Icepick\u2019s Arms Emporium was on the other side of the valley, across a suspension bridge, through several winding cobblestone streets that were receiving a fresh coating of snow as the heavens began to spill their contents, and in a cellar under a fish and chip shop aptly named \u201cThe Plaice To Be\u201d. Doug, connoisseur of terrible puns, couldn\u2019t help but nod in appreciation as he and Kate climbed down the slippery steps to the Emporium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Icepick\u2019s presented itself as a hunting supplies shop. The place looked like a hunting lodge; hunting trophies high on the walls above the shelves and the wares ranging from camping supplies to Swiss-army knives to basic hunting rifles. The only thing that looked out of place were the shopkeepers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One was a slim gentleman, pale to the point of being albino with platinum blonde hair that had been slicked back. He wore an expensive looking plum suit with golden moons embroidered on the lapels. Both ears had a number of glittering studs on them and the left ear had a stretched lobe piercing. He was a man that seemed to glitter, which seemed at odds with the establishment he was running. He positively beamed at the mercs as they entered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The other was a brunette with a stockier build, a neatly styled beard and thick framed glasses. A the tip of a large tattoo was barely visible under his shirt collar. He wore no jacket but had pinstriped navy trousers, braces, and a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He remained silent whilst the blonde did all the talking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh, I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve had the pleasure of seeing you two here before. Are you here for sport or protection?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust browsing, thanks,\u201d Kate replied, \u201cI\u2019m not sure if you\u2019ll have what we\u2019re looking for\u2026\u201d she examined a display of pistols, noting the ammo sizes. There didn\u2019t seem to be anything bigger than a 9mm round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI may surprise you, what are you after?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you have any 41 rounds? Or anything a bit more\u2026 specialised?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The shopkeeper observed the bionics Doug was sporting then glanced towards Kate\u2019s gun holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re of a more\u2026 professional ilk than the usual clientele I see\u2026\u201d he pressed a button under the counter and all of the display cases rotated in place revealing hidden compartments with a far more deadly assortment of weapons within. The case Kate had been looking at was now filled with desert eagles and laser pistols. The collection of hunting knives Doug had been admiring were now racks of grenades. He whistled to show his appreciation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat more to you liking, miss?\u201d the blonde asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…Much, thank you,\u201d came the reply as Kate began to gather up the ammunition she needed for her various guns. The blonde nodded and turned to Doug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd for you sir?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, I got this\u2026\u201d Doug fished out his own weapon, the blonde examining it closely as it came into view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHmmm, a Kleimaster 4XL plasma gun\u2026 dodgy sights, probably from an over heating barrel\u2026 not known for reliability, the Kleimasters\u2026 I\u2019ll give you 50kr for it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat? No, I\u2019m not trying to trade it in! I can\u2019t remember what battery packs they take!\u201d annoyance permeated his voice as Doug remembered just how much he had paid for the gun and that it had been a lot more than 50kr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy apologies! Although if you change your mind I could do you a deal on a better gun!\u201d the blonde winked at Doug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t, he\u2019s prone to chucking his weapons at people when they run out of ammo! Be a waste!\u201d this came from Kate who was half listening as she shifted through a shelf of shotgun shells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFair enough. I\u2019ll just check if we have the correct packs; they are a specialised fitting and they burn out like a motherfucker if you\u2019ll pardon my Scanian,\u201d he winked once more and began to shift through some draws behind the counter. Needing something to keep himself busy, Doug fell back on small talk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow come this place called Ice Pick\u2019s<\/em> Arms Emporium?\u201d he asked what he could still see of the man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m Ice Pick, the owner,\u201d the man said over a backdrop of scuffing sounds as he moved boxes around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo why are you called \u2018Ice Pick\u2019 then?\u201d Doug asked, following a train of thought. Ice Pick briefly stopped his search to reach under the counter at one of the far ends, pulling out a large ice pick and placing it on top of the unit. There was a skull and crossbones engraved into the pick itself, and the handle was varnished and well kept. Ice Pick continued with his task as Doug processed the weapon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAh,\u201d he said in realisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cActually I got the name from when I worked in the City of Light,\u201d the man mused, now searching a cupboard a little further along the counter, \u201cused to work for the Dalminetti Mafia,\u201d he paused to reminisce, a flicker of a smile gracing his features, \u201cgot the name from a man called Joe \u2018crazy fingers\u2019 Velowski. The man was a demon with revolvers. He used to be able to make the things dance in his hands. He was deadly enough with one, but I once saw him use five in one crazy juggling act!\u201d a laugh escaped Icepick\u2019s throat before the man shrugged and went back to his search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDunno where he is now, but he\u2019s probably moved on from the gangster business now that the Dalminettis have all been wiped out. Ah,\u201d he re-emerged from the cupboard with a box in hand from which he retrieved the battery packs Doug had requested. There were four of them which Icepick spread out for the mercenary\u2019s inspection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doug had begun shifting uneasily upon hearing about the Dalminetti Mafia, which he tried to disguise by picking up a pack, turning it around in his hands as if looking for defects. This went unnoticed by Icepick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, I\u2019d like to meet the guys who iced the Dalminettis\u2026\u201d Ice Pick trailed off, before continuing to himself, \u201c\u2026and shake them by the hand. Dalminettis were a bunch of bastards. Glad I got out when I did,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doug went to say something but caught Kate frowning at him out of the corner of his eye, suggesting that she didn\u2019t want publicity for slaying the Dalminettis just in case someone else had known the Mafia and was now holding a grudge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI fell out with Big Jim Dalminetti after me and Rorik started dating,\u201d he nodded his head towards the other man who gave a curt wave, \u201cRorik was working for Vladimir Kushkin so it didn\u2019t look great that I \u2013 an Old Boy \u2013 was shacking up with someone from a rival mafia family. We got the hell outta town before they made a bigger thing out of it. Haven\u2019t looked back since!\u201d the two shopkeepers exchanged warm smiles which prompted Doug to look towards his own companion. Kate didn\u2019t seem to notice, the red head busy calculating the amount of ammo she could carry in her new attire or if she would need to invest in an ammo belt of some description. Perhaps a bag<\/em>…<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m just glad that Joe didn\u2019t book it with the rest of the Dalminettis.\u201d Icepick was continuing, clearly a talkative soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo?\u201d Doug asked absent mindedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNah. He never went to the gang conferences. That\u2019s what the Dalminettis were doing when they all got done in; they were all on a cruise to go to a gang conference. Anyway, is there anything else?\u201d Kate started placing her purchases on the counter before Doug could find a response, the gunslinger going on to peruse the selection of grenades. She selected five regular grenades, three smoke and a couple of flash. Icepick eyed up the pile of ballistics in front of him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s quite the selection. I\u2019m starting to think I\u2019m not the only one with an interesting tale…?\u201d he observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPerhaps, but I\u2019m more of the private type,\u201d Kate stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFair enough. As I can see you\u2019re clearly a connoisseur, I shall give you a ten percent discount on this lot,\u201d he winked at her, flashing a smile so bright it glinted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh? Thanks!\u201d she was genuinely surprised by the generosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo worries, Miss. Besides, half the stuff you want is the stuff that usually doesn\u2019t sell around here. You\u2019re doing me a favour really,\u201d the man explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMay I ask what does?\u201d Kate asked, intrigued. This being Genetix\u2019s town, Icepick\u2019s sales information could very well help inform them about their targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHmm, I\u2019ve sold a lot of FBG-2022s1<\/sup><\/a> recently. Plus the odd flame thrower,\u201d he shrugged. Kate\u2019s attention was fully on Icepick now, her eyes widening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFBGs? Don\u2019t those use 60 calibre rounds?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c68. The 2019s used 60. I don\u2019t know what those guys at the labs are hunting but I don\u2019t want to find out!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re a genetics lab, right? You heard much about them?\u201d this was said as casually as Doug could muster as he set about putting the battery packs away. It was Rorik that answered, the other man having walked behind the counter and was in the process of ringing up Doug\u2019s purchases, Icepick dealing with Kate\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe know they like to keep to themselves. Still, stories get out. Stories of strange creatures and odd explosions. The Chief says they just improve plants so Aquarius Springs2<\/sup><\/a> can better farm produce,\u201d shrugged the brunette, his Zhenyan accent thick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho\u2019s the Chief? He run the place?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, the bosses never leave the complex. I hear it\u2019s been forty years since anyone last saw them. The Chief is just nickname we have for a security officer that comes in here regularly. Owns big cabin by logging mill. Seems to think he has the biggest balls on planet, always in here bragging about his hunting exploits and making a jackass out of himself. Swaggering mudak!\u201d a snort rose up from Rorik\u2019s throat. The mercs exchanged a glance, the two sharing the same thought, their next move presenting itself to them. Kate placed her money on the counter top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you gentlemen. You\u2019ve been extremely helpful\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u204e \u204e \u204e<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gratin\u2019s senses were open to the world. It was well below freezing, snow beginning to fall as the frigid wind picked up. Gratin snuggled further into the large coat the mistress had helped him pick out \u2013 the overly large hood completely covering his face \u2013 and focused on the little pinpricks of heat he could \u201csee\u201d far below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The establishment itself was well insulated, very little heat escaping unless someone opened a door. He could make out the outline of the building against the subzero temperatures. The glass dome was the largest source of heat, it clearly being some manner of green house, the insulation failing to conceal the hot air inside from the mage. It was like a beacon to Gratin; a bright ball of warmth in the desolate, frigid black that surrounded it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There were people below though, wandering the grounds of Genetix. They were just out of range to gain an accurate read on their mental states but he could pick out their movements. From the way they were moving, Gratin managed to discern that a small group were taking a delivery from a truck into the warehouse complex. The rest were steadily moving parallel to the fence; a pair of guards on each side of the compound inspecting the barrier and generally looking for security breaches. Gratin began to count to himself as they progressed, roughly timing how long it took each group to finish a section. Ten minutes per section, forty for a full rotation. Doug would need to find an obscured section of fence when they breeched and hope it wasn\u2019t spotted straight away\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gratin became distracted as an owl landed next to him. He had been concentrating so hard on the valley below that he had not noticed the small parliament of owls gathering behind him. There were a dozen of the creatures now with a few more circling overhead. Every so often, one of the flying birds would glide off, across the valley, only to return a few minutes later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The really unnerving part is that they all seemed to be watching him, their eyes locked on to his frame and staring unblinking at him. Usually with wild animals there would be a touch of concern or caution to their minds when so close to a larger creature but these animals were eerily calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gratin turned his gaze away from the parliament and focused on the bird directly in front of him. It hooted softly at him, tilting its head so that its face was nearly upside-down. Cautiously, Gratin extended a hand towards it. He was further surprised when the owl hopped aboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVery curious\u2026\u201d muttered the Mage as he brought the bird up closer to his face. The animal remained unfazed, merely studying Gratin with its overly large eyes. Gratin absent mindedly gave it a stroke, which the bird seemed to appreciate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVery curious indeed\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n