3 years ago...
The enforcers, Joe Gray, Craig and Christian Tossio were returning back to Vienna after a mission.
The mission, being to prevent a Romanian ambassador who was currently on his way to cross the border, was a failure. Christian, the then leader, headed into the throne room first, followed by the other two.
Unfortunately for him, Fred Gaspar wasn't sitting on his throne. Rather, his middle son Tomas was there, staring at the trio. He started slowly clapping. Craig was confused, but the other two where in shock.
"Come here, Christian." Tomas said. The leader walked up to Tomas, who was frowning.
"I believe you're aware of my opinion on failure, correct?" He asked. Christian nodded. Tomas made a swift movement, and Christian fell to the ground with a thud, dead. Tomas had a blue butterfly knife clutched in his hand.
"You're in charge, Joseph." Tomas said and stared at the pair.
Gray looked down in silence. Craig stared directly at Tomas' dark purple eyes.
Present day...
Craig was again staring at Tomas Gaspar. Again holding the blue knife.
They were in the Black Island Mafia's hideout's communications room, recently also Tomas' workspace. Every single communication device in the camp was stationed there to be monitored, including Craig's walkie-talkie connected with AXON headquarters.
"So, you've finally decided to man up, James?" Tomas asked, as the two men stared each other down.
"Yeah." Craig gulped.
"Interesting." Tomas said.
The two walked around each other, until Tomas suddenly jumped back and tossed his knife towards Craig, who rolled out of the way, and ran towards the devices. He took out and cocked his gun, the started shooting at Tomas, who was using generating blue force-fields out of seemingly thin air, which he used to block the bullets.
Knifes and bullets were flying all across the room, as Tomas was pursuing Craig, eventually catching up and kicking him in the face. Craig collapsed to the ground, but his training allowed him to quickly get back up. He ran straight at Tomas and spat at his eyes, throwing him off.
"You insect!" Tomas exclaimed as Craig finally reached the walkie-talkie and pressed the button.
Back at the AXON camp in Stormhaven, Rowan answered Craig's call on his own walkie-talkie.
"Craig? You're alive!?" He asked.
"Yeah!" Craig responded.
"Are you at the place?" Rowan asked as Tomas got back up and started running at Craig.
"Yeah!" Craig said while shooting his gun at Tomas.
"Quick, tell me where you are!" Rowan ordered.
At the same time, Tomas shot ropes out of his fingertips, engulfing Craig and making him collapse.
"Craig?"
"There will be no more of that." Tomas said to Craig, but loud enough to be heard through the intercom.
Rowan gasped, and started running with all his might. He quickly got on his 4X4 and started driving towards Sowei City.
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Rowan ran towards Pascal Estate and kicked in the door, startling Geowar who had dozed off in the living room.
"DUDE! MY FUCKING DOOR!" Geowar exclaimed.
"CALL AN EMERGENCY MEETING WITH THE HIGH COUNCIL, IMMIDIATELY!" Rowan told him.
"What? Why?"
"Craig just called." Rowan said and dramatically looked away, making Geowar raise an eyebrow.
"Who?"
"The guy we sent to Black Island?"
"Oh." Geowar said. Geowar flicked his hand, and with a bright yellow glow he was connected to the phones of every high council member. "Assemble at the council room, now!"
After 5 minutes, everyone had gathered at the meeting room. There was a lot of commotion, as everyone was wondering what the purpose of the meeting was.
"We have news on the mafia front, folks." Geowar said once everyone sat down. "Our agent, Greg-"
"Craig." George absent-mindedly corrected.
"-Craig, called us from Black Island minutes ago."
"HE GOT CAPTURED! AAAHHH!" Rowan yelled.
"We should locate him and attack!" Leo proposed.
"Yeah, let's run straight at them!' Nick mocked. "That's an excellent plan!"
"Guys, don't argue." Renee said. "Dr. Parr, do you think you can triangulate his location from the call?"
"I believe I can, yes." She replied.
"Excellent!" Renee said. "We will assemble a task force to go rescue Craig and capture their leader."
"On that topic..." Detective McCord, who was also present, interrupted. "I have interrogated the inmates we captured the other day. They revealed to me that one James Falcone is their leader."
"I know that name." Rowan said. "I contracted for him a couple years back. He's a snake that one."
"Any volunteers for the task force?" Renee asked.
Leo, O'Lop, Rowan, Geowar and George raised their hands, but George's hand got slapped by Dr. Parr and promptly lowered.
"You are staying here to assist me, assistant!" She said.
"I'll be going too." Renee said, and looked at her father. "I know what you're about to say, dad. 'Don't go because it's dangerous.' I'll have you know I-"
"Give 'em hell!" Lucius said, and grinned, pleasantly surprising Renee, who smiled back.
"Enough!" Rowan said. "My right hand guy is captured by some Italian twerp right now, and I am NOT going to have you do your sappy stuff now! Move it!"
The five members of the task force, along will Dr. Parr and George all got up and left for the lab.
Nick leaned towards McCord.
"5 bucks says at least one of them gets hospitalized." He whispered. The detective rolled his eyes at the comment.
"You're on." he said.
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Meanwhile, back on Black Island, Tomas was just done explaining the situation to Jimmy Falcone. The two were in the latter's office, which was a total wreck after the grenade blew up inside. Falcone himself had bandaged his arms up after the incident. Also in the room was Craig, bound and tied with a random cord Tomas found on the ground.
"What do you mean he managed to call the ministry? What did he say?" Jimmy yelled.
"I don't know. He only ever said "Yeah". But I do believe they will be coming here soon." Tomas explained.
"Terrific." Jimmy spat. "I'm assembling every one of my men, we won't go down without a fight.
"What of him?" Tomas asked, staring towards Craig.
"Let's keep him alive. Maybe he'll spill something."
"I highly doubt it. But alas, I'll have to depart for now." Tomas said, and turned around to leave.
"Where do you think you're going?" Jimmy said, and grabbed his arm to try and stop him.
"I cannot risk my cover being blown, James. Rest assured, this isn't the end of our arrangement." Tomas explained.
"You can't just-"
"Should you reveal me to the ministry, I'll end you myself." Tomas threatened, making Jimmy grimace. "I bid you farewell."
Tomas adjusted his glassed and walked away, leaving Jimmy alone to his thoughts.
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In the lab beneath the Sowei City castle, the group of five and the two scientists had assembled.
"Hey, Holo-Bud! Can you find the location of this intercom's double?" George said once they made it inside.
"Of course, Dr. Renie." Holo-Bud said. "The process is estimated to take: 10 minutes."
"Excellent." Geowar said, seeming very giddy about the whole ordeal. "O'Lop, what's the status on our escort?"
"Admiral Mason has been informed on the current situation and has began preparing a navy ship to take us to Black Island." O'Lop said.
"I arranged for General Starman to have an armored car take us to Stormhaven." Leo added. "It should arrive any moment now."
"Incredible news." Geowar said.
The otherworldly warrior then took a step back and observed the room. Leo and O'Lop were discussing something about Nick's salary, Rowan was walking circles around George and Holo-Bud as they worked, Dr. Parr was reading through a book on insect biology, and Renee was silently looking out the window.
"What's the matter?" Geowar asked her.
"I'm fine, just worried about that Craig guy. There has already been too much death for this cause." She explained.
"Oh relax you, Craig's a tough nut, he'll live through it!"
"Relax? RELAX?!" Rowan yelled out of nowhere. "How do you expect me ta' relax when my right hand dude is trapped over there with a bunch of scumbags!"
"Ugh, if you're worried about him that much, why'd you assign him this mission?!" Leo complained.
"I ain't worried about him, I'm worried about me!" Rowan exclaimed. "If he dies, I'll have to do all the paperwork myself again, and I am NOT going back to that!"
Leo glared at the director as Renee facepalmed. Geowar patted her on the back.
"I have the results!" George announced, as everyone turned to face him.
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In the meantime, Jimmy had successfully gathered most of the mafia in the front entrance of their secret base. Ranging from run-of-the-mil thieves, to cutthroat murderers and psychopaths, all of them were ready to face the heroes of the Sowei Revolution.
"Alright, everyone listen up." Jimmy said. "This entire time, we had a mole in our ranks. His name was Craig... Craig. And this here Craig has more than likely alerted the ministry of the location of this here base." Jimmy said. "I've locked that darned Craig up in the good ol' office, and left what's-his-name there to guard him-"
"I thought you were 'what's-his name'." a random pickpocket said. Jimmy shot him in response.
"I left Mr. Butler in the office to guard him. I want you guys to not let a single one get out of this here corridor, and reach the office, capiche?" Jimmy finished his announcement, as the crowd all nodded.
An hour or so passed, and the five arrived right outside the coordinates George had given them.
"What is our plan?" O'Lop asked.
"Fuck plans!" Rowan said and ran straight at the entrance kicking it open. 300 hundred pairs of eyes stared directly at the 5, an awkward silence ensuing. Jimmy carefully backed away for a bit then turned around and dashed away. The one to break the silence was O'Lop.
"HAVE AT THEE!" He yelled and tossed his hammer directly at some big guy's torso, knocking him a couple feet back. Immediately after that, the other 299 mafia members started running straight at the 5 warriors.
The place was quickly consumed by chaos, as Team Soweiland began tearing through the crowd. O'Lop was thwacking people away with his hammer, knocking them in the air like ragdolls. Leo was using his flagpole like a shotgun, launching concentrated laser blasts, while Rowan had pulled out an automatic rifle and was mowing the oncoming onslaught. Renee was the front and center of the operation, chopping up the attackers with her blade. In the meantime, Geowar was soaring above the crowd, showering them with explosive plasma bullets.
"Callaghan! Grenade!" Leo yelled, and grenade flew in the air. Geowar kicked it at the same big guy from earlier, who was trying to sneak behind Renee.
"Thanks for the assist!" She said while looking up at the caped hero, who saluted her and teleported away to help O'Lop.
O'Lop had fallen victim to a dogpile, and was stuck under the weight of 10 men, without his hammer.
"Nowhere to go now, huh?" One of them taunted.
O'Lop concentrated really hard, and the hammer returned to his hand, knocking all of the men into the air.
"You good?" Geowar, who had just teleported there, asked.
"I'm quite alright. Say, where has that suited man gone off to?" O'Lop asked.
"Falcone! He ran away!" Renee exclaimed.
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Back in the office, Mr. Butler was talking to Craig alone. The latter was still tied to the chair.
"What happened, Craig? I thought you were on our side!" He asked. Craig didn't respond.
"Why would you go behind my back like that, huh? Don't you remember all the fun we had breaking out of that prison?"
"Yeah." Craig said.
"Well, what happened?"
But before he could answer, Jimmy barged into the room, holing a flintlock pistol, and pointing it directly at Craig's head.
"Congratulations, Craig! Ya just signed yer death warrant!" He said.
"What is going on?" Carter asked, perplexed.
"His stupid friends arrived. This base is no longer a secret, so I may as well make sure they don't get their hands on you, huh Craig?" He said as he came closer, smirking at their hostage.
Craig spat on his face in response.
"That does it!" Jimmy exclaimed, and kicked Craig down, then pointing the pistol at him.
"Hold on, Jim! He could have valuable information!" Carter calmed the situation.
"Like what? Callaghan's shoe size?" Jimmy snarked.
"Information on the whereabouts of Aaron Knoxx, perhaps?" Carter said. Jimmy narrowed his eyes in response.
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Back in the hallway, the 5 heroes had managed to knock down all the mafia members.
"Everyone split up! Look in every room for this Falcone!" Leo ordered.
"Aye!" O'Lop said, then set off.
"I'M COMING ASSISTANT!" Rowan yelled out as he ran in another direction. The other three exchanged good lucks and all went in different directions.
The lucky one in the end was Renee, who managed to stumble into the office while Jimmy was interrogating Craig.
"Falcone!" She exclaimed, and ran straight at him.
Jimmy picked Craig up and ran away, Renee following him. Unfortunately for her, Carter was also there, and he punched her in the face before she could catch up.
"I'm afraid I can't let you go any further." Carter said, and equipped his iron fists. The large man immediately lunged at the woman once she regained her composure, trying to hit her body his punches. Renee was able to either dodge the attacks or redirect them with her sword, while simultaneously running away.
Occasionally, the large man would pick up random objects and throw them at Renee, who usually responded by either kicking them out of the air or cutting them in half.
"Quit delaying the inevitable!" Carter told her.
"Quit trying to hit me and hit me!" Renee responded, but Carter managed to psych her out with a fake attack and back her into a corner.
"It's over, girl!" Carter said, and tried to restrain her.
But instead, Renee slid under his legs and leaped above his head, delivering a swift spinning kick to the back of the butler's neck, knocking him down with a thud.
"For the crime of attempted murder, you're under arrest, Mr... butler!" Renee decreed, pointing the edge of her sword at his head, and putting handcuffs on the man.
In the hallways, Jimmy was still running around, holding the pistol with one hand and Craig with the other. Suddenly, a bright yellow glow engulfed the corrido.
Geowar had found him.
"Place your weapon down, Mr. Falcone." Geowar said, looking down on the man.
"Take him man!" Jimmy exclaimed. "Just leave me alone!"
He the tossed Craig to the ground, and ran away, stumbling over his feet.
"I'll be back, Craig." Geowar said, before giving chase to the fleeing mafioso.
Despite his apparent cowardice, Jimmy wasn't a total pushover; he was emptying barrel after barrel on Geowar, who obviously blocked every shot, but couldn't concentrate. In addition, Jimmy had learned the layout of the underground base like the back of his palm. That's the fatal flaw of team Soweiland's plan. The were in the enemy's home base.
Despite this, Jimmy wasn't exactly the most physically able. The chubby man stumbled over his feet constantly and sweated profusely, while flying and holding up a shield almost didn't tire Geowar out at all.
Eventually, Jimmy led Geowar into a room with a large chandelier; Big Tony Tuscan's personal quarters. It was lavish, full of gold alloy and silk furniture.
"Okay, I've got one bullet left, better make it count." Jimmy thought to himself, ad took a shot at the chain holding up the chandelier.
By some miracle, the bullet broke the chain, and the chandelier fell on top of Geowar, immobilizing him. Jimmy reacted by laughing like a maniac
"What?" Geowar exclaimed. "You won't get away."
"I guess lights out for you, cape! Ha!" Jimmy said, and ran out the door, looking really proud of himself for crushing someone with a chandelier.
In reality it was lights out for him, as the moment he stepped out the room, he was met with a sucker punch to the face, which knocked him back into the room, unconscious. Craig then walked in the room, followed closely by Leo.
"I found him tied up in the hall, and we followed the sounds of the pistol." Leo explained.
"Incredible!" Geowar said. "Now get this thing off me!"
______________________________________________________________________
A couple minutes later, and everyone was again gathered at the port of Black Island. Jimmy, Carter and a few regular mafiosos were in handcuffs being loaded onto the ship.
"It's a shame we couldn't catch all of them though." Leo said.
"Doesn't matter, we caught the ringleader!" Renee responded.
"We'd have nowhere to put all these guys anyway." Rowan pointed out. "Anyway, Craig, you can't believe how much I missed ya!"
Craig raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"I know I shouldn't have, but I saved all the paperwork for you to do, since I know you love it that much!" Rowan added. Craig slumped.
"Emphasis on shouldn't have." Leo snarked, to no response, as the last of the inmates were loaded onto the ship, and the six followed suit.
The boat ride back home was mostly silent. Rowan was telling Craig about all the incredible paperwork he had to do, O'Lop and Renee were discussing something with Admiral Mason, Leo kept watch on the prisoner while Geowar stared at the waves, splashing by.
At some point, Carter broke his handcuffs, punched Leo into the sea and then jumped in himself, and started swimming away. All the sailors on the ship raised their weapons at the fleeing man, but were stopped by O'Lop.
"Stop. He's not worth the trouble." He said.
"I need a vacation." Leo said as he was lifted out the sea by a fishing pole construct created by Geowar.
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After a while, the inmates were taken to Sowei City Penitentiary. Lucius, Nick, George, Detective McCord and Jessie were waiting for them there.
"Come on everybody, go right inside." McCord told the inmates, and pointed at the jail cell. Jimmy was smiling for some reason.
"What's so funny about life in prison?" Nick asked him.
"Psh, life in prison? Ha! With my lawyers, I'll be out of 'ere in 10 days, maximum!" Jimmy explained.
"Oh right, the court!" Leo exclaimed. "Unfortunately you killed the guy before he could set that up."
"Wha-What?" Jimmy asked, confused.
"I suppose we can ask the king here to deliver a verdict." O'Lop mocked.
"So, what do you say, Luke?" Leo asked.
"Let me think about it..." Lucius said. "Guilty!"
Everyone in the room burst out in laughter at Jimmy's expense as Detective McCord pushed the confused man into the titanium-laced cell, locking him inside.
"YOU CAN'T DO THIS 'TA ME!" Jimmy's voice echoed through the hall. "I'LL 'AVE YA KILLED FO' DIS!"
The crew ignored the screaming man, as they walked to a quieter room.
"Renee, I've contacted an old friend of mine who's interested in the position of Minister of Civilian Protection." Lucius said as they walked. "You can go back to your normal life now."
"Thanks, but no thanks." Renee said. "I'm of more use here than in my bedroom. I'm here to stay."
"Real shame what happened to that Monroe guy though. He seemed decent." Leo said.
"His contributions will go down in history." O'Lop added.
"Now who wants to get something to eat? I'm hungry." Nick said.
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Meanwhile, back on Black Island, at Tony Tuscan's office at the top of Big Fish: Casino and Lounge, Big Tony Tuscan had met with his now second in command, Carter Jeeves still drenched with water.
"So Jimmy got himself arrested, eh?" Tony asked.
"Yes, sir." Carter replied.
Tony snapped his cigar in half between his fingers.
"Never let a monkey do a man's job they say." Tony said and got up. "From now on, I'm in direct control. And we're kicking this operation into high gear."