Hair of the Wolf: Open for Business

[SAVAGE]

I enter the bar and the whole world seemed to stop and stare.  This was gonna be a difficult time for a guy with my "colourful" past.  Behind me, stood clanmates from a time now past with only glorious memories of battle, they appeared as only shadows in the dim light eminating from the entrance.
       I stepped forward alone as my shadows eased away and slipped once again into the night.  Hopefully, the day will come again,where we shall kill, side by side.
       As I met every stare with one of my own I could see a few familiar faces in the crowd.   "time for a drink" , I said to myself.
       I took the furthest away seat that I could find, to give every person a chance to have a good look.  I collapsed on to my seat, exhausted from my journey back.  
      "Now that I'm back,I am here to stay", I thought to myself as I waited for that first drink in a very long time.

[Arch_Vile]

hey u got my fav all time beer,zonsberg dude...?and yeah u got food arnd here? gimme some hot n spicy crispy nomad plz...all this fighting and flying arnd made me thirsty and hungry man..hmm btw nice bar u got here so are the ladies......  :D

[Zebulon]

Viki stepped up to the bar as she always did and produced a bottle of the finest Zonsberg - this stuff was like liquid gold and this customer had expensive tastes that was for sure.....As to the ladies, well take a look around (Page1 &2) make yourself at home and settle in.... just dont upset the regulars  ;)

The conversation with Vengeance paused. A strange look came over his face, it was almost like a 6th sense had cut in.  "Whats up?" asked Zeb.

The Big Man remained still. He shook his head and stared at Zeb. "Someone has just entered the bar and it gives me a feeling.  The kind of feeling I haven't had in a long time. I'm gonna go look."

Zeb followed Vengeance out to the bar where Viki was flirting with some dude in fancy clothes, a well dressed sort, one that seemed to have an eye for good beer and the ladies.  As they scanned the bar, Vengeance gripped Zebs arm.  "There! In the corner booth by the fire."

Zeb turned his attention to the figure in the shady part of the bar.  He was big. Even bigger than Vengeance, or at least thats how he appeared.  Lil' Liz had just served the guy a large pale Corsair Ale, not the kind of wet pee that some of the weaker drinkers here consumed, but some serious beverage.  Lil Liz passed by and gave Zeb one of her "knowing" looks. "Boss, he's not any trouble. Quiet spoken and deep, but I sense a great disturbance in the man. Too much killing but with a hint of more to come. He's a deep spacer - he's been out there a Long Time...." she went about her business.

Three Zoners gulped their drinks, glanced at the corner and then hastily left the bar. "Im gonna say Hi" said Zeb. Back me up mate but stay out of sight." Vengeance nodded.

As Zeb approached the booth the stranger looked up.  Zeb did not falter though his heart jumped. That look. That long lost deep space disconnected nihilistic sadness just hit you.  Quietly Zeb sat down opposite the man. He was dressed not unlike the Corsairs. Loads of exotic animal skins. The face was sharp of feature and the eyes burned like coals in a fire.  The stranger sized up Zeb but didnt move. Zeb was relieved to see that both hands were on the table holding the beer.

"Good evening to you. Just thought I would introduce myself as the owner." Zeb hinted at a smile, "your making a few of the customers nervous. Heck! Your making me nervous!"  There was a grunt from the stranger, and what may even have been a sidelong grin. "Believe me," continued Zeb, "some of them deserve to be nervous."

The man remained silent. Zeb pressed on. "Anyway, I'll leave you in peace. There is enough Corsair Ale behind the bar to sink a fleet so feel free to enjoy. Before I go I would like to give you this..." Zeb placed the microcard on the table. "Its got all you will need to know about my organisation. Men like you are rare in this place and I'd rather have you by my side or akin to it, rather than against it."  Zeb got up to leave, but then the stranger spoke.

"My name, landlord, is Savage.  I have been away for to long. Black Space consumes the soul. It eats a man alive till he knows no life, just death and the thirst for it.  I have killed.  I have been killed. I will kill. But for now I am at rest.  I seek a new way, a path to my solitute and saving.  I have shed the blood of many who have crossed my path, with little or no thought.  Be glad that you are still alive. Be assured that if I stand by your side many will fear your clan.  If I choose to oppose you, then beware for my wrath is great.  I thank you for your kindness as little has been shown to me, but I have given little also.  I am content for the moment and happy that your establishment is pleased with my presence..."

Zeb blinked in astonishment.  He could have sworn that on that last line the figure was almost laughing at him.

"... I will remain here for the time being and enjoy watching Siriusians go about their business.  Zebulon Antarxes, I will let you know where I stand for you are a direct and clear headed man and it would grieve me to kill you, but dont think I wont."

Zeb could see Vengeance getting ready to move. Zeb gestured to remain still.  "Thank you Savage for being clear. You can remain here. Just dont frighten the girls or terrify the customers into leaving. "

Zeb moved back to the bar.  Vengeance raised an eyebrow. "I know him and his sort." whispered Vengeance.
"He's DTA or Im a Zoner!"  Zeb nodded. "That he might be my friend, but what pressence. Even just to have him as an independant source of information...." Zeb trailed off into thought, took a cigar from the stack and headed for his office.

[SAVAGE]

"What now," I thought to myself.  "I hate trading and with my rep it would take a while to get to some of the lucrative missions".     Just then, I overheard 2 guys, talking, no panicking.  Something about a "new war.......how can we defend ourselves......outnumbered.............we need help"
      A smile crept across my face, the next move was as clear to me as the empty glass in front of me.   I motioned to the landlord that I required his attention.   As he came over I could sense an uneasiness about him, I could tell that I was being watched from the dark shadows that filled every corner of the room.
      "Landlord, let it be known that I am no longer rogue, from this day on my service shall be available for hire",  " if you need to contact me, you know where to find me."
       As I spoke my last word I swear I could see a wry smile on his face.I stood up and made my way to the exit.  I had enter as a rogue hated by many, now I was leaving as a merc.

[Carnival]

As I entered the bar seemed to be quiet. A few shady characters were nursing their ales in the darker corners of the room; the few that gave me any attention seemed to dislike me on sight. No matter, I wasn't here to make any friends as such.

"I'll take the strongest drink you've got." The girl behind the bar poured out a glass of pure amber liquid, and I placed my credits on the bar. "Keep the change."

"Thank you sir."

I wandered over to an unoccupied corner and began to sip my drink. Well, things have certainly changed in these parts. I mused to myself. Last time I was here there were far fewer girls. Its definately improved in that respect. I looked up at the holoscreen above the bar and grinned to myself. Another headline describing a ruthless Rogue was splashed all over it.

Good grief. A man known only as "C", previous identities at the moment unknown? I DO hope they find him in time. I started laughing quietly to myself, causing a few other patrons to look at me. Oh come on, I look nothing like that. Since when did I have long hair? BLONDE long hair? Man, thats stupid. Ok, the build is right, but apart from that... And wings? Well, I guess from an angle... nah thats ridiculous.

"Hey buddy... you know anything about that guy?" A tall guy in a battered jumpsuit called out to me, startling me out of my reverie.

"Well, hes not blonde, has fairly short spiked hair, has a hell of a lot more upper body muscle than the guy they're showing up there, and doesn't have wings. I mean, wings? Really? Thats just stupid. Oh, and for the record, he doesn't wear a jumpsuit. Its usually a black leather jacket with the collar turned up." I said without looking at him. "And his eyes are red and he's covered in scars. Happy hunting."

"How the hell do you know all that?" The guy asked quietly, staring at me intently. No doubt he was waiting for me to stand up and declare that I knew him, and would help him hunt the man down.

"I'm sure you'll work it out. Probably best to leave him alone for the moment. No doubt he wants some quiet time to himself. Maybe have a drink, relax." I turned and stared at him. "In fact I'm positive he wants to be left alone for the moment."

The man looked at me intently. I stared back defiantly, already wondering if I would have to make a quick escape. Suddenly, he stood and walked past me.

"Be seeing you." He said, turning round briefly to scrutinise me once again.

"Oh I very much doubt it." Smiling, I returned to my drink...

[-Vengeance-]

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...

[Carnival]

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...

[-Vengeance-]

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.

[Carnival]

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.

[Zebulon]

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........

[Carnival]

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.

[-Vengeance-]

"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."

[Carnival]

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?"

[-Vengeance-]

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?"

[Carnival]

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.