Maniacs The Krittika Conflict

CHAPTER 14



"Come on!" Viktor roared.

Hunter was looking tired and blood gushed from both his mouth and nose, but Viktor's face was swelling up from strikes too, and they were both beginning to slow. Vik's smile weighed heavily on Hunter psychologically - he couldn't break his opponent. Viktor wasn't much of a technical fighter or one who would put on much of a pretty display, but he was a veteran brawler.

The Sergeant quickly jabbed twice at Viktor who took the punches and answered them with a hard hook that Hunter was too tired to avoid. He staggered back from the strike but came right back at him with a kick to the inside of Viktor's knee. It wobbled his leg slightly. Hunter continued forward to press the advantage and drove in with a knee. It never connected; Viktor struck him hard with a straight punch that threw his upper body back while his legs still went forward. He slammed hard into the ground, but Viktor wasn't done with him.

He grabbed the Sergeant by the collar and hauled him to his feet. Hunter tried to punch to the ribs but was met with a headbutt to the face. It burst his already bleeding nose. Viktor stepped forward, grabbed Hunter, rotated him fully, and dropped him on his head. The Sergeant's neck snapped as he hit the floor, and his body went limp. Viktor let go, allowing it to slump down in front of him.

Vik wiped the sweat and blood from his face and then smiled in response. It was the most fun he'd had all day, but a relief having won.



* * *





Volkov was running down the corridors of his ruined palace, hoping to find any of his militia.

"Hunter?" he whispered. "Sergeant Hunter?"

He called but no response came.

"F*ck, f*ck," he said quietly to himself. He heard gunfire and turned to look down a long room and smiled. He thought he'd found allies and got moving, only to stop dead as he saw Erin and Liu fighting frantically. He turned back to change direction but had the shock of his life to find Mason standing before him.

"No where left to run, Colonel."

Volkov saw Mason's hands were empty. The only gun he had was holstered at his side. He smiled as he took a firmer grip on the multi-laser he was carrying.

"You're a little outgunned, don't you think?"

"Size isn't everything. You know how to use yours?"

Volkov took his opportunity and lifted the weapon to fire, but Mason's gun was out of the holster and lighting up the room before he could even take aim. Volkov yelped as a shot hit his gun and burnt the back of his right hand. The gun fell from his hands.

"F*ck!" he screamed, spinning around in pain. "What are we even doing this for? I offered you everything you could have ever dreamed of!"

"You've taken what can never be replaced."

"And you've killed too. Let's not forget who started the killing?"

"Tell it to someone who cares."

"What are they paying you for this job? Twenty?"

"Ten."

Volkov laughed.

"Ten? I'll give you twenty just to walk out of here and leave this world."

"A nice offer, but you see, here’s the problem. I took a job, and I'm gonna finish it."

Volkov shook his head and then flicked his wrist. A small pocket gun slid out from his sleeve. He fired before Mason noticed what was going on. The shot hit his right arm, forcing him to release the grip on his pistol. As the second shot came at his head, he ducked and rolled forward, launching him into Volkov. He knocked them both to the floor.

Mason reached down and took a hold of the gun and its fragile fixing, ripped it from his wrist, and threw it aside. His right arm felt weak, but he was ignoring it with all his strength. Volkov had drawn Mason's knife and thrust it towards him. He got a lock on his wrist in time, striking him twice in the head to make him loosen his grip. The Captain got up and threw the knife aside.

"Every cheap play in the book. You're no man. You're pathetic," Mason sneered.

He let Volkov get to his feet and take a stance. Although he was certainly trained, Mason didn't care.

"Why not take the money? Retire, buy a place like this, and live how you want to live?" he asked.

"Time for talk is over. It's time for you to answer for what you have done."

"And you think you are the man to do it?"

He rushed forward, driving a surprisingly quick snap kick into Mason's stomach and a knee into the side of his head. Mason stumbled across the room, gathering his composure.

"Good, I thought this was gonna be too easy."

Volkov came at him once against, first with a punch. Mason got a lock on it, collapsed his elbow in at the joint, and drove a hard knee into his abdomen. He recovered quickly and spun out of the lock, kicked Mason's knee out from behind, and took a chokehold. It was a hard hold, and Mason was already starting to feel the air being restricted. He reached back to punch Volkov in the head but couldn't get any power into the strike.

Mason's vision was starting to blur, and he could feel the energy being sapped out his body.

No way, he told himself.

He drove his elbow into Volkov's side twice. It didn’t force him to release his grip but was enough to gain some room to manoeuvre. He stamped down on Volkov's foot with all the strength he could muster and crushed his toes. Through the pain, his grip weakened slightly. Mason reached back, took a hold of his hair, and yanked him overhead. He was thrown over Mason's shoulder and crashed down onto the floor.

The wind was blasted out of Volkov's lungs, but Mason went down on one knee and took some deep breaths. He watched as Volkov got to his feet and tried to run towards a stairway. Mason staggered to his feet and rushed after the Colonel. He reached him as he got to the top of the stairs and barged into him. They both crashed through a large window at the top of the stairs.

They burst out from the first floor window of the inner courtyard and were showered in glass. Mason had only a second to see what they were heading for, an open swimming pool. They crashed into the water, narrowly missing the hard edges that would have split their skulls open.

Volkov was up first, wading through the water to the shallow ramp to get out, but Mason was close behind. He leapt forward, managing to catch the back of his shirt and drag them both under. Volkov turned and fought back with a flurry of shots as they re-surfaced, but Mason blocked the first two, hitting with a straight punch and immediately following with an elbow. The impact landed hard and stunned the Colonel.

Mason grabbed a hold of his head before he could recover and smashed it down on the edge of the pool. He immediately pulled it back and did the same again. Volkov's head split open and blood gushed out into the water. A third time made sure, and Mason let go. Volkov's body floated out across the water. Blood continued to spread out all around the two of them.

He looked up. Erin was standing at a doorway ten metres in front of him and looking in horror. He thought she was appalled by the brutality, but the next words out of her mouth surprised him.

"You okay?"

He nodded in agreement and strode up the ramp, the bloody water dripping from him. Footsteps approached from the opposite side to Erin. Mason watched as half a dozen militiamen appear at the doorway. They stopped, looking in shock at the blood filled pool and floating body of their leader. Mason glared at them with murderous intent, but he also knew unarmed he was in trouble if they were to keep fighting.

"It's over. Go home," he stated.

They were still stunned and uncertain of what to do.

"You heard the man!" yelled Viktor.

He appeared at a first floor window, opposite the one the Captain had fallen from. Viktor held the massive gun he had taken from the armoury and looked all too happy for the opportunity to use it. Mason looked back at the soldiers and could already hear the sound of their guns touching the ground. They hurriedly left without another word.

"They were gonna surrender to me!" Mason shouted.

"Yeah, when a man's got a gun trained on me, I'd rather be sure. They just needed a little convincing."

Liu hobbled in and stood by Erin.

"You finish it?" he asked before he could see the evidence for himself.

"Little dramatic, don't you think?" he asked, looking at the blood pool.

Mason sighed in relief, "It's over."

"Shame, it was starting to get fun," added Viktor.

"What now?" asked Erin.

"We collect our payment."



* * *





They rolled back into town in Volkov's personal wagon. It had comfy seats and a great air conditioning system, but the mirrored windows meant nobody could see inside as they came in from the east. Many of the town’s people were out and had already begun the clean up. Most stopped and stared at the vehicle. They reached the bar, and Mitchell was on guard. He had a table set up with a heavy weapon resting on the table. He took careful aim at their approach. The doors opened, and he dropped the stock of the weapon and smiled.

"Holy shit."

He got up to greet them but was still a little unsteady on his feet. Viktor helped Liu out and dragged him along with little effort at all.

"They're back!"

The others came out to greet them. Andrews supported Hughes, and Hella looked like she was recovering from the world's worst hang over.

"You kill him?"

"Damn straight, Hell!"

"So it's over?" asked Hughes.

He looked around the town and the bodies and debris still strewn about.

"For us, yes. But there's one more thing we have to do."

Fifteen minutes later, they were riding out of town with the Boss’ body for burial. None of the town’s folk were with them, but they were happy to keep it to their crew only.

"Where'd you want to do this?" Liu asked.

Mason looked around and saw a lone tree, the only significant feature of the landscape.

"There." He turned the copter.

"Think he'd want it this way?"

"I don't think he'd care much how we do it, only that we're here for his send off."

The tone was unsurprisingly sombre as they drew up to the tree.

"You know what to do," said Mason.

He, Liu, and Vik grabbed shovels and started digging. They could have used machinery from the town to do it, but it felt impersonal. It took a solid hour of sweating to dig up the dry ground before they could finally lay his body to rest. They covered the grave back over until it was barely noticeable the ground had ever changed.

"No gravestone?"

"He wouldn't care for it, Erin."

Mason took up position in front of the grave to say a last few words.

"Ed Carter, the Boss. Best man I ever knew. Took me in, taught me to be what I am today. Most importantly, he was there when we needed him. He died just as he lived, fighting for us all."

Nobody else had a word to say as they reflected on his death. The stood silently for a few minutes, and finally turned back to the vehicles.

"What now?" asked Erin.

"Andrews is making the last few repairs to the Lady, and we're out of here."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that. But not before they deliver payment."

They rode back to the ship and found a few dozen people from the town waiting for them. Nolan Machesky was at the head and Kaper just to his side. He carried a case they knew would be full of the money they had fought hard to earn. Mason stepped up to collect.

"I want to thank you for all you have done."

"We destroyed your town."

"No, it was already falling apart. Whatever damage was done today can be fixed with half the money Volkov was stealing from us in a month."

He passed over the case of money. Mason thought for a moment of giving some of it back, but then he was reminded of the hardships they had faced to get it. He took it with a smile, handed it to Liu to take care of.

"I can't say I want to come back here anytime soon, but I wish you every luck."

"We're free to go about our lives as we always wanted, Captain, like you do. Good luck and safe journey."

Mason nodded and looked up at the ship. It was still partly imbedded in the dusty surface from when they made their emergency landing.

"Yeah, I hope so."

The locals passed through them and shook their hands. They climbed into their vehicles, returning to get on with rebuilding their town.

"I'm gonna miss this place," Viktor said.

They all looked at him to clarify his meaning.

"Really?" asked Hughes.

"No," he quickly replied.

They laughed, and it was a welcome break and return to the status quo.

"Seems a shame to leave that truck," said Viktor, pointing to Volkov's luxury armoured vehicle.

"If you want to settle here and keep it, you're more than welcome, but that shit stays off my boat," Mason said sternly.

He lifted up his comms unit. "Andrews, how much longer?"

"Should be about ready."

Mason looked to Mitchell.

"I'm on it."

He rushed up the ramp towards the cockpit.

"With any luck, we're getting outta here. Liu, get Mily loaded up. Let's go."

A minute later, the engines pulsated and fired up to cheers from most of the crew. Mason looked down the ramp for one last time when he noticed a dust cloud with a single vehicle approaching. It was a Marshals’ copter. He waited for them to disembark. They stepped up towards the ramp to address him. Three men came forward in a scene reminiscent of the last time they failed.

"Captain Mason?"

"Who's asking?"

"Deputy Willows. I have a warrant for the arrest of Captain Max Mason and crew for murder, attempted murder, trespassing, and quite frankly, a whole host of other offences. Are you Captain Mason?"

"I think you already know that, son."

"Then come peacefully. You are to stand trial before an Alliance court for your crimes."

Mason smiled and turned around to the others. Liu stood beside him, and he noticed one of Andrew’s pain grenades in his webbing. He lifted up his comms unit.

"Mitchell, prepare for lift off in five."

He turned around, grabbed hold of the grenade as he did, twisted the arming cap, and lobbed it into the middle of them. The engines roared, and the ship lifted off as the grenade ignited. The three men disappeared into a cloud of white dust. Mason could hear them coughing and screaming as they gained altitude, and he hit the door ramp button.

"Didn't anybody tell 'em not to play with fire?" Liu grinned.

He turned around. The others were waiting for his word now they were finally on their way.

"Nice work, all of you. As always, I have a line on a few jobs. But for now, we've got ten million credits to spend and nowhere we need to be."

Liu pulled out beers from a crate and tossed them out. They clashed them together.

"To the Boss, to us, and to making money!" said Mason.

Liu looked around the room at the rag tagged group of mercenaries they had assembled and smiled. They had become a family in the short time they had worked together. He lifted up his beer.

“To Mason’s Maniacs!”