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Description
     Vinrey pounded down the street with Marcus running next to him. They shoved pedestrians aside and lost the man in the blue suit, to Vinrey’s annoyance. If his ribs had been whole, he would have been able to catch the strange man, but it hurt too bad to move at top speed. He could barely match pace with Marcus, who wasn’t in the greatest shape.
     Marcus stopped and ducked against a wall, Vinrey followed him to avoid being lost in the crowd.
     Marcus said to him, “Vinrey, we lost him, there's no way we'll find him in that.” He indicated the crowd.
     Vinrey shouted over the public's din, “It doesn't matter. He's not leaving the city. I'm sure of that.”
     Marcus yelled back, “How do you know that?”
     Vinrey scowled and looked back to the crowd. He leaned in toward Marcus's ear and said, without straining his voice, “Why don't we discuss this on the Sanguine? It'll be easier to conduct a decent damn conversation there.”
     Marcus nodded and swept his hand in a gesture that said, “After you.”
     They went south again toward the locomotive harbor, shoving through the dense crowd.

     Once they were inside the Sanguine and in the Rec car, Marcus, Vinrey, and Bactus had a chance to talk. The rest of the crew was still on leave, they were enjoying their stay in Haveras.
     Marcus squirmed a bit in his chair. Getting a hold of that suited man was imperative. He could find out so many things, the answers to the mysteries that had been shattering his dreams for several weeks. He asked, “Conductor, what are we going to do? We have to find him. I know you don't see this as severely important, but it's almost necessary.”
     Vinrey, leaned back in his armchair and said simply, “I understand.”
     Marcus wasn't expecting that. His face betrayed what he was thinking.
     Vinrey said in response to the look on Marcus's face, “I know we have to find him. You aren't the only person interested.”
     Marcus silenced, and was humbled. He could see that Vinrey was thinking.
     Vinrey sat in his chair and rubbed his temples with his first two fingers. The crew was familiar with this stance. They knew that it meant he was deep in thought, kneading the information out and formulating plans. Disturbing him would be costly at this juncture.
     The two of them waited for Vinrey to say something. This process could take some time, but it was known that Vinrey would take however long it took to create a plan that would work with precision and finesse.
     He suddenly stopped and said, “Simple. We go through the gangs.”
     Bactus started. “What?”
     “We'll go through the gangs. Go to each boss and ask about the suit. If anyone knows about strangers, they do. I even know some of them personally, they're a good source of information if you know how to ask.”
     Marcus spoke up. “Gangs?”
     Bactus took the liberty of explaining. “There are several gangs in Haveras. More than several, really. Someone tried to document them all once, he found at least 50 minor and major gangs in this city. They say he could have found twice that if he had lasted long enough, but some bosses didn't take kindly to being researched.
     “These gangs squabble over turf, contraband, hits, and drugs all across this town, and even some of the adjacent cities. Some of the larger ones have gotten somewhat... paranoid in their expansive crime kingdoms. They document strangers coming into their cities, and tail them. Anybody could be a spy from a foreign or rival band, so they keep close tabs. I'm thinking Vinrey is going to go to some of his connections and see if they know where this man is headed. Am I right, boss?”
     Vinrey smiled and nodded appreciatively. “Very good, Bactus. Now, for bonus points, can you guess which gang I'll go to?”
     Bactus grinned. “You know that's impossible, boss. You know too many for me to guess.”
     Vinrey said, “Fair enough. I plan on going as soon as possible, I know exactly where I'm going. I'll extend an invitation to both of you, if either of you want to accompany  me, I'll allow it.”
     Bactus didn't hesitate. “Of course I'm going. We know the gangs, I can handle it.”
     Marcus hesitated. “I don't know. Are these gang leaders... dangerous in their negotiations?”
     Vinrey said, “Yes. Without a doubt they are. But, hopefully, this won't become a 'negotiation'. This is just a 'visit' from an old friend, technically. So it may not be too dangerous. I plan on keeping it on friendly terms, but there's no telling what might come up. If I were you, I would bring my rifle.”
     Marcus seemed worried for a moment, but then set his jaw and said, “Ok. I'll do it.”
     Something in Vinrey's eyes showed itself for a moment, but then disappeared. He smiled and said, “Alright. Let's get a move on.”

     Vinrey, Marcus, and Bactus shuffled through the crowd at as fast as they could. Vinrey walked with his cloak wrapped around him, protecting him from the wind and sun. Bactus walked heavily with his hammer slung across his shoulder, looking every inch the bodyguard of the man in front of him. Marcus brought up the rear with his black glasses on and his rifle at his hip, with various odds and ends hanging from and inside the pockets of his vest. He jingled with every step.
     Just as Marcus was wondering where they were headed, Vinrey turned his head toward them and indicated a building ahead. He said as loudly as he could without shouting, “That's the place.”
     It was a slightly run-down boarding house, with windows boarded up and paint chipping. It looked abandoned, apart from the fresh graffiti on the facade. They approached the porch from across the street and walked up the steps, creaking as they went. Vinrey extended his right arm and knocked on the corroded iron door, which clanged efficiently with each strike.
     A slat in the door snapped back. A pair of bloodshot eyes looked out and inquired harshly, “What. There something you need?”
     Vinrey said with a smile, “Yes, there is. We'd like an audience with your boss.”
     The man didn't open the door. He narrowed his eyes and said, “Nobody sees the boss of the Shrikes without an appointment. You got an appointment?”
     Vinrey's smile didn't falter. He said calmly, “No, we don't. But if you tell your boss that the King Wraith of the North is back in town, I'm sure he'll change his mind.”
     The doorkeeper didn't look convinced. “Really. You guys better be somethin' worth it, 'cus I've never seen the Boss take an audience without an appointment. But if you say so. Hold on.” He closed the slat.
     Marcus was first to ask. “King Wraith of the North?”
     Vinrey smiled again. He took a seat in one of the rusty chairs offered by the stoop, Marcus and Bactus followed suit.
     He leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees, letting his chin rest on his hands. He said, “It's a name I used to go by in these parts. Dramatic, I know, but I was young. Before I conducted the Sanguine, I was a bit of an... influential figure in this town. People have mostly forgotten me by now, but I know the Boss of the Shrikes hasn't. He was an associate of mine in the past. He'll know who I am.”
     Bactus smiled. “Good times, weren't they, boss?”
     Vinrey grinned. “Yeah, they were. I've still got the scars to prove it.”
     Marcus knew he was missing something. He asked nonchalantly as he could, “How... long have you two known each other?”
     Vinrey said, “Well, quite a while. We were bumming around this town at the same time-”
     Bactus interjected, “-if you could call it that.”
     Vinrey gave him a look and continued, “-and we met up one day. Chance happening.”
     Marcus looked at Vinrey, who just looked right back. He looked to Bactus, whose face was impassive. Marcus knew instantly they were withholding information, but there was nothing he could ask.
     They heard a clank, and a long, drawn-out creak. They looked at the door and  saw that it was open, with the doorkeeper standing inside. He was a short, stumpy man with stubble powdering his chin and a level stare.
     He said to them, “I don't believe it. You shmucks actually have some sort of significance.” He seemed to appraise them for a moment, then said, “Whatever. Come in.” He stepped out of the way, and let them enter the house.
     Vinrey stepped inside, and noted the interior. It looked similar to the outside in that it was in somewhat of a sorry state, with the decorative tables chipped and broken, and the mirrors in the same condition. The lighting was moody and deficient, mainly because the bare bulbs were broken and the only real light was coming from a buzzing fluorescent bar set into the right wall. The doorkeeper indicated the staircase to the left.
     “Up there, to the top of the building. Go down the hallway, it's the last door on the right. Make sure you knock first.
     Vinrey dipped his hat to the doorkeeper and said, “Thanks.” Vinrey started up the stairs, followed by Bactus and Marcus. The second Vinrey's boot pressed on the board, it sent a creak into the air that people three floors up would have to be deaf to miss. There was no way the Boss of the Shrikes was unaware of them.
     They climbed the two flights of stairs to the third floor, where they were met with a long hallway. There were doors on either side, with little decorative tables with chipped vases of wilting flowers set on them. Vinrey strode up to the proffered door and stopped. He looked at Bactus and Marcus, who nodded.
     He knocked, three smart taps, and lowered his arm. He waited.
     A voice from inside said, “Come in.”
     Vinrey reached over, turned the doorknob, and pushed the door open.
     Inside, a shockingly well-kept study was presented. The walls were painted with a fresh, warm brick red color. A desk was placed against the far wall, a well-polished mahogany number with a dark wood stain. A stylish golden lamp lit the room, and several comfy armchairs were placed in front of the desks, for lengthy conferences.
     The most important and striking item in the room, however, was the man sitting in the armchair behind the desk. He was an oddly shaped beanpole of a man, with very thin arms and legs. His nose was hawkish and hooked, and his black hair hung past his jaw. His ears were pierced with hoop earrings, and his strong chin was punctuated with a small black goatee. He wore blue jeans and a white shirt, with a short-sleeved denim jacket. A gold chain hung around his neck.
     The man leaned back and crossed his arms. He gave Vinrey an analyzing look, and said in a deep, Rúshan accented voice, “So. The King Wraith of the North returns to Haveras Port. It has been a long time, Vinrey.”
     Vinrey smiled. “Yes, Trégo. It's been a while. How have you been?”
     The Boss of the Shrikes replied, “I've been keeping up well.”
     “I can see that.”
     Trégo smiled. “Have a seat.” He indicated the three chairs in front of him, and all three guests sat.
     Vinrey said, “By the way, this is my Conduction Assistant, Bactus,” he pointed to Bactus, “and a temporary hand of mine, Marcus,” he proffered him. Trégo nodded to both.
     Vinrey said, “Why don't we get down to brass tacks, Trégo. If I'm correct, you've been monitoring the inflow and outflow of outsiders from this town. Is that true?”
     Trégo nodded. “You know how we operate, Vinrey.”
     “I'm looking for one in particular. He has information that we need to have, and we're going to be forced to detain him. We believe he may be responsible in some way for the murders of nearly 200 people. If he isn't, he'll at least know something about it.”
     Trégo looked grim. “I am not sure about this, Vinrey. You know how this must sound to me. 200 murders? That's very heavy business. Not the kind of business I'm interested in being affiliated with. Vigilante justice might be your prerogative, but it is not mine.”
     Vinrey was silent for a moment. Marcus was almost sure that they would have to find their information another way, but then Vinrey said, “Trégo. Do you remember what I said the day that I left, about ten years ago? To all the gang leaders?”
     Trégo looked solemn. “... Yes. I do. I was not in this position at the time, but... your words stay with me.”
     “Trégo, you know that you wouldn't be in the position you're in today if I hadn't intervened. I don't like to play this card, but you'd be six feet under somewhere right now if I hadn't stepped in. You owe me at least this favor. At least.”
     Bactus knew exactly what Vinrey was talking about. He was there, on that day, and remembered it as well as yesterday. Bactus knew the severity of what Vinrey was bringing up, and it was a risky thing to do. Vinrey must be hellbent on finding this guy, Bactus thought.
     The Boss of the Shrikes looked cowed. “Alright. Fine, I'll help you find this person. But help me to help you. Describe him for me.”
     Vinrey didn't celebrate his small victory. He said, “He's big, at about seven feet tall, and at least an axe handle across the shoulders. Short, salt-and-pepper hair, looks like he's in his mid-forties. Skent-ish in the face. He's normally seen wearing a blue business suit.”
     Trégo looked doubtful at that. “What, is he Corporate?”
     “Probably.”
     Trégo shook his head. “The mystery deepens. Is there anything else?”
     “Yes. He was today's combatant in the Pit. Gave me a beating, too.”
     Trégo noticed the way Vinrey was cradling his ribcage. “He did that to you?”
     “Yes. His weapon is a very large, very heavy mace. He got me with it good. I was almost sure that he was going to win, and my reign would be over, sadly enough, but then he just... surrendered. He let me win. I intend to ask him about that as part of our interrogation. That stung. If he had the power, he should have had the decency to win.”
     Trégo looked momentarily sympathetic. “Hmm. That's odd. Very peculiar. If he was today's Pit combatant, I should be able to find him, no problem. Just a moment.”
     He pressed a button somewhere on his desk, and a screen popped up, directly out of the surface. The back of the screen was part of the desk, and was a mahogany stain.
     Trégo grinned and said, “Fancy, eh? I like to keep my equipment hidden in case of raids. You never know what might happen these days.”
     Vinrey nodded in agreement. He knew.
     There must have been a keyboard in the space where the screen had been, because they heard tapping noises behind the wood slat of the screen. A few moments later, Trégo spoke. “Today's Pit combatant. Huh... Yes, his picture matches your description. Is this him?” He turned the screen around so that Vinrey could confirm it.
     On the screen, there was a mug shot of the exact same man that had surrendered to Vinrey in the Pit. Marcus recognized him instantly as the man that was in the balcony, and was never seen again.
     Vinrey and Marcus said at the same time, “That's him.”
     Trégo spun the screen back around and looked at the man's profile. “It says here that the man's name is Lodór King. Odd name... anyway, it lists that he is 46 years old, seven feet and two inches tall, blue-grey eyes. His occupation is... unemployed? I thought you said he was Corporate?”
     Vinrey said, “I said he might be.”
     “Hmph. Anyway. If he's a stranger, I'll call him up on our tracking database. I'll tell you where he is, and what he's doing right now. Just a moment.” He tapped a few keys and they heard a crackle over an unseen speaker. Trégo said into a microphone, “Yuri. Are you there?”
     A voice, a male named Yuri, said, “Yeah, Boss.”
     “Do you have your target in sight?”
     “Yes, I do.”
     “Where is he, and what is he doing? Give me a sitrep.”
     Yuri said mechanically, “Target is having a drink down at Dory's on Twentieth street. He's alone. Drinking... looks like beer. Dark brew. Probably a stout.”
     “I don't want to hear about the beer, Yuri, I want to hear about your target. Has he bought anything besides drinks recently? More specifically, travel devices, like train tickets or anything like that. Is he going to be leaving the city any time soon?”
     Yuri seemed to think for a moment, then said, “Actually, yes, he did, Boss. He bought a ticket about two hours ago at Marko Julius.”
     “Do you know where he's headed or when his train leaves? Or both?”
     “Heh, lucky for you, Boss, I got a real good look at his ticket with my scope. I wrote it down, gimme a sec here...” There was rustling, as if he was digging through his pockets. “Ok, here we go. Says here he's leaving for Arreät at three this afternoon... in about half an hour. His gate is C-A32. I believe I'm supposed to clear him, right?”
     Trégo said, “Circumstances may have changed. He's important. We may have to detain him at a moment's notice, so keep alert. Let me know the second he moves from that bar, got it?”
     “Yes, Boss. Right away.”
     “Good. Over and out.” He shut down the communications link, and turned to Vinrey. “My friend, you are going to have to move, now. King has a train to catch in half an hour; my intuition tells me he's going to finish his beer and head straight for Marko Julius. Gate C-A32. You need to move if you're going to catch him in time.”
     Vinrey stood up immediately, Marcus and Bactus followed suit. “Alright. Let's go.” The three of them headed toward the door. Marcus and Bactus exited, but Vinrey stayed behind for a moment. He looked back at Trégo and said, “Hey, thanks for the help.”
    Trégo said simply, “I owed you a favor. Don't hesitate to come by again if you need my assistance.”
    “Will do. See you then.”
     Vinrey left the room, and shut the door behind him. Marcus and Bactus were standing in the hall. Marcus looked slightly worried and apprehensive; his default expressions. Bactus looked confident as usual. Vinrey said to them, “Alright. Follow me.”


     Vinrey was running down a deserted alley, with Bactus and Marcus trailing behind him. He was clutching his bandaged ribcage underneath his cloak, it hurt to run.
     Bactus yelled, “Vinrey! Where are we going?”
     Vinrey stopped, and turned around. “We're going to Dory's. If we hurry, we might catch him there. If we're lucky, we can get him to miss his train, which is the plan. Now, let's get moving.”
     He turned and ran that much faster. Bactus groaned and jogged after him, with Marcus wheezing and puffing behind them.

     They arrived outside Dory's Bar and Grill, which was a not-too-shabby establishment that boasted a large customer gathering. They stood outside, across the street, and sat a bench, all three of them. Bactus had a spyglass out, and was peering into the windows of the building. He was looking at the barstools, trying to see if their target was in there. Vinrey had said that he didn't want to go in unless it was necessary; their confrontation might draw attention.
     Vinrey asked Bactus, who was looking intently though the tiny scope, “Is he in there?”
     Bactus pulled the spyglass down and compressed it, putting it in his pocket. “Yeah, he's in there. Third from the front. Do we go in?”
     Vinrey looked pensive, then said, “Yes. Let's have a drink with our friend Lodór.”
     They stood up and crossed the street, looking like a regular Conductor and his mates. Bactus pushed open the glass double doors and the trio walked in.
     The bar was an ordinary gathering place, seemingly, slightly crowded and hazed with cigarette smoke. Most tables were full, and the bar was packed. Memorabilia from various generations of the building's ownership hung on the walls, giving the place a nostalgic feel. The yellow lighting and wooden decor gave a warm, inviting impression.
     Three seats around Lódor were empty, presumably because he was drinking alone, and he was very big. He was separated from the crowd, but he didn't attract undue attention to himself.
     Vinrey, Bactus, and Marcus sat in stools around him, both flanking him and preventing an easy escape.  Lódor didn't indicate in any way that he knew what was going on. Vinrey was on  Lódor's right, Marcus was on his left, and Bactus sat in the stool closest to the door, keeping a watchful eye on the patrons leaving and entering.
     Vinrey turned his head toward Lódor after ordering his drink from the barkeep. He said calmly, “I'm willing to bet that you recognize me.”
     Lódor didn't look at Vinrey. His voice was deep and powerful, with a strange hint of distant, barely remembered sorrow. “Yes. I do.”
     Vinrey persisted. “I learned your name is Lódor King. I also learned that you were once involved in some... shall I say 'mysterious' business practices. Practices that resulted in almost 200 people losing their lives.”
     Lódor still did not dignify Vinrey by looking him in the eye. “Both are true. I know of the events that took place at Redfield Station. I was there. As I am sure you are already aware.”
     Vinrey and Marcus were silent for a moment. Marcus then said to Lódor, “Are you willing to answer some questions for us?”
     Vinrey cut in, “By the way. If you refuse to answer us, we will have to detain you. Forcefully, if necessary. You shattered one of my ribs, but I have an entire crew for backup, this time around. I'm afraid escape isn't an option.” Vinrey stated this not as a threat, but as a fact.
     Lódor looked thoughtful, for a moment. He sipped his beer. He said to no one in particular, “I am being monitored. Heavily. As I am sure you know, I have purchased a train ticket. Luckily for us, and especially for me, my shadows are under the assumption that I am leaving this place in approximately half an hour. So, they are on the move for Marko Julius Train Port. This will buy us some time.”
     Marcus asked, “What are you trying to say?”
     Lódor looked directly at Marcus, which was something he was not expecting. He flinched at the sight of Lódor's commanding, blue-gray eyes. Lódor said, “What I mean is, I bought that ticket for two reasons. One, so that my followers would be distracted, and two, so that you would find your way here. I have no real intention in leaving Haveras just yet. We have important things to discuss.”
     Marcus and Vinrey were silent once more. Lódor had been expecting them the entire time. The man was two steps ahead.
     Lódor said, “I suggest we relocate. My tails will catch on soon, and we need a safe place to talk. Might I recommend your train, Conductor?”
     Vinrey did not appear to be nonplussed. “I think that's a good idea. Let's get a move on.”
     Marcus looked unopposed to the idea, and Bactus stood from his stool; he had evidently heard all that transpired.
     Lódor stood, showing his entire, impressive height. He said, “We should made haste. I do not know exactly when my followers will discover my little deception plot, and we do not want to be caught by them. Take my word for it.”
     Vinrey said, “Absolutely. Let's go.”
     The five of them exited Dory's, leaving no stir of activity in their wake. They bustled down the street, with Vinrey, Bactus, and Marcus showing signs of difficulty at keeping up with Lódor, who had an extremely long stride. He waded through the crowd, attracting no attention at all, despite his gigantic, blue-suited appearance. He divided the crowd evenly; the other three simply had to jog behind him.
     They traveled through the streets of Haveras Port, witnessing the down at near dusk. Streetlights were beginning to ignite, and evening vendors began to set up for the nighttime market surge. This existed because Haveras was very hot in the middle of the day, being in the middle of a desert, and most major market activities were conducted at night, when it was cool.
     The diurnal crowd was being replaced by the nocturnal crowd, which was basically no different, except perhaps a slight decrease in the number of skin tans among individuals. The entire city, however, seemed to change much more than the endless crowd did. With the coming of night, the town changed its general mood distinctively. The daytime Haveras Port was a busy, loud place, with the feel of a town that was simply too wrapped up in its own doings to pay any attention to a single person. The nighttime Haveras Port was quieter, and more secretive. It was a more introspective-seeming town, and it seemed to examine each individual carefully. It was a cowing and almost oppressive feeling, with the neon signs and streetlights staring down intently.
     However, there was joy to be had in the Haveras nightlife. The open doors and bright lights of cafes, bars, and restaurants were welcoming and much more hospitable-looking than in the daytime. People seemed to congregate in groups of friends, rather than just one single mass of bland people. Fun could be had, and it wasn't always intense and uncomfortable... but it helped to have a group of friends along for the jaunt.
     Lódor, Vinrey, Marcus, and Bactus walked past shops and groups of laughing, talkative people, intent on their objective. They had to make it back to the Sanguine, without being discovered or encountered by any of Lódor's followers, who could be anybody.
     Simple, really.
     Lódor started to head down a separate main street that led to the trainyard, but Vinrey stopped him.  “Lódor, I know several shortcuts that'll make it easier to get to the yard. We can cut several minutes off of our travel time, if you'll follow me.”
     Lódor seemed to find no objection to this. He moved aside wordlessly, allowing Vinrey to take the lead. Vinrey continued across the street, and led the group into a network of side alleys that seemed to lead to the trainyard at a more direct route. They were heading in a southwesterly direction, headed straight for the yard, whereas if they had taken the main streets, they would have had to have gone west, then south.
     Vinrey stepped at a less furious pace than Lódor, but still requiring the short-legged Bactus to jog. They skirted around trashcans, refuse piles, huge scurrying rats, and other items and denizens of dark alleys.
     As they were heading deeper into a darker, more filthy-looking alley, a trashcan to their left exploded.
     Everyone jumped to the right to avoid being burned, and everyone simultaneously swirled around, knowing that they were being shot at. Vinrey, Marcus, and Bactus each drew their respective weapons.
     Lódor, not having a weapon, drew Bactus instead.
     The large man grabbed the heavy Bactus and yelled, “He is on the rooftop, with an RPG. Kill him.” Lódor then proceeded to hurl Bactus bodily up onto the rooftop is a wild display of pure strength. The short, bearded man careened through the air, and landed with a thwump on the roof of the building.
     They saw him stand up, pick up his hammer, and run off away from sight. Another explosion shattered the night sky, seemingly, and Vinrey and Marcus hoped Bactus dodged it.
     There was a loud yell that wasn't Bactus's voice, and an audible THWACK. Another yell from the same person, much louder this time, seemed to be almost as loud as the explosions.
     Something was thrown from the roof. It was a small bundle of dark rags, apparently, and it hit the ground with a crack and another yell. Another object catapulted from the rooftop, a rod-shaped item that clattered when it hit the concrete.
     Bactus then walked over to the edge of the roof, with dust and what seemed to be a small blood-splatter on his overalls. He knelt down and said, “Someone catch me, it's a long drop. Mr. Explody over there figured that out the hard way.”
     Lódor walked over and held his arms out, catching the heavy bundle of Bactus as he jumped from the roof. He let the hammer-wielding man down and everyone walked over to the bundle of rags that was leaking blood onto the concrete and moaning piteously.
     Vinrey pulled back the black cloak of the man that had been shooting at them, while Bactus walked over and collected the second object. He said, “Rocket propelled grenade launcher. Another RPG would come in handy, eh?”
     Vinrey did not take his narrowed eyes off of the man on the ground. “Indeed.”
     They all looked at the uncovered form of the failed assassin, and Marcus cringed obviously when he saw what had been done to him.
     Bactus said, “No one shoots a rocket at me without getting something broken. So I shattered 'is kneecaps. And then threw 'im off the roof. The crunchy noise tells me that did even more hurtin' to his legs, poor bastard.”
     There were multiple shattered bone spurs protruding from the assassin's legs. He was bleeding steadily, and would probably die of blood loss in approximately half an hour if medical attention wasn't found before then.
     Vinrey said to him, “May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?”
     The assassin spat at him.
     Vinrey did not look impressed. “Very well, then. Perhaps you'd be more interested in telling us who you work for?”
     The assassin was quiet, save for his groans of pain.
     “I can see you aren't willing to cooperate. Bactus?”
     Bactus walked over beside the now-disabled assassin, and raised his hammer high with every intention of shattering his right leg in several more places. Before his hammer reached its destination, however, the assassin cried out, “Stop! Stop!”
     Bactus's hammer stopped, inches away from its intended target.
     Vinrey said with the calmness and absolute seriousness of the sternest librarian, “Now. I assume you're ready to help us.”
     The shrouded man grimaced at the pain in his legs and nodded.
     For good measure, Marcus pulled his rifle from its holster and extended the barrel, focused on the man's forehead, assuring that he wouldn't try anything.
     Vinrey glared at the assassin. “Now. Spill it, if you please.”

Description
     Vinrey pounded down the street with Marcus running next to him. They shoved pedestrians aside and lost the man in the blue suit, to Vinrey’s annoyance. If his ribs had been whole, he would have been able to catch the strange man, but it hurt too bad to move at top speed. He could barely match pace with Marcus, who wasn’t in the greatest shape.
     Marcus stopped and ducked against a wall, Vinrey followed him to avoid being lost in the crowd.
     Marcus said to him, “Vinrey, we lost him, there's no way we'll find him in that.” He indicated the crowd.
     Vinrey shouted over the public's din, “It doesn't matter. He's not leaving the city. I'm sure of that.”
     Marcus yelled back, “How do you know that?”
     Vinrey scowled and looked back to the crowd. He leaned in toward Marcus's ear and said, without straining his voice, “Why don't we discuss this on the Sanguine? It'll be easier to conduct a decent damn conversation there.”
     Marcus nodded and swept his hand in a gesture that said, “After you.”
     They went south again toward the locomotive harbor, shoving through the dense crowd.

     Once they were inside the Sanguine and in the Rec car, Marcus, Vinrey, and Bactus had a chance to talk. The rest of the crew was still on leave, they were enjoying their stay in Haveras.
     Marcus squirmed a bit in his chair. Getting a hold of that suited man was imperative. He could find out so many things, the answers to the mysteries that had been shattering his dreams for several weeks. He asked, “Conductor, what are we going to do? We have to find him. I know you don't see this as severely important, but it's almost necessary.”
     Vinrey, leaned back in his armchair and said simply, “I understand.”
     Marcus wasn't expecting that. His face betrayed what he was thinking.
     Vinrey said in response to the look on Marcus's face, “I know we have to find him. You aren't the only person interested.”
     Marcus silenced, and was humbled. He could see that Vinrey was thinking.
     Vinrey sat in his chair and rubbed his temples with his first two fingers. The crew was familiar with this stance. They knew that it meant he was deep in thought, kneading the information out and formulating plans. Disturbing him would be costly at this juncture.
     The two of them waited for Vinrey to say something. This process could take some time, but it was known that Vinrey would take however long it took to create a plan that would work with precision and finesse.
     He suddenly stopped and said, “Simple. We go through the gangs.”
     Bactus started. “What?”
     “We'll go through the gangs. Go to each boss and ask about the suit. If anyone knows about strangers, they do. I even know some of them personally, they're a good source of information if you know how to ask.”
     Marcus spoke up. “Gangs?”
     Bactus took the liberty of explaining. “There are several gangs in Haveras. More than several, really. Someone tried to document them all once, he found at least 50 minor and major gangs in this city. They say he could have found twice that if he had lasted long enough, but some bosses didn't take kindly to being researched.
     “These gangs squabble over turf, contraband, hits, and drugs all across this town, and even some of the adjacent cities. Some of the larger ones have gotten somewhat... paranoid in their expansive crime kingdoms. They document strangers coming into their cities, and tail them. Anybody could be a spy from a foreign or rival band, so they keep close tabs. I'm thinking Vinrey is going to go to some of his connections and see if they know where this man is headed. Am I right, boss?”
     Vinrey smiled and nodded appreciatively. “Very good, Bactus. Now, for bonus points, can you guess which gang I'll go to?”
     Bactus grinned. “You know that's impossible, boss. You know too many for me to guess.”
     Vinrey said, “Fair enough. I plan on going as soon as possible, I know exactly where I'm going. I'll extend an invitation to both of you, if either of you want to accompany  me, I'll allow it.”
     Bactus didn't hesitate. “Of course I'm going. We know the gangs, I can handle it.”
     Marcus hesitated. “I don't know. Are these gang leaders... dangerous in their negotiations?”
     Vinrey said, “Yes. Without a doubt they are. But, hopefully, this won't become a 'negotiation'. This is just a 'visit' from an old friend, technically. So it may not be too dangerous. I plan on keeping it on friendly terms, but there's no telling what might come up. If I were you, I would bring my rifle.”
     Marcus seemed worried for a moment, but then set his jaw and said, “Ok. I'll do it.”
     Something in Vinrey's eyes showed itself for a moment, but then disappeared. He smiled and said, “Alright. Let's get a move on.”

     Vinrey, Marcus, and Bactus shuffled through the crowd at as fast as they could. Vinrey walked with his cloak wrapped around him, protecting him from the wind and sun. Bactus walked heavily with his hammer slung across his shoulder, looking every inch the bodyguard of the man in front of him. Marcus brought up the rear with his black glasses on and his rifle at his hip, with various odds and ends hanging from and inside the pockets of his vest. He jingled with every step.
     Just as Marcus was wondering where they were headed, Vinrey turned his head toward them and indicated a building ahead. He said as loudly as he could without shouting, “That's the place.”
     It was a slightly run-down boarding house, with windows boarded up and paint chipping. It looked abandoned, apart from the fresh graffiti on the facade. They approached the porch from across the street and walked up the steps, creaking as they went. Vinrey extended his right arm and knocked on the corroded iron door, which clanged efficiently with each strike.
     A slat in the door snapped back. A pair of bloodshot eyes looked out and inquired harshly, “What. There something you need?”
     Vinrey said with a smile, “Yes, there is. We'd like an audience with your boss.”
     The man didn't open the door. He narrowed his eyes and said, “Nobody sees the boss of the Shrikes without an appointment. You got an appointment?”
     Vinrey's smile didn't falter. He said calmly, “No, we don't. But if you tell your boss that the King Wraith of the North is back in town, I'm sure he'll change his mind.”
     The doorkeeper didn't look convinced. “Really. You guys better be somethin' worth it, 'cus I've never seen the Boss take an audience without an appointment. But if you say so. Hold on.” He closed the slat.
     Marcus was first to ask. “King Wraith of the North?”
     Vinrey smiled again. He took a seat in one of the rusty chairs offered by the stoop, Marcus and Bactus followed suit.
     He leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees, letting his chin rest on his hands. He said, “It's a name I used to go by in these parts. Dramatic, I know, but I was young. Before I conducted the Sanguine, I was a bit of an... influential figure in this town. People have mostly forgotten me by now, but I know the Boss of the Shrikes hasn't. He was an associate of mine in the past. He'll know who I am.”
     Bactus smiled. “Good times, weren't they, boss?”
     Vinrey grinned. “Yeah, they were. I've still got the scars to prove it.”
     Marcus knew he was missing something. He asked nonchalantly as he could, “How... long have you two known each other?”
     Vinrey said, “Well, quite a while. We were bumming around this town at the same time-”
     Bactus interjected, “-if you could call it that.”
     Vinrey gave him a look and continued, “-and we met up one day. Chance happening.”
     Marcus looked at Vinrey, who just looked right back. He looked to Bactus, whose face was impassive. Marcus knew instantly they were withholding information, but there was nothing he could ask.
     They heard a clank, and a long, drawn-out creak. They looked at the door and  saw that it was open, with the doorkeeper standing inside. He was a short, stumpy man with stubble powdering his chin and a level stare.
     He said to them, “I don't believe it. You shmucks actually have some sort of significance.” He seemed to appraise them for a moment, then said, “Whatever. Come in.” He stepped out of the way, and let them enter the house.
     Vinrey stepped inside, and noted the interior. It looked similar to the outside in that it was in somewhat of a sorry state, with the decorative tables chipped and broken, and the mirrors in the same condition. The lighting was moody and deficient, mainly because the bare bulbs were broken and the only real light was coming from a buzzing fluorescent bar set into the right wall. The doorkeeper indicated the staircase to the left.
     “Up there, to the top of the building. Go down the hallway, it's the last door on the right. Make sure you knock first.
     Vinrey dipped his hat to the doorkeeper and said, “Thanks.” Vinrey started up the stairs, followed by Bactus and Marcus. The second Vinrey's boot pressed on the board, it sent a creak into the air that people three floors up would have to be deaf to miss. There was no way the Boss of the Shrikes was unaware of them.
     They climbed the two flights of stairs to the third floor, where they were met with a long hallway. There were doors on either side, with little decorative tables with chipped vases of wilting flowers set on them. Vinrey strode up to the proffered door and stopped. He looked at Bactus and Marcus, who nodded.
     He knocked, three smart taps, and lowered his arm. He waited.
     A voice from inside said, “Come in.”
     Vinrey reached over, turned the doorknob, and pushed the door open.
     Inside, a shockingly well-kept study was presented. The walls were painted with a fresh, warm brick red color. A desk was placed against the far wall, a well-polished mahogany number with a dark wood stain. A stylish golden lamp lit the room, and several comfy armchairs were placed in front of the desks, for lengthy conferences.
     The most important and striking item in the room, however, was the man sitting in the armchair behind the desk. He was an oddly shaped beanpole of a man, with very thin arms and legs. His nose was hawkish and hooked, and his black hair hung past his jaw. His ears were pierced with hoop earrings, and his strong chin was punctuated with a small black goatee. He wore blue jeans and a white shirt, with a short-sleeved denim jacket. A gold chain hung around his neck.
     The man leaned back and crossed his arms. He gave Vinrey an analyzing look, and said in a deep, Rúshan accented voice, “So. The King Wraith of the North returns to Haveras Port. It has been a long time, Vinrey.”
     Vinrey smiled. “Yes, Trégo. It's been a while. How have you been?”
     The Boss of the Shrikes replied, “I've been keeping up well.”
     “I can see that.”
     Trégo smiled. “Have a seat.” He indicated the three chairs in front of him, and all three guests sat.
     Vinrey said, “By the way, this is my Conduction Assistant, Bactus,” he pointed to Bactus, “and a temporary hand of mine, Marcus,” he proffered him. Trégo nodded to both.
     Vinrey said, “Why don't we get down to brass tacks, Trégo. If I'm correct, you've been monitoring the inflow and outflow of outsiders from this town. Is that true?”
     Trégo nodded. “You know how we operate, Vinrey.”
     “I'm looking for one in particular. He has information that we need to have, and we're going to be forced to detain him. We believe he may be responsible in some way for the murders of nearly 200 people. If he isn't, he'll at least know something about it.”
     Trégo looked grim. “I am not sure about this, Vinrey. You know how this must sound to me. 200 murders? That's very heavy business. Not the kind of business I'm interested in being affiliated with. Vigilante justice might be your prerogative, but it is not mine.”
     Vinrey was silent for a moment. Marcus was almost sure that they would have to find their information another way, but then Vinrey said, “Trégo. Do you remember what I said the day that I left, about ten years ago? To all the gang leaders?”
     Trégo looked solemn. “... Yes. I do. I was not in this position at the time, but... your words stay with me.”
     “Trégo, you know that you wouldn't be in the position you're in today if I hadn't intervened. I don't like to play this card, but you'd be six feet under somewhere right now if I hadn't stepped in. You owe me at least this favor. At least.”
     Bactus knew exactly what Vinrey was talking about. He was there, on that day, and remembered it as well as yesterday. Bactus knew the severity of what Vinrey was bringing up, and it was a risky thing to do. Vinrey must be hellbent on finding this guy, Bactus thought.
     The Boss of the Shrikes looked cowed. “Alright. Fine, I'll help you find this person. But help me to help you. Describe him for me.”
     Vinrey didn't celebrate his small victory. He said, “He's big, at about seven feet tall, and at least an axe handle across the shoulders. Short, salt-and-pepper hair, looks like he's in his mid-forties. Skent-ish in the face. He's normally seen wearing a blue business suit.”
     Trégo looked doubtful at that. “What, is he Corporate?”
     “Probably.”
     Trégo shook his head. “The mystery deepens. Is there anything else?”
     “Yes. He was today's combatant in the Pit. Gave me a beating, too.”
     Trégo noticed the way Vinrey was cradling his ribcage. “He did that to you?”
     “Yes. His weapon is a very large, very heavy mace. He got me with it good. I was almost sure that he was going to win, and my reign would be over, sadly enough, but then he just... surrendered. He let me win. I intend to ask him about that as part of our interrogation. That stung. If he had the power, he should have had the decency to win.”
     Trégo looked momentarily sympathetic. “Hmm. That's odd. Very peculiar. If he was today's Pit combatant, I should be able to find him, no problem. Just a moment.”
     He pressed a button somewhere on his desk, and a screen popped up, directly out of the surface. The back of the screen was part of the desk, and was a mahogany stain.
     Trégo grinned and said, “Fancy, eh? I like to keep my equipment hidden in case of raids. You never know what might happen these days.”
     Vinrey nodded in agreement. He knew.
     There must have been a keyboard in the space where the screen had been, because they heard tapping noises behind the wood slat of the screen. A few moments later, Trégo spoke. “Today's Pit combatant. Huh... Yes, his picture matches your description. Is this him?” He turned the screen around so that Vinrey could confirm it.
     On the screen, there was a mug shot of the exact same man that had surrendered to Vinrey in the Pit. Marcus recognized him instantly as the man that was in the balcony, and was never seen again.
     Vinrey and Marcus said at the same time, “That's him.”
     Trégo spun the screen back around and looked at the man's profile. “It says here that the man's name is Lodór King. Odd name... anyway, it lists that he is 46 years old, seven feet and two inches tall, blue-grey eyes. His occupation is... unemployed? I thought you said he was Corporate?”
     Vinrey said, “I said he might be.”
     “Hmph. Anyway. If he's a stranger, I'll call him up on our tracking database. I'll tell you where he is, and what he's doing right now. Just a moment.” He tapped a few keys and they heard a crackle over an unseen speaker. Trégo said into a microphone, “Yuri. Are you there?”
     A voice, a male named Yuri, said, “Yeah, Boss.”
     “Do you have your target in sight?”
     “Yes, I do.”
     “Where is he, and what is he doing? Give me a sitrep.”
     Yuri said mechanically, “Target is having a drink down at Dory's on Twentieth street. He's alone. Drinking... looks like beer. Dark brew. Probably a stout.”
     “I don't want to hear about the beer, Yuri, I want to hear about your target. Has he bought anything besides drinks recently? More specifically, travel devices, like train tickets or anything like that. Is he going to be leaving the city any time soon?”
     Yuri seemed to think for a moment, then said, “Actually, yes, he did, Boss. He bought a ticket about two hours ago at Marko Julius.”
     “Do you know where he's headed or when his train leaves? Or both?”
     “Heh, lucky for you, Boss, I got a real good look at his ticket with my scope. I wrote it down, gimme a sec here...” There was rustling, as if he was digging through his pockets. “Ok, here we go. Says here he's leaving for Arreät at three this afternoon... in about half an hour. His gate is C-A32. I believe I'm supposed to clear him, right?”
     Trégo said, “Circumstances may have changed. He's important. We may have to detain him at a moment's notice, so keep alert. Let me know the second he moves from that bar, got it?”
     “Yes, Boss. Right away.”
     “Good. Over and out.” He shut down the communications link, and turned to Vinrey. “My friend, you are going to have to move, now. King has a train to catch in half an hour; my intuition tells me he's going to finish his beer and head straight for Marko Julius. Gate C-A32. You need to move if you're going to catch him in time.”
     Vinrey stood up immediately, Marcus and Bactus followed suit. “Alright. Let's go.” The three of them headed toward the door. Marcus and Bactus exited, but Vinrey stayed behind for a moment. He looked back at Trégo and said, “Hey, thanks for the help.”
    Trégo said simply, “I owed you a favor. Don't hesitate to come by again if you need my assistance.”
    “Will do. See you then.”
     Vinrey left the room, and shut the door behind him. Marcus and Bactus were standing in the hall. Marcus looked slightly worried and apprehensive; his default expressions. Bactus looked confident as usual. Vinrey said to them, “Alright. Follow me.”


     Vinrey was running down a deserted alley, with Bactus and Marcus trailing behind him. He was clutching his bandaged ribcage underneath his cloak, it hurt to run.
     Bactus yelled, “Vinrey! Where are we going?”
     Vinrey stopped, and turned around. “We're going to Dory's. If we hurry, we might catch him there. If we're lucky, we can get him to miss his train, which is the plan. Now, let's get moving.”
     He turned and ran that much faster. Bactus groaned and jogged after him, with Marcus wheezing and puffing behind them.

     They arrived outside Dory's Bar and Grill, which was a not-too-shabby establishment that boasted a large customer gathering. They stood outside, across the street, and sat a bench, all three of them. Bactus had a spyglass out, and was peering into the windows of the building. He was looking at the barstools, trying to see if their target was in there. Vinrey had said that he didn't want to go in unless it was necessary; their confrontation might draw attention.
     Vinrey asked Bactus, who was looking intently though the tiny scope, “Is he in there?”
     Bactus pulled the spyglass down and compressed it, putting it in his pocket. “Yeah, he's in there. Third from the front. Do we go in?”
     Vinrey looked pensive, then said, “Yes. Let's have a drink with our friend Lodór.”
     They stood up and crossed the street, looking like a regular Conductor and his mates. Bactus pushed open the glass double doors and the trio walked in.
     The bar was an ordinary gathering place, seemingly, slightly crowded and hazed with cigarette smoke. Most tables were full, and the bar was packed. Memorabilia from various generations of the building's ownership hung on the walls, giving the place a nostalgic feel. The yellow lighting and wooden decor gave a warm, inviting impression.
     Three seats around Lódor were empty, presumably because he was drinking alone, and he was very big. He was separated from the crowd, but he didn't attract undue attention to himself.
     Vinrey, Bactus, and Marcus sat in stools around him, both flanking him and preventing an easy escape.  Lódor didn't indicate in any way that he knew what was going on. Vinrey was on  Lódor's right, Marcus was on his left, and Bactus sat in the stool closest to the door, keeping a watchful eye on the patrons leaving and entering.
     Vinrey turned his head toward Lódor after ordering his drink from the barkeep. He said calmly, “I'm willing to bet that you recognize me.”
     Lódor didn't look at Vinrey. His voice was deep and powerful, with a strange hint of distant, barely remembered sorrow. “Yes. I do.”
     Vinrey persisted. “I learned your name is Lódor King. I also learned that you were once involved in some... shall I say 'mysterious' business practices. Practices that resulted in almost 200 people losing their lives.”
     Lódor still did not dignify Vinrey by looking him in the eye. “Both are true. I know of the events that took place at Redfield Station. I was there. As I am sure you are already aware.”
     Vinrey and Marcus were silent for a moment. Marcus then said to Lódor, “Are you willing to answer some questions for us?”
     Vinrey cut in, “By the way. If you refuse to answer us, we will have to detain you. Forcefully, if necessary. You shattered one of my ribs, but I have an entire crew for backup, this time around. I'm afraid escape isn't an option.” Vinrey stated this not as a threat, but as a fact.
     Lódor looked thoughtful, for a moment. He sipped his beer. He said to no one in particular, “I am being monitored. Heavily. As I am sure you know, I have purchased a train ticket. Luckily for us, and especially for me, my shadows are under the assumption that I am leaving this place in approximately half an hour. So, they are on the move for Marko Julius Train Port. This will buy us some time.”
     Marcus asked, “What are you trying to say?”
     Lódor looked directly at Marcus, which was something he was not expecting. He flinched at the sight of Lódor's commanding, blue-gray eyes. Lódor said, “What I mean is, I bought that ticket for two reasons. One, so that my followers would be distracted, and two, so that you would find your way here. I have no real intention in leaving Haveras just yet. We have important things to discuss.”
     Marcus and Vinrey were silent once more. Lódor had been expecting them the entire time. The man was two steps ahead.
     Lódor said, “I suggest we relocate. My tails will catch on soon, and we need a safe place to talk. Might I recommend your train, Conductor?”
     Vinrey did not appear to be nonplussed. “I think that's a good idea. Let's get a move on.”
     Marcus looked unopposed to the idea, and Bactus stood from his stool; he had evidently heard all that transpired.
     Lódor stood, showing his entire, impressive height. He said, “We should made haste. I do not know exactly when my followers will discover my little deception plot, and we do not want to be caught by them. Take my word for it.”
     Vinrey said, “Absolutely. Let's go.”
     The five of them exited Dory's, leaving no stir of activity in their wake. They bustled down the street, with Vinrey, Bactus, and Marcus showing signs of difficulty at keeping up with Lódor, who had an extremely long stride. He waded through the crowd, attracting no attention at all, despite his gigantic, blue-suited appearance. He divided the crowd evenly; the other three simply had to jog behind him.
     They traveled through the streets of Haveras Port, witnessing the down at near dusk. Streetlights were beginning to ignite, and evening vendors began to set up for the nighttime market surge. This existed because Haveras was very hot in the middle of the day, being in the middle of a desert, and most major market activities were conducted at night, when it was cool.
     The diurnal crowd was being replaced by the nocturnal crowd, which was basically no different, except perhaps a slight decrease in the number of skin tans among individuals. The entire city, however, seemed to change much more than the endless crowd did. With the coming of night, the town changed its general mood distinctively. The daytime Haveras Port was a busy, loud place, with the feel of a town that was simply too wrapped up in its own doings to pay any attention to a single person. The nighttime Haveras Port was quieter, and more secretive. It was a more introspective-seeming town, and it seemed to examine each individual carefully. It was a cowing and almost oppressive feeling, with the neon signs and streetlights staring down intently.
     However, there was joy to be had in the Haveras nightlife. The open doors and bright lights of cafes, bars, and restaurants were welcoming and much more hospitable-looking than in the daytime. People seemed to congregate in groups of friends, rather than just one single mass of bland people. Fun could be had, and it wasn't always intense and uncomfortable... but it helped to have a group of friends along for the jaunt.
     Lódor, Vinrey, Marcus, and Bactus walked past shops and groups of laughing, talkative people, intent on their objective. They had to make it back to the Sanguine, without being discovered or encountered by any of Lódor's followers, who could be anybody.
     Simple, really.
     Lódor started to head down a separate main street that led to the trainyard, but Vinrey stopped him.  “Lódor, I know several shortcuts that'll make it easier to get to the yard. We can cut several minutes off of our travel time, if you'll follow me.”
     Lódor seemed to find no objection to this. He moved aside wordlessly, allowing Vinrey to take the lead. Vinrey continued across the street, and led the group into a network of side alleys that seemed to lead to the trainyard at a more direct route. They were heading in a southwesterly direction, headed straight for the yard, whereas if they had taken the main streets, they would have had to have gone west, then south.
     Vinrey stepped at a less furious pace than Lódor, but still requiring the short-legged Bactus to jog. They skirted around trashcans, refuse piles, huge scurrying rats, and other items and denizens of dark alleys.
     As they were heading deeper into a darker, more filthy-looking alley, a trashcan to their left exploded.
     Everyone jumped to the right to avoid being burned, and everyone simultaneously swirled around, knowing that they were being shot at. Vinrey, Marcus, and Bactus each drew their respective weapons.
     Lódor, not having a weapon, drew Bactus instead.
     The large man grabbed the heavy Bactus and yelled, “He is on the rooftop, with an RPG. Kill him.” Lódor then proceeded to hurl Bactus bodily up onto the rooftop is a wild display of pure strength. The short, bearded man careened through the air, and landed with a thwump on the roof of the building.
     They saw him stand up, pick up his hammer, and run off away from sight. Another explosion shattered the night sky, seemingly, and Vinrey and Marcus hoped Bactus dodged it.
     There was a loud yell that wasn't Bactus's voice, and an audible THWACK. Another yell from the same person, much louder this time, seemed to be almost as loud as the explosions.
     Something was thrown from the roof. It was a small bundle of dark rags, apparently, and it hit the ground with a crack and another yell. Another object catapulted from the rooftop, a rod-shaped item that clattered when it hit the concrete.
     Bactus then walked over to the edge of the roof, with dust and what seemed to be a small blood-splatter on his overalls. He knelt down and said, “Someone catch me, it's a long drop. Mr. Explody over there figured that out the hard way.”
     Lódor walked over and held his arms out, catching the heavy bundle of Bactus as he jumped from the roof. He let the hammer-wielding man down and everyone walked over to the bundle of rags that was leaking blood onto the concrete and moaning piteously.
     Vinrey pulled back the black cloak of the man that had been shooting at them, while Bactus walked over and collected the second object. He said, “Rocket propelled grenade launcher. Another RPG would come in handy, eh?”
     Vinrey did not take his narrowed eyes off of the man on the ground. “Indeed.”
     They all looked at the uncovered form of the failed assassin, and Marcus cringed obviously when he saw what had been done to him.
     Bactus said, “No one shoots a rocket at me without getting something broken. So I shattered 'is kneecaps. And then threw 'im off the roof. The crunchy noise tells me that did even more hurtin' to his legs, poor bastard.”
     There were multiple shattered bone spurs protruding from the assassin's legs. He was bleeding steadily, and would probably die of blood loss in approximately half an hour if medical attention wasn't found before then.
     Vinrey said to him, “May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?”
     The assassin spat at him.
     Vinrey did not look impressed. “Very well, then. Perhaps you'd be more interested in telling us who you work for?”
     The assassin was quiet, save for his groans of pain.
     “I can see you aren't willing to cooperate. Bactus?”
     Bactus walked over beside the now-disabled assassin, and raised his hammer high with every intention of shattering his right leg in several more places. Before his hammer reached its destination, however, the assassin cried out, “Stop! Stop!”
     Bactus's hammer stopped, inches away from its intended target.
     Vinrey said with the calmness and absolute seriousness of the sternest librarian, “Now. I assume you're ready to help us.”
     The shrouded man grimaced at the pain in his legs and nodded.
     For good measure, Marcus pulled his rifle from its holster and extended the barrel, focused on the man's forehead, assuring that he wouldn't try anything.
     Vinrey glared at the assassin. “Now. Spill it, if you please.”