Loa Blood

[SwampThing]

The Coda Corporation is quick to make a press release that Monolith, along with several of the other superheroes from the morning's fire, are working for them.

At the Coda building, Mr. Thomas Thorne, Head of Security, addresses his new employees. Even inside the offices, he still wears his dark glasses, and metal earpiece.

"The shipment you'll be guarding arrives on Monday. No one wants another Dracon Island, so all of our Loa Blood is stored and tested out in the desert. We'll have a significant military escort this time, to our secure research facility outside the city. You will act as their back-up.

"In the meantime, you were also hired to investigate the information leak that led the Killer Bees to our last shipment. Aside from the company director and myself, there were only a few people who knew where and when that shipment was coming in."

An overhead prjector shows pictures of each of Thorne's suspects.

"The harbour master keeps an office down at the docks.

"The Draconian Intelligence agents in town stay at the Regency Hotel with their King, but in their off hours you can find them down at the refugees' beach camp.

"The High Admiral works out of the navy base south of the city, and lives on an estate nearby.

"Any of them could be bribed, blackmailed, or coerced into giving information to the Killer Bees. The police are investigating the matter, but they're very busy these days, and we don't have much time. Besides which, I believe your own methods of investigation will be more effective.

"I have sidearms for each of you (except Monolith), and radio headsets. If you require any further information or equipment, I am here to help you."

 

[SpectralDragoon]

Dex pays keen attention to the presentation and slide show even though he has taken a lazed position in his chair. He pays most attention to the suspects during Thorne's briefing and at the conclusion takes a handgun and holster along with the radio.

"Well, you know what they say, communication is the key," he remarks to no one in particular.

 

[Lady_Siren]

Nikki joined Chapel at the bar. She thought about Damien's pledge of protection, could he really do it? Maybe joining the killer bees would be a better idea. "I would like to know more about your organization before I join. Don't get me wrong I appreciate your help a great deal. I just like to look before I leap."

 

[SwampThing]

Chapel nodded while one of his men brought Nikki some food.

"I'm pleased you ask. That shows you're careful and intelligent, qualities I would need in a business partner.

"You're too young to remember Aralia after the war, but I'm sure you've heard stories. Our proud nation was poised to take over the world, with submarines and planes that could outfight anything the other countries had to offer. Until Reva came up with the atomic bomb, and Argo dropped it on us.

"After the war, everyone was struggling. No-one wanted to trade with us, officially, so food, medicines, everything had to come in through the black market. My family became very good at moving things where they were needed, quietly.

"Aralia's economy was on it's feet again quickly, and the other nations soon wanted to trade for our electronics and other technological innovations. But trade bans on new technologies often slowed progress down. So my family again moved things where they were needed.

"It's supply and demand, Nikkola. There are people who want Loa Blood, but who GAIA decides not to give any to. So we provide it for them. There are Aralian kids growing up in Argo whose families have depended on us for generations. So we give them good jobs. This isn't an easy country to be silver-haired in, never has been.

"We're a merchant army, Nikkola. When the law tries to stop us from doing our business, we need enforcers. That's where the boys in black and yellow come in. Our purpose is not to hurt people, but if we must to protect our interests, then we must."

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Faith

Faith wrote up her piece and printed a set of photos to go with it, picking the best two or three to submit to the Bay City Times. Almost before she has time to take three breaths she's called into the Editor's office. Orlanth Ingott offers her a cigar she can hardly stop herself from giggling. He's a funny looking man, but all business, and she pays attention.

"This is a first-rate piece, Honai! We're lucky to have you on board. Keep on this Beckett thing, and see if you can't find anything out about the other "superheroes" working with Monolith. The guy with the wings is Prince Damien Dufray of Dracon Island. See if you can get any pictures of him. He's all the rage in the society rags. My neices are crazy for him, and we need that youth demographic."

"Actually," She says digging into her satchel. "I have a few of him riseing from the building...." She lays out the rest of her photos of the Gifted, includeing Beckett shooting at the Prince. "All I know for sure is that he was in the building. I didn't see him enter or anything. I guess I could try to get an interview to go with pic..."

"I'd like to put you on staff, standard pay.." Orlanth begins rooting around his desk, supossedly for a contract.

"I perfer to work freelance for now, sir. I am still a student and working freelance allows me some flexiablity." She gave him her best rueful grin. The Times was an very non-political paper and she doubted if they'd allow her to print the stories she liked to write over straight news.

Whistleing with a nice fat check in her pocket for the story and photos but without a bank to cash it in she bussed it to the station to catch a glimpse of Price. A wink is all she allows herself in front of his co-workers as he ushers her into his office, where other reporters are waiting.

But he brings her cofee the way she likes it, and when there's a moment between official statements, he says "I'm glad you're alright, Faith. I'm going to be swamped with paperwork tonight, but can I take you to that concert tomorrow? I know I'll look like a narc, but you should blend right in."

Leaning forward so the other reporters won't easedrop she smiles and says; "Let me pick out your wardrobe and fix your hair up a bit and you'll blend in fine too."

Price leans back with a smile and a nod. "Miss Honai, the Cheif asked to see you in his office. It's up one floor, at the end of the hall."

Strutting confidentaly past the older reporters she leaves his office and heads up the stairs. But her bravery is just for show.

The receptionist greets her warmly. "Well, I guess your the girl of the hour." She says. "The Cheif wanted you to go right in."

Which was redundent since the Cheif came out and quickly ushered her back the way she'd come and a bit beyond to the basement holding and intergation cells.

"She insists on giving her information to you only. You just make sure you tell us everything."

"Pah, as if you won't be recording everything anyway!" Faith snorts. "I may look wet behind the ears, Cheif, but I know how the bread is sliced. I know there are things I can't release yet, so you don't have to give me the run through. But you know how it works on my side too. When you are ready to let the whole story out, I get to know first so I can get my richly diserved jump on everyone else."

The sour look on his face doesn't improve but it doesn't worsen either. "Of course, Miss Honai."

Two officers stand guard at the end of the hallway. There's a chair set up for Faith in front of a large shatterproof plastic window. Behind the window, Kate Beckett sits in a comfortable looking chair, sipping a plastic cup of tea and looking over the brochure for her plush new minimum security asylum.

"Hello Miss Beckett." Faith sits down. "That looks good." She looks at the cops. "Can I have a cup of that too?"

Faith smooths her coat front down, turning on her recorder and crosses her legs. "I can't remember if I properly introduced myself eariler today, Miss Beckett. I'm Faith Honai. I'm a free lance writer not afflicated with any newspaper or magazine that might give your story their slant. I'm interested in one thing."

Faith leans forward with an earnest look on her face and honesty in her eyes. "To tell your story."

 

[SwampThing]

"Faith." Kate Beckett's tone is venomous, but her gaze is cool and level. "How appropriate. I don't expect anyone to understand what I gave up, as a Bride of the Wheel, as a nun. My whole life, raised on those lies. I don't care if they understand, either. I'll be out free again soon, and I'll have my revenge on all of them. "The Wheel of Life rises as flame and falls as snow." I'll give them their flames, and their fall.

"But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about, little Locrian reporter. I want to talk about the Cuckoo. The little bird who set me free.

"Your Argon is excellent, but the accent is telling. You haven't been here very long, have you. You were probably raised on good, honest, liberal Locrian journalism, not the sensationalist circus of Argon media. I bet you hate the way the truth is hidden in Locrir now. And you'll hate the way they'll try to hide it here.

"That's enough talking for one day. Come visit me at my new hospital, and I'll tell you where to find the Cuckoo."

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Faith

Faith's tea and Kate's exit happened almost at the same moment. Dispite the looks the cops were giving her she sat there for a long moment thinking and sipping the tea.

She had the terriable feeling that Kate Beckett wanted not to be interviewed...but to play a game of show and tell.

Terriable meant, literally, "to make tremble." Faith wasn't sure if she was trembling with fear or excitement.

She flipped open her notepad and wrote in shorthand:

Call home.
Find Apartment.
Track down Monolith, et al.

She paused

Make will

She snapped her notebook closed and stood, smiling at the two nice officers.

"So, where can a girl get a late breakfast? I had a bagel about six hours ago and I'm starved!"

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Mary

Mary stood stymied at the nurse's desk.

Since she wasn't a relative they wouldn't let her in to see Kell.

It wouldn't matter if she morphed and tried, they were stopping everyone. Cops everywhere.

Fighting off a panic attack she told the nurse to let her know if Kell asked for her and waited in the lobby.

She sat, closed her eyes, and thought of a landscape of ice and blowing drifts where nothing could sneak up on you for miles, and miles and miles......

She saw the drifts passing by and heard the crackle of the snow beneath her runners. The sun in the sky did not shift, it was too late in the year for that. Behind her someone yelled "Gee" and the sled began to turn towards The Temple.....Where she would be safe.

 

[RoyalPurpleVelv]

“Of course communication is important, but it’s only one key, not The Key,” she says as she walks through the door, her voice hoarse from inhaling smoke from the fire. “It doesn’t do you any good if you don’t have the right information to communicate. For example we can talk about the suspects all day, but if none of us have information about them it won’t do us any good. Fortunately I do have information.”

The burns on her arms ache but she ignores it. Just like she has to ignore her worries about Andante or she won’t be at her best. As Fagin taught her, working when you’re not at your best means you screw up, and the game over for you.

She catches Dex's eye and smiles. Today she is in her element, and feeling a bit arrogant. This job will be cake, it's just the reverse of planning a theft, and she was always a good thief. She has information about 2 of the three suspects and she already knows the traditional weaknesses in Coda security. It’s been many years since she discovered those weaknesses, but Coda’s security philosophy hasn’t changed. As for the Bee’s, that night on the docks wasn’t her first encounter with them. Their patterns haven’t changed either.

She stands much closer to Dex than necessary as she explains what she knows about the suspects. “According to my sources the harbor master is about as crooked as they come, he’d do just about anything for his own gain. My guess is he’s our man. At least before the Loa accident it would have been easier for the Bees to bribe a Bride of the Wheel than to bribe a Draconian agent. Dracon chose its agents very carefully and trained them thoroughly. But after the accident it is anyone’s guess what they might do.

"The high admiral now he’s a piece of work. From what I can gather he takes his job very seriously, he’s as clean as the harbor master is dirty. On top of that he hates Aralians, he covers it well in public but he is extremely prejudiced.” Silently she adds thank you Fagin.

By the end of her speech the hoarseness in her voice is even more pronounced. She turns down the handgun and requests a stronger electric stunner. The one she always carried was weak, just in case she got caught with it.

 

[SwampThing]

Mr. Thorne, normally cool and controlled, seems taken aback by Kryna's knowledge, or is it her lateness?

"Well, er, Ms. Paikairy, you certainly seem well informed about, ah, these individuals. You mentioned earlier that you could improve our security systems, but I assure you that they are state of the art, and my men are very dependable. Allow me to give you a tour of our facility to show you what I mean."

Thorne shows them through a few offices, laboratories, garages full of heavy trucks, and store-rooms. Along the way, a stronger stunner is procured for Kryna. At each of her suggestions to improve security, Thorne becomes uncomfortable, but makes a note of it. "We'll implement these ideas immediately. These laboratories are mostly for robotics development, using the Loa's technologies, rather than their dangerous Blood itself. As I'd mentioned, that delicate research takes place at a separate facility."

Thorne motions to a white-clad group of mostly Phrygians looking over some Coda files.

"These are visiting GAIA opperatives. We willingly undergo regular checks of all our research. GAIA oversees all official Loa research projects, to ensure that the Blood is not being used in weapons development or human experimentation.

"We're currently attempting to isolate certain transmutative properties in the Blood, for use in terraforming arrid regions, such as most of starving Svetla, into useful farmland.

"Perhaps you could take a look over our desert research facility as well. But first, I suggest some of you pay a visit to the harbour master."

 

[RoyalPurpleVelv]

Kryna Ennairy (Paikairy)

Even someone not nearly as attuned to details as Kryna would notice the increasingly uneasy looks that Thorne gave her every time she mentioned a security weakness. While he’s explaining the nature of the research which doesn’t interest her at all she carefully forms how she wants to address his unease.

“Mr. Thorne, you hired me because I was gifted and had helped in two very sticky situations. You had no way of knowing that before I was exposed to Loa I was a bit of an expert on security. I can get the information you need to find the leak, I’ve got all kinds of helpful contacts. Every security system no matter how sophisticated has holes, I can help you plug those holes. I could be a huge asset to your company, and I really would like to become a permanent one.”

“Being exposed to Loa changes your life, even if the change isn’t as dramatic as Monolith’s. My life from before is gone. I’m making a new life, a new city, new job, new loyalties. I can assure you Coda will be one of those new loyalties if you choose to keep me on.”

“One last thing before I go to the harbor master’s office, I heard your offer of other equipment. I can’t use my size changing power much without the fear of ripping my clothes to shreds or having them fall off. If there is any way Coda could come with clothes that would accommodate size changing I would appreciate it.”

 

[SwampThing]

"I'm very pleased by your . . . loyalty to the company, Kryna." says Mr. Thorne. "Both your Gifts and your security expertise will be great assets to us. I did not know your Gifft allowed you to alter your size, as I still do not know Dex's capabilities. I can supply you with a uniform made of an experimental new material, which is sensitive and adaptive to molecular change. The material only functions properly when it is form-fitted, I trust that won't be a problem.

"We have a heavy van and helicopter, both with pilots, at your disposal. I should mention that while you are authorized to protect Coda facilities and personell, you have no warrant to search other premises. So please be careful, and keep your investigations discreet."

 

[RoyalPurpleVelv]

Kryna grins and laughs, “Mr. Thorne you’ll find that I have no problem being discreet.”

She debates about telling Thorne about her second gift then decides against it. She’s only fairly sure she can control things that work on electricity. It worked with her stunner and the few other things she’s tried it on.

The stunner is the only thing she could manage to make do something it wasn’t already designed to do. Her theory is that it’s because she’s incredibly familiar with the stunner. She also discovered that the power only works on things she can see or are immediately around her. She could turn the light off in a room without looking directly at it, but she couldn’t turn the lights on in the next room without walking in there.

She now knows that the night of the asylum outbreak she managed to turn off the electricity in the whole building, but she wasn’t consciously trying then. So there has to be more to her power than she can control at the moment. She decides to wait until she’s sure of what she can do before she tells Thorne.

“I’m sure the helicopter and van may be useful someday but I’ll find my own transportation to the harbor master’s office. He’ll tell me a lot more if he doesn’t know that I’m coming from Coda.”

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Faith

Faith wondered why "truth in advertising" didn't include adverts for houseing.

"Charming one br apt overlooking park." turned out to be full of bulletholes from the last raid where the previous occupents had been gunned down. The park was park-ing lot.

"Cozy" meant cramped, "New paint." meant busted pipes and "Just remodeled" seemed to mean that there had been a fire in the last year or so and the insurance company had just now allowed the owners to fix it back up.

Stopping for lunch she used her phone card to call home. It was a typical double-meaning conversation with her mother and father, except for a few bits which disterbed Faith greatly.

"Darling girl!" This line is bugged, or I'd call you by your name. "How are you! Your father and I are just fine!" Your father and I are fine, but still being watched. Someone else in the family is in trouble, or I wouldn't have said "just fine". "When are you comeing home, dear?" Dear=Deer, keep running.

"I'm great Mom! I might have a new boyfriend, and classes are starting soon. But I don't think I'll be coming home until I get my degree." If then! "How is everyone else?"

"Well, let's see. Everyone is fine here, although we don't see Hope as much as we'd like. She's moved to be closer to work."
Everyone else is well, but Hope has been moved onto one of the goverment research compounds and we haven't see her. "We are hopeing she'll come home for the holiday's but you know how dedicated she is!" The goverment is keeping her under close wraps. We don't know when we will see her again, and we can't contact her.

"Well, I'd love to come home for the holiday's myself, but my account is still frozen and I can't afford it on my teensy salary." The goverment hasn't allowed me to access my bank accounts.

"Well, you know your father and I would help dear, if we could, but we can't traspher money out of the country." Any transactions of ours would be suspious and they would just watch us harder, esp if we sent out large amounts of cash.

"It's ok, I understand, and I'm doing OK, I really am." Don't put yourself at any risk.

"Ok, dear. This must be getting exspensive, write soon!"

"Love you Mom! Hugs and kisses to everyone!"

After that she could only toy with her meal and sip the hot strong coffee.

 

[Lady_Siren]

Nikki considered Chapel's words carefully. "I agree with you that the government is wrong in banning certain materials from certain countries. Everyone should have a right to study Loa Blood." She bit her lip "However I do not like to hurt people.." she paused coming to a decision. "I will join your organization. However I want to help discover better ways to deal with opposition other then killing. If you will allow me to look into that then you have a partner. Do we have a deal?"

 

[Democable]

Damien awoke with a sharp pain in his body, the Loa blood was working it's "Magic" on his body, healing him. he opened his eyes to see the sun up and bright. he turned away from the window to see his uncle and James standing near the wall. James was his father's chief Intelgence adviser and Damien's godfather forsay.

"How you feeling nephew?" His uncle asked. Damien tried to get up but was only meet with pain in his back and his wings, which were tied down so the doctors good work on him. "Besides the increduiable pain, just fine uncle." All 3 men chuckled, James spoke up next.

"Damien I have some unforgent news." James walked closer to Damien and spoke agian. "The young woman you were with, our intelligence has located her and your not going to like where she is" Damien frowned at James, he knew that any informartion James had was the truth. "Where is she, James?" James looked over to the window and sighed "She's with the Killer Bees." Damien looked over to his uncle. "How did you get this infomation?" He asked James. "After the last event with the Loa transport, your father decided to add spies to all major gangs in Bay City and the surronding areas. A few hours ago one of our men reported to us this messege" James pulled out a small peice of paper writen in old Draconan.
"It would seem that little bird is now playing with the bees, do not inform the angel for the wraith of the gods will be on the bees." Damien knew what the messege ment, it was coded only for James and Damien to read, of course Damien knew his uncle could read it, he his uncle would be filling in for James when Damien took over the Throne or what's left of it.

Damien's uncle walked over to the bed. "Damien get some more rest at lease for the rest of the day and don't worry about the girl, James's men are all over her right now."

Damien just simplely nodded and laid back down, he fell into a deep sleep..........

 

[SwampThing]

Chapel clapped a hand on Nikki's shoulder.

"I'm very pleased, . . . partner. We've actually been looking into new technologies for our agents that will allow them to disable opposition without killing them. I think you'll be very happy with our organization.

"Now, Coda's Loa Blood shipment arrives on Monday. I suggest you take it easy for a few days. Stay here tonight. Mark will arrange for a secure, private apartment for you to move into tomorrow. I would feel safer if you travelled with an escort, plain clothed of course, but I understand if you wish to move about the city on your own. And anything you need, anything at all, you just ask Mark.

"What do you think we should do about that bounty hunter? I suppose you would rather not kill him, unless you have no choice?"

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Monolith

Listening to the information in the meeting gave me a few ideas of my own, but acting on them would be difficult.

"Mr. Thorne, could I possibly have a pair of trunks made out of that material? It sounds like it would be much more durable than normal cloth, & I am a bit hard on clothing. Also, we gifted need to get together and discuss what we can do, so we can match our abilities up. The last thing we need is to be in a fight and be stepping all over each other. WE can stay here, or retire to my quarters. I believe it will be spacious enough for all of us."

Well, at least one thing was going for me. Faith had not tried tracking me down yet. Of course, I had other things on my plate besides my old life.

 

[Lady_Siren]

Nikki felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She smiled at Chapel finally feeling special instead of a freak. "You know as well as I do that the bounty hunter will not stop until I am dead. I can continue to avoid him but the only way to stop him is to kill him." She suddenly had an idea "Your organization is very inventive, Is there a way to fake my death? Find a look alike or build one. If Aralia thought me dead they would stop looking and the pressure would be off. I can wear a disguise when ever I'm in public. No one knows I'm working for you yet. I would just be your mysterious partner. What do you say?"

 

[SwampThing]

Chapel laughs. "Truly ingenious! I can see this will be a rewarding partnership. Finding a look alike would be simple enough, but would you rather kill some poor girl than this bounty hunter? Building a body would take some time. I would need to contact my brother Anatol in Aralia.

"We could stage a death scene, and arrange for private videotapes to reach the media, but if no body is found, the bounty hunters may continue their search anyway."
__________________________________________

Thorne agrees to produce an adaptive costume for Monolith as well, and the new Coda security team find themselves alone in Monolith's cavernous quarters.

 

[SpectralDragoon]

Dex smiled at the look in Kryna's eyes when she was lecturing, at the passion she had for this type of thing. He looked on, impressed by her thoroughness as she pointed out loopholes and things that should be changed.

He stayed near the rear of the group as they proceeded through labs and engineering bays, taking in all the details. An extra couple of moments are spent scrutinizing the GAIA workers.

Dex whole heartedly agreed with Monolith's idea about sharing their knowledges on eachother's abilities, but was wary about disclosing too much when he was working espionage for Reva.

 

[Lady_Siren]

Nikki considered Chapel's words. He did have a point... "Why don't we find the body of a person already deceased before anyone else finds it. I'm sure with your resources you can accomplish that. We can then fashion the body to resemble me. No one has my DNA on file. Because of who my father was it was never required. My father refused to let anyone prick or prod me for medical purposes. So if we could find out who the woman was we could erase her DNA records so there was no way to identify her. Then we stage my death with me as an actress and just switch me with the body at one point. No one would know the difference." She smiled happy with herself.

 

[SwampThing]

Chapel looks at Mark.

"I know a guy at a funeral parlour who owes us some favours." the younger man says. "He can get us a body. Tomorrow night I'll get one my boys disguised as a bounty hunter, and we'll film it. Come to think of it, if we staged the death near the Twelve concert, there'd be lots of media on hand. This could work."

 

[Lady_Siren]

Nikki smiled "Then it's settled, By the end of the Twelve Concert Nikki Hall will meet her end and I will finally be free."

 

[poohlive]

As Kriegan sat down, the small excuse for a plastic chair weened under his weight. Four thin legs wobbled for a moment, before bending in an almost unnatural way to accompany the guest who had sat down. For a moment, the waiter gave a look of concern, wondering if perhaps another chair might suit the man, but he didn't dare say anything.
The stone chiseled look on the customer's face told the young waiter to keep his mouth shut and mind his own fucking business, which was all right with him. He stood there, a pencil and paper ready to take the man's order.
Kriegan dropped a few newspapers down on the table, staring from one to the other. An akward moment ensued, as the waiter stood there, awaiting an order, but not getting one. He coughed once, a sign to show the burly man he was still here.
Kriegan growled deep in his throat.
The man rushed off into the kitchen, as fast as his legs would carry him.
Each paper held some significance, all of them purchased or gotten from archives to show the new feats of apparent superhero's that had showed up at Bay City. The newest of these was a fire, in which several photos accompanied.
In one of them, kneeling down against the brazen sky as flames hungrily licked at the stars, was a woman. There didn't seem to be much to her, nothing more than a lisp of an outline, silhouetted against the inferno, but it showed Kriegan more than he needed to know.
He circled it several times, crossing it with photograph's he had gotten upon recieving this assignment. They didn't necessarily match, because there wasn't much to match it too, but he had a distinct feeling this was the woman.
Something else gave cursor to that feeling, something that he relished much in his short time already on the case.
That same photo held part of the crowd, all of them standing back, oohing and aahing at the building being torn to pieces by the fire, but one of them caught his eye more than the others. This person he circled as well, a tall gruff man such as himself, with a completely bald head and an Aralian tattoo.
"Juno," He hissed through crooked teeth, "You should be more discrete friend. She would surely have noticed you this close to the fire."
The photo had been quite exquisite, off of Juno's eyes he could see sparkles of the fire.
He turned the paper over to the front page, searching for the name of the author. Under the title, big and bold telling of the fire and the impending superhero's here to stay in this wonderful city of their's, was a name:

Faith Honai.

Kriegan would have to pay this woman a visit. As he read through the article, this woman reporter took special pride in getting right into the action. Indeed, it seems as if some of the story included herself as part of the harrowing night of horror.
Yes, he would have to talk to her.
He knew connections in the city, people who would help him get her number and where she lived. He had no doubt of that; within the day, if he offered the right amount of money. He put this little item on a checklist of sorts, to start out.
The next would be Juno.
Juno...
Kriegan sighed, shaking his head from side to side at the onlooker in the photo. This was no good at all. Something must be done about the competition, clumsy competition at that. If she had noticed him, seen him, she might have already hidden herself, or worse... fled to another country. He would have to talk to Juno, see what the man knew, and then take care of this little problem himself.
Juno was a good man too, damnit. Kriegan felt the loss of a dead man still alive in Bay city for a few minutes, and then the grief passed as he nodded to the waiter, wanting food now.
"Steak, rare... bloody."
"Yes sir."
"Bloody," Kriegan said, a deep hunger ebbing on his lips, something that mere meat couldn't satisfy.