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Seth and Keiko sat patiently through a tense, late lunch, constantly watching and waiting for Sybela or anyone else to indicate what was going on out in the capital. Keiko was about to request that Seth contact the rabbit when an alert reached them both.

The boys are going to be real damn surprised when they update theirs. Welcome to the team I guess, sunburst ;). Anyway, I haven't seen anything all day. Seth, if we're going to move I think we need to move now, make sure we're in position before things get hot.

"Well that settles it," Seth declared. He activated his lens and leaned closer to his terminal. "Argos, Talon, we're green. Sybela is sending you what she estimates are the best positions to observe and engage any anti-Sekhama activity. I'll be on-site soon. Seth out." Keiko could see his face was already an impassive mask, likely focusing on the things he'd need to do to ensure he was the animal who killed and lived that night. The human stood and casually threw off the baggier shirt and pants he'd been wearing so he could equip his armor. Keiko whined appreciatively, garnering his attention.

"If that was intentional, keep doing it, Seth. The sculptors don't really seem to have captured the glory of the human posterior in the flesh."

He fixed her with an inscrutable look. "I have already received a death sentence for holding your hand so I suppose going further is technically an option. Are you feeling pent up, lady Keiko?"

The wild dog held a hand dramatically over her heart as Seth strapped his greaves on and did up his boots before moving onto the armor of his torso. "That's not a question you ask a lady of quality, Seth."

"Forgive me, my lady," he replied, strapping a belt diagonally across his chest and tightening it against his armor. She saw it contained a couple of magicite heat sinks, a grenade, and other tools of his trade. "I was unaware ladies of quality lusted for the bodies of mercenaries."

"We lust for the bodies of the Sekhama, Seth," Keiko said unabashedly as he checked and holstered his pistol before moving on to his knife and sword. His movements were methodical, practiced, as though he'd been through this routine hundreds of times. "My handmaidens never cease their adoration of Idris and the others. Some have given themselves to Sekhama in the harem; no strings attached, just to indulge. Others have fallen in love," she said adoringly. "Hosting a single man in their chambers or in the harem again and again and again. I like those stories the most. They're always more intimate, more detailed..." Seth had finished arming himself during Keiko's reminiscence. He stood before her, armed and armored to the teeth save his mask.

"You're nothing like I imagined you, Keiko," he said, almost hungrily. His eyes were alive and danced against his stoic face. "You are so very wild, full of vigor."

"And you're nothing like I imagined you, Seth," she whispered, not moving an inch as he stepped towards her and then again. He was close, very close, close enough that she couldn't even bring her arms up between them. "Please help my people, help them destroy the cancer that's killing my city. And then come back." She watched as the corner of his lips hooked into the faintest of smiles.

"Yeah, I can do that," he replied softly but confidently, resting a hand on her shoulder. She cocked her head at him. "I'm already on death row, right?"

Keiko's heart leapt into her throat and strangled her reply. Who was this compelling man before her? He certainly wasn't the human who had folded over in Sybela's presence, who had spoken so disparagingly of himself as unworthy of his ancestry. No, the human standing before her was something else entirely, a confident killer. My sword? For a moment Keiko was willing to believe that she might be able to have one of those stories her handmaidens wove for her with such reverence. "I daresay you are, mercenary."

"Then it can't get any worse, can it?" He asked coyly, bringing his head lower and closer. She could feel his heat on her nose, could sense the light wind of his breathing.

"No..." Keiko whispered, wondering if he was really about to do what she thought he was going to do, what she desperately wanted to do.

"Then it's time to claim my reason," Seth purred, reaching up and cupping her cheek as he pressed his lips against hers. They were chapped and rugged, but the muscle underneath was soft and gentle. Keiko barely had time to gasp and respond with her own before he moved away, leaving her heart pounding and her muzzle tingling. "I think I like that look as well, Keiko."

"Seth," Keiko whispered, grabbing his armored hand. Their eyes searched one another. "Come back...the job isn't done yet."

The mercenary slowly lifted his mask to his face, fixing it in place and activating the program in their lenses. His terminal was already tuned to the correct, encrypted channels. She was going to witness their operation from the inside. He left her and opened the door, casting one final glance behind him as he departed. It was something he'd never done before on an op. Seeing Keiko standing gracefully, draped in cloth and gold within his shrine was more than worth it.

"I will."

"Hey hey, look what the Captain dragged in!" A veteran Sekhama called, pointing to Spot as the young wild dog entered the palace armory.

"Time to earn that badge, Spot!" Another called supportively, banging on his locker as the rest soon joined in, raising a cacophony of noise typical of a group of young men whose job it was to kill in the name of the crown. Spot replied to the attention with a brief wave, hustling to his locker to throw on his helmet and equip his sidearm. He'd already dressed himself in the rest of his urban combat gear, the ballistic and magicite resistant plating easily doubling his profile. The young Sekhama moved on to the rows of primary weapons and shields of various makes and sizes. He selected a non-elemental shotgun with a bayonet mount, receiving a handful of approving looks.

"Going big, Spot? Your shoulder's gonna be aching tomorrow!" Spot remained calm under his helmet, accepting of whatever his fellows decided to throw his way. It was all in fun, and if he survived he'd be on the other end the next time a greenhorn got his first sortie. He nodded to acknowledge them all before heading to the armory door.

"Woah buddy, you psyched yourself out?" An imposing water buffalo asked, reaching out to grab him by the shoulder. "Transports are that way, kid."

"There's something I need to do in the infirmary," Spot replied. "I won't miss the transport."

"See to it you don't, Spot, or Octavia's going to have your hide." With that he was allowed to leave, his brothers in arms watching as he went. The locker room banter continued unabated.

"Hey, isn't that whore in the infirmary, the one Oz is patching up? She's the only one, right?"

"What do you think? Spot's got a taste for the underbelly? Kinky shit, man. Heard she's got no tail."

"Didn't think he had it in him, kid might not be a total fish after all."

"He passed his sims, focus on yourself."

"Fuck you man, you know the sims ain't shit."

"Yeah, but if he's got some street pussy waiting for him..."

"She's full tubes you dipshit, not that that would stop you."

"Just cause I killed more Trang'aul than you did-"

"That only counts as one and you know it!"

"Bullshit!"

"Dude they shot each other, give it a rest."

"All of you best get your heads in the game. The Trang'aul were easy mode."

"Bro, the Oro ain't got shit on us."

"That assumes we get in there alive."

"Why the fuck are you such a downer?"

"Cause cynical assholes like me tend to make it back alive."

"Hey Eina," Spot called softly, lifting his visor as he approached her bed. He could see more of her now. The breathing tube had been removed, as well as the coverings over her face and chest. Most of the tubes remained however, as well as the azure IV. The beeping of her heart monitor was the only other sound in the infirmary. "I just wanted you to know that Jace and Keiko are doing well. The handmaidens can barely keep themselves under control trying to baby them. Keiko acts like she's used to it but Jace is constantly gaping at something... it's cute," Spot trailed off, finding it hard to keep looking at her unmoving form.

"I'm going tonight, on my first op. I'm going to kill the bastards that did this to you," he promised, reaching tentatively over the railing of the gurney and softly taking a couple of her fingers in his hand. He couldn't feel much through his gloves, they were limp. "I'm going to come back too so...wait for me, please?" Spot blinked rapidly and clenched his jaw, trying to keep himself under control as he laid her hand gently back on the bed. "Goodbye, Eina. Feel better, alright?" The young Sekhama turned away and headed back to the entrance, his boots falling heavily on the floor. He didn't notice as her head shifted slightly, blurry eyes opening just enough to make out a spotted tail as the doors to the infirmary slid shut.

"I thought I might find you here," Octavia called, the armored lion resting against the wall as Spot entered the hallway. He saluted his superior.

"I was just heading to the transports now, sir. I'm sorry, sir."

"No need, but it's time. Let's move," Octavia ordered, walking them both to the armory and grabbing himself a heavy shield before leading the way to the elevator that would take them deep underground, far away from the prying eyes of the networks of Alhamkara. They exited into a well maintained cavern full of mostly transport vehicles, though a few also sported various mounted weapons. Spot and Idris boarded the second of two wheeled transports that would be ferrying the Sekhama through the earthen underground tunnels to one of the military's airbases in the area.

When Spot was seated Idris rapped heavily on the door separating them from the transport pilots, signaling the all clear to move out. "I hope you boys all remembered to take a piss. It's more than an hour to the airfield and we aren't making any stops. Take your helmets off, get some rest. Tonight's going to be a big one."

"Let's see, so if I do this..." Keiko muttered to herself, playing around with both the program on her lens and Seth's terminal. He'd secured it well before leaving and she hadn't been able to poke around in anything private, but she had full access to much of the public, above ground network. The lights indicating the status of Seth's team remained three yellow and one green. Sybela was already in place wherever her 'den' was, while the men were moving into position around the Oro's main base of operations.

She eventually decided on network programming to pass the time, not wanting to distract anyone as they worked. It was easier than sitting alone in the silence and wondering if what she was doing was the right thing, if she really belonged there in that shrine instead of back home in the palace, wishing Idris and his men farewell and the blessings of humanity. She navigated first to the palace's public news program, where a well dressed tigress and rhinoceros were reporting on the aftermath of the Sekhama's raid on the Trang'aul. She watched the scrolling headlines at the bottom of the screen, unsurprised to see her own name there. Lady Keiko's whereabouts remain unknown despite law enforcement's best efforts. Any citizen with information regarding her disappearance is urged to contact the police or the palace authorities via-

Keiko switched the channel, wondering what Idris would do with his information regarding her once his raid was concluded, assuming it even happened. She stopped on a regional local news network, one from outside the capital. A monsoon festival was being held in a town deep in the desert, a refuge for jerboas, springhares, hyraxes, and other smaller rodent species that tended to find the towering buildings and sprawling neighborhoods of the capital to be too large and stifling. Against a backdrop of dwellings carved into an enormous face of rock, lined with wires and lights, the populace celebrated the return of the rains. It brought a smile to Keiko's face, knowing that elsewhere things were still alright, at least on the surface.

A few more channels of pointless programming or advertisement landed Keiko on a cooking show, where an animated bat-eared fox was instructing viewers on how to create a stir fry of synth meat, vegetables, and noodles. Keiko sat back in Seth's chair and allowed herself to get absorbed in the program. It wasn't so much that she cared for synth meat, but the fox was entertaining to watch as she flitted around her kitchen, chopping and seasoning and sauteing with practiced ease.

Keiko learned many things in the palace, history and politics, humanity and the uplift of her planet, language and the arts, literature and science, horticulture and the entertainment of foreign dignitaries. She even learned more than a few things her parents wouldn't have approved of from Idris, the Matriarch, and her handmaidens. Cooking, however, was never something she'd had the time or need to pick up. Watching the host deftly wield her knife and wok was intriguing, and Keiko had every reason to believe the 'old ways', cooking without the aid of automated equipment, were responsible for both the food she'd grown up on in the palace and the simple pleasure that was the ramen she'd enjoyed with Seth the other day. Before she knew it an hour had passed and the walls of the shrine had changed to reflect the subtle orange hues of early evening. Talon's indicator switched to green.

"All set here. Thanks, buns! Think you can optimize a couple systems for them while you're at it? I'd like to keep my stellar reputation; these server floors always make perfect nests. Nice and cool, good sight lines, low foot traffic. I suppose sometimes I need to take out a wall but no big deal, right? Woah hey, what's the deal with this? Who's the new guy? Sunburst? What kind of pansy ass code is that? Damnit Seth, I thought you were done with this secret shit," Talon's excitable voice came over the line.

"Would you shut up, bird brain," Sybela countered. "He and Argos are still moving. You talk too much, by the way."

"Wait, you're telling me you're not curious as to why the team of four is suddenly five?"

"No, because I already know. Now do you wanna shut up and let me help you maintain your cover story, Mr. network technician?"

"What?!" Talon squawked.

"Yes or no, chicken legs?!" Keiko couldn't help a fit of giggles as Talon groaned in frustration.

"Alright fine. This is fucking bullshit by the way. I'm in the Murukama industries building, server floor between fifty two and fifty three."

"Yeah I've got your trace, give me physical access, would you? I'm sure I can clean up a few drives or something," Sybela muttered, her voice changing to one of a rabbit deep in concentration as opposed to bantering.

"I should hope so. You're the one who knocked them out and got me 'hired' today."

"And if you would pipe down for two seconds I'd be done with this...there we go. Tell them on the way out you optimized their internal traffic hub. They should see an increase in network efficiency somewhere in the low single digits. Honestly you should learn this yourself, Talon, it's really not that hard," Sybela admonished. To Keiko's surprise the cassowary laughed.

"And when you learn to nail a target at five hundred meters you can do this yourself."

"Your gun is bigger than my body, Talon."

"And I had to reinforce my skeleton with titanium alloy so the recoil wouldn't shatter my shoulder. Also I'll have you know that my so called chicken legs have gutted men a lot tougher than you."

Keiko chose that moment to activate her own line, ensuring her voice was garbled. "You two should get a room when this is over."

"Yeah...no," Sybela declined flatly. "Didn't know you were already on, sunburst. How's things?"

"Now that you and Talon are putting on your little show, a bit more lively. How can there be so many channels and almost nothing to watch?"

"Problem as old as life itself," Sybela chuckled. "Wait for it..."

"Yo newbie, what's with the voice? Who the hell are you anyway?"

"There it is," Sybela chimed happily. Keiko imagined herself talking with some of the rank and file Sekhama.

"An idealistic individual with deep pockets, I believe your friend described me as. I'm here to observe your performance and ensure my money is well spent." The only sound from the line was the occasional burst of static. Sybela seemed content to let Talon stew in the hole he'd dug for himself.

"Can't say I've ever seen an employer piggyback on an op like this before," the sniper eventually replied, his voice more level and professional now.

"Please don't censor yourself on my account," Keiko replied. "The circles I frequent tend to be full of individuals who are cautious with their every word. Your earnest...banter, let's call it, is refreshing. You can say most whatever you'd like if you prove as competent as Seth ensured me you are."

"You're my kind of woman, sunburst," Sybela declared. "I think you'll be satisfied with his...gun."

Talon spluttered as the two females shared a chuckle. "Wait you're...he...that wasn't some cover or a joke? You're actually some rich chick with a fetish for dead mnyama?"

"Never change, Talon. But keep it in your pants. I think Seth's already got it in for her," Sybela encouraged deviously.

"Yo man, this is seriously bullshit," the sniper sighed.

"Oh come on, Talon, let him have one. You know all he ever gets is the virtual crap."

"Easy for you to say, buns, you already had your go," Talon replied dejectedly. "Besides, there ain't that many cute fluffy chicks who dig...well...birds."

"Suddenly I feel like I shouldn't be here," Keiko admitted, feeling a twinge of sympathy for the two male mercenaries who both found themselves limited in their amorous exploits by the peculiarities of their species.

"If you are who I think you are, you're in the right place. I enjoy an employer who takes an active role in an operation," came Argos' deep, smooth voice. "I'm in position guys. I've got a nice rooftop a couple blocks away. They have a garden up here with the solar arrays. It's peaceful. And Talon, I keep telling you man just go for it. You've been to The Oasis and all the rest. Everyone's into something."

"Easy for you to say," Talon replied. "You're like some fluff magnet."

"What can I say?" Argos asked with a hint of levity. "I don't have the badge anymore but I've still got a Sekhama body. That training routine gets beaten into you." They all paused as Keiko let out an involuntary gasp.

"You're ex-Sekhama?" She asked. Knowing that alone meant she probably knew exactly who Argos was. If not her then Idris surely would know. The mercenary hummed.

"I am. Me and the former captain didn't see eye to eye on certain things. That Octavia is much more my type, fights fire with fire. But what's done is done. I'm surprised at your reaction, if you don't mind my saying. Any chance the Sekhama's finally caved and begun hiring mercs?"

Keiko's reply was stalled as Seth's light turned green and his voice joined in. "She's here to review us for the moment, Argos. Perhaps in the future the two of you can discuss Sekhama matters. Talon, Sybela, Argos, all green?"

Affirmative replies came from all lines, drawing a contented sigh from Seth. "Very well. Now all there is to do is wait and hope the esteemed Idris Octavia will grace us with his presence this evening. Sybela, any word on air traffic?"

"I'm trying, Seth, but you know as well as I do that even if they go aerial I might not know about it. A ton of that activity is still analog, clever bastards."

"The old ways are sometimes the best ways," Argos echoed sagely. "Though I enjoy a magicite detonator just as much as the next guy."

"Yes Argos, we all know about your love for explosions. Shame you're such a damn softie otherwise," Sybela teased.

"My vows are more important to me than having a taste of jackrabbit, Sybela. Besides, I'd be putting Alex out of work." Seth and Talon got in a good chuckle at Sybela's expense as the rabbit grumbled about noble cats. Keiko had remained silent throughout, happy to sit back and understand the dynamics of the team of guns for hire she'd been dropped into. That was until Seth called her out.

"So, Sunburst, care to keep us entertained while we wait?" The human asked expectantly, still channeling some of the bravado of the man that had kissed her earlier.

"If you want entertainment you can look up some nude holos on the network, Seth. No one will even know behind that mask of yours," she replied, causing Talon to whistle appreciatively. "But I suppose you and Argos don't have the luxury of climate control at the moment. Any requests, gentlemen? And for the moment I use that term loosely."

"Well Seth, I can't say I've been particularly bored since joining up with you. Never cease to surprise," Argos said thoughtfully. "Now, much as I'm sure Talon and Sybela would enjoy the idea of nude holos, I find myself more interested in who or what you are, mysterious benefactor."

"Someone who detests the mnyama," Keiko replied. "Anything more you may get a chance to learn in person, depending on what transpires tonight. I'm sure Talon will enjoy this immensely, but I'd prefer to get to know you instead. I know Seth and Sybela, to an extent, but I'd like to understand the other half of the team I've...joined."

"Joined? Seth, is this just words or am I missing something?" Argos asked curiously. "What a pleasing woman, 'entertaining' a man by asking him to talk about himself. I daresay I might even feel young again." Keiko found herself smiling genuinely, drawn in by Argos' demeanor and tone.

"Argos, let's just say that were it not for Sunburst, her influence, and certain risks that she chose to take we would not be where we are at this moment, nor would the Sekhama be plotting against the Oro," Seth clarified.

"Damn, seriously?" Talon chirped. He sounded impressed.

"He's telling the truth, I was there when it went down," Sybela added. "Seth, I assume that secondary spike is in place?"

"It is, but you won't exactly be hidden when you access their networks, not with that kind of brute force. Try to wait until Octavia is banging on the door."

"I know how to do my job, Seth," Sybela said testily. Keiko could practically envision the confident grin on the rabbit's face as she continued. "Anyway, I think Sunburst makes a fair request. She knows about Seth and me already. Your turn boys."

"Nothing to know about me. I shoot and I kill," Talon replied. "And then get shot down by women at the bar."

"Talon, that sort of self-deprecation is more unattractive than any sort of weird human-avian hybrid junk you might have going on downstairs," Seth cut in, his tone indicating to Keiko that Talon's pattern of behavior was well established.

"Whatever man, that's all I gotta say. My dick ain't any of your business. Long as I kill who she tells me to kill what does it matter?" Talon's perspective had Keiko frowning sadly, finding the excitable sniper much more attractive when he was conversing with other men. He was right though, and she didn't press it. Argos took the silence as his green light.

"You already know both of my most defining attributes I believe, Sunburst. I'm ex-Sekhama, a demolitions specialist. And as I mentioned to our unlucky in love sniper, I'm happily married with family."

"That sounds...far too normal for a mercenary if you don't mind my saying," Keiko ventured.

"I would agree were it not for the fact that those two aspects of my life came together in the worst possible way," Argos said sadly. Keiko tried to think back, back to when she was young.

"The Yakami ward hostage situation..." she eventually whispered. Seth and Sybela both made unbelieving whistling noises. Argos growled.

"You are very well informed...or you have a quick mind, Sunburst. Yes, they found my family and took them. The captain of the Sekhama at the time refused to act so I went myself."

"A lot of people died," Keiko said quietly, remembering the reports of death tolls from collapsed buildings and shrapnel.

"And if I had had the support of my brothers and my captain it would have been us who died, not those innocents! I did the best I could with what I had, which was a lot of explosives and a handful of bullets. I will go to hell for what I did. I'll never know the gentle light of humanity when I pass on. But my children have a chance to die old now, and my wife still lives," he finished, his tone never wavering. A couple dozen civilians and about a hundred mnyama had died at his hands and somehow he'd saved his family in the midst of all the rubble. In no world were his actions justified from the perspective of the crown or its enforcers, but Keiko understood just how little such things might mean to a father.

"I will never condone the murder of innocents, Argos, but the demons of hell will be most impressed by your abilities," Keiko eventually responded. He laughed back with a certain finality in his voice.

"She must have known I'd come in my own way...shielded the little ones with her body when the roof caved in. It saved them from the shrapnel and magicka but she...wouldn't you know it, talking with some disembodied voice about your paralyzed wife is a hell of a lot easier than doing so in person. Back when she could walk she had a garden like this one," he concluded, sounding a bit choked up.

"And you're afraid of what girls will think of your penis?!" Keiko suddenly shrieked, catching the entire squad off guard. Seth and Sybela began laughing hysterically while Argos hummed in thought.

"She may have you there, Talon. But take it easy on him, Sunburst. I'm blessed with family, such as it is. All suffering is relative."

"You don't have to justify anything," Sybela cut in affectionately. "Argos, you've said more than enough, it's fine."

"I know, ears, and it's not like I'm going to tell our newest friend where they are or what names they use or anything like that," Argos affirmed.

"Hey, if I can't find them, she won't be able to," Sybela declared confidently.

"Thanks again for that."

"Anytime, you big fuzzball."

It was at that moment when everything clicked inside Keiko's head. The name, the deed, the man. "To think you actually run around using your real name as your callsign. Well I suppose I can't say I would expect anything less of Argos Entana, the most infamous name in the history of the Sekhama. Were it not for the crown's price on your head and the weight of your sins I might bow to you instead," the princess said seductively, wondering how she sounded on the other end of the voice modulation. It wasn't her intention to show romantic interest, but she couldn't think of a better way to show her admiration. Entana was something of a forbidden hero among the Sekhama, and she suspected the sheer size of his mnyama body count, to say nothing of his successful rescue of his family, was the reason Idris Octavia had devoted only token resources to tracking him down once he'd fled underground and the prior commander of the anti-terrorist force had resigned in shame. The loss of innocent life that day had been terrible, but Argos' argument held water with the benefit of hindsight. The tiger faunum seemed to have gathered himself back together, returning Keiko's praise with a low chuckle.

"I'll settle for a cold beer once we're done tonight. Seth, where'd you find someone so open minded and familiar with the Sekhama who didn't want to round us all up for prosecution?"

"Even I have my secrets, Argos, though nothing compared to yours. Let's stay focused, the sun's already set," Seth advised. Keiko looked around her, only now noticing that the walls of the shrine had dimmed and begun to glow a dull reddish-orange. The conversation had indeed passed the time.

"Let's just hope Octavia actually shows," Talon quipped. "This floor isn't exactly the most comfortable thing in the world."

"I wouldn't worry too much about him," Argos replied. "If I know Octavia at all, and I'd like to think I still do, he'll be here tonight and we'll have front row seats to a slaughter."

"Alright, I take back what I said about you being a giant fuzzball," Sybela said with a shudder. "Could you maybe tone down the bloodlust just a bit?"

"If there's anything in this world I love more than my wife and children, Sybela, it's killing mnyama. Seth, you sure we can't join in the fun?"

"Would you like to meet your maker at the end of Octavia's sidearm? If so, be my guest," the human replied with little concern. "Don't be alarmed, Sunburst, he enjoys getting paid and drinking too."

"Then ensure the Sekhama arrive safely tonight," Keiko ordered. "I can promise you a hell of a lot more than a beer."