[i]I sigh. A hiss is heard as my helmet disengages. I remove it, revealing my wartorn face. Severe scarring, three claylike gashes, my left eye a milky white. Around that eye, severe burn scars. My throat has a long scar on it, stretching down my back. [/i] I'm not looking for an escape. I'm not looking for redemption. I already told you, I know I'm going to hell. I do want to join the marauders. I do want to be a part of this organization. I'm done playing the Soldier. I know I'm not a soldier. I'm nowhere near one. I'm a killer. I'm a criminal. [i]I pause, my helmet dropping to the frozen floor. [/i] I'm alone.

"...acknowledging your faults and admitting you've done wrong is to be expected... Not admired." [b]Sebastian, now ten feet away from Missouri opens his arms to embrace the stale and tense air between each other. As if the moon they had found themselves on seeped into the aura of the moment, life paused. Missouri took a good look at Sebastian, and Sebastian took a good look at Missouri. Time froze. [/b] "So why? Why us? Why now?"

Because I can't live quietly. I need a job to do, a thing to achieve or work for. It's like ADHD, but with work. I can't NOT do anything. That's why now. Why the marauders specifically? Mainly because of your opposition to those who abuse power. People like that damned Princess, and Dante and Hecate and even June. [i]I pause at the mention of June. [/i] I have a deep history with June. She tore my home down and was responsible for my Wife's death. But I can tell you this ain't for revenge against you. If I pledge myself to a cause, I defend it to the day I die. I thought I would find that Allegiance with the Dojo, and Badlands and the Empire and Venom, but I couldn't. The fact that I'm even here is a blessing. When I told Matruo, he laughed for 3 hours. When I told others, they scoffed. I solved those puzzles. I found Europa. That message had been intended for The Phoenix, but he's dead.

[b]Sebastian lowers his arms, he had no reason to hold them up. He looked down, deep in thought.[/b] "How'd he die?"

Huge ship full of reapers fell out of orbit and exploded. He went down with it. His body's at the bottom of the sea. Under a lot of wreckage.

[b]Sebastian looked up, his floodlight visor stinging your eyes.[/b] "I'm sorry to hear that. Truly so. But in all honesty, I don't know you, or what you can do, or who you were and are affiliated with... [i]Avar'r Quisa:[/i] Stand down, Marauders." [b]At once, with his firm, respectable decree, four more figures in similarly modified armor emerged, two from the high ceiling, one from behind you, and one from the hall Sebastian entered the scene from. [/b] "You need time, patience, and most of all, humility. You're not ready for us. You don't think the way we do. But you have my admiration. For now, we have our own agenda. You never saw us. This trail was a dead end, save for a weapons cache and a few snow beasts-" [b]The marauder snapped his prosthetic fingers, bringing forth the attention of a lime-colored warrior. He bolted forward, un slinging the rifle he had aimed at you from the doorway and placed it in your hands.[/b] "-where you found this. It's not a kind apology, but in truth, it's more of an imperative statement. We are on our own here. We have our own enemy to fight. Whatever quarrels you have at home, it's not our mess. I trust you can pull yourself out of it though. Enjoy the rifle. And remember: this place was dead before you got here..." [b]The five marauders lowered their weapons and started filing out of the atrium. Sebastian turned to follow. Before he exited, he made one final comment, poking at a date to be had:[/b] "...like it was picked clean by thieves..."