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The Mercenary _is the first arc of The Underground series

Chapter 9 of 32_

Xero Hour

The bass shook the whole establishment as the house music reverberated throughout the establishment. Beams of light came and went, lighting the whole place, then sent it spiraling back into darkness. The pastel colors bounced off the glass tables, which broke into shards of visible light, creating a rainbow effect.

The dance floor, constructed entirely out of glass, transformed from color to color with the beats of the music, switching from blue, to red, to yellow and so on. Furs of every shade, color, species, texture, and design crowded the floor, grinding against each other on the pretext that it was dancing. Their sweaty bodies rubbed against each other, moving to the beat of the house music, almost in some kind of pre-mating ritual.

Made it hard as hell to track someone down.

Alias was able to infiltrate Club Xero easily enough; blending in was a different story. All he knew was that he was looking for a female fox, other than that he was in the dark. Alias knew he was grasping at straws here. If Atir were to spot him before he found her, or get to her before he could; game over. Alias would either lose his life or a nice bargaining chip. He scanned the area for foxes of any kind, but in the mob of people on the dance floor it was next to impossible to see anyone. Alias sat at the bar, keeping an eye out for any of Atir's men. He had the jump on them since they needed time to scramble. Alias had headed straight for the club after he hatched this scheme.

After sitting and watching vixens from the bar, Alias began to doubt his decision. He didn't have a name, fur color; nothing, He was running on a species and gender. Alias pushed back from the bar and got on his feet. Feeling rather stupid, he paid his tab and began to exit. He didn't even have a name to shout out. His feet led him to the to the exit, his brain trying to produce another plan to save his fur had thought it all the way through. He wasn't so much worried about those coming after him, but didn't like the idea of having a crime lord putting a hit on him, because it would never end. Alias needed to find some way to get the ball back in his-

Alias stopped dead in his tracks only for a moment before dodging around a corner. Outside talking to the bouncer, Atir and his posse waited. Alias reached for his pistol, secured at his side; however thought better of it. If he played his cards right he could still come out on top of this situation. Looking to his left, Alias noticed a storage room. His paw went to the handle, twisting it he found it to be unlocked and the black fox slipped inside.

Peeking out from the closet he saw Atir and his cronies gather in a group before entering the main area of the club. One by one each of them broke off to search the club for this vixen that was such a big deal. The fox's keen eye caught the coyote walking toward him. He looked like a rough brute; fur mangled and easily twice Alias's size. Alias backed away from the door and hid in the darkness. He watched the bottom of the door as the coyote stepped past it.

Alias sprang into action, throwing open the door, and wrapping his arms around the coyote's neck and pulled backwards, forcing the hapless canine back into the closet. Caught off guard, the coyote struggled and squirmed; trying to regain control of the situation. Alias's arm tightened around his neck, cutting off the blood supply. Then in one fluid motion, Alias's free hand reached around, catching the coyote by the chin and jerked brutally back in the opposite direction. The coyote's arms flinched violently as his neck shattered, and Alias dropped the body to the floor.

Discretely shutting the door, Alias began to search the corpse for anything that may help him. Alias quickly plucked the coyote's earpiece that Atir was using to communicate. Patting down the dead body, Alias thought it strange to send so many after one vixen. Flipping over the left arm, Alias felt like he struck gold. Down the sleeve was a plastic cover over the forearm containing a picture of a young female fox for quick reference.

Alias studied the picture.

On primary appraisal, Alias guess that she was approximately his age, late teens or early twenties, had the clothes and styles that made him think she must be made of money, very attractive, and...blue? She had a fur coat that was a dark blue. Alias shook his head. Couldn't people be happy with their natural fur and not go running off to dye it some ridiculous color?

Whatever.

Alias got back to his feet and slid out the door into the craziness of Club Xero. The good thing was it literally made her a painted target, much more easier to track down.

"Recovery One, what's your status?"

Alias stopped, and raised his paw to his ear, pushing the earpiece close to block out the ambient noise. Alias recognized the voice, it was Atir.

"Recovery One, no visual."

Alias began a quick walk following the wall around the main section of Club Xero. He had to hurry; keen eyes scanning the crowd.

"Recovery Team, target is a female fox, late teens, early twenties, distinguished by a coat of blue. Repeat, early twenties female fox, obtain, do not engage."

A drunken mink fell backwards, slamming into Alias. Pushing the mink off of him, the fox knew he had very little time to find her. He passed the bars and moved closer to the dance floor. He constantly had to duck behind pillars and turn the other way when one of Atir's wolves would get too close. He wasn't sure if they would even recognize him, but Alias wasn't willing to take the risk.

At first he thought it was the lights of the club messing with his eyes, but on a second take, Alias turned around to see a blue vixen walking across the club, back towards the bar. She was dressed casually, but elegantly with her hair of a lighter turquoise cascading down her back, which accented her fur color. It was her, he didn't have to check the picture. She leaned against the bar, slender figure accented by the club's lighting. Alias moved quickly through the crowded Club Xero over to the bar where she leaned against the bar, waiting to order.

Mentally prepping himself for the act he would have to pull off, Alias stepped next to the blue vixen.

"So, I've got this problem, I was wondering if I could ask your advice?" Alias said leaning over to her so she could hear him.

She turned and leaned on her elbow, cocking her head. She laughed slightly, "I don't know." She replied smartly. "I'm not good with advice, but I can offer a sarcastic remark."

Alias forced a smile. "Well you see, there's this girl I've been checking out, and I really want to get to know her better, but I'm not sure how I should go about it."

"Ah," She replied, raising an eyebrow while looking skeptical, "let me guess, she has a thousand piercing, and chains all over her body?"

Alias shook his head. "No, actually." Understanding she was referring to his gothic appearance. "She seems quite normal, you both would probably get along."

"Look Neo," She replied, taking another dig at his attire, "do you know what you're doing?"

Alias cocked his head, attempting to match her. "I'm trying to ask a very pretty lady what she may be doing tonight, because I saw her walking across the club from the other side and I knew I had to come talk to her, or I'd regret it for the rest of the night."

Her eyes remained fixed on his for a second, before a grin spread over her muzzle. She let out a coy laugh. "Well, my nocturnal activities are my own, but while I'm here, I'd like to know what it is you're asking advice about."

Alias leaned in a little closer, feeling awkward, but keeping his face up. "Well, what do you think would get her to have a drink with me and just talk."

"Well, why do you think you want to get to know her?" She asked, playing along.

"Because, ever since I saw her, I can't keep my eyes off her."

The vixen giggled in an innocent way. "I think if you were to ask her, she'd wouldn't protest too much..."

"You don't think so?" Alias replied, getting into his role.

"Hypothetically," She replied, matter-o-factly "if it were me, and I was this female you ‘couldn't keep your eyes off' I'd be rather flattered, especially coming from someone as-"

"Is this guy bothering you, Jenna?" A voice interjected.

The vixen looked over her shoulder at a very well built bobcat. "Hey, Jason." She called to him. "This is..." She paused and scowled. "I'm sorry we haven't even gotten that far have we?"

"Aidan." Alias lied.

"Well, Aidan, it was nice to meet you, but I need to be getting back to my company." Jenna said. "Do you-"

"Target confirmed!" Alias involuntarily winced, as he forgot about his earpiece.

"when you are- Hey, are you ok?" Jenna asked, Alias's paw went to his ear to push the piece closer.

"This is Recovery One, target is at the bar requesting permission to bag the package."

"Recovery One, you have a green light, detain, do not engage."

Looking over her shoulder, Alias noticed a rather large wolf, only a few steps behind Jason, still looking pissed; it was Recovery One. Heartbeat picking up; Alias cut Jenna off and dropped his act.

"You have to come with me right now." Alias commanded, his voice changing back to its dark tone.

Jenna shook her head confused. "Um, no, not tonight, bucko."

"No, you don't understand," Alias protested, Recovery One getting closer, "we have to go. Right now!"

"Hey, cock-bite, I don't think you understood the lady!" Jason growled at Alias.

Ignoring him, Alias looked dead into Jenna's blue eyes. "If you don't come with me, you will die!"

Jenna's face held a look of shock and horror. "I need to go!" Jenna, hurriedly began to move away from Alias, freaked out by his actions. Alias knew that if she left she would run right into Recovery One, who's hand was in his coat, most likely reaching for is gun.

Alias was out of time. Flipping his overcoat back, light fell upon his chrome sniper rifle, tied around his shoulder to keep it in place. In a flash, the stock was pressed to his shoulder and his sites were lining up on Recovery One, who was just behind Jason. Then everything stopped. Everything around him seemed to slow almost to a stop. It was like he was living in a dream. The lights, people, everything slowed. The music began to fade out as Alias's eyes focused on Recovery One.

Alias stepped around Jenna, revealing himself to Recovery One. A look of panic came over his face, as his arm moved pulling out his weapon.

A loud explosion erupted throughout Club Xero followed by screams of fear.

Recovery One flipped backwards as his head exploded like a melon.

Alias let the recoil absorb into his arm.

The two cronies jumped for cover, pulling out MP5 submachine guns, unleashing a storm of bullets.

The vixen screamed as blood from the bobcat blew around her in a mist, and his body erupted with holes, sending blood everywhere as Jason was caught in the crossfire. Then like a moving shadow, something black tackled her, sending them both across the bar as well.

The remaining recovery team pulled out their concealed MP5's, and began showering the bar with a barrage of bullets. The bartender, a cat who was paralyzed by the shock of what was happening around him, caught three bullets in the chest. His corpse collapsed to the floor as his own blood pooled around him.

Screaming bystanders fled as Club Xero erupted into chaos. They went through every exit they could. It wasn't long before the club was vacant. Only the mercenaries, Alias, and the vixen remained.

Glass shattered around him, as the gunfire laid waste to anything that was behind the bar. It sounded like a small war was taking place. Alias's back to the bar, he pulled the vixen close to him in an attempt to cover her from harm. Sharp metal plinking could be heard behind him as the bullets buried themselves into the bar.

Alias rolled over, trying to avoid the glass, and popped out from behind the bar with his sniper rifle in hand. Not even bothering to use the scope, He let two more rounds explode from the muzzle. Spun around on his feet and descended. The bullets found homes into two more of the mercenaries.

Alias hit the ground as more gunfire sprayed the bar. The noise was deafening as the clips were emptied, attempting to kill them both. Then all was quite.

"Just where did you think this stunt would get you, Alias?"

Alias knew the voice; it was Atir.

"You know me, a fly by the seat of my pants kind of guy."

"The hell if you are! What the fuck do you think you're doing anyway?" Atir demanded.

"I was just trying to get a drink, until you guys showed up." Alias replied, loading more rounds into his rifle. "You sound a little surprised to see me."

"Since when do you use my men as target practice?" the gazelle yelled back.

"Oh, around the same time Hets started using me for his." Alias replied nonchalantly.

Atir didn't reply for a moment. "I don't know-"

"Oh spare me, Atir." Alias snapped, cutting him off. "You, and your cheep boss thought I'd sell out."

"Are you telling me you wouldn't?"

"Bad for business, you know that." Alias looked down at the young vixen, shuddering in fear. "Why do you want her?"

"Don't play dumb, Alias." Atir called back. "You know how these things go down."

"Must be pretty important, doing a public hit like this." Alias shouted, as he cocked his rifle.

"She is." Atir confirmed. "For you on the other hand, she means nothing. You're not a factor this time, Alias. You've got to realize that."

"I'm the one who has her." Alias retorted. "Seems like a pretty big factor."

"Look," Atir said, the hint of agitation growing in his voice, "why don't you just come out here with her. We can go talk to Hets, get this whole thing straightened out?"

"And have my hide used as his next door mat? No thanks."

"Christ, Alias!" Atir yelled becoming angry. "How do you think this is going to go down? Do you think we'll just let you walk out the door?"

Alias thought for a second. Then in a flash was on his feet. Only this time he was holding the vixen in a chokehold, pistol to her temple.

"No." Alias answered simply, facing the mercenaries, and Atir who was standing a behind them. "But you'd let her."

The sound of the MP5's cocking echoed off the walls.

"No, no!" Atir nearly screamed. "Hold your fire!"

Alias smiled. He was well aware they needed her alive.

"Now, I'm going to walk to the door behind the bar, and we're going to go out the back." Alias explained, still holding the armed pistol to her head. "Don't try anything cute."

"It won't work, Alias." Atir warned, paw on his pistol holster.

Alias's eyes narrowed. "You've tried to kill me, sabotage me, and betray me. You know I have nothing to lose, that makes me your worst enemy, and you know I won't hesitate to kill her, so don't fuck with me!"

Atir considered Alias's words. The seconds seemed to creep by until he spoke again "Put down your guns." Atir said. "Put them down!"

The mercenaries hesitated for a second, before one by one lowering their weapons. Alias began backing toward the door that led to the storeroom.

"Do you have any idea what you've just done?" Atir asked Alias, calmly.

"Yeah." Alias said aloud. "Turned this cold war hot!"

With that Alias moved the pistol from the vixen's temple and opened fire. The mercenaries reacted opening fire just as Alias disappeared into the door as a barrage of bullets shredded the flimsy plastic until the hinges were the only things left.

Alias pulled the vixen along as he ran. She seemed to be in some state of shock as he towed her along behind him. They ran through the kitchen and burst out the backdoor into an alley. Grabbing her by her shirt collar, Alias jerked her roughly in the proper direction. He wasn't doing it to be mean, he just didn't have time to waste with talk and he had given too much to get her so he wasn't going to lose her now.

They ran down the alley until they came across a parked tungsten colored muscle car. Alias slid across the hood and opened the door, pushing the vixen inside. She climbed across the center console and Alias slid into the drivers seat. Turning the ignition, the car came to life, and after shifting into first gear, Alias slammed on the accelerator.