Chapter 1

Shin Asado had a serious problem: money, specifically the lack of it. He’d had a series of low-paying followed by clients who simply up and vanished. When it came time to collect their payment on those large jobs, the clients were gone, and his organization, The Novapol Group, was left in the lurch.

The bills had piled up, but his staff still needed to be paid. The only jobs available during the current work drought that paid well enough to bring the company back into the black were all dirtier than he'd like.

Thus, Shin found himself under the cloudy gray sky, in the middle of nowhere, at the gates of what looked like a biomechanical antebellum plantation, seeking an audience with one Joloff Wod. Leader of the mysterious syndicate of newcomers called The Gourmand’s.

One of a quartet of armed guards in what appeared to be hazmat suits showed them inside the perimeter and directed them straight up the road to the front of the main building.

“Park, do not leave the main road.” Was all the guard grunted out after checking their invitation and pointing the way. His voice was phlegmatic and quite unpleasant.

“I’ll try to control my urge to roam,” Shin tried to assure the guard, but he had already turned away to face outside the gates. Shouldering some unfamiliar energy weapon. He spoke something unintelligible into a radio, likely to herald their approach.

Shin glanced at his associate in the passenger seat. The pint-sized, pink-skinned woman with green hair and fuzzy antenna shrugged. “I guess not all minions are chatty?”

“I’m reasonably sure these are henchmen, not minions.”

“What’s the difference?” Her antenna twitched.

“About 2.50 an hour.”

“I hate you, Shin.”

“Hogwash, I am beloved by all.”

Shin pulled up to the front, driving at a casual 30kph, carefully trying to glance at the crops growing in the fields to either side of the main drive without being too conspicuous. The bushes appeared like grape bushes with black leaves and clusters of blood-red berries.

Those tending to them wore full-body black unitards and voluminous hoods that concealed their faces.

After that brief look, they pulled up to the front door, parking as directed.

“So,” Shin said, turning the engine of his hideous compact rental car off. “Think you can remember where we parked, Miss Virtue?”

Miss Virtue - Fluffy to her friends - rolled her eyes at Shin using her legal name. “My head is full of sparkles and cupcakes, but I’ll try.”

“Excellent. Now, to review, our clients are called The Gourmands,” Shin said, unlocking his door.

“They’re an unknown species that probably ended up here by mistake just like all the others,” Fluffy continued without urging, “They’re not officially recognized as a political entity but are not considered outlaws since they stay outside the borders of The King’s lands.”

Shin nodded along in approval. “And we don’t ask them about what?”

Fluffy opened her car door and hopped out, dusting off her backside dramatically, making her large, round, stumpy, fuzzy green tail wobble slightly. “The rumors that they traffic dead bodies, drugs, and don’t separate their recycling.”

“Right, it isn’t any of our business unless it happens in front of us.”

“Why are we doing business with these people?”

“You know why.”

“There are other ways to make money, Shin.” She fussed over his outfit, straightening everything.

He’d come with his sharpest business attire: a freshly pressed shirt and slacks, his finest breather mask, and his only shoulder cloak.

In contrast Fluffy wore a pair of heavy duty green boots over baggy legged pants with the left half a darker green than her hair and the otherside black. She wore a simple black sleeveless top that culminated in a collar with a moth pin that could almost be mistaken for a skull. She topped that off with extra sturdy boots, and black arm wraps from her wrist to mid bicep.

“Not as quickly as we need it.” He said, flicking an imaginary piece of Lint off of Fluffy’s shoulder.

“Just ring the doorbell, dork.”

After adjusting his collar, Shin rang the doorbell and was almost immediately blessed by the dark red double doors swinging inward. The scowling face of what could only be the household butler or some sort of equivalent revealed itself.

He wore an approximation of a human suit, with coattails up front, a large mantle overhanging the shoulders, and a nested pair of shirt collars. His skin was dark blue-green, and his head was topped with an unusual segmented metal skullcap that reminded Shin of an isopod.

A second pair of arms emerged from behind his back, where they had been folded out of sight. These slender, three-fingered cybernetic limbs crossed over his chest as he took them in with evident distaste.

“I do not believe we were expecting you, " he sniffed. His oily, unpleasant voice had a non-human accent but was not unpleasant compared to the guard.

“On the contrary,” Shin withdrew the folded job offer from his jacket's breast pocket, flourished towards the suspiciously human-looking functionary, and poured on the charm. “My name is Shin Asado, and this is my associate, Honesty Virtue. We just might be the answer to all of your prayers.”

Fluffy stifled a snort.

Taking the invitation with his left hand, the butler snapped the invitation open with a flick of his wrists. He took in the contents of the invitation for only a moment. “This job offer appears to have been directed to Lucy Blackeye of the Cat’s Cradle.”

“They weren’t able to accept the job,” Shin said apologetically, “So I offered to take it up for them in the spirit of camaraderie.”

Fluffy glanced up at Shin; her eyebrows knitted together at this new piece of information.

“We summoned a team of seasoned veteran ‘hounds.’ We know the Cat’s Cradle’s reputation but do not know or even know of you. I’m afraid I will have to ask you to leave.”

“I understand that my colleague can be a little off-putting, but I assure you we’re consummate professionals,” Shin said, raising a hand placatingly. “I’ve been in the troubleshooting business for fifteen years, and I know how to keep my mouth shut about irregular jobs.”

The butler was unimpressed by Shin’s words and held out the job offer as if it would ward off his unwanted guests like they were vampires. “As long as this job offer is addressed to a specific party, we will only entertain hiring that party.”

That was unusual wording, but Shin could work with it. “Miss Virtue, would you address this issue so we can move on?”

“Yup, yup,” Fluffy said, leaned forward, and tapped the offer. It disappeared in a flash of purple flames in a split second.

“As you can see, now there is no name on the job offer at all,” Shin steepled his hands, “And there is, in fact, no offer at all. Which puts us in the flexible position of moving to a verbal agreement.”

The butler examined his empty hand briefly; his scowl deepened as he tried to decide between pedantry and expediency. A faint chittering emanated from within his suit. “Very well then,” he stepped back and gestured them in. “If you will follow me, I will announce you to the master, but I can promise you nothing.”

“Of course,” Shin gestured. “Lead on, Jeeves.”

“My name,” The butler sneered, “Is Vromi.”

“No offense intended,” Shin assured Vromi as he and Fluffy passed, “Jeeves is often shorthand for any house staff you haven’t been properly introduced to.”

Vromi closed the door behind them, ignoring the attempt at reconciliation. He gestured expansively around the dark, warm interior of the manor. “Please wait here, and do not wander off or the guards will kill you on sight,” he informed them politely.

He departed, leaving the uninvited guests to their own devices.

It wasn’t too different from what Shin would expect from wealthy Humans or Dokkleshee, a large open entryway, with a pair of stairways arching upwards and a single large pair of doors nestled between.

The decor was what was different. There were no sharp angles, and walls, floors, and ceilings met at rounded intersections like scalloped plaster, lending everything a more round, organic feel. Here and there, almost organic-looking pipes snaked from the floor to the ceiling in strange geometric patterns.

The decor was much along the same lines in terms of structure. Anything rectangular was rounded. A dark blue-gray color scheme with a light yellow-gray accent dominated the palette, with occasional red accents.

“I think I saw this place in a dream once,” Shin opined.

Fluffy made a face, “Are you sure it wasn’t a nightmare?”

“I’m pretty sure that painting would qualify as a nightmare on its own.” He gestured to a triangular black frame filled with a sickly yellow.

Fluffy leaned forward and squinted. Her antenna swayed as if there was a breeze. “Actually, I think that’s a sign. I can make out what looks like words on it, but it’s not anything I can make out.”

Shin took out a utility light from his belt and shined a blue light on the painting, revealing some extremely unpleasant squiggles mixed with triangles hidden from the human visible spectrum.

“I’ll be damned, so it is.”

Vromi made his reappearance through the central doorway before either could comment any further,

“Through the main door,” Vromi pointed between the archway to the rounded powered door flanked by waist-high vases filled with what looked like blood-red pygmy sunflowers. “Straight to the end, and Jolof Wod will see you.”

“Trusting us not to steal the silver; that’s very open-minded of you.” Shin said.

“If you went anywhere we didn’t want, we’d kill you.”

“Glad to see you have a sense of humor about the rumors.”

The look Fluffy gave Shin was one of concern.

The door irised open for them, leading to a long, dimly lit hall lined with many smaller doors and art frames filled with strange gray-purple cloudy abstractions done in what looked like oils. Shin and Fluffy didn’t linger to appreciate them.

When the door at the end of the hall opened, it took them deeper into the world of the Gourmand Syndicate, like the hall was a demarcation point between a polite fiction of humanity and a strange alien world.

The meeting room was less like anything a human would build for the purpose and more like a small elliptical auditorium. One end was elevated like a stage three feet above the floor. There was no furniture, only an expansive open room. The walls were like a labyrinthian nightmare of ductwork, wiring, and strange electronics.

A mist that clung to the floor swirled iridescently in the play of dim overhead light, like it was oily. It lent the already oppressive atmosphere an undercurrent of alienness.

Shin maintained his cool as the pipes lining the room rumbled and hissed like an angry reptile. This was the real face of the Gourmands; everything else was just for show. Every instinct in his body told him to flee or attack the figure that loomed before him. This would call for a completely different approach than the doorman had.

His host reclined in a giant floating sedan chair. It was a massive, deep purple maggot-like creature clad in a double-breasted business suit. He had folded two of his six hands together and gobbled something guttural sounding at him. A pair of hunched-over attendants at his sides manicured his other hands. He had a statuesque woman at his right hand. A pair of guards flanked what he presumed was a door behind them.

Shin knew he was Joloff Wod, the leader of a small group of creatures marooned on this particularly cursed dirtball. He and his kindred were some sort of insects - or at least arthropods- who were reputed to be obligate carnivores, possibly cannibals if you defined eating anything else sentient as cannibalism.

Wod had a reputation for being shrewd, collecting creatures that sane people would never keep as pets, and eating business associates who displeased him.

“You must be the Shin Asado we’ve heard so much about when researching local talent. How… Unexpected.” The woman at his side, clearly a translator, provided. She had a slightly husky voice.

She was a nearly human-looking blond woman in a low cut maroon ensemble. She wore a strange skirt that was tailored in two distinct segments. The lower half was disconnected from the upper and hanging unsupported or connected by impossibly sheer fabric.

“You may call me Lagneia, I will translate for the master as he has difficulty speaking your language.”

Whatever Wod’s attendants were, they had four arms. The lower pair seemed small to the point of uselessness. They wore what seemed like a form-fitting jumpsuit, including a respirator face mask. There were no holes for eyes, nose, or mouth, so Shin couldn’t tell how they knew what they were doing.

Shin flicked his eyes back to his ‘host’ before his attention lingered too long on the help.

“That would be me,” Shin affirmed, curtseying politely. It was probably more respect than was strictly necessary to give the petty crime boss. But anyone in the Freelance Troubleshooter’s line of work knew to err on the side of caution with mobsters. He resisted the urge to run his hands through his ear-length black hair nervously. It would appear like he was showing weakness before a literal predator.

“And this is my associate, Honesty Virtue, our team's magical specialist.”

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“Hi hi,” Fluffy said, raising a hand in greeting. “I love your outfit, Lagneia.”

Lagneia nodded to Fluffy in appreciation.

Wod’s mandibles snapped and chittered in amusement.

“The fearless Leader of the Novapol Group. He killed his first man at age 8. Licensed Freelance Troubleshooter at the age of 16. He stabbed his uncle in the back to inherit the family fortune at age 18.” Translated Lagneia, folding her arms and examining him critically.

Shin fought off the scowl at the mention of his background. Vromi had said they didn’t know who he was only minutes ago. Was he lying? His breather mask would hide the expression, but who knew if it could read body language or human eyes?

“Anyone who told you there was a family fortune is greatly exaggerating. The only real family treasure was Grandpa's knife, Payday,” he gently corrected. “That and the family name. Also, to be fair, the other Uncle is just fine.”

“Hah!” The larval crime lord threw back his head as far as the confines of his seat allowed and barked a gravelly laugh. He followed with more chittering and snapping.

“The great Joloff Wod commends you on your jape; he says your quick wit is a useful asset,” Lagneia offered. She tapped her breather mask thoughtfully and appeared to be weighing the meaning behind her employer's words.

“Thank you, Sir, the kind regard of a well-manicured gentleman of such high repute warms my heart.” Shin said, keeping any mockery out of his tone, “Now, how can the Novapol Group assist the great Jollof Wod?”

“The Gourmands sent a message to the Cat’s Cradle offering a job. Joloff didn’t expect random Hounds to come calling without invitation,” Lagneia explained, deflecting the question.

“As I told your doorman, the Cat’s Cradle was unavailable for a job at this time,” Shin replied with practiced casual ease and a shrug of the shoulders. “So they passed the job along to me.”

Fluffy gave Shin a glance he saw out of the corner of his eye, again, at the mention of the Cat’s Cradle.

The Gourmand’s Syndicate was probably only slightly more trustworthy than a rabid dog. But they could probably be managed if they felt just the right balance of intimidation and respect for someone. So, he’d brought along a tiny woman who could probably burn the entire mansion to the ground if they needed to abort.

“Joloff says that is unfortunate, but we will make do. Are you and your team at least substantiated?” The creature's eyes roamed over Shin and Fluffy, and Joloff inhaled as if tasting Shin’s words for the scent of a lie.

Substantiation was the process by which Humans and their allies could push themselves past ordinary physical limitations and into superhuman territory. The process was both taxing, and expensive. But Shin wouldn’t work with anyone who hadn’t been substantiated,

“Every team member is substantiated, running from one to three stars.” Shin withdrew a small orange business card and flicked it to Lagneia, who nimbly caught it and passed it to Wod, who eyed their statistics.

Satisfied, Jollof Wod leaned forward, causing his horns to glint in the light. He barked a long string of consonant-heavy language. It sounded like a small animal being strangled within an inch of its life.

 “The Gourmands require a team to investigate an abandoned shadow complex in The Kings Lands. Our kind is unfortunately not welcome there.”

Of course, your kind isn’t welcome, Shin thought. You’re a pack of disgusting body traffickers and drug smugglers. A festering boil on the ass crack of society. At least if the rumors were to be believed.

But what he said was, “Extractions are one of my team's specialties. Why don’t you tell me exactly where it is and what you’re looking for?”

Jollof Wod clattered his claws on the armrest of his chair. His attendants cringed back in fear, as if afraid he was going to strike them. He spoke to Lagneia.

“As I’m sure you know, our organization has a vested interest in studying and exploiting what Humans like to call… Phantom Husks.” Lagneia said and gestured with her hand to indicate how silly she thought the notion was.

Shin’s temples throbbed a single time. Phantom Husks–The very root of mankind's nightmares, the lingering effects of a near apocalypse– being used as a commodity? Like some sort of twisted form of livestock? A ridiculous idea since they were a pestilence that made even Wod and his kind look like jumped-up grasshoppers in comparison. “I may have heard rumors to that effect,” Shin allowed.

“A black corporation called Wormwood was working on fascinating new applications for these misunderstood creatures. At least before they became the unfortunate victims of government seizure and shutdown. Normal, short-sighted human thinking.”

“That’s us,” Shin agreed.

“This satellite facility was left to fend for itself and went dark shortly afterward.” Lagneia translated, shrugging her shoulders and spreading her arms. A second pair of insect-like arms also spread behind her back, mirroring the human pair. It made Shin twitch at the juxtaposition of the attractive woman and the chitinous limbs.

“I guess we’re just sensitive about the fact they’re mindless insane screaming horrors made of our dead. Or that they seem hell-bent on consuming the entire human race and anything else that gets in their way.” Shin opined, letting a hint of resentment for Jollof Wod’s phrasing enter his voice. “We can be funny like that.”

“Quite,” Lagneia agreed, pausing for Joloff to deliver a stream of dialog. She dutifully repeated it for their guest. “Most sites that perform such experiments are unfortunately shut down with extreme prejudice. However, this site was missed as it sits in a cul de sac of the Wyrd Lands that isn’t on any normal map. We were able to acquire the location from a former scientist who was employed there. He was purchased from prison for his expertise on the Husks. I’m told the facility had an independent power supply and maintenance machines. This should have kept the facility running.”

“And you want us to ransack the facility for every bit of data and research material we can find. And then, I can only presume, bring it back to you.” Shin guessed, dwelling briefly on the idea of a modern-day slave trade inside the King’s borders. It was almost unthinkable, but he could unpack the idea that they’d infiltrated society enough to embed a slave trade after he had their money.

“You would be correct,”

Joloff swatted away his attendants. Their constant ministrations of his hands had clearly begun to annoy him.

The attendants scurried away, more like vermin than people. They retreated to the back of the raised platform and disappeared through the door, which opened with a wet whooshing sound that made Shin uncomfortable.

“Joloff Wod wants those facilities' secrets, and he wants them as soon as possible.”

“I’ll need a few details first: the location and approximate size of this, and the cul-de-sac the facility is in.”

“It’s located on the eastern edge of The Central King’s Lands. A hundred miles northeast of the Lyon’s Border in the foothills. The cul-de-sac has a mouth only a mile across, but the valley is almost three across. Here are the particulars.” Lagneia withdrew a tablet device from behind her back, gestured for him to catch it, and flung it to Shin.

Shin caught the pad quickly. There was something uncomfortably marionette-like about the way Lagneia moved.

Shin tensed reflexively after inspecting the tablet screen and its displayed coordinates. It was definitely in the middle of nowhere. which meant that it’d be easy enough to keep the operation secret and secure from anyone trying to steal their job. But it also meant that there could be trouble if they were close enough to the borders of The Fluxlands. The chances they’d be sniffed out by roaming Husks were extremely high.

He briefly glanced through the tentative maps and lists of possible codes provided. Shin shook his head. It had impressive security guarding the front door and embedded weapons. It also had meter-thick reinforced concrete walls to make getting around them difficult.

“That’s going to be extremely dangerous,” he warned. I’m going to need to bring my full team.”

Wod snapped, spittle flying from his maw. His string of words were vehement and seemed filled with vitriol.

Fluffy flinched slightly, reaching towards Shin, but ultimately mastering herself.

“Why else would we hire outside agents for this? If it were an easy task, I wouldn't have hired someone. If it were located outside the pastoral borders of the King’s Lands, we’d have our agents perform the task,” Lagneia said, paraphrasing whatever colorful language Wod had used.

Shin held his hands up, palms out in a placating gesture. “I’m just saying. This isn’t going to be a cheap job. Especially if the security systems are hardened against intrusion.”

“The facility was top-of-the-line once. But that was nearly forty years ago,” Lagneia responded dismissively. I expect professionals of your caliber should be able to handle such an antiquated setup.”

Shin managed not to snort at his team being called professionals. Despite their immense talent, their peers seldom treated them respectfully, mainly because they chose to work for him. But hearing it from Jolof Wod made it sound like an insult.

Fluffy grinned, revealing her shark-like teeth, drawing a curious glance from Lagneia.

He nodded. “My hacker can handle that, and we have enough security to handle the Husks,” He assured Wod. “The only question left is our-”

“The pay is 1.2 million nBits. That will cover both the job and any… Death benefits you humans like to payout to the families of your dead workers.” Lagneia offered with a closed fist she opened dramatically, as if offering up physical tangible goods.

Shin’s mouth snapped shut so quickly that his teeth almost clacked together. Everything on his body that could pucker did so. His luminous gold eyes narrowed as he made eye contact with the horrible creature. while he did a few quick mental calculations.

That’d be enough to pay off all the company's outstanding high-interest debts, overhaul the company transport, and top off savings. It was generous—thirty percent more than a job of this level should pay out.

It was too good to be true, and this maggot son of a bitch was hoping the smell of money would make him too blind to notice.

Shin narrowed his eyes and frowned, “What aren’t you telling me?” He asked, the tiniest bit of a growl sneaking into his voice, and Fluffy tensed by his side,

Jollof steepled the fingers of his four hands and examined him. He spoke in a different tone than before, a wheezing rasp.

“Joloff Wod sees that his earlier estimation of your cleverness was not an error.” Lagneia raised her eyebrow as she appraised him. It was like she saw Shin as an active participant in the conversation for the first time. Now that he'd deviated from their script he could very well be treading dangerous ground.

“Thank you,” Shin spat back, his composure slipping a little, “Now let's have it.”

“There are unconfirmed reports of a C-class Phantom Husk. Roaming in and out of the facility area,” Lagneia said, after glancing at her employer.

“2.2 million nbits, no negotiation, or no deal.” Shin snapped back. If Wod were going to take advantage of them, he would pay through the nose for it.

Several D ranks or scores of F would be simple enough for his team. But C ranks were much more challenging.

It seemed Wod had been hoping they’d manage to muddle their way through and plead ignorance after the fact. Or perhaps he had been simply hoping they’d soften the target enough for him to swoop in and clean up afterward—probably with another team he had on retainer for much less money.

Hell, he could even be planning to see them all dead afterward, regardless of the outcome.

Jollof’s eyes seemed to glow like coals in the dim light of the yellow-red bulbs. Some part of his body beneath the suit he wore seemed to writhe for a moment as he tried and failed to conceal his fury. A pungent stench seemed to waft from him.

Fluffy didn’t raise her hands but took a pose that would facilitate her jumping in to intervene if necessary.

“Take it or leave it, Wod.” He said, an edge to his voice, his hand straying to the pommel of the enormous dagger to the left of his belt buckle. “If you think you’re going to fuck us, I’m more than happy to cut my way out of this hellhole of yours if you try and stop me.”

Jollof's writhing increased, and Shin felt something like teeth sink into his mind. It was as if Wod had somehow bitten him in the brain stem with the power of pure hatred, but he didn’t flinch. Wod would have to do a hell of a lot worse than that.

Even if Wod had mental powers, Shin had been hunting Husks since he was a teenager. Just being around a husk put out worse psychic pollution than this.

Lagneia seemed to cringe as this happened. She struggled, flailing her arms momentarily. Then she abruptly straightened and adopted a more angry expression. “I think,” Lagneia countered gruffly as one of the guards stepped forward. “You could use a little lesson in respect,” Wod suggested through his translator.

The guards had been so perfectly still Shin had almost forgotten they were there.

Shin glanced between the three warily. Wod had just taken over Lagneia’s body to speak directly to him. That was troubling.

The guard stepped forward and brandished a shock baton that had been detached from its belt. The device shed blue sparks as it sprang to life. The lenses of the skull-like mask glittered in the light, revealing dark orbs beneath. The guard hopped off the platform to stand before Shin, landing on its feet.

“Teach him a lesson about how to be a polite guest when in someone else's home,” Wod purred through Lagneia.

“Do you want me to do it?” Fluffy asked, holding up a hand that burst into Scarlet flame with a loud, sizzling snap.

“God dammit Fluffy, no,” Shin growled, “We can’t take the job if you cremate them all.”

“Okay, but I feel like they’re picking on you for being human.”

“Fluffy, I’m a big boy; I can handle this.”

“Okay, okay, but if I see blood, they’re toast.”

“If you think you can do so,” He taunted, then flicked his right wrist, depositing a glittering silver balisong into his palm. He spun the handle around, flicked the knife open, and brandished it underhand. Then he drew payday with his left hand. "I’d be more than happy to disabuse you of that notion.”

The guard lunged, bringing the baton around in an arc from the right to strike Shin’s head. Most predator species assumed humans were lower on the food chain due to being omnivores. This one hadn't learned its lesson yet.

Shin ducked, lashing out with his balisong. He sliced open the guard's suit and the flesh beneath with a puff of vile-smelling air and a spatter of ichor.

The shocked guard tried to reverse his strike, taking Shin in the head or neck, but he was too slow again.

Shin parried the blow with his main dagger. He strained against the impact for an instant before throwing the blow aside.

Shin stepped inside of the guard's reach and buried the Balisong in the guard's right shoulder. The meaty thunk was satisfying. He twisted the knife and pulled it free as he disengaged all in one swift, practiced set of movements.

The guard gurgled and chittered in an alien language. It took several steps back, and clutched its right shoulder. It transferred the baton to its other hand.

“Is it worth dying, chump?” Shin taunted, flourishing his dagger in a manner he hoped was intimidating.

It lunged forward with a burst of speed and swatted the dagger aside with its injured arm.

Shin’s counterstroke took its hand off at the wrist, but he was too surprised by the suicidal charge and took the baton upside his head like a hammer blow.

It felt like the time when Shin was ten, and his grandpa had told him it was okay to pee on the fence outside the cattle yard. That it wouldn’t hurt anyone, and nobody would see him.

It had hurt, it had hurt a lot. He had felt the pain from his balls to the roots of his hair. It had been harmless but had taught him two valuable lessons at the time. Never implicitly trust anyone, and never pee outside unless absolutely necessary.

This, on the other hand, was far worse. It wasn’t just 5,000 volts, closer to 20,000 if it was anything. The jolt didn’t last a microsecond like the fence, but for the entire half-second it was in contact with Shin’s head.

Shin was knocked over sideways, crumpling as his body convulsed uncontrollably. He dropped his balisong when his right palm slammed into the floor, but he managed to hold on to his dagger with a death grip.

After a moment, his vision cleared, and his head stopped swimming. His breather mask had been knocked loose and hung around his neck. For the first time, he could smell the room—a horrible bitter almond and spoiled meat smell.

“I trust you’ve learned your lesson?” Lagneia asked with Wod’s voice.

The Guard took several steps back, favoring its wounded arm. It’s stump dripped ichor, but not in the copious amounts a human would have bled.

“Yeah,” Shin responded, seething internally. “I think I did.”

“And what,” The body of the co-opted woman asked, “Did you learn?”

Shin stood up, as if to sheathe his dagger. When the guard lowered its posture Shin subvocalized the trigger word to activate his trump: “Bum rush.”

“Shin!” Fluffy warned, “Don’t give it away too early, again!”

“Fine,” Shin griped, knowing she was right because he’d told her to keep him from showing off. He sometimes had a bad habit of swatting a housefly with a handgun.

He lunged forward, taking a blow to his right forearm, insulated from the electric shock by his sleeve, then head butted the guard hard enough to elicit a loud crunch. Then as the guard staggered back, he darted around and behind the guard, slamming Payday into the creature's spine with a sickening crack. Insects with a spine was a very novel experience for Shin.

Shin stabbed it half a dozen more times in quick succession for good measure,

The guard gurgled piteously as he died. Green fluid splattered from its back in arterial spurts. Then, it slumped to its knees and fell over with a squelching thump.

“I learned that Insects gloat too much.” Shin snarled as he wheeled on the author of his discontent.

He brandished his dagger parallel to the floor. He whipped a clean white silk handkerchief from his pocket, cleaned the blade with one swift motion, and threw the soiled cloth onto the guard’s leaking corpse with casual disdain.

Fluffy clapped very softly. “Good job, big guy.” She stage-whispered, but Shin ignored her.

Wod didn’t speak, too stunned by the unexpected turnaround. Lagneia wavered slightly, stumbling for a moment as Wod exited her mind.

There was a chance the second guard would be sent down, but Shin was confident Wod wouldn’t do so.

“2.5 million.” Shin insisted.

“2.5 million,” Lagneia responded shakily after Wod had to bark the same set of words at her twice.

The giant insect seemed cowed enough that he had lost control of his translator. His assistant was visibly profoundly shaken by what Wod had done to her. He felt a tiny bit of pity for her.

“1.25 in advance, the rest on delivery. Cash.” Shin continued.

Wod was quiet for almost an entire minute; the air in the room turned greasy and turbulent. 

“We will have your down payment delivered to your car in half an hour,” Lagneia said weakly. Wod’s sedan chair swiftly spun in place to face the back of the room. He hesitated briefly, then departed through the rear door.

Lagneia glanced at Shin and nodded curtly. She followed her master and the other sycophants, the door snapping shut loudly.

“It's a Pleasure doing business with you.” Shin dead-panned to the empty room as he stooped to retrieve his gear.

“Very cool, Shin.”

“Shut up, Fluffy.”