#chasing night

“There have been so many components to this operation, so many so, that I’m unsure where to begin.” Ace paused and scratched his chin which was developing a five o’clock shadow at this point, adding to his disheveled but still sharp style. “I suppose I can just start and end with where we’re going. What’s left for us to do.”

The room nodded in acceptance, and from that Kryder could tell that everyone loved the man that they were listening to. Continuing, Ace began to outline the importance of the Stone of Garo and how they were to acquire it back from the man called Joshua. “The Stone of Garo is a weapon. I’ve given most of you a very simplistic definition…simple to the point where it could be seen as deception, but allow me to clarify exactly what this Stone is, and what it does.”

Ace began pacing around the living room that was functioning as a meeting room for the remaining members of Ace’s team and Syndicate. “Ever since magic has re-entered our world decades ago, people have been able to control elements of nature, mental and physical abilities, and other feats of destruction and restoration. However, all of this magic is lumped into one category despite the varying affectations. They’re all considered Order Magic, they abide by laws of nature and conform to natural causes and effects. The Stone however, belongs to an ancient and dead form of magic called Chaos Magic, a school not practiced since before the third age.”

“Third age?” Called out Dave, still sour in his tone, but curious in his nature.

“Yes. We are living in the third age. An age where magic has re-entered our society. Astral Scholars have believed for quite some time now that the second age was the time before the Great Awakening, when magic was not present in the world. But before that age, in a time called Pre-History, where there were no records, magic is also believed to have existed. Where Chaos and Order battled for supremacy in a time when the Earth was just dawning. Humanity had made no attempts to endeavor into the sciences or to justify their own existence. Because of that, magic was allowed to exist, until the age of alchemy that is. That was the first age…the time when the Stone of Garo was created.”

“So how old are we talking? Hundreds of years? A thousand years?” Asked Coyote.

“I can’t really answer that question, not yet. We’d have to obtain the Stone first before I could satisfy that question.”

“So what does it exactly do?” Asked Cassidy who was standing over Kryder.

“It is a Stone crafted from the essence of Chaos and has an affinity for shifting the world’s order in any way possible. It can peer into the future with vague foresight, as well as offer those who wield it, spatial displacement.”

“…you mean teleportation?” Said a contemplative November who seemed to be recollecting something.

“Almost. But that can also be further explained when we finally obtain the Stone.” Then as the room fell silent, Ace began thenext portion of the meeting, where he would outline his strategies for obtaining the Stone as well as the motivation for doing so. But before he could start, Kryder cut him off with a question of his own.

“Why all the deception?” Kryder’s words cut through the air like a knife that pierced the heart of Ace in front of his subordinates. “Why the lies? Why not just tell us from the start. Maybe Stove would be here, or Hearts, or Seonne, or Vigil, or Zero, or Dev, or Karliah or anyone else that I might not know about that got caught up in this.”

“Not now Kryder…” Cassidy said while punching him in the arm.

“No it’s fine Cassidy, he’s right.” Ace collected himself and began to retaliate.

“I lied because I had to. No one could have understood, let alone believed me. And so, I sent them on missions with only direct and extremely relevant intel. In the end, their deaths had nothing to do with their ignorance towards the Stone’s function. It’s not my fault and it isn’t yours either. We live in a world where millions die a day. But in the end, I do feel regret and an extreme sadness that penetrates my soul every night when I sleep. A pain I haven’t felt in ages because I truly held all of those aforementioned people as my friends and responsibility. The man who has the Stone now will end the world and we cannot turn to governments for help for they will do the same. My company unfortunately has the burden of doing so, because we are the only ones that truly know of its existence.”

“Firstly, stop being so poetic when you spit out a solid stream of bullshit. Secondly, don’t speak of your company like it’s a real entity. It’s just you and the smoke you employ to hide your motives. There’s no one else. You’re Ace…you’re Gable you’re anyone if it’s convenient.” Kryder paused and began to lighten his assault to drive home a point. “But I don’t give a fuck about all of that. I’ll believe you if you can just answer me one question.”

“What’s that?”

The room was silent in anticipation and in reaction to the dramatic scene unfolding.

“Why me?”

“Because I need you to destroy the Stone of Garo, you’re the only person in existence with the ability to produce lightning, instead of merely channeling it. You’re more powerful than you can fathom, and the only person that can destroy you is Joshua if he has the Stone. More so, he’s the one who killed Karliah and everyone you just mentioned. He was the vulture that was lying in wait that managed to swoop down and take-”

“I don’t give a fuck about Joshua right now. I want to know where I stand with you.” Kryder swept his hair out of his face and sighed deeply out of frustration before continuing. “Were you grooming me or something? Cultivating me to be a weapon for your cause? What am I in the end?”

“You’re absolutely correct.” The entire room was slightly surprised at the blunt response that Ace offered Kryder. “The Stone of Garo is a gateway into the realm of chaos and worlds beyond. If Joshua taps into that power then the world as we know it will cease to exist. It’s also an incredibly safe bet to say that if anyone else winds up with the Stone they’ll also use it for evil.” Ace paced over to the middle of the room as to blatantly take charge of the conversation as well as the attention of all those around him. “If someone told me that the threat was that great, and that I could end it if I manipulated the mind of one man, I’d do it a thousand times over. You may be powerful, but not so worthy that I’d jeopardy all of this.”

“All of WHAT! What the FUCK is THIS! You’re mission, your game?” Kryder was once again becoming outraged. It was at this moment that Cassidy placed her hand on Kryder’s shoulder and gently squeezed, as to remind him who he was talking to. Someone who has manipulated him, but also cared for him and kept him alive up until now…for better AND worse.

“Because men who still cling to a life of decency and normalcy such as you are not fit to understand what I know. What I know will drive you mad. It’s not a slight against you, it’s a slight of all those who are still too innocent to understand the world they live in.” As the words left Ace’s mouth, he knew they would be poorly received by Kryder.

“Are you calling me naïve?”

“I’m saying you’re not ready. You’ve only been working for me, taking my paychecks for the past few months. I don’t even trust Dave with this knowledge and he’s been with me for years. You’ll know when the time is ready. And if you wish to walk away, to stop getting the generous benefits I dole out, as well as more answers, then so be it.”

“Just tell me who I am! What am I to you!” Kryder was now screaming out of frustration, an emotion that all those in the room understood too well given Ace’s cryptic tendencies towards Kryder.

“You’re the key to destruction. If I tell you the rest too soon it will unravel all that has come so close to fruition.” Ace looked remorseful, as if he knew that what he was doing to Kryder was cruel. However, contrary to expectations, Kryder’s stance changed. He suddenly understood what Ace meant. He only recently gained all of this power and he knew nothing about it. Perhaps there was something so large that he wouldn’t be able to understand through a verbal explanation. Moreover, Ace also finally gave Kryder direction, a goal. Get the Stone, and receive answers.

It wasn’t like Ace was fighting towards some ignoble goal. Moreover, Kryder also believed Ace, that he was honorable enough to keep to his word in destroying the Stone as well as give him answers as to who he was. Why did he suddenly awaken his powers of magic. Why was he so powerful? All of these things have yet to hit him, but Kryder understood that everything was going on much too fast for him to understand given his relatively green status. Perhaps he would go insane if he had to handle everything all at once and Ace was right in doing all of this.

“Alright. Fair enough. Pay me, and give me answers when the job is said and done.”

“I’m glad you finally understand your role in all of this Kryder.” Ace looked up at the sudden sound of footsteps. Unsurprisingly, they were Kryder’s, who was making his way to the door.

“I know my role. But I sure as hell hope you know yours, otherwise this whole fucking thing is pointless.” Kryder said with a smirk and a toss of the hand to bid everyone an early farewell.

“Kryder!” Someone was preparing to scold the dejected runner. Yelling out in protest was Dave, someone who hadn’t spoken in a while; and so his voice grabbed Kryder’s attention rather quickly. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”

“Out. I’ve heard enough for one day.” Kryder’s attitude was warranted, but Dave had had enough, and was ready to give Kryder a reality check that Ace’s patience wouldn’t allow.

“You’ll have enough when Ace tells you so.” Stepping out from the kitchen area, Dave placed himself between the door and Kryder and effectively in his face.

“Excuse me? What’re you my boss? I’m freelance just like everyone else in this room, or have all of you forgotten that we’re nothing more than sh-“

Kryder’s sentence was cut short by Dave’s fist which impacted his jaw, nearly fracturing it. The punch sent him backwards, away from the door and almost to the ground. Quickly lighting up with rage, Krdyer picked himself back up and ran at Dave without much thought, and attempted a haymaker simply as retaliation.

Sidestepping the blow and countering with a short jab, Dave proved to the room that although he may be past his biological prime, he was still well within his running prime. The scuffle continued for a little while longer, with Dave clearly exchanging more blows, but before it broke out into a continuous fight, Ace quickly stepped in.

With Dave in mid-punch, and Kryder poised to tackle him, Ace’s body quickly became a wall that separated the two of them. Easily restraining the both of them, Ace emanated some kind of energy that quickly relieved some of the tension. His paragon guise was able to bring Kryder away from vengeance and Dave away from frustration, as well as quelling the entire room’s stress level. But it wasn’t enough for a few more words to be thrown.

“That’s enough you two. Kryder. Go take some time off-“ Ace was attempting to regain control of the situation until he was cut off.

“NO! Fuck him! If it’s not clear to you now dickhead then you’ll never get it on your own. We’re more than runners here asshole and I’m pretty sure when Stove died for you he proved that.”

“What is WITH YOU PEOPLE! Why does everyone care? Do you not live in the same world as I do? We’re runners Dave. All we have in common is that we get paid by the same dude.”

“You are really starting to piss me off with that fucking attitude. Stop pretending that you don’t care about the rest of us. We’re all aware of the fact that we’re nothing more than mercenaries, but looking past the fact that you’re the key to stopping the potential end of the world, we ‘re also friends.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Kryder almost laughed at Dave’s suggested label of friendship.

“Do you honestly feel the way you do Kryder? Then why did you rescue me when you and Dev could’ve just run away? It would have been so much easier.” Cassidy’s words lanced through the tension and emotion.

“…and why did you cry so hard when Dev died? Why did you regret having to leave Stove behind? Why was Vigil’s death so hard on you. You may deny all of these things, but I can tell that this is how you feel. It’s not so strange that a group of mercenaries can find solace inside of each other’s company.” Ace’s words, combined with Cassidy’s stare were enough to pierce Kryder’s carapace of skepticism if only for the moment. “It’s true, that Dave only helped you because he was working for me. It’s true that November sees you as the key to his revenge, and it’s true that I see you as the biggest measure against Joshua. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to help you find out who you are, and it doesn’t mean that I don’t want to help you. You’re not just a pawn, and you’re not just someone I enlisted. You’re a comrade.”

“In the real world, a place that you recently came from, relationships took a long time to develop and maintain. But that’s because death wasn’t around the corner. A day in the runner’s life is a long time. It’s enough time to put you on top of the world, and it’s enough time for you to watch yourself lose everything ten times over.” Dave had finally calmed down and was now attempting to reason with the young man in front of him. “So it’s natural, that when you have someone who’s willing to keep a team together, that in a week you can feel like a family.”

“Look, it’s fine if you doubt us. In fact, it’s probably a good thing. It shows that you’ll be the last one to drink the Kool Aid, but you have to understand that I need you, that I’ll pay you, and that everyone who is here in this room counts you as one of us despite your attitude.”

Kryder had tears of rage in his eyes that he wasn’t ashamed to show the rest of the room. He was confused and felt as if he was being forced into this family. But for some reason, he knew that he would never leave Cassidy behind, he wouldn’t abandon Dave, and strangely, he knew that after his tirade, both he and Ace would continue on.

“No. I’ll tell everyone. You all need to know exactly what it is we were fighting for.” Ace took a long hard pause and looked around him. Everyone had just gotten back from the rescue mission, from within Aztec territory. Their clothes still sandy, their hair still dripping with sweat, and their expressions still solemn. “I wish there was another way I could have done things. I wish I could have told you sooner.”

“It’s fine Ace. We understand, we really do-”

“Do you really think you all have reasons to fight for me? Is that actually how you feel?”

“I can’t really tell you if the others feel the same way, but from what I heard, they all owe you something. Me personally? I owe you my life. My wings. You took me in when no one else was. I was in a dark time in my life and you turned me around and got me back into the sky. I owe you everything, and I will only ever fly for you.” Cassidy paused for just a moment, letting her heartfelt words sink into Ace’s mind. She always had a way with consolation. “I mean it’s not like anyone else would let an aug-less pilot fly for them anyways.” She said with a chuckle.

Her laugh rang solitary for Ace’s response to Cassidy’s words were nothing. Kryder couldn’t see for himself, but Ace’s expression was somber and silent. He didn’t smile, and he didn’t seem reassured at all, almost as if he were guilty, which made Cassidy all the more sympathetic. Even though Kryder was in the next room, he could almost feel Ace’s disconcerting silence.

As their conversation came to an end Kryder rolled over and began to contemplate to himself, what he could do given his position. He owed Ace nothing even if he was for some strange reason, emotionally invested in the people he fought with. If he wanted to find answers he could always leave them, and find them on his own. Or perhaps he could just leave everything behind and start a new life. After all his college degree was still valid, a thought that made Kryder laugh to himself if only for a moment.

Deep down he knew that there was no turning back and that regardless of this rabbit hole being forced upon him, he’d have to follow it to the end. After all he needed to know who exactly he was, and what the hell his new powers were. Ace was probably the only one that had a chance of giving him a good explanation even if he had been laying down smoke screen until now. After all, if Kryder was to set off on his own and ask anyone else for help, he’d probably just find himself back at Ace, just like when he went to Gorgeous Dave and Stove for help.

As Kryder’s eyes began to feel heavier and heavier he heard the door slide open. The hard wood floors gave away Cassidy’s presence when her bare feet attempted to quietly traverse their surface.

Kryder turned over and although his eyes were adjusted to the dark, he could tell that Cassidy’s were not. Kryder’s sudden movement sent her into a pause, but because of the continued silence, Cassidy pressed forward to the bedside. To her, he was still asleep, and so she continued to tip toe. Remaining quiet, Kryder looked on to see Cassidy as she was.

Her hair had been shaved down on one side while the rest had been pushed to the other. It was a new style that suited her well even in darkness. But as she drew near, the moonlight from the open windows bounced off her scalp, revealing her surgical scars to Kryder. The reason for her style choices.

Cassidy leaned over the bed and checked Kryder’s vital monitor. Smiling at their promising indications, Cassidy pushed her hair past her ear and looked at Kryder who was still awake.

With some of the hair remaining in front of her face, Kryder’s hand intuitively reached up and pushed it back for her. He hadn’t considered if she would be offended or opposed to the sudden gesture, he just did it. If anything, emotions were high in the base and Kryder was seeking some form affection.

“Oh.” Cassidy said, startled. “You’re still awake?”

“Yeah. Well I kinda just woke up a few minutes ago, and I’ve just been falling in and out of sleep.”

“How’re you feeling?” Cassidy sat down at the foot of the bed, trying to remain quiet for others that were also attempting to rest. Looking over her shoulder she noticed Stove breathing steadily and heavily. The other mattresses were empty for the moment because most people found it too hard to sleep given the recent events.

“I’m fine. The new arm works like a charm. It’s even smoother and quicker than the other one. Lighter too I think.” Kryder held up his brand new cyber arm. It’s lighter, carbon colored frame managed to reflect some of the light, which accidentally lit up Cassidy’s eyes.

“Yeah what exactly happened to the last one?”

“Apparently the electricity I managed to pull produced too much heat and soldered it shut.”

“That’s right. I keep forgetting that you’re awakened now. It’s such a hard concept to grasp ‘cause you don’t really hear about people doing it this late in life.”

“Yeah…” Kryder said still staring at his arm.

“I heard Ace went on his own excursion into Aztec data files.”

“Yeah, he tried getting some leads on the Stone and on the guy who has it.”

“Any luck?”

“A bit…” Cassidy paused and looked away for a moment. She tried finding the right words to use to bring the conversation over to her concern. “So what’s going on with you? You seem different.”

“What do you mean? Like my eyes and stuff? I think it’s part of my awakening.” Kryder innocently pointed to his eyes that were now a dim yellow as compared to the bright glowing gold. The color stood out against his seemingly ever paling skin.

“That’s not what I’m talking about; I’m more worried about what’s going on in your head? You seem… I don’t know, different. Whatever it is, it’s got me concerned.”

Kryder’s expression hardened and suddenly he became the unsettling version of himself that had Cassidy uneasy. In truth, Kryder was attracted Cassidy because there was something honest about her affection. She seemed warm and her touch was kind, so because of that he decided to tell her.

“That’s it right there.”

“Huh?”

“Why do you care? I’ve never been a runner before this, but I was under the impression that this life was filled with back stabbing and utilitarian after thoughts. Why do people act like they actually give a shit about me? It’s obvious that Ace is using me to further some goal, but why does he act like my best interest is his concern. Why did Hearts and Seonne care? Why did Vigil care? Why did Dave risk his life for me? Why did Stove die for me? Why are you in here asking me how I feel? I don’t understand any of it. If it wasn’t for you guys acting like you’re my friends then I’d have gotten the fuck out of here before I lost my best friend, my arm and time.” Kryder was maintaining a calm exterior but he was only a few breaths away from vehemence.

Everything fell silent and Kryder worried that he may have said too much and perhaps insulted Cassidy. He then realized that he could ask himself the same question. Why did he risk his life to save Cassidy from that burning wreckage? He and Dev could have simply left her behind and they would have saved time and injury.

“I think Ace takes pity on you. He knows how big of a deal this Stone is and he’s willing to do whatever it takes. He also knows that he needs you and that he can’t tell you exactly why. He’s told me before that the answers aren’t really words, and if he told you it would lose meaning. And because he’s using you, he cares for you… he knows he’s doing something wrong. He’s hurting you, and sacrificing you. As for everyone else, it could be pity, or it could be because they just like you. I’m not too sure why Stove did what he did. But chalk it up to feminine intuition that Ace understands where you are and that he is trying to do what’s best.”

Cassidy then looked up with a reassuring smile with her eyes closed but peacefully so. As the clouds passed under the moon a brief shadow covered her face before fading away. As her eyes opened her earthly green eyes resumed their coy nature.

“As for me, I flew down to Mexico to save your sorry ass because I unfortunately owed you one for pulling me out not too long ago.”

“Oh gee thanks then.” Kryder laughed as he threw a pillow at her.

“Alright try and get some sleep.” Cassidy said as she handed him back the pillow and quietly snuck out of the room.

Kryder was left to contemplate his thoughts. But he didn’t. He realized that they would get him nowhere. He had spent the first half of this journey, either on his back, contemplating or failing. But no more. He was going to get to the bottom of this. He was going to figure out what it was that made him the subject of Ace’s ire.

As his eyes grew heavy once more. Kryder drifted off to sleep. A peaceful one where he did not dream. Where he only rested.

04:23

There was no sunlight, not yet. There was still an hour or so until the sun was to rise, but for some reason, Kryder was already awake and putting on his clothes.

He noticed that Cassidy had left him some clothes by his bed side, and he laughed when the saw that the shirt was almost exactly the same as the last one he was given at this safe house. It was a soft cotton shirt, this time black in color, and it reminded him of how far he had come since the last time he had to be treated in Ace’s care.

Kryder pressed the wall control and the door slid open. The kitchen and living room had been cleaned up. Before it looked like a messy open space fit for a bachelor pad. Now it looked like a true safe house. Every surface was clean and shined with luster. If there was anything placed upon a counter top or table, it was a book, electronic resource, ammunition, weapon, or tool.

Taking a step out into the apartment, Kryder noticed that he wasn’t the only one awake.

November was sitting in the living room, filling several hypodermic needles with different fluids to varying amounts. Dave on the other hand was brewing a pot of coffee and buttering some toast for his breakfast.

“G’morning guys.” Kryder said walking over to Dave, feeling that November was too entrenched in his own doings. “Is there enough for two?” Looking at the pot and hoping that he could also have a cup; Dave took notice of Kryder’s suggestion and simply nodded in affirmation. But his nod exuded his unwillingness for morning pleasantries.

As soon as the alarm for the coffee sounded, Dave poured himself a cup and walked outside to eat his breakfast in solitude, with only the morning dew for company.

“He’s not really ready to talk.” November said as he shot himself with the first hypodermic needle loaded injection gun.

“What’re you doing?”

“De-immunizing myself among other things. You could argue that they’re all de-immunization, but I’m essentially making sure that my body has an immune system that won’t eat away at my cyber-ware. Because that would be painful. And would kill me.” November fired off another shot that sent a vile of forest green fluid straight into his thigh.

“Do you have to do this every day? Seems kinda like a hassle.” Kryder was sipping on Ace’s organic coffee. It was something that he would always remember, how it tasted, because anything authentic and edible was impossible to find no a days. Organic coffee was like Wine aged over a hundred years.

“Not quite every morning. Although my body builds a tolerance to it so the days I don’t have to do this are growing farer and fewer between.”

“What happens if you don’t do it?”

“Then I’ll develop a fever and my brain will fry. If I somehow survive the fever then all of my cyberware will be rejected which would eventually lead to shock and a heart attack because I have so much. There’s also a small chance I develop sociopathy and just go insane.”

“Wait, you might develop sociopathy? How is that possible?”

“You’ll be surprised, but killing becomes much easier when you-“ November winced and fired off his last injection. “have cyber ware, especially the eyes.”

“Well yeah, you’re made for killing people. Isn’t that what the cyber ware is for?” Kryder said as he sipped on his piping hot coffee.

“Well…yeah. But I’m talking more about the guilt and conscience stuff. When you kill someone, you usually have a tendency to think about that person. Their life, what they could have been. Sometimes they’ll pop up in your dreams if you looked them in the eyes or spoke to them, which is very common in our line of work. It’s also something that never completely goes away.” November sighed and began to pack up his injection kit, stowing it away for another day. “But when you kill someone with hands that aren’t entirely your own, or if you look at them through artificial eyes, it’s almost like you’re not the one doing it. It’s almost as if you’re looking at them through a TV, or your hands and mind have a justification of their own. Because of that, you no longer feel guilt when you kill someone. Or you’re less likely at least.” November took a deep breath and began to spool the winch for his cyberarm-grapple gun. “These things eventually bleed into the rest of your life, and if you’re unlucky, it changes you and takes over. It’s important to keep your head in the right place. Keep it grounded.”

“But I’m assuming the injections don’t help with that kind of thing.” Kryder said noting November’s hard expression. The drama and levity of the past few days and the growing situation had not left the house or the group yet. Everyone was contemplating, wondering and still lamenting.

“No. That’s all me.”

Kryder stood, looking at all of the books and pictures hanging around Ace’s apartment. It was typical Ace. There was nothing of importance. Photos of him posing with business executives on shelves and tables lie everywhere that may or may not have been forged to give him the air being a legitimate entrepreneur. He had awards, degrees, and scholarly business articles neatly tucked away on shelves and around the room so that if anyone ever tried to find him, all they would stumble across in this room, would be frustration and dead ends.

Sipping on his coffee Kryder realized that this would probably be the best time to ask November his side of the story. Where he came from and what exactly the Syndicate was. Why he decided to join the cause that Ace proposed to him.

“Hey November…”

“Yeah?” November said as he walked into the kitchen to prepare himself his own meal.

“Can I ask you something personal?”

“No.” November was blunt and open at what seemed to be the most random times. He could be personable, playful, sarcastic, sardonic, or cynical. It was literally impossible to try and figure out November. To be able to predict his reactions and thoughts would require telepathy.

“It’s nothing too invasive. I just wanted to know why you’re here.” Kryder paused but realized the ungracious tone he just used and quickly mended his statement. “It’s not like I’m not grateful for your help. I’m just curious why you decided to help? What’s in it for you?”

“One of the cardinal virtues in this business is to never reveal what’s ‘in it for you’ if it can be helped.” November flipped the pancake that he had simmering on the stove top before finishing his response. “…because that’s when someone takes it away from you.”

“But-” November quickly cut off Kryder to continue his answer.”

“BUT! Seeing as how everyone in this group lacks professionalism and cares n’ shit, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to tell you where I’m coming from.”

Kryder’s eyes lit up briefly. It would be something that could sate his curiosity if only for a little bit. It would also reveal a portion of the identity of a man Kryder was enamored with.

“Let’s just say that the guy who currently has the Stone right now is someone that I really want to pay back what I owe him.”

“Who?”

“Joshua…” November said his name with no emphasis, no hint of rage or anger in his voice. It was simply spoken aloud to Kryder, which confused him.

“Who’s Joshua?”

“He’s the one who leads Dead Sea and Caspian. He’s also the guy who did a lot to piss me off not too long ago.” November’s tone was slowly building steam, rising in levity as he turned the stove off. Turning around and wiping his hands, his cold eyes locked with Kryder’s in order to send him a message that revealed his intentions and who it was he had become. “I only have one thing left in my life. And that’s revenge. So as long as you don’t get in my way, and don’t fuck with me, we’ll be fine. We could even be friends if you want to call it that. But don’t think I’m like Ace and I’ll go down to Mexico for you just because I like you. My only concern is making Joshua look forward to death’s release…I will crawl into his soul and make him shriek for it.”

Krdyer believed November, despite being disturbed by the sudden flip in personality. He honestly felt that there was only one outcome between November and the man named Joshua, and that would be vengeance and retribution at the hand of the former Syndicate agent.

But, for the rest of morning, Kryder and November spoke only about pleasant things. They spoke about life, the world and their ideals, or perhaps November’s lack of one. But before long, people began to awake and fill the house with chatter. People were sitting around, tending to their equipment, searching for leads on the Stone and other various objectives, until Ace finally came out of his study.

When he was aboard the Sunset Circle both times, he had no idea that he would be subjected to these reality altering events. He had no idea who Ace was, and that he eventually would be serving as a lynchpin in his quest for some Stone he had never really ever seen. Originally he believed him to be a runner just like him, looking for work and looking for money.

It started out as a heist. Just a few armored cars. And then, before he knew it, Ace and his running team were chasing after a man and a Stone. Eventually he began to realize that Ace wasn’t just some low level shadow runner with cash to back his skill. Instead he was this man who had seen everything, who knew what to say at all times, but also knew when and how to use the truth. Kryder was constantly somewhere between a lie and the truth with Ace, and he had been carefully lead through a winding river of answers that revealed only what was necessary.

But after a car ride with a man known only as Gorgeous Dave, Krdyer had come to understand the situation much better. He understood that Dave, Stove and Coyote were Ace’s most loyal soldiers and that back when they had first met, these men served only as one of many bends in the river of carefully held truths crafted by Ace. Any answers they gave him in the past were all aimed at keeping Kryder away from the truth. But Krdyer knew that the truth was something that he could not have understood back then even if he had it laid bare in front of him.

He also came to know who November and the now destroyed and disbanded Syndicate were. He realized that they were a unique and powerful entity that were in charge of regulating the course of world events and balance. Given their role, their involvement with this mythical Stone seemed to make the sense.

Still there were a few questions that remained. But they were ones that only Ace could answer. Such as, what exactly the Stone is capable of that makes it so sought after? Why is Kryder so important to Ace? Why did he bother sending some of his most valuable resources after him? Why all the effort to begin with? But most importantly…who was Ace?

Looking back at Dave, Kryder took note of the cigarette’s embers that were approaching the same pallet and color as the Sunset that lay in the background, just past Dave’s head and the driver side window.

“But why me?” Asked Kryder once more, expecting no answer.

“Why any of us?” Dave spit out his cigarette and sent it flying out the window. His jet black hair was laced with sand thanks to the desert winds.

“I guess that’s the real question.” Kryder paused and grabbed the bottle of water that sat on the center console. Opening it he asked yet another question or Dave. “Thanks for coming all the way down here to save my ass. I just wanted to say that in case you know…”

“Shut the fuck up.” Dave said in jest. “Don’t talk about the situation like it’s any worse than it is.”

Dave took a long hard pause, as if he was looking for the right way to phrase the true response he had to Kryder’s gratitude.

“I saw it in Ace’s eyes, when he told me about you, about who you were and how you were needed for this operation. How you would help him get the Stone and save the world. So that’s why when he said he needed me to come down south of the border, I said yes.” Dave looked at Krdyer, who was still quenching his thirst. “Ace is a good man and I’m a good judge of character and intention. It’s what’s kept me alive long enough to witness the new generation of young runners like you. So I can tell when someone’s full of shit and when someone actually has a rhyme to their reason…and honestly even I don’t know what the fuck he’s planning. I just know that the Syndicate and people like November believed it was worth fighting for.”

Kryder took a sip of water from a canteen that lay near the center console. The water quenched his pallet and was the first form of amelioration that he had felt since being woken up not more than twenty four hours ago. Dave on the other hand, continued his solemn stare that pierced the desert landscape lying ahead of the car.

As the conversation in the front of the vehicle died down, Stove let out a cough that pasted the bandages that covered his mouth with a dark red color. Coyote knew that Stove was running out of time, but caused him to begin crying was that there was nothing that he could do. Coyote knew that there was a relatively high chance that the trio of him, Dave and Stove might come to an end by the time their car reached the LZ.

“Coyote?” November’s arms were crossed as he looked across the cabin at Coyote. His eyes were closed for the entirety of the trip so far. He was either surfing the net or resting, but now he was concerned. “Is he going to be alright?”

“Yeah he’ll be fine. I’ve seen him pull through worse.” This wasn’t an overt lie. Stove had only been with the group for a short while now, but he knew that Stove and Dave had what it took to survive worse. He had been with them in Costa Rica during the civilian uprising and the ensuing genocide. The battle in the jungle saw Stove burned alive. But not burned dead. “Seriously he’ll be okay. We just need to get him to the evac.”

“HEY Dave…how much time till we reach the LZ?” Coyote was surprised that November cared enough to hurry the process. Until this point, Coyote assumed November to be a cold blooded killer, soldier and machine.

“Why do you care if he lives or dies?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” November knew where Coyote was going with this. His social augmentations were putting up displays on his retinal image link that indicated that Coyote was on the verge of social offense.

“Well I thought-“

“That I was a machine incapable of love.” The twist of sarcasm and presumption put Coyote in his place but in a way that didn’t cause a divide between the two. November was a machine, he knew this deep down inside, but he refused to let other people know and would continue to playfully hide the fact. “Did I save you the trouble?”

Coyote looked at him puzzled, unsure of the trouble he was referring to.

“Of putting your foot in your mouth.” November clarified to the young man sitting across from him.

“Well you are a machine aren’t you? Well…I mean, not a full machine. But don’t augs, cyberware and bioware take a toll on you. I heard from Ace that you’re like, way past the ethical and biological limit. And just the way you act sometimes, I get the feeling that you’re like, a cyborg or something.”

“Did you know that Dave and Stove used to work for the Syndicate before they declared a joint operation with Ace in retrieving the Stone of Garo and sent them over as liaison agents?” November was clearly mounting an assault against Coyote.

“Yeah but what has that got to do with-“

“Well then you’ll know that they’ve seen some shit. If you had any idea, how many people I’ve killed, how many people I’ve seen killed and how many things I’ve lost to stay alive this long, then you’d understand. You’re some kid barely out of the fucking pen and you’re going to tell me who I am?” November scoffed, but rightly so. “Dave may still have that sense of humor up there that manages to deflect how he really feels inside. But I guarantee you he’s as dead as I am.”

Dave quickly interjected from the front seat. “Actually I’m half dead inside, and half dead is still half alive.”

Kryder and Stove chuckled for a moment to break the tension that November was conjuring.

“Here’s the point kid. You don’t need to be a robot to feel nothing.”

Coyote sat in the back and contemplated for a moment on why exactly he said what he said. He knew he offended November and that it wasn’t exactly the right thing to say to a man he was fighting with. In fact, Coyote was usually very amiable, but for some reason, he along with everyone else was getting irritable.

“Look, everyone keep it together. I know we’re all getting a bit anxious. But we’re almost there. The air field is about two minutes away. Once we get out of this car filled with sweaty guys and a robot, into an airplane filled with sweaty guys and a robot… I’m sure we’ll all be better for it.”

“Fuck off!” November said with a genuine smile followed by the joined laughter of everyone in the car.

“Hey sorry November.”

“Don’t worry about it k-“

Before November could finish talking, the screeching sound of a missile roaring through the air, interrupted the conversation. Before anyone could comprehend what was happening, the vehicle was hit and had already flipped twice in the air. As Kryder braced for impact he could feel the shattering glass scrape across his already blemished face. He could also make out one last glance before reflexively shutting his eyes. For some reason, this image stuck with him for it captured the essence of two people that he would be could to admire for two different reasons.

Even as the car was lifted off the ground, being thrown through the air, November had this look of fight in his eyes. It was the perfect mixture of adrenaline, fear and control. He knew this was another moment that could end him if he didn’t act, and so in this one moment, his eyes were wide open and his ears were perked and alert. It was more of a response than Kryder could have ever predicted November emoting even if he had just met him. His coldness faded into a blazing fire of will marked by the lines of his brow that were framing his face in a way that portrayed him to be a bow with its string being pulled taught. Any moment he would be ready to snap into action and release a bolt that would fly true as part of his ability to maintain control. Krdyer finally understood him in this one moment. He saw that November wasn’t a machine, but a perfect amalgam of logic and intuition. He was a person in control of his emotions and instincts like fear, while being able to apply them with logic. A blend of machine and man, something that Kryder would never forget, even if November did.

The man called Gorgeous Dave, sat calmly in his seat while bracing himself against the door frame and center console as to remain in one position while the car summersaulted in the air. With his one free hand, Dave had managed to secure his pistol already. Reflexes of a normal human being couldn’t do that. Perhaps it was something else, something less. Perhaps it was muscle memory. In the previous conversation that Kryder had with him, Dave shed light on his colorful past. He’s helped prevent and commit genocide on warring tribes in several different countries. He’s helped assassinate public officials and peasant leaders. He’s slaughtered men and women and it was usually for money. Even if Dave found a cause, it was only because Ace managed to convince him. When the conversation was over, Kryder was wondering how much of his humanity, sense of self and soul did Dave lose through his years of brutal survival. When Kryder saw Dave in this one instant, he took note of his eyes. They were keen, but they were fearless. They did not exude passion, confidence or courage, instead they voiced the chorus of the song called nihilism. Kryder knew that Dave had a detached sense of death and self. It was then that Kryder got his answer, and that he realized that Dave had lost much of himself to the life he lead. Unlike the bow, Dave was the arrow. Whatever the bow’s will, whatever the target, whatever the circumstance, he would fly straight and true. He wouldn’t care if he was wasted upon a shield, he just knew that all he could do was fly fast. And fly fast he did.

When the car landed, the remaining intact glass blew out and erupted in a cacophony of sound. Almost as if the Cruzer coughed out dust, the glass particles shot out, forming a ring of glitter in the sand. When Kryder opened his eyes once more, he immediately climbed out and reached for one of the weapons stored in the back of the vehicle. Fortunately it he found a functioning automatic rifle, equipped with a scope. Enough for him to see who their pursuers were.

Of course, it was no surprise to see that it was the remaining Aztec forces. Enceladus had given them the impression during his interrogation that Aztec had given up. Apparently this wasn’t the case.

“Hey! Can you guys get out alright?” Kryder was surprised that in his state, he was able to react. Staring down the scope he saw a pursuit force larger than they could handle. Four Desert Cruzers, and three choppers all lining the horizon. But where did the missile come from?

“Kryder! Help me get these guys out of the car, they’re trapped.” November yelled as he began to bend metal and iron to open the coffin that Coyote and Stove were trapped in.

“Hey! MAY! What the fuck is going on! Where is this orbital artillery coming from?”

The hacker known to Kryder as May, was someone that was only slightly alluded to as another ex-Syndicate operative now aiding the cause.

“---Ivory-2-Actual Do you copy!!!” May yelled to every runner who still had an ear piece. Kryder of course was without one. “Shit! They have a drone fixed on you and its generating white noise. You gotta get outta there now before it blocks me out again!”

Kryder wasn’t able to hear anything that May was saying, but when he saw Dave look over quickly at the now near air strip and hangars, he knew exactly what the next part of the plan was.

“Hey! What the fuck are we paying you for! Get the drone out of the sky!”

“Fuck you and run, you’ve got fourteen seconds before it reloads.”

Again, everything slowed down for Kryder as did every other tense moment of life and death. He saw Coyote and Stove slumped up against downed Cruzer. He noticed November wielding an assault rifle as well, firing round after round at the oncoming pursuit team. Dave on the other hand was torn between two decisions. Within a second he had to make a choice. Carry Stove and die with him, or abandon the only friend he managed to keep through his long and hellish life.

Then for some reason, Dev flashed before Kryder’s eyes. He didn’t know why. But she did. Then the feelings of guilt and helplessness washed over him. Then, before another second passed, Karliah’s face flashed before his eyes as well. Magnifying his pain, Kryder’s heart began to throb. He wouldn’t suffer failure again. He would not have Dave look at him with the eyes that Del did, and even though Dave would move on and blame no one but fate, Kryder knew that he couldn’t let this happen again.

Kryder dropped his rifle and began to run out from behind cover. Why? He didn’t know. He had no idea what he was doing. It just felt right. Perhaps some form of muscle memory that Dave felt when he managed to grab his gun was responsible for Kryder’s sudden intuitive movements. He also yelled wait to his comrades that were huddling behind the smoking wreck of a Desert Cruzer.

9-8-7

Kryder looked up and spotted the circling drone that was loading its next projectile, ready to strike in six more seconds. It was thousands of feet above the sand that Kryder stood upon. But for some reason, the next thing he did came natural to him. His body knew how to tear down the machine from the sky and bury it in the sand.

5-4-3

November continued to fire his rifle but his eyes were on Kryder. Dave too was also looking at Kryder along with Coyote and Stove, who was bleeding heavily, but whispering to himself.

2-1-

The skies began to darken, and Kryder began to glow. His hair began to furl and fly, and his eyes began to shine gold. Looking up to the heavens and raising his only functioning arm at the drone, Kryder let out a scream that shook the bones of everyone in the desert, even if they couldn’t hear it.

Then like the sound of someone tearing paper, magnified to epic and teeth chattering proportions, a beam of light shot down and met with Kryder’s hand that remained outstretched. However, the path of light also intercepted the drone that was instantly cut in half like a hot knife in butter. The drone fell before being struck by three successive bolts of lightning, which completely vaporized the machine. No trace left of the machine left. But before Kryder could regain control, he felt a piercing sensation cut through his stomach and both legs.

Three bullets penetrated Kryder while he had found his way out of cover. Was it stupid? Perhaps, but Dave had managed drag the wounded demi-god back to the wreckage. Normally these Aztec soldiers would have run away at the sight of the lighting storm, but the fear of failure and the hope of Kryder being killed by the gunshots drove them to press on.

As Kryder came too he could only hear November hailing someone over his commlink.

“---get the plane started, we’re coming to you now!” November yelled as he briefly looked back. They group had about thirty seconds before the ground team from Aztec would be on top of them.

“Come we gotta go. Let’s GO! Gabe, carry Stove.” Dave had used Coyotes real name.

“I can’t moveee…” Kryder could barely mouth the words as the pain was like a fist in his throat.

“That’s alright, I got ya buddy. I didn’t drive a thousand miles to leave your ass here.” Dave said as he hoisted him over his shoulder.

“GO! I’ll cover you guys, I’ll try and pin them on those dunes up ahead and I’ll catch up.” November said as reloaded his rifle. The chances of even someone of his combat prowess surviving his decision were unlikely at best.

Yet regardless of the best laid plans that they managed to come up with, Coyote was tapped on his shoulder by Stove, before he could be fully on Coyote’s back. For some reason, it seemed as if Stove had woken up from a slumber. Kryder could tell that Stove was making an unspoken connection to Coyote and Dave, almost as if this was something that they knew he would do eventually.

“No fuck off! I can carry you.” Coyote said desperately. And then for the first time, Stove spoke.

His voice sandy voice was raspy but had an elegance akin to a four string ensemble. It was quite unsettling in the most beautiful way. It sounded partially like static over a phone, while also sounding elegant, almost as if he were singing. Kryder, the only one who didn’t know exactly who and what Stove was, came to realize that he wasn’t exactly human. As the words came out of his mouth, he began to unravel the bandages that covered his body. Any moment now, the Aztec ground team would be there, but it all seemed to wait for Stove to undress.

His blackened skin, scarred and burned was laced with what seemed to be ancient runic tracings, almost as if his body was a tome. He took off his combat vest, and the iconic suit that he always donned no matter the situation. His eyes too were glowing much like Kryders, only his were a piercing blue.

“Go. You know you won’t make it out of here unless I do this.”

“NO!” Coyote yelled as he tried to wrestle Stove onto his back only to be thrown to the ground.

“Kryder. You chose to save me when you could have left me. I think Ace’s vision was a true one. You’ll be what he needs and what this world needs. Save universe and prove the architects right.”

“wait what?”Kryder was still mumbling with his consciousness slowly fading.

“Stove whatever you’re gonna do, do it fast. They’ll be here any minute.” November yelled as he emptied another magazine from his rifle.

“Find the Stone, destroy it and help Ace. He’ll tell you everything. Just don’t lose yourself.” Stove said as he took his shoes off. He wanted to feel the sand rise up in between his toes. “Run.” Stove said as the runes began to glow with the same intense blue as his eyes did.

Stove, reaching into his pockets one more time, pulled out his last cigarette. As he ignited it, a gust of wind kicked up an astronomical amount of sand which served to cover his friend’s escape. His wounds began to heal and stich themselves up all on their own, being replaced with more runes that spread. However as the runes spread, his eyes winced in pain.

Taking a deep breath of the cancer he could control, Stove stepped out into the open much like Kryder had done a moment ago.

By now Kryder was regaining his senses and began to realize his efforts in trying to save Stove were all for not. But unlike when Dev, Hearts, Seonne or even Camielle died, Kryder felt less. He couldn’t explain it but he began to see the path that men like Dave or November had taken. What actually broke Kryder’s heart was looking at Coyote who was crying. Coyote was still young and always looked up to Dave and Stove. Kryder knew exactly how he felt…helpless. Looking back, Kryder could see the last moments of Stove.

With a rising of his hands like a conductor of a classical concerto, Stove raised the sand even higher with gusting wind currents. The pursuit team was finally upon him, where Kryder was laying not a minute ago before leaving Stove behind.

Eventually Stove let out a cry, and the wind shot forth like a wall, sweeping up all the vehicles and aircraft that were sent to capture and kill them all. As they were all swept up into the air, Stove’s body became a source of light barely holding a humanoid form. Then as the typhoon winds came crashing down along with the rest of the Aztec team, all vanished with a violent explosion followed by one last gust of wind. No soldier remained, and Stove had vanished. It was like the sand had reached up and buried them, much like the former cities of Mexico.

As the devastated, tired and nearly dead runners made it to the landing strip, a small stealth Drake outfitted for special operations emerged from underneath a tarp. Its entrance ramp opened, and the aircraft was slowly turning around and preparing to commit to flight.

As Dave, Stove and Coyote ran with Kryder in tow, the approached the rear of the Drake. And to Kryder’s surprise, he saw a familiar face waiting waiving them on with her hand stretched out.

She was mouthing the word “come on” or something of the sort. And as Coyote and November managed to make it onto the craft, the pilot grabbed Dave by the shoulder and pulled him aboard. As the ramp closed and the red glow of the inner light turned on Kryder uttered out her name.

“Cassidy!” Kryder was still bleeding, but the sight of someone he wasn’t sure was still alive made all the pain fade away. Part of him felt that she was killed along with everyone else in their group by Dead Sea and Caspian. But her concern and warm touch was enough to put a smile on Kryder’s face for the first time in days.

“Kryder!” Cassidy took him off Dave’s shoulders and switched the Drake into auto-pilot. “What the- is he going to be okay?”

“He’ll be fine. He’s healing right now. Just like Stove.” Dave’s face was still just as ice cold as ever, except Kryder could see the remaining lights in his heart dim with the death of Stove.

“Kryder…” Cassidy sat down and rested Kryder’s head on her lap. Her fingers were running through his hair and for some reason she wept for him. Kryder didn’t deserve it though. He had failed too many times. But this time was different. He was sick of it. He was always being carried, he was always in the dark, and he was always being knocked down and unconscious. But after today, with Stove’s death, he felt different. Perhaps it was because he did everything he possibly could. Maybe that’s why he didn’t feel like a complete failure. Then again, why did he care? Shadow Runners were co-workers and colleagues at best. The unwritten warning is to never become attached, but Kryder seemed to consistently fail to heed the advice. At least this time he didn’t feel as guilty. He had too many bullet holes to feel anything.

The sounds of November’s grapples were muffled by the explosion and final collapse of the structure behind him. However, they were able to safely deliver him, Dave and Coyote off of the rooftop of the previously standing building.

“Jesus fucking Christ. What was that?” Yelled Dave, wondering what could have possibly caused such a commotion. Coyote was too busy coughing and wheezing from the sand he had inhaled to respond but like November and Dave, was able to look upon Kryder who was standing there emanating an energy they had never felt before.  

“What is going on?” Dave asked once more.

November just quietly stared at Kryder who was about thirty feet away from them looking into the building that was across the street from the Clinic. It was a department store and something inside had grabbed his attention. Sensors popped up on November’s Retinal display alerting him to the astral signature being exuded by Kryder indeed matched no known signatures or affinities. He wasn’t any type of mage or any type of adept. However, the astral signature was similar to one reading. It was similar to Ace’s, and this made November briefly think back when Ace had first hired him.

8/3/2074 – 2:43 Kirkland, Seattle

“Remind me again, why are you doing this?” Asked Gorgeous Dave who put on his tight black gloves and fastened his Kevlar vest that sat atop his black tee shirt.

“Money and the antigens I need to stop my body from killing itself.”

“Wait, you’re going to kill yourself?”

“Cyber-ware, I’m over the biological limit. The Syndicate used to supply us all with it, but now that they’re gone, only Ace can duplicate it given Gable Corporations subsidiary company GenCorp. They actually were the ones who invented the serum.”

November was sitting underneath a skylight in Ace’s safe house’s garage. It would be where the Thunderbird Aircraft would rise out of and transport them to Mexico to save Kryder. All November really wanted to do was to kill Joshua and get his revenge.

“Never really liked those Syndicate types, but you seem alright.” Dave said as he lit a cigarette and began to indulge his vice. He motioned his pack towards November to ask if he wanted one only for the Agent to wave his hand to refuse the offer.

“Alright listen up, before you go. I have one more thing to mention before I take off.”

“Ello Ace!” Dave said, standing up to shake hands with what seemed to be a good friend.

“Morning Dave.” Ace said as he tucked in his suit shirt into his jet black pants. “You guys are going to find Kryder and you’re going to need to know where he goes. That’s why me and the other team are going to go and investigate an Aztec Records building and try to get that for you, should trim back the time you spend looking for him.”

“You say that so cavalierly.” November said as he walked out from under the moonlight to meet Ace in conversation. “May already managed to hack into their registry to find out that he was somewhere in Durango. I’m sure we can just ask some questions and find him. No need to risk you, we don’t feel like having to save your ass as well.”

“I’ll be fine Novy. But the other thing is that we’re going to try and find more about Joshua and May needs a hard line in that building so she can have free reign to dig.”

As Ace was explaining all of this, out walked a girl November hadn’t seen in a few weeks as their expertise never allowed their paths to cross. Her hair was brown and her skin was light. She was a quiet in stature and in presentation but comfortable with herself. She was disheveled; looking almost as if she had just woke up and got out of bed. Which, given the time, could have been a possibility. But November knew her well.

“Hey May, glad you could make it.”

“Yo. Novy, what’s up?” She said, holding a coffee cup and rigging laptop in the other. Those two things and her AR gloves were all she needed to hack into the Aztec Registry. She was as good at hacking as November was good at killing.

“Ah, you know, nothing much, my house got blown up by some radioactive psychopath and now I’m working for this guy over here.”

“Oh shit, you too? Yeah I hear that insurance agencies don’t have claims for that kinda thing.” May took a sip of coffee before cutting to the chase.

“Alright, so let me get this straight. You’re paying me to find out where this kid Kryder is and where Joshua is. And you’re willing to hardline into Aztec? I feel like you have a death wish.”

“I did pay you up front didn’t I?” Ace said as he finally put on his suit jacket and motioned to someone outside the garage to start the car.

“Alright, we’re still waiting for out pilot, but we’ll just take off right after right?” Asked November who picked up his backpack and tossed it in the back of the Thunderbird.

“Yeah, sounds fine. Also I left some security for you May.” Ace was in a hurry and began to run out but was stopped in his tracks as he remembered one last thing.

“Oh…one more last thing. Here, let me send you this, it’s a recording of an astral signature. Do you have the software for it?”

“Mage Hunting software? Yeah of course.”

“Alright, take this recording, it’s my astral signature. If and when you get to Krdyer, and IF he has a similar reading as this, call me right away.”

“Why? Wait, what kind of reading is this?”

“It’s a special one. He might be a danger to himself in that case, so tranquilize him or something if he begins to show this signature.”

“Alright, do you think he will? Is it a probability?”

“Fifty-fifty. Alright, hurry and start heading south, I’ll call you when I get the info.” Ace said, running back out into the night.

November observed the astral signal but decided to deal with the situation if and when the time arose. Little did he know…

8/7/2074 – 14:01 Outskirts of Durango, Mexico

“Ace, we have a problem.”

“Wait a few minutes and then restrain him. Are you guys in the middle of combat?”

In the moments before November had called Ace, Kryder was captivated by a fight going on inside the store. A fight between Enceladus, Titan and Stove had broken out during the commotion. While November saved Dave and Coyote who were trapped atop the collapsing building, Stove had unwillingly engaged in a battle against two skilled Prime Runners.

Kryder eventually ran inside and began launching lightning bolts and soon managed to destroy Titan with one swift surge. It was beauty as he had run up to the Titan, dodged a strike and jumped, landing atop its large frame. As he planted his hand on its top, he sent down a charge that killed the AI and the drone it was commanding.

It was now a chase to capture or kill Enceladus. It was a whim to Krdyer. Enceladus was barely holding off a badly beaten Stove who was caught off guard by the hulking Titan, and a raging Kryder who was trying to find him.

“He is.” Replied November, signifying Kryder’s recklessness

“November, we’re going in to get Stove and pull him out. After that, I’ll stay in and get in a good spot to put Kryder down, just give me the signal.” Dave said as he and Coyote ran into the store and dove behind the arrow filled aisles to rescue their friend.

“Alright, well, as soon as the combat is over if he doesn’t just shut down himself, use a tranquilizer or just knock him out. When he wakes up, if he remembers… if he remembers everything then call me and put me on the phone, but if he doesn’t then it can wait until we all get back to the safe house.”

“Alight, November out.”

November just stood outside, watching as Enceladus duck and hide from the demon that was Kryder. He knew that Kryder needed no help as the Prime Runner was exhausting his cache of arrows. He was also beginning to corner himself. But he also began to feel sympathy, realizing that he had no affiliation with Aztec. He also had no qualms with the Corporation either.

“Dave, listen up, I’m going to run out back and I’m going to get Enceladus and try to capture him. You tranq Kryder as soon as I’m out of the area. I’ll be using my wires.”

“Roger that.”

November then ran as quickly as he could to the other side of the building, and kicked down the back door that led into the stock room. Quickly finding his way into the store itself, November kicked down another door in time to see a cornered Enceladus.

“In position November!” Dave yelled in November’s ear piece.

Kryder was silent, he had no idea the events that were transpiring around him, he just wanted to kill the last Aztec soldier. It was different this time, he could think straight. He was in control. But he still had tunnel vision for the kill was approaching closer and closer. If not for the tunnel vision, he would have noticed Dave lying prone atop a produce Aisle with his rifle loaded with stun rounds, pointing right at his chest.

But it didn’t matter for Enceladus had no escape route, just the corner to cower in. He had no arrows and nowhere to run, he would have to face Kryder’s wrath. But in one smooth instant, November zoomed by in a black flash, using his wiring system to grab a hold of Enceladus and throw them through a window. But before Kryder could understand what was happening, he felt three projectiles hit his chest with enough force to put down an elephant. Dropping to his knees, he felt the breath fly out of his chest, leaving him with nothing to gasp at. Instead his vision just darkened and once again, he fell asleep.

Kryder once again found himself within the dreamscape of his own mind. Or at least, what he thought to be his own mind. However, the past encounters with the man named Mu had them set in a room devoid of any furniture or color. Not to say that everything was black and white, but the walls were seamless, without obvious corners and purer than snow.

This time was different. The walls were saturated with glorious colors, some of which Kryder had never had the pleasure of enjoying before. He found himself captivated by the lively hue that his own conscious had taken and displayed. He wasn’t sure how he knew he was in his own mind, but he was rather confident of the prospect.

“Hello. Nice to see you Kryder.”

“Hello Mu.” Kryder had his back to Mu as he continued to look upon the wall before him.

A brief silence fell over the conversation and Kryder could almost feel the smile forming on Mu’s lips. Kryder for some reason was able to remember with increasing clarity with each successive dream.

“What’re you going to tell me this time? Blindly trust Ace? Throw my life away? Get more people killed, trust in myself?” Krdyer was angry but he was still biting his tongue, keeping his tone calm. He had begun to realize that he was complaining a little too much, almost to the point where it annoyed him, but that didn’t change the fact that no one really ever told him much of anything. No explanations, just a whole lot of trust and dead friends on his part, while Ace sat in the shadows.

“Nope.”

Kryder’s attention and mood took a sharp left turn at Mu’s response.

“Ace, Dave, November…. None of them trust you and they’ve all lied to you. They’ve been keeping the truth to themselves and feeding you lies. It’s time you broke free…it’s time you took back your life.”

These words didn’t sound like something Mu would say. Mu always seemed like the better conscience while this voice spoke straight from the insecurities and concerns of Kryder’s heart. Kryder wasn’t sure he was talking to Mu, but he was too scared to turn and see who it was. He wasn’t sure why, but he remained focused on the walls that were slowly turning darker and darker while maintaining their saturation.

“Why the sudden change in confidence?”

“Because, they shot you, they saw how powerful you really were, and so they sought to control you. You can’t let this happen. You need to get the Stone and go back home.”

“Home?” Did the voice refer to New York, where he and his almost long forgotten sister had lived. Why was it so hard to remember his sister, and his family. He hadn’t thought of them, not once in months….maybe even years. It was all so hazy.

“Ace is keeping you from your true nature, he’s keeping you from who you really are as well as the right to being the champion you used to be.”

“What in the fuck are you talking about.” Kryder couldn’t take it anymore, and the slight bit of outrage at the cryptic presentation of these words gave him the courage to face the other person in this room that slowly faded to black.

It wasn’t Mu. Instead it was a gaunt looking man. He was naked, pale and tall. His words were nothing like Mu’s, as they slithered out of this man’s mouth.

“You need to come home now. Reach your potential, do what you were meant to do.”

Kryder began having flashes of a place that looked like Earth, but was nothing like it. The buildings were old, stone and tall. Walls higher than a man could ever dream of climbing. But that was it, it was all he saw. Where was this place.

Kryder’s focus snapped back into the dreamscape as his vision within the vision broke. The gaunt man was still there, laughing, cackling, but he was joined by another. A human, someone who was pale in complexion. He was silent and he looked sick. But he also looked strong and possessed a look of true hatred. A look of a life broken by tragedy hung in his eyes just as silence clutched at his vocal chords. Who was this man? The whites of his eyes were gray and his Iris possessing a yellow that disturbed Kryder while the pupils were not just black, they were devoid of light.

Just then a voice came in through the walls that began to glow green, it was familiar. It was Mu’s. It called him from his dream. Kryder now knew, for some reason the fibers of his being spoke to him and was able to make him realize who Mu was. It was in fact his better conscience. It was the lighter side of him, while this other voice was all of the demons of a past that he couldn’t remember. That was now the question for Ace.

“Kryder!” Yelled November. Who was grabbing him by both shoulders and shaking him to wake him.

“What! What….” Kryder gasped as he awoke from his dreams that he was finally beginning to understand.

“Kryder…” November’s face was one of concern, that same look that he used when he first eyed him during their first encounter. He had something to say, something that he knew was going to complicate his job as Kryder’s watch dog. “…do you remember?”

It would be impossible for November to have alluded to any other memory than the one’s he had a brief flash of during his dream, provided by the evil voices swirling in his head.

“Starting to.” Kryder said with a look that instilled nothing but concern for November.

“Oi, Krdyer, I’m sorry for hitting you with that beanbag round. I hope you can understand.” Dave said as he ran over to Krdyer who was still lying down in the department store, the sight where he was shot.

He could have taken the doubts and the insecurities, and believed what the gaunt man had said to him, and lashed out at them. Maybe even fought them. But he knew the only one who’d give him the answers he needed was Ace. But Mu’s intention could be felt, and it kept Kryder grounded and his morality afloat.

“No, I understand. I also don’t understand myself so you guys made the right call.” As Kryder closed his eyes due to a grimacing expression brought on by the brief moment of pain, resultant of the bean bag round, he opened them to see a look of fear and concern in everyone. It was greater than before, something new had transpired.

Kryder turned around to look at what they were looking at, but they were in fact looking at him.

“What?” Kryder checked himself for wounds or something that would cause him the same level of concern but found nothing.

Coyote continued to stare at Kryder but reached at one of the shelves in the department store, grasping a hand mirror and pointed it at Kryder.

The whites of his eyes were faded and his Iris was a combination of the brown he used to possess with tinges of yellow, giving them a golden color as a compromise between the two.

“What the fuck?” Kryder said in horror as his dreams had become something more real.

Kryder began to lose control once more, but only on the level of his grip with the situation. He had it figured out, but that didn’t sate his quest for answers. Ace was hundreds of miles away and no one could give him answers and he wanted them now.

“Someone tell me what the FUCK IS GOING ON! One of you has to know who Ace is, one of you has to know who the FUCK I AM.”

“Kryder calm down.” Said Coyote who moved in to try and put a hand on his shoulder.

Kryder just smacked his hand away. “Don’t fucking touch me. Who are you guys even? Doesn’t anyone understand that I’m smarter than I look? I see you guys fucking me, leading me around like some kind of lab rat. I’m not some caged experiment. Someone give me a god damned answer. Someone tell me why Dave shot me, why November’s been eyeing me like I’m some kind of patient about to lose control. Someone tell me, why the people I hired a month ago to investigate Ace, are the people working for him! Someone tell me why my girlfriend is dead….just someone tell me why I feel so fucking LOST!!!”

November was calm, but ready to react to threats that Kryder could have presented. Stove, was too injured from the battle to do anything but lie there with a fresh cigarette in his mouth. Enceladus was tied up and unconscious and Coyote was standing over him with his hand on his holster, ready to pull his gun out. Dave however, was just as calm as November, but as he stepped on his cigarette, he just approached Kryder with a look of complete understanding. He had a faint smile on his face, almost as if he had seen this all happen before.

“Kryder, take ten seconds and breathe and relax. Don’t speak, don’t try and think just breathe. Heck, inhale this if it’ll settle ya mate.” He handed him his pack of cigarettes. “November, did May hack into the Desert Cruzer yet?”

In the time that Kryder was unconscious, they had begun to break into and hack an Aztec SUV that carried the troops in pursuit. It was the only one that escaped the destruction of the immediate area.

November opened his Commlink and asked May, his fellow syndicate member and hacker for the status of her task.

“She’s good to go, should be open now.” The sound of the bolt locks on the car sliding open could be heard as November turned off his Commlink.

“Okay the. Coyote, load Stove in the back. November get Enceladus in the back as well and then man the .50” The Desert Cruzer was a small and fast vehicle meant to blaze through the sand dunes of Mexico, as well as offer the support of a roll cage in place of a roof, a small rear compartment for two people and a gyro-mounted machine gun for one other crew member. It would be a tight fit, but they had no other choice.

“Who made him boss all of a sudden.” November said sarcastically as he had no problem with Dave issuing commands.

As the others began to shuffle around and carry out their orders, Kryder just stood there, fists still clenched, calming him down. He made a promise to himself. He knew what questions to ask now, and he wasn’t going to throw another tantrum, at least until he got his answers. He wasn’t a child. As he looked up, Dave placed his hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eyes with a stare that Kryder hadn’t known he had.

“You want answers Kryder…”

Kryder just nodded for all of the years of fighting, of death, of running and hiding that Dave had experienced had surfaced in Dave’s eyes. It was almost as if a mentor were speaking to him. Someone with something to actually say and offer, which made Krdyer simply nod yes to his offer.