Cache Money

Chapter 2

We went on the main deck shortly after eating. We honestly didn't expect anything to happen, and it didn't. For a while.

We had hit a storm a few hours into the voyage. We were travelling from Vancouver to L.A., and this was the only way to get the stuff into the US without Homeland coming down on us. Yes, we are a Canadian company, but if you ask me which I'd rather hire: a Canadian vet, or an American foot soldier, I will choose the Canadian every time. Their training for the average soldier makes them pretty damn close to the lethality of a US Marine; not quite as deadly, though, but close.

When the storm hit, we immediately went into the storage area. (I know absolutely nothing about ships, and don't plan to learn.) Echo walked up to me, shaking.

"Um, Scooter?" His voice was quivering.

"What is it, Echo?"

"I, uh... I hate storms."

Tex chimed in from about 20 meters away. "It's okay, Echo. We're here for you man. We just need you to keep your head straight, okay?"

"Yeah..." He took a deep breath. "Got it, man."

Just then, we heard thudding on the deck above us, and I got the guys to arm up, and we went up the stairs to see what it was. A few of the shipping containers were toppled over, and I went in to see a closer look. I saw a white container on it's side, with a spatter of blood on it. Someone just got killed, and there was a bullet hole next to it.

"Tex," I said over the radio, "We're under attack. Let Echo and Charlie know their guarding the crew, but I need you up here NOW!"

"Roger that, Scooter." I heard the gruff voice say after a slight pause. He was used to this kind of stuff, and this is why I needed him. He'd worked as a high security guard up until they lowered his wages and they recession hit, and then he signed on with us. Thank God he did; he was our best man.

Within about 30 seconds, Tex was on deck with me, and I could hear faint footsteps over the waves and sound of thunder. Then a crack of lightning came down, and I saw the shadow of an armed man behind the corner, and I stacked up on the wall. I pulled my 1911 out of it's holster and rounded it around the corner, and pushed it against the guy's gut. Then I turned it, and looked at the man. He was wearing a SWAT style outfit, with an MP5 in his hand.

"Drop the gun. Now." I said strictly. The dumbass decided he didn't want to live anymore and instead lifted his gun. I unloaded 5 rounds into his chest and his gut, before firing the last two into his thick skull. I reloaded, and got down, looking for Tex.

"Fan out and find these guys. There has to be more. Remember, radio silence unless you find something, got it?"

"Got it, boss." Tex's voice came through with light static.

I moved towards the stern of the ship, which was on the side I was on, and Tex moved to the bow. I was slow and cautious, watching for any silhouette I could find against the moon and the lightning. I found nobody on my side, but the radio suddenly blew up with chatter. A bunch of random voices, none of them ours. Someone hacked into our radio and jammed us. I immediately rand straight for the bow, hoping to find Tex there.

"Tex!" I lifted my mask to yell out. "Tex, where are you?!" I searched the entire top deck, and found no bodies. Then it clicked in my head: the crew! I sprinted my way down to the hold, but slipped and fell. I blacked out immediately.