PoV Kelsier
Kelsier strolled leisurely through Luthadel, a nobleman pedestrian is an unsual sight, but not so unusual that people will remark on it, the Skaa are too beaten down, too despondent and too afraid to even look upon Kelsier, their eyes are, as ever, are on the ground, his too fancy, too polished boots with gold plated detailing are enough for them to clear his path. For his 'fellow nobles' Kelsier walking instead of being carted around in a carriage or riding on a horse tells them something, that he is either too poor or too eccentric to be worth knowing.
As he strolled, Kelsier got a feel for the city, the general mood is slightly worse than it had been three years ago, but that is most probably due to the recent death of Lord Themos Tresting, a plantation noble, just a few days north-west of Luthadel, Kelsier expected this to happen when he killed Tresting, a noblemans death at the hands of 'rebel' Skaa always made things worse for the Skaa everywhere, atleast for a time, no doubt some nobles made a few displays of brutality against the Skaa, his killing of Tresting probably echoed out into the Final Empire and resulted in deaths of more Skaa than he freed from Tresting's plantation.
Ham can no doubt make a compelling argument, that Ham himself would not believe in, that Kelsier killing Tresting did more harm than good.
But that argument entirely misses the point, Kelsier could have stayed his hand and with his inaction, he would have reinforced the 'fact', Ila, daughter of Jess, is not worth saving, that the rape and murder of a girl and grief and heartbreak of a mother are a price worth paying to keep the status quo.
Kelsier can no longer abide by that. Yes, more Skaa died as a consequence of his actions, and he will grieve for them, but he will not accept responsibility for their deaths, that rests solely on the nobility, the system Lord Ruler created and on the Lord Ruler.
Finally, Kelsier neared the warehouse Dockson used for his legitimate business of importing wool yarn, which Docks in turn sold to businesses which wove yarn to cloth. Every worker in there would be completely clean, with no ties to the Underground. Dockson ran the business under assumed identity of a noble from Farmost Dominance, he would be in his office waiting for Kelsier.
Kelsier casually walked to the back of the warehouse, Burned Copper to hide his Allomancy, Burned Bronze to check for any allomancers nearby, Burned Tin to enhance his senses, took a quick look around to check if anybody was watching, no one was. Dropped a coin and Steel Pushed himself through windows Kelsier asked Dockson to keep open in his last comminuque.
Kelsier landed with a thud and Docks, waiting for Kelsier slightly jumped in the chair he was sitting in, directly in front of the open windows. Kelsier deposited the rucksack and the metal case on Docksons desk.
Seeing Docks after so long Kelsier's customary smile bloomed into a full grin and Docks echoed that grin, Docks got out of his chair so fast, it toppled to the ground, in a few long strides Docks drew near and Kelsier enclosed the slightly shorter but stouter man into a tight hug.
A little choked up, Kelsier whispered softly, "It is good to see you, my friend."
Breaking the hug, Docks put his hands on Kelsiers shoulders and with tears streaming down his eyes said, "Welcome Home, Kell".
Kelsier threw back his head to let out a heartfelt laugh and then drew Docks into another hug.
Once Kelsier got his mirth under control and Docks cleared his face of tears, Docks sent his workers home with a little bonus.
Kelsier and Docks settled down in two of the rooms chairs with a bottle of fine red wine between them and two half-full goblets in their hands.
They talked, Kelsier asked about who survived the fallout of their last job, what Docks and his other friends have been up to these past three years, he already knew most of it, of all his old friends it was Sazed who he met first after returning, and Sazed had kept an eye out for all of Kelsier's old friends. Even so, hearing it from Docks is somehow better.
Docks asked Kelsier what he had been up-to, Kelsier to his regret, can not be as truthful with Docks as Docks has been with Kelsier. There are somethings that are best not to be spoken aloud, not yet. Kelsier just told that Mare's death finally Snapped him and with his new allomantic abilities Kelsier escaped the Pits of Hathsin and has spent last two years training and planning.
Kelsier could see that Docks sensed that there is more to that story, but he knew Kelsier too well, Kelsier could feel the moment Docks decided to not ask further questions about what Kelsier is hiding.
Kelsier's smile broadened and Docks asked, "What is the job then?"
Kelsier drained his goblet, sighed in satisfaction, refilled his goblet to the brim, offered to pour for Dockson, at the other man's rolled eyes, poured Dockson's goblet to half full. Settled a bit more comfortably in his chair and said nonchalantly, "Destruction of the Final Empire and the death of the Lord Ruler, that is the job."
Docks goblet slipped from his suddenly nerveless fingers, spilling the wine, it is good thing I did not fill his to the brim, this is a damn fine vintage, as the goblet clattered in the sudden silence and Docks whisper-shouted in a strangled voice, "What?! Kelsier, are you out of your mind?"
Kelsier shrugged and said, "Probably, but that is not the point."
"What is the point then?", Docks demanded.
Kelsier smiled with all of his teeth and answered, "I know it can be done. I have one sure way, but I do not want to use it. I will, if I have to, but my preferred method", Kelsier took out a finger-length silvery white bar of metal, showing it to Docks, "has some kinks I need to work out. This is called the Elventh Metal, there are some legends in the north that claim it could be used to kill Lord Ruler."
Docks widened eyes narrowed into slits as he took a long look at Kelsier and his grin and said slowly, "You are confident, you are completely sure that you can do it", at Kelsier's nod, Docks continued, "what is the plan, then?"
"The Plan, well, that we need to work out after gathering others. The goals are to help the Skaa Rebellion take Luthadel, and killing the Lord Ruler. I already contacted the Rebellion, they are in."
Docks mulled over Kelsier's words while drinking his wine, and finally said, "I will put out a call for others. We do not have a Smoker though, Steel Ministry caught Trap two months ago. Who do you want me to call?"
Kelsier sighed heavily at Trap's fate, and answered, "Call in Clubs."
"Why not Ruddy?", Dkcks asked.
Kelsier shook his head and said, "He is a good Smoker. But he is not a good enough man."
Docks shook his head in exasperation and said, "Only you, Kelsier. Is there anything else?"
Kelsier took a deep breath, he almost wanted to do this himself, but no, Kelsier does not have a network of informants anymore and Docks does and said, "I want you to find someone for me, a young girl, short, dark hair, dark eyes. She should be part of the Underworld, I don't know for sure. I don't know her name. She is.."
Kelsier trailed off at the surprise writ large on Docksons face, and asked eagerly, "You know her?"
Docks nodded slowly, "Perhaps, I know someone matching the description you gave, one of the thieving crews tried to scam Marsh and I, a while back, she Soothed us. Marsh said she could do more than Sooth. I was about to bring her up actually."
Kelsier stood up eagerly and said, "Which crew? Where are they?"
Docks remained seated, looking at Kelsier speculatively, asked, "Who is she, Kell? Why the rush?".
"Someone important Docks. Someone I need to find. Come, we need to go get her", Kelsier insisted.
Perhaps seeing the mixed look of stubbornness and eagerness on Kelsier's face, Docks sighed, giving in and said, "Fine, fine, I will lead the way."
Kelsier left the rucksack on Docksons table, but took the metal case in hand and followed after Docks.
Docks raised a questioning brow at Kelsier taking the metal case, but Kelsier just shrugged. Docks sighed again and led the way.