“What?” asked Arson. He’d just walked into a conference room to a series of shocked faces. It wasn’t until he heard his own voice, that he realized the reason for all the bewilderment.

  “We will not stop until these criminals are found,” said Arson in an interview between him and Lane.

  “What are your plans? I mean, are you and your fellow guild members even skilled enough to handle such a prominent investigation?”

  “We may not be as experienced as the prestigious Graveyard organization, or even the more skilled bounty hunters that are already heavily ingrained in the experience that is RaidCorp Coliseum, but me and mine are dedicated in a way that no one around us are,” said Arson with a nod toward the camera.

  “Well, I’m sure that RaidCorp will be happy to have you, as so far they seem to have come up short. The lack of evidence from what has been shared by investigators is honestly alarming, no forensic evidence, no real conclusive clues that point toward any of the participants as suspects, nothing more than the symbol they left behind, but even the alchemist that was interviewed says that he believes that whoever pulled off this robbery is trying to pin this act on you and yours” stated Lane.

  “Indeed, which is not our primary reason for taking up the call to arms to find out who did this, but it definitely helps, my guild and anyone who has been recruited by Sovereign Arson Omni know that we are fighting to be seen as a honorable entity throughout the entire realm, and any other realm that we manage to grow to be a part of. These criminals are trying to undermine my boss’s hard work, and I take that personally.”

  “Well we are glad to have you as our General, Carter, and so is Sovereign, so we can’t wait to see what your efforts yield in finding these criminals.”

  Troy looked over at Arson as the Holo-cast ended, and the wall screen dimmed, no longer showing the interview room, blinking slowly at him before she bursted into laughter alongside everyone else in the room.

  “No sparking way, absolutely not, you are seriously going to make us hunt ourselves down?”

  Arson shook his head as he found a seat at the long conference table.

  “No… I’m going to raid a bunch of criminal organizations and pin all of our actions on them, complete a heist, raid and rob another group blind, complete a heist, uncover a thriving drug operation, complete a heist—“

  “I think we get it, boo, so what we are about to raid some unsuspecting gang and do what, leave evidence that points the higher ups toward them as the guilty party?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you have someone in mind?”

  “Xani, please bring up the list of targets I sent you to look over,” said Arson and without looking up Xani brought up the equivalent to an evidence board in a police station on the nearby wall screen.

  “No problem, I organized the file a little bit, honestly I like these guys,” said Xani still staring at her own flat screen tablet, working on something completely different from what she both spoke about and was being displayed on screen.

  “They are so dirty, that RaidCorp has put a bounty on them with a reward larger than last heist…”

  “You say that like it wasn’t our first,” said Khalif with a chuckle.

  “We broke down the ManaWell and bought it for less than pebbles afterward, going to say that was our first heist,” said Xani, still working diligently on various tasks on her tablet; Troy and the others gathered murmuring their agreement. Even Arson nodded, unable to keep the smile completely off his face at the memory, as what wasn’t that long ago for them, was more than a decade’s worth of season cycles in his past.

  “ If we are going to take this organization down we will have to start at the bottom, as their leader Honzo is seen as an untouchable ,” said Xani. The screen showed a wheelchair bound man sitting before a series of bodies that hung upside down, all of which were decapitated. Flanked by gangsters that all held swords Arson knew were Katanas, he wondered if the man was even from Maelstrom, or potentially a lower realm where the style of sword was more common.

  “Damn…” said Rob, looking between everyone gathered.

  “Is this seriously how we are going to spend our vacation? This doesn’t seem like work to anyone,” asked Rob.

  “Nope,” said Xani, Micro, Khalif and Troy all at the same time, while Arson simply shook his head, swiping on his watch’s screen without a care in the realm.

  “Okay, just me then, noted.”

  “Ha, you ain’t seen nothing yet, all of you are a part of the right hand, wait until you are needed for a left hand operation, you’ll wish you hadn’t gone on a… vacation,” said Micro raising her hands to put air quotes around the last word of her statement.

  “Do I even want to know what that means,” said Troy, glaring at Arson, who simply shook his head, not looking up from his watch.

  “What the right hand raises into the light, the left hand lowers to be hidden,” murmured Xani and Khalif.

  “Maybe you guys aren’t sheltered, that gives me hope,” said Micro, coming to her feet. She walked by Arson, patting him on the shoulder as she exited to Troy’s obvious annoyance.

  “Recon, I’ll be back,” said Micro.

  “Noted, I’m going to have Khalif meet you later at the bounty office, don’t be late,” said Arson with a dismissive hand wave over his shoulder.

  “Can I take the hooligans out for some R&R,” yelled Micro from outside the room.

  “Fine, no visibility, and make sure the Wretches don’t drink too much, this is a vacation not a bender!”

  The room went silent, and Anastasia’s face appeared in the corner of the wall screen to look between Arson and Troy with a raised brow.

  “Ooh, he in trouble,” said the AI under her breath before disappearing entirely. Xani paid who’d even spoken no mind, while Rob and Khalif looked around the room in confusion, as Troy tried to burn a hole in the top of Arson’s head with her glare.

  “Does, anyone else hate that street rat, or is it just me?” said Troy, looking toward the open doorway as she spoke.

  “It’s just you,” said Xani still flitting between tasks on her tablet, smirking as she dodged a conjured hand made of light that attempted to flick her in the forehead without looking.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “I think she is just misunderstood,” said Rob, looking around at his friends.

  “She’s gorgeous,” said Khalif, surprising everyone. Arson’s eyebrow rose as everyone else turned to look at Khalif in sudden shock, but he wisely decided to stay silent. His Closed Eye Dominion showing him that Troy had already turned her gaze back in his direction, now wearing a questioning gaze.

  Silly girl, I would burn realms to ashes just to see your smile a single time, thought Arson, continuing to swipe through the maps he scanned through on his watch, feeling he knew what Troy’s thoughts were even without asking.

  “Come on people we have work to do,” said Arson, looking up to stare down the headshot of Honzo. The man’s long black hair, and green eyes seemingly staring back at everyone in the room from the wall screen.

  “and ain’t no one gonna do it for us…”

  …

  Cedric felt off for the first time since he’d started working with the Swords. The gang was professional, disciplined and deadly. All the qualities he wanted to embody in his own personified reputation.

  He was a hard working man, and what he’d been able to do for the Swords since joining was uncanny. Many new upstart recruits felt themselves to be the Maiden’s blessing to the realms, but Cedric had actually made an impact in the gang’s day-to-day operations.

  He stood in the back of the pack, wearing his parachute, while holding another dummy chute filled with less than reputable products.

  He and many of the Swords were gathered there to make yet another drop, one of many that he felt would completely go under the radar of authorities and/or the many security teams within RaidCorp Coliseum. Yet for some odd reason, his mind was screaming to back out for the first time since he’d implemented this system of delivery.

  The closer he got toward the hanger door of the large runic jet, the more his mind roared at him to run. He’d never felt this way before, and eventually ignored his instincts.

  In every direction he looked, there were only happy resort goers, all excited to embark on a skydiving activity that would allow them to see the entire floor they were on all at once.

  Cedric had come to love skydiving, especially the jump that offered him the sensation of weightlessness. It didn’t matter how many times he jumped, he couldn’t wait for his next chance to see the lovely night scape. The skyline from above the most breathtaking scene he’d ever held witness to.

  He finally managed to calm down, turning to see a smiling young man high five another. The pair revved up to a level of unrivaled adrenaline and blood pumping hyperactivity.

  Cedric shook his head, laughing mentally. He’d seen their types before, half of the people that paid to jump, never did, and Cedric was willing to bet money that the pair wouldn’t jump even if Cedric paid them a trillion credits in diamond bricks.

  “Bloody bastards are probably pukers… bet they pop even before we reach maximum altitude,” mumbled Cedric underneath his breath.

  “Oh yeah baby, this is going to be gnarly,” yelled one of the pair as the runic jet lifted off, rising straight up like a helicopter. The hanger door stayed open to offer those aboard an opportunity to exit early if the height became too much for them to handle, and the jet’s only rule was to wait until the jet’s green light turned on before participants decided to jump.

  If participants couldn’t wait, then they would be forced to stay on the jet if they couldn’t handle the jump. Why was this the perfect delivery system for the Swords? There was only one reason.

  Participants were allowed to land in any sector of the floor, making it so that the Swords that he brought into his operations fold, were in fact able to deliver their product to various locations all over the floor simultaneously. This alone made it so that the Swords were able to deliver product daily, and without being hindered by any of the normal security teams on patrol. As none of his crew ever walked around with product on them, as they only delivered to buildings they landed on.

  Not enough orders for that block, or building, then put in a larger request. Cedric didn’t care about the small fish anyway. He was a high performer and had long been one of the most efficient dealers in all of the RaidCorp Coliseum’s underground.

  “Sparks, that is a beautiful view,” said one of the young men near to Cedric. The young man still jumping up and down in excitement, making Cedric wonder if he was one of his many customers.

  Gotta be a junkie, nobody stays that ramped up all the bloody time without being on something…

  Not long after that the green light turned on and Cedric felt that his worries had been for nothing. His people all seemed to be unbothered, and preparing for their jumps, until, everything seemed to go sideways all at once.

  “Yo, what are you doing? That’s my backup parachute,” screamed one of the women on Cedric’s crew.

  What the… where the bloody sparks did he come from?

  A random person, wearing a black mask, appeared suddenly, stripping the parachute from his crew member’s hands; before saluting her and darting off the jet.

  His crew member glanced in his direction in bewilderment, before Cedric gestured after the man.

  “Don’t look at me, go get him!”

  The woman gave him a nod, pulling a katana from a hidden sheath that ran down the leg of her body suit and charged straight off the jet, jumping free of the hanger door.

  Cedric looked toward the events coordinator at the back of the hanger; the man’s confused gaze falling on Cedric before he simply shrugged back at the man. Cedric look away from those around him just long enough for all out pandemonium to break out in the hangar.

  Cedric turned back to many more individuals wearing black masks, as his crew were all stripped of their packages, and forced to chase down the fleeing individuals.

  Swords were drawn all around Cedric, and some of his crew were able to keep their parachutes filled with product in hand. Yet more of the passengers were suddenly wearing masks and grouped up, assaulting his crew members with a skillful ferocity that showed that this wasn’t the first time these people had performed activities along these same lines.

  “This ain’t good…”

  Cedric began to draw his own sword, only to be stopped by a voice, speaking directly behind him.

  “No, my friend, you are mistaken, this is absolutely fantastic!”

  Cedric glanced over his shoulder to see a smiling man with eyes like that of an ocean of galaxies. Entire worlds held in his irises, all moving in a spiraling hypnotic pattern that froze him just long enough for the man to grab the package in his hands.

  “Son of a…!”

  “It’s been a pleasure,” yelled the man before he sprinted toward the hanger door and leaped.

  “Oh no you bloody don’t!”

  Cedric chased after the man, only to realize at that very moment his fears before the flight began were being completely validated.

  “Oh my Maiden!”

  In every direction below Cedric areal battles were taking place. The mayhem all illuminated by the beautifully lit skyline below.

  His crew were being assailed on all sides. The masked men and women all around them far more adept at moving through the air than his own people.

  While his crew had gained a lot of experience rather quickly since his operations began, those they battled against were like that of aerial acrobats. His crew struggled to wield their katanas while plummeting, as their foes danced around them; laughter literally filling the air as the masked groups punched and kicked his crew around, coordinating their attacks to push his people toward their enemies in an endless series of attacks.

  What the sparks is going on here!

  “Woo, I sparking love vacation,” screamed one of the masked combatants, Cedric’s eyes going wide as the young woman lifted her mask just enough to sip a bottle of a beautifully designed liquor bottle, chugging the substance after putting the bottle to her delicate lips.

  Cedric couldn’t help but watch as the young woman posed, holding the bottle in various positions as she fell; aerially back stroking with a swimmer’s grace, as another masked individual seemed to be taking photos with a floating broadcaster’s camera. The floating orb occasionally flashing with light with each new position the masked model took.

  “I gotta thank you for this, man, the publicity we are going to get for catching you all is going to be astronomical,” said a voice just beside Cedric. He turned to look, only then noticing the same young man that had taken his package was diving directly next to him.

  “Woah there, buddy, calm down, I’m just trying to be nice, don’t get your undergarments in a twist,” said the young man, drifting smoothly away from Cedric as he reached toward him in a lunge.

  “Who the sparks are you people,” roared Cedric enraged by the young man seemingly flying rather than falling next to him.

  “Don’t worry about all that, if you don’t know then you will soon…”

  “I’m going to sparking kill you!”

  Cedric pulled out his sword and dove at the young man. His every swing easily dodged, Cedric realizing that he was outmatched completely when one of his strikes was simply pushed aside by the young man’s open palm. The movement as smooth and simple as a wave, giving Cedric the impression that he must be seemingly moving in slow motion to the young man.

  Suddenly a bag appeared in the young man’s hand, and Cedric knew he was in trouble. The bag was familiar, as Cedric had seen its style before, immediately knowing what the young man was here to do.

  “You, you, you’re a bloody bounty hunter!”

  The man gave a nod and smiled.

  “Unluckily for you, I am now…!”

  …

  Arson zipped the bag closed, and pulled the loop on his parachute after slinging the bounty bag over his shoulder. His chute opened smoothly, and he landed on a rooftop only a handful of moments later.

  He strode over to the three people already on the roof, and dropped the bounty bag at Sprinter’s feet. The resort’s admin nodded with a faint smile in his direction, and gestured toward the bag, looking toward the Graveyard officer at her side.

  “Would you like to pay him directly for the bounty, or do you want me to do it and we just send you all an invoice?”

  “An invoice will be just fine,” said the officer, sighing as he lifted the bounty bag.

  “Oh, don’t forget this, my people will bring the rest of what we recovered and the other gang members to the bounty office shortly,” said Arson, handing over the dummy chute filled with narcotics.

  “Thank you young man, Graveyard appreciates your services,” responded the officer, as Lane approached.

  “Do you have a moment for us to ask you a few questions, sir? Not only will it help bring a strong response from the community and resort goers, good publicity will never hurt Graveyard’s reputation,” asked Lane, taking off her black mask and presenting the officer with her best award winning smile.

  “Why of course, is there anything particular you need me to do?”

  “Not at all, we are just going to give assurances and show the people in a poetic fashion that we care and are working hard for their safety,” said Lane and the interview began.

  Lane dazzled Sprinter by involving both her and Arson in the interview, guiding the dialogue toward an image of professionalism being displayed by Graveyard, and a level of unrivaled customer service by the resort’s administration. All while making the BHC seem integral to the uncovering of the criminal operations being brought to the light, and ensuring that with the cooperation of all three entities, a new height of safety and enjoyment would be reached by all the resort’s guests.

  “I’m impressed with you and yours, young master Gestalt, I’ve never seen a well organized youth group like your own, and if you hadn’t already gotten that Lane of yours to be so loyal, we would have tried to poach her,” said Sprinter with a laugh.

  “You act like you didn’t try already Miss Sprinter. Too bad for you no credit amount can sway her, she doesn’t need money in the slightest,” said Arson, causing the woman’s brow to raise before she chuckled.

  “Indeed, but it has been an absolute pleasure, and you’ll see your payment soon.”

  “Thank you, Miss Sprinter, and don’t worry, you’ll be seeing more of us, this is just the tip of the mountain, trust me.”

  Sprinter nodded, stepping over to her private runic plane, waving as she stepped aboard.

  “See you soon then, young man, see you soon!”

  The plane took off and Khalif stepped free of a shadow, taking off his mask as he approached Arson.

  “So is this what the left hand of our organization is like? If so, I quit, security is fun, but not this fun,” said Khalif.

  Arson shook his head, glancing at Khalif with a smile.

  “No, Khalif, but what we are about to do, may make you never want to be in the light again…”