Duke is first to arrive, overlooking the sea, it's currents and violent winds bathing his skin in itself.
"Yo" Darwin calls walking up the small hill,
"What the hell is going on?" Comes Duke swift reply,
"It seems he was right, they've launched an attack against him haven't they" Darwin replies criptically,
"Cut the bullshit, i've figured it out" Duke bullshits straight out his arse, "he's going to play these to his advantage, recruit more bodies, i wonder though, how will those willful Shifters feel when they find out they've been played by their so called 'New boss' and this out come, them joining MERCHANTS was the real play all along" he concludes, "i know that sly bastard's the one who gave the idea" he follows,
"Ding Ding Ding, you win the grand prize" Darwin mocks while puffing on a cigarette, the West sea's wind blowing the smoke back against his face, "Telling them won't change anything, he's already accounted for this, why else would he leave such an unnecessary clue?" He follows,
"The text" Duke replies, "you're beginning to sound like one of his loyal henchmen, what happened to building your own empire?" He mocks, derision clear within his eyes, Darwin chuckles smoke waffling out his mouth,
"Not even, i simply admire what a mortal man has achieved with nothing but his witts, it's commendable, plus... With the position of the current socio economic and political land scape as well as my insufficient strength, creating my own empire is still a dream for the future" Darwin replies, (moreover, why build when i can just take it?, And what better time than from the ruins of the war to come?) He muses,
"You're being quite logical, but do you really believe your double agent arrangement with him has reduced the suspicion placed on you?" Duke inquires,
"No" Darwin replies simply, his head tilting back as he exhales his smoked breath, his eyes shut as he feels the sea's sweeping winds,
"Then what was the point?" Duke snares,
"The action in itself, sometimes it's best to pretend, even when both parties are aware" he replies, "i hear DEALERS are now a sub organisation of THE SYNDICATE, so ultimately this is the path you chose" he states with an accompanying pause, the silence permeating into the rythmic crash of waves against shore, "i did tell you holding on to your autonomy with the situation of things was impossible",
"We did hold on to it" Duke replies,
"As far as your a sub org, you simply no longer have it, no matter how much you deceive yourself, in the end i was rights survival trumps pride, dead men have no pride, hold no honour and have no will" Darwin replies, Duke snorts, his lips twisting,
"What stupid book did you get that bullshit quote from?" Duke questions,
"Life" comes the reply, "we'll proceed as usual, we should limit our communication" Darwin follows turning to walk away, a few meters latter he pauses, "how is he?",
"Doing well" Duke replies, his gaze fixed at the edge over the horizon,
"I see" Darwin replies,
"He says thanks" Duke follows prompting Darwin to stop again,
"For what?" Comes his inquiry,
"Keeping him sane, it's fuzzy, the memories, but he does remember" Duke replies,
"The things i do, i do to further my agenda" the former replies,
"I'm well aware" Duke replies still gazing over the horizon as Darwin steps away.
Darwin's thought's wonder as his chauffeur drives him to the next designated destination, several minutes later they're before a large building with the words MERCENARY HALL inscribed bold in the wall. He exits the guards taking salute as his badge serves as adequate identification, he stops at the reception table manned by a large heavily muscled brown haired woman.
"You him?" The woman questions in a rough disregarding voice, Darwin lifts his chin slightly in response, the woman's lips squeeze seeing this, she grunts pushing a button beneath the table, shortly after a small lean muscled teen runs up towards the two bowing in deep greeting to them both.
"Good day aunty" he addressed the lady who shoots him an endearing look, "good day sir, I'll be leading you to him" he states having turned to Darwin. Seeing Darwin's response or lack there of he coughs awkwardly moving to lead him,
"Please come with me" he follows. Darwin follows behind the teen, watching a fingerprint security system enact the gate that gives way to a massive passage leading underground.
(An underground training sector) he mules observing the different segregated sections, each hall branching off into it's own sector, (he's most likely training hundreds of Shifters in here, probably growing them himself, if he really has multiple locations similar to this...how long has he been planning this?, Kaiser potentially has enough manpower to have the MERCENARY HALL become the fourth major faction, i doubt anyone else is aware of this, it seem our deal is quite important to him as well) Darwin ponders furiously as he follows closely behind the escort.
"We're here" the young man states, "the boss is waiting behind this door" he follows putting his thumb against the scanners,
'Authorized' comes a humanized female AI voice. The titanium reinforced door cracks open with a mechanical bop sliding aside to reveal a massive room and in it a towering mountain of a man,
"Darwin Trip!" Kaiser's voice booms, his expression uncharacteristically serious, "i'm sure you're aware we have much to discuss" he states.
"I'm aware" Darwin replies recalling the circumstances that'd warranted this meeting.
SHORTY AFTER THE WAR
Darwin groans, surveying his body through the mirror, he frowns recalling the battle,
(Still not strong enough, far from) he frowns, (it seems i'll have to set my pride aside and get sone guidance, but from who?...) He mules momentarily,the answer coming but a second after, MERCENARY HALLS KAISER!, (I don't have the kind of money it takes to pay him, no, in order to learn what i desire, i'll need to offer him something he cares for more) Darwin ponders, "something i wouldn't possibly know" he smiles, "if i don't know, then i simply have to find out" he declares giving a call to set a meeting.
"I know we fought for the same goal but i doubt we're close enough for you to invite me for coffee" Raven states, (plus i'd much rather be ob my way to get this deciphered) he mules,
"I need the computer geniuses help, any your my only connection to him" Darwin states, "now i obviously won't ask you this for free" he smiles,
"What do you have for me?" Raven questions with mild interest,
A favour" Darwin replies,
"You must believe i value your word" Raven mocks,
"You shouldn't, but the owed favour of your only ally behind enemy lines is worth something" Darwin replies, "i also have this" he follows,
"Which is?" Raven questions,
"Proof" comes the reply,
"Of what?" Raven questions with creased eyebrows,
"The answer to the question that i know you're wrestling, yes, the attacks are 'His' doing" Darwin replies cryptically, pulling a disposable recorder he maneuvers the interface to play an audio, Raven zero's in on the words, and sure enough the son of a bitch had suggest it as a passing comment, knowing him,
{It was well planned} Silver follows,
"He's long abandoned any form of moral inhibitor, Dexter reasons only in chess and pieces Raven Voss, either you play his game and win, frankly put it will be nightmarishly difficult to accomplish or you aquire the strength to crush every obstacle by share force of will" Darwin states,
"What exactly do you want?", Although he put the words to mind Raven inquires ignoring the former's soliloquy.
"Investigate someone for me" Darwin states pulling out a piece of paper, "the man goes by the name KAISER, everything the computer genius can possibly find" Darwin states,
"Alright, it shouldn't take long" Raven replies,
"Good, call this number if you find anything, i must be on my way" Darwin replies, Raven watching the former rise and take his exit,
"Kaiser huh" he mumbles.
Evening falls and Darwin gets his call,
"What's the update?"
"Kaiser King" Raven begins, "former close subordinate of Gray Wade, one of his executives infact, if my guess is correct it seems his major reason for working with MERCHANTS goes beyond the money, Gray Wade's death, and his murderer..." Raven trails,
"Dexter knows" Darwin follows,
"Exactly" Raven replies,
(This is far bigger than i expected, it seems i have a double edged sword withing my grasp) Darwin mules,
"Thank you for your assistance",
"What are allies for, the enemy of my enemy if i recall".