Two people enter the street. The sun is glaring down on their backs as they smoothly slide into the back alley and to a wooden door. The one in the lead knocks twice loudly. A peephole opens and a pair of eyes peer out and the strangers.
"Who is it?" demands the doorman. The lead person chuckles and removes the hood on their cloak. A young man with jet black hair that hangs in his eyes and just touches the bottom of his ears is revealed. He smirks in amusement at the doorman, a couple earrings hanging from his left ear and a stud in his right.
"Just a wanderer in the desert seeking intriguing company and idle conversation," the man says smoothly. He had the look of a sophisticated punk, a person ready to cause trouble whenever things seemed to get dull. His dark brown eyes calmly watch the doorman as the doorman's eyes flick to the taller second person.
"Whose your friend?" the doorman asks. A wide smile split's the man's tan face.
"My bodyguard. What else?"
The peephole slides shut, and the sudden creaking of locks and bolts being removed fills the silence of the alleyway. The door swings open, a brick wall of a man hunched just inside.
"Get on in 'ere then. They say there's some excitement brewing yonder." He jerks a thumb behind him.
The young man smiles, giving the doorman a two fingered salute.
"Thanks, guess we'll go see what it is."
Both figures enter the door and descend a stairway that curves up, rather then down. It spirals high, the many steps leading to a hallway that leads to a single elevator. The man goes to the elevator and pushes the button, humming a morbid song cheerfully.
"Haven't been here in a while," rumbles a deep voice behind him. He glances over his shoulder at the man accompanying him. The taller man removes his hood as well, revealing a square jaw and dark blue eyes. He frowns playfully, but it makes him look moody. He flicks a blond ponytail over his shoulder. "I've missed coming here."
The first man laughs.
"If anyone knew what we do in our spare time, our reputations would be ashes."
The blond man grins, and it still looks threatening.
"I wonder if our good ol' assassin gal is around today. I've been meaning to ask her on a date."
The black haired man breaks out into uproarious laughter, thumping the man beside him on the back.
"Oh, lord! When we first met her, I swore she wouldn't be caught dead in a place like this. But if you think about it, the place does seem logical. It would be the place for her to get business." He rubs his chin, a small square of a black beard graces it. "I'm shocked you didn't ask her sooner. Didn't you train under her?"
The blush the spreads across the big blonds face looks very out of place as he fidgets slightly.
"Of course, but you can't really ask a girl out when she's wiping the floor with your face." Again the first man bursts into laughter. The blond smiles upon hearing it. "It's good to see you laugh, Jay. You've been too serious of late."
Jay sobers a moment, watching the light tick away floor 24 and 25.
"Can you blame me?" he asks. "We are dealing with a serious matter."
The blond shrugs.
"I know, but if you think too hard about it, you're going to overlook something and end up with a bigger mess."
Jay gives the blond a sardonic grin.
"You always take me by surprise when you stop acting like a doofus and talk seriously. Is it any wonder no one ever gives you credit unless we come here?"
The blond grins broadly.
"Hey, it works well enough. They don't make the connection when we switch roles."
Jay laughs.
"True enough. They would be horrified at how 'crude' I am when they have their backs turned."
The blond lets out a deep rumbling laugh.
"No kidding. The little angel is actually a lil' devil in disguise!"
"And quite proud of it, Mac."
The elevator stops with a small cackle. The doors slide open to reveal they had indeed, gone down instead of up. Forty floors below the ground, the two men step out into seeming daylight. The artfully crafted holo-ceiling was sporting a brilliant sunny afternoon that lit up the entire city, a big contrast to the sandstorm raging outside. They walk briskly into the crowded streets in front of them, easily navigating it like a well known neighborhood. They call greetings to several familiar faces as they make their way to a popular pub at the heart of the city. As they step inside, they catch sight of a familiar Japanese woman making her way toward them. Mac's face lit up as soon as he saw her, which didn't seem like much on his gruff countenance. Jay gives her a small wave.
"Jay-san, Mac-san! Long time no see!" she says cheerily, a slight accent to her speech. Jay nods slightly while scanning the room for an empty booth of the low lit pub.
"We're here for some info," says Jay. The black haired assassin laughs.
"This would be the place to get it!" Her cheery openness is a great change from when they discovered how different it was from her personality when they first met. Down in this world, she is free to open up and let herself be a little more relaxed. Down here, if she isn't on the job, she is as carefree as a teenager. When she's up top, she's usually on a job, or she's hiding her identity, so she's more sober and tightlipped. Mac had found the change the most appealing. He easily warmed to her new hidden character, and, as he said before, was looking to ask her out on a date. Not that he hadn't been interested before, but he took both sides of the coin as the unique treasure it is.
Jay shakes his head.
"Actually, I was hoping you could help us out. Your network is a bit larger then ours, seeing as you spend more time down here." Jay spots a table and glances at his company. Mac is giving him a pleading look. The assassin is oblivious, waiting for Jay to tell her more about their quest. He waves a hand in the air. "Mac can tell you all about it. We'll cover more ground if we split up."
"Okay!" she says happily, grabbing Mac's arm to drag him through the crowd. Jay chuckles and heads to the bar instead. He tosses his cloak to a nearby server then takes a seat on a barstool. He scans the room, taking in the different patrons. The bartender comes over and places a mug of frothy liquid on the counter in front of Jay. Jay turns to grin at the barkeep.
"Thanks Gray. I've been needing one of your brews."
Gray nods, face impassive as stone.
"Looking for info?" asks Gray as he reaches to pull out another mug and fill it. He sends it flying down the counter to another patron. Jay grins.
"How'd you guess?"
Gray harrumphs.
"My brew is good, but not that good. You usually show up for information."
Jay laughs.
"Don't knock yourself. You're brew is the best I've had. But you're right. I need info."
Gray merely nods again, face still impassive.
"What you need word on?" he asks.
"I heard mention there's a thief among thieves," Jay says nonchalant. He feels several eyes focus on him. Gray takes a minute to answer.
"There was."
Jay feigns surprise.
"Really? I thought I heard wrong. After all, what ex thief would possibly side with GJ?"
"The stupid kind," someone mutters. Jay ignores them.
"So," he says, fiddling with a knife as he takes a long drink from the mug in front of him. "What happened to this thief?"
There were a few half baked notions that filled the air about death and prison, but Gray merely mutters something only Jay can hear.
"You can imagine their hard feelings. But, they'll soon be cheering. Word is, the thief was caught."
Jay pretends to be listening to the growing shouts of those around him, but he's only focused on the barkeep.
"And whose the lucky spider?" asks Jay, just loud enough for the barkeep to hear.
"Amundus, the Snake Charmer. You've dealt with him before." Gray subtly shakes his head. "You watch yourself with that one, Jay. Though you hold title of the Lone Wolf, he has made his title grow. Your last tangle left you near dead as it was."
Jay takes the warning in stride, face never changing from interested amusement.
"My title was earned with the end of the last Lone Wolf's kind passing of title. Though I know all titles come with such feats, I will come to prove the wolf can overcome the snake."
Gray pauses to look Jay square in the eye.
"Why are you going after him? I thought the last encounter left you with enough wits to leave each his own."
"Well, there is that score to settle, but I have a date with a former thief."
Gray gives him a measuring look.
"Be warned, there was no guarantee that this thief was to be with him long. I have a feeling he only was the delivery boy."
Jay scratches his chin, looking thoughtful.
"Then he must be delivering to someone even stronger." He beams at Gray's bearded face. "Thanks for the drink old man. Put it on my tab." He downs the rest of his drink then stands. His baggy worn jeans and loose button up black silk dress shirt look both dressy but rugged at the same time. His easy relaxed gait ends up taking him out into the streets to wander aimlessly and browse wares here and there. He ends up stopping at a building as flashy as some of the "entertainment" ones. He raps on the colorful door. It opens seconds later to reveal a robust woman who reaches out to squash Jay with a hug.
"Oh, Jay! We've been waiting for a visit!" She squeezes him extra tight before releasing him. "Come in, come in! I bet Glen will be ecstatic to see you!" As soon as they are safely within the confines of the home, she turns to glance at him as she leads him into a living room. "We've been waiting."
Glen stands from the couch and holds out his hand as soon as they enter. Jay takes it quickly, and they pump their hands in a friendly handshake.
"Glad to see you made it safely," he rumbles in a deep bass voice. "Figured you went out to explore a little before coming here." He waves at the couch. "My boy says you're on a treasure hunt."
Jay smiles.
"I am. It seems it will include dealing with the Snake again."
Glen's face darkens slightly.
"You're going to stir up trouble with him again?"
Jay's smile becomes slightly dark.
"It seems he stole something of value. For that he must pay. Be sure I'm not as untrained and wet behind the ears as I used to be. The Lone Wolf had more tricks up his sleeve then he was given credit." His smile suddenly brightens. "But what I'm more interested in is if my banker has been taking care of my money."
Glen smirks.
"Yeah, your banker has. Rightly invested in some good gadgets that even YOU can't find up top." He points a finger at the ceiling.
"Awesome! Do some of these gadgets happen to help a newly named thief enter a snake pit to gather info?"
"Bet you they do."
"Double awesome! Why don't you show me how they work? I feel the need to stretch my legs."
Glen gave him a long look but nodded.
"Don't come back in a body bag," he rumbles. At Jay's level gaze, he nods and wanders deeper into the house. "Come along then! Come see what pretties await!"
(have you guessed about the new characters? If you don't find the connection that means I'm doing a good job ;) and not to worry, everything will be revealed. You just have to bear with me a few more chapters.)