Enhance 2: Chapter 16

“You guys in position?” Shade asked his hands shoved deep into his pocket.

“In the bar,” Phase mumbled and tipped a bottle back as he drank at a table near a window at a bar. There was a decent chunk of noise in the background but they made do. “Beer is horse shit by the way.”

Shade snorted as he looked up toward the orange tinted night sky. “No one told you to order a beer. You could have just brought the flask with you.”

“I’ll know better next time,” he sipped again and sighed. They were wearing hidden microphones but talking to themselves in public definitely looked weird to say the least.

“This would be so much easier with our masks,” Shade mumbled.

“I know but we can’t risk it,” Phase replied.

“Right. Doing it old school,” Shade rotated his shoulders slowly. “You good up there, Rogue?”

 Walking to the edge of the roof top he went toward the edge of it and adjust the straps of the bag around his shoulders. But he kept one eye down at the streets and could see Shade meandering about and Phase sitting by himself. “Yeah. Regular guys night out huh?”

“If only all of us had some cold ones to crack open,” Shade smiled.

“After the meet up,” Phase said then added. “And make it good booze. Not this cheap stuff. Speaking of I think your guy is here.”

Phase finished his drink with a sour face and walked to the bar, setting it on the bar he motioned for another and gave a quick survey of the bar. It was a simple place, low lights, a wooden bar with racks of alcohol behind it. Across the other side of the room were booths with tables in the middle. It was half full at the moment but there was a corner chair that had just been occupied that had his eye.

The guy sitting there was tall and scrawny. If he stood up he’d be taller than Phase but he sat hunched over, head down and jumped every time the door opened. Eyes were downcast, skin just dark enough to suggest being mixed and hair like a wet mop.

“Great I’m heading over now,” Shade adjusted his shirt slightly to get away from any hint of the microphone in his sleeve and shoved open the door. His eyes scanned the crowd and watched the man jump the moment it clicked. Snorting he walked over to that corner and sat down right next to him.

He didn’t order anything and instead just rotated to face him, “Hey DigDig. Long time no see am I right?” He grabbed his shoulder and rubbed it hard.

“Hey DJ. Yeah. What’s uh. What’s going on. Ain’t heard from you in a while.” He forced a smile but Shade didn’t return it.

“Thanks for coming out of your hole to meet me. Always better to do it in public and not in your apartment. You’re not still living there are you?”

“Nah man. I got a new place. And my old place wasn’t that bad,” his voice had a whine to it that made Shade roll his eyes.

“Anyway I didn’t call you to catch up. The N Kings. I need to find a few, and I know you know where I can find them.”

“Hey not so loud man,” he said quickly looking over Shade’s shoulder but no one was looking their way. “You can’t go talking about them like that. Especially not out here.”

“So, this is their territory then?” Shade raised his eyebrow and looked around them. “Great.”

“Yeah you gotta look for the signs,” he glanced up quickly at the bar and on a few of the bottles on the top shelf were small golden crowns around the necks. “Any place with those means it’s one of theirs.”

“File that under things to keep track of.”

The bartender finally made his way over to them and they nodded to Shade but something about the look they gave DigDig caught his attention. It wasn’t hostile but it was something close to it. Like pure disdain. DigDig paled under the gaze and Shade just raised his hand to distract the bartender away from whatever beef he had with his informant. “What kinda beers do you drink?”

The question seemed to surprise him but he said, “IPAs whenever I’m trying to relax. Tequila for parties.”

“My man,” Shade smirked. “Two IPAs. Your choice. We’re not picky.”

“Gotcha,” he went to get the drinks and Shade watched him prepare it. The thought of getting drugged or poisoned crossed his mind but he realized even he was being more paranoid than he ought to be. But times were changing in a lot of ways. He couldn’t be too careful.

The guy came back with two bottles, popped the tops off in front of them and Shade paid him a little extra. “Thanks.” He took a sip but once he was gone though, he tipped the bottle toward DigDig. “So info. You got it?”

“Why you think I even know anything about them,” he ducked his head and whispered. “I was always a Royals guy back in the day.”

“Cause you’re a rat. Rats hear a lot. Rats play both sides and try not to get caught. But to give you a bit more direction, I’m looking to score some Neo.”

That made him pale, if he got any whiter he could probably pass, and sit up straighter, “How you know about Neo? Ain’t no one know about Neo.”

“Apparently you do. Now where can I find some.”

“Shit,” he mumbled and glanced back and forth again his hands shaking. “You didn’t hear this from me.”

“Duh. Get to the point.”

“There’s a shipment. Some big wig guy is meeting with some reps from the N Kings. Actually, a bunch of them. In a bunch of different spots in the city. To hand over the new drug. Said its like Aug on steroids. They’ve got a pretty good split on the stuff too. Like 60/40 the N Kings.”

“What the hell kind of deal is that?”

“That’s what I thought. Its crazy. One of the spots is a library a few blocks over from here. That’s all I know. And I ain’t trying to get no closer to that deal than where I am now man.”

“Yeah I bet,” Shade sipped the drink slowly and gave a short nod. “Guess I’ll go check it out. Thanks for the tip. I’ll come find you again next time I need to know something.” DigDig tried to argue or plead for him to not but Shade just squeezed his shoulder and gave him a smile. “Thanks for the drink.”

Leaving the bar he sipped the drink again and then spoke into his wrist, “You two catch all that?”

“The Thomas Jacobs public library,” Phase said tossing his beer out and leaving money at the bar. “Been closed under renovations for about two weeks now. Grand reopening is scheduled for early next week.”

“Perfect place to do a deal then. Quiet, empty, probably no security this late at night,” Rogue vanished from the building and walked out of the alleyway to meet the two of them at the corner. “So, we’re going?”

“Just to check things out. See if they’re really dealing in Neo. And if our favorite letter of the alphabet is connected. Assuming you’re in leader.”

They both looked at Phase but he held up his hands, “Your job Shade. You’re running point. Just make sure we don’t get blow up again.”

Shade’s lip quirked in a smirk as he said, “Then let’s go.”

Rogue teleported them up onto the rooftop and then they started running, crossing the streets and getting to the library in only about ten minutes. Outside there was construction equipment lying around and some sheets over the side of the library but for the most part it was in one piece.

They were looking at it from the side and in the space behind the building they could see a couple of trucks hanging in the back. They weren’t in drive but the keys were definitely still in the ignition. Beyond that no other activity was going on. “Where do you think the deal will be?”

“My guess is right there,” Phase pointed at the lot.

“Hey check this out,” both looked toward Rogue and crossed the rooftop as a car pulled up in front of the library. It parked and the driver got out first, going to open the back seat. The drivers bald head and dark glasses were obvious even to them up there. The one coming out of the back seat was wearing the same type of suit that they were used to but had a massive briefcase in hand. He walked toward the front door the library, the enforcer at his side, and produced a key and then they walked inside.

“Guess the deals going down inside,” Shade nodded. “Let’s get involved.”

“Here,” Rogue said reaching into his bag and pulled out two bandanas. “Get the idea that we don’t want to accidentally reveal our faces here.”

“Wish I’d thought of that.”

One by one they took one and wrapped them tightly around their faces and nodded to one another. Rogue teleported them to the ground level, just behind a shed beside the library. Phase took over then and they stepped through the wall, fizzling back into reality facing a tall book shelf. It was dark inside, everything smelling and feeling dry and dusty. But even from whatever part of the library they were in they heard some voices already going back and forth.

Keeping themselves low they followed the book shelves to the end. The library had a high ceiling with hanging lights. The ceiling was painted with characters from books and cartoons that extended down to some of the walls.

The trio got close enough that they could finally understand what was being said, “This really all you’re giving us.”

“The amount is what was set in our agreement. You’ll get no more than this until it’s time to replenish. Will that be a problem?”

There was a pause and through a few books Shade was able to see through a few old history books at the group. They stood on either side of a table. The briefcase was open facing a trio of kids barely out of high school and a man at least thrice their age. Could have been their father. The enforcer was standing behind him, stoic faced as always.

“Nah it won’t. Just be prepared to give us more. We got plans.”

“I’m sure you do,” the man adjusted the glasses on his nose. “A word of advice. Invest in a belt. It’ll be good for you.”

“Fuck off,” one of the others said scowling. “No one asked for your advice.”

“If we’re in the habit of offering unwanted advice let me give you guys some,” They all turned around as Shade walked in front of them and shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t make deals like this out of the open. Third parties get involved.”

Before either party responded small explosions went off behind them and smoke started to fill the ground.  The N Kings reached into their pants pulling out guns immediately and tried to point at Shade but one moment he was there and slowly he disappeared like he had never been there at all.

“Where the fuck did he go?” one asked and looked behind them as the smoke got thicker but hung along the ground, rising up slowly to the bottom of the tables.

“What the fuck is this smoke? It’s gotta be one of them.”

“Shut up. They ain’t real.”

“Yeah they are. This is them. I’m telling you man. We’re dead. Gonna do us like Big Mac and Rook.”

“Don’t worry. She’s not here,” Rogue grabbed one of them and vanished backwards. Their scream came from in the stacks and a few gunshots rang out and then silence. The other two shouted and fired in that direction but stopped.

“What happened to him?”

“He got him man. I’m telling you it’s them!”

“Nigga get it togetherrrrrr,” he slipped underneath the smoke and was dragged away toward the door they’d come from. He grunted a few times and then his shouting stopped too.

The man in the suit was spooked, frozen on the spot as the last kid moved around trying to keep his gun steady in both hands but it was wobblily. The smoke parted slowly and Shade walked up behind him and leaned forward. “And then there was one.” He raised his fist and hit him in the back of the head sending him below the smoke.

The suit panicked as Rogue and Phase made their way forward and stood in what little light was around. Shade walked to the table closing the case and setting it against the ground, kicking it backwards. The suit looked back at the enforcer, who had not moved much during the attack, and pointed at the three of them. “You’re my body guard! Take care of them!”

Its head jerked to life and swiveled back and forth looking at the three of them before charging at Shade. He blended into the darkness stepping backwards a few steps but that didn’t stop the enforcer. Its hand shot forward and grabbed him out of the darkness and threw him across the room.

He landed on a table breaking it against his back. Gasping he groaned rolling onto his side. “Okay. That’s bullshit.”

Rogue jumped off a table and kicked at the back of the enforcer. It jerked forward but turned around, attempting to grab him out of the air. It snatched his ankle and then threw him back against the ground. Before he hit it, he vanished and appeared further away gasping.

“I forgot how frustrating it was to fight against these things,” he said and rolled to his feet again. “How’d we take it down last time?”

“We didn’t,” Phase said stepping back and forth around the fists. He let one pass through him and ducked under a kick that he couldn’t phase through in time. The enforcer turned around and shoved him with its shoulder and sent him into a book shelf knocking over a bunch like dominos

“Why couldn’t they just make more of you guys. Would be so much easier,” Shade said sliding forward and throwing a blue egg. The enforcer caught it and the egg popped. Electricity raced across its arm and it toppled forward but righted itself quickly. It grabbed him and lifted him off the ground. Lifting him off the ground and raising him high above the smoke.

Shade kicked at it grunting and gasping for breath, “Someone. Help. Please.”

Phase got back to his feet and stumbled but started to run. Hopping onto a book shelf and jumped forward drop kicking it in the head. Its grip slipped on Shade and Phase hit the ground hard. Rushing to Shade’s side he helped him up and they both got back out of the way as the enforcer started its assault.

Rogue teleported in front of it and blocked its fist and swings as defensively as he could. Using its momentum, he directed it away from the other two. Phase glanced at Shade and nodded, “You good?”

“Yeah. Goddamn Mr. X looking asshole. Ideas leader?”

“I got one. You have another EMP?” he asked.  Shade reached in his pouch and produced another dark blue egg. He handed it over to him and Phase got a red one from his own pouch. “Can you handle being a distraction?”

“For a few minutes yeah,” Cracking his back. “Let’s go.”

They ran at the enforcer as Rogue took a hard blow and stumbled backwards, “Hey metal head!”

It whirled around and Shade punched it in the head winching as he ducked forward. The enforcer turned grabbing him by the shoulder and threw him into the ground. It raised its arm back ready to punch him in the face but Phase jumped behind it. He shoved his hand into its back, fizzling through its body. It turned to face him and he darted between its legs. Rolling forward he grabbed Shade and dragged him forward.

The enforcer started after them and then froze. Electricity crackled along its body as it stuttered and then it exploded from the inside out. Arms, electrical parts and burnt clothes scattered everywhere.

Panting in the darkness the trio looked at each other and struggled to their feet. The suit was still there. He had fallen over and was barely conscious, his glasses skewed. Shade jumped at him and he screamed. “Get the fuck outta here. Unless you want to be next. And shut up! We’re in a library!”

He scrambled to his feet and ran away as fast as he could. They watched him go and then just broke into laughs with various points of pain. Shade went back and after going through the smoke blindly he finally stumbled and picked up the case. Propping it up against his arm he opened it and saw the contents. Rows upon rows vials neatly snug in Styrofoam casing.

“So we’ve got a case of Neo. What do we do with it?” Shade asked looking at the pair of them.

“Take it home. Darren’s gonna love to have this stuff,” Phase groaned. “Maybe they can find a use for it.”

“Agreed,” Shade closed the case. “But before we go home we got one more thing to do.”

Rogue raised his droopy eyebrow, “What’s that?”

They ended up on the roof of the library, finding a stable corner. They stood together and each held up a bottle. Phase tossed the bottle opener over to Rogue who cracked the top off. With that taken care of they all lifted them off tapping the necks against one another’s.

“So a toast?” Phase asked.

Rogue shrugged, “A toast to what?”

Shade thought for a moment and snapped his fingers grinning, “To a mission complete and a cold one with the boys.”

They clinked and drank.