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| − | + | {{Book|preseq=|prev=|nxtseq=02|next=Rejected by Heaven|series=The Unbelievable Mr Brownstone|asin=B07BZM62LQ|img=51VnseRiUfL|blurb= | |
| + | You never mess with a young girl around James Brownstone.It doesn't matter what crime syndicate you belong to, that just doesn't sit well with him. The world has changed since the news of Oriceran came out twenty years before. Now, countries all over the world have agreed to using a bounty system for dangerous criminals using advanced magic or advanced technology. People too powerful for the cops to deal with.Magical criminals, thugs and bounty hunters, in the future we revert to what worked in the past.If you find out you are hunted by Brownstone, we suggest you turn yourself in. It will save you a monumental ass-kicking.Brownstone likes his life simple, but Life is about to throw him a wicked curveball. Laugh at just how much Brownstone can infuriate Shay. And how thoroughly Shay mystifies Brownstone. | ||
| + | }} | ||
| − | + | {{ch|01}} | |
Alison finds lost puppy in drain. Red emotional flare in distance (pain, fear). Dog’s owner, James Brownstone, gives her ride to meet the Ishidas. (Mon’s missing, maybe Ishidas can help find her. Internet contact). Stays to protect her. Alley, walls on either side of the alley stood tall enough to block line of sight. Isheda brothers (Cockbite One and Cockbite Two) try to kidnap Alison, James fights them (new shirt destroyed), saves her. Alison not afraid. Brownstone takes her home. | Alison finds lost puppy in drain. Red emotional flare in distance (pain, fear). Dog’s owner, James Brownstone, gives her ride to meet the Ishidas. (Mon’s missing, maybe Ishidas can help find her. Internet contact). Stays to protect her. Alley, walls on either side of the alley stood tall enough to block line of sight. Isheda brothers (Cockbite One and Cockbite Two) try to kidnap Alison, James fights them (new shirt destroyed), saves her. Alison not afraid. Brownstone takes her home. | ||
| − | + | {{ch|02}} | |
| − | Lots of detail on the two (See Characters, Alison, James Brownstone), gives her a one-time use business card, in case she gets into trouble. | + | Lots of detail on the two (See Characters, [[Alison]], [[James Brownstone]]), gives her a one-time use business card, in case she gets into trouble. |
| − | + | {{ch|03}} | |
| − | Brownstone goes home | + | Brownstone goes home, checks with the LAPD Bounty Hunter Outreach Department app, (still needs to pay the bills). Humans, trolls, rogue-troll wrangles, nothing worth-while. Goes to confession, admits wrath, enjoyment in violence, taking care of Alison. Priest (Father McCartney) tells him to continue doing so. |
| − | Goes to Leanan Sídhe, his favorite Irish pub, to meet with Doctor F.J. Smite-Williams, Professor of Historical Extra-Dimensional Engineering, (which was a fancy way of saying he studied magical artifacts), AKA The Professor, and also AKA Father O’Banion (when in his drinking mein - drinks Harp Lager beer), concerning leads to ancient Earth artifacts. Will have some leads coming soon. | + | Goes to [[Leanan Sídhe]], his favorite Irish pub, to meet with Doctor [[F. J. Smite-Williams, Professor]] of Historical Extra-Dimensional Engineering, (which was a fancy way of saying he studied magical artifacts), AKA The Professor, and also AKA Father O’Banion (when in his drinking mein - drinks Harp Lager beer), concerning leads to ancient Earth artifacts. Will have some leads coming soon. |
Enjoys seeing the Amazing Malty one of the bar’s attractions. Malty chugs beer out of its bottle. | Enjoys seeing the Amazing Malty one of the bar’s attractions. Malty chugs beer out of its bottle. | ||
James goes home, find Leeroy missing again, not with Alison, so goes out to find him. Meets with a gang he knows of, headed by Trey. Haven’t see Leeroy, and Trey tells the gang about Brownstone, his bounty hunting, his fighting (the Harrikens), the myths about how he was created, and the Granite Ghost (3 pages), and that you JUST DON’T MESS WITH HIM ! | James goes home, find Leeroy missing again, not with Alison, so goes out to find him. Meets with a gang he knows of, headed by Trey. Haven’t see Leeroy, and Trey tells the gang about Brownstone, his bounty hunting, his fighting (the Harrikens), the myths about how he was created, and the Granite Ghost (3 pages), and that you JUST DON’T MESS WITH HIM ! | ||
| − | + | ===THE ROD OF SUPAY EXPEDITION=== | |
| − | + | {{ch|04}} | |
| − | + | {{ch|05}} | |
| − | |||
Receives message from The Professor that the job is a go, that he’ll be working under someone else, and to meet at the Leanan Sídhe at 9 PM for info. In order to better work at the coming tasks, James wanted extra “insurance.” As much as he didn’t trust magic, sometimes it kept things simpler—especially when all you had to do was drink something, so he went to Zoe’s house, the best potions-maker in L.A., to get extra “Energy” (a translucent yellow liquid) and “Healing” (a small vial filled with a dull red liquid). | Receives message from The Professor that the job is a go, that he’ll be working under someone else, and to meet at the Leanan Sídhe at 9 PM for info. In order to better work at the coming tasks, James wanted extra “insurance.” As much as he didn’t trust magic, sometimes it kept things simpler—especially when all you had to do was drink something, so he went to Zoe’s house, the best potions-maker in L.A., to get extra “Energy” (a translucent yellow liquid) and “Healing” (a small vial filled with a dull red liquid). | ||
| − | Later that night Brownstone meets with The Professor and Shay Carson, who will lead the expedition to Peru to find the Rod of Supay (See Miscellaneous). | + | Later that night Brownstone meets with The Professor and Shay Carson, who will lead the expedition to Peru to find the Rod of Supay (See Miscellaneous, [[Cartagena Codex]]). |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| + | {{ch|06}} | ||
After a jet ride down to Tapachula, Mexico, they boarded something that looked like it had been found in some old aviation museum, with a pilot older than that, who knew where to land and take off in Peru without attracting too much attention. Then a jeep ride until they got close enough to walk through the jungle to the site. A crumbling stone archway and weathered stairs, atop a tall cliff, told them they had arrived. The site was inaccessible from one side because of the difficulty of scaling a cliff in the middle of dense jungle, but in an emergency they could probably climb down and follow the river. The noise of the jungle surrounded them: the flutter of birds’ wings, buzzing of insects, the shuffling of God-knew-what. A powerful and evil magical artifact might lie inside this ancient tomb. Evil energy had a way of attracting evil. | After a jet ride down to Tapachula, Mexico, they boarded something that looked like it had been found in some old aviation museum, with a pilot older than that, who knew where to land and take off in Peru without attracting too much attention. Then a jeep ride until they got close enough to walk through the jungle to the site. A crumbling stone archway and weathered stairs, atop a tall cliff, told them they had arrived. The site was inaccessible from one side because of the difficulty of scaling a cliff in the middle of dense jungle, but in an emergency they could probably climb down and follow the river. The noise of the jungle surrounded them: the flutter of birds’ wings, buzzing of insects, the shuffling of God-knew-what. A powerful and evil magical artifact might lie inside this ancient tomb. Evil energy had a way of attracting evil. | ||
They went down the steps, into a dusty chamber, where smaller tunnels headed off in three directions. Shay knew exactly where to go, towards the main burial chamber. Then they realized that they were hearing a strange buzzing sound that had not been there before. The quiet sound stood out as if someone were screaming. Shimmers, bloody footprints, and three men in scarlet robes winked into sight. | They went down the steps, into a dusty chamber, where smaller tunnels headed off in three directions. Shay knew exactly where to go, towards the main burial chamber. Then they realized that they were hearing a strange buzzing sound that had not been there before. The quiet sound stood out as if someone were screaming. Shimmers, bloody footprints, and three men in scarlet robes winked into sight. | ||
Brownstone and Shay disposed of two of them, and Brownstone knocked the third unconscious, while Shay went into the main chamber to look for the hiding place of the artifact, a small carving in the wall that when looked at from a certain angle and illuminated with only a single beam of light resembled a stylized humanoid figure. “Blood freely given will reveal the sacred treasure,” Shay recalled, as she nicked the tip of her finger. The chamber rumbled, and a wall moved, revealing a painting and a small box, with the Rod of Supay inside. She collected it. And they left. | Brownstone and Shay disposed of two of them, and Brownstone knocked the third unconscious, while Shay went into the main chamber to look for the hiding place of the artifact, a small carving in the wall that when looked at from a certain angle and illuminated with only a single beam of light resembled a stylized humanoid figure. “Blood freely given will reveal the sacred treasure,” Shay recalled, as she nicked the tip of her finger. The chamber rumbled, and a wall moved, revealing a painting and a small box, with the Rod of Supay inside. She collected it. And they left. | ||
| + | {{ch|07}} | ||
| + | Back at the bar, Shay is paid off, The Professor has examined and accepted the artifact, Brownstone is at the Police Station cashing in his bounty (2 dozen doughnuts for Mack), and Father O’Banion is set for a singing contest that night. And Leeroy was still missing. | ||
| + | Came home to find that the door was open, and the alarm still on. Whoever was there had the skills to spoof the alarm signal. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===THE HARRIKENS=== | ||
| + | {{ch|08}} | ||
| + | Leeroy lay butchered on a large silver serving tray in the dining room, a series of kanji characters on the plate. Harriken. They’d picked a fight they hadn’t needed to pick, so now it was time for KIBACS: keep it bloody and complicated, stupid. | ||
| + | “You shouldn’t have fucked with my dog. I hope you enjoy your short-assed lives.” Brownstone goes the Confessional, to tell Father of what he is about to do. Father suggests that the world will still need him in the future, and to be careful. | ||
| + | Shay comes to Brownstone’s house, friendly call, and finds Brownstone gone, and Leeroy almost buried in the back yard. She, too, vows vengeance, and leaves to find Brownstone. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{ch|09}} | ||
| + | {{ch|10}} | ||
| + | Brownstone goes after the Harriken (See [[HARRIKENS[[). He knew their typical enforcer strength and weapon choices, but he had no idea how many men might be inside the house or if they had access to heavier weapons or magic. Brownstone goes for an encounter. . Multiple magazines, pistols, and knives: check. A frag grenade and a flashbang just in case: check. Besides, a vengeance run required a personal touch. Blowing the entire house up from outside wouldn’t be as satisfying as going through beating down or killing every single motherfucking dog-killing Harriken. Two guards stood upfront, armed with wakizashis and pistols. Hints of their extensive tattoos peeked out on their necks and hands. | ||
| + | Brownstone killed the two guards, used body of one to smash open the door to the house. A half-dozen Harriken enforcers stood inside the foyer with their swords drawn. He killed one, and three rushed him from the front, while two circled on opposite sides. Brownstone, in a wondrous fight, kills three floors of Harriken. | ||
| + | Shay arrives to help, reconstructs the battle in her mind as she walks through the hose, finds Brownstone taking care of the last of them, and probably didn’t need her help, but she opened the door, anyway. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{ch|11}} | ||
| + | James came to the last room in the basement, one occupied by two samurai-types, with swords. They were truly confused that James would kill so many for a dog. They fought as well as they knew how, and were done in by James | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{ch|12}} | ||
| + | Shay comes to the final room, sees James punch the last man, then demand an apology, which the man does, apologizing to Leeroy. James explains that if they would have left his dog alone, they would have lived, but – James didn’t need her, so she left. | ||
| + | The last man kept babbling about a “she”, whom he thought James wanted, and said, “Mount Baldy. There’s an old resort that’s been converted to a private chalet. The Belmont House. She’s there.” James wasn’t interested, and left the man alive. It was one thing to kill a man in battle, but he was having a hard time working up his bloodlust with this pathetic fool begging for his life and about to wet himself. The house had been cleared, and maybe that was enough. James had made it halfway down the hall when he heard the scrape of metal on cement. | ||
| + | Fucker. I gave you more than enough chances. The Harriken man held his pistol, but hadn’t stood yet. James shot him, grabbed some of their assets, and left. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{ch|13}} | ||
| + | Shay met him outside, followed him to his truck, patched/sewed him up. Brownstone was hungry, so asked her if she wanted to go to Pork Gods for BBQ. TV on, and they listen to an elf singing country, group called Best of Three Worlds. | ||
| + | (Oriceran, Earth, and the South). Will probably win a Country Music Award! Conversation turns to world, and girls, and Shay accuses James of being gay, and that she doesn’t mind. Then she left. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===ALISON, HER DAD AND HER MOM=== | ||
| + | {{ch|14}} | ||
| + | Alison hears her Dad agree to give her to Mr. Mr. Takahashi, like he had given Nicole, so she hides, runs, and calls Brownstone for help. He’ll come and get her, and now realizes that the Harriken had been talking about where Nicole was being kept. James finds Alison’s dad about to force her to go with him, so he beats him down a little, taking Alison with him. As they leave, Alison looked back, and the vile swirling black energy around her father looked denser and darker than before. Darkness had always haunted his soul, but now he’d been consumed by it. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{ch|15}} | ||
| + | Brownstone needs a safe place for Alison, so asks Shay to take care of her. She agrees, for a little while. And Brownstone owes her one! Shay finds Brownstone’s house TOO perfectly kept, and takes Alison to her own. James is too OCD for her! Brownstone goes to Father McCartney for help – church budget too skinny – can’t take any more kids. Can’t help. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{ch|16}} | ||
| + | Shay comes back to help Brownstone rescue Alison’s mom. Will be violent, so she thought she would help. | ||
| + | Brownstone won’t let her help unless she tells him about her past – how she knows much of the rough ways. So she does. (See Characters,[[Shay Carson]] ) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===ALISON'S MOM=== | ||
| + | {{ch|17}} | ||
| + | Brownstone and Shay head to his warehouse to pick up weapons, materials, and on the way Shay gets a call with additional information. The Harriken have hired a lot of temporary muscle, including some from outside groups. They are offering ten thousand a head. Another call went out not all that long ago offering extra bonuses if they show up immediately. | ||
| + | “This is a good thing, anyway.” Shay’s brows rose. “A good thing? How are reinforcements and a lack of surprise a good thing?” “The more guys that are in one place, the less follow-up I have to do if they don’t get the point this time.” | ||
| + | They pulled into the parking lot of Angels Elite Indoor Long-Term Storage. Brownstone took out his keyring (37 keys), and went into his unit, opening a back wall, two safes, and removing his necklace, A silver necklace connected to a circular gold and silver amulet rested inside. Three crystals—azure, crimson, and jade—were inlaid into it. It was something he’d owned since he was a child. It was Oriceran magic – a weapon and a curse. Shay saw him put it on, saw it embed itself into his flesh, and asked herself, “Just who or what the hell are you, James Brownstone?” | ||
| + | They rode awhile to the address, parked the truck, armed themselves (See Weapons-Brownstone’s armory), and walked to Belmont House, where Nicole (See [[Nicole Anderson]]) was being held. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{ch|18}} | ||
| + | Belmont House: two stories, plus basement. Over twenty men lingered outside in the circle drive. Half of them appeared to be Harriken, judging by the swords on their sides. The others were a mixed group of non-Japanese men wearing suits, tactical uniforms, or street clothes with obvious gang colors. It was like a United Nations of scumbags. | ||
| + | Brownstone and Shay waded in, alternatively covering one another, pistols, finally grenades. Shay watched Brownstone take a shotgun blast to the chest, and it only tore his shirt. He stared at her with vertically-slit pupils in speckled yellow and green irises, his eyes more like a cat’s than a human’s. A few seconds later his normal brown human eyes returned. Was he even human? | ||
| + | Eight more SUVs came roaring in, with the Grayrock Company of mercenaries (forty trained fighters), anticipating Brownstone’s death. | ||
| + | {{ch|19}} | ||
| + | Because the Belmont House was on fire, they went to the basement, to find Nicole. the Belmont House basement appeared to have once been some sort of torture room. A single table and carts filled with bloodied blades, screws, and pins filled the center of the room. One cart even held a few lead-acid batteries with thick alligator clamps. It was everything a sick-ass psychopath might need. The elaborate twisted-metal light fixture hanging overhead lacked light bulbs, leaving a dim standing lamp in the corner the only source of light. | ||
| + | An ebony-skinned woman with long bright-white hair lay on the table, her hands and feet secured by ropes. He could see a facial resemblance between Alison and the woman on the table, but she was as dark as night, unlike her daughter. She wore only a torn dull-green hospital gown. Jagged lacerations, bloodstains, burns, and abrasions covered her body, arms, legs, and face. The fingers on one of her hands were bent at extreme angles. There was some sort of metal sheet around her chest. James’ stomach tightened. Killing someone in a fight was one thing. Torture was another. | ||
| + | “Alison’s safe. We’ve got her stashed somewhere the Harriken can’t find her. And I had a discussion with Walt about proper respect for his wife and child. It ended with a broken jaw, and a warning from me that he’d better get the fuck out of town or he would be dead.” “Please promise me you’ll kill him should you get the chance.” | ||
| + | “If I see him again, he’s dead.” “Thank you, James Brownstone. I can die now, secure in the knowledge that she’s safe, but there is something you should know. I’ll be dead soon anyway. You need to understand what I’m going to tell you. | ||
| + | My legacy is a wish,” Nicole said softly. “I ran from my family responsibilities and duties on Oriceran, but it did not change the truth that those in my line are bequeathed a wish.” “I can give the wish to another, but it has to be done willingly. “Can’t we take you to some Oriceran healer to help you?” | ||
| + | “No. To keep myself alive, I’ve been feeding off my own life force. All things have a cost. At this point I’m only delaying the inevitable, but I have enough magic left for one important task.” “Vengeance.” “These men will learn why you do not earn the wrath of a Princess of the Drow. Do not come up if you value your lives.” | ||
| + | {{ch|20}} | ||
| + | The Drow Princess (See [[Drow]]) then left the basement and killed all of the mercenaries, for the remainder of the chapter. | ||
| + | {{ch|21}} | ||
| + | 21 Shay and Brownstone hear no more sounds of battle, and decide to go topside, to see what had happened. Both turned at the sound of a soft moan. They rushed to the source and found Nicole kneeling on the ground, blood covering the front of her hospital gown. Nicole put out a hand and let him help her stand as she stared at the burning Belmont House. “It’s taking all my control to keep my power from consuming the last of me, but I will die satisfied, knowing that at least I saved you from these fake soldiers. I need you to take care of my daughter, the new Princess of the Shadow Forged. I’ve harmed her by keeping her heritage from her, and I just hope she’ll forgive me. My time is done, and I must see to her future. And that’s why I need you.” Nicole threw her arms around his neck and stuck her tongue down his throat, giving him a kiss that made his damn skin feel like a lightning bolt had just hit nearby. “I’ve transferred the wish to you,” Nicole whispered. “I transferred the wish willingly and freely through the kiss. I’ve entrusted it to you for my daughter. Now you are bound to her. I can see it now so clearly. You have the brightest soul I’ve ever seen. You are the right one to entrust, and you will know when the time is right to pass it to Alison.” James stopped as a black mist began to rise from Nicole’s body, slowly floating into the sky. | ||
| + | {{ch|22}} | ||
| + | Brownstone and Shay go to Walt Anderson’s home, tell him about the Belmont House battles. “After we freed your wife from the torture room in the basement, she decided to give a little demonstration of her power. It didn’t end well for the guys who pissed her off. She’s dead.” “Then it’s over. It’s all over.” “Oh, no, it’s not over.” The bounty hunter shook his head. “Because not everyone involved in this bullshit received their proper punishment. What you don’t do is turn her over to psychopathic criminals who will spend days torturing her to get her to give up something that doesn’t belong to them. “ “That wish belongs to me!” “She suffered torture and intense pain to protect something she planned to give to your daughter. Who gives a fuck if you didn’t get it?” “I have a wish, Walt,” James intoned. “And that wish is for you to be dead.” And he is. | ||
| + | James goes to talk with Father McCartney, Shay staying in the car. James tells Father about Nicole, and her wish, passed to her daughter. The wish is gone from the mom,” he said quietly. “It was...reassigned.” | ||
| + | “Reassigned?” | ||
| + | “It’s waiting for her daughter now. I can use my strength in a good way by protecting that girl until she gets her wish.” | ||
| + | “I believe this girl is part of his plan for you, James. Part of your penance for your sins. What’s the girl’s wish?” the priest asked. | ||
| + | James chuckled. “God only knows.” | ||
| − | [[ | + | ===Epilogue: BBQ Recipes (See Miscellaneous,[[BBQ Recipes]] )=== |
Latest revision as of 03:41, 18 November 2018
| The Unbelievable Mr Brownstone | Rejected by Heaven >> |
| You never mess with a young girl around James Brownstone.It doesn't matter what crime syndicate you belong to, that just doesn't sit well with him. The world has changed since the news of Oriceran came out twenty years before. Now, countries all over the world have agreed to using a bounty system for dangerous criminals using advanced magic or advanced technology. People too powerful for the cops to deal with.Magical criminals, thugs and bounty hunters, in the future we revert to what worked in the past.If you find out you are hunted by Brownstone, we suggest you turn yourself in. It will save you a monumental ass-kicking.Brownstone likes his life simple, but Life is about to throw him a wicked curveball. Laugh at just how much Brownstone can infuriate Shay. And how thoroughly Shay mystifies Brownstone. |  |
Contents
Chapter 01
Alison finds lost puppy in drain. Red emotional flare in distance (pain, fear). Dog’s owner, James Brownstone, gives her ride to meet the Ishidas. (Mon’s missing, maybe Ishidas can help find her. Internet contact). Stays to protect her. Alley, walls on either side of the alley stood tall enough to block line of sight. Isheda brothers (Cockbite One and Cockbite Two) try to kidnap Alison, James fights them (new shirt destroyed), saves her. Alison not afraid. Brownstone takes her home.
Chapter 02
Lots of detail on the two (See Characters, Alison, James Brownstone), gives her a one-time use business card, in case she gets into trouble.
Chapter 03
Brownstone goes home, checks with the LAPD Bounty Hunter Outreach Department app, (still needs to pay the bills). Humans, trolls, rogue-troll wrangles, nothing worth-while. Goes to confession, admits wrath, enjoyment in violence, taking care of Alison. Priest (Father McCartney) tells him to continue doing so. Goes to Leanan Sídhe, his favorite Irish pub, to meet with Doctor F. J. Smite-Williams, Professor of Historical Extra-Dimensional Engineering, (which was a fancy way of saying he studied magical artifacts), AKA The Professor, and also AKA Father O’Banion (when in his drinking mein - drinks Harp Lager beer), concerning leads to ancient Earth artifacts. Will have some leads coming soon. Enjoys seeing the Amazing Malty one of the bar’s attractions. Malty chugs beer out of its bottle. James goes home, find Leeroy missing again, not with Alison, so goes out to find him. Meets with a gang he knows of, headed by Trey. Haven’t see Leeroy, and Trey tells the gang about Brownstone, his bounty hunting, his fighting (the Harrikens), the myths about how he was created, and the Granite Ghost (3 pages), and that you JUST DON’T MESS WITH HIM !
THE ROD OF SUPAY EXPEDITION
Chapter 04
Chapter 05
Receives message from The Professor that the job is a go, that he’ll be working under someone else, and to meet at the Leanan Sídhe at 9 PM for info. In order to better work at the coming tasks, James wanted extra “insurance.” As much as he didn’t trust magic, sometimes it kept things simpler—especially when all you had to do was drink something, so he went to Zoe’s house, the best potions-maker in L.A., to get extra “Energy” (a translucent yellow liquid) and “Healing” (a small vial filled with a dull red liquid). Later that night Brownstone meets with The Professor and Shay Carson, who will lead the expedition to Peru to find the Rod of Supay (See Miscellaneous, Cartagena Codex).
Chapter 06
After a jet ride down to Tapachula, Mexico, they boarded something that looked like it had been found in some old aviation museum, with a pilot older than that, who knew where to land and take off in Peru without attracting too much attention. Then a jeep ride until they got close enough to walk through the jungle to the site. A crumbling stone archway and weathered stairs, atop a tall cliff, told them they had arrived. The site was inaccessible from one side because of the difficulty of scaling a cliff in the middle of dense jungle, but in an emergency they could probably climb down and follow the river. The noise of the jungle surrounded them: the flutter of birds’ wings, buzzing of insects, the shuffling of God-knew-what. A powerful and evil magical artifact might lie inside this ancient tomb. Evil energy had a way of attracting evil. They went down the steps, into a dusty chamber, where smaller tunnels headed off in three directions. Shay knew exactly where to go, towards the main burial chamber. Then they realized that they were hearing a strange buzzing sound that had not been there before. The quiet sound stood out as if someone were screaming. Shimmers, bloody footprints, and three men in scarlet robes winked into sight. Brownstone and Shay disposed of two of them, and Brownstone knocked the third unconscious, while Shay went into the main chamber to look for the hiding place of the artifact, a small carving in the wall that when looked at from a certain angle and illuminated with only a single beam of light resembled a stylized humanoid figure. “Blood freely given will reveal the sacred treasure,” Shay recalled, as she nicked the tip of her finger. The chamber rumbled, and a wall moved, revealing a painting and a small box, with the Rod of Supay inside. She collected it. And they left.
Chapter 07
Back at the bar, Shay is paid off, The Professor has examined and accepted the artifact, Brownstone is at the Police Station cashing in his bounty (2 dozen doughnuts for Mack), and Father O’Banion is set for a singing contest that night. And Leeroy was still missing. Came home to find that the door was open, and the alarm still on. Whoever was there had the skills to spoof the alarm signal.
THE HARRIKENS
Chapter 08
Leeroy lay butchered on a large silver serving tray in the dining room, a series of kanji characters on the plate. Harriken. They’d picked a fight they hadn’t needed to pick, so now it was time for KIBACS: keep it bloody and complicated, stupid. “You shouldn’t have fucked with my dog. I hope you enjoy your short-assed lives.” Brownstone goes the Confessional, to tell Father of what he is about to do. Father suggests that the world will still need him in the future, and to be careful. Shay comes to Brownstone’s house, friendly call, and finds Brownstone gone, and Leeroy almost buried in the back yard. She, too, vows vengeance, and leaves to find Brownstone.
Chapter 09
Chapter 10
Brownstone goes after the Harriken (See [[HARRIKENS[[). He knew their typical enforcer strength and weapon choices, but he had no idea how many men might be inside the house or if they had access to heavier weapons or magic. Brownstone goes for an encounter. . Multiple magazines, pistols, and knives: check. A frag grenade and a flashbang just in case: check. Besides, a vengeance run required a personal touch. Blowing the entire house up from outside wouldn’t be as satisfying as going through beating down or killing every single motherfucking dog-killing Harriken. Two guards stood upfront, armed with wakizashis and pistols. Hints of their extensive tattoos peeked out on their necks and hands. Brownstone killed the two guards, used body of one to smash open the door to the house. A half-dozen Harriken enforcers stood inside the foyer with their swords drawn. He killed one, and three rushed him from the front, while two circled on opposite sides. Brownstone, in a wondrous fight, kills three floors of Harriken. Shay arrives to help, reconstructs the battle in her mind as she walks through the hose, finds Brownstone taking care of the last of them, and probably didn’t need her help, but she opened the door, anyway.
Chapter 11
James came to the last room in the basement, one occupied by two samurai-types, with swords. They were truly confused that James would kill so many for a dog. They fought as well as they knew how, and were done in by James
Chapter 12
Shay comes to the final room, sees James punch the last man, then demand an apology, which the man does, apologizing to Leeroy. James explains that if they would have left his dog alone, they would have lived, but – James didn’t need her, so she left. The last man kept babbling about a “she”, whom he thought James wanted, and said, “Mount Baldy. There’s an old resort that’s been converted to a private chalet. The Belmont House. She’s there.” James wasn’t interested, and left the man alive. It was one thing to kill a man in battle, but he was having a hard time working up his bloodlust with this pathetic fool begging for his life and about to wet himself. The house had been cleared, and maybe that was enough. James had made it halfway down the hall when he heard the scrape of metal on cement. Fucker. I gave you more than enough chances. The Harriken man held his pistol, but hadn’t stood yet. James shot him, grabbed some of their assets, and left.
Chapter 13
Shay met him outside, followed him to his truck, patched/sewed him up. Brownstone was hungry, so asked her if she wanted to go to Pork Gods for BBQ. TV on, and they listen to an elf singing country, group called Best of Three Worlds. (Oriceran, Earth, and the South). Will probably win a Country Music Award! Conversation turns to world, and girls, and Shay accuses James of being gay, and that she doesn’t mind. Then she left.
ALISON, HER DAD AND HER MOM
Chapter 14
Alison hears her Dad agree to give her to Mr. Mr. Takahashi, like he had given Nicole, so she hides, runs, and calls Brownstone for help. He’ll come and get her, and now realizes that the Harriken had been talking about where Nicole was being kept. James finds Alison’s dad about to force her to go with him, so he beats him down a little, taking Alison with him. As they leave, Alison looked back, and the vile swirling black energy around her father looked denser and darker than before. Darkness had always haunted his soul, but now he’d been consumed by it.
Chapter 15
Brownstone needs a safe place for Alison, so asks Shay to take care of her. She agrees, for a little while. And Brownstone owes her one! Shay finds Brownstone’s house TOO perfectly kept, and takes Alison to her own. James is too OCD for her! Brownstone goes to Father McCartney for help – church budget too skinny – can’t take any more kids. Can’t help.
Chapter 16
Shay comes back to help Brownstone rescue Alison’s mom. Will be violent, so she thought she would help. Brownstone won’t let her help unless she tells him about her past – how she knows much of the rough ways. So she does. (See Characters,Shay Carson )
ALISON'S MOM
Chapter 17
Brownstone and Shay head to his warehouse to pick up weapons, materials, and on the way Shay gets a call with additional information. The Harriken have hired a lot of temporary muscle, including some from outside groups. They are offering ten thousand a head. Another call went out not all that long ago offering extra bonuses if they show up immediately. “This is a good thing, anyway.” Shay’s brows rose. “A good thing? How are reinforcements and a lack of surprise a good thing?” “The more guys that are in one place, the less follow-up I have to do if they don’t get the point this time.” They pulled into the parking lot of Angels Elite Indoor Long-Term Storage. Brownstone took out his keyring (37 keys), and went into his unit, opening a back wall, two safes, and removing his necklace, A silver necklace connected to a circular gold and silver amulet rested inside. Three crystals—azure, crimson, and jade—were inlaid into it. It was something he’d owned since he was a child. It was Oriceran magic – a weapon and a curse. Shay saw him put it on, saw it embed itself into his flesh, and asked herself, “Just who or what the hell are you, James Brownstone?” They rode awhile to the address, parked the truck, armed themselves (See Weapons-Brownstone’s armory), and walked to Belmont House, where Nicole (See Nicole Anderson) was being held.
Chapter 18
Belmont House: two stories, plus basement. Over twenty men lingered outside in the circle drive. Half of them appeared to be Harriken, judging by the swords on their sides. The others were a mixed group of non-Japanese men wearing suits, tactical uniforms, or street clothes with obvious gang colors. It was like a United Nations of scumbags. Brownstone and Shay waded in, alternatively covering one another, pistols, finally grenades. Shay watched Brownstone take a shotgun blast to the chest, and it only tore his shirt. He stared at her with vertically-slit pupils in speckled yellow and green irises, his eyes more like a cat’s than a human’s. A few seconds later his normal brown human eyes returned. Was he even human? Eight more SUVs came roaring in, with the Grayrock Company of mercenaries (forty trained fighters), anticipating Brownstone’s death.
Chapter 19
Because the Belmont House was on fire, they went to the basement, to find Nicole. the Belmont House basement appeared to have once been some sort of torture room. A single table and carts filled with bloodied blades, screws, and pins filled the center of the room. One cart even held a few lead-acid batteries with thick alligator clamps. It was everything a sick-ass psychopath might need. The elaborate twisted-metal light fixture hanging overhead lacked light bulbs, leaving a dim standing lamp in the corner the only source of light. An ebony-skinned woman with long bright-white hair lay on the table, her hands and feet secured by ropes. He could see a facial resemblance between Alison and the woman on the table, but she was as dark as night, unlike her daughter. She wore only a torn dull-green hospital gown. Jagged lacerations, bloodstains, burns, and abrasions covered her body, arms, legs, and face. The fingers on one of her hands were bent at extreme angles. There was some sort of metal sheet around her chest. James’ stomach tightened. Killing someone in a fight was one thing. Torture was another. “Alison’s safe. We’ve got her stashed somewhere the Harriken can’t find her. And I had a discussion with Walt about proper respect for his wife and child. It ended with a broken jaw, and a warning from me that he’d better get the fuck out of town or he would be dead.” “Please promise me you’ll kill him should you get the chance.” “If I see him again, he’s dead.” “Thank you, James Brownstone. I can die now, secure in the knowledge that she’s safe, but there is something you should know. I’ll be dead soon anyway. You need to understand what I’m going to tell you. My legacy is a wish,” Nicole said softly. “I ran from my family responsibilities and duties on Oriceran, but it did not change the truth that those in my line are bequeathed a wish.” “I can give the wish to another, but it has to be done willingly. “Can’t we take you to some Oriceran healer to help you?” “No. To keep myself alive, I’ve been feeding off my own life force. All things have a cost. At this point I’m only delaying the inevitable, but I have enough magic left for one important task.” “Vengeance.” “These men will learn why you do not earn the wrath of a Princess of the Drow. Do not come up if you value your lives.”
Chapter 20
The Drow Princess (See Drow) then left the basement and killed all of the mercenaries, for the remainder of the chapter.
Chapter 21
21 Shay and Brownstone hear no more sounds of battle, and decide to go topside, to see what had happened. Both turned at the sound of a soft moan. They rushed to the source and found Nicole kneeling on the ground, blood covering the front of her hospital gown. Nicole put out a hand and let him help her stand as she stared at the burning Belmont House. “It’s taking all my control to keep my power from consuming the last of me, but I will die satisfied, knowing that at least I saved you from these fake soldiers. I need you to take care of my daughter, the new Princess of the Shadow Forged. I’ve harmed her by keeping her heritage from her, and I just hope she’ll forgive me. My time is done, and I must see to her future. And that’s why I need you.” Nicole threw her arms around his neck and stuck her tongue down his throat, giving him a kiss that made his damn skin feel like a lightning bolt had just hit nearby. “I’ve transferred the wish to you,” Nicole whispered. “I transferred the wish willingly and freely through the kiss. I’ve entrusted it to you for my daughter. Now you are bound to her. I can see it now so clearly. You have the brightest soul I’ve ever seen. You are the right one to entrust, and you will know when the time is right to pass it to Alison.” James stopped as a black mist began to rise from Nicole’s body, slowly floating into the sky.
Chapter 22
Brownstone and Shay go to Walt Anderson’s home, tell him about the Belmont House battles. “After we freed your wife from the torture room in the basement, she decided to give a little demonstration of her power. It didn’t end well for the guys who pissed her off. She’s dead.” “Then it’s over. It’s all over.” “Oh, no, it’s not over.” The bounty hunter shook his head. “Because not everyone involved in this bullshit received their proper punishment. What you don’t do is turn her over to psychopathic criminals who will spend days torturing her to get her to give up something that doesn’t belong to them. “ “That wish belongs to me!” “She suffered torture and intense pain to protect something she planned to give to your daughter. Who gives a fuck if you didn’t get it?” “I have a wish, Walt,” James intoned. “And that wish is for you to be dead.” And he is. James goes to talk with Father McCartney, Shay staying in the car. James tells Father about Nicole, and her wish, passed to her daughter. The wish is gone from the mom,” he said quietly. “It was...reassigned.” “Reassigned?” “It’s waiting for her daughter now. I can use my strength in a good way by protecting that girl until she gets her wish.” “I believe this girl is part of his plan for you, James. Part of your penance for your sins. What’s the girl’s wish?” the priest asked. James chuckled. “God only knows.”
