[b]My Ties Are Cut, My Wounds Healed, Time To Fight Yet Again...[/b] [b][u]Kalishar, in a bar in the northern hemisphere[/u][/b] [i]I hope this goes well...can't wait to get out of this. I want my freedom back...[/i] Four men sat around a table, all with drinks and playing cards. One of them was a man who wasn't a pirate, or a smuggler, or a crime boss. He was the total opposite. An elite soldier, crafted by his past anger, hatred and need to fix problems. His name was Thomas Walden, his friends called him Offspring, the little amount he had would soon be dead. The other three, a mechanic, a medic and a pilot. They were playing Rummy, rather intensely. The conversation had switched to an idea that the medic had come up with, he had always been the more adventurous of the group. "Alexandria, bank of the public. It's a simple hit. And it would get us a shit load of cash." The mechanic spoke up, putting down a group of three kings, he smiled, down to one card and discarded an ace. The ace of clubs. "He's right. That place isn't exactly in the best shape, we'd blow through, in and out in a matter of ten minutes." The pilot nodded and started to play, adding the fourth king to the mechanics short group and put down another ace. "I could outrun them, no problem." It was Thomas's turn. To play and to speak. He picked up the two aces, speaking as he did so. "Sounds good to me. Just be careful with what you leave, others might use that against you." Thomas had had two cards left, the other two aces. He puts all four of the cards down, ending the game and the conversation. He stands and walks away. .......................................................................... The group of four had their target, they had their gear, they had the confidence and the skill to do this, easily. Thomas was in his armor, slinging the weapons on his back and standing at the edge of the cargo drop of the ship. "Offspring's ready to jump. I'm starting the timer. Light em up." The pilot's voice rang in from the com-set. The mechanic and medic turned, opening fire on guards and civilians alike. Soon the room was clean and empty, blood and gore everywhere. The mechanic started the drill into the vault. The medic stayed away to watch for police. Thomas jumped from the ship and down at the bank. He crashed through the roof, ending in a kneeling position. He stood, looking around. "Keep the drill up and running. We will keep watch." The medic spoke to the medic and went back to aiming down the sights of his rifle. Thomas walked up behind the medic, thinking to himself. [i]I could kill him. Along with the other guy. It would be easy. I'm gonna do it...[/i] He pulls his shotgun from his back, firing two buckshot shells into the medic and coming around the corner to see the mechanic, who had pulled his pistol. He fired at Thomas, aiming for the head. One round of the fifteen hit, it was actually a well placed shot, right on his cheekbone. It hurt like a bitch, but it didn't even slow him. Low caliber guns were useless against his armor. He grabbed the mechanic by the neck and dragged him to the drill. Thomas pulled the drill out with one hand and put the mechanic's head in the way with the other. He closed the gap between the two, sending blood and gore everywhere. The pilot's voice rang in again. "What happened? I heard shots. Cops here in 7 minutes." "The other two didn't make it, forget them. Come get me." The pilot nodded, starting to land. Thomas stepped onto the ship and pulled his pistol, aiming at the pilot as he stood. He unloaded the whole magazine into the pilot, sending him through the front window of the ship. He holsters the weapon and steps out of the ship, waiting for the police. When they did arrive, he had his helmet off and was cooperative with them as much as he could be. He'd just shut down one of the galaxy's biggest armed robbery rings. He wouldn't be put in jail for his past sins. [spoiler]Open, he's just outside the police station...[/spoiler]