords and other hand-to-hand combat weapons. Scarlet stayed behind to watch over Julius.

The crew took off to Otis Way in Darius’ black SUV, their blood pumping and malice ready to explode in their hearts ready. When they got there they saw a group of men already staking some local vampires on the streets.

“Bastards!” yelled Darius as they pulled a drive-by, unloading bullets with machine guns and killing three slayers, who were dressed in military gear. Jumping out of the SUV, they hustled into heated violence, swashbuckling swords and guns with the remaining five slayers. Darius and Marianna sliced off the limbs of one of them.

“How does it feel, jerk off!” screamed Darius with rage as he crushed the dead slayer’s skull in with his boots.

Michael and Serena overpowered the other two, beating them to death and breaking their necks. “They’re weak like chickens,” mocked Serena as she heard her victim’s necks snap.

“Retreat!! Fallback!” The last two retreated into a blue van and took off.

The other vampires thanked Michael and company. Michael again telepathically contacted Julius to inform him. “Julius, we have dispatched the slayers in the area and are returning to base to report.”

“Well done Michael, return to base for new plan of attack, meet me in the council room, the elders have arrived,” replied Julius, cutting off his communication.

Michael and the others sped back to Zoratus Enterprises to meet with Julius.

Back at headquarters, Julius and the Council of Nine waited for Michael in the main council room. The creatures of different origin and monsters of secret races had revealed themselves from the shadow world.

Michael and the others approached the council chamber with uneasiness. A vampire guard opened the doors to let the group in as they entered into a meeting that was already in progress. Among the elders present were the leaders of different nocturnal clans and supernatural races such as werewolves, angels, fairies, sages, gargoyles, cat men, Oni, and ghouls. Also in attendance were Lao Takai, Yoshiro, and Suki.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending these proceedings on such little notice. Now that you’re all gathered here, I will get to the point.” Zoratus removed a remote control device and pushed a button, bringing down a flat projection panel from the ceiling. Playing the feed, he again began to speak. “We have discovered in the past few weeks that the Dark Society has been moving to develop weapons using magical invocations.”

They all paused to view the footage of the weapons. Takai rose to speak. “As Lord Julius has stated, the Society has sought to manipulate the powers of the mystic Shirakai.”

“The Shirakai,” murmured the elders, concerned upon hearing this. Drake, the leader of the Faye, spoke with caution. “The Shirakai have been imprisoned in the dark dimension for centuries. Impossible.”

“No. They were released through an incantation; my team witnessed it,” interrupted Michael.

“This is very unsettling news for the council,” said Sokai from the Gargoyle clan.

“How have you taken care of this?” asked the werewolf.

“We recovered the Yomi Tengu from the Society’s deadliest agent, who was killed in a fight with our newest agent,” said Julius.

A beautiful red haired winged cherub stood up to speak. “Julius we are pleased to be here and proud of your organization’s success, but we have other matters of concern. Our clans are facing financial extinction from certain members of the government who do not trust our kind enough to aid them in their business affairs.”

“Luna, have you forgotten why the council was formed? Put aside thoughts of money at this moment,” replied Julius, disappointed by the cherub’s words.

“This is of great importance. We have gathered here to put our issues aside and adhere to the pact that was made,” spoke up Argos the werewolf in agreement with Julius. The other supernaturals nodded in acknowledgement.

“The Society must not be taken lightly. I agree with Lord Zoratus; we must follow these gatherings by increasing the watchers in the city and also within other cities in the other states of the nation. It has been discovered by our own clan’s agents that the Society’s movements have been traced to Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, and New York,” replied the Cat Man named Zumar, who was dressed in a business coat and tie.

“Then we all agree about what has to be done,” said Julius.

After adjourning the meeting, the other council members left the room.

“What was all that about?” asked Serena. She had been silent during the entire meeting.

“We’ve had other areas of movement of Reynard Desbode’s agents in the states. This means the Society has grown,” said Julius, concerned.

“What do you want us to do?” asked Michael. “Keep your noses to the streets in town, and keep alert. There is nothing else to discuss. You have my leave, now go,” ordered Julius.

“Yoshiro and I wish to come too,” said Suki. Lao gave Julius a look of assurance.

“Very well then, but watch your backs,” said Julius.

The group left the room to discuss the matters that had been discussed. Serena and the others stayed behind but Michael got ready to leave, to meet up with Jackie and Anthony for the job they were going to pull.

“Where are you going?” asked Serena surprised. “To keep a promise to Paulie. I’ll be back soon. Try to stay out of trouble, however if I need you I will call you,” Michael smiled to the others.

Michael, Jackie and Anthony hooked up in Anthony’s old car for the job; they were aching for action. “Sons of bitches, I can’t believe they were able to find out about the train yard,” Anthony shook his head.

“Look, who gives a rat’s ass how they found out; all we have to do is to take these pieces of shit down,” said Michael.

“You gonna call Serena and her crew?” asked Anthony.

“Absolutely,” said Michael, ready to rock. Good thing, we need a back-up team. Listen, so what are we looking at here for targets?” asked Jackie.

“I say we got about fifty minimum,” said Michael.

“Fifty! This isn’t going to be easy Mike. You do know we’re going to need some major fire power to do this job, right?” asked Jackie.

“I understand, and we’ll have the heat. I‘m giving my boy Rocko a call,” replied Michael. “What’s he going to do for us?” asked Anthony. “Supply us with the firepower, what else?” Dialing away on his cell phone he connected with Rocko, who was in the middle his nightly yoga session; Rocko’s phone rang as he was twisting his right leg around his head. “Yo!”

“It’s me Mike, listen Rock, we have a problem. I need you to do me a favor; I need some heavy weapons,” said Michael.

Rocko untangled himself into a more comfortable position, and then spoke. “Sure, let me see.”

Michael hung up his phone and ordered Anthony to head to Rocko’s while calling Serena and the others.

“We getting paid on this job, by the way?” asked Anthony.

“Anthony how the fuck could you think of money at a time like this? We’re in a Mafioso emergency here,” snapped Jackie.

“Fucking stop yammering, I’m getting some good pay for this job, I’ll give you each a hundred thousand. Does that sound good?” said Michael.

“That’s fucking beautiful; old Paulie knows how to throw his money around,” said Anthony, calmer with the knowledge of money in his mind.

“Serena it’s me. I need you and the others; do you feel up to a bit of lovely violence?” asked Michael.

“Devilish,” replied Serena on the other end. “Meet me with the others at Rocko’s pad. I’ll explain the details later,” instructed Michael.

They all met at the front entrance of Rocko’s garage just as they saw the main door being pulled up. Rocko came out dressed in an old worn set of denim jeans and a gamer shirt with his work goggles on. The vampires and the Mafioso were gathered to hear the deal.

“Hey, where are Marianna and Scarlet, Suki, and Yoshiro?” asked Michael.

“They had to stay back at headquarters to repair some equipment, don’t worry,” replied Serena.

“Thank you all for volunteering on such short notice. Now let’s screw the proper introductions and get down and dirty,” said Michael confidently as they walked through the garage to the weapons room downstairs.

“What we got here is a hit that is going to be made on the Santerini’s financial empire. I need all of you to help me destroy two trains that are coming in tonight from LA. Explosives have been rigged on these trains, I think. Our enemies plan on using it to destroy the distribution base of the Santerini goods,” said Michael.

“Michael, please, you dragged us out here for this?” said Darius, exasperated.

“Just humor me for a minute, thanks Darius,” Michael snapped back.

“Fine but it better be good man,” said Darius.

“What do we get out of this Mike? I think we don’t like being used as errand boys, it gets old after awhile, no offense I hope,” said Serena feeling slightly annoyed. “None taken,” said Michael coolly.

“Paulie is paying me three million dollars in cash for this job, you get a hundred grand each, including you too, Rock,” said Michael.

“Done!” said Darius excited.

“Good. Now that that’s settled, let’s get to work. Rocko bring over the city grid for us,” instructed Michael.

Rocko obeyed and punched in the visual map on his giant LCD computer screen.

“Okay, here’s the train yard where the first Scarfo train is coming in. The second is going to be at an old airbase that is being used as a distribution storage center for drugs,” said Michael as he pointed out the locations on the grid map. We need to hit the train before it pulls into the yard. We’re going to have dispose of the train without causing structural damage to the storehouse, so forget using a bazooka or any rocket weapons. What we’re going for is sneaky tactics using bombs. However, for cleaning the guards we’re going to need some heavy guns,” said Michael.

“How many guards?” Darius asked.

“Maybe fifty or more, I don’t fully know,” replied Michael.

“I got that department covered. Check this out, you guys,” said Rocko as he opened a crate, pulling out a long chain gun. “It’s a chain gun off an army helicopter, and I’ve modified it to act as a rifle by shortening the end of the nozzle.”

“What’s the max on this thing?” asked Serena. “About a thousand rounds, and we have two of them. They got mad spraying power. This little sucka can wipe out a small unit. It’s perfect for a job like this,” said Rocko as he cocked back the sight and loaded it.

“How are we going in?” asked Darius.

“By helicopter of course,” said Rocko, typing away at his keypad as a visual of the helicopter appeared on the screen.

“We’re using a V22-Greenburg; it’s a little old. It’s been around since the late 2000s but it’s still an amazing chopper. I managed to repair this one. I got it from my uncle, who’s a colonel in the air force. He had it as a museum piece locked in his private hanger.”

“Nice, but what about the second train?” asked Serena.

“We’re going to drop scud bombs on the train from the chopper; they’re simple artillery bombs but they should do the trick,” said Rocko as he pried open another wooden crate with a crowbar. “Darius can you fly a copter?” asked Rocko. “Sure, we’re always on top of aviation at headquarters,” replied Darius.