2.09 - Negotiations
I could do it, raid the casino. Take out the leaders and disappear into the night. Probably wouldn’t go as smoothly as a movie, but I could do it. Yet everyone and everything around me seems to be yelling for me to not go through with that idea. Still, I need to do something. At least that’s what I kept thinking. Then I came to the conclusion that the casino is just a crutch. It’s something I can lean on instead of taking care of the actual issues that I’m facing. I need to put an end to this marines thing. Even if it involves me going to do time for desertion or whatever. I’m never going to be able to move on with my life the way that I want to if I’m stuck here mentally avoiding it. I just need to let the Casino go and move on.
That doesn’t mean I can’t make the casino someone else’s problem. I’ve worked with Creed enough that I can manipulate him. He’s not as smart as he thinks he is. I’m also not above throwing myself at his feet as a sacrifice for this community to have something better.
Creed answers right away when I make the call, and soon his smiling face is on my wrist comp. “I knew you’d be calling back.”
“Yeah, absence makes the heart grow fonder, what else can I say?”
“Don’t try to sweet talk me Gray, I know you’re a free agent, but I know what team I play for,” Creed laughs and I fake a laugh trying to stay on his good side.
“I’m not trying to sweet talk you. Just wanted to ask what happened to you after the mission on Xhosha.”
“Ah,” Creed pauses. “In short, nothing came from that mission for me. I walked out unscathed, at least as much as you can be. I dislocated my shoulder at some point, but who hasn’t done that in our line of work.”
“Well, I only have to worry about dislocating one shoulder now,” I joke.
“I heard about your arm. I’m sure you got the best prosthetic that money could buy.”
“No, they actually gave me the cheapest option available, only thing they’ll pay for. Haven’t gotten around to looking at the high end stuff.”
“Well that sucks, but I’m sure you didn’t call to catch up.”
“You’re right I just wanted you to understand why I ran. I wasn’t scared, but I was a new person. I can’t ever be the person I was before. I had to learn to use a new arm, but I had to adjust to the fact that I had been through something traumatic and that was hard. I always planned to come back, but I just needed time. I had a new view on life, and going from planet to planet for murder murder and kill kill, just wasn’t working for me. I couldn’t be just a weapon anymore.”
“But you’re calling me, so you want to be a weapon again,” there it is. Creed’s trademark arrogance. “Everyone can use a secret weapon that others don’t expect. It’s a nice offer. But unfortunately, I just don’t think you have it anymore,” this is Creed’s way of playing on people’s emotions. He wants me to get upset.
“I have it, I’m just not running into burning buildings without asking questions and without getting something in return now.”
“Okay, I get the game, what do you want?”
“There’s a casino where I am,” I know he’s already tracking my location, but I’ll play like I don’t know. “It’s being run by a pretty organized gang. I need you to send some guys and make some arrests. Special prosecutor can’t be from here. They’re getting paid for silence. So this takedown needs to be off the books.”
“Sounds like you’re in a real jam,” Creed responds sarcastically. “I don’t see how that helps me.”
“You get what you want,” I argue.
“What is it that I want?”
“Me,” I pause. “You know I’m the best soldier you’ve ever seen and you’re probably struggling without my efficiency. I’m willing to come back and do what needs to be done. Just as long as you take care of this casino thing for me.”
“You’re really confident in your skills for someone who got an arm blown off and ran away from his service. I was joking earlier, but now I’m serious. You might not have it in you anymore.”
“I got it.”
“Then I need you to show me something before I take action.”
“Oh,” I pause. “You want me to take care of an issue for you so you can renege on our deal. I told you, I’m not the same guy anymore and I’m not going to fall for that anymore.”
“People can pretend but can never really change who they are.”
“Maybe we just go through things to really reveal who we are.”
“I’ll think it over and be in contact.”
“Thanks.”
“One more thing,” Creed gives me a stern look. “I liked you better when you didn’t talk and just did what you were told. Since you’re a new person, let me give you some new advice. Everyone doesn’t like being backed into a corner.”
Creed hangs up the phone before I get the chance to respond, and I can’t help but feel as if I just made a deal with the devil. I may get what I asked for, but I’m going to get more than I bargained for in return. I still feel somewhat confident after that conversation. I was never afraid of Creed, and I argued with him frequently, but there was always a limit. A limit that came from my years of service telling me not to question orders from a higher up. That limit is gone now, and even if I re-enlist, it’s not coming back. I’m my own man now, and nobody can take that from me. Not Creed, not the government, and not even threats of death if it comes to that.
If you're interested in history, I just released a video about the Black Panther Party.
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