Fuse rubbed his good tusk thoughtfully as he looked at the snapshot of Anna's mage assailant's face, captured by her image-link contacts. She hadn't played the video to avoid showing them the thing with her blood. It gave her a bad feeling that she wasn't ready to share. Better that just Doc and Church knew, at least until she trusted the new two. "Well, I can do an image search for a mage by that description. Plus there should be camera feed from the parking lot. Might be a good start." Without waiting for an answer, he started tapping away at his deck.

"I have some corporate security contacts," Paladin said as he leaned back in his creaking chair slightly. "They might know the bodyguard. But I think I've seen him before, recently, here in Redmond. I think it was at Banshee. He's memorable—those tattoos aren't the usual gang or syndicate markings."

"I could feel magic in him. I think those markings might be an adept focus," Anna said. "A way to help counteract the essence loss from cyberware."

"This chrome-dome was a little heavy on the 'ware for magic," Doc commented. "You sure it was him and not the mage? Maybe she had a spell on him. She could have been controlling his mind."

Anna nodded slowly, but almost hopefully. "Maybe." She felt something shift in her chest, like a cat making itself comfortable. It was an unnerving feeling, a reminder that she wasn't alone in her own body anymore. "So are we hitting up Banshee? Who runs the place?"

"Mercy," Paladin said. "She was an organ-legger until she went halfway legit. Infected and not shy about it. Dangerous, though, between her vampiric strength, phys-ad abilities, and ready supply of goons."

Doc brightened up a little. "She's also an info broker these days, so she might give us some tidbits if we can pay. I did some work with her back in the day."

"And how are we going to pay? I don't exactly have deep pockets," Anna murmured.

"There are lots of ways to pay without money." Doc sounded confident in his assertion. "Make a delivery, break some kneecaps, some kind of favor."

"Not the kind of woman I want to owe," Paladin muttered.

"Beggars can't be choosers," Fuse pointed out. He stood up and closed his deck, tucking it into his battered, olive drab case. "I'll see if I can dig up anything juicy that Mercy might want in exchange. I can do that on the way while the image search is running. Let's buzz."

They took separate vehicles to the club, Fuse and Doc joining Paladin in his truck while she went with Church again on the motorcycle. It was almost becoming a habit. Banshee was an expansive building, occupying a full city block. By the time they made it through traffic, the nightclub was just opening. Anna felt a little more comfortable as she heard the familiar pulse of bass and caught the smell of alcohol. Dealers lingered in the alleys around the building, ever ready to help someone have a good time. It was not in a good part of town, a little close to the tenements where the Infected community had been pushed for the comfort of more cautious people. The club scene was booming here, though, for the same reason as Ikon if not more so: the allure of danger. People were never more alive than when they were dancing with death. Anna didn't share the addiction, but she understood it.

They were stopped at the door by a burly loup-garou. The lupine metahuman was covered in a coat of short, grey-black fur with prominent sharp teeth and claws. There was a gleam of feral, if somewhat diminished, intelligence in those golden eyes. "Check," he growled.

Doc sighed, Paladin frowned, and Fuse fidgeted, but Church fished out a credstick and handed it over. The Infected slotted it in his comm, checking the balance. No club really liked partiers who didn't have money to spend, even in Redmond. The loup-garou grinned fiercely and passed the credstick back. He looked Church up and down, noting the business wear and the metahuman weapon in it. "Like your style, elf. Head in."

"If we wanted to talk to Mercy, where can we find her?" Church asked. Her tone was almost perfectly neutral, but betrayed something that sounded like idle curiosity.

"Downstairs midnight to three, upstairs before and after." He grinned, showing far too many fangs for Anna's comfort. "Careful. Gets hungry."

"Thanks," Church said with a little nod.

Paladin started to walk in, but the loup-garou frowned. "Swords get checked inside," he warned. "No sammy trouble."

"Of course," Paladin said dryly, giving the doorman a nod. He didn't look happy, but he wasn't surprised either. "I'm here to play by Mercy's rules."

"Good. Don't want to see the bakebrains that don't." The loup-garou studied Anna for a second, but his gaze seemed more curious than lecherous. It was a refreshing change, but also unsettling for her. Then again, all Infected were dual-natured. They could perceive astrally as easy as breathing and she was sure she stood out even for a mage, at least if Monterey Jack was right. He gave her a little nod and opened the door for them. A line was already forming behind him of people eager to get in. In a few minutes, the place would be packed.

Paladin reluctantly checked his crusader-style cruciform sword on the inside, glaring fiercely at the ork attendant who took it. Fuse just chuckled, but it was a nervous laugh. Their decker stepped a little closer to the main group. "I don't like this," the ork kid said. "What if I get fraggin' scratched?"

"Unintentional HMHVV infection may be the least of our problems depending on Mercy's mood," Doc said almost cheerfully.

Fuse tensed up like he was going to run. "Thanks, Doc. I feel way better now."

The dwarf grinned. "Happy to help."

Church turned. "We should get a drink and take stock of the room. We can go upstairs in a few minutes."

Paladin shook his head. "Sooner the better. I don't like this place."

"There are worse places," Anna said, trying to find a positive side as they made their way to the bar. "I mean, Infected are just like everyone else, trying to make a living." She ordered vodka for Church and a mixed drink for herself. What the boys wanted was up to them.

"As corrupt and dangerous as everyone else," the former Knights Errant officer said. "There are more drugs and disappearances spawned here than even Ikon. Probably because at Ikon, you aren't on the menu."

"So suspicious," a sultry voice said from behind them. Something in the woman's tone was so suggestive that Anna actually shivered. It was a voice that promised incredible darkness in the best of ways.

"Mercy, good to see you," Doc said as they all turned around.

The vampire's brown hair was up at the moment in a complicated bun, exposing a slender neck and still framing a delicate face. She reminded Anna of an ancient china doll, perfectly formed but delicate. Her eyes were a deep red and her mouth was a crimson gash beneath the lipstick. She was wearing a perfectly fitted dark leather jacket over low cut, ruby-colored shirt, accompanied by low-rise jeans that looked perfectly molded to her body. Many rings gleamed on her fingers to complement the dozen earrings in her ears. "I heard someone was looking for me. I strive to always be obliging," she said silkily. But while she may have been speaking to Doc, her hungry eyes were completely focused on Anna.

Paladin scowled, well aware of where the vampire's attention was. Church was her usual quiet self, watching and waiting. "Leave her—" their street samurai started.

"Shh," Mercy said, gaze flashing over to the former cop for a moment in irritation. "You bring the most interesting people to my club, Paladin. First Knights Errant, and now this charming group. A street doc, a cowboy, a Vory cleaner...it could be the beginning of a fine joke, or a riveting police report, more likely. But your lovely mage I don't recognize. Her aura is far more memorable than anything else I've seen in this wretched city. The essence bleeds off her. It's so very tantalizing."

Anna realized she was gripping Church's arm almost tight enough to leave a bruise. When she went to let go, a hand covered hers and Church shook her head almost imperceptibly. It made Mercy's smile widen slightly.

"Such a good friend. I'm afraid I'm really more interested in her than you, though." Mercy made a shooing motion. "Buzz. She can find you in a little bit, after we've had our little tête-à-tête."

Church looked at Anna questioningly, but didn't immediately move. Neither did Paladin. Fuse and Doc, however, scooted further down the bar. They knew by reputation—and Doc by experience—that Mercy didn't like having to ask twice.

"I'll be fine," Anna promised even though she could feel nerves starting to wreak merry hell on her stomach. "Really."

"If you are not, I know who to find," Church said.

"I like your fire, razorgirl," Mercy said with amusement. "Someday, I think I'd like to see if you can walk the talk."

Church shrugged expressively and then let Anna's hand go. She started to walk past Paladin, who grabbed her by the shoulder. "You're not serious," he said incredulously.

Church's answer was an elbow to his solar plexus. The motion was sharp and hard, doubly unpleasant for being unexpected. Even with all his metal, Paladin had weak spots. He bent forward, hands covering his midsection as he tried not to vomit. Church snagged him by a wrist, throwing him into a pain compliance hold and using it to lead him forcibly away or risk having his good hand destroyed.

"Such a charming woman," Mercy said with a smile. She stepped into Anna's space, almost pinning her against the bar. "What's your name, mage?"

"Gemini," Anna said, her breath catching a little. She was terrified of the vampire, but she kept up a frown rather than a wide-eyed, frozen expression of panic.

"Astrological. How delightful. I do love mythology." The vampire leaned in until their noses were hair's breadth apart. "You and I could have such fun. There are a thousand things I could do to you and I promise you'd enjoy every one."

Anna knew she wouldn't be able to get away if Mercy's temper was triggered. She was a vampire and a phys-ad. That meant walking through a minefield to get what she wanted. "Like draining my essence dry?"

The vampire laughed, flicking a lock of hair away from Anna's neck to expose skin. "Dry? No, that would be a terrible waste. But I would like a taste. You're special. Unique, even. You have a power that I can feel in my bones, like the charge before a lightning strike. I wonder what would happen if I just gave you a little push."

The mage rallied. "I need to know about a mage who attacked me," Anna said. "Help me with that and maybe we can negotiate."

Mercy laughed. "The bloodmage?" she purred close to Anna's ear, too close for anyone to overhear. They were acquiring a small audience. "For you, anything. What would you like to know?"

"Who is she?" Anna wasn't certain how much Mercy knew, but the mention of blood magic made her heart start to race fearfully. It was a horrible, horrible thing even in just the few whispers she'd heard. She jumped when she felt Mercy's hand close around her wrist, fingers resting above her pulse point.

Mercy was still smiling, still watching her every little expression. "You're frightened. Worried that your little friends aren't enough to keep you safe? You should be. Still, you asked a question and it would be remiss of me not to answer. Her name is Kier. She was—or is, who can say?—a wagemage for Aztechnology who worked primarily down in the Los Angeles area on a...special project. The specifics I don't know, but my did it require a lot of blood. Living, breathing blood. More recently, she's been availing herself of Redmond's unfortunates. Including my customers. She's bad for business."

"And the cyberpsycho?"

"Decidedly not my type." Mercy laughed and ran her fingers up under the hem of Anna's shirt, tracing geometric patterns on bare skin. The mage did her best to ignore it and listened as the vampire continued, "Xiuhcoatl is his name. What a piece of work. He's a phys-ad. Cybermancy allows him to keep his power even with damaged essence—a tradition of blood magic. She also has an apprentice named Tlaloc, a combat mage, and another called Nenetl who specializes in manipulation magic. Mostly the manipulation of minds."

"Grea—" Anna stopped abruptly, eyes going wide, when she felt a tongue trace its way up her throat, right over her jugular vein. Mercy was a hell of a lot closer than she'd realized. There was a massive difference between this and work at the club. A wrong move, a wrong reaction, and the vampire could do her a wound few could replicate. Essence drain was doubly crippling for a mage, not to mention the risk of infection if Mercy changed her mind and drained her dry. "St…st…"

"Stop?" Mercy murmured against her neck, laugh low and throaty. "Is that really what you want, Gemini? Oh, unless you're spoken for. With the way Paladin's glaring, I'd think the two of you were married. Or maybe it's the gillette who gives you the shivers?"

Anna put her hands on Mercy's shoulders and gave her a push back a few inches. "I know what I want. I'll pay you back, Mercy, but not this way."

The vampire's lips formed a pout. "How disappointing. I suppose we can come to some kind of arrangement. I do have a quick job that needs doing. Dangerous, but simple."

The mage felt her nerves calming a little as Mercy moved back out of her space. Out of the corner of her eye, Anna could see Church and the others relax a little too. The Russian's hand slipped out from the inside of her jacket where it had been touching the grip of a concealed pistol and Paladin unclenched his steel fist. "I'm listening," Anna said.

"A group of Ancients want me to be paying protection money, lest Banshee burn down. No one starts static with me," Mercy said casually. "I want those fragging dandelion eaters taking dirt-naps before sunrise."

Anna swallowed hard. Ancients were tough, from everything she'd heard. Suddenly, taking Mercy up on her original offer was looking damn appealing. "Where can we find them?" she said, keeping her brave face on as well as she could.

"They've got a hangout a few blocks down at Shandalar's Parlor," the vampire said. Anna recognized the name—one of the classier brothels in Redmond, not that the bar for 'classy' was particularly high in this area. Mercy's smile showed pearly fangs. "Good luck. Try not to let them mess up that pretty face." She blew Anna a kiss before sauntering gracefully back towards the stairs to the upper levels, melding into the crowd.

"Are you alright?" Church asked before the others could even open their mouths, already at Anna's side.

"Yeah," Anna said. Her mouth felt desert dry. "I…I guess we're going to go fight some Ancients." Her knees were starting to feel weak too. She turned to the Vory killer. "Church, I don't know if I can do this. They're fragging hard. I mean, an Ancients mage could have me for breakfast."

"You have us," Paladin said as he stepped over. He put a reassuring hand on Anna's shoulder, earning a glare from Church. He ignored it. "We should get out of here."

"Yeah," Fuse agreed, his eyes still a little wide. He cleared his throat. "That happen a lot, Doc?" When the street doc looked at him for clarification, Fuse elaborated, "Mercy putting her hands all over Gemini."

The dwarf shrugged. "Eh, she's always been a flirt."

"Is that what they're calling that these days?" Anna said weakly. Her hand moved back to Church's arm. There was something reassuringly solid about the Russian. Paladin was a newer face, but he made her feel safer too.

Doc chuckled before asking a more serious question. "Did she have an answer for you?"

"Yeah," Anna said with a nod. "I got names on the mage, her monster, and her apprentice. We can talk about the rest on the way to Shandalar's." She took a deep breath. "Not gonna be a good fragging day."

Church shrugged. "You never know," the Russian said philosophically. "It will be exciting."

"Oh yeah," Anna mumbled. "Totally digging the idea of being shot at."

Their ork decker gave her a little grin before eyeing Paladin and Church. "That's why we've got meat shields."

Church shot him a severe look. "You have some security to take a look at, Fuse. We do not want the Ancients to put a hit out on you, after all. Take Paladin and Doc with you to stake out the place. I have some words for our mage."

His green skin went a few shades paler. "Right." Fuse gave them his anxious little nod and scurried for the door.

Paladin didn't budge. "You aren't in command, Church. Back off," he said in his gravelly voice. "This isn't fragging Vory knee-capping."

Anna could almost hear her friend's temper shoot through the roof. If she didn't defuse it, there would be blood. "It's my job, my say," Anna said quickly. "We're all on the same team. Paladin, we'll meet you out there in a minute or two, okay?"

He grudgingly nodded. "Sure, Gemini." Paladin started after Fuse and Doc, leaving Anna with an angry elf to deal with.

Church's expression barely showed anything, the only real expression in the thin line of her lips and the narrowness of those dark, burning coal eyes. Anna sighed a little bit. She didn't know Church well and she was the first to admit that, but she recognized more than most the danger that lived in subtle expressions on that face. She'd seen Church hurt people at Ikon...a lot. "You wanted to talk?" Anna said, hoping that would distract her.

"I should break him," Church hissed quietly before focusing her full attention on Anna. "Are you really alright? Did Mercy drain you at all?"

"No, though she was definitely thinking about it." She smiled faintly at the Russian. Sometimes, Church almost looked worried, and this was definitely one of those times. "Thanks for having my back. I know that if she'd tried to, you would have stepped in."

The Russian's eyes met hers for a second before roving away, back to their usual duty of searching for danger. "I almost did. If she hadn't listened when you pushed her away…"

"Yeah, vampire brains just everywhere, I know," Anna said lightly. She smiled faintly when she saw Church's lips lift slightly at the corners in something that might have been a ghost of a smile. "You really know how to treat a girl, Church. Now c'mon, let's catch up with the boys before they decide to take on the Ancients without us. Can't have them hogging all that certain death."