Vigil folded his arms. "No."
Joe Blow felt his muscles tense, straining the threads of his brand-new suit. Veins in his neck throbbed with the rush of anticipatory adrenaline. "You don't say? You waltz in, attack my people and think you can just sit down and talk? Guess again, chump."
"An unmasking isn't what I'm here for."
Joe Blow jerked a thumb at his face. "See this mug? Pretty, ain't it? When I was a pup, my first memories were of my folks covering it up. Didn't want their friends to see the little freak. The monster. When I got older, kids used to pick on me. Push me around, throw rocks, call me Frankenstein, Goblin Face, whatever. Where's your mask, they'd ask me. Oh yeah, you're wearing one. And then they'd laugh."
He grinned. "But I got the last laugh. Nature has a way of balancing things out. Ugly creatures usually get nice little presents: Poisonous spines, razor teeth, ink propulsion and whatnot. Or in my case, freak strength with a tough hide to boot. After that, no one made fun of my mug anymore. 'Cause they knew I'd rip their pretty little heads off their shoulders without breaking a sweat."
He leaned forward, towering over Vigil. "But you know what I never did? I never hid my face. Never wore a mask. It's what sneaks do. What cowards do. So here's my terms, Robo-chump. You take that helmet off, and we can talk. Or you keep in on and see if you can stop me from using it for a soccer ball."
Vigil didn't respond. Joe Blow found the lack of expression to be slightly unnerving. All he saw was his own glowering face reflected off the helmet's gleaming exterior. He gritted his teeth and rose to his feet.
"Not talking? Suits me just fine." He snatched the table and flung it aside like a piece of kindling. Vigil remained seated. Something glinted in his hand, humming with charged energy.
Joe Blow had just enough time to register that it was a handgun before the weapon shot him in the face.
Pain exploded across his entire head. He roared, arms flailing as he stumbled back. Tears streamed from his eyes as acrid smoke wafted from his flesh. Blurry streaks of movement marked Vigil as he darted forward, gauntlets streaking like laser lights across the room. They struck Joe Blow in repeated patterns of jabs and heavy punches, every strike punctuated by a flash of galvanic energy that sent electricity arching across Joe's body. He grunted as his muscles trembled, pain searing like his veins caught on fire.
He ignored it, striking out and connecting with a punch that lifted Vigil off his feet and sailing back a dozen yards.
The lights when out again.
Joe Blow roared, swinging his arms blindly. "Stop hiding, you coward. Show yourself!"
"Over here."
Joe Blow turned around just in time to see a glowing fist. The blow caught him in the chin; stars danced across his vision. He snarled and tottered forward, seizing Vigil with one hand and slamming him into the ground so hard the concrete chattered. Gray powder lifted into the air, creating a chalky haze.
A grin stretched across Joe Blow's face. "Got you now."
"Funny, I was thinking the same about you." A thin cable shot from Vigil's gauntlets and wrapped around Joe's neck, yanking him down. Vigil slapped both humming gauntlets against Joe's head.
The world exploded in agony.
He jolted awake, groaning as the world circled in dizzy circles around him. It couldn't have been more than a few seconds because Vigil was still there, standing just out of reach in a wary stance. The lights had been turned back on.
"Why…" Joe grimaced, rubbing the bridge of his nose. The skin on his face felt blistered. Didn't matter much. He healed quickly, and it wasn't like he was known for his good looks anyway. "Why didn't you try and finish me off?"
"I told you, I'm not here to pick a fight with you."
"Then what the hell are you here for? Admiring the décor?"
"I want to know why a guy like you would want to soil his rep playing guard dog to a bunch of child molesters."
Joe Blow tried dusting off his suit, frowning at the stains. They were going to be hell to get out. Chumps at the cleaners always doubled on his charges because of his size. Greedy bastards. "Don't know what you're talking about. I get paid for guarding cargo. Plain and simple."
Vigil tilted his head. "Ever think to ask what this cargo is?"
"No. Never mattered. I provide a service. What the business happens to be is none of my concern."
"Even if it happens to be children? You really want to contribute to the sex trade? Your hands will be just as dirty as the perverts who molest those kids."
"What kids? You keep yapping on about brats I never laid eyes on."
"Why don't we take a look? If I'm right, you can make a decision. If I'm wrong, we can pick up where we left off."
Joe Blow's brows knitted together. "Maybe I don't wanna make a decision. Maybe I just wanna get paid. You don't cross certain lines in this business. Once you do, there ain't no turning back."
Vigil looked up at him. "What business? The child slave business? That's what you want your name associated with?"
Joe Blow frowned. "Private quarters are in the back. I'll take you there. And then we'll see how this is gonna end… Vigil."
Chapter 14
Vigil followed Joe Blow as the giant led him to the back of the compound. He stifled a groan as a flash of pain lanced across his ribs. The suit had absorbed much of the impact of Joe Blow's attacks, but just barely. He didn't think he could have lasted much longer against his much stronger, more durable opponent.
Thank goodness he was able to listen to reason. Maybe Qhawa wasn't so wrong after all.
They stopped in front of a bare wall. Jett stopped, taking an uneasy glance around.
"Nothing back here."
"Says you." Joe Blow slipped on a tech-enhanced glove and reached to a portion of the wall, thrusting it aside like a shower curtain.
Vigil took a closer look, fingering what turned out to be flexible material that perfectly blended with the color and texture of the surrounding wall. "What is this, shape-memory polymer?"
Joe Blow grunted as he entered the hallway behind the façade. "Yeah. A prototype. Becomes rigid when hit with an electric charge, like from this glove. And vice-versa. Only this one is enhanced with adaptive camouflage. Bends light or something. Wanna know more, interrogate a labcoat. You coming or not?"
He led the way, blocking Jett's entire view as they walked into a metallic tunnel illuminated by recess lights overhead. It ended at a doorway, where an armed guard in tactical gear stood at duty.
He took a look up at Joe Blow and swallowed. "What… are you doing here? Thought you were taking care of the compound."
"Got bored. Thought I'd take a walk."
The guard shifted nervously. "No one is allowed through without proper clearance."
Joe Blow's grin displayed nearly every oversized tooth. "Howzabout I give your face a firsthand tour of your backbone? That enough clearance for you?"
Sweat slid down the guard's face. "I'll… have to call it in."
Joe Blow's beefy hand shot out, completely enveloping the man's head.
"Don't."
A short walk down a dimly lit hallway led to an entrance carved with phallic imagery. They stood behind a perforated steel screen, peering through the holes at the scene of perversion beyond. Bile rose in Vigil's throat.
The warehouse was converted into a stylish bordello fashioned in French Victorian décor. The walls and embroidered draperies were shades of scarlet, casting the room the color of blood. Lavish furniture and antique fixtures decorated the crimson-carpeted floor.