> "Things Change" Part Six
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> Read here for information relevant to this chapter.
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> For years, the Paradopolis Tapirs had demanded a new stadium be built. The current home for the football franchise was an ugly throwback to seventies' era sports venues situated in the heart of the city, which the owners derided as "always congested, and often unsafe." Finally, with promises of public funding for supportive infastructure approved, a consortium of businessmen put together a plan. $600,000,000 was pledged to construct the massive complex that would not only house the Tapirs but also be a site for special events: concerts, monster truck shows, etc. The entire process began four years ago, and now, 48 months and three quarters of a billion dollars later, the stadium was near completion. There were still issues, however.
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> "B-but, Mister Igawa," Paul Gammons, the consortium director, plead to the dark-suited gentleman sitting at the other end of the room, "Yarbaugh LTD has handled the Tapirs' concessions since the team was founded. They do business with every major venue in the city. And they are the exclusive distributor of Rocket Fuel Soda Pop, the number one soft drink in the nation!"
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> Igawa shrugged, "Nevertheless, we feel Concessco's bid is superior to the package Yarbaugh has put together. They are our choice to handle the contract, and we hope, the board's as well."
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> The people around the conference table were silent. It wasn't just Igawa and the two stone-faced gentlemen lounging behind him that gave them concern, though they were intimidating enough. It was who they represented that truly worried these men of influence.
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> "All right, all right. Those in favor of rewarding the stadium food contract to Concessco please signify your support by raising your hand."
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> Before those assembled reluctantly acquiesced to their extremely junior partner's demands there was a commotion in the hallway. When one of Igawa's flunkies opened the door to investigate he caught a U-shaped projectile to the throat.
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> "Ringer!" Captain Horseshoes congratulated himself as the missile constricted and forced its victim to unconsciousness. He tossed another shoe at Igawa, which struck the table and released a freezing mist that coated the man in ice.
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> Thrum entered next. His shock force gauntlets emmitted a bone jarring basso profundo blast into the one minion still standing. He crashed through the oak panelled wall and collapsed.
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> "What's going on here?" Gammons demanded, "Who are you?"
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> "Name's Horseshoes. My mate in the extra absorbant costume is Thrum," the second villain wagged a finger, causing the phone Gammons's assistant picked up to shatter, "We're here to help."
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> "Help?! You just assaulted-"
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> "We know who we assaulted. Three members of the Yakuza. In particular, from Akiko Masamune's family, who's been leeching off this project like a big pink parasite."
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> "Until now," Thrum added from behind his quilted face mask.
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> Captain Horseshoes spun one of his namesake around his hand, "Right. You gents don't have to worry about that googily eyed Sheila anymore. Her day is done. Feel free to conduct your business without her input."
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> One of the other associate spoke up, "Uh, look, buddy, its pretty obvious from your accent that you're not from around here, so maybe you don't know how.... connected Masamune is. A pair of supervillains roughing up some of her goons is just going to piss her off. So thanks but no thanks."
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> "Who said you have a choice?" Thrum asked, before blasting the rime-coated Igawa into a pulpy mess of blood and frost.
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> Horseshoes smiled, "Really! And who said there were just two of us?"
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> *****
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> The Red Devilfish's submarine was stationed 4.6 miles off the coast of Badripoor. The nation was once a hub for international crime and terrorism, and certain parties were interested in returning the island to its former infamy. To this end the Constortium sent the former Soviet admiral and his flotilla to watch, and wait, for an opportunity.
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> The ship's external sensors began to ping, "Sir! The island's defense grid is not responding to our probes! It may be down!"
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> Rising from his command chair, Red Devilfish donned his ovular helmet, letting its airtight seals hiss into place. His oddly modulated voice shouted orders heard throughout the sub, "Launch the full complement of Manta Raiders! Have them lay down a covering fire on the east beach. Prep the CRABs for an assault on those coordinates.
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> "Inform Factor X the target has demonstrated a vulnerability that we will exploit as per standing orders," the villain snatched up his Power Trident, "Badripoor is ours."
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> *****
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