Canyons of Steel - Lawman in a Lawless Land Pt 4

The limp form of the monstrosity slipped into the sludge quietly. A woman pulled out the serrated blade with ease and moved back into the shadows. The frayed edges where the arm patches were still bore some of the insignia of the organization she called home. The Sisters of the Blade. Long ago, after hearing of the death of her sister at the hands of one sect of the Sisters, she decided to leave. The group was no longer a family of hers. They had struck out and killed one of her own. And now it was time for revenge.

A comm on her belt chirped a low sound. She narrowed her eyes as she studied the readout. Blast! she cursed under her breath in a near perfectly enunciated British accent. She hit the receive button as she crept deeper into the shadows. "This had better be important, Eleanor."

"Marianne," the voice on the comm spouted excitedly. "Do you realize how long I've been trying to find you?"

"I really wish you hadn't, Eleanor," Marianne replied with a hint of disdain. "I love you dearly, but you shouldn't try and contact me." She checked her position, taking note of the Mafia gunsels and local government soldiers that patrolled near what was called the Web.

"Marianne, I noted some movement in the Isles," she said, trying to get her sister to listen. "There's someone there who can help you. Someone you can trust."

"I take it you found all of this via the company you work for," Marianne remarked, a small smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "How is it, being the personal secretary of Derrik Stewart?"

"Marianne," Eleanor replied with a shocked tone. "Enough. Will you take this information?"

The blade mistress paused for what seemed forever before answering. Having allies in this wretched place would be worth it. And she knew that Eleanor had connections, even more so now that she worked with Stewart Industries. "Who is it, Eleanor?"

"Ex-Illuminati. Codenamed Operative Violet Rose. And his second in command, Omega Six. Both are situated..."

"I know where they are," Marianne said as she typed on the keys of her lap top. While her sister was talking, Marianne connected to the central hub of the web, tapping into the security cameras that dotted the islands. "Port William. I just watched them take out a group of Don Maximus' men."

"How did you..."

"You have your connections, dear sister," Marianne came back with a smirk. "And I have mine." Without another word, she clicked off the comm and gathered her things. It was time to head toward Port William. She knew who John Walker was. She'd undertaken a pair of missions with him during her time with the Sisters. He was good, and he knew the value of honour.

And that was something sorely needed in this lawless land.

to be continued...