04 - Sit Down Shut Up And Pull The Trigger

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Protected By The Damned

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Sometimes, you have to let the top down and your hair fly free. Especially when you spent so much time, money and effort to buy a fake ID. T'Chezz is working on an attack, but the team doesn't know about it. After the successful fight in Los Angeles, Katie and Pandora are letting their hair down, arguing over donuts and how much Italian food to eat. Then, their investigator contact calls with alarming intel, and Katie is asked to get up close and personal with the politician to find out what he knows. The answer is something no one expected, and will change the course of Korbin's Killers forever.

T'CHEZZ AGAIN

Chapter 01

T'Chezz hears the latest report from the demon he sent to Earth twice, to further his plans for its conquest. Barro, now twice killed, reports that in this second event, there was the use of special weapons that hurt like a motherfucker. A cross, and swords and knives as well. "It’s been centuries; possibly over a thousand years since anything like this has been spoken about. There have been rumors but no evidence—until now.” And the demon who helped the girl was your sister. “But you’re telling me that she is helping these Damned? That’s too much for me to believe.” “I know, but it’s true,” the demon told him. “She gave the human powers like her own during the fight: strength, agility, and healing ability. She screamed questions at me when I was dying, wanting to know your plans.” T'Chezz dropped that question for the moment. The weapons problem was the most immediate of his concerns.

Chapter 18

T'Chezz has at last figured out why Pandora is helping the humans, and making Katie stronger: to kill him. To fight him, and have any chance of surviving. Knowing that, though, everything now made more sense to him. She was using the girl to protect herself, which was the sister he knew. She was selfish and self-serving, and didn’t really give two shits about anything. The only thing he couldn’t understand was why she was allowing the girl to get in the way of the main plan. T'Chezz calls the politician down (“Huius addis daemonium in inferno, ab inferno ex solo in mea potestate. He has brought him further information about Korbin's base.They are in a compound near Las Vegas, including your sister. . The base itself is out in the open, but there is nothing around it for miles, just empty desert. You can see the Strip from the base, but finding the base from the Strip is nearly impossible; it blends right into the desert. That is where they live and train, and most likely where you will find these weapons.” If I know my sister, she will not want to be too far from those weapons—if for no other reason than to save her own damn skin. She doesn’t like surprises, so she has always kept her enemies closer than anyone else. I drove past the base—not knowing what it was, but seeing it in the distance—when I went to Las Vegas,” the politician explained. “It is right where the informant said it would be, with all of the same attributes: color, etc.” Start quietly rousing the troops. Let them know something big is coming, and give them my order to be ready for anything.”

NEW COMPANY

Chapter 01

Katie, Calvin, Damian and Korbin meet to discuss manner of marketing new weapons, numbers to be given to other teams free, before requesting purchase, etc. Discuss Mamacita as an asset to the company- has put her into use already by re-negotiating contracts Joshua had done. Katie and Pandora realize that, as demon killers, they all have very little mobility in the business world, that they don't have choices in their mode of life, that they are all really caged rats, faced with the three choices of death, hunting demons, or research.

Chapter 05

Joshua, having dinner with the girls, tells of his family's history- grandfather, father mother, and his travels - how he found out about the secrets of the special metal, that it harmonizes energies so the metal is very disharmonious to those whose energy is dark.

Chapter 09

After the battle with the infected priests, Katie and Damian recap with Korbin, and go to Joshua to tell him that he, too, will be in danger, which he knows already. My family were all hunted from the moment they took the magic into their hands. That is the destiny of my family. Everyone knows that as soon as they make that first sword, they are destined to be hunted for the rest of time. It is just what it is. There is no feeling bad about it or even being scared of it. One day I’ll have my revenge, but for now I just want to get as many weapons made as possible.”

Chapter 11

Joshua speaks to Mamacita, to help him define his place in the business. he decides, rightfully so, that he should concentrate on his talent, his specialty - designing and making the weapons, and getting the production up. Talk to the girls about working more for him? Mamacita will do that.

Chapter 17

Katie talks to Joshua about manufacturing bullets for their guns, of the special meal Joshua has done quite a bit of research on it, and tells her what he has found. (See Weapons, Bullets)

KATIE AND PANDORA

Chapter 02

Katie and Pandora discuss who should control their body, at what times, and for what purposes. Pandora likes to eat, and claims one day a week as hers. Katie is not going to let her ruin it with fat and cholesterol. Pandora claims that she protects their body from all things except maybe a claw through the chest, so she has a valid claim on some time to eat, and to the soaps. Pandora started talking hard porn sex, and Katie settled for the soaps. And Pandora WAS helpful when needed. Katie mad popcorn and Erik, Jeremy, Katie and Pandora watched Days of Long since Past. Katie decides to go out to eat (after the third night of pizza with the team), to Bootleggers Italian, that Pandora deserves her choices sometimes. But Pandora in her head all of the time drove her CRAZY! Didn't bother Pandora!

Chapter 03

Katie ate a whole cow again, and was, again, totally unable to move the next morning. Erik went to say good morning, had something thrown at the door, walked away. it really WAS as bad as Damian had said! Erik went away, and Katie went to sleep, to pass time that way. They awoke in early afternoon, to go car shopping (Porsche, 2015 918 Spyder Hybrid, - $900,000, too expensive). Go to look at a Vanquish ($300,000, new), still too expensive, walk away.

Chapter 04

Ferrari California T, red, at a local dealership. The salesman (Brian) talked her into test driving it, with him as the passenger, ($215,000). Sold. Katie (Elizabeth!) chose the options (See Vehicles-Katie's Car)

Chapter 06

Car will be there in a few days.

Chapter 08

After the battle with the archdeacon et al, Pandora wants a spa day, just a day full of soaps, game shows, and donuts. Katie agrees, and even suggests that she will get Pandora a special doughnut, like she has never had before. As Katie and Damian finish cleaning up the building, Brian calls - her car is ready for pick-up.

Chapter 10

Brian calls, car is ready> Katie takes an Uber to the dealership. Katie gets into car, needs to figure out where to drive to, first.

Chapter 11

Katie and Pandora cruise in the car, and Pandora remembers her rides in the carriages of Rome, and it's political intrigues. Talks a lot about Rome-Nero- and about Columbus. Decided that demons had nothing on human history.

Chapter 12

Katie comes back with the car, and all drool acceptably, when a combat call comes in. Action in Henderson, intel unknown. Katie will NOT drive her new car to any action.

CHARLOTTE GUTHRIE

Chapter 05

Charlotte working on investigating politician, nothing exciting yet. Background will be human record, nothing with demons. Korbin warns her, "“You need to be careful. He is willing to kill anyone who stands in his way.”

Chapter 12

Plans to meet the politician at one of his favorite bars, attempting to get enough information to nail him for whatever atrocities he was bringing into the world. Saw him meet with three other men. The first man was younger, probably around Charlotte’s age, with black hair slicked to his head and large rings like her rich old uncle had worn when she was a kid. His smile was fake, and you could see the malice in his eyes. The second man was middle-aged, short and round, balding, and he carried a pocket handkerchief in his right hand to blot the sweat from his brow. He smiled nervously, and didn’t look the politician in the eyes. He was shifty, with remnants of his lunch on his white button-up. The buttons strained across his belly. The third man looked like the boss of the group—mid-forties, and his face was stern like a father chastising his son. He was very clean cut, and very business-like. He looked the politician in the eye, shook his hand coolly, and was the last to have a seat at the table. After some conversation, the politician accepts an envelope, with the comment "This is it" attached to it. Charlotte picks up the envelope, which had been left on the table and finds a card with information on a very special gathering in Las Vegas, possibly the politician's next contact. She left, wanting to get the info to Korbin and his group fast.

THEIR NIGHT OUT IN VEGAS

Chapter 05

Erik, Jeremy and Katie decide to do a "tourist act" in Las Vegas, just to get out of the house and act like normal people. Have to disguise themselves, as they are officially dead, and don't want to have to mind-wipe anyone. Katie refuses to cut her hair as part of the new look. Not ready to give it up yet.

KATIE'S TRAINING

Chapter 06

Katie practices in the training room on sword techniques, and Pandora suggests that she graduate to a quarterstaff (6-foot pole), and then move up to a double-bladed staff (with spikes on the end). The length is ideal, because you never get too close to an enemy. No one knows their techniques, so Katie goes on-line to research the info. No one had time for long drawn-out moves during a demon battle, so it needed to be a tactical fighting technique that would improve their kill rate while not putting them in more danger. The Quarterstaff seemed simple and useful, and put a distance between the demon and the wielder, a useful factor.

Chapter 16

Katie again trains in quarterstaff moves. Pandora helps her, insisting that the series of basic moves become automatic. Pandora was right. It WAS in her head, and it was becoming comfortable, Pandora had learned the moves centuries ago from one of her interests she had been with for thirty years. he was killed in war, and Pandora sounded sad. Katie wondered if demons could love. Pandora and Katie continued working out on the moves, Katie getting them to be more ans more natural. She also saw Korbin and Damian watching her. Katie finishes her quarterstaff work and offers to spar with Eric, to help him move more rapidly, not think so much Thinking leads to being taken, as she does so. Calvin then invited her to go to the pistol range, to buff up her pistol skills. they do so, after which Calvin introduces her to the AK-47, a sniper rifle. It is one of the most reliable rifles in the world. We use it in situations where we need to do maximum damage very quickly.Katie tries it, does well, remembers that she needs to visit the bullet maker in Vegas.

DAMIAN AND THE PRIESTHOOD

Chapter 06

Damian notifies Korbin that he has an important meeting with some of his fellow priests (information about demons) , and decides that it would be good to have Katie along. Damian feels that something is not "right" about the meeting, as does Katie, but they must go, as Damian couldn't turn down a request from a fellow priest (his archdeacon). It’s important that we continue to stick together as a community—at least ‘we’ as in the rest of the congregation and my fellow clergy. If the priest really does have important information, it may be key to us beating these demons; sending them back to where they came from. It would be really nice to end this war and move on.”Katie feels nervous, as does Damian.

Chapter 07

When they get there, Pandora knows they can sense her, and so she made herself as small and meek as she possibly could. Katie felt exposed, unprotected and vulnerable.Katie felt fear of the unknown for the first time in a very long time. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but she wasn’t going to move a muscle until Damian asked her to. Damian's anxiety had increased, but he hugged the people waiting for him. They wanted to talk to Damian in private, so left Katie with their driver and a third church-member. Katie saw Damian becoming more uncomfortable as that conversation progressed, ending with, “I am your superior, Damian. You will obey me, and tell me what I want to know.” Damian refused, and the archdeacon said, chuckling, “Then you will feel my wrath, and the girl with you shall be the first to go.” Damian pressed his cross into the priest's flesh, heard sizzling, and Katie went into action, battling the two men with her. Katie threw one of her knives at a priest, who screamed (infected). Damian and Katie overcame all of those present, tied them up, carried them inside, and checked for demons. They were all infected. Damian growled, shaking in disbelief.

Chapter 08

Katie realizes the the archdeacon has an important demon in him, so she pulls it out (with Pandora's help) “Sacerdos ex hoc veni! Sacerdos ex hoc veni! Omnia sancta, eximes te!” Pandora speaks through Katie, offering the demon a deal if he will divulge information on who is trying to find their weapons and stash. He refused, so Pandora sent him back to Hell “Ad inferos enim tuo tu et daemonium parum est amicitia,” Pandora hissed. “Back to hell for you, and your little demon friends too!” With a bright flash of light, the demon was gone. Katie removed the demons from the other two men, the infection having been exorcised. The priests are taken out on stretchers by their members, and Katie and Damian clean up the building. As they finish, Katie's phone rings. It's Brian. Her car is ready for pickup.

KORBIN'S TOY

Chapter 07

Korbin and Derek had started a webpage, fishing for clues/info, pulling data about paranormal comments from social media, looking for new ways to find demons before they massacred hundreds of people.

Chapter 10

Derek has been monitoring the sites, and coming up frustrated with all of the false positives he was getting. “It’s people who either live in another world, or they think the website is like a fantasy fiction kind of thing - Dungeons and Dragons, comic-book characters like Spawn and Dead Pool." Moving forward? Yes, a centimeter at a time. Every once in awhile you get a good tip and it’s magic, but most of the time it’s sifting through the shit before you find that one piece of gold.” Korbin tells him to reach out to James Caplan to come out of retirement and help. Has consulted for Korbin in the past. Derek will do so, and inform Korbin later that week. He knew he could create a tool to help with the fights, to be vital to the world's functionality. . He just needed to figure out the answer to the question at the back end of the code; the missing link that would tie it all together.He just needed the final puzzle piece.

THE HENDERSON CALL

Chapter 14

The call comes in, all load out, Katie checking with Calvin about psychic stability. He was fine, talking with his demon, pepping it up to help. Katie missed fighting the smaller demons, but they never came near her because they were afraid of Pandora. Came to the site, a really nice house by itself in the hills. There was some kind of party going on when the demons broke through. People are scattered, some inside the house and some outside. We have to eliminate all threats, and from the sound of it there are quite a few, although no large demons have been reported. It looks like we will be dealing with low-level demons, mostly encased in their human hosts. Remember, if there are any Damned you believe can be saved or used for science purposes, please restrain but don’t injure them. If not, kill them right then and there. They split up into two groups of three, with Derek staying behind in the SUV to run tactical. “The first group will be Damian, Katie, and Eric. The three of you will go into the house and clean it up. The second group will be Calvin, Jeremy, and me (Korbin), and we will be going out into the desert around the property to collect demon heads from those areas. Korbin asks Calvin if he's OK, gets an affirmative. Korbin gives detailed instructions, and they're all good to go. Kill lots of demons, wait to help other teams. Katie, Damian, Eric form another team, with Derek as an extra. Eric kills a demon, watches as it transforms back into its eighteen year old female form. This wasn't what he had expected at all. Damian wounded, bitten in shoulder by demon. Killed it, but isn't doing well. Katie attacked by five, kills them all. All clear, DEA agent will handle the rest, keep them out of it.

Chapter 15

After the Battle: Damian, Katie, Derek and Eric go out to eat, and Herb and Rye, a steak house off Sahara Blvd. Place has awesome steaks, with Happy Hour prices, 1/2 off steaks. Specializes in party steaks - slabs of meat that a normal person couldn’t possibly finish on their own. Eric challenges Katie to a contest. Naturally, Katie wins, giving everyone a good laugh. Pandora wanted donuts on the way home, and Damian said NO, and drove to the base.

THE VIP CONVENTION

Chapter 18

Korbin and Calvin have made the decision to pu Katie into the undercover slot at the Convention. she has the looks, and can do black ops like this. She could infiltrate the party easily, and once inside her demon would be able to point out not only the politician, but any other demon in the room. Damian thinks that she is the best person for the job. There aren’t many other people who have that kind of intel at the tips of their fingers. If she trusts her demon in this, then we should trust her judgment. Will her demon give her away? I believe the risk is smaller than you think,” Damian said. “This demon seems to want to stay here on this plane. Surely something that powerful knows that if Katie dies, she goes back to hell. I think that the demon will do anything it needs to do to keep her safe. I stand by the idea that if Katie trusts it, I trust Katie’s judgment. We will send her in, and hope to God nothing terrible happens.”

Chapter 19

Korbin asks her to go in undercover and find out if the politician is a real problem or just a diversion, put there to lead us down the wrong path. "We can’t take any chances, though, not when it comes to so many people. He will be attending a VIP party tonight, and we want you to go in like you belong and get the information from him discreetly but quickly. We need to know when the next attack will be, who is behind all this, and where he stands in the order of things. Leave him unharmed when you are done. We want to follow him; see where he ends up." Katie and Pandora have to go shopping, to find suitable attire for that evening. Katie agreed to let Pandora take over the make-up and dress part for the evening.

Chapter 20

Katie drove up, the valet running to open her door. Katie pressed her black Jimmy Choo heels to the pavement and stood up smiling sweetly at the valet.He took her keys and handed her a tag, which she put into her purse. As she walked, her sparkling black gown fluttered around her. The straps rose from a very deep V in the front and wrapped around her neck like a choker. The skirt hit the floor, hugging her curves with a slit the went halfway up her thigh. She pressed her ruby-painted lips together and flipped her loose black curls back over her shoulder. She was fucking hot; desirable—and completely bad ass—in her dress. There wasn’t a single person in the joint who believed she wasn’t someone incredibly important. Katie had thought it would be more difficult to get into the event area, but all she had to do was flash the doorman the picture of the invite she had saved on her phone and let him ogle her tits for a second, and she was in, and more people in that place were Damned than not. Katie needs to get the politician alone, so she waits until he takes a restroom break, then fools the guard at the door into letting her in to "help" the politician. She asks him about the information she needs, and he tells her. There will be a hit on Korbin's Killers in thirty-two minutes. Katie allows Pandora to tear out the politician's demon, which will doom him to death in about three weeks, as he depends upon his demon for his energy.

Chapter 21

Katie drives back to the base, phoning ahead to warn them, when she sees a rift in the fabric of reality, the way that demons go from Hell to earth and back. would take something big to close it. Katie aimed her car at the rift, and stepped on the gas. As she was speeding, she saw a HUGE demon come out, one whose leg alone was as large as the demon in Los Angeles had been. Katie gunned straight for him, falling out of the car just before it hit, taking both the demon and the car back into the rift. The hole blinked out of existence. She was pretty sure there was nothing in her insurance plan that covered paranormal rifts. Have to save the others at the base. Korbin had dashed to the common room, passed the word to lock the doors, then went to the factory to help save Mamacita, Joshua and the girls. Sent them to the basement, locked them in. What if they break through?” one of the girls asked. Then you grab whatever you can and you fight with everything that you have,” Korbin answered. “Joshua’s metal will hurt them, and if you cut off their heads they die instantly. Don’t be a hero. Help your sisters, help each other, and do the best you can to survive. We are going to keep them away from here the best that we can.” Korbin made sure they were armed with the new weapons, and took the extras up to the base.

Chapter 22

Mamacita and Joshua, in the basement, arm the girls, Mamacita finding the set of swords Joshua had made years ago - two identical sais, swords used by samurai of ancient Japan. Mamacita had the training to use them, and she did. Joshua and the girls fought with the special weapons

Chapter 23

Derek was the first to attack a demon, leaping on its back and slicing its neck. It threw him against a wall, breaking his arm. He would be a shooter from then on. A demon attacked Derek, and Jeremy stabbed it with a sword, but was unable to pull it free. The demon's claws pushed through his stomach to the other side, and pulled back. Jeremy collapsed, dying. Another demon took Calvin against a wall, cracking bones. Mamacita patted his arm, and told him that she had Korbin's back. She fought the demon, weakening it so that Korbin could cut off its head. Korbin was hurt, and walking poorly. Katie, Eric and Damian fought two large sneaky demons. Eric threw a piece of wall at one of the demons, bashing a demon. This got its attention, so that it went towards Eric, who knifed it twice. The demon pulled one out, and threw it at Eric, scrambling Eric's demon's brain. Katie and Pandora decide to remove the demon from its body, so Katie morphed into a demon herself, claws, red eyes, horns, growling, HUGE! Damian recognized a new tactic, but Katie said, "Don’t worry, I’m still me,” reaching her hand out for Damian’s cross. “There is just more of me.” The cross had no effect on her. Katie and the demon fight on, about even, until Katie managed to get it down, and pushed the cross down its throat. His head began to melt, his body went limp, and his flesh began to liquefy. Katie waited until it had gone completely, changed back to normal size, and came back to Damian and Eric. returning the cross to Damian.

AFTER THE BATTLE

Chapter 24

Katie, Korbin and Calvin went to the roof to scope out the damage. The place was smashed: buildings demolished, walls crumbling, power lines down and sparking. It looked like a war zone around there. It was mildly depressing. It’s all par for the course. To be honest, this place is just not safe anymore. The demons know where we are, and if we don’t leave, they will just keep coming back until we are all dead. They took one of us tonight, one of us who deserved a lot more time on this Earth and on this team, and we can’t afford to lose anyone else. I can’t take it, and I won’t allow it.” "That is easier said than done, kid.” Korbin sighed, then stood and walked around. “When you are the leader, you are responsible for your team—alive and dead.” We need to find another safe haven,” Calvin added. “Somewhere we can feel comfortable laying our heads down at night. Where we can train and get ready for the next time this happens. I just don’t know where we can go, you know? I think we all need to stay together,” Katie said. “Splitting up the team—and that includes Joshua, who killed four demons during the fight—would be bad; really bad for us. One of the reasons we work so damn well together is because we are each other’s family. If we split up, we’ll lose our familiarity and bond with each other. I don’t want to fight with a stranger who looks like Korbin, I want to fight with my brothers. I want to know they have my back and I have theirs…

Mamacita comes up onto the roof with them, and comments on the events. I have to say,” Mamacita began as she walked over and sat down on the ledge, “I was a little misinformed.”“Well, what you guys do and what I thought you did are very different,” she admitted, chuckling. “It was definitely a new experience.”“Now that I see the reality of the world, I can’t go back to that. Actually, it’s more like I won’t go back. My life has been a beautiful thing since I met you guys, from Armani originally to these business opportunities to watching the girls grow and forming friendships. I learned about the world in a way I never thought I would, and I cannot just walk away from that.”She tells them her real name, Stephanie Lee, and her history. After heir conversation, Calvin and Korbin go down to bed, but Katie stays with Stephanie.

“Are you really determined to fight?” Katie asked, one eyebrow raised.She pursed her lips, nodded her head, and walked off without another word. The next day Katie asks Korbin, “Are you going to let Mamaci—I’m sorry,Stephanie,join our team?” It’s not like she didn’t prove herself,” Katie pointed out. “She’s already made her choice, but you are blocking her from joining the fight. I just don’t get it! We need strong, capable people on the team, and she wants this.”“She’s not even Damned,” Korbin retorted. “And this would be her whole life.” “So? It’s her decision. What are you going to do, wipe her memories?”

Chapter 25

Katie goes to Stephanie's house, at Korbin's request, meets with her, and explains exactly what it would mean to be Damned, and be a part of Korbin's Killers. Stephanie listens, and comments, You know what I really hate? I hate the fact that Korbin is having any damn say in this at all. It should be completely my choice, whether I am Damned or not. Seriously, it should be mine. If you choose to do this, what will happen to the house and the girls?”Stephanie looked around. “Oh, I’m not in the prostitution business anymore. I closed that down as soon as I got back,” she admitted. “In reality, we have been tapering down ever since you started that company and we helped out over there. I signed a contract this morning for an organization to turn this place into a halfway house. I put a clause in the contract that gives the house to the organization if I should randomly die, so whether I change or not, that is going to happen. ”What about the girls? Where will they go?”“Well, Joshua has offered everyone a job,” she replied. “Most are actually taking him up on it, and the ones that aren’t, they are moving back with their families. I checked if those girls had good home lives and they do, so I am satisfied with all of that. That means if I change I still get to see most of my girls, which was the majority of my life anyway.” “So, is that your choice?” Katie asked. “Do you want to be infected?”“Well, when you put it that way…Yes, I do.””Did you know that there are a couple of succubi living in this house? They use whatever sexual energy they need, and then they send all sorts of energy back into the house to keep everyone aroused.I caught the strongest one, and figured it was time to put her to some real work." Katie leaned forward, opened her mouth, and blew in Stephanie’s direction. The succubus came out and sped forward, slamming into Mamacita.She gasped and looked at Katie, who was smiling widely. Mamacita tilted her head from side to side in confusion.“Welcome to the Damned,” Katie said as her new teammate fell over on the couch, out cold. Katie told Alice that she would be taking Stephanie back to the base, and did so.

TORN ASUNDER

Chapter 25

The team and others, were again having their celebration of life and death at their favorite bar. The tables were still held together by tape, and the crowd was still rowdy. Katie was again the MC, and called the group together, with memories of those lost, before reading "The Damned Creed". A toast to Jeremy, and the Creed. After dinner, again, a brawl broke out, and again, bodies hit the tables, again ruining the food of the newest team member - their initiation into the team.