was truly ready. And so she let her power reach out...
...and it nullified the circuits of every telephone...the batteries of every cellular phone
...every hard drive of every computer and laptop in the Hot Biscuit that could be used to communicate to the outside world. Her power reached out even further, for she wished to take no chances, and it nullified the computer and electrical systems of the vehicles of those who patronized and worked in the club. Time was all-important, not
simply to delay her enemies' discovery of what she had done, but to give Yuki and her
servants time enough to find sanctuary, to begin to gather an army that would serve her.
Yuki knew exactly where to go next...but first things first.
"I wish to change my clothes," Yuki said.
"I'll take you to the dressing rooms upstairs," Delilah said. "You'll definitely find
something there.
Danny asked, "What about the others upstairs? They may not have the situation
contained."
"I have faith in them," Yuki responded. "It will be well."
thing out of one of those first-person shooter video games T-Bone loved to play. The
gangstas had to scramble on all fours in opposite directions as bullets tore through the
leather and upholstery of the sofa they found cover behind. Bullets zinged just above them as they each found new cover, and they got back into it. Two more enforcers
died, which left a young turk who looked like something out of one of those damn pop-
idol boy bands Mad Dawg hated so much. It turned out the little dumbass ran out of
bullets. Dawg was tempted to shoot him anyway since he looked so much like Justin
Timberlake, but he remembered what Yuki told them: "If any present a threat, kill them. But if they surrender, let them live. When you are done, do not let anyone leave
this place."
Back in the short entrance hall, an emergency door opened and Donnie poked his head out nervously. He was acting as a scout for Lee and the cashier, a young blonde
woman, who both hid behind the door. Donnie hadn't heard any shooting for about a
minute, and figured maybe the coast was clear. He turned away from the hall to Lee and the cashier. "I think it's okay," he hissed. "Let's go!" But when he turned to look into the hall again, he found a Beretta pointed between his eyes.
On the other end was T-Bone, smiling. He said, "Howdy, campers!"
They had been forced to gather in one corner of the dressing room, most of them still
naked, by Delilah at gunpoint. A deadly glare from Danny Choi had helped her and her
magnum keep them there. As they kept the dancers under control, Yuki quickly washed her face and changed her clothes in the nearby bathroom. She found new clothes that would have to do: a jet-black sleeved stocking dress. There was nothing else less garish...or more conservative. She flatly disregarded the fuck-me shoes with
the ridiculously high heels owned by the same dancer, preferring for the time being to
go barefoot.
Yuki looked at herself once again in the mirror, made sure her face and hair were clean of blood so as not to attract unwanted attention. A part of her wondered why she
bothered. She would ensure that so much more blood would be spilled, and very soon.
So much blood it would flow like a river.
They left the dressing room and locked the dancers inside. Delilah carried Yuki's
sword and Danny hauled a loaded trash bag as they walked behind Yuki into the show-
room. T-Bone and Mad Dawg had everyone in the place seated on the edge of the massive stage, under their guns. Mad Dawg was finishing giving the collective orders,
as Yuki asked him to do before they arrived. "We're gonna leave, and you may be tempted to try to call 911 or some shit! A word to the wise, motherfuckers: DON'T! Don't try to fuckin' call anybody, don't any of you try to fuckin' LEAVE this place screamin' like pussies! We got ourselves homeboys out there, and they're what you'd call layin' in fuckin' wait! They're waitin' fo' us to go, and after we do they're gonna wait two hours! Two hours so we get away and out of your lives! If ANY of you bastards try ANYTHING, you try to go ANYWHERE to call the five-oh or Roccoli's boys, ANY fucking body FOR THE NEXT TWO HOURS, my boys WILL catch you, and they'll walk your dumb ass back in and EXECUTE YOU ALL WITH EXTREME FUCKIN' PREJUDICE!" Mad Dawg looked at Yuki, who glanced at the sole surviving
enforcer and then gave the gangsta a slight nod. Dawg then shouted, "And how they gonna fucking do it? Just like THIS!"
Without warning, Dawg walked up to the nearby turk they had spared minutes before, put his gun to the young man's temple, and blew his brains out. The gangsta
scanned the horrified faces of the assembled hostages. "And THAT, assholes, is a
picture that says a thousand words!"
Yuki and her servants left the club. No one they left behind followed. None of them had even dared to move...for two hours, anyway.
Outside, the group joined Ace and Bennie J. Danny looked at Bennie, who was still in
the 300C's back seat. He lifted the trash bag to the window and said to the skinny gangsta, "I think this is yours."
Bennie thought excitedly, My shit! Finally he had his clothes back...but the moment he opened the bag, he saw they were returned to him covered in blood. Even his Nikes.
He groaned, "Aw hell, no!"