Chapter 292: New Associates
"Then we go nonlethal. We will leave them for our hosts." Salem ordered as she flipped the final card. She raised an eyebrow at what appeared. Looking at Mountain Man who flinched as he flipped a Jack.
The beast man deer flipped a ten. The Vampire flipped a six. Another complete loss for the Mountain Man. "Well shit." The Mountain Man cursed as he looked at Salem’s Ace. "Another complete loss." He brought the revolver up to his head and it clicked again.
"Salem they are landing outside of the bar’s door." Ram informed her.
Salem stood up and walked to the front door holding her pyre to her side while she glanced over at the bathroom where Marcus and Dag were restraining and gagging the enemy operative that had snuck in. Marcus was bleeding from the nose. While Dag, who is a Leonair, had the enemy pinned.
She stood at the door, "Yuti, warning shots only and on my mark." She then waited as they could all hear a loud noise of a ship landing. They were not very discrete.
"Understood they are exiting the ship now... they hit the door guards with stunners... They have a dog emblem on their armor and... sand colored armor. Am I seeing this right?" Yuti asked in her unique Oda Empire accent.
The door in front of Salem slammed open and the first one through. Salem grabbed their gun out of their hand and kicked them into the door frame. Causing a spider crack of damage as she stuck the barrel of her Pyre under their chin glared at the second one that was supposed to be coming through the door.
"Stop!" She ordered and the second one froze while the first one was stopped mid-pull of his knife. She then looked over their armor and chuckled. "The Desert Dogs. This is a surprise. I figured you would be off fighting somewhere either on a front or at the Kitinol Line."
"You know about us?" The one she was holding at gunpoint asked.
"Yeah... you are obviously newer." Salem looked at the second one who was supposed to come in the door. She was clearly a woman. "Tell you what. You and yours back off or else." Salem ordered as she leaned to the side and the woman could see that Marcus and Dag were restraining their spy.
"How do you know us?" The woman asked as she made a signal that Salem recognized as ’get back and signal the ship.’
"Jace and I were roommates at the academy. We trained again later. He told me about your squad." Salem answered as she nodded at the ship. "But it looks like you changed up from the Kitinol Line."
"Well-" She stopped mid-sentence and made a slight tilt with her head like she was listening to something. She would have listened in on her thoughts, but Salem was not able to hear what she was thinking. After a moment the woman nodded, "Desert Dogs we are backing out." She called out and then nodded at the soldier Salem was holding at gunpoint. "We are going to be coming back for these two. They better be fine or we are going to have problems." They then backed away and up into their transport.
It then took off and flew away. Salem pushed the Desert Dog soldier further into the bar and turned to the Mountain Man who had waited until she was finished. "Vexical’s MILD was watching you." She walked back over and sat at the table. "Hope you do not mind turning them over alive. Killing the Desert Dogs will draw the kind of attention no one wants." Salem informed him as he sat down. "Now the information."
Mountain Man sat quietly for a moment before nodding. "I have information packets for these two. If you do not mind waiting a few minutes I can get you one in a few minutes." He stood up and walked to a door that was the only visible blemish on this ancient earth styled bar.
"What do you want us to do with these two?" Marcus asked as he and Dag pulled out the subdued spy. He was still holding his nose to stop the bleeding.
"Leave them and head on back to the ship. Report to the boss, I will join you once I am done here. Get us permission to head into New Hexarian Republic Space." Salem ordered as she holstered her pistol. Then as they left she used her telekinesis to pull the cards back into the deck and leave it at the center of the table.
"When did you notice that he was cheating?" The vampire asked with a chuckle as he downed a goblet of what she was hoping was wine.
"As soon as we each got our own guns. That waiter was supposed to deal out specific cards as well I think. But I stopped him." Salem explained, but purposely did not explain the Mountain Man’s empty gun. He can keep how he did that trick to himself.
"How about you? How were you cheating?" The deer beast man asked with a grunt.
Salem picked up the revolver and flicked it open. Then the cylinder began spinning, "I used my telekinesis to tell where the bullet was and moved the cylinder while it was spinning so I would have to shoot six times for me to be in danger." The bullet floated out of the gun and she set it on the table. The bullet wobbled for a moment before standing upright. She then telekinetically flicked the gun closed and set it on the table. Then she pulled back her telekinesis.
"Hmmm... I feel like I should warn you just in case someone else has not. Psychic ability users are vulnerable unless you appropriately train your mind. Apparently your minds become more and more vulnerable to attack the stronger your abilities get." The vampire offered up.
Salem opened her mouth to say her thanks when the out of place door opened up and the Mountain Man walked in. He walked toward the table and put down a file in front of each of them. Salem picked up the ancient paper file and opened it up. It was printed in ink and everything. "I apologize but it is more difficult to steal information when it is paper." He then waved his hand and one of Mountain Man’s guards stepped forward and held out an extravagant box. "As a hobby I enjoy designing revolvers. So as I hope you will do business with me again, I wish to give you this weapon as a gift to replace your current Pyre which no longer fits your current associations."
The guard opened the box and Salem raised an eyebrow as she looked over the contents. It was a revolver that was missing its bullet chamber. Along the bottom of the revolver running from the tip of the barrel to the trigger was a diagonal solid piece of metal. Then the handle was far more ergonomic and looked to be exchangeable. While the hammer and sights were smoother. There were also two bullet chambers that could fit into the revolver. One had six spots for the standard Vexical side arm bullets to fit in. The other was a solid block and was rechargeable. She could tell because the recharger was in the box as well. Then there was also a data chip inside the box as well.
"Why did you want to do business with me again?" Salem asked as she accepted and closed the box.
"Because an up and comer like Kamot Witch will make a name for herself. I will be able to brag that she trounced me in my own game." Mountain Man held out his arms in celebration. "Not to mention I would love to poach talent like yours. So if you ever go freelance, give me a ring and I will get you lined up with some profitable work."