Chapter 8: The_Tower_Of_Babel.rlf
V and Eric arrive at the beginning of the large plaza in front of the old Softsys building, towering before them like a big mountain, as the heat of the sun weighs on them, like a pile of rocks.
Eric: Almost there, V.
The people start staring at V and Eric, walking down the road, in a surreal silence.
Eric: Seems that everybody is looking at us.
V: Nobody would come here this time of the day. By the way… Can I see your glasses?
Eric hands over his glasses, puzzled.
Eric: You like them more than yours? We can trade if…
V punches Eric right in the face, he falls to the ground.
Eric: FUUUCK! WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT?!
Johnny: Swear I didn't do anything this time.
V puts the glasses back on Eric who is still on the ground, then grabs him by the back of his shirt, sliding him on the sidewalk.
V: Sorry pal. Must be believable.
V opens the old Softsys building door with a kick and proceeds to toss Eric on the floor. There are two men smoking a cigarette staring at him, buffled. V walks slowly to the bar and sits on a stool.
Barman: We are closed, bud.
V: Not here to have fun. Call your boss.
Eric slowly gets up while the two men get behind him, holding machine guns.
Barman: It could take a while, what can I serve you? Tequila?
V takes out Faith's knife and pierces it violently on the wooden counter.
V: Beer.
The barman proceeds to open up a beer and serves it to V, who puts back the knife into his pocket and starts drinking. Suddenly he hears somebody clapping and turns.
Santiago: Mr Veee!
Santiago starts walking down the stairs clapping, surrounded by a bunch of armed men.
Santiago: You exceeded all my wildest expectations!
Two men grab Eric by the arms while Santiago walks toward him.
Santiago: Hi there Mr Maxwell. Do you know how much I looked for you?!
Santiago grabs Eric by the head and notices his bruise. Then turns back to V.
Santiago: V… What have you done to this poor man?! You're spoiling my fun here.
Santiago punches Eric hard in the face, cutting his checks and breaking his glasses in half. V looks away, sorry, while Santiago smiles, then slowly walks towards the bar.
Santiago: Tequila please.
The barman pours a glass of Tequila to Santiago while he proceeds to sit near V.
Santiago: I like your sunglasses, why don't take them off?
V stares at Santiago, silently.
Santiago: Ok then. Let's raise a glass. Let's see… What about: to the loves of our lives?
V suddenly stands up and grabs Santiago by the suits. All of Santiago's goons get closer to him, surrounding him.
Santiago: V, por favor, we already been through this.
V: FUCK YOU! I WANT PANAM BACK!
Santiago: Don't worry V, you're going to be with her very soon.
A tall, muscular man gets behind V and starts strangling him. He tries to free himself but the hold is too tight.
V: FUCK… YOU… BAST…ARD
Santiago: Sorry V, but these are just…negotios. Business you know? The girl is precious. I've invested in her. I've said I'd let you see her and you will. But never said anything about letting her go.
Santiago starts searching into V's coat, slowly opening the worn out pockets while smiling. After a while he finds Faith's knife.
Santiago: PUTA MADRE! This is one hell of a knife! Can I borrow it for a second?
Santiago slowly walks back to Eric, playing with the knife.
Santiago: I prepared a special party for you. I'll cut all of your limbs with this. You'll become my very personal doll. Don't worry, you won't die. I tried before on a poor bastard and he lived a whole month like that.
One of the two men holding Eric stretches his left arm, he looks at Santiago, trembling.
Santiago: I'll find your precious wife and let you watch my men have fun with her. And you will watch powerless. Or better yet…
Santiago turns back to V pointing Faith's knife at him.
Santiago: Maybe I can introduce her to your sweet Panam. The sluts go crazy when they try my drinks!
All the Santiago's goons start laughing. Eric becomes serious and smiles.
Eric: Sounds like pure fun. You forgot what all the best parties have in common, though.
Suddenly a bunch of red dots start lighting up intermittently, under Eric's shirt.
Eric: Fireworks.
Eric's chest bursts with a big white smoke blinding Santiago that falls on the ground near him. The two men holding Eric crawls on their knees holding their eyes in pain, screaming.
Johnny: Showtime, V.
V quickly frees himself from the man, punching him with his right hand so hard that he breaks his neck. The man falls on the ground with his head half twisted.
Johnny: V, ON YOUR RIGHT!
V turns his head to the right and sees the barman holding a shotgun. He quickly pulls out his Malorian, shooting at him right in the head. The guy flies off, on the wall of bottles behind him, crashing them.
V quickly turns back at the men near Eric, in a split second he kills them both with two headshots. Santiago starts to crawl quickly up the stairs while Eric is still on the ground. V tries to get Santiago but two more armed goons start shooting at him. V takes cover behind the bar.
Santiago's goon: IT'S OVER PUTO! YOU'RE DEAD!
V removes his sunglasses, revealing his face. Bullets start flying everywhere, crashing the bottles behind the counter, covering him in Alcohol.
V takes away the shotgun from the dead barman's hands and proceeds to stand up, holding his gun with the left hand and the shotgun with the right one. He shoots one of the men right in the chest, splitting open it, then he shoots the other man in the head covering the white wall behind him in an explosion of blood, V finally runs towards Eric.
V: Eric…ERIC!
V's holo rings, picking up Faith on his interface.
Faith(Holo): V! Did It work? How is Eric? TALK TO ME, FOR FUCK'S SAKE!
Eric is lying on the floor coughing. His shirt is completely burnt, revealing a bulletproof jacket beneath it. His neck and torso are covered in burns and bruises.
Eric: It was… a really… stupid idea.
V grabs Eric, helping him to stand up, then he proceeds to put a MaxDoc in his mouth.
V: Here, take a shot.
Eric slowly stands up on his own, holding his chest. The skin on his neck quickly turns back from red to a healthy light pink.
V: Are you ok?
Eric: Fuck no, V. The explosion broke all of my ribs. It will take more than a MaxDoc to recover, let me tell you.
V(Holo): Faith, it worked! Eric is fine. How's the building's Net doing?
Faith(Holo): Not good. The bastard did his homework. He reprogrammed the building's security to refresh the access keys every two minutes. He's using some kind of keep alive signal. We need it or we can't access the Net.
V: Where is him?
Faith: Twenty third floor.
Eric and V start to climb up the stairs that lead to a long corridor with an elevator at the end. In front of them six men holding machetes, clubs and guns.
Eric: Fuck.
V(Holo): Uhm… Faith? We really need some help.
Faith(Holo): Can't do much without that key.
The goons start approaching Eric and V, menacingly.
V(Holo): FAITH, WE'RE GONNA DIE HERE!
Faith: Hold on! Got an idea.
A loud alarm starts ringing, the building's fire prevention system starts pouring water on everybody.
Johnny: She just set the mood.
V(Holo): Sorry, but how is that going to help us exactly?!
Faith(Holo): Go give 'em a handshake.
V smiles. Tiny sparks start coming out from the fingers of his right hand. V charges the men screaming, one of them attacks him with a club: he quickly dodges him, grabbing him by his face, burning him in a burst of electricity.
Another of Sanchez's goons swings a machete at V, cutting his coat near the shoulder. V punches him with his right hand: the guy starts shaking violently and falls on the ground. V finally gets his guns out and shoots the remaining two guys in the head. Eric looks in disbelief.
Eric: Fuck! Remember me not to upset you in any way…
V walks calmly toward the elevator, stepping over the men's bodies and starts pressing the buttons nervously.
Faith(Holo): Elevators are out of order in case of an emergency.
V smiles, annoyed.
V: Wonderfull.
Faith(Holo): On your right. Stairs.
Eric: Are you serious, Faith?!
V: She's a bitch sometimes, you know that?
Faith(Holo): Can still hear you.