Settling a Grievance: Chapter 9
06 Aug 2016LordPsymon
Previous chapterSettling a Grievance: Chapter 9
“Pull the pin now and lob that thing as soon as the airlock opens,” Benny instructed as the silhouette figures started opening the airlock.
There was a loud hiss as I removed the pin from the grenade, keeping my grip on the fuse lever tight. I silently nodded in agreement.
The airlock door opened finally, and a group of men, six in total slowly started striding through, wearing grungy outfits and carrying small machine guns, while a bald, slightly tanned man entered after them, the same man that was on the Black Omega bulletin, Reck himself. His demeanour was calm and collected as his eyes darted around the area, not yet aware of our positions.
“Right boys, tread lightly in this one. Whoever occupies this ship has to be worth a lot of money.”
I made eye contact with Benny once more, who nodded in approval.
“Now,” he whispered.
Gently I rolled the flashbang toward the small crowd.
“Shield your eyes amigo!”
“Son of a…”
There was a bright flash and loud bang, startling the raiding party and causing them to raise their hands to their eyes in agony as they struggled to regain their vision. Benito burst from his cover, firing a couple of shots at the men. There was two thuds as their heavy bodies hit the metal floor.
“Boss, it’s a fucking trap! They ain’t even in trouble!” One of the men yelled.
“Bullshit. You think this is the first time we’ve encountered resistance on a raid? Those men can be replaced. Get moving!” Reck yelled.
Benny signalled my attention, making eye contact once more. “We split up amigo. I’ll try and draw his henchmen while you head to the cargo bay.”
I nodded in agreement. “Right. I’ll meet you there.”
I peered around the corner once more, and could see that the raiding party had begun to regain their composure after the grenade.
“Wish me luck, Benny.”
Benny smiled. “Don’t go killing Reck without me, mano.”
Benito once again left cover, this time allowing the raiders to see him before he darted off down the corridor.
“That way! I saw someone,” one of them yelled.
“Two of you follow him!” Two of the men jogged in the direction of Benny as Reck signalled the remaining raider to follow. “We’ll search the rest of the ship. He cannot be alone in here.”
God damn it.
Without thinking I fired off a few rounds at Reck and his henchman before darting toward the cargo bay, unsure if any of my shots had hit anyone. I could hear the rattling of gunfire behind me and shouting between volleys of bullets. I kept moving until I finally reached the cargo bay and took cover behind an empty container to catch my breath.
I really did not think this through, I thought as I breathed rapidly.
I peered over the container, the two men were running through the doorway to the cargo bay, their heads darted around, searching for me. I sat back down, gripping the gun firmly in both hands.
Loud end toward the bad guys.
A wave of calm took over and my breathing slowed. I stood up slowly and took aim at Reck’s henchman, firing four rounds into the man, taking two shots to the chest, one in the arm and a final shot to his throat. His hand raised to his throat as he gargled and coughed before collapsing to the floor, blood pooling beneath his lifeless body.
Reck turned to me in shock.
“You! Son of a bitch!”
He raised his weapon at me and I turned my aim toward him.
“Put your gun down, slave! Unfortunately I cannot kill you, but don’t think I won’t inflict pain on you. Bisley needs you alive for me to get paid.”
I scoffed. “Well that sucks, Bisley is dead, and I guess that makes your paycheck dead with him.”
Reck paused for a moment and his face turned to a menacing grin.
“Well then, I guess I am free to kill you after all.”
He took aim at my head. I pulled the trigger of my gun, but there was nothing but a click.
Fuck! Talk about bad timing!
“This will teach other slaves not to fuck with-”
There was a loud bang, and everything went white while my ears rang. I covered my eyes, scrunching my eyelids, trying to gain composure.
Slowly the cargo bay came back into view and I could see a blurry silhouette of Benito pointing his gun to Reck’s head while holding him by the scruff of his jacket. The muffled speech as a result of the loud bang quickly came back into focus.
“It’s about time I caught up with you, pendejo! I’ve spent a long time wanting to stick a bullet in that skull of yours.”
I squinted, trying to focus on what was going on.
“I have to thank my amigo here,” he pointed toward me, “for helping me track you down. You were an elusive man, that’s for sure.”
Reck remained calm, despite having a gun pushed right into his temple. His gun lay at his feet.
“Well, aren’t you clever, getting the drop on me. But you don’t have it in you to kill me, Santiago.”
Benito spat on Reck’s face, causing him to flinch slightly.
“I had it in me to kill all your henchmen, asshole. You’re no different. I will finally get justice for my sister.”
The menacing grin returned to Reck’s face. “Go on then, coward.”
Benny’s finger tensed on the trigger as rage took over his expression. My vision returned to normal and I looked at Reck, who was certain that he would not have the guts to shoot him.
Wait, what if we…
“Benny! Stop!” I yelled.
The olive skinned man turned his head toward me. “Amigo, you know as well as I that this man deserves nothing less than a slug in his brain.”
I strode toward the two men, Reck still held firmly by Benny.
“I have a better idea,” I said.
Am I really going to suggest this?
Benny’s brow furrowed. “What could possibly be a better idea than killing him?!”
“We take him to Black Omega, alive…”
Reck’s menacing expression turned to a slight hint of fear. “Black Omeg-”
I whacked the barrel of the gun against his cheek.
“Be quiet, you!” I yelled. “Benny, I want this asshole dead. But…”
“But what?” he interrupted.
My lips curled into a slight smile. “Turning him in alive, that has to be worse than death. I think it’s time he experienced the misery he put countless others through.”
Benny paused for a moment, and then nodded. “Hmm, perhaps you are right amigo. Perhaps Black Omega will give him a taste of his own medicine.”
He lowered his gun, firmly pulling Reck toward him. “You hear that, pendejo? You’re going to be spending the rest of whatever life you have left in a Black Omega camp.”
The fear on Reck’s face grew. “You two are fucking insane!”
Benny pushed Reck toward me and I grabbed the back of his jacket, pushing him forward firmly while Benny kept his gun pointed at his head. He attempted to struggle to free himself from my grip, but Benny smacked the top of his head with the back of his gun. Reck’s struggling ceased and he mellowed out from the shock of the impact.
“We’ll take him to an escape pod then put him in stasis.” I said.
Bringing Reck to an escape was easy in his dazed state. I turned him toward me then pushed him into the pod, quickly closing the door in front of him. Despite being dazed, his muffled yelling could be heard through the window as a needle pierced his neck, injecting the stasis drugs. He fought the drugs for as long as he could, but after a few minutes, the yelling stopped and his eyes closed slowly.
I stepped back from the pod and breathed a sigh of relief. For once, I felt powerful, like I was in control. Benny’s eyes remained fixed on the man inside the pod.
“I hope Black Omega is as keen on your idea as you are amigo,” he said doubtfully.
I nodded slightly. “I hope so too, but a bullet to the head is too kind for a man like him.”
He gestured toward the bridge. “Well, let’s head to Tjakiri. We have a bounty to claim.”
We sat in silence for several minutes as I plotted a course for the Tjakiri system. I turned to Benny, who was sitting quietly in the co-pilot’s seat.
“There’s something you ain’t telling me, Benny. You’ve never come across as the type to show such rage. You’ve always been so calm.”
His gaze remained fixed outside the canopy window.
“That son of a bitch took my sister from me a few years ago,” he said, his voice was grim. “Her name was Valeria. She was barely nineteen.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I replied.
The man lit a cigarette and took a long drag. “Like you, I was on a ship that was hit by one of his raids. I was taking her on a trip to celebrate her birthday, then him and his goons attacked. They took plenty of people as slaves, and killed just as many. I watched helplessly as they gunned her down trying to flee the chaos.”
He took another long drag of the cigarette.
“I’ll never forgive myself for what happened to her. I got away, but I should have protected her. I thought bringing down Reck might help give me some peace of mind.”
I stood up from my seat. “Well, we got him. Has it given you any?”
Benny sat back for a moment, sadness and relief fighting for the dominant expression.
“In time, amigo. Nothing will bring Valeria back, but now we have brought justice against the man who took her from me.” He looked up. “So, now you know why I was so willing to come along for the hunt.”
I nodded. “It all makes sense now. It sounds like a drink is in order, amigo.”
Benny laughed slightly. “Music to my ears.”