DUKE'S DEAL III (Ch. 75)

Several months had gone by, Duke and Co had long settled in to life as members of Dealers, beside him looking over the ocean waves was Darwin, behind the where a see of teens in black suits and coats standing at attention, 

"Why'd you send that kid off" Duke inquires alluding to the homeless teen he'd permitted to stay,

"You know we don't have the financial ability to take anyone else in, we're barely surviving as is" he replies,

"Still, we could've just put him to work, he's a good kid" he states,

"If you take responsibility for him then sure, why not?" Darwin replies,

"Am i supposed to go out of my way to search for some kid?" Duke questions,

"You're the one interested in playing daddy" Darwin mocks, "the men can be on the lookout for him, what's the kids name?", Duke contemplates momentarily before recalling,

"Daryun, he said his name was Daryun",

"I'll get the boys on it, but parenting issues aside, how long do you intend to stay here?" Darwin questions,

"What do you mean?",

"The boss is getting older, someone's going to have to step up, we both know it's between the both of us, and i'm sure you're aware i have no interest in becoming boss, i didn't join Dealers to be with Corinth or because i support the ideology",

"Yeah, i know, Dealers are nothing but a stepping stone for you" Duke states patting Darwin on the shoulder,

"Don't touch me" he calls,  "you're correct, i plan on heading south to Novy Prague, I've spent enough time here, it's time to play in the big leagues" he concludes,

"Why exactly are you telling me this?" Duke inquires,

"Duke!, Come with me" Darwin states, "we make a good team, together w...."

"Darwin" Duke interjects, "my father was a gangster, i hated him",

"I know" Darwin replies,

"I didn't hate him for being a gangster, not at first, i hated him for being unfair, he was praised as a great man, a fair one, but he wasn't fair to his own family, and eventually, that life caught up to him, when he died i lead the ceremony, i was praised for being a filial son, but internally, i was disgusted, i hated the fact that i had to pretend to care for a man who didn't care about his own family, the reason i'm here, the reason i love Dealers, isn't just because of Corinth, it's because it's a family".

           Silence reigns momentarily before Darwin releases a puff of smoke as he draws his cigarette away from his lips, 

"I wasn't really expecting a different response from you, your father seems like a man who held influence" Darwin states,

"Gray Wade, that's my fathers name", Darwin's eyes widen unaware of the fact that his cigarette had fallen, 

(Gray Wade, wait that's my...),

"We should get back" Duke states,

             Duke and Darwin arrive back at HQ in time to be present for the meeting Corinth had called,  just before they could get proceedings underway one of their subordinates comes running through the entrance, following after the running subordinates where two teens sauntering into the halls confines, following behind is the current Dealers second in command with an entourage, 

"We'll take care of the intruders boss" 

"GET BACK!" Corinth exclaims shrugging off his jacket as he stands to face the two, Vin walks over to the side before taking a seat,

"We'll then, now that the whole party's here let's get this test underway!" He exclaims, "now who's up fir..." Jhon's head cracks back from the force od Corinth's fist, Jhon's eyes widen before his face blooms into a sickening grin, 

"Finally! A strong one!" He swing his fist missing Corinth who dodges to the left before following with a counter, another punch from him sinks into Jhon's plexus throwing him several meters back,

"I've never seen the boys fight this way!" A Dealers member speaks up

"He's never had to!" Another exclaims, A kick from Corinth rifles into Jhon's side who crashes through one of the room doors, he runs aside picking up a short pencil, his grin ever present 'Force' surges through his body before concentrating on the pencil, Jhon ignites his Striker technique: 'Severing Lines' and from several feet away swipes the pencil diagonally, Corinth's instincts flare as a faint white line with branching vines like roots of a tree shooting off from it follows after the pencil, Corinth aware of the fate of his subordinates should he dodge wastes no time in igniting first his Enforcer technique: 'Re-route' a 'Force' art that moves both the user and adversaries 'Force' in a given route for the users benefit and secondly his Defence technique: 'Contorted Waves', the lines from Jhon's attack continue to widen and with a flash it severs anything in it's path according to the lines shown, Despite Corinth's defences the amount 'Force' present beyond.what he's able to Re-route, what he's unable to Re-route his Contorted Waves deflects, but even then a long gash jaggers like the roots of a tree is seen on his already heavily scared body, Vin spectates from the side quietly, pondering silently as a Dealers member walks up to him,

(It seems he still hasn't mastered it, by the time he does it won't take him long to catch up, it's a shame his body can't yet handle using that 'Force' art with his bare body, if he could even i...., Well it doesn't matter, Jhon has always been a swordsman anyway) he mules ignoring the Dealers member pulling at his face,

"Hey why are your eyes ink black?, Are you one of those eye tattoo freaks, hey! hey! answer me!" The teen responds slapping Vin who remains unmoving across the cheek.

       Corinth presses forward unleashing every bit of 'Force' he can muster as he ignites his Striker technique pumping it with 'Force' to it's maximum, Jhon grins harder pressing forward despite the inhumane level of resistance his hand feels, Pumping 'Force' into his Enforcer technique: Hollowed area his pores open as 'Force' is pushed through locking down the force present around him in a static wave, wasting no time his pencil draws against Corinth chest,

(It's over) Vin concludes,  Corinth struggles against Jhon's attack by pumping out more 'Force' into his re-ignited Defence and Enforcer techniques, he mitigates the force of Jhon's strike preventing the strike from outright killing him, blood fountains out the gash but he presses with a counter, his shin connects with Jhon's side forcing a harsh cough out of the tumbling teen, with his glasses shattered Corinth's face grows grimmer at the sight of Jhon's eyes flashing between Zone and normal, 

"Fuckkkkkkkk!!!" He screams pushing everything he has left into his kick, Jhon is up in a flash laughing manaically as he mirrors his opponent, the sheer pressure and 'Force' distorts space as his leg whips into his target, when finally a hairline line of blinding white cuts at Corinth, the two collide and an explosion ensues, the room and surrounding areas are blasted apart, Corinth stares head held high while on his knees as blood fountains from his mouth curtsey of his ruined organs, before him is Vin who's hands glow amber with his Bone Armour armour, Jhon is slumped against the rubble eyes glazed, but more noticeable, eyes black and irises white, Vin grins madly before delivering his verdict,

"Find a suitable successor and make me two million credits by month end or else" Vin pauses, "you know the rest" he states, "get up" he calls to Jhon who groans staggering to his feet before falling face first again, sighing Vin helps him up as the two exit the HQ, upon their exit Corinth falls unconscious, 

"Seb!" Sera the girl that had ensured Duke's stay shouts running up to him, "please!, Help me!" She screams with streaming tears, 

"DEALERS!!!" Duke shouts snapping the rest out of their daze, the boys get to work and withing minutes the scene is cleared an a meeting is called,

"Seems that there's been a change of plans" Darwin states alluding to himself,

"You and me both" Duke replies, heading the meeting in Corinth's absence is the second in command, the teen similar in age to the big boss nicknamed scar face, alluding to his heavily wrinkled face and an to is even more scarred face,

"We're accepting their demands" he begins,

"THE HELL WE ARE!!!" Daniel pipes up, "we've been doing just fine without them, next tine they come we'll be ready!",

"You flatter yourself, we both know there's no way we can stop those two, even if the boss can take the first one, that black eyes freak is obviously stronger, not to mention, the guy boss fought advanced!" Another member pipes in response,

"So how do you intend on making two million fucking credits!, How!" Daniel replies,

"Simple" Scarface states, "we use the girls" he concludes,

"WHAT!" Daniel roars when a voice speaks out from across him,

"Pipe the hell down!, The second in command is talking" Darwin reprimands,

(This is perfect, is things turn out the way i want then i actually don't mind fighting for boss's position),

Scarface shoots Darwin a look of approval before continuing, "like it or not we're gangsters, what kind of gangster wastes his time protecting a single street?, For fuck all at that, it's bloody idiotic" he states,

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU EVEN SAYING!!" Daniel pipes up again,

"DANIEL!" Duke bellows, Daniel huffs before backing down,

"So you intend to make this decision despite Corinth's absence?" Duke questions,

"With him unavailable i'm next in line as leader, besides he's been running this crew wrong and we're all aware, if you don't like how i intend to do things then leave" Scarface states,

"You speak like the man's dead" Duke replies,

(I can arrange that) Scarface muses to himself, "he won't be coming back, not for a while, Shifter or not, injuries like that take months" he sneers, Duke smiles mirthlessly before getting to his feet with the boys in tow, 

"It really is like they say, when the cat leaves the home, the rats come out to play" he states,

"How dare you!" Some of the members exclaims but Scarface waves them off, let them go,

(I've already gotten what i want) he muses as he watches the four exit, he turns to Darwin before posing him with a question,

"Are you with me?",

"One condition" Darwin replies,

"Say it",

"I'll handle making the money, i even have quite the plan",

"Which plan?" Scarface inquires,

"One that'll 'remove' all the adult gangs in the area" he replies with an evil grin.

           Darwin takes in the ocean breath well aware of Duke's approaching presence,

"So you really intend to work with that scumbag, this?, This is what you meant by leveling up?" He sneers,

"Fuck off",

"What?!",

"Are you deaf?, I've got nothing to say to you, i'm not your friends or one of your fucking lackeys who prance around with you" Darwin states still facing the waves, Duke's eyebrows furrow in confusion, he steps up with a palm to Darwins shoulder,

"What's wrong man, did i do something wrong?" He inquires, Darwin shrugs off his hand before giving a reply,

"I take it back, that shit i said about working together, why don't you run on back to mommy with your little silver spoon, Afterall, not everyone is lucky enough to be the rich gangsters son" he sneers,

"What?!" Duke questions in confusion as Darwin walks away, 

"Wait!" He shouts running up to him, Duke barely forms a guard in time as an empowered kusk forces him back,

"I've told you" he seethes, "DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME!".