SWNOVELS Chapter CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The group had spent over two weeks in El Dorado tower, before their current predicament came knocking. I would like to say that they had spent their brief respite well, possibly planning a daring defeat of the evil POP!!! Corporation, but they hadn’t. They couldn’t really leave the tower. Vinny had explained that, while he could keep them safe inside the building, he couldn’t account for any other members of the Family. As such, Van and Dallas had spent the majority of their time having ‘fun’ in their rooms, only emerging for any significant length of time to eat and rehydrate.
The private lounge of Vinny’s was where they primarily chose to eat, they’d changed it up a few times, but when you don’t know who you can trust, you tend to avoid public areas. The lounge was more to Van’s liking anyway, he had a soft spot for 20th Century recreations and this was no exception. The whole room was set out to look like the inside of the Copa Cabana. A hologram of Bobby Darin was launching into a rendition of Mack the Knife, when Vinny came in carrying the weight of the world on his face.
He took the seat directly across from Van, who was halfway through pouring a jug of hot butter onto the largest lobster you can imagine. He looked up and saw the mobster’s usual smile was absent.
“You want some, big guy?” Van asked, hoping to see his smile return. It did not. He appeared to be suppressing something, it hung in the air like a black cloud that had affixed itself to Vinny’s humungous shoulders. Van put down the butter jug; “what’s wrong?”
Vinny sighed, then raised his head to meet Van’s gaze. The look on his face didn’t inspire hope.
“Did I ever tell you about the legend of the ‘Cuore Da Cosa Nostra’?” Van shook his head. “It is an artefact from your home world, Earth. It’s believed that this thing carries inside of it all of the original syndicates’ true power. For centuries, the galactic syndicates have searched for it, some even losing their lives in the process.”
“Sounds like something you should have,” replied Van, swallowing another mouthful of lobster.
“I’m glad you agree, because a week ago, we learned where it was,” continued Vinny.
“Don’t tell me,” said Van, “for some bizarre reason you need me to get it for you? I get that a lot.” Vinny bowed his head again.
“Not exactly,” he said. “Look, you know me well enough to know I’m a man of honour, right? And I wouldn’t ever go back on a debt that was owed, unless I had absolutely no choice. After all, I took you in without a question about why you were being hunted, didn’t I?”
“Just say it,” said Van.
“Well, like I said, the Cuore Da Cosa Nostra resurfaced last week… It’s the new bounty on your head.”
Van’s blood froze and time lost all meaning for a moment. He blurted out; “how do you know it’s not a con?”
Vinny sighed again, “Look, buddy. I told you it was announced a week ago. Don’t ya’ think we haven’t looked into it?”
“So you’re selling out your, so called, honour for a centuries old trinket?” Van asked, feeling a desperate rage building in his chest.
“Don’t over step, kid,” replied Vinny, flashing his, currently, dormant aggression, “I was told I had to give you guys over to my boss. His men will be transporting you to Happy World.”
“Happy World?! What, do they want me to have fun before my execution? Who chooses a theme park for a fugitive pick up?!”
“I don’t know, I just gotta get you to the hangar. And before you go planning a daring escape, as much I’d love to see you live, your ship’s busted. My guys didn’t even know where to start when it came to fixin’ it and they’re pros.”
Van sunk back into his chair, he didn’t feel much like eating any more, even though it could very well be his final meal. He closed his eyes.
“When do I have to go?” he asked.
“You can finish your food. We already got your buddies waitin’ at the space elevator.”
Van laughed, “you really call it a ‘space elevator’?”
Vinny smiled at him, “You got a better name, ya’ mook?” They shared a laugh like old friends, then got to their feet. Van was still wearing a kimono from his new wardrobe. Vinny looked at him; “Go put some clothes on, you don’t wanna travel like that.”
He walked Van back up to his room and kept an eye on him as he got changed. After Van had changed into something a little less ostentatious, they made their way to the observation deck where Dallas and Yukimi were surrounded by a couple dozen men in black suits and sunglasses. Half of them looked like they’d been hit by a truck. Yukimi had not come quietly when first ‘asked’ to do so. Van joined them and they were herded into the great glass space elevator. It was a lot tighter on room with 27 occupants, but it made escape highly unlikely to say the least. Van didn’t plan on trying anything inside the elevator though.
As the door opened on board the satellite, a cacophonous bang and a flash of light sent the guards to the floor. Van, Yukimi and Dallas bolted from the elevator, jumping over the fallen gangsters.
“Where were you hiding that concussion grenade?!” yelled Yukimi as they darted towards the Bessie.
“Ask me no questions, I’ll tell you no lies,” replied Van. He pressed a button on his CID, “D00D, open the door and initiate the ‘cheese-it’ protocol.”
“I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-Initiating protocol,” replied D00D’s voice, then the Bessie took off and flew straight through the wall of the hidden satellite. The shocked heroes were thrown to the floor by the rapid decompression and recompression of the area around them. They sat up and looked at the hole in the wall. Then, they were surrounded by two dozen very angry gangsters.
Dallas put his hands up, “Will ‘sorry’ stop you from beating me?” he asked. It did not…