Angel's Authority

Part Four, Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Family back together

Based on the Volition Inc.™ game: Saints Row IV™

EVANORA

"So ya wanna tell me that Zinyak picked ya out all that time ago just 'cause he was afraid that ye could single-handedly take down his troops durin' the invasion? Damn bro that's first of all badass and second of all pretty damn horrible for ya."

Pierce lulled, a little tipsy and laying in Johnny's lap. The latter only chuckled though and cracked open his fifth beer of the evening. Shaundi, Pierce, he and I had found ourselves a little corner to sit in and catch up.

Celebrate our reunion with some snacks and a lot more drinks. The ZIN beverages were kicking in just the same way like the green cactus juice back at Phoenix of which Lazarus could not let off his fingers.

"Jup. Pretty much sums it up, Pierce."

He laughed which turned into a cough because of his voice being out of practice after two long years. It was constantly hoarse because of this either.

"I don't care why Zinyak took you..."

Shaundi began, grabbing a handful of Lay's salt and vinegar; her favorite.

"...I just care that you're back with us Johnny and know for certain that Zinyak will pay with my foot up his ass for what he did to you."

She finished, stuffing the handful into her mouth. I took some Lay's too, sipping on my sweet rosé. I was never one for beer and of the hard stuff – well except for my friend Bourbon, of course – I only liked the sweet ones and the ZIN had none of that in their inventory of beverages.

"Me too, Shaundi. That's all that matters: Being together again."

I reassured her and gave Johnny a subtle wink, throwing Pierce a judging eye afterwards because of him taking up all of Johnny's space by cuddling up to him for a nap. But that only made me chuckle and I stood up to let Shaundi catch up with him a little more and to check after our status.

I had gotten out to free Johnny from his pod and while blowing ourselves through ZIN, we caught up pretty well. More than enough time for the two of us to get on one level.

Once we arrived, Kinzie immediately locked down the ship and we went flying out through the ZIN mothership to escape the welcome committee of troops and to buy Matt, Viola and Oleg some time to re-scramble our code and mask us again.

Kinzie had forced me to come up with some plan as well, still a little mad that I had risked it all but also relieved that it was all worth it and – if I had observed correctly – a little glad and exhilarated that I brought Johnny on the ship. The way she looks at him...

I entered the bridge and was surprised and immediately overwhelmed by the mess it was in. Viola, Matt and Oleg were each sitting on the floor with a mountain dew between their legs, a keyboard on their laps and a monitor before them. All of them were too concentrated to even notice me entering. Kinzie on the other hand, was running between consoles to steer the ship safely, taking her own bottle of mountain dew with her.

"Hey there... Need any help?"

I announced myself with and she only stopped for half a second to greet me with a half-hearted smile before returning to her duties without a reply. I stepped up to the helm and aligned myself in front of the console I had taken before.

"I'll just..."

I said and stopped her from running me over by gently pushing her to the other one. She placed the bottle on the ground and scratched the back of her head before apologizing with a frown.

"I've come up with something. Our next move."

I carefully began and saw her head dart in my direction from my peripheral view. Even the piercing typing of the three keyboards stopped for .05 seconds. The other three were listening to me with half an ear as well now.

"What is it?"

Kinzie finally said as the two of us steered the ship between skyscrapers, nooks and crannies.

"I thought about going doing the endgame in three stages..."

I began and took a glance at Kinzie to see her reaction. All neutral and attentively listening. As long as she appeared pleased, the plan was no bullshit in her eyes.

"Pierce and Shaundi will have to take down the ZIN security system inside the simulation. They are the first wave. They'll help Asha and Matt do their thing to the simulation to take it down from the inside as well. You, Viola and Oleg will protect the four of them from the ouside while they are in the simulation, should the ZIN catch up with us and board the ship. But if things go as planned and the ZIN's attention is entirely focused on resolving our meddling with their precious simulation, Johnny, Ben and I will be more or less undisturbed on clearing the way for the crew so we can take out Zinyak together. In the real world. Simple but foolproof."

I had given this a lot of thought, regardless of the little time I had been given for doing so. Pierce and Shaundi are the distraction within the simulation while Matt and Asha destroy it.

Johnny, Ben and I are the distraction in the real world until we have the crew back on the game and all of us can destroy Zinyak. I hope Kinzie got that from my plan but judging from her approving look and her slow nodding, she had nothing to say.

"I like it. It's a solid foundation but let me do the thinking. Technological details are my forte after all and you should focus on telling Ben and Johnny what you want from them."

She just replied and dedicated her attention back to the console.

"When are you ready to roll?"

"Anytime, baby!"

She shouted, startling the three zombies a little but causing a forced "Whoop" from them either way.

"That's what I wanted to hear, girl!"