Insider Politics
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| Snake Charmer Saga Insider Politics |
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| Chapter One: The Next Mission | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| In his haven in the Warzone - Calloway slowly began to stir from his slumber. Not since his fiasco with that psychotic circus did he remember sleeping so soundly. He sat up and listened - there was someone in his haven. Someone using the shower. He was about to reach for his weapons when he saw a familiar headdress on the table. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Tanya?" he called out - stretching his arms out. The water stopped. A few moments later - the dancer that had spent the night made her way to where he was wearing only a towel. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Is everything okay?" she asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "More or less. How long was I out?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Sunset was a little while ago. After what you went through - I figured you needed some rest," she answered as she sat down on his lap. "How's the arm?" she asked. He looked at it and could see how mangled it was. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Same as usual," he replied. She smiled as she moved her hair to the side - exposing her neck to him. "You sure about this?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Every time you ask me - every time - the answer is the same," she replied. She smiled and nodded as she felt him bite into her neck. "Oh," she gasped as he began to drink of her blood. As he did - his wounds began to slowly heal. Once he was feeling fully healed he stopped and pulled away. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Too much?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Never," she said contently as she put her arms around him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Am I interrupting?" a voice asked. The two looked over and saw another woman that was dressed as a dancer. Tanya glared at the woman. "Hello Tanya - I didn't know you were here," she added with a smirk. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What do you want?" Calloway asked sternly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Snake sent me - when Tanya failed to return - he got worried. I should have known why she was late," the dancer mused. Tanya bared her fangs and got ready to attack - but was held back by Calloway. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If he sent you - tell me why - and leave," he requested calmly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Very well - I was told to deliver a message. It seems as though the Giovani have chosen to oppose the master. At least - the sect he tried to reason with. There are two sides in this war - they have chosen theirs. You," she began as she handed him a scroll. "Have been selected to make sure they - understand - how costly such an error can be," she added - placing the scroll in his hand. "The two of you have been spending a lot of time together. Is there something I should know about?' she asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Keep pushing," Tanya warned. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She can be so territorial. If you are worried honey - don't be. I like my men sane - not deranged. Good luck in your mission Calloway," she concluded as she walked away - vanishing into the shadows. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Deranged?" Tanya asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Luther was here when the last mission was delivered," he explained. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Still? Why didn't you tell me? I thought he was gone," she asked seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Because it wasn't important - and because I didn't want to burden you with my skeletons," he answered. She sighed as she lightly scratched her fingernails down his chest. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If that wretch of a ghost is still bothering you," she began - as he lifted her up. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I appreciate the thought - but - it is something I will deal with on my own," he reassured. She looked up at him and shook her head. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I just hate the thought of anything upsetting you - and you said he tried to kill you," she began but stopped. She had had this argument with him before - and it always went down the same way. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "When the time is right - Snake will deal with that pest," he reassured. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It has been almost ten years since I took an interest in you. In that time I have heard no mention of him even considering doing anything about it. You do so much for me I just wish you would let me do this for you," she pointed out. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You do more than enough for me as it is. I don't want you doing anything that might get you in trouble with Snake. If you did - who would have my back?" he asked with a smile. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I get the message," she replied with a sigh. "So when will you leave to start this mission?" she asked seriously. He leaned against the wall behind him and pondered for a moment. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The power base is set up on the outskirts of the Warzone. It won't take me that long to get there. I think I might have time for a shower," he replied. She smiled as she playfully wrapped her arms around his neck. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I was hoping you'd say that," she stated as they vanished back into the washroom. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Later that night - the two were outside and on the streets. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Snake didn't tell me I had to hurry back. Is it alright if I stick around?" Tanya asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You can do whatever you want. Just be sure to give me lots of space to deal with our - friends in the Giovani," he began. She walked over and kissed him on the cheek. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You'll fill me in when you get back?" she asked as she slowly walked away from him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Every single detail," he reassured as she hurried away - vanishing into the shadows of the nearest alley. He then took out the scroll that the other dancer had given him and carefully unrolled it. "The Giovani have taken up root in the Warzone. Though they have tried to keep their presence secret - I discovered their little nest. The man in charge - your target - is a man that goes by the name Samuel Giovani. Little is known about him save what he allows to be learned. The agent I last sent to him returned informing me of his flat our refusal," he read. "I need you to teach him why it is foolish to challenge the will of Set - most of what they have should pose little problem to you," he continued. "Except the spirits they command? How am I supposed to deal with ghosts?" he muttered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ghosts you say?" Luther asked. Calloway jumped back and glared at the specter that bothered him so. "Did you miss me?" he asked mockingly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Like the fucking sun I do," he muttered as he returned his attention to the scroll. "For the purpose of this - threat - and your unique," he began as a smile crept across his face. "I procured a weapon that can deal with wraiths and other spirits," he read. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You're fucking joking," Luther rebutted hesitantly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The weapon," Calloway began as he shook the metal bar that the scroll was attached to. He smiled when he heard that there was an object carried within. He unscrewed one side and tipped one end up - causing a slender dagger to slide out. The blade had a fine edge that would most like shatter if used against anything physical. On the handle were numerous runes. "Hey Casper - come here for a moment," he requested. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You must think I'm as dumb as you look. Last time I trusted you I got a knife in my back - no check that - two knives," Luther replied. Calloway smiled as he looked at the unnatural glow that was emanating from the weapon. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "For five decades - five long decades - you have been a thorn in my side - and now - I have the means to rid you from both mine and the master's life," Calloway hissed. Luther smiled as he backed away from the vampire that was stalking him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I can see now is a bad time - I'll talk to you later," he concluded as he vanished. Calloway - for the first time since he met that unpleasant specter - was actually disappointed to see him leave. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And stay away you fucking pest!" he shouted as he sheathed the weapon. "With your skills - that weapon - I have little doubt that our good friend Samuel will meet our justice," he read as he looked at the back of the scroll. On it was a roughly drawn map of the grounds that the Giovani were using. "Thank you Snake - I won't let you down," he said as he studied the map so that he would know what his first move would be. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be Continued... | |||||||||||||||||||||||