(no subject)

"The VTAM corporation. How quaint. Running a legitimate business."

A robed figure stands outside of VTAM's headquarters. One hand is occupied with making sure his would-be mugger does not run away, leaving the other free to knock on the door.


The door opens and a young man pokes his head out. "Hello, my name is Pete," he greets. "How may I help you?" he asks, wearing an amiable grin.

"Hello, Pete." Says the robed figure. "I awarded your corporation a contract a while back but I am growing concerned that the terms of the contract haven't been fulfilled."

"Oh, we are sorry about that. I'll gladly make an inquiry about the status of your contract. May I have your name, sir?"

"Lucien. I wish to speak to Straven Enroy as well."

Pete blanches at the robed figure's name. "One moment, sir," he says as he ducks back in and closes the door carefully. Angering a client like Lucien would be a very, very bad thing to do.

The rush of movement underground and in the buildings surrounding the entrance to the VTAM corporation do not go unnoticed by Lucien. He turns to his would-be mugger and taunts, "It is a good thing you are still alive. I think these negotiations are about to get complicated."

The door opens again and it isn't Pete who open it and steps through. Straven Enroy comes out instead, wearing his finest business suit. He doesn't even try to smile as he says, "Lucien. This is about the shield, isn't it?"

"Yes," responds Lucien, "it has been more than half a year. Don't tell me that it is still in the museum."

"Actually, we managed to steal it. But the gang split in half and so did the shield."

"WHAT? How?!"

"The Raven witch! Actually, both of them. The older sister started fighting me over whether we should sell it to you and the the younger one just marched up to it and split it over her knee. They took half the gang with them and half of the shield."

"Lies!" Lucien lets go of his mugger and grabs Straven by the lapels of his coat. Shaking Straven, he asks, "How is that possible? A human barely has the strength to dent a metal shield, and that is on a good day against a weak metal." At the sound of crossbows being leveled at him, he releases Straven. "Your thugs know that if I am in their range they are most definitely in mine, right?"

Straven smooths his lapels as best as he can. "She used a spell; I don't know how she did it. I wasn't about to ask her to do it a second time. Her sister threatened that I would be the next thing that she would break." He looks at Lucien, daring him. "You can try taking our half of the shield, and it may be easy for you, but you would still have to find where the Ravens and their Black Arms are hiding and then take their half of it from them. That is what we have been doing all this time."

"Hah. All I have to do is break a bunch more of you fragile things? It probably would be easy, but what would I do with a broken shield? And what proof do I have the shield is actually broken?" Lucien asks, mockingly.

"I am not sure that Raven witch is even human anymore. What I would give to see you break her and her sister. But if you think I am foolish enough to bring our half of the shield within your reach you are sorely mistaken."

"Would you bring it out if I promised to let you watch me break the Ravens?" Lucien asks with a chuckle. Oh... the perversions of man.

"You would have to find them before I do," answers Straven, sternly. So no. Mostly.

"Very well," answers Lucien. "Either way, Straven, both you and the Raven sisters will pay for this, sooner or later."

Ancient magicks swirl around Lucien's form, and he disappears.