[THE HAVEN]

“Impressive Auron,” said Master Valdi, gripping an orb of singing light. “How exactly did you come across the Dragon Song?”

Syadd was less impressed. She stood with Auron at the peak of a glowing red pyramid, flail dangling from her four crossed arms.

“Eh, right time, right place,” said Auron. “Just took a bit of eavesdropping. That’s all.”

“At the tavern, I presume,” said Master Valdi. “Seems like all that drinking finally paid off.”

“Knew it would,” said Auron.

Master Valdi feigned a smile.

“Astonishing that a lackluster healer, without fighting ability, managed to acquire the Dragon Song,” said Master Valdi. “All by himself.”

Auron glanced at Janzo. The demonoid stood silent by Master Valdi’s side, anticipating Auron’s next words.

“Yep,” said Auron. “It wasn’t too bad. Not a lot of guards. In and out.”

“Fascinating,” said Master Valdi. “Well Auron, there’s something I’d like you to see --”

Master Valdi extended his hand interface, projecting a message log:

AURON [17:26:08]: Master Valdi won’t know.

JANZO [17:26:12]: He’ll watch our replay.

AURON [17:26:15]: There are no replays where we’re going. We’ll jet right after his little temper tantrum.

“Do those words look familiar?” asked Master Valdi.

Auron nearly choked on his sucker.

“I’m not sure what’s more disappointing,” said Master Valdi. “Assuming I wouldn’t know, or getting my Royal Guard involved.”

“Or not telling your Raid Captain,” said Syadd.

“Bah, I’m less concerned about that,” said Master Valdi. “Auron, explain yourself.”

“Eh, I didn’t want to go alone,” said Auron. “I knew Janzo was strong, and no one else was in good condition --”

“So just you two went then?” said Master Valdi. “No one else helped you?”

“Eh, some of the locals maybe --”

“Shae, perhaps?”

Auron choked on his lollipop.

“My sources say the Feather Birds also acquired the Dragon Song,” said Master Valdi. “Shae delivered it just now, in fact.”

Auron dislodged the lollipop from his throat.

“Eh, I’m surprised to hear that,” said Auron.

“Me too,” said Master Valdi. “I’ve already caught you in one lie Auron. Care to chance another?”

A white dagger materialized in Master Valdi’s hand, foaming with pale squares.

“It will be harder to lick your lollipop without that lying tongue.”

Syadd seized Auron’s arms. Master Valdi juggled his glitch blade in one hand.

“Janzo, my royal guard,” said Master Valdi. “You would never lie to me.”

Master Valdi directed the glitch blade towards Janzo.

“Can you confirm Auron’s claims?”

Auron peered towards Janzo, attempting some sort of desperate telepathy. Janzo stared back with blank demonoid eyes.

“Speak Janzo,” said Master Valdi. “Is he telling the truth?”

“Uh huh,” said Janzo. “Me and Auron grabbed the Dragon Song and left. We didn’t run into Shae.”

Master Valdi studied Janzo - his demonoid poker face was top tier.

“Well then,” said Master Valdi.

Master Valdi’s glitch blade dissipated in a whirlwind of white squares.

“Commendable work, both of you,” said Master Valdi. “I must admit Auron, I considered you one of our worst. Perhaps I judged you prematurely.”

Master Valdi propped his feet back upon Janzo’s back; that was Janzo’s cue to go AFK.

“I’ve got my eye on you Auron,” said Master Valdi. “If the Dragon Sword isn’t acquired soon, we may need a new Raid Captain.”

Syadd’s six eyes narrowed towards Auron. One way or another, that wasn’t going to happen.

[THE HAVEN]

Jay hoisted off his headset with an exasperated gasp. His black hair was moist with sweat, his tongue dry with dehydration, and his bladder near-bursting.

“Congratulations on the Dragon Song,” said Esara, munching on a carrot. “And the bird too! I’ve never seen Chief that happy.”

“I have,” said Jay with a shudder. It was hard to forget Chief’s big beetle body dancing around her tiny quarters.

“Nice work, dweeb,” said Bander. “Wish I could have seen it.”

“Poor Bander,” said Esara. “I know you’ve been out of commission.”

“Maybe if my new parts would get here faster,” growled Bander.

A message popped up on Jay’s monitor:

JANZO: Hey

Jay did a double-take; the royal guard of the Deadly Skulls was messaging him.

SHAE: hey

JANZO: You want to hang out

SHAE: i'm done playing today

JANZO: No

JANZO: Unit 44630

He did a triple-take; did Janzo really just give out his unit number? Jay could read between the lines - this must be important. If it was a trap, Jay wasn’t concerned. They were both premium account users, but Jay was convinced he was better.

SHAE: okay

SHAE: omw

He grabbed his Captain Lair mask. And his purple pistols, just in case.

KNOCK KNOCK

“That better be my new parts,” said Bander.

“I got it,” said Jay. He was on his way out anyway.

Jay opened the door to a man with a red top hat, a perfect red suit, and an impeccable handlebar mustache. He held a red metallic box in both hands.

“Uhhhh,” said Jay.

“Oh excuse me,” said the man. “Is Esara home?”

Esara froze, letting the carrot fall from her mouth.

“You,” Esara stuttered. “You’re that man from the market!”

Jay froze too. A metal leg extended from the man’s box, rooting it in the floor. He turned a crank on the box’s side, playing a delightful music box medley --

“PAUSE SHOT!”

10 Seconds

That box had a hole in the front of it, big enough for something to emerge from. In fact, something was already partially protruding. A bullet? A needle? Whatever it was, it was travelling fast.

9 Seconds

There was a focused look in this man’s eyes - the same one Jay acquired before firing his pistols. If this was indeed a weapon, Jay, Bander and Esara were in its line of fire.

8 Seconds

Where should Jay aim? Shooting the man’s legs wouldn’t deter the weapon. And a headshot would prevent interrogation.

7 Seconds

Plugging that weapon’s hole seemed best. Something was already on its way out. Maybe multiple somethings. Stopping those somethings was Jay’s top priority.

6 Seconds

But what if Jay’s bullet wasn’t strong enough to match the other projectile’s power? Pause Shot was still Level 1 - that other weapon’s power was unpredictable.

5 Seconds

It was time to try out a combination shot. Jay had already declared his Pause Shot. Was it too late to add another?

4 Seconds

Apparently not! One dose of Piercing Shot added!

3 Seconds

Why not throw in a Poison Shot too? If Jay’s bullet breached, the more damage the better.

2 Seconds

Now for the real question: what to call this combination? Injection Shot? Surgeon Shot? Wait -- Jay could worry about that later.

1 Second

Jay placed his pistol against the weapon’s maw - a point-blank shot.

BANG

Time resumed as Jay’s bullet pierced through the weapon. Red needle projectiles pushed back, subsiding to Jay’s superior projectile. The red box exploded into flaming scrap, its music box striking a loud bitter chord.

Jay’s bullet didn’t stop there. It drilled through the man’s gut, bursting through his spine, before becoming lodged in the Haven’s steel walls. Green toxic veins rose within the man’s skin, crippling venom circulating through his bloodstream.

The man folded across the ruins of his weapon, struggling for oxygen. Dark blood departed his belly.

“Grab him!” shouted Esara.

Three sets of hands dragged the man inside, slamming the door shut. Shae’s pistols pressed against his head as Bander and Esara subdued him.

“Esara,” the man croaked out. “It’s me, Craig from the market. My clients call me Clever Craig --”

“Yes, I remember you,” muttered Esara.

Cleaver Craig’s head turned towards Shae.

“And you, very impressive!” said Cleaver Craig. “What was that? Poison Shot, combined with Piercing Shot? And you have Pause Shot too? I’ve yet to get that one!”

Jay froze solid.

“My ability is Piercing Shot, plus Rapid Shot,” said Craig. “Rapid Shot reduces bullet power. That’s why your ability beat mine!”

“You’re another premium account user,” said Jay.

“Correct!” said Craig, grasping his stomach. “And we both walk the path of Xieter!”

Jay gave him a puzzled look.

“That means we share the same abilities!” said Cleaver Craig. “It can happen with similar weapons. What were the odds of that?”

Cleaver Craig vomited the last of Jay’s Poison Shot, splattering green bile across Bander’s arms.

“Ughhh, come on!” Bander whined.

“Please tell me why you came after me,” said Esara.

“Your old boss Marcen hired me,” said Cleaver Craig. “He had an insurance policy in place. Should something happen to him, I was to show up to collect!”

Esara looked devastated.

“You left a trail of clues behind I’m afraid,” said Cleaver Craig. “People even saw you depart Heals, covered in blood. Murder requires meticulous planning. Keep at it. Practice makes perfect!”

Cleaver Craig’s body went limp.

“You’ve at least staved me off for today,” said Cleaver Craig. “But I’ll be back once I finish some other jobs on my queue.”

Cleaver Craig coughed up something red and chunky.

“How do I stop this?” asked Esara.

“You could die, I suppose,” said Cleaver Craig. “Or get the hit called off. With Marcen gone though, that may prove difficult.”

Cleaver Craig’s body ran cold.

“Anyway, it was a pleasure meeting you all,” said Cleaver Craig. “See you again soon Esara!”

The light departed Cleaver Craig’s eyes.

Bander’s jaw fell agape.

“Holy shit,” said Bander. “What the hell is going on?”

“We can’t stay here,” said Shae. “Our unit’s been compromised.”

Esara tied a shirt over her face, cutting holes around the eyes and mouth.

“Now what are you doing, idiot?” snarled Bander.

“This is my fault,” said Esara. “I’m going to take care of this.”

“Hold up,” said Jay. “I’ll come with.”

“No,” said Esara. “It’s better if you don’t.”

***

Danny blew a jet of furious smoke from his inhaler. Five dead bodies lay before him, each with grinning moon masks. Everyone in his sanctuary was assigned to body-disposal, mopping away puddles of blood and rolling corpses into Danny’s finest bed sheets.

A pale man perched on a sofa between them all. He was the only one not lifting a finger to help. Then again, the last time his fingers lifted, five moon masks died by his hand. In his defense, it was self-defense. Or at least that’s how Danny justified the event.

Those moon masks had threatened the pale man, insisting that he leave. But when push came to shove, the pale man shoved his fingernails through their flesh, tearing through their skin and everything held within. His movements were like that of a cornered animal, thrashing, clawing and biting at inhuman speeds.

It wasn’t clear what had provoked the moon masks. Maybe it was the same illogical apprehension that rattled Danny to his core. The pale man refused to leave when Danny asked politely. Danny was afraid what might happen if he asked impolitely.

“You’ve got yourself a real mess here,” said Esara.

“I’ve seen worse,” said Danny. “And Zayder’s balls, what are you doing here? Thought you didn’t care for me much anymore, eh?”

“Please Danny,” said Esara. “I need your help.”

“Yet you disappear when I need your help,” said Danny. “We were supposed to build this sanctuary together. But then you backed out. And for what? Some cushy job on floor twenty-something?”

“I wanted more than this Danny --”

“We all want more than this!” said Danny. “But this is what we got, eh? Work with what ya got - that’s Zayder’s way. And we had each other.”

Danny circled Esara.

“You always put yourself first,” said Danny. “You don’t care who gets hurt. As long as it’s not you.”

Danny took a puff of his inhaler, blowing out a steady flume.

“But you can’t escape the parts you’re made from, eh?” said Danny. “No matter how high you climb, you’ll always slide back down. Because this is home.”

Danny placed a hand on Esara’s shoulder.

“Your family will always take you back --”

Esara twisted Danny’s wrist.

“Ow, ow,” said Danny. “Okay, okay! You haven’t changed a bit!”

Esara shoved him away.

“I have a new family now,” said Esara. “And I put them in danger. There’s a man after me. A man in a red hat, and a red suit --”

Danny burst into a fit of laughter.

“Zayder’s balls, you got Cleaver Craig after you,” laughed Danny. “That’s rich. I’m surprised you survived. Ol’ Craig is pretty thorough, eh?”

“Please, I need to know how to call off the hit --”

“You can’t call off the hit,” said Danny. “And before you ask, I can’t either!”

“But you know someone who can.”

“Zayder’s balls, I’m not the the Haven kingpin everyone thinks I am --”

“Then tell me who is,” said Esara. “Who do you work for Danny?”

The entire sanctuary fell silent.

“I know they’re strong,” said Esara. “Maybe they can help.”

“Maybe,” said Danny. “But you don’t want their help. Trust me, you’re better off here. My sanctuary can keep you safe.”

“Your sanctuary doesn’t seem very safe to me,” said Esara.

A moon mask corpse unraveled from a blanket, rolling across the floor. Danny groaned and shook his head.

“Okay okay,” said Danny. “But there’s no coming back from this.”

A dark grin spread beneath Danny’s baseball cap.

“You’re gonna wish you kept that hit on your head, eh?”