Angel's Authority

Part Three, Chapter Forty-Nine: S.T.A.G.

Based on the Volition Inc.™ game: Saints Row: The Third™

THE BOSS

I checked my phone for whether I had received any new messages when I parked my car next to a grocery store in front of Sunset Park. When I looked up from my empty notifications board – except for the usual Instagram likes and tweets we received on our S@int/Ult0r account – I saw Oleg waving at me from the entrance and I hurried across the street to greet him.

"Hey. Ready for this?"

He nodded and let me lead the way. The park was not big but Viola said to meet us at the water fountain which was at the other end after all.

"Of course. Ready as alvays."

Oleg replied as we were walking down the paved way between park benches and beautiful oak trees. Simple but nonetheless peaceful. It was moments like these that I was missing the most about my time with the gang and away from Oz. Things feel too rushed here; like my time is flying by and me not being able to catch up to it.

"I just hope that there's no trap here. I really don't have the strength to pull up with shit today. Too much during the past few days."

"I hope so too. But Viola vould know better than to plan such things vhen calling you for a meeting."

We crossed a bridge over a small creek that reflected the midday sun in its ripples and had the first autumn leaves swimming in its waters.

"Say, Oleg. What's your opinion on Viola?"

"Personally? I'd say she is a cutthroat whore. Professionally, I'd say that she vill prove to be more than just a valuable asset in zhis. She reminds me of you, actually. Just vizhout zhe attitude."

I chuckled.

"Thanks, I'll take that as a compliment."

After the bridge, we could already begin to make out the water fountain, portraying three women standing back-to-back and holding their vases out of which the water was pouring. And we could make out the gentle sound of street music. A guitar. I had not even realized how much I've missed the beautiful sound of strings. Not since I have not been quite able to play my harp. I'll add that to my list of things to do once I'm home again.

Viola was standing in front of the street musician – a ragged up young man in his late twenties wearing classic grunge – bowing down to drop twenty dollars into his case. He thanked her with a short tango improv in between his melancholic tunes. I've always admired people who were able to improvise in music. Glinda was one and she always played out her soul.

And all I am stuck with here are Pierce's playlists of Bonnie Tyler, Paula Abdul and Whitney Houston constantly blasting through the penthouse's stereo speakers. Even when he was not even there. But I wasn't really complaining, these queens were legends!

"I did not take you for von to admire zhe fine arts, Viola."

Oleg said to announce our arrival with. She was back up and on eye-level with me. If it wouldn't have been for the heels, I would have been shorter.

"Well, we had not much time to chat, had we? Not with you being a science experiment and all..."

I heard Oleg grumble and stir behind me but I reached out my arm to stop him from snapping her like a twig.

"Easy there..."

I directed my attention to Viola and her cold expression.

"...I wouldn't agitate the big guy. Why are we here?"

The question I've been waiting to get an answer for during my entire drive here.

"We have to work together. Killbane is out of his mind and-"

"Work together?! You're the reason Johnny – my best friend – is dead. Why should I trust you?"

By now, the two of us were way in each other's faces, our noses merely an inch apart.

"Johnny died because he thought he'd manage to do everything on his own. I take no blame for his stupidity. But I have seen what Killbane is capable of doing to his friends. I don't want to see what he does to his enemies. The Syndicate was never about bloodshed. Only intimidation but never, murder."

I believed. As much as I wanted my senses to be different about it, I believed her. The pain in her voice was genuine. Her promise was genuine. I know a face that has lost everything dear to them and given that Kiki is nowhere around...

"Alright..."

I replied calmly.

"...I'll trust you, Viola. You'd do good not to betray it..."

I felt like in a movie with the somber music playing in the background while we discussed all this.

"And I'm sorry for your loss. We'll deal with this motherfucker like we've dealt with every asshole in our way."

I promised her and her smile assured me that my own promise cheered her up a little.

"Thank you. I won't disappoint-"

Footsteps. Heavy footsteps. And the sound of strong tires against the asphalt and then the grass. Cars – or more like armored trucks – were not supposed to drive on here.

"FREEZE! IN THE NAME OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE, I INQUIRE YOU TO STAND DOWN!"

The woman's voice beamed through the park and soon, we had soldiers wearing white and vintage green armor with orange accents surrounding us. The voice belonged to a black woman wearing the same uniform as the others minus the helmet. It showed off her extremely short black curls.

"Yes, we have them surrounded. They're with one of the DeWynter sisters. Excellent."

She tried to whisper but the megaphone enhanced even that a little.

"Who the hell are these guys?!"

I asked the other two but they seemed to be just as oblivious as I was.

"They appear to be some sort of soldiers, although I don't recognize zhe uniforms."

Oleg explained but this was not helpful. I had figured that much...

"Then, I have only one thing to say: RUN!"

I headed off towards the park's nearest exit, deciding to take the way around to reach my car. Oleg and Viola followed me through the small gap between two armored trucks and while I squeezed through it, I noticed the letters written underneath the geometrical shapes of a reindeer: "STAG". So not a reindeer but a stag. Love the dad joke there...

Oleg, Viola and I ran as fast as we could towards my car and I was even forced to release several shots.

"Don't you have a gun?!"

I screamed at Viola, almost out of breath.

"Of course not! Diplomatic reasons but I never thought that it would end in this!"

"Don't worry, I have a rifle in my trunk. And by the way, Oleg, you'll have to get a little uncomfortable on the backseat."

He shrugged with his shoulders while he was casually jogging behind us. Now I knew why the Morningstars had cloned him. Well, but I and Viola wore heels which added to the level of exhaustion, so...

"A small price to pay in exchange for my life."

Was all he said for the rest of our run. Once we had reached my car, I handed Viola the rifle and each of us took a seat. I drove while Viola was shooting our pursuers from the passenger's seat and Oleg was clumsily slumped onto the entire rear row of seats.

The penthouse would be safest right now. It's the most protected and I needed my calm while I gave Monica an angry phone call for lying to me. STAG was supposed to help, not fuck us in the face!