Crimson Rain by Tex Leiko Page A

He shook wild and viciously with all of his strength to get her off of his body; he couldn ’ t and, in seconds, he too was unconscious.
    It isn ’ t time to start a war yet. I ’ ll leave them alive.
    Crimson ran over to where Zax ’ s gauss pistol had slid and picked it up. She didn ’ t have any pockets in this dress to discreetly hide her newly acquired weaponry.
    What the hell, I guess I will just have to run out toting two of them as accessories to my lovely ensemble.
    Before stepping over the unconscious Surge, she stopped to examine his forehead. The chair had gashed it pretty hard and he was bleeding profusely. He won ’ t die from this, just be a little uglier. Then without hesitation, she removed his pistol from his person and held it in her other hand. She was dual wielding gauss pistols like a maniac you would see in some kind of comic book.
    Her red hair was frazzled and flowed down to right past her shoulders. Her eyes darted wildly and mischievously , e xamining for any hidden trap, ambush or enemy. Her muscles rippled as she paced quickly back toward the front entrance. Her cute party dress was swaying loosely over her toned physique as her heels clattered on the hard floor in the room that would be otherwise empty if it weren ’ t for the nearly two thousand fans standing behind Badger. Someone other than her was currently holding their attention, but not for long.
    Before the clatter of her heels had even registered as a noise out of the ordinary to anyone, two gun shots that definitely were unexpected rang out, causing everyone, including Max, Zarfa , and Badger, to jump. There was a clamor of swearing and remarks as the crowd turned to face Crimson. Badger, too, turned to face her. She could see him. It took a few steps to get from the pit where she was standing up to the entryway where the doors were. He was elevated barely enough above the crowd that the two of them could look each other in the eyes.
    “ Your cronies are still alive, dick weed! That ’ s what you get for trying to interrogate me. Next time, skip the theatrics and put a bullet or two in my head! Cut off my arms and legs or something! Give those guys a chance to handle me, all right? ”
    “ Very well! Are you ready to fight my horde of faithful fans? ”
    “ Think again, ” she screamed as she fired a warning shot that grazed Badger ’ s ear.
    Badger grabbed his ear as Max screamed, “ Crimson! ”
    “ That was a warning. I didn ’ t come here looking for a fight. I didn ’ t come here looking for a war. I came here to show Max some answers. I believe we have all we came for. Let us go or your brave and fearless leader Badger here will catch a double tap to the head. After that, I don ’ t give a damn if you stomp me into the floor. At least I ’ ll die happy! ” Crimson ranted out.
    He r eyes were crazy as ever and now she had a wide grin on her face. Badger could see it and if he didn ’ t know any better, he would think that she was about to bite out his throat with her elongated feline-looking eye teeth.
    Badger raised his hand and signaled for the crowd to do nothing. His other hand still pressed tightly to his bleeding ear. He didn ’ t savor the idea of losing this fight, but he didn ’ t savor the idea of losing his life either.
    “ Let them go, ” he said sternly.
    “ Oh , how kind of you, sweetheart, ” Crimson said with a chuckle as she made her way across the warehouse, up the few steps, and stood between Zarfa and Max.
    Zarfa was on her left; Max was to the right. Both were shocked at what was going on. Zarfa hadn ’ t planned for this to happen, neither had Max. Max was relieved they would all be leaving in one piece. Zarfa still wanted to know more, but assumed it would be better for him to come back after he finished the injections rather than press the issue tonight. Crimson knew she shouldn ’ t press the issue and spark an outright war with the Psykers this evening, but her fingers were