I

TAKE THE CALL

On a bright clear day, Danton Thomas fired some rounds from his M4 on his private range. After taking several more shots, blowing the head of the dummy clear off, his cell phone rang. Lowering the firearm and gazing down at the table behind him, seeing the phone blinking.

“Danton.”

“It’s Marion. You know why I’ve called.”

“I do. What’s the mission?”

“Come by the headquarters as per usual for briefing and I‘ll tell you everything as scheduled. Get yourself ready.”

“I’m on my way.”

Danton left the range and entered his weaponry. Glancing at the arsenal around him before approaching the closet and opening it, revealing his tactical suit of Kevlar. Known as the Death-Bringer armor. He put on the armor and grabbed his weapons of choice before grabbing his sword last. He left the armory and his homestead.

Sometime later, he arrived at the Glasco, Inc. Headquarters in Germany. The same location as his previous briefings for missions. Upon entering the building, he was approached by Marion von Eldric. She greeted Danton with a smile, yet not a friendly one at that.

“Good of you to arrive.”

“I’m here for business. Now, what is the mission?”

“This way.”

Unlike Danton’s last encounter with the place, there were more military personnel than before. Danton’s sense of awareness increased as they walked down the hallway toward the office. They entered Marion’s office and she shut the door, walking behind her desk. Danton sat down, removing his helmet and placing it on the desk, waiting.

“The mission, Marion.”

“Don’t rush me.”

Marion reached over to the bookshelf, raising up a folder, sliding it toward Danton. He grabbed the folder and saw what was inside, reading carefully.

“A Don?” Danton questioned.

“Yes. One we’ve been looking for, for quite a while.”

“And you finally found him. How so?”

“We have connections.”

“I’m not buying the proposed fact that some organization tipped this guy off to you and your militia pals. This type of mission had to have been done by someone on their own. Someone in higher authority.”

Marion nodded.

“There was someone who told us. Plainly simple.”

“Where was this Don sighted?”

“Enigma City.”

Danton chuckled.

“Enigma City? I have a feeling who might’ve told you now.”

“Who do you have in mind?”

Danton paused. Shaking his head and closing the folder.

“Doesn’t matter. I’ll find this Don and report back to you as planned.”

Maveth went and left from Marion’s office. Taking the trip similar to the previous ones, Maveth grabbed his gear and hopped into the plane. While in the air, Danton took the moment to think on the matter at hand. Another mission. More pay. More solitude. Elsewhere, Marion was on the phone speaking to an individual who’s searching for a mercenary to hire. Marion responded to the caller by stating she’s knows one and more than the one.

Maveth arrived in Enigma City during the midday. Scouting the city, seeing it’s much cleaner and slick than Retropolis. The scenery bothered Maveth to the point where he entered the building to avoid looking out at the glistening cityscape. The cleanliness irked him.

“This city is no place for me.”

Reading up on the files, he learned the Don was kept at a homestead near the outskirts of the city. Danton made his travels to the outskirts by way of a vehicle which was provided to him by V.A.U.L.T. Driving out of the city, he saw what appeared to be a flying blue and white streak past ahead of him in the sky.

“He’s around these parts. Figures much.”

Making it to the outskirts, Danton spotted the homestead, guarded by a dozen armed guards. Four of which stood in watchtowers around the wooden home. Danton prepared himself, putting on his helmeted mask. He stepped out of the car from a distance. His sword were set and his firearms loaded. He snuck into the region, immediately taking out the four watchmen by slashing their throats. He moved from tower to tower by the cable lines connecting them to the home. After the watchmen were taken out, he moved to the ground and began running through the armed guards with his sword. Others he shot with his silencer pistol. Maveth moved with speed to take out the guard and he was finished. He approached the front door of the home, kicking it down to see there was no one inside.

“The hell is this guy?”

Maveth entered and from behind him stood someone else. Another mercenary who through Maveth’s mind off the mission for a split second. Standing before him, the mercenary wore complete armor and Kevlar of white and silver. His face covered with a helmeted mask of their own. Maveth knew them and he knew them well.

“Gunbaine.” Maveth said. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“Skipping A.B.’s orders for her Enforcement?”

“She knows why I’m here and the purpose of it.”

“Perhaps, you should focus on those matters and leave the mercenary duties to me.”

“And why would I do that? Leave all the fancy jobs to you and I deal with the scraps.”

“This is my mission. My duty.”

“I don’t see it that way. Neither does V.A.U.L.T.”

“What do you know of them? Has A.B. spoken with you about this?”

“Marion informed her of the plans. The Enforcement was planned to be a part of this. However, the members saw opportunities which didn’t sit well with A.B.‘s orders. She’s talked with a lot of us about V.A.U.L.T. The two of us are just a few who are informed of their secrets.”

“What of the Don?”

“A ploy. To get you to realize you’re not the only mercenary around. Besides, it was a test.”

“A test for what cause? To see my loyalty?”

“To see if you were ready for the reveal.”

“Where’s Marion?”

“I was just going to meet us. I’m sure you’ll want to come.”

Maveth walked past Gunbaine swiftly. Gunbaine scoffed under his breath, placing his pistol in the holster as Maveth walked away.

“Do you know where to go?” Gunbaine wondered.

“I’ll see you there, Smalls.”