Hello Stranga': Malefactor Quest

[Retane]

" I'm telling you, I didn't like the way they looked at me", Arith stated as the two exited the space cab. "I mean who wears white armor that bulky where you can't see their face?"

Retane and Arith had both just entered through the Gate that allowed them passage to the verse called Coruscant and it had been interesting to say the least. Still the Namekian was on edge, because the men that the Dragon Warrior mentioned actually stopped and questioned them. Then, realizing he was, what they call a Prime, let him in without any other questions and apologized. But even he had seen them calling something in.

From there they took a hovering car to their destination. The driver didn't say anything, and Retane had whispered that he had wanted Arith to remain silent. The men from the gate had glanced at Arith, and almost ignored him with what may have been passing glance. Arith, had actually closed his own visor as soon as he saw them. Retane wished he had something to hide his own face, but also wondered if that would have been deemed as hostile. He knew he had to stack out as one of his own kind here most likely, but if he saw others that looked like him, then he would find out that Enroshia was actually lying to him.

" You wear armor, and hid your face as well", The Namek stated as he looked at everyone that scattered about. Retane had been given a brief description of the 'verse' from one of the Storm Troopers. That was what they said they were called. He also got a bit more information about the Omniverse, which he still wasn't sure he believed. Still, for now he had to go with the flow.

"I wear the armor made from a golden dragon's scales that he offered my village. I have all rights to respect my people. Plus I don't trust them, and they wear fake white armor." Arith still wore his helm with his visor down.

Retane couldn't help but admire the man. He cared little and seemed like he was a true warrior, even with his unique personality. He already guessed that keeping him around was taxing his own energy, but having an ally near him while he started exploring an area he didn't know seemed more intelligent. even if he had to handle his weird antics.

"Well you seem to have put a focus on us. We are suppose to get stronger. Not get killed right away." Retane had been glancing around and noticed Storm Troopers patrolling the area. He also noticed a few cameras moving in slow rotation over and over again. "Maybe this was a bad way to start off? How am I suppose to be a mercenary with my face on these cameras? Sure, I can make you leave, but I seem to be one of a kind here. They seem to keep track of Primes. Or try to. So how?"

Arith paused for a moment and Retane seemed to realize it after a few moments and looked back. The golden warrior was starting to remove his helm. "Don't. I don't need you to do that."

"What? You dont wan't me to take this off? Do you think I am ugly? is that it, 'Nova'?" The Golden Warrior cocked his head.

"No. I dont want these cameras seeing your face. I don't trust this place too much and I think we should turn back." Retane answered. This place was just to much for him to handle. Luckily he had given the Troopers the name 'Nova' and Arith had almost said something then but one of the soldiers had made a few movements and it had distracted him.

"Why not?" The Lythian seemed oblivious when he asked.

"Hello Stranga'", a hooded figure called out, almost in a whisper, though he had a strange accent.

Retane turned his head and looked at the fellow he assumed called to him, if was even the Namek that he had called out to. The figure was tall in a dark colored robe. The warrior couldn't even tell if it was blue, black or even purple. Every second, it seemed to change colors so he couldnt decide.

The cloak ran down to his feet. He wore a purple bandanna over his face, just to the top bridge of his nose. On it, were shimmering symbols that glowed on and off at random intervals. On the back of this stranger was a huge pack, a sleeping pack tied on top.

All Retane could do was stop and turn to him and look onward. He stood out, yet people passed him by not giving him a glance. The Namek found this a bit peculiar, and slowly approached, his peripherals looking about to see if anyone was paying attention to him.

Arith approached as well staying silent almost as if observing the situation that was happening, perhaps even judging the masked figure. Still he remained silent.

"What can I sell you today stranga'?" The hooded figure opened up the sides of his cloak to reveal weapons and other battlement items on one side, and the other, he had brochures,maps and a few other trinkets just sitting there.

Retane had to take a few moments and analyze the situation. He saw the picture of a belt that looked like a mercenary could use, as well as a picture of a human looking stronger then he should be and punching someone stronger. He also noticed a few buildings, though he saw one that seemed to camouflage itself in any environment.

"Just touch what you would stranga', and it can be yours."

Retane eyed the rogue for a few moments and touched the three he had his eyes on. He was hell bent on getting stronger, and it seemed even if he died, he would come back to the place of start. Still this was odd, but he decided it couldn't hurt to much.

The strange figure pulled something from his pocket, and it flashed in his eyes. Retane blinked and looked around. The merchant he had just seen, was no longer ter and no one even seemed to notice. Was e imagining things?

Retane looked back and started to say something to his Lythian comrade until a wind picked up and a paper flew straight into his face. The Namek snatched at the paper and moved to throw it away, but paused as he saw a glare and saw that it showed a picture of the stranger and the headline read, "Suspect believed to have access to getting stronger... for a risk"

Retane looked at the rest and there were exact instructions for where to go to get to his level. The Namek looked again back at Arith who just stood there and didn't know what was going on. When the Namek looked back at the paper there was nothing but a a blank sheet. All he could do was blink for a few moments and try ti figure out if he was being tricked or something, but still he kept moving.

He found an elevator which is the one he was instructed to go to but as he reached there, it wound up being filled, and The Horsemen couldn't do anything but wait.

He glanced around quite a bit, each time, Arith was doing something different, either helping and elder with their bags, pointing a younger fellow two different ways, laying down in the middle of the walk way imitating sleep. Retane could only tell himself that the Lythian was at least amusing.

The elevator dinged finally, and as the doors swung open, those waiting on it started piling in. Retane managed to get one of the last spots while they shoved themselves into the cabin. He turned himself to face outward like the others had and looked for Arith before the doors closed. He was no where to be seen. The Namek figured he had dispersed into the shadow mist and would return once called upon again. Still it annoyed him that he would do that in the cameras.

"I'm not trying to be mean or anything, but if you ate beans lately, I suggest you hold all that deep with... Cus if you break beans with me, I'm going to make sure you never do it again."

Retane glanced back at the words, already knowing the voice , and the image of him looking up at a blob of a man could really only make the Namek ask himself two things. 'Where did the big guy come from? And how did Arith get back there?'

The Namek could only hope that the over sized being didn't 'pass beans' and cause Arith to have to attempt to kill him. It would cause to many issues he assumed.

As the ding sounded and the doors opened up and most of the occupants started piling out, The Namek pretty much dashed into the next elevator. It had alot less people. and as turned around, to see Arith dash in beside him he had to ask, " Was that really needed?"

The Golden Warrior shifted his body towards the Namek and paused for a few moments. He straightened up soon after, "Oh the over sized Gremlin? I think he was to fat to even live. But I was actually talking to you. do you see how crowded it was in there?"

[Retane]

The duo exited the second elevator and walked onto the Third Tier floor. At least the last elevator ride had been less eventful. It was actually pretty quiet except for when a random individual caught the frown of of Retane as he was glancing at the 'eyes in the sky', as the stranger had murmured to him. Now The Horsemen had to wait on the next elevator and Retane couldn't help but notice that even still that even less people waiting for it.

He glanced around and realized that here on this section, there was more poverty and things were less glorious. It wasn't really less crowded, but things were alot less brilliant. There were even a lot less cameras it seemed. Still, though, Retnae didn't seem comfortable even here. He glanced at Arith, who was practically staring at a small group of geings, that barely reached his knees. One looked like a grumpy old man with a frown on his face, another was caring a box that was labeled with 'Boones Farm', and his gut stuck out under his green shirt, he seemed to sway a bit with a ball cap not on straight that read, 'I heart beer'. There was also a skeleton with bandages around his head and what seemed to be an explosive in his hand. The boned figure looked around anxiously.

Still there were three more of the shortlings; A brown figure with a green brimmed hat and a purple suit; A purple mohekian with white fur and a torn shoe; And a green vegetable with a sombrero on a stick.

The brown one was explaining to the Grumpier one that, 'someone didn't want his son involved, and Super D was in his pants.' Still, the warrior had to be interested in them as well as he glanced around and realized he was about to be the only one, along with Arith, to get on the elevator with the group and Retane wasn't sure how smart that was. Arith however, bent down and started whispering to the purple and white one.

Arith and the stranger broke up their huddle as soon as the elevator door slid open. The Namek paused as the others including Arith stepped into the elevator. He wasn't sure it was safe, but still, the Lythian was doing it, yet he was weird anyways. He wasn't sure what would happen next. But still he took a step through the portal.

As the doors closed, The Horsmen couldn't help but manage to glance around. As he did, he heard the green vegetable speak up, "Con los terroristas"

As he did the brown one was started to hum a loud, 'do do do, do do do' in an interesting rhythm and all of them, even Arith started bopping their heads and swaying their heads to the beat.

"Ey Shake", The white and purple stranger announced

"Ey Shake", The skeletal figure added a few seconds letter looking around still.

"Ey, Ey, Ey, Ey", the Grumpy looking man

"Shake, Ta -Ta's", The beer bellied one shouted off key.

And then, Ariith spoke up, "And do the Harlem Shake."

The Namekian's eyes went wide as the skeleton dropped the explosive from his hand and the lights flashed off for a split second. and when they came own, the brown figure with the suit had on Arith's helm and was bouncing up and down to a different beat. Arith was running around with he alcoholic glutton's hat on his face and riding the vegetable on a stick like a horse. The older gentlemen was still standing there with the green brimmed hat on.

The purple and white figure was there laughing beside the elder and the skeleton was in the middle trying to dance with his left an arm laying on the ground just swinging a finger, his left leg where his right leg should be. His other leg had been replaced with his other arm and the leg itself was swaying around, attached to his shoulder joint.

[Retane]

"No, I am not getting on another elevator with you", Retane muttered just loud enough for Arith hear. The Namekian had had enough experiences with Arith on the elevators already. Especially after the last episode. He wasn't planning on allowing the Lythian to get back on another anytime soon if he could help it. If he did, he would most likely dismiss him until a time when he was needed. Though, he appreciated the company, though he wouldn't admit it.

Arith seemed to not care, or almost oblivious to the dangers that may be present, and while it was a good guise for the moment, he wondered how long would it be helpful before it became a hinderance. It had already been surreal for Retane, and he wasn't sure what antics the Dragon Armored Warrior would find to get himself into next. Still, the Namekian wasn't sure of what would happen on another elevator, and didn't want to find out.

The Green Warrior looked back at his companion, who almost seemed off into space just slowly looking around. The good thing was that they weren't suppose to take the next elevator, however, as they were on the Fourth Tier.
Things were different here, more deprived, multiple colored lights lighted the area, and there seemed to be advertisements almost everywhere. Retane wondered if Arith was amused by all the colors actually. But the Namek kept his thoughts buried as he was on edge, there were a lot less cameras here, but instead of eyes inthe sky, there were more eyes directed in their direction. Again, Retane wondered if keeping Arith around right now was still an intelligent move.
It wasn't much longer though that they walked up on the spot where the two were suppose to meet the cloaked merchant. Retane glanced around as his target, barely visible, but standing behind a makeshift stand, reading a book. It was dim and foggy there, but it all seemed to clear as he moved nearer. It was interesting, but as of late, the Namekian wandered what would surprise him.

"Welcome Stranga'", The bandit said as he put down the book.

[Retane]

Retane looked on at the merchant for a few moments. The rogue had cool calm collected eyes as he produced a black belt, a piece of paper with writing on it attached to a small map, and lastly a small manila envelope labeled in red letters, 'Classified'.

The Namekain looked at the three objects ,for a few moments. His eyes furrowed for a few moments and he fingered the paper attached to the map. He glanced over the words for a few moments, and looked back up the merchant, "So this is located in The Tangled Green, is unoccupied and will be mine?"

"Aye, all that it takes is for your signature", The merchant nodded as he spoke.

Retane moved his hand towards the folder, "And this? This is suppose to be?"

The rogue placed his hand on it and fingered at it's edge for a few moments. "You wanted the power. This is whats remained of the pages from a document that was published in a book. A few people mentioned in these pages still live below. This is pure intelligence."

The Namekian paused for a few moments, "So you want to sell me the deeds to a base I have never seen, a supply belt, and some information is that it?"

"Not, quite. " The Vagabond paused for a few moments s his eyes twinkled a bit. "I offer you the belt now and the deed for a price, but you only make payment if you come back alive and make proof that you have acquired the power."

Retane thought it over for a few moments. Power was power. He wanted power. He desired power. The Horsemen needed someone with power to lead them. So, to lead them he needed to gain power. "I'll accept it, only if you can throw in two cloaks like yours."

"Deal", The Merchant produced two hooded cloaks and two purple bandannas, both seemingly able to fit each individual. "On the signing of this handshake you will show back here with proof that you have acquired the power and are still alive and will be assured that you have the headquarters as explained. That means you have to meet with me again and show me proof. To do that all you need to do is think about me while having one of the purple bandannas knotted about yourself."

Retane accepted the rogues hand, and felt himself drained a bit. It was the omnilium, he knew telepathically from the merchants thoguhts as he judged him openly in his head. Retane almost felt proud that the merchant had found him so skilled. In monetary evaluation. Still the Namek knew he had to get stronger.

He took a few moments to glance back at Arith who was looking at a light that was blinking and about to fail. He pocketed the second bandanna and threw the robe towards the Lythian with a ,'Here, Put this on'. The Nemakian took the belt and use a capsule to pocket the deed. He also took the time to wrap his own bandanna on his left upper arm outside of the cloak he had just thrown on.

"So if I think of you now, you'll appear?" Retane was wondering about it all.

"Aye", The merchant answered. "But I don't see me appearing past Tier 5. I only have so much protection, and It's not for me to fight. You are a warrior and I wish you the best. These documents will really help you figure things out... I hope."

Retane looked back at Arith to tell him to make sure he put the cloak on but the warrior had already done so and was looking around.

[Retane]

Retane strode down the steps with Arith close behind.The Namekian had been serious about not riding another elevator with Arith. It also gave him time to look over the documents as he went. No one seemed to take the stairs, so it was peaceful. Arith was even quiet and not complaining, though he seemed to hum a low tune every now and again underneath his mask. It was almost peaceful to Retane. Almost.

The manilla folder opened to a header, ' Project: Malefactor'. The Emerald Warrior murmured the words under his breath as he read the title. He glanced over the article taking in the words of what they had called an orgosynth. It was a synthetic organism created to enhance the powers of the soldiers in a chance of helping to defeat demons under the control of Diablo, a being that seemed to be the ruler of the underworld.

The organisms however, developed their own conscience. They had been created for power and had a thirst for destruction and blood lust. Retane wondered what the battles may have been like. Space marines against demons. Using a genetically created creature to enhance skills and fight against stronger foe. It was for survival, but even then the symbiotic beings wound up being uncontrollable. Those that wore the orgosynths, wound up being taken over and becoming psychotic. Killing their own allies.

The Namek made a turn down the creaky staircase and let out a heavy breath. This was alot of risk for reward. He wondered if it was wise? He wasn't human, but was sure that this ever evolving being would be able to conquer a Namekian after a while. How would he look starting the Horsemen and turning on them?

"So we are going to go through with this?" Arith asked, breaking their silence

The Emerald Warrior looked back at the Lythian, who was actually one step behind him. The Lythian seemed to be looking over his shoulder at the paper in his hand. "You gave your name as "Nova' when we entered the city. And you are now staring at a piece of paper that says 'Malefactor'. Your son was named Maleficus Nova. You accidentally killed a guy named Nova. Nova is Latin for 'New'. Maleficus is Latin for 'Evil'. Your son was named 'New Evil' in Latin.

"You are already linking the 'Malefactor' with Maleficus and you are thinking about how he felt as a possible outcast. You are also starting to wonder how he felt being alive, not not a true Namek. Not being just his father's son, but also a genetically enhanced bing. A kid that had to struggle and grow, but also handle all the pressure of his father's greatness. Are we really going to go searching for something for you to get genetically enhanced. Do you really want to put yourself through all that pain?"

Retane glanced back at Arith again as they kept walking. He never thought that the being had such mindfulness in him. But instead of responding he jerked his head back towards the front. The Dragon Warrior was right on so many points that it had taken the Green Warrior by surprise. "Yes. I do. If you must know I plan to seek power, recreate the Horsemen, and there's a part of me that weeps for my son. It seems I am an angry and dark individual. I have a soft side, but I am a mercenary that backs down from nothing."

"So you want to risk your life to get power?" Arith shook his head as he spoke, but Retane didn't see it. "You want to risk your life, and with that the chance of saving my friends, sending us home, and your own son for this power?"

"It seems right." Retane felt as if it was calling to him. As if it was meant to be.

The Lythian through his arms up in the air and laughed, "Then, I am with you."

The Emerald Warrior stopped and shook his head but continued. Retane didn't know what he was getting himself into. He knew that without thinking. But the Lythian was right on all points. It even amazed him that he was right. Still, it was about to be a rough road ahead of them."Thank you."

The Golden Warrior shrugged as if he had nothing else to do, but Retane felt that it meant a lot to him. Enroshia had called him his Champion. While eccentric, Retane just took him as he had. Perhaps he was intelligent.

"I am only going with this, because Enroshia said I should trust you. And this is going to get me home."

[Retane]

The hooded comrades reached the Fifth Tier. It was as if the two were traveling back in time. Towards the Dark Ages of Civilization. The Emerald Warrior took a few moments to consider his surroundings. The air definitely was not clean. Carbon run vehicles drove by the streets with comings and goings . There were a few soldiers walking about here and there, but Retane could feel that they barely had a grasp here. The urchins and vagabonds seemed to sneak easily behind their backs.

Far off in the distance the keen sight of the Namekian caught his destination. He strode onward, avoiding pumping into passerby's. Arith seemed to follow suit, however he hummed a low tune as he went. The Horsemen had tunnel vision, though he never let his periphreals be blind. He didn't trust these people. He had no reason to, he was almost on edge actually; Anxious to get this power.

They reached the building they had been destined to reach. The Horseman glanced around forth and walked through the door labeled, 'Archives of Ultan'. The green warrior looked around. Not many people were there at all, at least that he could see. Retane felt a grab from behind him and a whisper near his ear, "Shhh. We have to be quiet. It's a library."

The Namekian Warrior turned his head away from Arith and pulled back his hood. The place was enormous, bigger then what he expected. It had shelves to the ceiling, all racked with books of different sizes and colors. The place had many rows of the shelves, each one having several breaks for someone to pass through and each section having its own roll-about ladder. In the center though, looking up towards and issuing a, 'Welcome', was a man. He offered a smile at the two and Retane felt this was the man he needed to speak to.

"How may I help you good sirs' today?" And elderly man with small glasses stood behind the desk. He wore a a grey cloak and seemed happy as ever to have customers.

Retane glanced behind him to look at Arith who hadn't removed his Hood or Helm and shook his head, but turned back around, " Are you Ultan? I am looking for some information and I was told he would be the best person to speak to."

"Why, yes I am. What is it that you are looking for?", Ultan offered a bigger smile.

"There was a book, ' Space Marines: The Good, Bad, Ugly, Uglier, and Unmentionable'. It was by Geoff Haskel. I've learned that all copies even those here, were tracked down and destroyed. I understand though, I was told that you were one of the few that may actually remember anything about the book.

The elder paused and thought for a few moments. His eyes lit up thought the longer he thought. "I remember it. I read it as soon as it came in. Rex brought me it personally. Mr. Haskel had personally signed it. A shame they came and tried to take it. I told them it had been stolen. Rex never caught up to the thief.' There was a twinkle of mischief in the eye of the old man though for a few moments.

'It was a biography. Mr. Haskel wrote about his tells in service. Even things he shouldn't have. He started the book by saying people were going to get mad. He said he had been through a lot. It was actually published below us. He had done it out of spite after his brother had been taken over by a sentient being they had constructed."

"The Malefactor..." Retane murmured.

"Yes. It was called Project Malefactor. They had created these organisms to induce power and strength to combat the demons of the overlord of the imprisoned, Diablo." Ultan paused as he thought for a few more moments. " You know, not many people know it, but Mr. Haskell still lives in search of his brother."

The Green Namekian cocked his head slightly, and exhaled the words in a question, "Still lives in search of his brother?"

"Oh, Yes. I tend to keep in contact with Mr. Haskell. He has promised me another book for my own possession when he has found and released his brother from his cursed state", Ultan was beaming.

Retane took the words in carefully and took a deep breath as he chose his next words carefully, "Would you know how I could reach Mr. Haskell? Perhaps I could help him?"

The Archivist nodded his head, and wrote down a few directions from the closest staircase to get to the mans house. "When you get there, ask for 'Bubbles'. Tell him 'Popper' sent you."

The Namekian paused for a moment and shrugged, "Thank you", and started to turn around.

"What are your names strangers", Ultan called towards them.

"Arith and he is Nova." The Lythian was quick to speak but looked around hoping not to be scolded.

As they exited the doors Retane could hear the murmurs of Ultan, "Maleficus Nova: The New Evil... Now I would like to read that book."

[Retane]

Retane and Arith entered the Sixth Tier in silence. The Namekian hadn't even questioned him why he had called himself, "Nova", after having words about it before. Then again he also gave up trying to understand the individual for the most part. It just made almost no sense to him.

The Namekian and Lythian moved on, catching stares from others more often then not. The Emerald Warrior wasn't comfortable with it, but chose not to make a fuss. He did however look back at Arith, who again seemed oblivious to it all. The Masked Warrior just seemed to take it all in with mere amusement but managed to continuously look in the direction of there destination.

Their destination however, made the Namekian wonder for a few moments,if they were in the right spot. The place seemed especially rundown, and the grass was over grown to the point that they would have to cross knee deep over the suggested straight walkway. The fenced area had no gate and seemed to be rusted to the point of being seriously brittle. The adjacent homes seemed more homely compared to there destination and Retane had wo wonder if the place was even occupied.

Still, perhaps there would be some information leading him to the orgosynth in the house.

The Namekian took another glance around and waded through the grass and stepped up onto the porch. It creaked with each step. The Namekian and Lythian reached the door and still Retane felt uneasy. He wanted to find and track down this symbiote, and this was his only chance. He took a long deep breath and exaled as he reached for the door knob and twisted.

Locked.

Retane turned and looked to Arith, almost expecting a weird comment, but only got a shrug. The Namekian scanned the area. No one seemed to be looking their way anymore. It was very odd for him. He wondered if he should just kick the door in or just cut his losses. The Emerald Warrior took a few moments to take a deep breath and ehale before he made his decision, He raised his foot to make the kick...

"Who goes there?" A dark raspy voice had called from somewhere inside the domicile.

"We are here to burst your bubbles", Arith shouted in responce.

Retane swung around, looking at the Dragon Warrior, wondreing if he was stupid or just having fun. He couldn't tell through the mask. Hhowever he turned his head and shouted the correct answer in an annoyed, but calm voice, " Excuse my friend, but I was sent to speak to Mr. Bubbles by Mr. Popper."

"Oh, Well that makes a bit more sense then." There was a bit of jumbling then a soft few 'clicks'. The door slowly slid open for the two to enter. "Come on in but hurry up and close the door behind you."

The two warriors stepped inside as instructed and for some reason the Namekian removed his hood. They stood in a room that may have been the living quarters before, but had been tranformed into an all-in-one for what the man had needed.

"Ultan sent ya' did he?" The man that barked the question seemed built in stature, but sitting in a wheel chair. He was injured though he tried to hide it from behind the desk with a few computers surrounding him and guns pointing at each entry point.

Retane nodded after a few glances noticing that he had more shots aimed at him then he initially thought. "He did."

"Did you give him some sad sob story about me wanting to find and help?"

Retane heard a flip of a switch and saw lasers show that they were aimed at his and Ariths chests'.

"No. I went and asked about Project: Malefactor. He told me you were the man to talk to. He told me you owed him another book and that your brother was below possessed with it." Retane felt being straight forward was the best way with this old man.

"And what do you plan on doing if you find one of the 'orgosynths'?" Mr. Haskellhad his eyes furrowed a bit.

"What would you have me do? Because if I understand, you have given your life to tracking your brother down." Retane seemed to feel bad for the veteran.

"I'll tell you what... I will tell you a story... and if you can tell me one.... I will tell you all you need to know.... Deal?"

[Retane]

Retane looked deep into the man's eyes and knew there was a story to tell and smoething he wanted to hear.

"You want know know about Project: Malefactor.... Myself, and my brother, George, were a part of the tests. We both wore the orgosynths. We fought the demons. We killed demons. We did our job well. Each battle we activated and synced with our symbiotes. George seemed to give in more to it and often called it sick and disturbing when it came to his thoughts. I learned soon after, with my own clearance that these powers had com from the flesh of dead demons.

"So it would only make sense that we would have dark thoughts. Unlike my brother, I was higher up and didn't have to activate it much.... But..." The old man took a long sigh and tears trickled down his eyes.

Retane didn't speak. He just stood there in silence, knowing the elder wasn't finished.

"My brother... Him and his family spent the night here with my family. And he lost it.... He killed my wife... My daughter... His own Wife... His own two sons...That Orgosynth... had possessed him and the demon inside had opt to kill us all."

"You didn't die though?" Retane offered a bit confused.

"No. I activated my own and we fought in those very streets outside. Till he ripped mine off and sqaished it. Then he ran to the stairs and down... And I have met him twice... but our last combat has left me in the wheel chair."

The Emerald Warrior glanced again at the chair and nodded,"I do not remember anything. I am a Namekian. I was a God of Death. I had a son named, 'Maleficus Nova'. I am a mercenary. I seek power and my past. I'm charged with recreating an alliance called 'The Horsemen'... Me being ripped from my place has destroyed those I am supopose to care about..."

Haskell looked Retane in the eye for a moment and nodded towards Arith, " And him?"

"He's here because a friend marked me to assist me in becoming stronger... and me becoming stronger gets him and other to their home as well." Retane didn't hesitate to answer after looking the man inhis old eyes. The Namek even felt that the man would know if he lied...

"So you want the coordinates and position of my brother and the dump site of Project Malefactor?" The old man started messing around a drawer.

"If you want me to track your brother down, I can try. But, yes I would like the cordinates of the dump site. I have been told that in my past I have done somethings that were good, some that were bad. Some that saved lives and others that killed many." Retane's voice had lowered without him realizing it.

"Yeah? Oh how many Space Marines have had the same thing to say? You however, are not a Space Marine. You are a Prime.... And you seek out the Malefactor... Tell me then... Do you wan't it because of your son? Do you want it for power? Do you want it to create your Horsemen? Which is it?" Haskell had a dark booming voice, stronger then he had before, when he demanded these answers.

"Maleficus Nova.... Respawne-" Retane cut himself short as he watched Arith move forward and cast away, his hood and helm.

"Enroshia has asked me to help and assist the Gremlin. He is the guy that is going to get stronger so that we can all go home. He doesn't remember his son. It pains him that he doesn't remember. It pains him that he can't rmember his first kill, even if it was an accident. It pains him mostly though, that because he is here, and because of so that means his son never was. He was pulled here from limbo, but sent to limbo by a curse. It is beleived that if he gets stronger, he can get us home and get himself home." The Dragon Warrior pulled his two sabers out to show that he wasn't joking.

Retane could only stand there in shock and almost in annoyance at the Lythian.

"Maleficus Nova, named the 'Imperfect Namek', because of the premature accident... Became The Demon of Namek in a War... Only to watch his closest friend almost die.... He offered his body to share her soul with, until they could fix the curse. Without Retane, since connected, they both never existed."

Arith snapped his neck and gripped his blades a little tighter, "Retane killed his sparring partner. Sure, he has always been affiliated with darkness, but he saved an entire race, helped save a universe, and snapped in a dark tournament when he thought a friend was dead... and ascended to a higher power rare to his kin in hopes of protecting a friend. The tears he has shed over Tapion...."

Arith turned his gaze to the Emerald Warrior and tears streamed down his face., "I am sorry. I dont know how you ever did it, or your son did it either. "

Retane frowned and even let out a low snarl. He was confused but took every word in.

"Dark Hunter, Emerald Fiend.... Jade Fiend , Demon of Namek, Imperfect Namek.." Arith took a breath,"I hate having all this shit in my head. But you wanted it all in a fast course; Just so you could chase this.... So there it all is. Right there."

Arith looked back at the old man, " I follow him and he desires power in hopes of reclaming power and his life stolen from him. You can help him or I can help you."

The old man stared at the Lythian for a few seconds then chuckled as he looked towards Retane, "Well he seems serious, so how about this? I give you the last location and general area and a picture and you dont come back without closure? Sound good?"

[Retane]

"Malefactor... It is a word defined as a person who commits a crime or some other wrong. My brother would never have done such a thing if he hadn't been infulenced by that thing. We aren't Primes, and you are not a human, and I understand where you are coming from. But here's his picture and directions to the dump site. Just... Just bring me some closure back..."

The two, Retane and Arith, stepped off the platform onto the Seventh Tier. They hadn't spoken seince they had left, and had even inogred a little kid that had asked, "What they were doing at Old Man Skull's house."

Retane only sighed as he looked around and took in a deep breath a he stopped and glanced back, his eyes shifting so he could see the Dragon Warrior,"What else do you know that you aren't telling me?"

"Heh, I can promise you that you don't want to know. " Arith had donned his helm and hood again before they had exited the home of Goeff Haskell. He let out a long sigh that was echoed by his mask.

"Enroshia sent me evrything he knew about you telepathically before he left. Personally, since I know you are asking, I feel bad for ou. But, just so you know, I don't take life seriously. I have fun because with each battle I know I will die and do my best at it. But with you, I can't die. Its a curse within a curse I guess. I havent aged a day in quite a while. When I return to Lythia I hope I remember all of it, but I don't know how this will work. I actually feel alot weaker here. But I think I can die over and over again and while it's gonna tax you... You can bring me back. So I am almost like indestructible."

Retane listened as they moved on, towards the dumpsite and their destination. The air was very foul and being of a heritage of Nameks, he almost wanted to choke. Still, though, Arith had some points, though he was still shocked that he had been deceived like he had been, and let out another low growl.

The Lythian stopped then reached for his blades, but changed his mind and foled his arms across his chest. " Yeah you wouldn't know it but you actually make that noise a lot. Or you did. It's almost a trademark." Arith was calm and collected as he spoke. "You also are alomst always as calm as yu are right now. You are thinking and wondering and gauging if you trust me or not. It's not my fault that Enroshia transfered his thoughts into my head. Seems you were with him when he learned this ability and you gave it to him."

"If you want to know, He was made and named the Arbitrator of Heaven and Hell in the afterlife of your universe. You did a lot there for both sides. Killed and saved, but remained balance. You were never actually Evil, but you never took fun in actually killing."

Retane took in a heavy breath and gave a nod , but still let out a low snarl and even caught himself and almost wanted to laugh. It kind of verified what the Champion of Lythia was saying.

"You are like a wolf or big black cat. Youre are swift and way to intellegent for your own good. You have a fighting instict that could even challenge Enroshia. I know it hurts and it's gonna take some getting use to... But I'm not going to answer every question you want to know. I am going back to being myself... and will let you ask me a single question if you get through this alive. We both know theres a lot that you want to ask. But I'm not afraid of you. Really. There's no reason for me to be. I get to go home or I don't." Arith managed to crack his neck to show his point of not caring.

"I think I have more then a single question to ask you. But you have surprised me from the way you acted to before and then all of a sudden took charge." The Namekian could only be straight forward at the moment.

"Would you rather me lie? It seemed like you were struggling just to be honest. I felt you were struggling, so I made a choice. YOu could dissmiss me if you want, but it's fun being with you and me just being me." The Lythian could only shrug after he finished.

"I don't know much, but some where; Somewhere deep inside, in the back of my mind I beleive you. It's weird, I think I am losing it, though. It's like I really desire this. THis challenge. I am nervous, but I don't know what else to do." The Namek had stopped in the middle of walking and had turned to the Dragon Warrior.

"So you choose to tell me, someone that you aren't sure yu trust?" Arith gave a soft laugh before he straightened his voice. "So are you going to try and save George? Or straight aim to kill him?"

Retane too kthe words in for a few moments and then decided to offer a shrug, "I don't know. What is closure? Closure can be getting his brother back. Closure can be seeing him dead. It's weird."

"This is why I cry for you. This is why many people have cried for you. This is also why he openly challenged you. He wants to see what kind of person you are. He want's to see if you have 'spine and guts'. Usually I let Enroshia handle those things. But he's not here and you are the one he asked me to assist. I kill to protect.

Arith ran his head across his hooded head, "I think you can save George, but you have to remove it. Mr. Skull seemed to leave somethings out. It might kill him to remove it. He might want you to just kill him. I don't know his thoughts. But we are gonna go into this doing it however you want to. And I am here for you and only you. I know you might struggle with this, but we can do this, Gremlin."

[Retane]

The two stood at their destination. They were on the outskirts of what looked like a mixture of a prison or containment area, an old battleground, and a landfill,. The area was fenced in, with a check point for the only visible entrance point with barbed wire thrown across it randomly as well as having razored wire capping in both directions at the top. A mixture of barbed and razor wire spiraled horizonally across on each side, six feet away from the fence.

The fence was about twenty feet tall, with lit towers spaced every few hundred feet. The actual size of the area was unknown but it was dark time here, and as far as Retane could see, he saw that the area was pretty huge. Roaming lights moved slowly and rapidly across the outskirts of the fenced area.

The entrance area had a single booth with a roll-away gate that had been cracked open. Even though power seemed to generate the lights, Retane looked cautiously across the fenced in area and checkpoint. He didn't see any signs of actuall life. Even on the other side, there didn't seem to be any fresh prints from footsteps or vehicle tracks.

The Emerald Warrior turned his head slightly in Arith's direction, "The place seems desolate. Haskell gave us this location sand has been here before. I'm guessing that either he or something else removed what guards may have been here. Though I can't seen any signs of bloodshed from here."

The Lythian had cocked his head to listen to what the Namekian had to say and gave a shrug, "While the Haskell thing is straight forward, the 'something else' is pretty vague."

"It is either from something we don't know about, or caused from exactly what we came for." The Horseman started forward, down the hill, and towards the entrance. "If you want me to dismiss you, it's fine. But I am going to check it out."

"Ha! Are you kidding? And let a Gremlin have the fun," The Golden Warrior called after as he followed.

Retane had already knew the answer before he had heard it and was already giving out instructions, "Keep your eyes and ears open. If it is quick to try and kill us, we kill it. We will avoid any that may be infected. Until we find out target. If it goes on to long we will just take what we can get. I want to be done with this before sunlight. We know the general area in here that Haskell has seen him, so it shouldn't be to hard."

Arith nodded in his dragon armor and let out a low grunt in acknowledgement.

The Emerald Warrior took point, as this was his mission. His adrenaline had kicked in and his blood was pumping. His hearing couldn't pick up much aside from their soft steps and a small breeze. Even the green pointed nose couldn't pick up the smell of blood or that of decaying corpses. If there were deaths, it was recent, and no blood was shed. Or there was a superb clean up. The third option was, no one was ever here and it was all electionic. Again, this is why Retane kept his hood on.

The duo strode further inward, There were mounds of scrap and dirt piled high in actual mountains that peaked up to fifty feet high. The flats were hardly wide enough for a large vehicle to pass through, especially with some of the obvious tight turns. If they met an ambush though, it might not be pretty though. The Namekian had already started thinking about climging towards the highest peak and scoping the area. The pro's outweighed the cons at the moment.

The Emerald Warrior stepped at the angled mound and slowly started ascending it. After making it twenty feet high he glanced back from his plateau and looked down to see Arith almost on his heels. As the Lythian reached the first peak, he plopped himself to his rear and shook his head, "Somethings afoot."

"What do you mean", The Namekian had to question.

"i don't know. It just seems weird here. It' kind of disturbing. Maybe it's just where we are and what we are do-"

A huge exploision was heard and seen not far off, well a bit of the flame and much of the smoke. In reaction Arith snapped to all fours and even Retane crouched down peering from beneath their hoods. The Namekian wondered if it had been meant from them, but from the distance, he knew Arith had been correct. Something was afoot.

"What the fuck happened?" The two heard from afar. It was a deep barking voice.

"What the fuck do you tihnk happened? One of your stupid assed recruits was warned that this was a god damned dumpsite and to stay along the path, and hit a fucking mine and whenn 'BOOM'!!!" The second voice was a high-pitched female .

"Should have kept a tighter leash on those boy toys of yours eh Sandish?" A third masculine voice called out.

"Who was it? And can we be more careful?" Still, even a fourth spoke up. It was another female, more calmer then the first.

"Poresh." Sandish hollered back

"Sound off" The first man that spoke called, "Thursh."

"Sandish."

"Kreven." This was the voice of the second man.

"Srevit." The second female.

"Loyin." It was a male.

There was a pause. for a few moments then the Namek heard a younger man answer, "Sorry, Gilush."

"Fresh." This was the final answer and Retane wasn't sure what it's sex was.

"Ok, dammit let's not lose anymore. Shit! Kepp close and keep your peremiter" This was obviously the head of the group, 'Thrush.'


Retane listened in to it all until they got quiet. There were seven of them and possibly three were new to the crew. The eighth member of their squad had already died. What bothered him, was the fact that they seemed to be in the area of their destination.

The Namekian let out a low growl and the Lythian could only let out a chuckle. The Emerald Warrior looked back at his comrade for a glance and shook his head, as he assumed this was one of his natural things. Retane let even another growl and started climbing in direction of their target. He didn't know what to think, but dared one of the fools to be at the peak of the mound he wanted to reach.

He had already thrown caution to the wind. Someone else was there and his instincts told him they were mercenaries, or a squad of soldiers.From the conversation he heard, they couldn't be brother's in arms and didn't care about each other so much. So he had already ruled out soldiers.

Retane reached the top plateau, but as his fingers dug into the dirt and his eyes reached over the edge he saw a young man with his back to him. He was clad in black and had an assualt rifle in his hand. He turned in a full rotation looking around, but still missed the Emerald Warrior. As the mercenary finished his rotation, Arith's fingers parralleled his own.

The Namekian glanced at his partner in confusion, and realized he wasn't always pateint so without a word, the Horseman pulled himself up silently. Arith followed suit and reached his hands for his blades. Retane held a hand out to pause him as he glanced around.

They were at the highest point surrounding a valley below them, though from his point of view he couldn't see below. The Emerald Warrior nodded his head and moved up swiftly behind the young mercenary. The Namek held his breath as he was so close he could feel his victims body heat.

The Horseman reached an arm around the young boys mouth, and pulled him to the ground while knocking the gun away. Arith was fast to assist, and had a blade at the neck and lowered to the boys ear to whisper, "Come with me if you want to live..."

Retane looked up at the Golden Warrior in confusion. Arith just shrugged with a low chuckle.

[Retane]

The young mercenary's heart was pounding, his breath was heavy with shock and his eyes were wide in disbelief. He had low brownhair, and was dressed in black battle fatigues. He reached in the direction of his waist after a few seconds of realizing the predicament he had been placed in.

Retane's eyes were faster then the boys hands and saw on his hip was a side arm and combat knife, both buttoned up. There were small pocket like pouches, probably with small trinkets, maybe even a small warning device. The Emerald Warrior had to wonder for a split second if this man really had to die. Did he think he could reach for something buttoned up and retreive it in time, before the blade pierced his neck with Retane staying off the hand before he could use it? Perhaps the mercnary was scared and fear had driven this to be his first action. It couldn't have been instict, because he would have never have hesitated and waited so many seconds.

The Namekian reached for the hand, with the one not covering his mouth. The Lythian had dropped a knee to the forearm of the man's other hand sto pin it down from moving. Retane's hand snapped closed around the targets' wrist, and yanked the arm upwards, above his hand to pin it down. He seemed tobe going for the combat blade, and still had an inch to go before he had been stopped. The Emerald Warrior glared deep into the scared eyes of what was a man, but not a man. He probably had never killed anyone in his life. He was fresh.

Still, Retane couldn't help but let out a low growl as he shifted his body to place his knees on the biceps of his foe with all his weight. His one hand remained around the mouth of his advesary, and felt the struggled and frightful heaves through the man's nostrils. The other, howver slid up and entiwined with the fingers of his captive. He curled his longer fingers to point his nails and uses his bare strength to start digging deep into the flesh.

The mercenary tried to scream, but the muffled sounds only really reverberated in the cup of the Namekian's hand. What slipped through the fingers, was nothing more then a whisper that only the duo could hear. Still, The green fingers dug deeper, the warm lifeforce of his advesary ran along his flesh in a steady stream flowing off onto the ground at a knuckle. The Merc tried to buck his body, but it was futile. Retane was like a limber cat holding on to his target. Retane's ankles laid across the upper thighs of the human, so to much movement actually caused discomfort to the merceranry's groin area, from the boots of theNamekian.

The Emerld Warrior stopped his digging, and removed his fingers from the five puncture wounds in the mans flesh. Much more and it would have been a through-and-through. Still, though Retane thought he had gotten his point across as he watched the tears and muffled whimpers come from the visage of the mercenary. Actions required punishment in this situation. The Emerald Warrior would have easily spared any damage to his foe, if he hadn't freaked out. Still though, it showed he was serious.

"I know it hurts", Retane spoke calm and low in his dark voice, "But, when you gain control of yourself, I will remove my hand from your mouth. If you scream or try to call out. I will kill you. If you do not obey all of my rules. I will kill you. If you try anything at all that makes me think you are up to something, I will kill you."

Retane paused for a few moments to sink in. "I do not see a reason for killing you, and that wound will heal. If you want to live... The Namek paused for a moment remembering what Arith had said just minutes ago. "You will do as I say. I am here for a specific reason. That's all you need to know. Any of your colleagues that get in my way, will die if it is needed. But before we go any further, I am going to ask you a series of questions. Any lies and my friend is an expert at detecting lies. Personally he doesn't care for your life. If you are caught lying, he will kill you without hesitation and we will kill all of your comrades as well."

The Namekian paused for it to seep in once again. Plus he had realized that there was a greater fear with his eyes looking left and right a few times, as he mentioned killing the others. He was sure there was someone that he had a relationship with or a thing for or sometihng. He had revealed his tell and his weakness.

" I want you to blink once for 'yes' and twice for 'no' for every question I ask. Are you alone?" Two blinks. Retane already knew the answer but still he had to make sure.

"Are you a current soldier in the military?" There was a hesitation and then two blinks.

"Are you a mercenary?" A single blink.

"How many are in your party? I want you to blink the number." He counted seven blinks and then a long hesitation but never a blink. By now the mercenary had calmed down a bit.

"Do you know what your objective is?" There was a single fast blink.

"Shall I remove my hand and let you calmly explain your mission to me?" The eyes didn't seem to lie and he blinked a single time. "Remeber... You can die with a single screw up."

Retane moved his away from the mouth of the mercenary, and slid Arith's blade out of the way and let his fingers play along the the throat of his foe, before finally resting it on his collar bone. A fast grab could severe the vocal chords. He wanted the target to understand.

The mercenary took a moment s to wheeze lightly and take in freasher air from his mouth. He swallowed a few times so he could actually talk and his eyes looked desperate, "We are here to capture 'The Skull', and retreive information on the whereabouts of his older brother. We are also suppose to gather the specimen attached to our target. Please don't kill me, and please don't kill my sister..."

"Who's yous sister", The Emerald Warrior questioned with curiousity. He knew he was right.

"Srevit. She got me this gig. she trained me. She didn't want me to come here, she didn't want to be involved in this either. Searching down a decorated Space Marine. It's wrong."

Retane saw a flare in his eyes. He knew he did it for the money. That's what a mercenary usually did it for. The Namekian pondered if he actually ever did it for the money and couldn't think it possible. Not from what he had heard and how he felt right now. Still he had to focus on the goal at hand, " I want you to tell me where she is and everything thats going on right now. Leave anything out, and I will know. Your Mission will be a failure if you do, but you will live and so will she."

[Retane]

"Sverit is positioned over there, closure to the position where they managed to capture 'The Skull'. Sandish is nearby keeping the perimeter stable and secure. She's a handful. My sister is the main Intellegence and strategist. Sandish is just a hot head that doesnt care. Thrush is our leader. He, Kreven and Loryn are at the center with the Target. The other guy, Fresh is on the out skirts at tweleve o' clock of the valley below. I was positioned here out of the way by my sister. They do a sound off every twenty minutes or are supposed to. "

Retane was running with a cuffed body across his shoulders in a fire-mans carry. He agreed to leave the young man conscious, but had gagged and cuffed him. They had found the zip cuffs in his pockets even the gag itself. Arith took most of the other gagets, including the knife and pistol as well as the assualt rifle. He even took the mans pants with an explination, "It's what Selm would do, and he'd actually do a lot worst."

The two had agreed to try to take ,'Fresh' out, alive if possible, and Retane would capture and snag the mercenaries sister without harm. From there they would rendevous at a certain location, that they whispered, to encounter Sandish, and then spring on the final three. The duo had even flashed a gaze of understanding before they had depatered.

Now Retane lowered the conscious mercenary, who only wore a black shirt and he assmed then shorts. The Namekian used a spare zip tie to secure the hands and feet in a stressful, and painful, triangular rack. The merc's throat was dry again by now and they had an agreement, if he made any noise, she died. Retane had kept only two extra cuffs, and he flashed them to the brother to show his acknowledged their agreement. She wasn't even a hundred feet away but, Retane didn't care at the moment.

Fear was on the Namek's side, and as he approached her from behind, she was actually staring hard at the spot where her brother should have been. Retane gauged they had ten minutes to finish their momentary objective, and after a following glance of the high ground that he had just come from figured this wouldn't be hard. He again creapt up and her down removing her rifle and covering her mouth. He mounted her and she tried to struggle.

"Shut up if you want to live. I am not here to harm you. Geoff Haskell sent me to save his brother. Your brother is no longer up there, but only a few feet from you. I promised him to spare your lives, but I will need you to cooperate with me. Keep in mind though, I am going to cuff you and anything you tell me will get him and the others and yourself killed. I am also not alone. At this moment another is tackling another one of your guys. He hasn't died, or I would know. I am going to tei you up and then gag you. If you fight with me, I will kill you. and him. UNderstand?" He had to make sure that he got his point across as fast.

He did as he said and after a small gag dragged her to her brother. He had like seven minutes, till their leader was suppose to do his 'sound off'. He lowered her gag after he made her and her brother a two sided pyramid. He still knew that it was painful, and stripped her of belt and gear and threw it across his chest. He placed his hand across her collar bone and watched her eyes. She was n't exactly afraid, but she was like anyone, that wouldn't revive, she didn't want to die, nor her brother die.

"If you scream, you both die. I don't care about death. I'm a prime, but I am here upon request of Geoff to save his brother George."

The female mercenary took a deep breath after concidereing her options and shrugged. "I'll only agree if you can kill the others. So that it is concidered a failed mission and you promise to get me and my brother away from this city. We can't get out without help and you seem like you could. If you can't, then kill us and have fun with the others."

Retane took a moment to listen to the words and almost growled, "I will agree if you can tell me what is going on here and who your client is, as well as what happened to the defences around here."

Sverit raised her head off the dirt, "We were sent here to track down and capture Goerge Haskell. Remove the orgosynth, and interrogate him until he told where his brother was. After words we were suppose to kill Geoff Haskell. Loryn has an interrogation tactic that can make people talk. I don't know what it was. Thrush has technically bought me from my family and we needed money and my brother insisted on coming on this one like a fool. He didn't know what we were even doing.

"I don't have an option, but me dying gives our family a nice retirement package. I just am not sure if I want to die yet... I'm not afraid..."

Retane listened to her words and gave a slow nod. He kind of understood. Or he wanted to. He would put her words to the test soon enough, "I am losing time, tell me what I need to do."

She shook her head. "Kill. You look like a killer, but your eyes betray you. You have to kill. Kill Sandish, Thrush, Kreven and Loryn. I'd go for Loryn first oly because don't know his tactics. Sandish is wicked, and all but she's watching the outskirts and in charge of the 'fresh meat'. One has died, and It wasn't from a random mine. The less that survive, the bigger the pay. THrush is heavily armored, Kreven is gun happy and arrogant, and again I don't know about Loryn."

[Retane]

Kill. How many people had Retane killed in his past? How many people had died because of his actions before? He almost felt that killing was wrong. Killing had started him down a path of being hated and exiled. Was he really going to go through with this? He was a Namek, a race that strived for peace. Maybe that was what was itching at conscience, his genetics. But he was of Warrior class. He was meant to fight; To defend; To Kill if needed.

Retane closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He had chosen this path, he felt an inner predator within and a darkness tugging at him. His corded muscles flexed as he calmed himself. The Emerald Warrior slowly started to the hooded cloack he wore and let it fall to the ground. He glanced back at his captives, and let out a sigh, "Kill them. That's what you want?" The Warrior whirled his neck around as he popped the air out of his upper vertebrae. He had cast away all of Sverit's gear. The Namekian felt a surge in him again and knew he wouldn't need it. He inhaled, exhaled and started forward, in the direction of Sandish.

The Horseman soon found himself crouching, staring at his target. She was a bit more ripped then her female conterpart, where a dark tanktop and dark camoflauged pants. Her muscles flexed under the weight of the gun she toted. It was bigger then the two rifles he had seen before. The mercenary had a bit more equipment attatched to her belt as well. Sandish's attention, however, was more focused inward, at the scene of four other figures.

There was a single light giving Retane perfect view of the scenario. Thrush, the one wearing the most armor stood there observing his captive, who was cuffed from behind, on his knees and shirtless. The capative fought to get free but an even burlier man, Kreven he assumed by the excessive firepower strapped to his back, held him to the ground. The final figure, distiungished by his long golden locks, must have been Loryn, who had a single hand calmly on the veteran's hand and another on resting sonewhere on his back.

"I think we should just rip the damned thing off and call it a day." It was the bigger of the three.

"We can't you dumb son of a bitch", Sandish called out, "We'll risk damaging the secondary. If it isn't alive, we don't get the bonus."

"Shut up you damned slut, I know that. I was just joking. This mother fucker is hard to handle."

"Slut? Are you still mad that you couldn't get it up the other night and and I had to go get it from the newbie? I told your ass, I get what I want." Sandish had caused Kreven to get beat red as she announced his personal dysfunctions outloud, even the quiet Loryn, had to snicker.

"How about you come fuck the energy out of this bastard so it isn't god damned hard?" Kreven was still struggling to maintain his captive.

"Enough foreplay you two", Thush had called out, "You are distracting Loryn. Do your dirty talk on your own time."

Loryn lifted his head ad the mention of his name, "Oh sorry. Yes, ok, right. I am only getting readings of hate and anger from both parties. I need the orgosynth to be removed. I think Kreven could do it if while I distract the simbiote. Commander I will need your help to hold him him at bay during the extraction progress."

"Let's do this then", Thrush stated as he moved and wrapped his large arms around The Skull. The bigger of the three still maintained one hand on the captive and his massive hand glasped on and started pulling at what Retane could assume was the specimen of Project Malefactor. Loryn had both his hands places upong George Haskell's head, who let out a highed pitched scream, that managed to curl the Namekian's toes.

Retane couldn't stand around any longer. The Feral Warrior started forward, energy forming in both balled hands, as he charged. They were both, light green and his fists opened up as they grew to the expanse of his fingers. He let out a low glutteral growl as he approached Sandish. The muscular turned as she heard the gorwl, but it was just short of an instant reaction. The Namekian jumped at her, extending his leg and foot. Her eyes didn't even have the time to portray her shock, had his boot planted itself, on her face, sending her back and down, followed by the Namek's weight.

As he felt her skull crack against the ground, he pushed off with both feet, adding even more pressure to her cranium. He sprung into the air, he still had thirty seconds, he assumed, before the group were suppose to sound off. The Horseman let his arms fall behind him as he ascended into the air, and when he was reaching the peak of his leap, he used the momentum to whip both the orbs downward at a single target.

Retane's actions only took a few seconds but as his body followed the flight of the energy assualt, he realized that he may have errored. Still though, he wasn't worrired; The Emerald Warrior planned his next moves accordingly as Thrush had caught site of the incoming assualt. The mercenary dove to get out the way, leaving his comrades to take the blunt of the assault. They never saw it coming.

Loryn took the blunt of the blasts as they converged on his cranium. The explosion managed to seperate the captive from the biggre man and hault the extraction process. But Retane reached out lashing at Krevens face amd his sharp nails dug flesh. As Retane landed in a crouch, he darted his eyes to the left and right for a split second, and spun around, shoving the falling body of Loryn into his his biggest companion. The golden haired mercenary was dead; The twin converged energy blasts had managed to penetrate through the locks, flesh and bone to impact the brain of the psychic interrigator.

Dead, but a body that caused a distraction. As Kreven, nearly freaked out at the life force and brain matter that splashed into his face and mouth. The massive man looked at the body wide eyed, and tossed it too the side but shook his head in disgust and heaved hard, almost realsing his innards. The Namekian swung a heavy fist at the bigger man, then followed up with another.

Blood splattered onto Retane with both blows, because his slash at Kreven's visage, had put a gash in the big man's cheek through and through. As the mercenary doubled back from the blows, and the Namekian Warrior slashed at the mans throat, cutting deep through his vocal cords and veisn. The burly man's life force splashed and splattered back onto The Horseman with the deep cut. It was another life ended.

[Retane]

Retane couldn't help it, he had made a mistake, tihnking he was faster then he was. He took a blow to the back of target. The Namekian stumbled and went to react but hear the charge of and active energy gun as the saftey came off and felt the cold steel on the back of his own cranium. This halted the scenerio the Emerald Warrior had planned out in his head, still Retane cou;dn't help but place his hands out to show no resistance, but also let out a feral growl in annoyance.

"Who the fuck are you and what the fuck do you think you are doing?" Thrush barked after just watching his men die before his eyes.

"Nova, and Artith Denor; Killing your team, stopping you from hurting The Skull, retreiving the simbiote for ourselves, giving Geoff Haskell, closure, killing you, andwalking out of of here. What the fuck do you think you are doing putting a gun to my Gremlin's head?" Retane noticed the voice to be his comrade and heard a quick yank and metal meeting flesh as the force of the Lythian yanking his saber across the neck of the mercenary commander caused him to yank back and fire a blast of energy just barely missing the Namekian's head.

Retane dropped his arms as he watched the body collapse, almost headless. He turned to see his comrade still hooded, just throwing his arms up and unsure what he should say. The Namekian didn't need an answer or explination. He had already killed three, and was actually glad had finally showed up. For a moment, he had even forgotten about him. Still, Retane didn't have a lot of time to think; George "The Skull" Haskell was strugggling to get free from his cuffs. The man was nearly face down, and for the first time, The Namekian actually saw his objective. It looked puffed up, but was slowly deflating, with it's tentacles slowly digging back into it's host.

"South of here, are the other two, alive. They cooperated, bring them here. No restraint's, No weapons." Retane would keep his eye on George while his partner did this. He hoped they could help the man of which, had been a test subject. He had given, Mr Skull his word and tracked down his brother; Had so far even saved the old mans life. Now it was time to figure out what kind of closure he could give the man.

Arith just nodded, "And no pants."

Retane couldn't do anything else but glance around at the dead bodies before he moved and knelt down and dug a hand underneath the orgosynth. His other hand, he had braced on the back of the possed man. The Namekian let bent low to the struggling humans ear, " I want you to listen to me closely. You are stronger then this thing. Your brother sent me here to help you. I know you have lost alot, but its not over. You are a soldier. You will not go down like this. You are a Space Marine, and we never leave a man behind..."

-----

The Emerald Warrior's mind flashed back to an unknown memory; Retane saw himself looking down at a strange adolescent, maybe the man was his current age? He wore a red mohawk, had bigger pointer ears then himself, and was armored up with a red and black uniform. He was dead, and his face was half mutilated. But he looked happy in death.

Tapion.... That was his name.... He let a tear fall as he carried his friend in his arms. People would die for his. People would pay. THe Emerald Feind had let his tears drop as he continued to their destination. He had failed his comrade. The Abyss had taken his friend. THat bastard had bashed his skull in.

"Don't you die me!! DON"T YOU FUCKING DIE!!"

They walked, Retane carrying Tapion. He would never leave his best friend behind. Rain poured, masking the Namekian's own tears. Still, they walked onward. The two Horsemen would make their destination...

-----

Retane shook his head a few moments. The Horsmen caught site of the other three moving up from behind him and let out a low growl; A warning for them not to get near him. He leaned closer, to The Skull's ear and whispered softer in atempt to make this a private conversation. He was trying to help the man and he wanted him to understand. He allowed his insctinct to kick in though; His subconsceince knew the answer to help this man, and Retane could only let it happen.

"Soldier. I know you can hear me in there. I need you help. You are a Marine! Not just a a Marine, but a Space Marine! You were named 'The Skull' for your hard headedness. You are stronger then all of this. I beleive in you. Your brother believes in you. We want our Soldier back. I know you are in there.

"So come on and help me. Don't let this peice of shit take conrol over you any longer. Let me carry your burden and you be at peace. Let me share your demons. Let me feel your pain. Allow me to bare the weight you once carried. I know you want to be free. I know what you want, so allow me to help you. Come on soldier. I am here to lift this burden off of you. Lets have it. Let me take you home. Fight this demon like you fought the others. Come on. Help me.... Help me, help you...."

The Emerald Warrior tugged at the orgosynth as he finished his request.

[Retane]

The space marine let out loud yell of defiance as the orgosynth let out a loud ear peircing shriek to show it's own struggle. The Namekian pushed with one hand and pulled with the other. His muscles flexed and tensed in the struggle. He could feel grip of the small tentacled being sliiping. The Warrior dug deep, he had come to far to lose now. Retane let out his own growl to match their battle cries and pulled harder. He had to release his grip a bit as to not dig into the soft flesh of his target and after a few more seconds of struggle, pulled the artefaqt free of it's host.

The orgosynth went flying into the air behind him and arith had shouted, "I got it", followed by an "oops'". Retane hadn't cared about his main objective right then, but focused on the bare back, at the upper right shoulder, where blood flowed forth from a multitude of holes that had been created by the symbiotic parasite. It was in a weird pattern that the Namekian couldn't recognize. He put his hand on the shoulder of George Haskell, who trembled and shuddered.

Sverit actually rushed forward and ripped a sleeve of her own shirt and placed it on the wound and held pressure there as the Emerald Warrior lowered his buttocks to his calves and took a long breath and closed his eyes. He had seen a picture of The Skull and his brother in identical uniforms ad Geoff's house. The Uniform was simple enough, It was azure camoflauge with both of them wearing their rank and medals. Both of them had happy grins on their faces. Retane focused pon that picture.

The Horseman brushed the Mercenaries hand away and leaned in concetrating on the uniform. The Emerald Warrior 's hands glowed and the green florescent light slowly enveloped most of the Space Marine's body. The glow soon began to give way and George Haskell was in the dark blue camoflauged uniform. The Namekian thought that it would stop the trembling, and perhaps put his mind more at ease. He looked at the cuffs and cut them. Sverit glanced at him and offered a weak smile

Retane took a deep breath and let the carring mercenary do her thing and stood up looking around. His mind was blank, or he had toomant thought running through them. For the moment he was on autopilot. Gilush and Arith were staring down at the demonic experiment. It was moving in the direcition of the young mercenary, who took a stepp back almost freaking out and the Lythian could only laugh. It was already wanting another host.

Another glance around the area let the renegade observe the area. He saw nothing to worry about but kept his alert up. He looked at the deceased, and wasn't sure if he respected them or hated them. In the end he didn't care. They were weak and failed. They thought they had come to handle a rather easy task and failed. Perhaps this is why Retane was good at a mercenary, he bested others? He had allowed his feral insticts take over, and execute his strike nearly perfectly. He only screwed up once, but the Dragon Warrior had been there to help him. Still, Retane needed to get stronger.

The Emerald Warrior glanced at the body of Fresh, the body Arith had brought with him, along with plenty of gear and some to spare. The Golden Warrior had seemed to kill him with a single stab wound through the kneck. The Emerald Warrior wondered if that was just the easiest, or if he had an attraction for attacking necks. Wasn't a bad style though, he found himself thinking; Dead men shouldn't speak.

The Namekian finally moved towards the two surrounding the objective. Retane moved and picked the orgosynth up, he looked toward Gilush and judged his scared explression. "You have somethng to contain this for a moment?"

The young adult widened his eyes, glanced around at the dead corpses and nodded and ran off. Arith watched the situation unfold and snickered a question, "You trust people now?' He watched that the mercenary ran towards the body of Thrush, who had weapons still equipped. Retane answered, forming a green ball of energy in his free hand. The Namek stared at the Lythian as the Dragon Warrior watched the mercenary return with a item thant turned into the box. Had GIlush grabbed a weapon, Arith would have gae a signal, and things would be bad for the siblings.

Retane accepted the small box when the human returned and put the orgosynth into it's cage. Arith was handled the small symbioitic creature who only gave asked if he could name it 'Gremlin Too'.

THe Emerald Fiend let out a sigh and looked to the young merc, who was staring confused at the ball of energ in his hand, "Do you have anything that will do any digging?" Gilush shook his head with a confused look, though he still seemed to try to think. He was asked then, "Want to dig your own grave?"

GIlush looked shocked and was scared he shook his head. The fresh merc looked weird compared to everyone though, as he still had nother but boxers on where pants should be covering. Retane knew Arith had to be getting a kick out of it. Probably alot of others if this situation wasn't so serious. "I want you to tell me now, and only the truth shall determine your fate. Any lie with mean death for you and her." The Namek let the threat sink in. "Explain to me what is going on with you and your sister and why you guys are specifically here."

Gilush thought for a few moments and looked to his sister who had perked her head up but still focused on the military veteran,"My sister use to be a Space Marine. She has been concluded as AWOL and wanted by the Empire for treason. She only joined to help our family. But their tactics, she never liked them. She was smart. Thrush found our family out after she AWOL'd and offered her payment for her services. We need the money. Well our family does. We want to get out of this city, but it's hard to pass through check points and all the camera's.

"I asked me sister to let me help. At least we would have each other's back. I had beat her training courses with flying colors. But... I ... I don't know..."

Failing a mission had to be hard, Retane wondered how he felt when he failed a mission long ago. The Green Warrior wished he knew. Still though, it seems the story of the siblings checked out for the moment. The Horseman would trust his insticts till they failed him, he guessed. His subconsciouness seemed to know things he didn't.

After getting his answer, Retane fired a blast of energy not to far off from him, but keeping it just enough distance to do his thing. He followed up by firing another, and another, until he let a barrage of energy lose, and stopped to observe his handy work. A memory tugged at his mind but he held it off. As the dust settled Retane spoke up, "Put the dead in the grave, he barked, and gather all this equipment beside it."

The Namekian turned and walked to George and Sverit, he looked down at the man who was now resting in the arms of a woman. She held him gently cradling his neck. He wasn't trembling, but seemed silent. She looked like she was trying to coo him. " I have decided to get you two out of here as agreed. I am thinking of putting all of the bodies in the grave I made. Throwing in some explosives, covering it up and detonating it. I would like you two to come with us. I have a place I could use your help defedning. If not you can go where ever once you leave the city. It is not for me to bend the will of someone to assist me. To do that means rebellion in my guess."

The female looked up at the Green Warrior, "Can you make sure some of our blood is in the explosion? Incase soeone comes to test? If we are concidered dead and killed in action, my family is free of money issues for a few years, at least."

Retane wanted to shrug but decided that there was no reason to lie. "I already ruinined your brothers hand, it had bled on this land already. I can't take it back, but it has reached me to this moment."

Sverit nodded but before she could answer, George coughed and began to speak. "You- you are the one that called for me. I remember you voice."

The Namekian knelt down to the soldier's side. " Yeah. Sorry. Your brother asked me too track you down and get you guys closure."

Blood poured from the Marine's mouth as he coughed a few timnes. Tears even flowed from the verteran's eyes, " I need you to do me a favor. I want you you to give me the burial you gave Tapion. Please don't be shocked, but some how, I saw that painful scenario in my head about your friend. It really helped me get through."

Retane couldn't hep but look shocked. The Namekian remembered the memory. That whole scenerio and the thoguhts he felt. Perhaps that influenced his actions here. But the Namekian let out a low snarl that even he could barely hear, aside from the reverberations within his cranium.The Namekian shook his head for a few moment then glanced at Sverit, "Is he dying?"

The mercenary threw her hands up, "I dont know? It looks like it but his vitals are almost normal, but he is in pain... Pain in his head.... Like a huge migraine..."

The Namekian clenched his fists as he thought a few moments and took a deep breath. He waved Sverit away, who hesitated but did so with annoyance, she actually went to Arith and sked if he knew about someone named 'Tapion'. The Emerald Warrior let out a sigh, "Why? Why do you want to meet his death?"

George Haskell let out a weak chuckle, blood still came out. " I know what I did. I know how I did it. I have relived the memories more times then you could think. I Know what closure means. It means at least one of us has to die. So I am asking you to give me the respect you gave that man and do with me, what you did with Tapion?"

Retane couldn't hold the tear back that fell from his eye, "It would be awkward for me to carry a body up those stairs. But I know you knew that. What would you like for me to do?"

"Just a message. Tell him that I do believe in the other side, and will answer my crimes there. Tell him im sorry. Tell him I loved them. Tell him I wanted to be as good as him.... Just tell him I am sorry." George Haskell 's voice was getting weaker.

Retane looked behind him and called for a weapon, something fast. Sverit brought a single shot to him. It was a suicidal gun meant to kill yourself and be in blis till you died, she explained. It belonged to Thrush. The Namekian looked George in the eyes; A tear fell from the Namekian face as he pointed the gun at the cranium, hit and causing the soldier to blink.

"Please, Just pull the trigger...."

[Retane]

Retane, Arith, Sverit and Gilush ascended the stairway to the next Teir. It was silent, aside from their foosteps. Finally, the female stopped witha frowned, which caused two of the other three to stop. Retane, however heard it but kept going. He didn't feel like talking to anyone. He knew she wanted answers.

"Can someone please stop and explain to me whats going on?" Sverit, nor her brother were included on the next steps of the mission finale; So she decided to ask. "And are we going to talk about what hapened down there?"

Retane stopped at a platform and looked around. He couldn't identify any cameras and looked straigh at the female. "What happened down there?"

"You... You..."

----------

"Please pull the trigger..."

The Emerald Warrior never flinched. He didn't blink. It would be disrespecful to blink. He stared deep into George Haskell's eyeshe pulled it. He heard the shot and watched the light fade from The Skull's eyes. The Namekian felt that it was then, that he truly saw who George had once been. He saw a man who had once been a hero. It made him at ease and annoyed at the same time.

The Namekian stood up and scooped the space marine's body into his arms, gun still in hand. No tears fell from his face as he placed the body on top of the pile of bodies.

"Be at ease, I will deliver your message." The Namekian murmured as he wallked out of the hole, and pushed a chunk of the arsenal onto the makeshift burial plot..

The Namekian glanced at he three who stood nearby looking at him and let out a low growl. Retane didn't care if they judged him. The Emerald Warrior just put his back to them and focused on the grave. He shot a few blasts of energy at the hill he had created, to make it unsteady and ready for his next action. Sverit had already offered her blood with a 'X' dug deep into her right shouler blade .It saturated a few spare peices of cloth she had removed and she tossed it into hole, next to her former comrades.

The Emerald Warrior tucked the Single and brought forth energy. He let out a growl again and gave a final look at George's body before releasing. the green orb directly at a grenade.

Grenade.... "Tapion... We made it my freind. We are finally here. Now you can rest and no one can disturb you. They won't hurt you anymore. I promise."

The Emerald Fiend held two explosives in his hands. He used a finger to grasp at the pins and tossed them into the sandy grave next to the crimson haired mohekian. The Namekian called forth his innate powers forcing the wind to push a mound of soil over the explosives and deceased Horsemen. Retane turned and started walking away, pausing only for a moment as he paid his respect to the explosion. "No one will hurt you anymore..."

"Tapion... No one will hurt you anymore..." The Namekian spoke almost gently as he watched the explosion erupt, causing a flash of napalm to flare up before the unstable hill collapsed on top of it, burying the soon to be ashes of those that had lost their lives on this battlefield.

The Emerald Warrior turned then without a word, and walked up to the trio, glancing them in the eyes for a second, almost daring one of them to say something. There was a stern glare deep in his eyes. He was focused on the events that had just transpired, but still knew he wasn't done. He wonted someone to contest his next actions as he removed the black vest that covered his abdomen and dropped it to the ground. The green hand outstretched to the box that Arith held near his chest.

The Lythian opened the container and Retane reached in, grabbing at the orgosynth inside. The warrior reached behind him, letting the demonic symbiote slowly delve its small tentacles into it's flesh and slowly grab hold. THe Namekian accepted it and the pain it caused, almost immediately syncing with the being. The Emerald Fiend could feel it offering it's power, almost urging the Namekian to use it. He felt it's desire for bloodlust and battle. It desired victories. It wanted action.

For now though, Retane would hold it at bay. It's thirst would not be quenched, not yet. But, the Horseman knew it's pleasures would be saited soon enough. His own body however, along with the two newcomers to the group, began to glow in a light green glow. The florescent light sonn subsided before the two could utter a protest, giving way to black hooded cloaks. Only Retane's was different. His had a mixture of dark red and green designs on his. THe color was so dark that it was hard to tell. As well, tied to his arm, was the bandanna given to him by the Strange Merchant.

----------------------

"You took another mans life."

"I know this. I was there." Retane was unsure what she wanted him to say.

"You were suppose to protect him." Sverit stated, huffed as she really saw no remorse in the Namekian's eyes.

"No. That was not my mission. My mission was to track down Geoff Haskell's brother, give the man closure. George himself refused to go on any longer. You pretty much stated it yourself. I eased his pain. My objective was to seek the a specimen of Malefactor Project. Two birds one stone." The Namekian argued with himself as he spoke. He knew what she meant, but he knew that she two was fighting with it.

"You could have coaxed him, talked him through it. Made him see that he still had a future..."

"The man killed his wife. His brother's wife. He killed his own child, his brothers child. Could you live with yourself if wewr you and you killed your brother? Killed kids of your own?" The Namekian felt a twing of pain in his head as he realized his words hit home to himself on a completely different level. He shook his head, trying to clear it of all the thoughts that wanted to cloud his mind. The Emerald Feind saw that he had made her bite her lip in thought and took that moment to continue onward.

As they reached Tier Six, the group slowly made their way through the streets. The Lythian and Horseman, knew where they were going. The Emerald Warrior had noticed that Arith had actually kept quiet, but again, he was looking around like before, totally amiss to the stares that they had gotten. The four soon arrived at their destination and the Namekian stepped up to the porch.

The door swung open and Retane realized that Geoff had been awaiting their return. The four stepped in, though the siblings were hesitant at first. The Namekian lowered his hood, and Arith followed suit, even removing his mask. The other two did so soon after, realizing that they were in the presence of a legend, and their initial target.

"Who are these two", Barked the former Space Marine. He eyed them suspiciously.

"They were at the site. They were a part of a party sent to find your brother, sent to extract the orgosynth, and then interrogate George to find your location. We showed up in time, it seemed, and these two really had issues with taking the life of a Veteran of War, which they respected. I promised to spare their lives if they cooperated. Their intel allowed us to save your brother." Out of instinct, the Emerald Feind was quick and to the point but stopped there, not really eager to go any further with the report.

"And?" George ttook in a deep breath looking behind them wondering if his brother was going to step through the door. "Where is he?"

The Namekian walked forward to the desk barrier and placed the Single Shot on top of it. It spoke all the words Retane didn't want to say, but there the Namak swallowed his guilt and sraighted himself, if he wasn't already straight and looked the old man in the eye, both with slowly seemed to moisten.

"Dead. Buried, so that no one will bother him ever again. He had a message for you though. He said that he did believe in the otherside, He said he would answer his crimes there. He said he was sorry and that he loved you. He seemed commited to giving up his life, so I used that gun to make it easier on him. He asked me to, well begged me to. He said the memories haunted him daily. He said that closure meant that at least one of you had to die."

The Veteran took the words in carefully and did his best to hold back his tears. But one finally boiled over. Retane motioned to the picture he had used from his memory, "If it helps, he died whereing that. I thought it proper to make him at ease the best I could."

Geoff nodded and shook the tears away, "Did you get what you went down there for?"

The Emerald Fiend didn't answer. He wanted it to be silent, and he noticed then that Geoff had been writing in a book the whole time. The Namekian felt uneasy as he watched the old man write fast, glancing at the book and then to the Single Shot.

A few minutes passed and the former Space Marine closed the book. He met the eyes of the Namekian and let out a long sigh. "Can we talk in private?"

The Horseman looked on at the Veteran for a few moments then turned his head to the other three, "Leave. Go watch the streets."

Arith looked at the other two, who had remained silent, and looked to Geoff Haskell, "It was great to meet a man like you." He placed his helm back on and through on his hood. The other two offered their appreciation and followed suit as well.

THe Lythian had slid something into the Namekian's hand, and Retane didn't want to look down at what it was.He was hoping it was something different but as the three left, the door closed.

"I have two favors for you. I know they are going to be tough, but I think you have a knack for bearing the weight of anothers pain on your shoulders. It's almost like you are doing it on purpose." Geoff was solemn in his words.

"Just ask them. All I can do is tell you yes or no." Retane was tired opf games. He felt he knew what the favors were deep down inside.

"Yeah. You are right. Well... " Old Man Skull took a few moments and hit a few keys. He looked up and pushed the book towards The Namekian. "Can you deliver this to Ultan? You can even add a signature to it if you want, 'Nova'."

Retane looked at the book and gave a nod. He knew what was coming next.

"And can you.... Please... Just... I don't have anyone else.... I would like to meet my brother on the other side... It is something I chose... And I would like to... Be dressed like i was in that photo too. If you could?"


The Namek wanted to avert his eyes. He really didn't want to do it. But even The Skull had said that 'at least one of them had to die'. Who wanted to live life alone with all those bad memories? Who wanted to be apart from their family? The Emerald Warrior let out a low growl and looked down at the bullet in his hand. It went to the Single Shot. "Yes."

A green hue started to cover the older man and he finally stood up. "When I go, this place will implode on itself, five minutes after. I suggest you guys don't dawdle. I realze you are avoiding those damned camera's. Better you get out of here and away when it happens."

The Horsman nodded, but again never blinked as he took the single shot and loaded it.

"Thank you..." This would be Old Man SKulls last words....

[Retane]

The three stood outside of the Archives. A few moments after Retane entered the Over sized Library, Sverit decided it was time to ask again. She whispered low as she never looked at him, "So who is Tapion?"

The Lythian sighed after being tired of being asked the same question over and over. "One of the few people he ever felt close to. He's offering you guys a chance and willing to go to bat for you. Willing to help you. He likes you. From what I understand, it is rare. There were not a whole lot he actually cared for or trusted. At the same time, he is a new Prime here. He is adjusting. He's not like other Primes though. What you see is Retane, with a glimpse of what he once was, with a whole lot of confusion and questions cluttering his mind. I know what he is wanting to do but it's not my job to tell you. But you can trust the guy.

"You think he may have bad intentions or be unsure about him, but think about this, he didn't kill you. ou are technically a risk to him right now. He tends to be a man of his word, and to me, his loyalties are obvious. It's a long story, but I can tell you now that he is fighting a lot of demons in his head, with good intentions. He was a God... The God of Death, where he once was. He got cursed and lost his only sone because he Never was and was sent into Limbo. Omni brought him here. Spared his life. Gave him a chance to get stronger.

"Do you get it now?"

The mercenary nodded shocked that Arith finally answered her. She again bit her lip.

Inside, the Namekian walked up to Ultan who eyed the book in his hand. Retane placed it on the desk and asked for something to write with. Retane flipped to the back and signed a blank page, with a few other words. He slid it to Ultan with a low whisper. "This is for you. The bubble has been popped. I would like to come back later and get a copy of this and get a copy of the first version."

Ultan's eyes twinkled but they seemed sad but perked up, "Agreed only if you bring me something for my collection."

Retane nodded. and turnedto exit. It was time to get out of dodge.

As he neared the staircase, Retane glanced at the bandanna and concetrated. The area started to fog up as as Retane kept walking. The Namekian saw the Merchant standing at a make-shift desk. "Here ya go Stranga'. All I need it the name of the Base and the signature."

"Jade Reckoning" Retane signed with a handshake and let a nod

"I may or may not have left you a few surprises there. But its for you to find out. Call it a house warming gift." The Bandit whispered in hte wind as he vanished.

Retane looked at the other three and moved towards the stairs.

"Cant we just take the Eleva-" Sverit couldn't finish the question.

"NO! OH HELL NO!" Retane actually screamed the answer.

Arith couldn't help but fall to the floor laughing.


---------

The four finally exited the Taxicab and headed toward the Nexus Gate. The Troopers watched them, but made no intent to hinder them. They were off to The Tangled Greens