THE FAR EAST, 1980

The Tall Man spoke to the bartender in a low, whisper, taking the proffered beer as he pushed a wrinkled bill across the bar. The bartender replied in a similar manner and the Tall Man nodded. Taking a pull from the frosty amber bottle, the Tall Man headed to the back of the bar. The joint was empty, as was usual for this time of the day, but the cloying smell of sweat and cheap perfume still lingered. The Tall Man climbed up a flight of stairs and went through a curtain of gaudy beads that hung in a doorway at the end of a dark hallway. The room's windows were all boarded up and a sickly cone of light hung down from a solitary incandescent bulb.

The Pudgy Man was sitting behind an old wooden desk, smoking a cigarette. "Thanks for coming," the Pudgy Man said as he waved the Tall Man towards a chair on the opposite side of the desk.

The Tall Man did not reply. Remaining motionless, he fixed an icy stare on the Pudgy Man. The Pudgy Man buckled and shifted uneasily in his seat.

"All right. It's always business with you, isn't it?" the Pudgy Man said. When the Tall Man remained silent, the Pudgy Man sighed. "The boys from Subic Bay brought this," The Pudgy Man said as he brought out a metallic disc the size of a grown man's hand with the fingers spread. The Pudgy Man laid the disc carefully down on the table.

"What is that?" , the Tall Man asked.

"I know you have Paragon level clearance, Jim. You and I have seen something like this before."

The Tall Man nodded slowly. "Where did the Navy find it?"

"They recovered it while conducting the salvage of a stricken World War II Japanese cruiser."

"Why come to me?", the Tall Man asked as he cocked an eyebrow.

"Because I know that this is hot stuff, and I know you have experience with this sort of thing."

"That's where you're wrong."

"Let me put it this way - You know this is that one shot to get back in the saddle. That hostage rescue fiasco didn't exactly do your rep any good.", the Pudgy Man said with a smirk.

"In exchange for what?"

"I want out."

"You know there's no such thing as *out* in this business", the Tall Man countered.

"Here, inspect the merchandise for yourself," the Pudgy Man said as he pushed the disc towards the Tall Man.

Sixteen wedges formed a keypad of some sort were arranged to form a wheel at the center of the disc. The device was were encrusted with the stuff from the ocean. Despite the grime and crud, the Tall Man could see a strange marking or rune was inscribed into each of the wedges. The Tall Man set down the beer bottle and palmed the device, running a finger across the translucent one inch strip of green material that formed a ring around the circular keypad. The other side of the disc was smooth, with a trio of tentacle-like metallic extensions or cords coming out of the centre of the disc. Each one was about the length of a grown man's finger. A distinct click drew the attention of the two men to a figure in shadow standing by the door. The Pudgy Man nonchalantly slipped a hand under the desk as he said "Well if it ain't, Darth Vader himself. Do me a favor and put your mask back on, you look helluva lot better."

"Don't bother calling for help, the bartender and all of your thugs are all dead," the Shadow Man said.

"Need I ask why or by whose hand?" The Tall Man said with a wry grin.

The Shadow Man sighed. "This mindless prattle will get you nowhere." The Shadow Man pointed to the device. "I think that - would be better off with me"

With one hand the Pudgy Man took hold of the device and was about to throw it at the Shadow Man when the Shadow Man fired three quick, silenced shots into the Pudgy Man's face. The Pudgy Man was finally *out* of the business. His career put to an unexpected end as 3 bullets gave him the kiss of death.

The Tall Man frowned. "What? No gratuitous displays of paranormal might? No warning to normals of the coming of the new world society?" the Tall Man said mockingly .

The Shadow Man laughed. "Ingenlunde, my dear friend. I learned from the best, or have you forgotten?" The Shadow Man held up the smoking gun. "These are useful tools. Nearly untraceable. Why leave my power signature here and make the natives restless? I only want the Key and what is best for my people."

Picking up the artifact, the Shadow Man walked towards the door and stepped through the bead curtain. "I shall let you live, if only to repay a debt. You saved my life once, but now the scales are in balance. If I were you, I would make sure that our paths never cross each other again. Farvel."

[ I N D E X ]