fields – fields
capable of fending off projectiles. Anyone could have a Guardian Angel,
providing you could pay. At fifty thousand galactic credits a year and 20% of
their client’s annual income, they were not cheap. Both the Areopagite’s and
the Watchers had tapped into this lucrative market and it was something of a
status symbol to have one.
Looking around,
Logan could see several Guardian angels scattered throughout the bar. It was
hard to distinguish an Areopagite angel from a Watcher. The Watchers, in
general, chose to color their wings various shades. It was difficult to
determine whether any were in the bar due to the myriad of lights flashing,
strobing, oscillating and throbbing.
Logan took the
beers and handed them around. Felix and Crystal seemed oblivious to anything
else but each other. Tarquin was talking to two young women wearing revealing
vampire outfits. He sidled up to Tarquin, and polishing up his best grin,
inserted himself into the conversation.
◊
Simbiel,
Knights Captain Tynan, and the crew of the Divine Retribution had docked
with the Dirty Little Minx an hour earlier. After being searched for
weapons in a similar fashion that Logan and Tarquin had, Simbiel, Tynan and 10
Templar Knights consulted the Minx to ascertain the location of their quarry.
The ship had told them that Logan and Tarquin were attending the ball.
Working on the
assumption that Felix would be with his mates and not bothering to dress for
the occasion, the Areopagites arrived at the Meat and two vege club, found out
roughly where the men were situated, and decided to wait. Simbiel could see
them on the other side of the bar. The red haired male, apart from his height
and hair coloring, vaguely fitted the visual logged into his AI.
So far, the
Watchers hadn’t made an appearance but Simbiel believed that it was only a
matter of time. If the Areopagite’s had discovered the existence of the
Overdrive then it was a safe bet that the Watchers had as well. He’d seen
Watcher and Areopagite Guardian angels on board who bowed to him deferentially
and been pointedly ignored. He watched scowling and somewhat bemused as a group
of drunken Martians staggered past. Two of them had flaming candles
inexplicitly rammed up their arses.
Tynan, instructed
by Simbiel, approached two women dressed as Vampires. He explained that he
wanted to surprise two business associates, transferred some credits into their
accounts, and watched as the two women made their way towards Logan and
Tarquin, engaging them in conversation. Getting the two men away and
preoccupied would make their job of kidnapping Felix so much the easier.
◊
“So, you don’t
believe in religion then?”
“Nah. Its the
recourse of the weak minded." Felix raised his eyebrows at Crystal and
took a sip of his beer. “You?”
“I have slightly
religious leanings. Its the nature of my work."
“What exactly do
you do again?”
Crystal smiled
that sexy half smile she had. “I told you. I look after my clients business
interests."
“That still
doesn’t tell me anything. You’re being a little cagey aren’t you?."
Felix thought for
a moment. “You don’t work for the Areopagite’s do you?” He should have asked
her this before. His brain had been slightly scrabbled by his libido and
testosterone.
“No, of course
not. They’re a bunch of religious fascists.”
Felix wiped his
brown in mock relief. “Whew. Had me worried there for a sec.”
“Why should the
Areopagite’s worry you?”
“I’m allergic to
religious fascists," he said in what he hoped was a convincing way.
Crystal looked dubious but decided not to pursue the matter any further.
Felix was watching
his friend’s progress with the two vampires out of the corner of his eye.
Crystal, noticing his attention was diverted, glanced in the direction of Logan
and Tarquin.
“So, have you guys
been friends long?”
Felix nodded.
“Since school. We all went to
capable of fending off projectiles. Anyone could have a Guardian Angel,
providing you could pay. At fifty thousand galactic credits a year and 20% of
their client’s annual income, they were not cheap. Both the Areopagite’s and
the Watchers had tapped into this lucrative market and it was something of a
status symbol to have one.
Looking around,
Logan could see several Guardian angels scattered throughout the bar. It was
hard to distinguish an Areopagite angel from a Watcher. The Watchers, in
general, chose to color their wings various shades. It was difficult to
determine whether any were in the bar due to the myriad of lights flashing,
strobing, oscillating and throbbing.
Logan took the
beers and handed them around. Felix and Crystal seemed oblivious to anything
else but each other. Tarquin was talking to two young women wearing revealing
vampire outfits. He sidled up to Tarquin, and polishing up his best grin,
inserted himself into the conversation.
◊
Simbiel,
Knights Captain Tynan, and the crew of the Divine Retribution had docked
with the Dirty Little Minx an hour earlier. After being searched for
weapons in a similar fashion that Logan and Tarquin had, Simbiel, Tynan and 10
Templar Knights consulted the Minx to ascertain the location of their quarry.
The ship had told them that Logan and Tarquin were attending the ball.
Working on the
assumption that Felix would be with his mates and not bothering to dress for
the occasion, the Areopagites arrived at the Meat and two vege club, found out
roughly where the men were situated, and decided to wait. Simbiel could see
them on the other side of the bar. The red haired male, apart from his height
and hair coloring, vaguely fitted the visual logged into his AI.
So far, the
Watchers hadn’t made an appearance but Simbiel believed that it was only a
matter of time. If the Areopagite’s had discovered the existence of the
Overdrive then it was a safe bet that the Watchers had as well. He’d seen
Watcher and Areopagite Guardian angels on board who bowed to him deferentially
and been pointedly ignored. He watched scowling and somewhat bemused as a group
of drunken Martians staggered past. Two of them had flaming candles
inexplicitly rammed up their arses.
Tynan, instructed
by Simbiel, approached two women dressed as Vampires. He explained that he
wanted to surprise two business associates, transferred some credits into their
accounts, and watched as the two women made their way towards Logan and
Tarquin, engaging them in conversation. Getting the two men away and
preoccupied would make their job of kidnapping Felix so much the easier.
◊
“So, you don’t
believe in religion then?”
“Nah. Its the
recourse of the weak minded." Felix raised his eyebrows at Crystal and
took a sip of his beer. “You?”
“I have slightly
religious leanings. Its the nature of my work."
“What exactly do
you do again?”
Crystal smiled
that sexy half smile she had. “I told you. I look after my clients business
interests."
“That still
doesn’t tell me anything. You’re being a little cagey aren’t you?."
Felix thought for
a moment. “You don’t work for the Areopagite’s do you?” He should have asked
her this before. His brain had been slightly scrabbled by his libido and
testosterone.
“No, of course
not. They’re a bunch of religious fascists.”
Felix wiped his
brown in mock relief. “Whew. Had me worried there for a sec.”
“Why should the
Areopagite’s worry you?”
“I’m allergic to
religious fascists," he said in what he hoped was a convincing way.
Crystal looked dubious but decided not to pursue the matter any further.
Felix was watching
his friend’s progress with the two vampires out of the corner of his eye.
Crystal, noticing his attention was diverted, glanced in the direction of Logan
and Tarquin.
“So, have you guys
been friends long?”
Felix nodded.
“Since school. We all went to
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