The Clock Was Ringing

The recoil (Part 2)

          "Ok now! It was a nice a time back then alright! Can you please just stop laughing!" Ben was distressed by her constant laughing. Which is the reason why he didn't want to show it to her in the first place, or to anyone else for that matter.

Karli's laugh toned down a few moments later until it went to a burst stop and then some few shots of giggles here and there.

"O...K... now. My friend or more like half a friend now had a third degree black belt in Judo and has won a few medals for number one shooter at some competitions."

"They actually have those?" She was startled by it.

"Yeah. But of course they're usually in more rural areas or in the underground. Contests for just shooting flying bottles isn't really accepted on the surface or pretentious white people..."

"Or anyone for that matter! Why didn't you tell me about them! I could have won some bad ass medals!"

"Well... you never did tell me that you actually had a gun."

He was right. Though out this whole time she never did at least once show him her giant magnum or that she is a good shot with one. Mostly to just hide it away from her loved ones. She didn't want to creep them out. Except the inn keeper and his wife, or did they know about that...

"Did they give out cash prizes?" She asked fervently.

"I don't know! You ask him and find out!"

"Geez Ben. Don't be such a cranky pants."

"Says the one who put a gun at my head and was shouting like a maniac."

She looked away, with her cute expression to try and convince him out of that moment.

"Uhhh... yeah..."

She peered back and he was disappointed with his arms on his hips.

"You look like a mom doing that."

"Ugh... Karli."

She laughed a bit more.

"You act like a child some times... either way... you want to meet this guy right?"

He held up the picture and she instantly laughed again.

"Damn it! Not again."

She continued laughing throughout it all. Ben instead decided to go and search for another picture. Luckily he was able to find a less embarrassing picture of the two which thankfully Karli didn't laugh at.

"Okay then... now lets get to business... now he lives in another city nearby and at random times comes back here to reminiscence the good old days..."

"Of you two wearing pajamas all the time!" She laughed aloud after that again.

"It is pretty ironic how all of this went down from a death threat to you just laughing out loud at my embarrassing photos."

"I'm sorry Ben..." She reduced her laughter to a few giggles and then fully receded. Looking as serious as she should be.

"Now I'm not sure where he is in the city but I know that he lives in the inner city."

"How big is the city? And which one is it anyway?"

"Oh its about... um... double our city size and its Jareten city."

"Jarenten? What got him to go there? And especially in the inner city? From what I heard the whole place is covered with smog and crime."

"Yes it is. Well it got better from those days when I was young and beautiful."

"You weren't."

Ben had a disappointed look on his face.

"I had my features."

"Perhaps they were inside."

He sighed and she laughed.

"What ever lets just continue here."

He discussed the plan to her. Once in which there will be some risk involved of course. Being Karli and all she has her physical strengths and skill with a pistol but a girl as bright as her will attract a lot of eyes on her. The inner city is known for that one aspect also unfortunately. Karli says that she will be able to deal with it but Ben is still not sure.

"I can take care of myself Ben... you don't need to worry about a thing."

"Oh I do need to worry." His eyebrows were raised and his eyes widened with emphasis.

"Well I thank you for complementing me, but I know for sure that if I show them my intimidating side they will back down."

"No they won't. We need some one else to move about the city with out attracting too much attention."

"Who else can we get?" Jamie... NO! Of course not! He would be eaten by those criminals.

"Any ideas on who we can get." Ben walked about the room searching for something Karli didn't pay enough attention to.

Should I risk it? I can probably convince him to go on leave for a bit from the city. We are having our one week vacation soon.

"Um... well..."

Ugh... I shouldn't do this to him. He's too innocent to be dragged into all of this.

"We need all the help we can get and trust me when I say that these men will want you, especially for you're red hair. They see that as a treasure and would want to keep you close to them."

"Awwwww. You're so sweet"

"Please stay with me here." His tone was quite serious. Most of the time when he was he didn't put as much stress on his words as he did now. He had lived there for a time so he should know. Perhaps I do need him. If I do then I will need to be careful and take care of him if things get rough.

"All right I have this one person in mind."

"Really! Who? Does he have any experience we can use?" He looked satisfied to know that some one can replace Karli. Well I'm glad he cares about me so. Maybe he has a crush on me... Nah!

"No..."

Ben showed his disappointment in an instant, with a sigh to accompany him.

"But... he can at least pass through the shadows like a regular civilian."

"In the inner city, and especially this deep in there is no such thing as a regular person. All of them have weapons of all kind and will kill if alarmed."

"Then he won't alarm any one. Just as simple as that."

Ben was still disappointed, Karli didn't have anyone else who can defend themselves to her level or at least close to her level along with them being willing enough to have a high chance of getting them selves killed.

"Can't we pay someone on the internet?"

"Seriously Karli? We will be caught soon enough, we shouldn't leave any traces of this mission. It must stay hidden from the man."

"The man?"

"My type of Jargon"

"Jargon?"

"Whatever, either way we have to do this without giving the feds a clue to follow on what will happen."

She grew a bit stern at that phrase. She knows that there will be trouble but she didn't feel she was prepared for something like that. This isn't going to be fun. She kept that fact in her head from now on. She regretted going all out on Ben yet again. Her rage can sometimes be a bit too wild.