No Place Like Steelport (Saints Row Fanfiction)

Chapter 22: Street Battle

The next morning, Eva woke up earlier than usual and got dressed in her usual attire; black blazer, red shirt, black skirt, stockings and shiny black pumps. She pinned on the pink syndicate star on her blazer, symbolizing her official integration to the organization. Antoine was arriving shortly to her apartment to go on a special errand for Loren, while she waited she quickly ate breakfast and suited up. She wore a bulletproof vest under her shirt and concealed her .45 Shepard pistol in the pocket of the blazer. Now that she was apart of the criminal organization, Antoine instructed her that she must be protected and armed at all times, even if she does her design work, she is not to be unarmed anymore.


Antoine called her cellphone shortly to let her know that he was waiting outside. She grabbed her bag and left her apartment with Antoine.  "Well good morning fellow Morningstar." Antoine proudly greeted.

"Good morning." Eva greeted with a chuckle. "So about this errand, what are we doing?" Eva strapped on her seat belt. 

"Well today's errand actually revolves around you, Philippe wanted me to take you out for your first street battle with some of our old business rivals. This is another test to see you if you actually handle yourself with a weapon outside of training." Antoine explained.

"Well, it's a good thing I have my gun and vest on me." Eva sighed.

"Very good, you take directions well. Try not to worry, if you can do what you did on the training field, then this shouldn't be a problem."

"But these are real people, I'm going to be wounding and killing real people. I mean that's morally wrong." Eva stammered.

"Let me tell you this, when we battle in the streets it's either you or them, and it has to be them all of the time.  You need to survive, most of the people we're dealing with don't care about morals like that. Now I know it's tough, I used to be like you, but out here it's either kill or be killed." Antoine empathized.

"I suppose you're right. But I know my mental health is going to take a serious toll." Eva glanced out of the window.

"That's why we have alcohol, but I'll be by your side, I'll help you get through it." Antoine gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

Up ahead in the road, Antoine parked near the sidewalk away from the ongoing skirmish between several Morningstar members and an unknown group of businessmen dressed in black suits. Antoine and Eva took out their weapons and prepared to go into their first battle.

"Stay close to me." Antoine grabbed her hand and the two walked up to their counterparts and took cover behind one of the cars.

"Are you ready? Follow my lead alright?!" Antoine shouted over the gunfire. Eva nodded and followed Antoine's direction. She took a deep breath and kept hearing Antoine's words play over and over in her head. She stood up and took her first shot, the bullet went into one of business man's arm. He dropped his gun, but his partner turned his attention to Eva who aimed at her. She ducked just in time before the bullet could hit her in the forehead, she kept hearing gunshots in her direction, while crouching she scurried behind another car and began to take aim. She glanced over at Antoine from time to time, as he did the same. Eva stood up behind the car and shot three businessmen from behind, and then quickly retreated back into cover.

After the skirmish, Antoine grabbed Eva and the two ran back to his car and left the scene. The remaining Morningstar members took out some witnesses and police officers on the street and then shortly left before more police showed up. Antoine sped down the highway, weaving in and out lanes until they reached Henry Still Mills, where the Syndicate Tower is located. Antoine parked in the garage of the tower and the two of them entered the elevator. Eva noticed that Antoine was carrying a bloodied silver briefcase, money was presumably inside of the case.

Eva straightened out her outfit and quickly finger combed through her thick hair, as they were waiting to reach Philippe's office. The elevator doors opened and two walked to Philippe's office, where he talking to the DeWynter twins. "Sorry we're late, but you know how our rivals are, Mr. Loren." Antoine set down the case on his desk and opened it.

Inside of the case was in fact stacks of money, $800,000 to be exact. Philippe rolled his blue eyes as he scoffed at the thought of his rival businessmen not being man enough to pay the cost of their guns, he sold to them a few months back. He instructed Antoine to deposit the money in the bank. Antoine squeezed Eva's arm on the way out as a "job well done" gesture. "How was your first day in the crossfire, Miss Roman?" Philippe blew a cloud of smoke.

"It surely was a battle, it all happened so fast." Eva tried to collect her thoughts.

"Well, you're alive and in good shape. So you've passed this test." "You really need to work on your shooting, try getting someone hit kills. You have a pistol, master it." Philippe critiqued.

"Wait, how do you know what weapon I used?" Eva questioned.

"I have eyes within the Syndicate, and Antoine notified me of your progress. I'm always keeping an eye on my soldiers, Miss Roman." Philippe held strong eye contact with her, as he stood up he walked up to her and peered down at her. "I'm always watching, especially my new recruits."

Eva's heart rate quickened as those words pierced her soul, all she could think about was what she was doing on her personal computers and her private activity of learning about the Saints. Philippe dismissed Viola and Kiki, and they were soon alone in the office. Her body started to shudder internally as he grabbed her chin firmly. Philippe leaned down and whispered in her ear, something that will forever haunt her. "Since you like to research the Saints in your spare time, I will be using you as a decoy."

"A decoy?" Eva's eyes widened in surprise.

"Yes, a double agent to be more direct. Ever since that tragic meeting on the plane that cost me my eye, I know they will be plotting to attack us soon, and I need to know all of the details so we can be prepared." Philippe released her chin.

"But you just officially let me in the Syndicate, not too long ago. Why so early?"

"Because of that reason exactly, no one knows your name or your face compared to me, Antoine, Viola, and Kiki. You can easily blend in and observe them without being detected." Philippe explained.

"So for next few weeks, your missions would be heavily based on observing the Saints, I need you to go deep undercover and become one of them for us. Can you do that or did I waste my time with you, Miss Roman?" Philippe faced her once more.

Eva practically dreamed of this moment but never thought it would happen, Philippe wants her to become a Saint for the sake of the Syndicate. As weird as it sounds, this was her only way out of the Syndicate, temporarily. Her heartbeat quickened and her body broke into a cold sweat as if the adrenaline from the street skirmish weren't still flowing through her veins. She took a deep breath and gave Philippe her final answer. "Yes, I can fulfill that mission."