1609

A figure sits over the edge of a building a few blocks away from The House of Luck. They stand behind a purple glowing energy drink advert saying, “Try the New CHERRY Spice!”.

The figure has one boot on a floating hoverboard and the other on the building roof. A pure white Fox mask distinguishes their darkened form against the rain. The eyes glow green with 2 red lines drifting from the bottom eyelid to the tip of its nose. The blue refractive rain patters against the tattered cloak covering their tech wear. The clothing looks similar to the type of gear that LIBRTI Recon operatives would wear during the Fracture War. Those suits were designed to be used by operatives with minimal cybernetics. Although they didn’t wear fox masks..

The figure pulls their hood over, causing the mask's white glow to dance against the hood’s interior. The figure stands looming over the building balcony. Just observing the parking lot below, waiting.

 A Grey American Short-hair cat stands guard of the door, it peers towards the figure as if looking through them and before the figure can even see if it’s actually looking at them, the creature walks out of view, passing the buildings corner.

Only a few seconds pass when a man with white hair dressed in a trench coat comes out of the doorway. He passes to his car. The figure knows that that man's name is Blink but he’s not the target. He waits for something else to happen. About 10 more minutes pass when two men stroll out of the doorway. Dust, Codsworth. He keeps watch, zooming in on their faces. He watches as they enter into their own car, driving off into the night. The figure steps onto a floating board and begins to fly off in chase, keeping out of view.

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Dust stands over a balcony of a skybridge, The purple umbra from the towering sky-elevators beam down like glow worms. The man watches the skyline, holding his flask rather gingerly over the oncoming traffic dodging under the arch of the bridge. About half a mile below, lies the Patron prefecture. Dust and Cods have found themselves in the Advocate prefecture of District 2. The one where the tourists go. It’s comparatively cleaner. Though the specific location they’ve spent an hour waiting at is just about the mid-point between the two. He takes a deep breath before taking a swig. Cods leans against a pillar, still shaking in place. 

"You know, if you can't get those shakes in order, people are gonna think yer' Rampant..." 

The salt and peppered haired man pulls his trenchcoat over the nape of neck, rather haphazardly. Like he's trying to hide himself from the whole city.  

"Just...Just thinking about the kid is all."

"Blink? or the girl?" Dust says, taking another swig.

"You know I'm talking about Blink. The boy...or I should say man. He's all grown up now. When do you figure he'll be here?"

Dust sighs. "Not too long now. Figure he's already got her location down." 

Cods chuckles joining Dust in watching the traffic. "Lots of confidence in him huh?" he pulls a cigarette out of his inner coat pocket and leans it towards the other cyborg. Dust casually snaps his fingers lighting it with a flame from his right thumb.

"Why shouldn't I? He's earned his keep times over now. Like he said earlier, he was trained by the best of us... It'd behoove you to fairly estimate the kid's skills and take him seriously..." Cods takes a pause. He breathes in the cigarette before puffing it out over the balcony, the shakes finally beginning to wane. "Didn’t say I didn’t...Think he'll ever come back?" 

"Hmm?" 

"To LIBRTI...You think he'll ever come back to the org?"

"Mmmaybe... if the world freezes over sure... but even then chances are slim. He's much too bent on that whole ‘Revenge Plot to Bring Gideon's Murder to Justice!' thing....Not even sure what he'll do if he ever does find em..."" Dust scoffs.

"and you?"

"What ABOUT me?" The cyborg says with a sneer before sighing, drinking another swig from his flask. "Starting to run out...when’s that kid gonna be here..."

"Dust you know what I mean. Like with coming back...you know we could really use the skills of both of you...I Ge-"

"Cods. Save it.” Dust says rather irritated. “Look if I did want to go back...I'd already be back right? Not t’mention I can't leave the kid alone...even IF he could handle himself..." 

Dust looks over at his side to see a few men beginning to roll out of an unmarked van just across the bridge. Another car parked just behind. Dust snorts. "I don't suppose you hired an entourage." 

Cods does a double take. "Oh god no...how...how did she..." Cods shakes soon return as he watches in horror. One of the men open the door as a snooty, slender woman steps out. The light from a streetlamp shimmers over her black hair creating a neon purple umbra. The hair is distracting just enough you'd almost miss her outfit. A shining gold laced pencil skirt and a matching petty coat. Lipstick sharing hue with the lace, creating an even more striking contrast to her hair. She stares from afar like a fox who just found its next prey, holding a permanent smirk as she makes her way from the car.

"Cods! You didn't say we were expecting the company of royalty! Ms. Lami! It is QUITE a pleasure!"

The woman quickly glimpses at Dust, then Cods. She shines that signature pursed smile. The Noble Guardsmen, 8 in total, begin to surround the duo. 

"I have been looking all over the city for you Mr. Codsworth. You know, if I didn't know any better I'd assume you were avoiding me.' She steps now fully within the circle of guardsmen, her arms carrying a clear umbrella with purple light trailing down the seams from the center.

"Ah Ms Lami Noble! You may have not heard me just now. It is a pleasure!" Dust says strutting over, gingerly covering him between her and Cods. He begins to open his arm towards her when a buzz cut guardsmen immediately cuts him off. The burly man carries a distinguished gold lace that covers his collar. Dust unfettered looks up at him with a smirk; the tension is immediately palpable before the woman makes a coughing voice. "Mr Royce." The guardsmen, presumably named Royce, immediately respond without looking away from Dust. 

"Yes, My Lady." 

"Did I request for you to cut this man off?"

"Uh n-no my lady, but he was too clos-"

"You are to look at me when you respond, Mr Royce." The brutish man turns around to face her. "What do I pay you for, Mr Royce?"

The man, now sheepish looking, "To keep you out of danger."

"Am I in danger then? Mr Royce?"
"I-"
"It's a simple question, Mr Royce."
"No it doesn't... It doesn't seem so...My lady."
"Good. Glad to see we're in an agreement. Now stay in your place."

The man is red in the face but he isn't frowning. He turns back to the rest of the formation. Dust's hand still out.

Cods more bewildered than anyone out of this situation, unsure how to react at all, he simply stares, taking a breath from the cigarette as if a last ditch effort to catch his nerves. Lami carefully grabs the end of Dust's metal fingers as if his digits would explode at any moment. "You must be Dust." She says with that same pursed lipped smile.

"I see my reputation precedes me." He responds with a chuckle between his beard.

"Mmm-more so your stench. Though, I must confess I am more than aware of your...achievements as a KeyRunner. I am also aware you have one of my employees here. Believe me, it took quite an effort to make this meeting happen, so I will be taking him back now for further questioning."

Dust looks at her with an unreadable grin. It could be that he's lost for words at this interaction, maybe he's surprised he got this far. He takes the last swig out of his flask and sighs. It's as if he's thinking of a joke that he only just now got. "I am afraid that I cannot do that ma'am." The cracks begin to show in her lips. "And why would that be Mr Dust?"  Dust sighs again, his arms on his hips turning to look at cods with a raised eyebrow, he turns back around.

"Well if you must know the truth.. I've already kidnapped this man here, see?” 

It was fortunate for the two that not much time was needed for Dust’s plan to pull through. The span of time that Dust made Cods the center of attention, The cowboy had thrown his hat straight in the air and shot the brim. This hat wasn't any ordinary hat and this wasn't the first time Dust had found himself surrounded on all sides. After its cavity was shot, The old duster's hat released a burst of pure light, flash-banging the entire area. Everyone, Lami and Cods included, were blinded and by the time anyone knew what was going on, the two were already off the side of the bridge careening into a river of hover cars and neon. 

Dust, using magnets installed into his palms, grabs hold of a passing hover truck. The acceleration hits the two like the truck they landed on. Cods yelps in pain as his leg bashes against the metal cargo. A tight cracking sensation reverberates between the two and Dust immediately dials his holo.

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