Hair of the Wolf: Open for Business

1st Lieutenant Joined: Mar 17, 2007 Posts: 32

Funny how things change I thought. One minute I was talking with Zeb about important matters of trade route security and the incredible disappearing Wolf, next minute that wasn't important any more.

The big guy was in the corner. I studied him as Zeb server his table. Yeah, I was right... I knew this guy. I knew him well. I waited for my chance while Zeb made small talk then brought him his ale.

Funny how things change I thought. One minute I was looking at the face of my darkest past, trying to decide if I really wanted to step back there or not, next minute that wasn't important any more.

The man entered, picked up a drink at the bar and settled down in the corner. My corner. Somehow it didn't bother me he was in my space. He seemed like he belonged there. I'd never seen him before, yet he seemed familiar. His appearance belied the apparent fact that this was a guy who know what it was about. I wanted to know more about him. I thought about going over to him and making a little small talk til I overheard him say to that raggedy trader that he wanted to be left alone. Well he didn't exactly put it that way, he said it like he was talking about the guy on the vid screen. The dense trader didn't get the connection but it was obvious to me they were both the same. Yeah... I thought. I definitely need to get to know this guy. I'll get to know him in the black one day. It'd be a decent idea to put a man behind the visor.

Then it hit me. This guy was a brother. Oh, not in the we-got-the-same-mother sense, in the we-are-of-like-spirit sense. You can tell these things. That's why he looked familiar. That's why I didn't mind he was in my space. It was his space too. No problem. I'd let him be. For now. But we'd have a talk one day. It was inevitable.

I took my ale and wandered over to the other corner and sat down across from the big guy, moving my chair so I could see the other big guy. Too many big guys, I thought with a wry smile. Hope there's enough room for them all...

"So... how the hell are ya, mate?" I said to the man I knew as Savage. "Never thought I'd see you again. He looked at me curiously, not a trace of malice in his steady gaze. I chuckled to myself, then "You remember me, dontcha? Malice. We flew wing for awhile."

"Yeah, I remember you. You disappeared on us. When it got rough you just walked..." Still no malice, just matter-of-fact.

"It's not exactly like that, mate, but I can see how it looks that way. I went lookin' for a real job when it looked like we were through. Then when you all came back the Boss said there wasn't room for me even though I asked. But yeah, we stayed on good terms. All the way til now. I heard about what happened. Made outlaws of the lot of ya. But I keep seeing some of ya out there now so I know yer back. Anyway, good to see ya again."

He nodded. 'So then, what are you doing these days?"

"Well I'm still a rogue of sorts. A hunter. Some call me a vigilante, but I look at like an enforcer. Not a merc, I'm not for hire. Just hand out vengeance when it's needed. And as always, it's needed a lot around here."

"So why are you talking to me? Is this business or pleasure?"

I smiled. "My business is my pleasure, friend. But no. Thought I'd let you know I'd be pleased to fly with you again if ever you wanted." I lowered my voice. "I got more than one ship. One's... shall we say... unmarked." He nodded. He knew what I meant.

"I'll take that under advisement. Now if you don't mind, I prefer to drink alone for the time being..."

He needed his space. It's a lonely place he's in right now. I though as I rose and walked back to the bar. I could see it just below the surface, carefully in check. I knew that place really well. I had a permanent address there. Yeah... we'll fly again...

Sqdr. Commander Joined: Aug 20, 2005 Posts: 1366

I finished my drink and sat quietly surveying the bar. It was a nice place, not too small, not too big. Decent decor and well furnished. Pretty quiet, but hey thats how I like my bars. Quiet, and relaxing.

I saw a guy look over at me. I wondered briefly if I'd managed to steal a regular's seat in the corner, but he turned away pretty quickly. I obviously wasn't worth much attention. Well, at least that stupid headline has vanished off the vid screen. What kind of reporting is that anyway? If you're going to start a manhunt, its best to describe the right man.

Glancing around I noticed the guy was deep in conversation with a heavyset fella on the other side of the bar. The heavyset guy didn't look totally blown away to see him. I wouldn't like to get on his wrong side. He looks like he could more than handle himself in a fight. Leaning towards them slightly, I overheard a name. Savage. Must remember that one. Taking a more careful look, I sighed in relief as I realised that I could finally take off my visor and the awful brown jumpsuit I'd borrowed off a man I didn't really know at all.

Thank Heaven for that. I thought. That visor is damn annoying, and who wears a brown jumpsuit? I looked behind me and noticed the mirror. I ran my hand through my spiked up hair, noticing that it was getting pretty long. But not blonde. If I didn't do something about it, the spikes would be brushing the ceiling of the cockpit soon. I concentrated on my eyes, and slipped out the blue contact lenses I'd bought. The dark red of my eyes was clearly visible even in the shadows. Even the scars covering my neck and the left side of my face seemed pretty livid under this lighting.

I smiled at my reflection, turned the collar of my jacket up, and walked back up to the bar.

"Get me another of those will ya honey?" I smiled and looked into the girl's eyes. She gazed back, just managing to conceal her discomfort at my eye colour, and as she looked down and saw the scars, I saw a definite flinch. I glanced over and saw the bartender staring at me steadily. "Nice place you got here, friend. Very nice."

"Glad you like it." He carried on staring. "Can get a bit... cramped at happy hour, but what bar doesn't?"

"Well, whatever gets the punters in. Here you go." I placed my money on the bar and went back to my seat. As I took a sip, I noticed that Savage and his friend were now staring at me. Woah. This doesn't look good. I smiled and raised my glass toward them. Savage got up and walked out of the bar, talking to the barkeeper as he went past.

His friend though, started to walk towards me. Well, this is going to be interesing...

1st Lieutenant Joined: Mar 17, 2007 Posts: 32

Savage had pretty much dismissed me. He didn't want to be bothered. If anyone knew the feeling I did. I'd heard him say he wasn't in the "rogue" business any more. That was fine by me, I didn't want to have him red on my HUD. It might be a bit... uncomfortable. I'd seen what he did to red blips. Nevertheless, I bet he had a "black" ship for those "special" operations. We all did..Another "brother", I thought. We're out there. Taking care of what needs taking care of. The rest of Sirius didn't like our kind. Didn't want us around. Until they needed something done no one would or could do.

As I was about to get up I saw the menacing-looking guy moving back to his... my seat. He'd taken off the visor and looked a little less out-of-place now. Until I saw his eyes. Intent, deep red, Like a Nomad's eyes. Savage noticed I'd stopped and was watching something past him. Being of the same mold he was drawn by anything that would draw my intense interest. He turned to look.

"Well I'll be a son of a Hessian..." he muttered.

"Know him?" I asked quietly.

"Oh yeah. Don't you? You should..." His sudden change of attitude sent something cold creeping up my spine to curl around my throat.

As we watched, Red-eyes noticed our interest. I would have been disappointed if he hadn't. He turned, nodded and raised his glass in a silent salute. The message was unmistakable.

"Well, I must be on my way. Talk to you later, mate. I'll be loking for you..." Savage said. Then he was on his way out the door. As he spilled past the bar I noticed him say something to Zeb.

It seemed I was the only one who didn't know what was going on. I didn't like being in the dark. "OK,..." I muttered and got up and headed for the... my table.

I knew the game. Hell, I wrote some of the rules. Standing in front of him that way could mean two things. I was asking for his time, or I was looking down at him. I was neither and didn't want to send the wrong message either way. So I pulled out a chair and sat down. An entirely different message... the one I wanted to send: I'm comfortable here with you and I consider us equal. Your move...

It was then I noticed how quiet it had gotten.

We looked at each other like a pair of jackyls across a watering hole. I wanted to take the edge off so I motioned to the bar for another round, never taking my eyes off my "guest."

"Vengeance" I said. He raised an eyebrow.

Our drinks arrived. We took them like it was some sort of ceremony, never taking our eyes off each other. We raised them slightly then held them, waiting for each other to take the first sip.

"My name is Vengeance," I continued. "More than a name. But I get the feeling you already know that, which puts me at a slight disadvantage, sir." I took the first sip. A sign of respect. And trust.

He nodded almost imperceptibly and took a sip.

We put our drinks down. Our eyes were still locked, unflinching. He leaned back, keeping his hands when I could see them. A return of respect.

Another nod, then he spoke.

Sqdr. Commander Joined: Aug 20, 2005 Posts: 1366

Ah. So this is Vengeance. I had to admit, I was surprised. I was kind of expecting him to be taller. But hell, he knows where its at. That look in the eyes says it all. Reminds of me.

"I do know you. You've grown quite popular in certain circles, Vengeance." I smiled briefly. "But no so much in others."

Vengeance gave me a sidelong look. He seemed keen to talk, and for the first time in a while I wasn't too bothered. In fact, this could be the first real conversation I'd had for a long time.

"Well, I tend to do some things that others don't approve of." He smiled back at me. "But then no matter what a guy does, he's certain to upset someone, somewhere. And... you still have me at a disadvantage."

As I opened my mouth to speak, the vid screen blared out with another headline.

"New reports have come in as to the wherabouts of one criminal known as "C". We are able to give an accurate description of the felon, together with the news that his capture will bring in 600,000 credits."

"Bloody hell!" I muttered. Vengeance had turned slightly to watch the screen, and when he turned back, he had the expression of a man who had won.

"Well... C is it?" He shook his head. "What in Void did you to upset people that much?"

I looked at him. I saw my reflection in his eyes... I saw a scarred, evil eyed demon looking back at me. And I decided.

It was time to talk.

"My name is Carnival." I took a long pull of my drink. "Although I've gone by many others in an effort to find myself. I've fought on all sides in every war, seen every defeat and victory... and never once felt like I'd won or lost. To say I have a colourful past is putting it mildly, friend."

Vengeance looked at me long and hard. I could tell he wanted to ask me. Why the scars? Hell, why the red eyes? Its not exactly standard.

"Well Carnival. Its good to meet you." He motioned towards the bar for another round. "Zeb, two more please. Now... You know what I want to ask."

"Ha! Yeah, its something that I probably need to get used to." I grunted, looking around to make sure there were no other patrons listening in. The barkeep, Zeb, was taking an interest, but I could hardly ask the guy to leave his own bar for my benefit. I took a deep breath and started talking. "Combat doesn't always come down to ship vs ship. Sometimes you have to board... I used to be a galaxy class legend at storming ships. Ah, but those days are long gone. I can't control myself any more."

"Control yourself?" Vengeance laughed, relaxing in his chair. "I don't need to move further away do I?" He mocked.

"Nah, I reckon you're ok where you are. Well, I didn't always look like this. In fact for a long time I didn't look like anything... you know those capes and hoods the Fallen wear when they don't want to be seen? Well, I spent a long time appearing only like that." I took another sip from my drink. "I used to be pretty much normal. Blue eyes, no scars... But then there was the accident. I boarded an AT, tried to wrest control from pilot so I could tractor it and sell it off. Fate, it seems had other ideas. The pilot managed to hit the lock release, and my fighter went drifting off into space. I was in the middle of Nomad space flying an AT with a dead body for company. Not the best of times. Well, after a while, I realised we werent moving. The ATs engines had packed in, and I was left drifting, with supplies low and only myself for company."

Vengeance looked at me in a measured way, trying to gauge the direction of my tale. "Go on."

"I got desperate... I ran out of water, out of food... so I took the pilots body out of the refigerator unit and... consumed him." I looked straight into Vengeance eyes, watching him struggle with this information. "I hated myself for it. For Gods sake, I'm a person, not a rabid dog! But it was that or die. I still hated it though. After a while the oxygen got low. I started drifting in and out of sanity... I cut myself to attone for my actions towards the AT pilot... Then I passed out. Next thing I know, a fighter has docked and some pirate is trying to kill me in my sleep. So I killed him, and took his blood before I realised what I was doing."

I smiled lazily. "And there started the downward spiral. I fought, I boarded, and I took their lives for my own benefit. After a while, I noticed the number of scars increasing. Turns out I would slash or stab myself in my sleep, as though something inside was trying to bleed its way out. As for the eyes... I don't know. The older I get the more vivid the red." I stared at him intently. "Well Vengeance, I've probably talked enough..."

His move.

Posted: July 13, 2007, 5:23 pm

The place was getting busy. Business was good. The till was ringing Zebs favourite song. The girls worked their buns off as always. Zeb smilled inwardly, "An excellent crew all round." Things had gotten a little tense for a bit, but now that Savage had moved on and Vengeance was in deep conversation with Carnival, Zeb sighed with some relief. Its not every day that former Fallen "changelings" walk into your bar. News had been that this guy was hot property when it came to flying in the Black and whatever those two were cooking up Zeb decided it was probably better not to ask.

AoF had taken a bashing. Numbers were down and the direction that things were headed did not look good. There had been a couple of hostile take over bids in the true meaning of the word and Zebs office back at Business Central had taken a beating from lasers, automatic gun fire and the occasional smart bomb. Thankfully Argh had got the tech stuff sorted out and had watched Zebs six while he had taken some time out and had gotten back into some practical "spacing". Zeb lit up a stogie and settled back to watch from the mezzanine window of the bar. Time to make a change. Time to get back to the roots and the routes. He chuckled to himself. Times were about to get pretty interesting........

Sqdr. Commander Joined: Aug 20, 2005 Posts: 1366

I glanced over at the bartender. He had been watching our conversation out of the corner of his eye, and seemed to be keeping his wits about him.

Vengeance was sitting silently in front of me, sipping his drink and staring blankly. It was starting to make me a little uncomfortable, truth be told. The lack of reaction to my less-than-standard life story was giving me the chills.

"Zebulon, is it?" I called across the room.

"Yes. What do you need?" Zeb called back.

"Would you care to join us? Bring yourself a drink, I'll pay." I smiled and gestured him over.

I saw him lean across and speak to the girl behind the bar, then he picked up his drink and started walking towards us.

1st Lieutenant Joined: Mar 17, 2007 Posts: 32

"Zebulon, is it?" brought me back with a start. It was a long way from there to here and it took a few seconds.

C's story was what took me there. A story of raw survival. It wasn't the killing, it wasn't the dying, it wasn't even the flesh-eating "madness" ... I'd been a lot of places and seen a lot of things and worse, I'd done a lot of things too. Oh no, I hadn't eaten anyone, I smiled inwardly. It was "...I took his blood..."

I glanced at C then over to the bar. Zeb was moving over to our table. I thought it over for about three milliseconds, a bit more ponderance than I usually put into most premeditated action. As Zeb was pulling out a chair I bowed my head and reached up toward my face, popped out my contact lenses. Yeah, contact lenses... you could still get them in the right hole in the right alley. No one actually needed them anymore. No one, that is, who needed to have their sight fixed...

Zeb settled into his seat as I looked up at C. He eyed me curiously for a moment... literally... then his expression changed and his eyes widened. I stared back through red eyes of my own.

Zeb looked between us, seemingly knowing there was something there, not sure exactly what it was. Then he saw the C was looking at, leaned back and muttered "Mother o' God..."

"Ever killed a Nomad, Brother" I asked in a quiet tone? "Not in the way we usually do, that cold push-a-button-and-watch-him-burn way. I mean killed him?"

Zeb looked at me and shook his head almost imperceptibly. C just looked at me.

"It's a most...satisfying thing," I started. "It sort of takes you by surprise, the way it feels. You get all warm, like something's soaking into you, like your thermostat got turned up. Never felt that before, or since. I don't know what came over me that night. I'd boarded a wreck in Omicron Gamma, in that thick green radio-active cloud. Sensors said there were some nifty weapons on board. There was something else too.

"Naturally, the AG was dead as the rest of the ship. I'd floated down the short corridor from the docking port to the hold and there it was, pawing through the pods like it was looking for someting. It spun around but in the weightlessness and it kind of kept going for a second. It reached for a knife but I was on it before it could turn back on me. We twisted in all directions at once as we grappled in the stale air. It had its blade in its hand and I had its hand in mine. As we crashed into the bulkhead its hand hit the steel hard. Its grip loosened for all the time it took for me to snatch the knife for myself. I raked the blade across its throat and its dark blood spilled out in weird blobs, hanging there between us. I took the chance to stab it over and over as it gurgled through the slit. I kept stabbing it til it stopped moving. I don't know, maybe I stabbed it a few times more."

Zeb stared at me like he'd never seen me before. I dunno, maybe he hadn't, not this me anyway.

I continued. "I was shaking. I'd never seen one before except through the canopy once. It was ugly as hell but weirdly human too, like a caricature. I looked down at the blade in my hand, at the blood on it, the blood on my glove. Then for some reason I'll never know, I reached up and licked the blood off the blade.

"It was sweet, I remember. I liked it." This brought a slight grin to C's lips. "I caught a glob of it with the knife as it floated by and I brought it to my lips, tasted it again. I still liked it." A nod. "As I reached for another I heard the proximity alarm echo down from my ship. I launched myself through the corridor and up into my Viper. A quick look at the panel and I knew... Nomads. Lots of Nomads. I don't know how I got out of there and through the hole into the Unknown system to Gammu but I did."

Zeb was sweating. C watched me, looking deep into a place few could see.

"The Robots didn't care what I looked like. I made my way to the head. I was alone... robots only put them there for us, they don't need them. I washed myself off as best I could Then I noticed it. My eyes were red. Not bloodshot-red. Red-red. I splashed water on my face, in my eyes but no matter, they stayed red. Finally I dried myself off. In the mirror I noticed the blade in my belt. I pulled it out. It wasn't like anything I'd ever seen before. Balanced, shining almost like it had a life of its own. The Nomad blood ran down the blade. I washed it off. But it stayed red. It looked like I'd never tried, like the blood was still wet. It's still like that."

I reached down to my belt and pulled it out. C jumped back and produced a blade of his own so fast I never saw where it came from. Zeb jumped back so fast his chair crashed to the floor.

The place froze like a holopic. I sat there, holding my blade up next to my face. It shone with its inner glow, reflecting the bar lights off the steel and pummel. I just sat there, cold eyes and cold steel, looking at C, our red eyes locked on each other.

"So, Brother, tell me about that knife of yours."

Sqdr. Commander Joined: Aug 20, 2005 Posts: 1366

I listened in rapture to Vengeance, visualising every scene as he told his story. It was familiar, and yet so totally alien. I'd done the same, felt the same, tasted the same blood, but it was the fact that someone else was describing it. I stared into the deep red eyes of Vengeance, almost shaking with excitement.

Someone else... I'm not alone. I'm not alone, he's felt it, he knows!

I forced myself to calm down and held my own blade close to my face.

"The more you use it... the more blood you need. This has gotten me out of a lot of trouble... and has caused even more, but I can't get rid. Never. The only thing is... the blood never washes off." I looked down the length of the blade, examining the deep scarlet stains. As I spoke a drop of blood dripped off the shining edge and fell to the floor. "It never, ever, washes off."

Vengeance was looking at me with a deep knowing stare. I wondered, then felt a desperate urge to ask. Would he tell me though? Had he ever done what I'd done? Did he experience the same things?

"Tell me brother, for I MUST know... your dreams. Are they pleasant? Are they quiet?" I leaned forward over the table and held the knife against my cheek. "Have you boarded another mans ship, killed him and taken his life into your blood stream? Do you wake up every night to find a fresh scar and a new wound? I can hear them talking even now."

I stared deep into Vengeance's eyes. "If ever you've wondered... we have souls. The Nomad... I've not heard it. It hasn't spoken to me once. But the others... they're always there. And they want to get out."

I smiled slightly and leaned back again, settling myself back into my chair.

"Last night. I was back in that AT. The pilot was struggling. I know why now, of course I do. When I killed him, he made no noise. I'd never really thought about it until recently. He was silent, and though he struggled, he didn't cry out." I took my jacket off, and rolled up the sleeve of my shirt. "He seemed to be... fading. Fuzzy, almost. Like he wasn't real. But of course he was. I have his blood running through my veins now."

I looked down at the huge knife wound covering my upper arm. Even after so many years of treatment and healing, it was livid and red.

"His blood tasted sweet. So sweet... it was an open invitation to addiction." I gestured towards the vidscreen. "You know that first plot by the Nomads, getting Rheinland officals to declare war and suchlike? They can control us humans from the inside. Don't ask me how, but they do. Its a human body, but the personality, the chemistry... the blood... Nomad through and through.

"I didn't even know at the time. Hell, to me he was a pilot, I was a desperate man on the edge of death. Maybe thats why I didn't stop... He was just a man after all." My expression fell, and I looked downwards, at the blade I still held in my hand. "The others... their blood wasn't sweet. It tasted like copper. Unless I killed them with the blade... then it was the sweetest thing you've ever tasted..."

I glanced over at Zeb, who seemed on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Judging by his expression he was either going to run or make an attempt to kill both of us.

"So Vengeance, it looks like you have two questions to answer. The first... the first I've already asked." I placed my blade on the table, keeping my eyes fixed on him. "The second; what do you intend to do now you know about me?"

1st Lieutenant Joined: Mar 17, 2007 Posts: 32

Poor Zeb. He looked like he was about to topple over. I could almost hear him thinking... "Just when you think you know a bloke..."

"Zeb, ol buddy!" I slapped him on the shoulder. "How about another round. Your best port this time, eh? You know, the good stuff you and Wolf keep under the bar?" The glaze began to slide from his eyes. Business is business and that's Zeb's primary language. "Right!" and he as he rose from the table.

"Oh yeah, speaking of Wolf, I still have some news for you. Bring the bottle, will you?"

"Do you now? I'll be right back." He hesitated, eying the two blades on the table. "Now you boys play nice, alright?"

C and I glanced at each other, up to Zeb, back at each other again. Then as if we'd practiced it, we growled. Zeb peered at us, about to say something when C and I burst out laughing. "Oh funny, that." and threw up his hands. "Right proper comedians, you two..." and off he went to the bar, grumbling something about needing better entertainment around here.

I looked over at C and then down at the knives. I kept my faced averted as I spoke.

"No, I haven't. Never have, though I can't say I haven't wanted to. It's a calling, a thirst, an addiction waiting to happen. But I can't go there, brother." I looked up at him, shook my head. "I can't. No offense, man, but you're the reason why. Never met you before, never laid eyes on you, but somehow I knew that's what it'd be like."

His steady gaze was unnerving. I couldn't read it, had no idea what he was thinking, if I'd offended him or not. What the hell, you're in it now... I thought.

"Look at you, brother. You're consumed. You're still a man, far as I can see, but I can see inside. You know what the rest see. They don't but you do. They have no idea what they're looking at but they fear it. Hell, I fear it. But at least I understand it. I've always known that's what waited down that road. And I won't go there. I can't."

He continued looking at me with that searching, inscrutable gaze. All I could tell was that he was troubled. Deep down, he was troubled in the way a man warring with himself is troubled. Suddenly the fear melted. It must have shown on my face.

"I don't want your pity!" he growled. "Save that for the next poor soul who loses himself to my blade." His voice rose. "Damm you!"

"Easy now," I said. I'd found myself walking a razor's edge. "Don't mistake me. Just because I won't go there doesn't mean I don't want to."

He settled back, shook his head, smiled. "Yes, I imagine you do. And do you dream? You haven't answered."

The memories seeped in, unbidden. It was my turn... "Damm you..." I said, in an entirely different tone. "Yes, I dream. Ugly, hollow dreams. Dreams from another place, dreams that pull me in and won't let go. Dreams of a black hole, a swirling maelstrom where that Nomad and I fight over and over. It grins at me, laughs as I kill it. Laughs from somewhere deep inside of me, an empty mocking laugh that sucks me down into that black hole."

He nodded. I continued. "That's why I fight it,. That's why I won't give in to it. That's why I wreak my Vengeance on whatever poor wretch finds himself on my list. Someone's got to pay. Someone always does. But their souls, I let them go." I chuckled morbidly. "It's too crowded already."

He nodded again. "Alright. So, now what?" He glanced meaningfully at the Vidscreen that seemed to talk about nothing else but the monster loose in Sirius. I followed, then our eyes locked.

I gave a curt shake of head as I decided. Then I snatched up my blade and in one lightning motion drove it deep into the table top with a thud, inches from his own. I held it there, my fist on the grip as I challenged him with my eyes. "Now I'll not kill alone, I suppose."

He nodded again, and in a move even quicker than mine drove his blade deeper into the table so steel touched steel, blood touched blood. "No. You won't."

Zeb stepped up with a tray set with a bottle and three glasses. He looked down at the table, the knives with our fists on the pommels. He shook his head mournfully.

"There goes a perfectly good table." he moaned. Then he put down the tray, poured three stout portions, handed one each to me and my new brother. Then he sat, taking up his own glass. He lifted it, then drew from it deeply. Setting down his glass, he look at me and asked, "So what's this about Wolf?"

Sqdr. Commander Joined: Aug 20, 2005 Posts: 1366

I smiled inwardly as Zeb came back from the bar. The man had a skill. He could recover from anything in short order, and thats something I respect in a guy. He'd just sat through one of the most nightmarish conversations known to man, and now he was fine.

Vengeance and I had plunged our blades into the table top, the metal scraping as they touched. It was good not to feel alone. It was good to have a brother in arms, and in soul.

As I mused, Zeb stood next to us and looked down at the knives protruding from the table top.

"There goes a perfectly good table." He moaned. He put down the drinks and took a long pull. "So whats this about Wolf?"

I looked at him, then at Vengeance. I hadn't been asked to leave, and there was another drink in front of me... I guess I was finally going to hear about the well known Watchwolf.

Posted: July 18, 2007, 10:21 am

This was not the sort of day that he had planned. Sure, things were about to get interesting, but in a way that "interesting" had never been defined in any dictionary that Zeb had ever picked up. Red Eyes. They always took a bit of getting used to. Oddly enough it was the fact that Vengeance had used contact lenses to hide them that had taken Zeb by surprise. The knife play was always on the slow side round here and Zeb had just gotten used to the fact that the technology of Arghs had made the "Hair of the Wolf" a little safer than most bars in this quadrant, but there are some things that you can still get round. Zeb felt the hidden sheath by his right thigh. His own blade was a composite carbon plastic with a decorated bone handle, no metal parts. Registered on most scanners as "scar tissue and bone". In the right hands this weapon could puncture any armour, bar solid titanium or plate steel. He had only used it once in anger.

His shock at the tales told by C and Vengeance came from his own face to face with the Nomads and their minions. It had been many years ago but the memory was a recurring nightmare that sat in the back closet of Zebs, ever so tidy mind. It was his one and only "BOO!" factor. It had been a normal, run of the mill plod about New York. Weapons, Machine Parts, Luxury Goods and the occasional passenger. He had taken a family of three "pilgrims" as they had called themselves, a father, mother and teenage boy on a flight to Ptolomey in Alexandria. The father had an odd twitch about him that, at the time, Zeb had failed to register as a problem. That kind of twitch was now registered in Zebs mind as a Kill on Sight issue.

Flight had been fine. Heading for Barsine things got real nasty real quick. There was a comotion in the cargo compartment of the Zeuge and the alarms had triggered, auto pilot was set so Zeb grabbed the gat from the rack and headed for the hold. The scene in front of him as he entered the hold was a little bizarre. Marcus Deely , Zebs engineer, was on the deck in a pool of blood. At first it looked as if he had fallen as his body was all twisted about. "What the fu....?" Crouching over the body was the boy, or at least what appeared to be the boy. There was a writhing motion under the kids clothing. He turned and faced Zeb. Zeb gasped.

Now you hear all sorts of tales out here in the Black and there is always someone around, who, for the price of a beer, will try and tell you one that will scare you witless. This was the first one Zeb had seen face to face.
The boys head was more like a hat as the large and long tenticle protruded from what had beeen a mouth in the boys face. There was blood everywhere. The eyes had rolled back in their sockets and there was an odd keening sound coming from the creature. Over his initial shock, Zeb let rip with the gat. The boys body shattered into blood, flesh and bone, but it was just like peeling an orange. What was underneath was far from pleasant! The keening sound grew to a high pitched wail. Zeb kept firing. All he could think of was "thank God for low velocity plasma based rounds". The remains of the creature slumped into a pile of puss and slime that stank to high heaven. "Now, where are the other two?"

Luckily the bridge of the ship had a security system that contained a few surprises that automatically set as soon as Zeb left the cockpit. The Klaxon sounded, and the syrupy female voice announced, "Intruder alert. Bridge is under attack. Intruder alert. Defence systems activated."

Zeb turned on his heels and ran back towards the bridge. In the narrow corridor he could make out two figures by the cockpit entrance, the door had sealed but not before the laser system had cut the woman in half. Again the same scene of a human body cracked open like a broken fortune cookie and the remains of a still living creature writhing and wailing. The other one stood and faced Zeb. His eyes had rolled back and his body was twitching all over. Zeb raised the gun and fired. The man moved with agility. leaping up to grab an overhead conduit. The last remaining rounds hit the already wounded critter in the deck and then the gat went dead.

They say these things happen in slow motion although they apparently only take a few seconds to play out. Zeb felt like he was moving through thick mud. He threw away the useless gat and grabbed for his blaster. At the same time the Nomad swung straight for Zeb, feet first. It caught Zeb square in the chest, knocking him backwards into the bulkhead. The blaster spilled from his hand and clattered down the corridor behind the creature, who had reached for the now prone Zeb. Zeb rolled and sprung to his feet, inches from the Nomads grasp. Thankfully this thing was still vaguely human, no tenticles yet. Zeb guessed that any transformation took a bit of effort and strenght that this character was not prepared to expend and it was just going to take care of Zeb the old fashioned way. It came at him again, all sightless eyes and drool, grasping and kicking out at him with grotesque puppet like motions. Zeb pulled one of the manual fire extinguishers off the wall and swung it at the creatures head. It didnt duck. There was a sickening crunch as the skull split and the neck broke. It still kept coming at him. A stink filled the air and the lolling head started to convulse as tenticles tried to push up out of the neck cavity. A sickening pop sound as the head swung to one side still attached by the human flesh as the creature fought to be free of the body. Zeb took his moment and lept at the creature, with the only things left in his arsenal, one combat knife and his wits.

It was a mess. Nomad physiology was not one of Zebs top subjects. He punched and cut and sliced all he could. The tenticles grabbed at him. He did watch for the ones with the venom injection teeth. This much he did know, one of those gets you and its lights out time. Two of the temticles lay severed on the floor. The top of the human torso had now started to split as the slug like creature swung its remaining venemous tenticle at Zeb. The knife struck home. Zeb had no idea where it had punctured but it felt good. The blade bit in hard. It took Zeb a good minute to realise that he was still stabbing at a now lifeless Nomad corpse. Despite his apparent calm train of thought he could feel himself hyperventilating in a very detached manner, like it wasnt happening to him. He suddenly felt tired and he slumped to the floor.

As with all things some good comes out of terrible situations. Zeb was alive and the AoF emergency beacon had activated. The ship had dropped out of the jump rings. This had been an automatic proceedure on most of the AoF craft as there was no need to attract the unwanted attention of the law when things went a bit "pear shaped". Mostly this was to avoid legal issues and piles of paperwork along with the inevitabel fines and bribes to be paid. Next thing Zeb knew was that he was lying in a bed, medic droids and beeping sounds all around. Argh was sitting next to the bed. "Aha! You are up! About freekin' time you lazy SOB...!" His infectious grin made Zeb realise two things. He was alive and the nightmares were over, at least for now.

Zeb tried to speak, but couldn't. Arghs face became serious. " Buddy you just had a lucky escape. The "Phoebe" is in dry dock. I got the Cleaner to remove any trace of those beasties. No questions asked. The Law started sniffing around but we told them it was a breakdown and the AoF lawyers are dealing with the police and the insurance folks. They wanted to see your medical reports but we are treating those as confidential right now. Mikey in Accounts is working on a false set to satisfy the paperwork and the Law."
Zeb raised his head. "Nope, buddy you sit still and dont move a muscle. You took a scratch from one of the beasts. The doc reckons you will be fine, but they are a worried looking bunch. Seems no one has survived a full on tangle with Nomad incursions like this, so we are keeping it "in house". Can't have you carted off to the nearest research facility can we...." Arghs voice trailed off as Zeb started to fall back into a deep sleep.

Back to the bar. Zeb sat with the other two. They downed the port. "Whats this all about ?..." The question hung in the air. "Look, the only difference between us is that I didn't drink the blood. I remain in the category of "normal" for now, but whatever that venom did, I might never know as the docs have no idea. Odd things happen. My hearing is a little keener than before and I still retain the stamina I had twenty years ago." Vengeance and C both grinned at Zeb. "Mucky devils! You know what I mean...!" Zeb had to smile despite himself. "I get the urge to kill Nomads after what happend. I find that all my efforts have been poured into the AoF and I have avoided the worst of clan politics till now. Things are a little unsettled of late and this place is one of the few havens that I have from all the wildness out there in the Void, but it still has a draw and a call. I do crazy things just to feed the craving to fight." Vengeance nodded, "That explains your commission with the Navy then does it?" C grunted and raised one eyebrow. Zeb looked uncomfortable, "How did you know about that?" Vengeance laughed. "Its your fighting style, or at least the lack of it that gave that game away!" C joined in the laughter and Zeb couldnt help himself.

To any onlooker this would be an odd scene indeed. Three people sitting at a table. Two of them looking like they would eat you as soon as look at you and the third, tidy dressed and with an air of ownership about him, drinking and laughing casualy at a joke between friends.

Vengeance nodded in satisfaction, "My friend, things are about to get interesting...."

1st Lieutenant Joined: Mar 17, 2007 Posts: 32

Zeb’s story was enlightening to say the least. I’d listened, rapt. I’d had no idea he’d been around so much. His almost mild demeanor lied, I decided.

Their faces were expectant. “Well…?Just how interesting?" Zeb prompted. C raised an eyebrow.

“I went back to the Park,” I began. “Where I found Wolf’s ship. What a beauty. And I tell you, she doesn’t just talk, I swear she cried. She kept asking about the Boss. Wolf, I figure. When I went to climb out the hatch closed on me. No joke! Shut me in. Demanded I take her to the Boss. I had to explain long and hard that I was trying to find him. She made me promise to bring him to her right away before the hatch would open.”

Zeb nodded. C stared.

I looked at him with a grin. “It’s a long story… Here.” I pulled out the data pad with Wolf’s journal in it, passed it over. “Check this out, maybe it’ll help.”

He took it and tucked it in his jacket. “Later…”

“Zeb reached over and poured another drought of Port, pushed it toward me, looked at me pointedly.

“OK. So when I was leaving the hangar I ran into this weasel guy again. He was all excited and jumping up and down like his panties were on fire. I heard him yelling at the security guard about some guy named Mike. And Wolf! He wanted to know where they went.”

“Geez!” Zeb breathed. “He’s got to be close by!”

“That’s what I figured. So I followed the little guy. He’s a quick little rat, though, and I lost him.”

“”Drat!” Zeb exclaimed. He opened his mouth to say something else when the door flew open with a crash.

Everyone stopped and started at the shadow in the doorway. Then he staggered forward, as raggedy a guy as I had ever seen. My mind had just registered that I knew this guy when a voice bellowed:

“ZEB!”

Posted: July 19, 2007, 1:07 am

Once it started there was no stopping it. Memories flooded my aching mind like the sea into a sinking ship. I was drowning, caught in an undertow of images, feelings and dreams. I moaned as I was dragged down into the abyss.

To lose your memory is to lose yourself. But regaining it is not at all like finding yourself. It's like finding a stranger within you. It didn't take me long to see this guy was a piece of work.

Waking up in a dirty barroom latrine, wondering if I was dead... watching one ship tear down the whole Liberty fleet like it was made of paper... learning the ropes, as tangled as they were, from a guy named Pit Viper... dying at the hands of some gun happy rogue and waking up again... hopping from ship to ship with just a thought... Monkeys who know more about me than I do... a ship that talks, smart cracks and all... picking up a fugitive, delivering him in New York... getting the crap beat outta me for my trouble... watching him disappear into a giant sign... trying to follow... more darkness... fighting Death himself and killing him... being hauled in front of men of power who weren't men at all... dreams, awful dreams...bloodthirsty nightmares of killing and dying... a long dark journey into a forgotten corner of my soul... sitting down with Death for a drink and a game of dice... fighting him hand to hand, blade to blade... looking Death in the eye and watching him die... feeling myself die with him... feeling as though I was ripped apart... watching myself walk away as I lie helpless on the floor... waking up in the hold of a dirty ship... a friend who'd sell his soul for me,... a "friend" who tried to sell my soul... opening my own bar... being dragged out of the ship... a Shadows ship!... running a pub for the best time of my life... running from a bar for my life... a gunfight with Shadows... a gunfight in the shadows... Nomads... so many Nomads... where did they come from... a Nomad gun... a Nomad ship... a walk to the Star Park... running from the Star park... a man in the shadows... so familiar... hiding in the shadows... grabbed from behind... pulling him into the alley... desperate struggle... the sound of cracking glass... the sound of my cracking skull... ... hands lifting me... tying me... a long painful ride... more darkness... more pain... faces... Mike... who the hell is Mike... memories... a flood of memories... Mike...

I opened my eyes. "MIKE!"

There was no one there. I was alone in a small dreary room.

Nomads... so many Nomads...

I tore open the door, ran down the hall, grabbed the first person I saw. A woman with way too much paint on her face and way too little clothes on her way too skinny frame.

"Where am I?"

"You lost, Mister? You drunk? Or just crazy?"

"Yes! I mean, no! I mean... where ARE we? I mean, exactly!"

"Hotel Attenborough. New London City. South East 12400. About a kilometer from the East Star Park. Why?"

Nomads...

"What time is it... no, what day? What ... oh hell... what's the date?"

"I got plenty of time, Sweetheart...." she winked at me.

"WHAT DAY IS IT!?"

"7 Seventeen 807," she pouted.

"Schutz!"

“Well excuse me!”

I ran down the stairs, out into the street. The night was clear and cold. Like a slap in the face, it helped. I looked around, got my bearings. Yes, there was the Star Park. There was the Tower. I turned to my right... "This way!" I yelled to no one and took off running.

Nomads! O gawd... so many fookin' Nomads!

The narrow alleys were the best way I knew. I flew through them like a winter storm. People dodged out of the way. Lights in windows streaked past, uncaring. They'd seen it all before. Another fool on the run.

There! The sign. The door.

I burst through the door, panting. The light was blinding, the air warm, smelling of bread and ale.

I stepped inside and looked around desperately at the shocked faces all turned my way, all frozen in a moment of time...

I took a deep breath...

"ZEB!"

Posted: July 19, 2007, 9:10 am

The shout from the ragged man in the door way caused a distinct and immediate silence. Vengeance had stopped the glass of port mid way to his mouth. C had turned slowly to peer at the figure in the doorway with his blood red eyes. Far to many others in the bar were paying attention to man for Zeb's liking. Quick as a flash he nodded to the Bouncers and they quietly moved into positions of cover making sure that the newcomer had room to manouver. Zeb was out of his chair and across the room towards the tattered figure. "Wolf?"

Wolf's eyes were wide. He grasped both of Zebs forearms. "Nomads! Its the Nomads, they are doing this to me!"

Zeb led the Wolf to the back office. Without an invite and without even a flinch, the other two followed. C watched to the rear. Wolf was muttering now, and the bar went back about its business. As they walked past the counter, Zeb leaned towards Liz and Vikki. "Check for observers and watch the room for anything of interest. Get me the playback from the security feed. I want to know if there were any overly interested parties in our little exchange." They both nodded silently. Zeb moved the Wolf onto the big leather sofa in the office. He gestured to C. "Shut the door, please." Zeb grabbed a stool and sat opposite Wolf. Vengeance grabbed a comfy chair and C stood behind Vengeance, covering the door.

Wolf had calmed down. He definately recognised Zeb, the other two looked kinda familiar. Truth was he felt safe, at least for now. Zeb reached over and pressed the coms button on the desk. " Cherry, can you bring in Wolf's usual, the man looks half starved."

"Right oh, boss. Will do!" came the reply from the kitchen.

Wolf started to talk. Zeb got him to skip over the stuff that Zeb had remembered from the journal. As Wolf was talking, Zeb noticed something in the top left shoulder pocket of Wolf's flight jacket. He gestured to Wolf to take it out. Wolf did it and handed it to Zeb. It was a card, almost lilke a business card. The holographic image was very clear and Zeb sighed. He reached into his wallet and produced a very similar card.

"I've seen the Non-Men. I have visited with the Guardians of the Viod. Seems we have more in common than you knew...."

Zeb noticed the other two starring. He went back to talking to Wolf. "Vengeance found your ship. She is all safe and well, just missing you. There have been a few changes but nothing too serious."
Wolf nodded to the big guy who was pretending to be mildy disinterested. "Many thanks my friend, I thought I had lost her for good....."

Zeb was worried. The Respawn Pop, as Zeb called it, had taken Wolf badly. It took a lot of getiing used to. Life upon Life upon Life...or at least thats how it felt,

Cherry walked in with a plate of food and the conversation from Wolf stopped for a bit. Zeb and the others let Wolf eat.......

Sqdr. Commander Joined: Aug 20, 2005 Posts: 1366

"So, is someone gonna fill me in?" I asked. "Men don't act like that cos they've just been on a pleasure cruise."

"I think we will have to let him explain it himself," Vengeance said. "He needs to recharge first. You can see he is past the point of exhaustion."

I examined Wolf out of the corner of my eye as I spoke. He seemed on the edge of sanity, something had ripped him apart on the inside. He was relieved to be back, I could tell but... What the hell is that?!

I heard a crash come from the kitchen, and bolted through the door.

"Vengeance, don't let him die man. Don't even think about it." I ran into the kitched to find one of the girls struggling to fend off a tall robed and hooded figure. She smashed it in the head with a tray and ran behind me. It hissed and stared at me, sizing me up.

"To hell with this." I wasn't pulling any punches with this thing. I took my blade out of its sheath at my side and held it in front of me. "Get out, or I swear I won't be responsible for my actions."

The figure stared at the knife, and then at my eyes.

"Abomination." It growled, and leapt toward me, arms outstretched. A hand grabbed at my shoulder as I thrust forward with the blade, and I felt hot pain searing through me.

"Aaaargh, thats it you piece of scum!" I rammed the thing backwards and stabbed upwards into its chest. It staggered back and started screeching. Deep, dark blood seeped out onto the floor.

"You, girl. Get into the back room and tell the others its been taken care of."

"But -"

"Now." I snarled as I advanced on the creature bleeding its life out all over the floor. "So... what are YOU then?"

I raised the hood and stared into the mans eyes. As I watched his features began to fade. His eyes, mouth, nose, they all blurred and began disappearing in front me. The body too was becoming blurry and insubstantial. As I watched I noticed that some of his blood was still on the knife.

"DO IT."

The voice was like a hurricane ripping through my mind. I put the blade up to my face and licked the blood off. I looked at the slowly fading body of my bloody victim and smiled.

When the girl came back in, she stared at the floor in disbelief.

"Where did he go? Wheres all the blood?" She asked, looking around fearfully.

"I cleaned up." I pushed past her and rejoined the guys in the back room. Vengeance took one look at my eyes and shook his head. He leaned over to me.

"We need to do something about you." He looked pointedly at my eyes again. "They're even worse."

"The intruders dead. And I really, really want to know what the hell is happening." I leaned against the wall and started playing with the knife, watching blood drop off the blade, and catching it on my hand. "Wolf, you're safe again."

He turned to me, and looked hard at my face. He turned away again and opened his moutn...