Raven thumped his combat boots up on the table, using them to lean his chair back so that only two legs remained on the floor. He took a few puffs as he watched his friend 'talk', then responded by the use of his three free hands.

"I was in between jobs, and found myself on a station with a pouch full of creds, looking to see what trouble I could get into. It was that big one, you know the one out there by Earth? Well, before I could spend a single chip, all hell broke loose. Marauders hit the place hard, and by that I mean they rammed their ship right into the place. If that wasn't enough, some giant thing showed up, I guess it was a ship of some kind but I didn't stick around to find out for sure as it started attacking the station too. Stuff was blowing up, crashing down, catching on fire. I made a run for my ship, but it was on the lower docks and I figured with the way the whole place was going down, I would never make it. So, like the rest of the lemmings, I ran for the first ship I could see. Weird think is, I never boarded one. I know it sounds crazy, but I was on the station, then I was in a hold with a bunch of others without ever entering one. Anyway, someone made a call for a pilot, and I offered my services. I was put in front of some trippy controls, and I flew us away from the station, or what was left of it. I'm not sure about the next part exactly, but somehow we made it from there to Mars in about five hours.

"I was all for going my merry way, but one of this group I'm with now contacted me, and talked me into joining them. This was just today, so if you're here to smoke one of them, it won't break my heart as I hardly know any of them.

"From my side of the scope, huh? I'll give you a breakdown.

"To start with, one of the group is MIA. We went to his quarters to meet him, and he was just gone. All his stuff was there, armor, weapon, all that, but not him. There were some weird symbols on the walls though, my guess is he stepped into the Spirit Realm and didn't find his way back yet. Can't tell you much more about him, other than the ship's computer said your message was meant for him, so you might have more dirt on him than I do.

"Speaking of armor and such, we have a girl who just joined us today, I think she said her name was Devalanna or something like that. Plate mail, and a big sword strapped to her back. Talks like she's from some old time story about knights and stuff. Said she was from an island on a moon, I think. Pretty backwoods if you ask me, she didn't even know what a standard comm unit was or how to use it. She thought I was some summoned beast when she first saw me. The others mostly took her in sight unseen, not sure I would have been so eager to let a stranger in, but I'm not calling  this rodeo so in she is I guess.

"Next, we have Doctor Tentacle, or at least that's what I call him. I think I heard his name is Peter, from his claims and those of another he really is a doctor. Fine by me, every team needs a medic. But he's not normal, he's got tentacles that come out of his body. I know it sounds crazy, but he showed me. He can even have them dissolve something, and make it appear again elsewhere. He's a shy type, mousey, looks harmless, but I'd watch out for those things he's got if I were you. Also, he's been talking to another team member about training, and there might be a side to him I haven't seen yet.

"Then we have Solan, a cyborg. I'll tell you right now I don't like the way he handles business. Way too quick to reach for his gun, gives up the element of surprise, I saw his reaction when the new girl showed up, and he did several things wrong in my book, out of which if any of my guys did just one of them he'd be on KP for a month for being an idiot. When I pointed them out to him, he simply told me I was in charge of nothing instead of listening to an older generation that could have helped him be better at what he was doing. I called him out to a little one on one with fists, and he wanted to make it a death match. Never got anywhere though, someone snuffed it out before it got started. Still, he's a merc, and you know how much I hate mercs. I saved his life twice, and he said after he pays me back he'll deal with a matter of honor. Can you believe him? Please, all a merc. knows is a matter of creds...

"Next, there's the monk. Typical monk other than he likes bending his elbow, if you know what I mean. Big drinker, that one. He's the one who talked me into joining this ragtag band. Seems there's a man out there looking for something, and the more of it he gets, the stronger he becomes. Only he or I can get these things, and I won't say out and out he's evil, but the good brother thinks a drunk, disgraced druggie jar head is a better choice than the alternative. I can't say the monk's name to save my hind end, maybe all this splicing affected my tongue. Anyway, he said his name is Flowing Water in some language, so I just call him FW and he seems cool with that. He claims he promotes peace, but he sure seemed commanding when he stopped me and Solan from going at it. He's also the one in charge right now, though he says he doesn't make anyone follow him. He's got a mission lined up right now and he paid me credits, so I just call him boss. When I explained my reasons, he was cool with that and even Solan agreed with me.

"Finally, there's Luci. She's the AI of the ship we ended up on, and the Monk treats her like a living person.

"So, that's them. Who are you after?"

This took so long to say that the old man finished his cigarette. He dropped it into the neck of his now empty bottle, got a fresh cancer stick out and lit it, while motioning to the barman for a fresh drink.

Ix was intensely focused on Raven's "speech". He wasn't nearly as fluent in the man's ancient military sign as Raven himself was, but being that it was Raven who taught him in the first place it wasn't hard for him to decipher the context of what he had to say.

The story of how the crusty smuggler came across the current group was nothing less than fascinating. He knew Raven always shot straight with him, so Ix took into consideration that the man's recollection was as spot on as well as he perceived it. Ix was glad as well that the veteran was relatively new to the group, since his work may very well come to making any one of them embrace the Good Death.

The splicer's summary had the thoroughness that Ix had come to appreciate. The missing contact was somewhat of a concern, yet not enough to stir any significant worry. Ix wanted little to do with the Yellow realm, and the man's disappearance beyond its veil reconfirmed his sentiments.

Of the criminal, Ix's taut lips puckered in a moment of clarity. He and Raven both shared the same view of mercenaries, so the man's obviously strong feelings would resound loudly in the spirit of the hitman. Ix's initial impression of this Solan character was only strengthened by Raven's personal experience. I. HATE. babysitting.

The other actors in play were as mismatched as he guessed. An old world woman, a sentient ship, a medic monstrosity, and a meek monk were not his first idea of a Senex sponsored group. If Raven was convinced to join them, then they must certainly be a special, "special" group.

Unlike the old vet, Ix still took his time with the precious nicotine, signaling subtly to the tender that their drinks needed renewing. Once their fresh bottles were brought out to them, he took a final loving drag before disposing of the cigarette butt. Only then did he pick up to fill in his friend on his mission.

"It seems the Good Death is to be delivered to a ship. One known as Vivo. Yet from footage I've seen of these "Sins", my skills will apparently be put to test against them." He consciously paused to squint his sharp eyes at his friend. Now that he communicated his mission, it seemed crazier than before.

"There are other facets that I will not divulge further into...for your sake..." Ix trusted Raven with more information than he should, but certain aspects of his work crossed directly with his friend's, and for the sake of keeping his friend uncompromised, he knew not to tell him particular information directly. Now indirectly was another story.

"Since it seems we'll be working together, I could use your skills. But we will speak of such things later. What is our next move?" He sipped on his drink and gently leaned forward. He was rather relaxed, and unlike many in his field, her knew how to unwind. Just a little...

Then the thought jumped to mind, and the killer instantly tightened his back, setting his drink down neatly before slightly emphasizing with his hands. "Did you say fucking marauders? A ship full?? What the fuck were they doing?"

Raven took a slug of his drink and a fresh puff, meanwhile responding with his other two free hands.

"I'll answer the last questions first. Yes, I said marauders, and a ship full of them at that. They just poured out and started attacking, though one of them turned into a dragon and that's not shit you see everyday. If I had to guess, I would say they were there to steal something. I had heard there was going to be an auction of something on the station, a rare sample or some shit like that. I played with the idea of picking it up myself and selling it to the highest bidder, but security was extra tight plus a lot of big rollers were interested and they brought their own guys too. If I'd tried for it, I would have been ventilated before I took five steps. Plus, the rarer something is the hotter it is as stolen goods and the longer you have to wait to move it. I didn't want to be stuck with the thing for months or a year or more before I could get a payoff. Just off the top of my head, the marauders were there for it too, and charged the station.

"As for what we do now, there's a few possibilities. For one, the monk has a meet and greet set up for Ares, the God of War. No, I'm not shitting you. Supposed to be some kind of trails before we can see Him though. Also, Solan has a bee in his bonnet to go to some location known only to him for who knows what. You might get a chance to tag along with him, if you like but since you feel the same about mercs as I do and you hate babysitting, maybe that one isn't for you. Then Luci wants to go back to the old station for some reason or another, you might get passage on her and see what happened when the bad guys and massive mystery ship got done with it.

"But I think the first thing we ought to do is introduce you to FW. He seems somewhat in the know of what's going on, and like I said he's in charge for now. He's an easy guy to get along with, but be careful not to upset him. He showed me what he can do if need be, and it was impressive."

Ix frowned as Raven recounted his encounter. Dragon-shifting space pirate marauders did not seem appealing by any standard. The situation sounded as though a great deal of Talent was worked, and he couldn't imagine the effects of the backlash. And they were all raiding the station for the...

The Talos core sample was no secret, but its knowledge was not common. Simply knowing Raven was aware of its existence and worth made it harder for the young hitman to determine whether or not to involve his long time partner in his objective. I should first contact Senex in enlisting his aid. Ix knew the old soldier was more than capable of handling a bit of pressure, but the Talos core sample more than guaranteed a fair share of calamity to all who sought its potential.

A meeting...with the God of War.

The things Raven spoke of increased in oddity, and Ix felt a slight chill of unwarranted excitement flash through his body. The things he heard sounded absolutely amazing, a once in a lifetime chance opportunity to experience things unheard or unseen. Of course, while his feelings were flared to the idea of adventure, his features remained tight as leather and hard as iron. He had long practiced to keep a tight reign on his emotions, and even with Raven he maintained something of his cool bearing.

The flames of adventure were quickly extinguished at the mention of the criminal. Granted, the sad part was that he may have to go with the man. The splicer knew him well enough to know he hated escort roles. Unfortunately his mission was to contain Solan, and if Solan attempted to escape he didn't want to chase him everywhere just to kill him.

Perhaps riding back with "Luci" would lead to some useful information, but he couldn't yet accept the idea of riding about on a ship that was classified as "alive".

Raven's final suggestion was met with a mental sigh of relief. He didn't care to make anymore friends, but it was always easy to work with someone who had manners.  And if Raven - the four-armed feathered freak himself - claimed that the monk impressed him, then he must be an interesting individual. Is it a requirement for those fancy monk types to obtain the goofy-est name possible?

"We'll meet him," Ix stated rather plainly with his hands. He took a swig between "words" before continuing. "But what convinced you to join them? Simply the money? You could probably be doing safer work now. And where's that damn metal bird?" Something in the bird's very presence would being out thoughts of violence in Ix that even he didn't think he was capable of. There was more than one time where he wanted nothing better than to blow the pain-in-the-ass top pieces.

"We'll meet him,"

To this the old Splicer gave a simple nod to this.

"But what convinced you to join them? Simply the money? You could probably be doing safer work now."

The jarhead had to laugh at this.

"The money? Hell no. I could make just as much in a couple months in my trade. No, I'm not in this for creds, though they are nice to have. Let me see if I can explain this. Well, first off, I had a really trippy dream. I've done pretty much every drug out there, and I never had it hit me like this. I'll spare you the gory details, but after I woke up from it, the monk I mentioned contacted me. Seems he'd seen my dream, somehow. Called it a seeking I think, some sort of fucked up vision quest is the best I got to call it. So I met with the guy like he wanted, he let me call the time and place, and he came unarmed though I learned later that doesn't stop this guy if he's got to fight. Anyway, there's a dude out there who's got something I need, and I've got something he needs. Only thing is, you can't take it and leave the other alive. So Kung Fu offered to help me, so I could get it and other pieces too. He showed me he can jump on nothing but air, shoot a rock into a wall, then punch the wall to dust to get the stone back. I figured having a guy like that on my side would be a good start. Then there's Solan, as much as I hate to admit it. I saved him on the station when a building fell on him, I dug him out. Then, I flew him to safety on the ship I ended up on, and though I don't trust a merc. as far as I could throw this planet, having an armed tank owe you a couple isn't a bad way to be in. And for what it's worth he said he'd repay the debts. The doc will probably pee himself in a fire fight, but he showed he his store room and he's got a lot of medical looking crap so I guess he's the real deal. Guess I'll find out if these trails don't go so hot, huh? The girl I just met, don't know about her yet. Between you and me, I think the others were a bit fast to let her join, after we had all this weird shit happen to us, then a strange chick shows up, and all the others are for it. Oh well, not my show.

"So, the brief answer is someone's gunning for me, and he and I are in a race. I don't know anything more about him other than he's bad news and wants me dead, so I figure hooking up with a kung fu master, a tank, and a honest to goodness doctor would help me even the odds a little, whatever they happen to be. Plus, these guys might let me fly that really cool ship again."

"And where's that damn metal bird?"

"Oh, Tink? Last I saw him he was on the ship. He kept looking at Solan and saying 'shiny' over and over again.

"I can arrange for you to meet FW, he wanted me to brief him on this meeting anyway. Anything special I should tell him?"

With four hands, Raven could cover a lot in a little amount of time.

(you free to control tink when I'm not)

Ix's thin, strong forearms nestled neatly atop the bar's edge as he cradled his beer bottle between his hands. He "listened" intently to Raven's recollection with a focus just short of interrogation. He'd always known his friend was Talented, and he was sure by now his friend knew of his own gifts in kind though they never discussed such items. While sober.

Yet this idea of connected dreams seemed almost too far fetched to believe. If I were to deny this as possible, then would I deny everything I know? The weaves of Fate were fickle figures and formulas: the outcome was quantifiable, but never exact. For Ix, to completely deny any one experience would be damnation for all he believed in. His own Talent often proved that impossiblility was too impossible of a factor to exist.

So with great care he dissected what his friend had to say, and chewed over its consistency with a sharp-toothed mind. For something like this to drive Raven to tag along with no promise of wealth or women was a perplexity. That is, until his thoughts caught the taste of an overwhelming flavor.

Did he not say it was a race? Ix pondered the veteran's choice in wording, but refrained from asking what the prize would be for being first. He wasn't sure if he cared to know, or even if Raven knew what it was himself. What he did know was second place meant death, and that was the last thing Ix could allow unless the Good Death bade it so.

"Whoever this guy is, I won't let him beat you to the punch." The assassin grinned ever so lightly as he emphasized the last word by slamming his first into an open hand. It was an unusual emotional reaction for the rogue, and Raven would understand it as a promise. He added as an afterthought, "It's hard to find men of your profession...and caliber...on these worlds..."

Once again he smoothly signaled to the tender for fresh drinks as he finished his own."Drinks are on me as long as we care, and you can tell your monk what you want of me. I know you will be discreet. As far as he knows, I'm just an agent of Senex, and not an agent of Fate." A soft huff escaped his sunburnt lips as the commoner's question faded into mind: was there more to an assassin than taking the lives of others?

]

Raven opened his fresh drink, and smiled at his friend. With his free hands he again signed.

"Glad to have you on board, I could use a trusted friend at my back. As for what I tell the monk, I have no problems being discreet, but you really haven't given me much to go on. You're doing work for something called senex, I get that. But I've known you for a while, and there's one kind of job you specialize in. I asked this before, but I'll do it again; who are you after? Who's the target this time? Is it someone in the group, or do you need the skills of one of them to get to the target?"

Ix frowned at Raven's inquiry, then shook his head gently as he gracefully grabbed at his fresh drink. After a rather long pull, he answered his friend in slow and emphasized gestures.

"I know it may seem strange, but as I said before, I'm to...dispose of...a ship. One known as the Vivo." He stared hard into his friend's face before he shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine as to why they sent me for the job. I didn't expect this scenario myself. I guess it is flattering that they trust me with such sabotage." An empty snicker escaped his mouth as he shook his head once again in memory of his briefing.

"Those things, the 'sins' as they're called? I'm guessing I'm to eventually face one of those as we-" His hands hesitated as a thought struck him, then he peered interrogatively into his companion's eyes. "Have you seen these 'sins' yet? The fucker I saw on video was bending HARDENED PRIMIUM ALLOY! Never seen any shit like that before." As the drinking and company wore on Ix's imperturbability, Raven would easily recognise Ix's inner friendly demeanor that he kept so sacred.

"And...that sample? Let me just say someone wants it wrapped up nice and neat in some gift-wrapping paper, and presented to them on whatever day is of earliest convenience." Inwardly Ix grimaced, afraid that he'd revealed too much already. He considered Raven a friend, and the only real one he truly bothered to make, but trust was always hard. He was sure there were deeper things that connected them besides their professions and their drug-fueled adventures.

Raven blinked, then laughed at himself as he replied.

"You did say that before, didn't you. Guess decades of drinking whoring and drugs plays hell with your short term memory. Well, you have a choice to make. I can take you to the ship we were using, it was going to go back to the wreck of the station for some reason or another. That's the first and last place I saw that weird ship, maybe you could pick up some sort of trail there. Otherwise, I can call FW and sweet talk you into coming to visit ares with us."

Ix finished his drink a little faster than he should have while he silently chuckled at Raven's response. As he listened to his options he used one hand to twirl his empty bottle around his wrist. His other hand was used to signal for a glass of water.

With the bottle still spinning around through the air, he drummed on the bar top with his free fingers as he pondered his choices. Once his water arrived he took a sip and slid the bottle to the tender to dispose of it.

"I'm guessing the next option, in terms of priorities, would be to speak to this FW of yours..." Another sip, another short drumming of fingers. "If the ship hasn't left by then, I will board it and search for clues. Otherwise, why would any of you desire to meet a god? Of war, at that. Why not a god of hedonism?"

Ix had a sneaking suspicion that he would soon become intimately entangled with these divine dealings. He wasn't altogether pleased with the idea.

The big man shrugged.

"I can't speak for most of the others. The Monk is doing it as part of some deal or promise he made to something or someone, me I'm doing it because it's the God of War, and I'm a warrior no matter whatever else I might have become over the years. It's like being in the minor leagues and getting a chance to meet Babe Ruthe, if you get that dated reference. If not, imagine being a pilot and being able to fly the hottest new ship out there fresh off the line.

"I'll contact FW on your behalf, but before I do I need to do some shopping. Want to come with?"

Ix did not understand the reference, but he understood the context of what the vet meant. "In that case, I hope it goes well. For all of our sakes."

The hitman drained his water just as Raven mentioned shopping. He nodded his head in agreement and whipped out a chip to pay for the drinks. Once the payment was settled with a generous tip, it took only a matter of seconds for him to gather his things. I have got a few things I may need to grab myself. Sadly, an additional thought popped into his head. Including that Solan figure.

"Would you mind giving the criminal my comm? I'll need to meet him sooner or later..."

Ix gets a message on his com. "Oh good, I got a hold of you, hey one of your 'assets' has been calling in trying to requester ah ship to go to his... get this.. 'secret bunker'... I understand a jughead can be useful some times, but please get this idiot off our case." Ix gets a transcript of a few messages from Solan, who seams quite desperate to make a quick short trip.  From the looks of things his 'secret bunker' must be on one of Mar's moons or in/near this side of the nebula. Considering the changing time table, probably on a nebula asteroid.... rather common place to hide things.

Raven blinked, confusion on his face.

"Criminal? You mean FW? I think he said he was wanted or some such. You want to call him yourself?"

The old splicer did not yet know that his friend was talking about the cyborg.

Ix tilted his head, wondering why he would reference the monk. "No I mean the cri-"

Eyebrows lifted in epiphany, followed by s mischievous smile. "Your Solan acquaintance has interesting...incriminating...roots with my employers," he gestures as he holds a finger up to indicate he needed a moment. He checked his comm to listen in on the incoming message. This time only one eyebrow raised as the amusing transcripts played out.

"Wouldn't you know, the same convict is asking to check out some - and I quote - secret bunker of his. Perhaps where he's from criminals can freely travel where they will." He types back a message with rapid firing fingers. "And no, I would prefer you contact the monk."

Raven held up a hand, a smile playing upon his face.

"Wait wait wait. You have dirt on this Solan guy, and you didn't share? You're holding back on me old friend. And after the way he acted in front of our latest recruit, it doesn't surprise me in the least that he's broadcasting that he has a secret place somewhere. Just be glad he didn't install a neon sign, or takes tours through there."

A childish grin threatened the corners of the killer's mouth, but his face remained composed. "Well, you certainly ARE the new guy."

"As far as I know, this Solan was charged with several counts of assault, attempted murder, evasion and obstruction of the law, and some other good quality stuff involving stone contracted job gone to shit. Instead of incarcerating him, they have him under contract to work off his debt. Yours truly is now the handler for this dog of war, though I'll have no qualms about putting this dog down if it runs off..."

Ix shook his head when he considered his "demoted" position. "I'm thinking of requisitioning a fucking shock collar from all I'm hearing about this guy..."

Raven blinked, then scoffed.

"Dog of war? You pay him way too high a compliment. From the slip shod way I saw him handle himself, he's not even a puppy of discontent. With his attitude and eagerness to use his gun, the fact he's got a record doesn't in the least surprise me. If you want my suggestion, get an emp gernade. Nothing I've seen of the others would be affected, but it would shut robo-jerk down in a second, and kill that gun he loves so much I'd bet."

Soundlessly, the agent of Fate laughed, slapping lightly at his knee to punctuate his amusement. "Well, even puppies have their place in the Great Wheel. And I'll actually look into that grenade..."

"Let's be on our way though. I may have to meet the criminal in person. Plus, if I meet your monk soon enough after shopping, I'll be able to see about finding some clues with your sentient ship."

I've just landed, and I'm already a busy body. Ix was glad he had the drinks in him early, since he was feeling very much relaxed in the face of several tasks. Later he was sure he wouldn't have nearly as much luxury. Even Senex's own needed a respite now and then.

Ix's comm signals the incoming message. He nonchalantly typed his message out, once again shaking his head.


Calloused fingers rubbed at the hitman's temple. He felt the tinge of "killer's rage" warm his blood. "This criminal is not starting off on the right foot with me."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 00:59, Wed 25 Sept 2013.

Raven couldn't help himself; he laughed.

"I don't think he has a right foot installed. what's up?"

Ix shrugged and indicated his comm unit. "Our convict is very much interested in getting to his base of operations indiscreetly. He's starting to sound very much like a terrorist." The idea didn't seem to bother Ix in the least. Our perhaps it didn't surprise him. "He's very persistent...not that I've given him any leeway. Of course."

Raven slapped his old friend on the shoulder and smirked.

"Well, all I got to say about it is better you than me. Come on if you need to buy some things I found a good military surplus shop we can use."