Dez is lucky and catches a coach headed to the northern town of Helen. He spends some time thinking, planning for the trip south to Greenwich for the dinner date. Iggy was really helping him past his barriers. His last lover tried, the furthest from home she got him was the bar in their home town. Dez was always worried about his work, and someone coming after his friends. So in turn he tried to stay low. Iggy had been attacked once a bit after they met, she was quite the fighter. This Dez believes is how she put him more at ease. She was good with gun and sword, and later he found out her childhood was pretty rough. Dez scoffs to himself and chuckles, in his mind two and two went together. Explaining some of her kinks, as he came to call them. His musing is interrupted by the elderly man he is sharing this coach with "You look awful thoughtful over there boy. What's your name?" Dez hesitates, caught between defence and curious. The man didn't ask for any split. After an Aqward moment he clears his throat "Dez, sir.. I can still offer a split on the ride." The elder man laughs gently "No need son, my time is near and where I'm going money isn't needed." Dez nods, his nose twitching at the smell. He is just noticing as his other half screams a little. This man is dying, hints of decay. His eyes trace the man, a bandaged arm, cuts. Dez speaks on instinct" Is there retribution needed sir? " The old man's eyes light up, a wide smile" Yes boy, but it has already been gifted." a slow pause, the old man's eyes trace him and he leans forward, a light cough" Ye ever hear of the firestorm? " Dez hesitates, but nods" They saved me from a dark place." The man nods" Thought so, good people." Dez nods. The ride passes quietly, except a few grunts and coughs from the elder man. Dez watches out the darkened windows. It was surprising but there are still machines from the past running about, a lot more than one would think after that nasty bit that wiped out most of civilization.

The coach rolls to a stop in Helen, Dez notices a group in trench coats uncomfortably close to the stop. He looks them over, tell tale signs of weapons concealed. The elder man stands, Dez grabs his shoulder gently "Please sit, can I borrow your jacket?" the man looks at him, Dez nods outside. The elder man pales "More of them coyotes.. Ugh.. Here.. An be quick, I ain't got much time." Dez nods slipping the man's jacket on "Do your thing, I'll tail 'em off." Dez gives the old man his jacket, then slides the other on. A word to the coachman and he steps out, it's a bit brisk. He tucks his head low and heads off, as he figured the shady group follows. The click of a baton, whistling. Dez ducks and punches the man in the throat. The sound of crushing wind pipe confirming kill, the man collapses suffocating. Sounds from the other four drawing weapons, Dez steps to the side as a gun is fired. The figure behind him catches the round in the chest, probably hitting the heart by the gurgling sound from the wound. The smell of fear excites Dez, two left. A foot step behind him, a switch blade pierces his coat. Dez feels the sting of the cold steel grazing his rib cage. He spins on the man's momentum, grabbing him as a shield. Eyes tracking the other, he is running. Dez gingerly snaps the neck of the man in his arms and bolts off. No survivors, but needing information and some one for the beat to hold he follows the gunner into an alley. He grabs the man slamming him into a wall, clanking steel, the gun clattering away. The man looks up at Dez, he is just a little above five foot. He trembles, not fighting back "Look man, we had the wrong coach.. Don't kill me.. I have some money for your trouble.." Dez smells piss, warm and salty tingling the air. A sadistic grin "I'm not going to kill you, but I want to know why your men tried to hit me." fir effect Dez slams the man into the wall "And don't lie." The man knowing he is screwed on top of killing a friend whimpers, tears rolling from his eyes. His words shake "There's an elder man carrying important files stolen from my boss Hector.. I th.." Something makes a sizzling sound, the man convulsed in Dez's hands. Brain matter runs from his ears. Dez drops him "Shit.. Genome.." He switches jackets and vanishes into the shadows. Dez's mind races, if that guy had a video tracker he is fucked. Running steps into the alley, two beats. Dez sighs in relief, he heads for the old bar, the Iron goat on the other side of town.

Martin greets him with a water, a rare commodity, but one Dez get plenty of. He slows down a bit, he sips. One of the maidens here sees him bleeding and panics, Dez had forgotten. Martin waves him in the back to the merc table, he is soon having his coat and shirt pulled off. The wound was mostly healed by now, the Doc who all know only as Holiday cleans him up and gives him some fresh clothes. Martin takes the papers from his work and vanishes into the pit room. He had never met the guy in there, he never wanted to. He usually gets his pay and leaves. Martin is gone for too long, Dez starts listening. A door from the put creaks and out steps a very wide muscular man of almost seven feet tall, a nice suit and a Fedora. Martin right behind him, Dez don't like this and stands. His grip on the chair firm, the big man's eyes glance at his hand. A smile like a wave breaking over rocks, the man puts his hand up "Easy friend, you make a lot of people uneasy. And a lot of friends." a offered hand shake after four steps crossing the room "Luther, I'm your mysterious boss Dez." Dez relaxes and shakes Luther's hand "And what do I owe the occasion?" Luther nods to Martin who heads off to his duties. Luther kicks out a chair with his boot and sits, waving a scared plate sized hand to the chair Dez is gripping "It seems we have something in common, an enemy so to say. As well as an ally." Dez sits and looks at Luther "What are you playing at?" Luther chuckles moving his collar, showing a genome bar code "I was there, I wondered why I recognized you. Then Kane pieced it together." Dez feels his heart skip "Commando cross unit?" Luther nods, Dez sighs "Good to know someone else is living as normal as possible from that joint. Kane? Isn't he the.." Dez pauses, but Luther finishes "The leader of the Fire storms, yes." Luther leans in "That sickly man was a asset of theirs, their assignee was k.i.a, you did a honorable service friend, plus your services have been un wavering." Luther leans back lighting a cigar, watching Dez as this soaks in.Dez sighs "Glad to be of service, Luther." Luther nods at the Un questioning humble attitude, he reaches into a suit pocket and disperses two envilopes in front of Dez "I don't like Genome in my teratory, there's a little bonus, plus some from the Firestorm. As well as your pay and notes on the next mark." Dez slides the envilopes in his duster and nods. He decides to voice his worry "Luther, did they have onboar monitors? The one I was questioning went brain stew." Luther draws a long puff and exhales smiling "I scrambled out going, the operator must have panicked. Four dead in less than a minute? You are good." Dez sighs relieved, Luther smiles "A few other operatives stewed out too, minding their own. Scared them good hoss." Dez nods, he chews, then finishes his water "Just a bit tight, I feel like I'm being hunted. The Zetti, oddly broken fence at my house.. It just adds one way." Luther nods and slides a direct contact card over "Look, if you get into trouble shoot me a line kapeish?" Dez nods, then gets up stowing the card. He offers a hand "I've got some R an R then ill get this nest mark." Luther stands and shakes Dez's hand "Alright, an good meeting you." Dez puts a hat on and steps to a phone booth, the only secure line he knows. He dials up an old friend who has a few cars from before the war, and civilization all hit the fan. Jo answers, Dez asks if he can get a truck to Greenwitch. Jo tells him he'll have one down in a few minutes. Dez sits and waits, the delivery boy brings him the keys. Dez gives the teenager a hundred dollar tip an five for the rental. Coming out, the truck is a treat. Jo liked old stuff from the world before. Sitting there in dusk orange was a sixties truck, converted to bio diesel. Bio was the last real fuel left, easy to make. Dez hops in and drives back home to Orsa.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Its dark when the man gets the call, he heads out. Some friends of his where terminated, and he was ordered to investigate. He had been keeping tabs on the mercs, beats, and clean ups here for awhile. Had even eliminated some disobedient, and lab escapees. His name, well he didn't have one, but ran under Phantom. He paces down towards where the fight had been. Black trench coat, bowler, pants, and boots blended him to the shadows. The only mark was the dim cherry of his cigar. His night vision scanned the area, a spent slug. Disappointing, then he spots a bloodied knife "Ahh.. I have you now stranger." Phantom scoops up the knife, taking it to his hide out. He would know who he owed for tonight by sun up.

Dez arrives home by dark, pulling the truck into his garage next to the bike he had and the car he was saving up for a motor in. Closing the door he walks in. Lights sit dim, jazz music playing. He spots Iggy reading a book, he smiles "Hey dove." Iggy glows with her happiness of seeing him, setting her book down she wisps over to hug him "Dinner is just finishing, then we can file your pay." Dez chuckles, pulling her into a deep passionate kiss, giving into his worry and feelings for her. Iggy reciprocate excitedly, nails dragging his back. Once they break free, Dez feels the familiar heat in his loins. Iggy giggles, poking his nose" Your blushing. " She skips off to set the food, that sheer dress and her playful curves making the heat worse. Dez comes to the table and sits, hanging his jacket over the back of the chair. Iggy soon waltzes in holding a flat pan in one hand and a couple plates in the other. She sets them, humming the swan dance. Then she dances off to return with juice from the garden, crystal cups, and silverware wrapped in napkins. She sets them, liking to make them feel rich on humble levels. Dez plates the calzones smiling "Looks amazing dove." Iggy shies a bit, humble of her own skills "Just a simple meal. Sausage, cheese, mushroom calzones. And some garden juice." she sits across the two person antique oak table from him. Dez leans pulling her to him in a strong hug "I l.. Love you Iggy. You have been such a blessing. Your my rock and light." Iggy is startled, having never seen or hear such emotion from him. She nestles her face into his neck "I love you too, you are my friend and sanity Dez." She sobs happily, Dez let's her go, smiling "Shall we eat?" Iggy nods "I'll give thanks to our father tonight." The couple clasp hands, Iggy prays and gives her thanks. They eat, not really talking, but basking in each other's presence. After the meal Dez sets out the envilopes. Taking the new papers, Iggy asks nothing knowing what they are. Then they count the thousand for the last mark. Then a pause at the second envilopes, a card. Shimmering flames and scrawled in hand writing on the back 'Thank you friend. Hope you consider our prior offer for your goals.' ~Kane Firestorm. Iggy smiles "He still remembers your ambition, what happened?" Dez muses and smiles "An elder man of theirs was attacked and his escort killed.. It was Genome." Iggy pales a little "That close?" Dez nods "I'll have to deal with that soon, I'm worried about your safety." Iggy rests a hand on his "I'll be fine love. They have no clue who you are, or me.. Not even your own know." Dez nods "I know, but what happened with Lillith." Iggy hushes him "That was her choice, don't OK?" Dez nods pulling the money out. He is surprised, and so is Iggy as they count out ten thousand. A note stating five bounties at a thousand each for the Genome, then a third for the escort. Iggy pats his shoulder "That's enough to get your motor and the fuel processor." Dez goes to argue, but Iggy hushes him with a kiss. They head to the bedroom. Putting the money in the wall vault, Dez slipping a thousand into her savings. She wants some add ons to the house. Once in bed, Iggy lulls him to sleep with a back rub.