Jack Payton

[Jack Payton]

At The Bottom

New London megalopolis was covering most of the planet's surface. Like many cities of this size it was incredibly diverse. From rich quarters belonging to aristocracy and business sharks, through vast suburbans inhabited by the middle class, to endless slums and districts of poverty, Brixton was the worst of them. Here beggars, bounty hunters, criminals, mercenaries and various lowlifes lived in a devilish equilibrium of aggression and fear. Possession of firearms in accordance with Bretonian traditions was strictly prohibited on the planet's surface. However, there was nobody to enforce it in Brixton, as Bretonia Police Authority was usually keeping their ground patrols out of this Godforsaken hellhole. And even if there was a patrol there, it would most likely ignore two armed man who were walking down Barnwell road.

- It should be somewhere here, Sir - a young man said after checking the map on his wrist PDA. His companion, tall and little beer bellied man in his mid forties, nodded in silence. It was eight o'clock in the morning, but it was dark as sun could barely reach lower tiers of the city. Street was empty excluding a mumbling beggar lying on a sidewalk. Occasional drops of rain were rarefying pool of vomits in which he was lying. Two men crossed over the beggar and approached the doors leading to a block of cheap flats. Young man chose a button on an entry phone but there was no answer.
- So what is so special about this one, Sir? - young man asked his superior.
- He was quite famous ten years ago, Pete. You're too young to remember it, but he was a co-leader of a death squadron, White Eagles, which wiped out Totenengels - older man replied.
- Totenengels? - young man called Pete wasn't really a big fan of history.
- Angels of Death. The Nomad War seriously weakened all the four houses. But it was Rheinland that got hit the hardest. It was not even because they lost their whole fleet. What was even more important, their military efforts brought the economy on the brink of collapse. To avoid bankruptcy, Rheinland government frozen prices and completely cut social expenses. High unemployment, general poverty and weakness of the governmental forces were perfect environment for crime to flourish. Numerous gangs were terrorizing civilians, paralyzing trade and bringing chaos to Rheinland. Angels of Death were the worst of them - older man explained patiently.
- So who they were? - Pete got interested by the story.
- Mostly Rheinlanders and some Kusarians, I think. They were specializing in smuggling cardamine between Sigma-13 and New Berlin long before Corsairs and Unioners finally cut it out, of course not refraining from occasional piracy and assassinations. They had hideout somewhere in Sigma-13. That is why Rheinland Federal Police couldn't risk a diplomatic scandal so shortly after the war with Kusari. So they hired White Eagles. There were six of them, I think. Angles had three times more pilots. I don't know the details of this operation, but I think they were observing their movements for a long time before they set up a trap. Can you imagine? They put a freighter with a nuclear device sending a distress call from the inside of a small gas pocket cloud. When Angels sent their raiding party to intercept it, White Eagles remotely detonated the bomb. Explosion ignited the whole cloud to go nova atomizing every ship within one hundred clicks. Shortly after White Eagles launched an attack on Angels' hideout killing everyone there- Pete's superior had a certain pleasure from telling this story, especially that nobody was answering the call.
- So why I haven't heard about them? - young bounty hunter inquired.
- Well, they became famous and got contracts all over Sirius. Bretonia, Liberty, Rheinland, even Kusari and Omicrons. For two years White Eagles were dancing waltz with the death. But the most funny thing about our profession is that, when you become famous for killing someone, someone else want to be famous for killing you. Eventually luck left them and they got massacred. Only one of them survived...

***



***

Leo Getz was a fixer. A damn good one too. In underworld he earned a reputation as a good source of information and a reliable job broker. Leo was happy. Recently he earned quite a lot of credits. Two or three more jobs and he could retire. Leo finished shaving in a bathroom of his apartment in Los Angeles. When he was cleaning his face with water, he saw something in a mirror. He turned back and his face turned pale.
- Good evening, Leo - he heard before a punch knocked him unconscious. He woke up ten minutes later when cold water hit his face. He couldn't move as he was strapped to an armchair.
- You look like you have seen a ghost, Leo - said a man sitting in front of him.
- What... you're doing... Payton? - Leo stuttered. He was terrified.
- I am very bad liar, you know. So I will be honest with you. I am going to kill you tonight... - Payton wanted to continue his speech, but it was interrupted by a terrifying howl.
- Help! Someone help me! - Leo was screaming.
- Don't waste your breath, Leo. I placed sound dampeners all over your flat - said Payton - Calm down, Leo. Take a deep breath - he paused, and then inhaled and exhaled - That's right. There is no reason to panic. You cannot prevent it. Everything is beyond your control now - Payton was slowly breaking Leo.
- What do you want? I don't know anything! - Leo was trying to defend himself.
- Do you mind if I smoke? - Payton asked and lit a cigarette - You see, you sold us out, Leo. Last job was a fake. We got ambushed. You know this, of course. Now you will tell me everything you know about the people who hired you to do this. All right? - Payton drawn a cigarette.
- I don't know what you're talking about! - Leo started to panic.
- You disappoint me, Leo - Payton quickly draw out a knife and cut fixer's little finger. Without a delay he used a lighter to stop the bleeding. Leo was screaming at the top of his lungs. After a while screaming was replaced by sobbing. Payton gave Leo his cigarette.
- There is no point in dragging this any longer. Just tell me what I want to know - Payton sounded like a best friend trying to help his mate. He let Leo to finish the cigarette.
- I don't know much... - fixer was shaking - I was paid by Vincent Gallo. He was my contact. He works for the Lane Hackers. But I don't know who hired him for this job. I promise, I don't know anything more - he explained.
- I believe you. I will have a chat with this Gallo - Payton said calmly and drawn out his sidearm.
- Please, Payton. I am sorry, I am so sorry. Don't kill me, please! - Leo pleaded for his life.
- Leo - Payton paused - Have a decency.
Leo broke into tears and closed his eyes. He was shaking but said nothing more. Payton put the gun at his head, looked the other way, and pulled the trigger. Leo was dead, but it was only the beginning.

***



***

- Sir, I think we will need to look for this guy somewhere else - said Pete after another unsuccessful call.
- You're wrong, Pete. We already found him. Check whether he has a keycard - said Pete's superior while pointing out a man lying on the sidewalk. Pete crouched near him and without concealing repulsion carried out the order.
- I've found it, sir! - Pete reported quickly. They swiftly opened the door, grabbed the lying man and dragged him into a bathtub in his flat. Older man turned on cold water and aimed the stream at drunkard's face.
- What the frakk?! - a man in a bathtub woken up but was disoriented.
- Jack Payton? - older man asked.
- Yeah... And who the frakk you are, mister? - Payton held his head. He barely came out of the bathtub and was tottering. He looked around and finally found a toothbrush lying on the floor.
- Walter Sobchak, your new employer - older man said. He was getting angry.
- It's a pleasure to meet you, sir - Payton slurred while he was brushing his teeth.
- Listen to me, you piece of junk! I don't care who you were and what you did. Maybe ten years ago you had some balls. Now you're nothing more than a drunken piece of sh**, begging for escort missions like a syphilitic prostitute for a customer. The Guild is drawing more and more forces out to the Omicrons. This is a chance for unassociated hunters. I am offering you your life back, goddammit! But if you won't pull yourself together, for all I care, you can rot here - Walter outburst in his characteristic way.
- Aye aye, sir. Will do, sir. Now get the frakk out of here and let me take a shower!

written by Guszaban

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This character is retired. Associated forum account is disabled.