Scarlett's voice echoed with disbelief as she voiced the thoughts of the group. "Who the...did he just catch Captain's cards?"
Udo's internal monologue reflected his mixed emotions. "What am I doing? I'm supposed to be keeping a low profile..."
Rory's response was laced with a hint of eagerness. "Friends to the rescue, huh? Looks like we got more cunts to make an example of."
Captain Smyth's calm appearance contrasted with the intrigue in his words. "No, this lad's much more than just a 'friend'...his use of masked vibration was flawless...I didn't even notice his presence..."
Captain Smyth directed his attention to Udo, his curiosity getting the best of him. "Hey kid! Who are ya?"
Udo, still holding the cards, chose silence as his response.
Captain Smyth continued, his tone carrying a note of probing amusement. "You're not from here, are ya? And what's with the mask? You insecure about your looks?"
Udo's silence remained unbroken.
Captain Smyth demeanour took a shift, his words now carrying a hint of threat. "Well then...it doesn't matter who you are anyway. We'll have to punish you for interfering with our business. Rory! Scarlett!"
The tension escalated as Rory and Scarlett sprang into action, their intent clear. Scarlett swung her monopod while Rory lunged with a punch.
Yet, as the situation hung in the balance, a sudden arrival disrupted the imminent clash. Kimberley and Alko emerged on the scene, Scarlett's monopod in Alko's grip and Kimberley's gun aimed squarely at Rory's forehead.
Alko's smirk accompanied the tense atmosphere. "Hey."
Kimberley's voice carried a chilling authority. "Move, and I'll end you."
Captain Smyth's scowl bore witness to the unravelling scene, his curiosity about the newcomers apparent. "Who the fuck are these guys...?"
Udo, his cards still held between his fingers, couldn't suppress his growing bewilderment. His voice, loaded with both concern and challenge, pierced the air. "What are you guys doing? I thought you were Dove Officers. Why were you guys not going to save that girl?"
Captain Smyth's initial anger morphed into a sly smirk. "It's none of your business."
Udo's frustration became palpable as he responded with more intensity. "Answer me, you piece of shit."
Captain Smyth's expression transformed yet again, his scowl softening into a knowing smile. "Kenny. I don't know if you know who these intruders are, but you better keep them on a leash...before something happens to her."
Kenny's voice carried a mixture of frustration and warning. "Mate. I swear to God-"
Captain Smyth interrupted, his tone dripping with menace. "Hey. Nothing has to happen to her. All you have to do is comply. Come with us, Kenny, and face your punishment. Or she'll be the one to receive it instead."
Udo's thoughts raced as he observed the complex dynamics unfolding before him.
Udo felt a tap on his shoulder, pulling his attention away from the intense confrontation. He turned and found Kenny standing there, back on his feet.
"My mother, she's been unwell for a while now," Kenny explained, handing a plastic bag to Udo. "Oxhey Lane, Pinner, HA5 4AH. Take this to her, please."
Udo's confusion was evident. "...huh?"
Kenny moved in front of Udo, Alko, and Kimberley, extending his arms with a peculiar sense of surrender. "I'm all yours...Captain."
As Squad Smyth departed, Udo, Kimberley, and Alko were left watching in its wake. Ren's black coupe pulled up beside them.
"What the hell! You just let them take him?" Ren exclaimed, his disbelief palpable.
"He wanted to. I'm not sure why," Kimberley explained, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "He mentioned a 'her'. Must be someone really important to him."
Ren's understanding shifted, his tone softened. "Oh...what you got there, Udo?"
Udo's gaze fell to the plastic bag in his hands, holding Kenny's mother's medication.
In the confines of Damon's Aston Martin, Squad Smyth continued on their journey through the streets of Watford, Kenny unconscious in the boot.
"Who the fuck were those gimps?" Scarlett's frustration was evident.
"I hate how we let them get away," Rory added, his irritation clear. "If it were up to me, I would've banged up that girl who put her filthy gun to my head."
Captain Smyth's voice cut through the tension, his tone both resigned and cautious. "Well thank God it wasn't up to you, aye?"
"Huh?" Rory's confusion matched Scarlett's.
Captain Smyth clarified, his words laced with a sense of caution. "Are—are you two blind? Did you not see how effortlessly they stopped our attacks? That was a Straight Hand, and he just caught it like it was a frisbee. Let's stay away from them. We got our man. That's all that matters."
Scarlett's concern remained unassuaged. "But what if...they come for the boy?"
Capt sighed, his decision made. "I know. We have to get rid of them, but I don't fancy our chances. Might have to make a call to the higher-ups..."
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In the quiet neighbourhood, Kimberley, Alko, Udo, and Ren stood before the door of Kelly Grieves's house. The tension was palpable as they exchanged glances, silently deciding who should ring the doorbell.
"Is this the house, Ata?" Kimberley's voice crackled through their earbuds.
Atamai's voice responded, "Yep. Oxhey Lane, Pinner, HA5 4AH."
"Alright. Now, who's ringing?" Kimberley questioned.
Udo hesitated, "Alko, you ring."
Alko's brows furrowed, his voice filled with protest, "What? You're the one he gave the bag to! You ring!"
Kimberley interjected with calm assurance, "He has a point."
Udo defended his stance, "Huh? I didn't ask for the bag, now did I?"
Kimberley mediated, "Okay, you two play rock, paper, scissors."
Alko reluctantly agreed, "Fine. Wait, how come you two aren't in the game?"
Kimberley explained with a smirk, "I'm the moderator."
Ren chimed in, his tone resigned, "And I don't wanna do it."
Alko and Udo engaged in an intense game of rock, paper, scissors, their hands moving swiftly as they continually ended up in ties. Ren's patience wore thin, and he finally took matters into his own hands. He walked up to the door and pressed the doorbell.
Inside Kelly Grieves's home, she was in the midst of stirring a pot on the stove, humming a light tune to herself. The doorbell's chime broke the tranquility, and she paused, wondering about the unexpected visitor.
"Ooo, I wonder who that may be," Kelly mused to herself. She set the pot aside and approached the windows, cautiously peering through the curtains to get a glimpse of the guests outside.
"Huh? Who are they?" Kelly's expression shifted to one of recognition. "Kenny's friends?"
With a friendly smile, Kelly opened the door to meet the unexpected visitors. However, the expressions on Kimberley, Alko, Ren, and Udo's faces were far from what she had anticipated.
"Hi there! What can I do for you?" Kelly's voice carried warmth and hospitality.
Kimberley, Alko, Ren, and Udo exchanged wide-eyed glances, a mixture of surprise and realization dawning upon them.
"Hm? Is everything okay?" Kelly's concern was evident.
"Um...yeah," Kimberley responded, though her smirk hinted at something more.
Ren's voice dropped to a whisper, concern lacing his words, "Kim...isn't she..."
Kimberley's smirk only widened, revealing the truth. "Yep...jackpot."
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Inside the cosy living room of Kelly Grieves's house, the group of Kimberley, Alko, Ren, Udo, and Kelly found themselves seated on a couch, engaged in a conversation that revealed the intricacies of the Dove Officers' operations.
"They only save those they deem 'worthy' or whatever," Kelly shared, her tone tinged with a mix of frustration and resentment. "They say the Dove officers around the kingdom don't get enough credit for their work. They look at the population as a bunch of ungrateful pricks."
Kimberley leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "What do they use to determine whether someone is worthy or not?"
Kelly sighed, her expression conveying the absurdity of the situation. "A mandatory subscription. Everyone in the city is required to pay 200 quid a month to be eligible for their services. They believe that's the best way for citizens to express gratitude towards them."
Ren chimed in, "So basically, they're monetizing Dovanity..."
Kelly nodded in agreement, "Exactly that."
Alko, never one to be without his favorite beverage, sipped a can of beer casually. Udo raised an eyebrow, genuinely puzzled. "Where did you even get that can from?"
Alko chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Buddy, I always walk around with at least six cans of beer."
Udo's bewilderment deepened, "Wh-where do you put them?"
Alko's response was simple and evasive, "Don't ask."
Kimberley shifted the conversation to a more serious topic. "I heard stories about someone taking it upon themselves to save people without a Dove Officer badge...it was your son, wasn't it?"
Kelly's eyes flickered with a mix of pride and worry. "Sadly. I don't know why he's so hell-bent on saving people! He got caught once, and luckily they let him go. But he kept going, and now look."
Curiosity struck Ren, "But why doesn't anyone file a report against them?"
A heavy silence hung in the air as Kelly's expression darkened. "My husband was the last person to do that..."
Ren's brows furrowed, his concern evident, "And what happened?"
Kelly's voice was sombre as she answered, "He got executed."
The gravity of her words weighed heavily on everyone in the room. Alko summed up their collective shock with a simple exclamation, "Holy shit..."
Kelly's gaze held a mix of sadness and resignation as she spoke again, "Yeah..."
Kimberley, always one to appreciate courage, expressed her admiration, "Gotta hand it to your son. He's got massive balls to be standing up to those cunts."
Kelly's emotions welled up, and she buried her face in her hands, letting out a sob. The weight of her worries and fears finally found release in that vulnerable moment.
Udo's faint chuckles filled the room, a touch of nostalgia in his voice. "My foster brother was similar to your son. He valued justice over anything else. One of the few genuine Dove hosts left. Isn't it sad how it never ends well for people like him?"
Kelly looked at Udo, her curiosity piqued. "What happened to him?"
Udo's gaze turned distant, carrying a weight of memories. "He got taken by the Herd."
The words hung in the air, freezing Kelly in place, her eyes widening with shock. "The...Herd?"
Udo confirmed with a solemn nod. "Yeah...ever heard of them?"
Kelly's voice quivered as she responded, "Um...n-no, what is that?"
Udo leaned back, his tone reflective. "Ms Grieves, do you know why I admire people like your son? It's because they are never scared to take action. Whenever they want something done, they do it themselves. No shortcuts, no hiding. They grab themselves by the balls and go for it. I've never been that type of person, but it's something I've always wanted to be. And I guess you could call this the first step of my journey."
Kelly struggled to comprehend his words, her confusion evident. "I...I don't know what you're talking about—"
Udo cut through the tension, his voice steady and resolute. "We know who you are, K-19."
The thread and needles Kelly had been holding slipped from her trembling hands, clattering onto the floor. Her gaze locked onto Udo, her expression a mixture of fear and disbelief. "But...but how?"
Kimberley seized the moment, her voice cool and composed. "Nice segue, Udo."
With purpose, she rose from her seat, her gaze unwavering. "K-19. Former member of the Herd. Infamously known for her 19-man killing spree at Waterloo Station."
Kelly's eyes widened, her heart pounding in her chest as the truth unfolded before her.
"We've done our research on you, Kelly," Kimberley continued, her words cutting through the silence like a knife. "And we know you have relevant information on the Herd. Now the question is. Will you give it to us?"