Spawning in to the comforting sound of his train rattling on the rails, Kurt shook his head at Jimmy and started getting geared up. He slipped into his suit, adding the newly upgraded armored vest. It was much heavier than he was used to and sagged at the shoulders until he buttoned his suit jacket. Glancing at the mirrored glass of his weapons cabinet, Kurt was pleased to see that the suit covered the bulkier armor perfectly, making it look like nothing more than a suit vest.

  He holstered the Messenger at his armpit, securing three extra magazines of the Shredder ammunition before turning and grabbing his Glock from the rack. That one went under his other arm, with three more extended tower magazines of +P. At each hip, just under the jacket, he placed a drum magazine, one loaded with Ratshot, the other with Incendiary. He automatically reached for the Walther, but his hand hesitated over it. Kurt squinted before reaching past it and instead grabbing the Silencerco Maxim 9 with a smile. He slid it into his rear waistband and added two magazines of subsonic hollow points.

  That completed, he slipped his ECM device into a pocket alongside a handful of Looper disks. He strapped his smoke sticks and flares to his ankle and strapped the grenade holder to the small of his back with three flashbangs securely in place. Before he left his safehouse, he added a couple of MK 2 fragmentation grenades to his jacket pockets. Kurt swiped up his menus and made sure he had everything the way he wanted it equipped before nodding and waiting for the train to stop.

  After stepping out onto an abandoned subway station near the waypoint, Kurt made his way up to ground level and paused to take in the city. The pavement was torn up all around him, tank treads not particularly gentle on asphalt, nor the shells that said tanks fired. The buildings and roads were pockmarked by explosions and bullet strikes, with most of the buildings in a partial state of ruin, windows shattered and left to the open air. There was a disturbing lack of NPCs on the streets, but Kurt couldn’t be surprised by the amount of sheer chaos in the city. The occasional GoonStorm vehicle approached, usually chased by the heat, but Kurt stuck close to the buildings as he walked, ducking into shadows and relying on his advanced stealth skill to keep him hidden.

  As Kurt approached the meeting point, he noticed a blockade in the road ahead of him. GoonStorm Humvees and Ursa APCs were lined up across the street, with several players standing around holding weapons and looking mean as they searched the streets for trouble. Kurt stayed beneath the overhang of the building he had used to approach, shifting to put his back to a pillar as he pulled up his map. The middle of the intersection ahead had a few people milling around, but the heavy action was at each road entrance. Vehicles were lined up to create more roadblocks and each was manned by a dozen players, Kurt assumed heavily armed.

  He crouched and peered around the pillar, waiting for the guards to glance away before darting to the next one in the line. Kurt continued this approach, getting nearer and nearer to the roadblock and avoiding the players patrolling. Those standing guard on the sidewalk ahead of him were engaged in conversation and failed to look his way as he darted closer, until he was leaning on the pillar directly behind them. Shaking his head at their inane conversation about which rifle was superior, Kurt slipped around the pillar and squeezed between it and an APC. He glanced over his shoulder at the roadblock and rolled his eyes as none of the guards noticed his passage.

  Kurt stepped lightly, moving around the next roadblock to a closed-down café behind it, ignoring the cluster of vehicles and people in the middle of the intersection. Once he had picked his way through the rubble of the café and found the coffee machine he hoped was still intact, he made his way back out front and sat in a chair, shrouded in the shadow of a shelled out building. He swept some rubble off his table and leaned back to sip at his beverage while watching the group of players in the street. His table was wedged between a collapsed doorway, and an overturned umbrella.

  The Pirates officer core was present and appeared to be building something in the middle of the intersection, moving around and raising a small, white screen on an oversized easel. GoonStorm and Ursa players were on the other side of the intersection, backs to Kurt as they watched and commented, clearly confused about what was happening. Jerome was directing the other officers as they struggled to get the screen to stay upright. Finally he stepped in and shoved BoneCrusher aside, raising a part of the easel and clicking it into place before stepping away and shaking his head. None of the players seemed to be pointing weapons at each other, and Kurt shrugged as he assumed some sort of truce had to be in effect for the peace talks. It made sense, but he raised a lip as he patted the Messenger lightly and looked along the lines of other players in the intersection.

  He glanced around occasionally, half expecting to be discovered while he happily watched his stealth skill bar crawl ever upward. The roar of an engine and the squeal of tires interrupted his reverie and Kurt looked up as Gadot drove Eleanor into the intersection from the sidewalk, bypassing the roadblock and stopping the car in a cloud of tire smoke. She and Jimmy stepped out, leaving the doors open as angry shouts from behind them were ignored.

  Gadot stepped with purpose over to the Pirates officer core, glaring at one of them as she approached. She drew her sidearm and casually shot Godless in the face, turning and holstering the gun as GoonStorm and Ursa players all began to shout and point weapons at her.

  She looked around, seemingly confused. “What?”

  Jerome stepped in front of her, raising his hand to the other crews. “It be a peace talk, Gadot. Shootin’ people is more or less frowned upon.” That done, he addressed the Goons and Ursa gathered in front of them with weapons drawn. “Calm down, ye daft buggers, she’s with us!”

  “Oh, that? That was personal. Don’t worry about it.” Gadot spoke cheerfully, smiling at the gathered players. “He had it coming.”

  Kitty appeared on the screen behind them, creating an effective distraction. She was at the helm of the Jahre Viking, with the open ocean visible all around her. Great blasts of spray rose and fell in the background, and it looked like she was helming the vessel at considerable speed. “Helloooo? This thing finally working?”

  Jerome waved. “Aye, yer majesty, we have ye just fine. Most of the others be here, but we’re still missin’ GoonStorm command and Kurt.”

  Kitty shrugged and Kurt noticed that she was wearing only a fluorescent yellow bikini beneath her admiralty coat. “Oh, I doubt you’re missing Kurtis, he’s just hiding somewhere. Let me know when the Goons show up.”

  As if on cue, the barricades to Kurt’s left parted and an obnoxiously painted vehicle rolled through. It was a stretch Humvee limo, with a burnished gold digital camo paint job and spinning rims. Four heavily armed GoonStorm troopers walked on either side of the vehicle, weapons held at a relaxed position as they ran escort duty.

  Jimmy snorted, audible even from Kurt’s position. “Now here must be someone worthy of great respect.”

  The Ursa representative shook his head. “We are here to talk peace.” He spoke with a Russian accent, indicating his native tongue. “Enough equipment has been lost in this conflict.”

  Gadot glared at the man, stepping forward with a hand on her sidearm. “You came to talk peace, not me.” She nodded her chin at the stretch Humvee as it parked. “I don’t bow to men like this.”

  That earned her a sharp stare from the Ursa delegation, as grumbles rose among their ranks. The leader stepped forward and raised a fist, stopping his members from open aggression. “The Ursa bows to no one.”

  “Oh, right, you just do the Goons’ dirty work for pay. Totally different thing, I agree.” Jimmy scoffed, adjusting his heavy loadout. “I wonder how you’ll look in blue camo.”

  The exchange was interrupted by a single gunshot, followed by angry shouts from the stretch Humvee. The GoonStorm leader had attempted to step out of the vehicle holding his gold-plated AR-15 and inadvertently fired a shot into the pavement in front of himself. He turned and irately shoved at the GoonStorm member behind him, shouting about having been pushed. Gadot raised an eyebrow and turned to look at the Ursa leader, giving him a long stare as the GoonStorm leadership team got themselves arranged.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “Trigger discipline, man.” Jimmy lifted his new rifle, pointing at the trigger. “If you squeeze this bit, the gun goes off.”

  The leader of the GoonStorm forces scowled at Jimmy, before glancing around him at their superior numbers and giving a casual shrug. Kurt looked up sharply as Jimbo stepped down from the Humvee and stretched, but found he was not surprised by the man’s presence.

  Kitty spoke up from her monitor, offering a cheery wave. “Hi Chet! Hi Pyotr! You guys get sick of losing this fight yet?”

  Pyotr waved a dismissive hand at her image, not bothering to respond verbally as his crew openly laughed. Chet ignored her as well and focused on Jimmy instead, seeming unable to let go of the incident between them. “Strange. I keep hearing about this boogeyman with a giant assault rifle taking out my guys. Turns out to be just a basic M-16, though.”

  Jimmy gave a bark of a laugh. “Sure thing, friend. That’s all it is. A plain old M-16.”

  “That is no M-16.” Pyotr shook his head slowly, staring openly at Jimmy’s rifle. “Look at the magazine, it is too wide. The barrel is far too large as well.”

  With a slow nod of his masked face Jimmy turned to the Russian players. “Good eye.”

  Once the rest of the gathered players quieted down, Kitty continued. “Okay, good, my turn. Everyone who doesn’t want to get killed horribly or lose their vehicles and equipment should really evacuate the Downtown Cluster.” She lifted her wrist to her face and frowned critically. “Within the next half hour.”

  The gathered players looked at one another, confusion obvious on their faces. Pyotr stepped forward. “No disrespect, but you seem to be making threats. We are supposed to be here to discuss peace between our factions.”

  Kitty looked confused, before smiling widely and shaking her head. “Not me! I just wouldn’t have felt right if I didn’t warn the Cluster before I wiped it out.” She paused, swiping a lock of multicolored hair out of her face as her expression became dire. All jest and joy were gone from her voice when she spoke again. “And that’s what’s about to happen. I’m going to annihilate the Downtown Cluster, and anyone foolish enough to still be in it.”

  All the gathered players stood and looked between each other. The Goons began to laugh nervously, and it spread to the Ursa players before being shut down by a glare from their leader.

  “One point five billion!” Chet was practically pleading over the sound of his members’ laughter. “I’ve promised it, and I’ll pay it. I just want peace!”

  She remained unimpressed. “No, you want the city. You want control.” Kitty sniffed, looking away from the camera and focusing on steering her ship. “The Pirates cannot be bought — period.”

  The GoonStorm leader’s back stiffened, and he looked away. “I don’t want control, I want everyone to have access to the game’s content. Higher level raids are impossible for some players, and if my crew has the turf, we can help everyone play everything.” By the time he finished, he had turned a full circle to address everyone gathered, somehow still managing to miss Kurt’s location.

  Kurt stood and adjusted his jacket, drawing the Messenger and approaching the gathered players. He stayed close to the debris and moved with quiet, slow footsteps. Once he was standing behind the group, he reached into his jacket pocket and slipped on his mask, waiting for his moment.

  Jimmy let out a long sigh as the GoonStorm leader stopped speaking. He leaned forward and shook his head, tapping the butt of his rifle to his mask in frustration. Without warning, he drew his double barrel handgun and approached Chet, pointing the gun at the other man’s crotch. “I’m loaded with rubber bullets in here. This won’t kill you even with a critical hit so pay attention or it’s going to hurt.”

  The gathered groups erupted in angry shouts and guns were raised on all sides. Kurt shook his head as none of the gathered players thought to check behind themselves and he was left to his own devices. Chet managed to calm everything, screeching above the clamor for his men to stand down.

  Giving him a nod, Jimmy lowered the hammers on his double-barreled 1911, but kept it pointed at the other man. “Are you lying right now? About the reason for your takeover?” He shook the gun slightly. “You seriously just want to make content on this server more accessible?”

  Chet had his hands raised and took a step back while staring at Jimmy’s gun. “Of course! I had to build up this guild over three years just to do anything. The game is too hard!”

  Jimmy cocked his head, then sighed and turned back to the Pirates, holstering his gun. “We’re the bad guys. Again.” His shoulders slumped as he returned to Gadot.

  Kurt stepped up behind Jimbo. His voice echoed around the now quiet square. “We’ve always been the bad guys.” That got their attention, and guns were once again raised and pointed. “But that’s what we’re here for, isn’t it?”

  “I knew I liked you for a reason, Kurtis,” Kitty said with a smile clear in her voice. “If you guys can’t hack it, go back to Brescia.” She grinned as she struggled to control the wheel of her ship, spray from a wave hitting her windshield. “I’m bored. Hey, Jimmy?” When he turned to face the screen, she smiled at him with twinkling eyes. “Eggs have no business dancing with stones.”

  Jimmy reached over his shoulder and pulled his new shotgun free. It was exactly like the ones they had seen on The Lace guards their first night, and there were bright red shells peeking through the cutaway magazine. “No.” He pulled at the charging handle and loaded a shell. “No, they don’t.”

  Gadot darted to Jimmy’s back, drawing her UMP 45 and using him as cover while she began picking off targets from among the Ursa players. Jimmy swept his automatic shotgun across their ranks, dumping thirty rounds of magnum loaded buckshot into them and causing chaos and death. As his players fell to dust around him, Pyotr crouched and extended a collapsible ballistic shield to hide behind with a vibrant curse. Two of his senior officers matched his movement, and they formed a shield wall to protect their return fire. Their AK-12s barked flame and lead, all of which Jimmy absorbed and ignored as he turned his attention to the Goons.

  Predictably their leadership began an immediate retreat, loading into the stretch Humvee as its driver tried to shove the vehicle between them and the threat. Kurt grabbed Jimbo by the back of his collar and shoved him aside, yanking the pin from one of his grenades and tossing it into the vehicle’s open door before kicking it closed and running back to his hideout with Jimbo at his back.

  The Humvee bucked as its windows blew out in flame and black smoke. As it settled, Gadot slid into cover behind its still smoking engine block and continued her selective fire. The surviving Goons had all retreated, trying to get to armored vehicles or simply escape the carnage.

  Three members of the Ursa’s officer core remained, huddled behind their shields, as Jimmy slowly approached, reaching for a fresh drum magazine for his auto-shotgun. He continued his thudding steps towards them, clicking the oversized cutaway magazine into place and chambering a shell. “You know, fellas, none of this had to happen.” He shrugged off the incoming fire and stopped in front of them with a sigh. “But you forgot who you are!” Jimmy shouted the last as he lashed out with a foot, knocking Pyotr and his friends off balance. As they staggered back, he finished them off with a shotgun blast each.

  Jimmy turned and slung his shotgun. A nearby Abrams tank began to haul the barrel of its main cannon towards him. Kurt saw it happening and sprinted towards the tank, another grenade gripped in his fist. Jimmy looked up to see the business end of the tank’s barrel come to rest facing him and drew his sidearm while pulling his wrist up. He nodded, and then shot himself in the leg twice with his own handgun.

  With a short belch of flame and smoke from the muzzle, the tank fired on Jimmy. Kurt pulled the pin out of his grenade and leapt onto the heavily armored vehicle, gripping the end of the barrel. He slapped the grenade into the barrel and jumped off, turning back towards Jimmy. A cloud of thick black smoke swirled around the man, but he still stood in the middle of the road. A small crater had formed around him in the blackened and scorched asphalt, but he stood untouched, turning his glare on the tank. It sat still and quiet for a few seconds before a muted explosion from inside blew its top hatch off and black smoke wisped from the interior.

  “So that’s why you’re using rubber bullets, I guess.” Kurt eyed the scorch mark on Jimmy’s armor, casually walking over.

  Jimmy looked pleased with himself, raising an armored gauntlet to dust away carbon debris on his breastplate. “Yep.”

  Gadot approached, an uncomfortable look on her face as she covered Jimbo with her UMP 45. “Everyone else ran.” She jerked her chin towards the man. “Why’s he still here?”

  Kurt raised an eyebrow and flipped open his chat window with them, quickly firing off a text that read simply: ‘Now’. He squeezed his eyes shut for a second, and then turned to grace Jimbo with a mildly devious smile. “He’s with me. We’ve got a thing right now.”

  Jimmy began to play his part. “A thing?” He lifted his mask slightly and leaned to the side to look past Kurt at Jimbo. “What kinda thing?”

  Before Kurt could say anything, Jimbo stepped forward and opened his palms towards them. “Armored vehicles.” He raised his eyebrows at Jimmy and Gadot, who were clearly confused. “I know of a lightly guarded GoonStorm depot near here. Kurt and I were planning to sneak in and make off with a tank or two.”

  “Oh sweet, I’ll come with.” Jimmy flipped his facemask down and shouldered his auto-shotgun, stepping up behind Kurt and Jimbo.

  Kurt placed a hand on his shoulder. “Sorry, buddy. Key word was ‘sneak’.” He gestured lightly to his larger friend’s armored frame. “You kind of shake the ground when you walk.”

  Jimmy spread his arms and hopped up and down a couple of times, before shrugging and moving back over to stand with Gadot. She hadn’t moved and was glaring at Jimbo with open hostility, her UMP 45 still pointed at him. “I don’t trust that guy, Kurt. Be careful.” Kurt merely smiled and nodded his head a couple of times.