Striker still owed the gang an explanation, after all.

Striker hoped that, with the news of the baby, everyone would forget about the explanation of the Deadly Court that he 'owed' them. For the next two weeks of diets for Millie, bets on whether the baby would be boy or girl, and Blitzo driving Moxxie mad by constantly showing up at his place unannounced even more frequently than before, it seemed like Striker's wish had come true.

Sadly, one Monday, everyone was gathered in the meeting room waiting for him and Jake to arrive.

"Okay, Strikes, now that we're all here, it's about time you tell us about the Deadly Court," Blitzo said.

Striker sighed. Guess it was too good to be true. "Get comfortable; it's quite a long story."

Blitzo was already prepared for it, with a bag of popcorn and all. Loona, as usual, wasn't really paying attention. Jake sat down next to him, tail wagging anxiously.

"I should start from the beginnin'." Striker took a deep breath. "As I said back in... Greed, me joinin' the Court was a coincidence. I didn't know my predecessor's identity, only that he was an asshole." he briefly glanced at Jake. "He was molestin' yer mother while we were hangin' in Envy after a successful hit. I didn't think it twice and put a bullet in his brain."

"Doesn't sound like a Deadly Court member to me if he got 86'd that easily," Moxxie said, skeptical.

"Well, he was drunk, and I took 'im by surprise. Otherwise, things might have taken a different turn." Striker ran his fingers through his hair. "About a week later, I was runnin' some errands on my own when suddenly I was knocked out. When I awoke, I was surrounded by none other than the Deadly Court itself." His tail rattled as a shiver ran down his spine at the memory. "I thought they'd kill me, but...The Court must always have ten members. No more, no less."

Striker removed his left glove and placed his open palm on the table for the others to see. There were three scarred lines forming the shape of a number four.

"All members of the Court have a number in their palms from one to ten," Striker explained as he slipped his glove back on. "I got the number from my predecessor as a way to say I'm his... replacement."

"How come I never saw that scar, Dad?"

"As I said before, pup, this ain't somethin' I like braggin' about... Anyway, my recruitment into the court opened up doors I never imagined. The killin' job offers not only became more frequent; the targets shifted from random lowlives to Overlords and even demon Royalty, but overall the payments tripled. Sometimes I'd take solo jobs with Jane. Other times I had to... cooperate with fellow members of the Court. Then..." Striker sighed, glancing at Jake. "I quit the killin' biz for a few years 'till I joined I.M.P."

"You can do that?" Loona inquired. "Didn't the others make a fuss?"

Striker shook his head.

"We don't butt into each other's personal lives. One of the rules is that we only get in touch for job-related business, and in any case, participatin' is entirely optional."

"What about Deathslinger?"

A tense silence flooded the room. Striker shifted in his seat. He didn't blame Millie for asking about him specifically. The serpent was the first to have defeated her, after all.

"He's been in the Court far longer than I. He got assigned as my 'mentor' for my first few months in the Court. He taught me the rules, introduced me to some of their contacts, and all that shit. We've worked in a few hits together in the past."

"Man, Strikes, why didn't you tell me this before? Do you have any idea of what this means for I.M.P.? Imagine all of the clients we'd receive when they find out there's a member of the Deadly Court working for us!"

"No," Striker snapped, narrowing his eyes. "Don't even think about it, Blitz."

"What are you saying? You could even get a bonus with all the extra cash coming in!"

"Blitz, think about it. The members of the Deadly Court have killed Overlords and demon royalty—!"

"That's the point, Strikes! Imagine all the advertising that would get us—!"

"Let me finish, Blitz." Striker interrupted sternly. "As I was sayin', offing Overlords and demon Royalty isn't without its consequences. The Court has made countless enemies in the higher ranks of the hierarchy since its foundin'. All who are part of it keep everythin' about themselves a secret, especially our names and whatever relationships we might have to avoid the higher ups from learnin' who we are and who are important enough to be used against us." His frowned softened slightly. "What do ye think will happen if ye go around braggin' that a member of the Deadly Court is a member of I.M.P."

A tense silence hung in the room. Then, Jake was the first to come up with the answer.

"They'd come after us." he concluded.

"All of us." Moxxie added grimly.

Striker nodded slowly. "The last thing I want ye having to be always on the lookout for potential assassins sent by an Overlord or Royal demon wanting revenge on me." The cowboy looked at Blitzo again. The excitement had faded from his face. Instead, there was a look of apprehension as the severity of Striker's words sank in.

"...Oh."