Sin was growing fast, very fast. He bet his own mother, whom he spoke so fondly of, wouldn't recognize him to this day. But his eye patch was a dead giveaway. He was a spitting image of his father. He was nearing the equivalent of a pre-teen. He was curious about things and he was beginning to test his boundaries. Oh it was going to get worse when he hit his adolescence.

Sol watched him at the corner of his eye as the cub balanced himself on a wooden fence, walking on the top of it and holding his flag horizontally like a tightrope walker. He found the flag a while ago at the bottom of a gorge. It had been in a sorry state, torn and dirty from time and the weather. Sin had begged him to keep it even though he had a hell of a time carrying it. Sol let him have it if he could keep up with him. He had to drag it at first and learned putting it over his shoulder worked better. Sol managed to agree to get it fixed at one of the towns until it looked like new again. Now after the discovery of the flag he wanted to use it as a weapon and learn how to be a bounty hunter. Sin was just as stubborn as his father. He kept pleading with him until Sol finally gave in. What would it hurt? It might be a good way to keep his powers under control. Putting Dizzy's and Ky's DNA together could be a dangerous thing. He was related to a Commander Gear even though Ky's human genes thinned it down a bit.

"Sin, if you fall I'm going to laugh," he said blandly.

"No you won't. You take things too seriously."

Sin kept walking along the fence until it came to an end. He leapt down and swung his flag over his shoulder after his feet met solid ground again.

"See? I didn't fall."

Sol rolled his eyes. "Horray for you."

Sin looked over his shoulder and grinned before asking, "Are we almost there?"

"This is the road to the town. It can't be too far from here."

"Good. I'm hungry."

Sol sighed and slipped a hand into his bag at his side. He grabbed two pieces of dried jerky and passed it to him. "Here."

Sin's eye brightened and gratefully took it. "Thanks, Sol."

He wasn't that bad. Then again, he was still young. It wasn't going to be long until he learned how much he could push. He was already starting to show signs. The cute cub wasn't going to be timid forever. Well, if he pushed Sol would push right back. He had no doubt he was going to be like Ky. What a pain.

The early dawn made the cue for a perfect hunt. They finally came across the trouble Gear since at light. It was Sin who spotted the Gear at the bottom of the gorge. With his experience with hunting now, he was learning the tricks of the trade. The mountains and rocky hills didn't make good hunting ground but finally coming to the Gear face to face was a pay-off. He liked it when a hunt turned out like this. But he hated it when Sol took over when they started out working together.

Sin groaned to himself and bounced his flag over his shoulder irritably as he watched the fight below. Sol made it look like he was putting little effort into it while the Gear charged him. It was one of the bigger Gears, the main reason why Sol wanted him out of it. He said it was too dangerous.

Sin snorted to himself at the thought. "How the hell am I supposed to learn if he takes all the glory." He watched Sol dodge the charging Gear, spun and released a fury of flames from his sword. It hit the Gear on its side, making it stumble. He heard its roar echo through the gorge. Its thick but vulnerable flesh was exposed after parts of its armor came undone. Now the armor on its face, forelegs, back and flanks were left.

The Gear charged again and snapped its great jaws in front of Sol. He jumped back to avoid it then maneuvered to its side again and slashed down on it. The Gear retaliated by swinging its head which Sol avoided again then slammed a front leg in his path. While Sol shifted to avoid it the Gear took advantage and threw its head again. Sol didn't see it coming. He was thrown and rolled across the dusty ground. Sin winced when he saw it. He never saw Sol get thrown like that before. Sol was always so careful and cunning. Oh well, it wouldn't be anything to Sol.

He watched and waited for him to get up but he wasn't. Sin gritted his teeth. "Get up. Come on, old man, get up."

He didn't.

All right! Enough with this you stay behind nonsense! Sin jumped over the edge of the drop and kicked off two ledges before sliding down, hitting the side of his leg as he went. "Ow." He didn't care if he got hurt on the way down. He had to get to Sol before the Gear could.

Once he reached the bottom Sin took off. He ran as fast as he could and skidded to a stop once he reached Sol and crouched down. "Old man! Old man!" Sin leaned down and put his ear to his chest. There was a beat. He sighed in relief. "Oh thank you." He then turned his eye up when he heard the Gear snarl and slowly began to stalk towards them. Sin turned his brows down then slowly rose to his feet. "You want him? Well you'll have to get through me first!" He took a few steps towards it. "Come on. Come on."

The Gear backed up with its jagged teeth bared and its eyes fixed on him. It then opened its mouth into a deep roar as if challenging him.

"Then let's rock!" Sin lunged and swung his flag. The end of it struck the front of its armored face and spread red lightning across it. The Gear backed up, thrashing its head. Sin swung over and over, spinning while the cloth of his flag flashed in its face. "That's right, it's just you and me now. You better get back!" He raised his flag and jabbed the end of it into the ground. Red sparks burst. The Gear reared as if its front legs touched something hot.

Sin charged again, this time rounding to its side where a piece of its armor was missing. Its flesh was bleeding and singed. He jabbed his flag against the open wound and sent a charge of electricity into it.

"Sol got you pretty good, huh? Well I'm gonna finish you off!" He jabbed at it again, this strike hitting it across the cheek. The Gear snapped at the air in front of him in return. Sin jumped back to avoid its teeth. It snapped at him twice and Sin distanced himself a few steps back. Now for a new move.

Sin dashed, dropped and slid forward. He kicked the Gear's front leg and swiped his flag across it. Then Sin quickly raised his flag when he saw it come down on him, catching it on the throat.

The Gear kept its mouth open, attempting to chomp down on him but the flag was the only thing that kept them apart. Sin's arms strained to keep it at bay. He could smell its rancid breath.

Sin tried to push himself away but he couldn't. If he moved now the Gear would have him. And if his flag broke. . .

He turned his eye up and saw Sol beginning to get up. He held his head and gave it a shake before looking his way. Then, Sin felt his flag shift. He wouldn't be able to hold the Gear much longer.

"Old man! Help! I can't hold it!"

Sol walked towards him as if nothing serious was happening. Sol stopped beside the Gear and looked down on him. "Sin, move." He then raised his sword and brought it down with a hard swing. Sin moved as quickly as he could, rolling out from under the Gear as Sol struck it behind the neck. It went down with it inches away from landing on top of him. Everything went still and quiet.

Sin sat up, staring at the creature. He waited for it to get up again but it didn't. It stopped breathing. Sin sighed in relief and began to gather himself up. When he stood instant pain hit his ankle. He screamed and stumbled and quickly caught himself with the help of his flag. He leaned on it and took some weight off his foot.

"What the hell's your problem?" Sol said.

"It's my ankle."

"Let me see." Sol bent down and lifted Sin's foot. Sin winced in pain while Sol examined his ankle briefly then let go. "It's not broken. You probably just twisted it. That's what you get for doing something stupid like that."

"Oh come on. I save your life and that's how you thank me?"

"You didn't save me." Sol turned and began to walk away.

"Yes, I did," Sin said and slowly followed, using his flag as a crutch. "If it wasn't for me that Gear would have had you."

"And if wasn't for me you'd be dead."

"I still saved your ass."

"Whatever, Sin." Sol stopped at the base of the gorge and began to climb up. Sin bit his lip as he watched him. "Try to keep up."

Sin prepared himself for a painful ascent.

They arrived at the small town by early afternoon and in good time. They would have arrived sooner if it wasn't for Sin's wounded ankle. He stepped carefully as he looked around the small but busy town. The pain no longer mattered now that the town had his attention. He probably wouldn't start to feel it again until they prepared to leave. The bad thing about being a bounty hunter was that they rarely stayed in the towns. Sometimes Sin wanted a normal life, even though being a bounty hunter was exciting. He always wondered. . .

Dad, what would it be like if you stayed a cop? he remembered asking his father. He asked his mother the same sort of question and she answered more clearly; she would introduce him to the Jellyfish Pirates. She told him all about them. He wished that day would come. But did that ever happen? No. Gee, thanks, dad.

While deep in his own thoughts he bumped into a man as he passed him. "Watch it!" the man grumbled. "Get a pair of eyes!"

Sin sneered and flipped his finger at him.

"Yeah," Sol said ahead of him, catching him at the corner of his eye, "that's real cute. Why don't you show that to Ky?"

Sin raised the same finger to Sol. It only seemed to entertain Sol. He was so hard to get to. He could cuss him out and Sol would only roll his eyes.

"In fact," Sol said, "show that to your mother."

Sin frowned and shook his head. "I don't even know if I'll see her again."

"Don't start now," Sol said and kept ahead. Sin let him lead, trying not to get lost in the crowds when they thickened. He remembered getting lost once when he was little. Well, a kid always got lost at least once, even under watchful eyes. "I think it's up here." Finding the bounty station would be a relief. He could sit down and rest his ankle.

As they closed in onto their destination Sin heard the sound of a flute and an acoustic guitar playing a wild and upbeat tune. He could see a small crowd. Sin slowed when he began to pass the crowd and peeked past some bodies to see a girl dancing in harmony with the music. She spun and furrowed her skirt and moved her legs.

Sin paused and saw Sol walk inside one of the small buildings. Ah, they were here. Sin decided to stay outside to watch and listen to the music.

He watched her legs, her movements graceful as a deer. She spun and spun then stopped, raised her hands and clapped twice. She did the same routine, this time the crowd clapped along with her. She continued her fancy footwork and finally brought her dance to an end when the flute and guitar went silent. Sin remained where he stood while the people began to disperse. He glanced where Sol had disappeared. He didn't see him.

He looked at the dancing girl again. She was waving at the two men with the flute and guitar while she said, "I'll be out here." One went inside the house and the other walked away down the street.

Then, after a moment two teenage boys approached the girl."Hey there pretty girl," one said. "You lap dance, too?"

The girl recoiled in disgust and shoved him away. "Get away, pervert!"

The boys laughed.

Sin already saw enough. He wasn't going to standby and let them harass her. He limped towards them and snapped, "Hey! Leave her alone!"

The boys turned their attention to him but didn't seem impressed.

"Who are you you? Her boyfriend?" The lead boy passed a mocking grin.

"No," Sin said. "Didn't anyone tell you never harass a lady? Maybe someone should teach you some manners."

The boy laughed. "I'm not scared of you."

"You will be in a second." He took one step forward and jammed his flag into the ground, sending red sparks into it. The boys stumbled back in surprise and the leader was knocked back, landing on his rear. He looked up at him with his eyes wide.

"He's a magic-user, man!"

They scrambled while Sin watched them, chuckling to himself. He still felt the dancing girl behind him. When he looked over his shoulder at her he smiled. "Sorry you had to see that."

She smiled back. "Gee, thanks."

"Well, someone had to step in. I hope that doesn't happen to you a lot."

"Those guys are just jerks. But I don't think they'll be coming back, not after what you did. Did you see the looks on their faces?" He giggled. "You're a magic-user, huh?"

"Well, yeah, it runs in the family."

She looked him up and down. "I saw you limping. What happened to your foot?"

"I twisted it taking down a Gear," he said in a boasting manner.

She gasped. "A Gear? You could have gotten killed."

"Naa, it's gonna take more than that to hurt me. I'm a bounty hunter."

She put her hands on her hips. "No wonder. Come on, why don't you sit down with me?" She turned and led the way to the nearby house where she took a seat on the top step on the porch. Sin seated himself on the bottom.

"So what's your name?" she asked.

"Sin."

A big grin appeared on her face. "Sin? Sin? Who on earth would name their kid Sin?"

"Aww, come on, it's not all that bad. My dad's a really religious guy. I think he's got something to do with it. What's your name?"

"Sunny."

"Sunny, huh? Well I think that's a silly name, too."

"Not as bad as Sin."

Sin turned his head and looked at her through the corner of his eye. "Is that any way you should be talking to me?" He stood. "I'm the son of a knight!"

She smiled widely again with her eyes widening. "You are? I knew it! You had it written all over you. No wonder you have those powers."

"I get my powers from my mother's side."

"Was she a knight?"

"No, my dad was."

"Don't tell me you're French, too."

"Yep, sure am." He paused and darted his eye. "Well. . .I am a bit of a mutt."

She giggled. "That's okay, Sin." She then leaned towards him, studying his face. "What's happened to your eye? You didn't hurt that, either did you?"

"There's nothing wrong with my eye."

"Then why—" She reached for his eye patch but he quickly pulled away before she could touch it. "Whoa! You don't wanna do that! It's just best I keep it covered."

She drew away and put her hands on her lap. "Well, okay." A thoughtful look went across her face. "Let me ask you this: How old are you, Sin?"

"Fi-i-fteen." He chuckled to himself nervously. His mouth almost got ahead of him and spouted five. Good call.

"Fifteen? You look a little older than that."

"I do? Well I guess I take after my mother. She's like that, too."

He then heard: "Sin!"

Uh-oh. Sol. He turned his head and saw him standing a few paces away and mouthed: Shut up.

The girl saw him, too. "Is that your dad?"

"Sol? No way! I'm his apprentice."

"You're not my apprentice," he heard from Sol.

Sin looked back at him then to the girl. "I'm his partner."

"You're not my partner, either."

"Then what am I?"

"You've a pain in the ass!" Sol shouted.

Sin winced and heard the girl giggle. Then, behind him he heard footsteps approach him. He knew who it was.

"Let me borrow this."

Before he could look back he was grabbed roughly by the shoulder and yanked away. Sin stumbled while Sol pulled him away. "Ow, ow. Ankle-ankle-ankle-ankle!"

"Keep going."

"Get off me!" Sin pulled away and limped on. When he began walking Sol slapped him at the back of his head. "Hey! What the hell was that for?"

"For almost slipping up. You almost said five."

"But I didn't. I made up for it."

"You're going to get yourself in trouble doing stuff like that."

"What. I was just having a conversation." He looked back at her and smiled. "I think she likes me." He saw her standing on the porch, waving.

"Good-bye son of a knight!"

Sin lowered his brows. "What did you call. . ." He then laughed and waved back. "Hey!" He lowered his hand again. "I thought she was going to call me something else."

Sol shook his head and walked on, going ahead of him. "It wouldn't be the first time."

By day two Sin's limp was gone. His Gear side gave him the advantage of fast healing. He could break a leg and it would heal within a week or so. It must be from Dizzy's side of the family. Ky was no whimp, either.

Sitting on a rock near a patch of woods Sol watched Sin at the corner of his eye while the youth shadow-boxed with an invisible enemy. He swung his flag while he spun. He jabbed a few times, then thrust the end of his flag into the ground and ducked his head. Red sparks and streams of electricity erupted. The movement made him look like a man summoning a power given to him by a god. Yep, he had Ky's powers.

"Hey, Sin, did Ky ever teach you about controlling your lightning?"

Sin paused and turned his head to him. "Once. But only because I shocked one of the guards. On purpose. He didn't like what he heard I did, so he pulled me aside and taught me about my lightning power. Not a lot, though. I was too young. It doesn't matter. I have my mother's powers." He walked towards him, placing his flag across his shoulder. "I am a G—"

"Watch the G-word," Sol said.

"Gear!" Sin shouted. "You act like it's a bad word." He looked around and called out again. "Hey, everybody, there's two Gears here!" He looked down on Sol. "There's nobody out here. Geez, you're paranoid."

Sol said nothing and sat there, glowering. Then, after a few moments someone said, "Where? Did you say there were Gears here?"

Sin picked his head up and saw two men coming from the field towards them. He widened his eye and looked at Sol who stared at him from under the edge of his headband. Oh, he was in for it now. "Oh. . . shit. I seriously didn't know anyone was out here!"

Sol stood. "Let me handle this. And keep your mouth shut."

"Are you after the Gear, too?" one of the men said. There was one who had a sword sheathed at his side. If he knew anything about Gears having a simple sword wasn't going to cut it.

"Too?" Sol asked.

"Yeah. There's a Gear around here and we're trying to track it down."

"It sounds like we're after the same Gear," Sin said. "My partner and I—"

"I'm not your partner," Sol muttered.

"He and I were tracking it down in the last two days," Sin said. "I think it knows we're onto it. How long were you two tracking it?"

"About four days. We saw the bounty at Callin, our hometown. We thought we'd hunt it down to make a little ends meet."

"Wait a minute," Sol said with a tilt of his head, "this is your first hunt?"

One nodded.

"Are you stupid?" Sol said. "If you think hunting a Gear is a good idea you're kidding yourselves. It bet you can barely catch a rabbit. And those kitchen knives you got. . ." He huffed. "You're gonna die. Come on, Sin." He turned and began to walk away. After a few paces the two began to follow. When Sol noticed them he stopped. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Well, if you're a bounty hunter then maybe you can give us a few pointers. We'll stay out of the way."

Sol sighed. "I'm not a teacher. I already have to deal with this one." He jabbed a thumb in Sin's direction. "But unlike you two he can fight."

"We'll just standby and watch."

Sol sighed and rolled his eyes. He could always turn around and punch one of these idiots but they weren't worth his time. "Do whatever the hell you want. Just stay out of the way. You're not messing this up."

"Of course not! Of course not!"

Sol ignored them and went on.

"It's another Steel-hide, and this one looks more beat up than the other before," Sin said.

Sol watched emotionlessly as the Gear sniffed at the ground with a chain dangling from its neck.

"Someone probably tried to seal it," Sol said. "Idiots."

"Maybe you guys can seal it," one of the men said from behind him.

"Shut up," Sol said, keeping his voice down. He kept his attention on the Gear. It looked confused and weak somehow. Good. It would make an easy kill.

He glanced at the youth beside him. "Sin. Take it."

His blue eye brightened. "All right!" He then charged towards the Gear which picked its massive head up once it noticed him. It showed its horrendous teeth and snarled. It wasn't expecting his first attack. He flipped backwards and rolled in mid-air, his body tucked tight once he reached it face to face. His flag stuck out as he spun and hit the Gear across the face. The move reminded him awfully like Cresant Slash. Sol narrowed his eyes as he watched.

The Gear backed up, snarling at the boy. Sin advanced on it, paused then suddenly lunged again. Sin spun over and over, striking the Gear across the head each time. He then spiked his flag to the ground, summoning streams of electricity. It struck the Gear, making it roar in pain and surprise. It wasn't expecting a cub like him to attack with such power. Sol Ky's cub had his claws now.

"Wasn't expecting that, were you?" Sin said. "You don't know what you're messing with." He struck his flag to the ground again. This time the Gear charged in return after it got a second taste of the electricity. Sin easily dodged out of the way like a matador.

Over his shoulder, Sol felt the two tag-alongs watching. They then suddenly bolted, fleeing the scene as if their heels were on fire. Sol snorted to himself and continued to watch the fight.

Sin did it again. He flipped backwards in a tight roll while his flag struck the Gear. Sol bit his lip in thought. "Maybe that was Stun Dipper back there. Great going showing off in front of your kid, Ky." He continued to watch as Sin went on, brandishing his flag.

"Hey!" Sol called. "Sin! No misjudged Stun Dippers this time!"

Sin turned his head to him. "Don't distract me." He saw the Gear charge him and Sin stabbed his flag into the ground again. "Hurts, doesn't it?"

The Gear didn't shy away. It swung its half-armored head and Sin maneuvered out of the way.

Sol rolled his eyes. "Don't take all damn day. Hurry it up, Sin! Stop playing around with it!"

"Stop yelling. But if you really want me to end this. . ." He raised his flag, arched it then called, "Ride the Lightning!" The red electricity engulfed him as he shot to the Gear and made contact with it. The electricity rippled through it, armor and all. Sol kept his eyes on the boy. He slid to a stop by the Gear and took a victorious pose, flipping his flag over his shoulder and bounced it. "Pretty good, huh?"

"I'm surprised you didn't fall on your face doing that. I guess Ky really did show off in front of you. But I got one hint of advice for you: Get original!"

"Hey, it worked." He gave the Gear a thump on the side.

"You better watch it. It'll wind up jumping up and biting you."

"It's dead." He kicked it again. "Come over here and check it out if you don't believe me." He started towards Sol and looked around. "Where did our tag-alongs go?"

"Ran."

Sin snickered. "I knew it. I ought to have fun with this." He walked past him and started up the hill with a simple bound.

Sol and Sin walked along the dirt road, back towards the town that led them to the Gear. The longer they moved on something was ahead of them, two figures with their backs to them. Sin recognized them as the tag-alongs. Sin clucked like a chicken to get their attention.

"What happened to you guys?" he said when they turned their heads.

The two paused to let them catch up.

"I-is it dead?" one said nervously.

"Yeah, it's dead," Sin said. He was looking rather proud of himself. "I finished it off. Do yourselves a favor. Don't quit your day jobs." He snickered and walked on, his head held high and his flag bobbing along with his proud gait. If he had been born with a tail he would have been wagging it.

They separated themselves from the tag-alongs by morning with a little threat from Sol, too. They made a quicker return than expected. It was a relief. Sin was looking forward to a fresh, warm meal. That was one of the best rewards when they came into town.

They spent at least an hour there until Sol was ready to leave. Sol just wasn't a man who liked to stay still. He was no longer wanted by the IPF yet he was constantly on the move like a nomad. It had to do something with the Gear Maker, so Sol said. Sin was convinced it was just paranoia. But that changed the day the message came. That Man and everything else was true.

"Sol Badguy! Ah-ha!"

Racing footsteps came from behind them and Sol stopped. Sin stood aside and watched as Sol nonchalantly raised a fist and snapped it back. It made contact with a man's face who thought trying to jump on him was a good idea. He instantly dropped to the ground in a daze.

Sol cracked his knuckles and walked away as if nothing happened. It was rather sudden. The man certainly wasn't expecting it. Even Sin was a little taken back for a moment. But then it made sense. Sin looked down on the man. "Hey, dummy, the police force took that bounty off years ago. Get a newspaper or something."

The man then raised his arm, flashing a piece of paper. It was beaten by the weather by the looks of it.

"Give me that." Sin snatched it and brought it to his face. "I'll prove it that—" He paused when he looked at it further. It was a current bounty, clearly calling for Sol but what surprised him was that it was issued from Illyria.

"Where did you get this?"

"From Illyria. It's from the king."

Sin glanced at it again. "Not good." Something was going on. If it really was from Illyria why would his father bring up a bounty again? He wanted answers and he knew Sol was the first who wanted to know. He looked up where Sol continued to walk away. "Uh. . . old man?" He then ran after him, waving the paper over his head. "Old man! It's legit!" He passed him the flyer and watched him read it over thoughtfully. "What stunt did you pull to piss him off?"

"I don't know," Sol said. "But it's Ky's messed up way of getting my attention. Something's not right." He then turned his strange eyes to him. "You coming?"

Back to Illyria? Where his father was? His mother?

"Of course I am!"

"Then come on." Sol continued on and Sin immediately followed.