[b] The Meet [/b] 

As the two hirelings talked among themselves, the room was filled with the clamor of crime bosses and syndicate leaders all trying to get a word in. Marconi tried to talk over the onslaught of voices while Music scowled in his chair. Maine looked utterly unflappable while El Rey seemed to revel in the chaos. The arguments, suggestions, accusations, and threats kept escalating and it seemed the most historic gang meet ever would dissolve in seconds until Donovan snapped her fingers. Dozer nodded and slammed his fist into the wall behind him, completely collapsing it while shouting, [b] "QUIET!!!!" [/b] His voice boomed in the hall and rang so loudly that everyone covered their ears and grunted in pain. 

Voices died in throats and eyes wandered over nothing as Christian Donovan, the so-called Pirate Queen of the Gulf, stood and addressed the room, "Thank you Dozer." The dark-skinned goliath nodded and crossed his tree-trunk sized arms. Donovan smiled and the expression had a dark allure that promised all kinds of things, many deadly, "First off, I'd like to thank our hosts for inviting us all here. Never before have so many come together like this, let us not waste it. We're here to take back our business from the Legion. If nobody has anything constructive to say, please stay quiet. Or my man will have to escort you out." Dozer growled, the sound almost subsonic, and her authority was cemented. 

Marconi briefly frowned but it was replaced in a flash with his trademark smile, "Thank you Christian. She's right. The League is bad enough but Legion is running us all out of business. We're all losing money and men faster than Congress's credibility. They are a unified front and they're wiping us all out because we've been fighting each other. Now, it's us or them and if we don't act now we'll all be dead or in jail. Or worse, getting honest jobs." The whole room grimaced at that. 

Marconi continued, "What we need is a coalition. A meeting of all the syndicates into one Alliance. We'll put aside our grudges and vendettas long enough to put a bullet in every Legionnaire. Then we can get back to killing each other. This coalition will be led by the bosses of the biggest gangs serving as a committee. For the moment, we'll pool all our men, money, and supplies together and especially our metas. We'll hire more guns. We'll bribe more cops. We'll even slip some things to the League. All so we can get rid of the Legion. If we work together, we got a hell of a better chance than we do alone." 

The discussion continued with the Juarez delegation, the Maine Family, Donovan, and a few others making the most contribution. The Iranians remained silent while the Dungeon Master looked amused and Argus kept a blank face. It seemed to be progressing swimmingly, with several management and organizational decisions decided. But there were some unhappy faces in the crowd. Minor gang bosses and independent crews were irritated at the leadership of only some gangs. More than a few men seemed itching for a fight. Marconi and Music kept delegating with the other bosses and the growing unrest went mostly unnoticed save for Fontana who gestured to his hirelings. 

[b] The Hall [/b] 

Apogee punched the bag for a few seconds as if not hearing but Volt could see the slump in her shoulders as she kept hitting it. Eventually she said, "Not good Volt. I messed up today. I almost got you killed today. I killed today. And Bluegrass is dead. Beatdrop is dead. Even that new girl Cordella is dead. I just... I don't" she kept hitting the bag, even harder now, and one could almost hear the tears rising under the surface. 

In Styx's interrogation room, Thomas projected back, [i] Alright Sonja. I'll try to smooth things over with the Magus and the Fellowship. But if this goes south. It's her head.... and probably yours too. [/i] Styx smiled and clasped hands with Sonja on the table. Something that sounded like a small sonic boom bounded across the room as Styx glowed with dark light. The pact was made and they were now bound. Styx leaned back in her chair and said, "Ask me questions, I wouldn't know where to start." 

Vigilance grunted, not at all happy with the direction, but entered the room and closed the door. He kept the mask on and dropped the file on the floor, while Morningstar watched on the other side of the glass. Vigilance pulled out a chair and sat, "You're in a lot of trouble Rodriguez. Multiple killings. Assaulting officers of the law. Threatening civilians in a public space. Kidnapping. Breaking and entering. Illegal possession of weapons. And resisting arrest. Put that along with all your other crimes and you're a shoe in with the death penalty. They might be trying to abolish it sure, but I'm sure a judge and jury will expedite your case. It's not going to be like last time." Villa spat on the floor, "And if I refuse? Why should I be scared of you pussies?"

Vigilance laughed and said, "You'll be put in Pandora's Box, that new supermax they're building in the ass end of nowhere. Minimal contact with the outside. Iron tight security. And the most dangerous supers in the country. And what do you have? Super-reflexes? You won't even make it to the chair. You'll be raped then killed most likely. Or killed than raped. Maybe eaten. Legion can't save you. The only person who can save you is me. And I'm still iffy." 

Villa sat still as stone in her chair but underneath the table her foot tapped erratically. Vigilance continued, "Tell me everything you know about Legion. Names, places, dates, everything. I want it all and I want it now." Villa gritted her teeth, "Fuck you hero." Vigilance laughed again, "Hero? I'm no hero. I'm not even particularly nice. No, tell me everything or I'll let the word slip on the street that we had this talk. Even if you get out, what do you think happens then?" Vigilance leaned in, "You're all alone now Rodriguez. Up shit creek. And I'm about to throw away the paddle." 

Villa was still resisting but her uncertainty was starting to show, doubts about her survival and her own organization. All she needed was another push.