04 - Bring the Pain

Series - The Unbelievable Mr Brownstone

In Bring the Pain many themes are expanded, the main one, perhaps, being the development of Brownstone as a much more complex character. His KISS philosophy is gradually being undermined and dismantled, as the complexities of life encroach upon it. He and Shay and Alison interact extensively, Magic makes killing not as simple as it once was, and even his basic understanding of who he is, is in question.

Chapter One

Brownstone planning a trip to NY with Alison. Wants a comfortable car (Toyota, Hyundai), but also the maneuverability of 4-wheel drive. Not compatible. Took the Toyota (were stubborn and persistent even with a few rounds in the engine block), and will hope for the best. Maximum insurance. Was uncomfortable on the school grounds. There was just too much magic in one spot for his taste here. He was forced to confront the reality of being in a place where normal people were in the minority. He distrusted magic because it was a complicated tool rather than a simple solution, like a punch or a bullet to the head. And acting as a parent for a girl who could see souls and could often tell if someone was lying could be difficult. Alison liked Wicked. Not for the story line, she just loved the idea of being surrounded by the music and the energy of the crowd. The true glory was the bright colors of the souls of everyone in the room. It was as if the performance was tying them together into one giant entity awash in positive energy. Every note and every lyric rippled through the souls of the gathered crowd, the intensity and shades of their energy shifting in intensity with the song’s emotions. James was quiet. He was also satisfied, more satisfied than she’d seen in a while. James reminded Alison of the wicked Witch of the West- misunderstood. “She was really just trying to protect and help the people she cared about and fight bad guys. Just like you. Just remember that I will always believe in you, James.”

Chapter Two

The Harriken. The failure of the subordinate was the failure of the leader. That principle defined the Harriken. Luck was a lie. Destiny, a joke. There were only opportunities and those smart enough to seize them. “Most of the Harriken in America are now dead. People mock us on the internet and praise Brownstone as ‘the Scourge of Harriken.’ Unacceptable. Completely unacceptable.” Grandfather personally promised to take the head of James Brownstone and bring it stuffed to the table. The Harriken had no place for the incompetent. Strength demanded respect. Weakness should and would be purged. As he would be, if he failed. On the way out of the garage, Alison asked Brownstone if he liked his job. I guess I was just curious about if you ever get angry at people when you do your job.” Sure. Most of the people I go after are complete pieces of garbage, Alison. They’ve hurt a lot of innocent people, so yeah, I get angry a lot when I’m on the job, especially when they won’t come along quietly or hurt other people when I’m going after them.” If people hurt someone I love or even threaten to hurt someone I love, I get fucking angry.” “Have you ever thought about doing a different job? Your soul doesn’t match the angry bounty hunter. It’s...beautiful. It’s like you were meant for something else. You killed Pyro, didn’t you?” “I got really angry at the idea that he might go after you, so I finished him off. And I don’t regret it.” Alison started to cry, and Brownstone didn’t know what to do. He called Shay, showed Alison to her, and Shay told him to console her. He hugged her, and she buried her head on his shoulder, although she kept crying.

Chapter Three

As they were walking down the street, Alison saw three men going into a bank, and told James that “They’re planning something bad. I can see the evil streaks in their souls.” She suggested that he stop them before they hurt someone. “ I’ll call the police, but please go in there and stop them before someone gets hurt.” James crossed the street, pushed into the bank just in time to see the three men yank pistols from their coats. One fired into the air, and several people shouted or screamed. The other two swept the room on either side, guns at the ready. They pistol-whipped the guard with his own gun. “Everyone down. After that, if anyone moves,” the first man said, a rusty-haired man with an offset nose, “they fucking die.” He took out a cube, and instructed it be logged into a cashier’s terminal. Technology! Alison came into the bank, and was present all of the while James was defeating the robbers, including when being cuffed by the police. She stuck around while he was being questioned and released, and all of the while he was thinking that he wished Shay was there to talk about stuff.

Chapter Four

Brownstone drove Alison back to school. Their weekend of family fun had taken its toll, leaving the girl exhausted and napping on their way back. I think I’m almost as tired as when I was escaping all those hitmen. James wondered why he had become a bounty hunter, and why Alison had wanted to see him in action. Did she want to do the same? James looked at her, sleeping, and thought, You don’t have to make the same mistakes I did, kid. You can be better than me. And I want to make sure you will be. Back at school, as Alison was getting out of the car, James saw all of the boys start to run indirections away from them. Alison said they were scared, because she had told the Brownstone was her father, and that he was overprotective. And “What boy wants to risk making the Scourge of the Harriken mad?” When James get back to LA, Mack asks a favor of him. Would he take down a level one, Xander Stevens. He has info related to a case where a cop was killed. We got people looking for him, but you got all sorts of channels we don’t. Just your name makes shit happen, and we need this guy.” Sure, James would do it for Mack.

Chapter Five

Brownstone talked to Shay about Alison – worried that he’d corrupted her - shown her bad ways. “You’re overthinking this, Brownstone,” Shay told him. “You’re not corrupting some poor innocent girl. She’s a teenager who’s interested in exciting things, and even if she’d never met you she’d be doing stupid shit. That’s what teens do. What’s the matter? Are you so convinced that you’re a piece of shit that you have to look for any evidence to prove it? That girl can see souls. If you were a piece of shit she would have seen it, and if you even look like you’re becoming a piece of shit she’ll know. Maybe you should trust her.” Shay sighed and shook her head. “Just let me deal with you being a good man, first.”

THE BEGINNING OF THE ASSASSINS/HARRIKEN THREAT

Grandfather has a plan for taking Brownstone. “It’s simple. When facing a monster you must use a monster, so I will be hiring five.” Shay checks the internet on needed assassins (her former profession), and sees that Tokyo is hiring ultra professionals, the first sign that they might be coming after Brownstone. “Everything those fuckers have thrown at me I’ve been able to deal with. “We need to deal with this. If you wait for these guys to get all set up it’ll be a lot more than your house that gets blown up, especially if they come at you when you don’t have the cops and the Marines watching your back. And that’s if they just come at you.” Tough as you are, even you weren’t ready for them to blow up your house. At the pay level they’re offering, we’ll probably get some magic ability, or at least the ability to deal with magic. And we both know how ruthless the Harriken are, so … At this level, Alison might not be safe even at that school if we wait too long. Magic can defeat magic. We need to hit them before they decide to attack you where you’re vulnerable.” Shay shrugged. “I’m not letting the closest thing I’ve had to a true family get killed.” “You need someone to watch your back. You think like a bounty hunter, not a killer. I’m a killer. I’m still a killer. I just don’t get paid to do it,” Shay said. “Point is, I think like a killer, and I know how to gather information on people like me. You need me on this.” “Should I give Alison her wish? It kind of feels that way.” “ Then we should go to Virginia and level with her.”

Chapter Six

Grandfather meets with five assassins in Tokyo. $2 million dead, $5 million if alive. In euros, not $US. “I wish to have some...entertainment with Mr. Brownstone before he dies. I have access to excellent doctors who can do a good job keeping him alive while I make him suffer. I will provide you with as much information as I have on the man. Use it however you want. I don’t care how you do it. I don’t care about collateral damage or innocent people dying. I only care that James Brownstone is either killed or brought to me.” James, Shay and Alison out to lunch, in Virginia. The Rolling Hills Barbecue Pit Stop. Shay had brought sound disruptors, so no one cold hear them talking. Alison thought BBQ a good idea, because Drow were supposed to be big meat eaters Protein needed? Wanted to talk about their futures, but wanted to eat first. Told Alison her legacy was a wish, from her Mom, which must be freely given “Yep, a wish. An actual honest-to-goodness wish. That was what the Harriken wanted. That was why they kidnapped her and planned to kidnap you—to force her to give them the wish. But it must be freely given. “Your mom did give the wish freely to someone, just not the Harriken.” Alison tilted her head, confused for a few seconds, then gasped. “You have it, James?” “Yeah. She gave it to me to hold onto. Told me to give it to you when the time was right.” Shay cleared her throat. “Gave it to him by kissing him, by the way.” “I’m about to fly halfway around the world to take on some bad guys on their turf and in their home country. I need to give it to you before I leave because if the worst happens your inheritance shouldn’t die with me.” “My mom kissed you?” “Sure. Their lips were locked like she was the Titanic and he was the iceberg,” Shay said. “Keep the wish,” the teen told him with a smile. “I don’t need it.” My only wish is that you come back, and if you need the wish to help with that, I want you to use it.”

Chapter Seven

James asked Alison if she could feel comfortable and call him Dad. He asked her if he could adopt her. She cried. For the first time in a long time James could see a future, something that wasn’t just pain and violence broken by the occasional barbecue feast. A family. He’d given up on the idea long ago, thinking no one could love an ugly and cursed freak like him, but Shay and Alison had both accepted him with all his faults and sins.

Shay had Peyton research the group, came up with the names. These are premium top-grade assassins, not just hit men. True killers; some of the best in the business. (See Groups, Assassins) Brownstone worried about the Soul Collector.

Chapter Eight, Nine

THE AMULET NECKLACE

Brownstone decides to find out what his necklace can really do, what its cost to him might be, so asks Shay to research it for him. Shay took pictures of it with a regular lens, and with a UV filter. Showed glyphs with a UV filter, which Shay could research in her Warehouse Four Library. Asked him about the language he had spoken when he was found. Mostly pops and clicks. Xhosa?(Africa) Remember anything about the jungle? Colors? Plants? Animals? Amulet? It makes me tougher, improves my telekinesis, and...it hurts like fucking hell when I put it on. Does it make you stronger or faster otherwise? Still didn’t tell her about the voice whispering to him when he wore it. Shay went to her Warehouse Library, to look up the glyphs, which she had seen somewhere before. Found her reference in Ancient Pyramids of Latin America. Not Oriceran, maybe involving another planet.

Brownstone went to Black Sun, found it had been upgraded tremendously – paint, TV, tables and chairs, refinished bar. “This is the bar that betting for and against Brownstone built.” Brownstone wanted info on Xander Stevens. Tyler gave him a phone# to start his search. Peyton found out that some/all of the assassins might be on the move to the United states. Unclear who, or how many.

Chapter Eleven

Brownstone, wanting to insure a future for Shay and Alison in the event of his death by the assassins, goes to Tyler at the Black Sun Bar and makes a deal to set up a new betting pool on the action with the assassins. Good deal for all concerned (See Groups, Assassin Betting Pool) Shay goes to Professor Armstrong, an academic archaeologist, to help her solve the mystery of the glyphs. He recommends going to an Oriceran Scholar. Perhaps they know something we Earth people don’t know. Brownstone goes to house construction, talks with Trey. When house done, gong to have a big housewarming party! Trey likes that. Talks to Bill, foreman on job. With new expanded house, not a lot of yard space. That’s OK, no dog anymore. Wants to expand the basement, underground, ”off the books”, so not in official house plans. Also wants stronger counter tops. Special bonus for crew and Bill, if can do it. Can do.