Many metal beasts flew by on the pavement as Ire made his way out of the dark Ally. “What animals could these be,” he wondered out loud. Whatever they were they seemed to cast light from their eyes, their eyes cut through the darkness with great precision. So many things had changed, the building around were higher then most castles he had ever seen and they were build of such fine stone he could barely find a flaw.

Just diagonally was a building that had a good number of men in uniforms standing under what seemed to be tall lanterns. Most stood in front of one of the metal beasts and they were taking off bags of something from behind it. Deciding not to want to start trouble he made his way up the sidewalk rather then asking the men where he was. However these men seemed interested in Ire when he was in better view.

One of the men approached from the other side of the street and was almost to Ire now. This man was heavy set but his years of training were apparent. Defensively Ire’s hands shot to the hilts of his swords under his cloak. He and the man now stood face to hood. “Draw back your hood,” the fiery officer said. Noticing the distaste on the mans face Ire obliged him and pulled it back. “Do you know who I am boy,” asked the man. Ire just shook his head and this seemed to anger the man. “I’m officer Grady, all in the city know that name. Especially all those mutant scum!”

Ire’s knuckles were blistering with the grip he now held his swords with, this man did not seem to be a friend but it was not the time for rash action. “Anyway” Grady began, “I walked over to ask you just where you might be heading, we cant have cloaked figures just wandering the street you know.” Not knowing how to answer the question for not even Ire knew where he would go, he shrugged. “Don’t you talk boy? Well I suggest you do or I may have to get rough with you.” With that Grady reached down to his belt and retrieved his baton with a cackle. In retaliation Ire drew his swords, their ring filling the night air. This sent Grady back a step. He now looked around nervously and decided it was better to grab his gun instead.

Now gun in hand Grady took aim at Ire’s forehead. Unmoving, other then the smirk on his face, Ire knew what had to be done. “Now put the swords down boy or I will have to shoot!” Grady said with a quiver in his voice. “If you think you are quick enough then by all means take your shoot but I promise you will hit the ground before your finger thinks about pulling the trigger.” Drawing his hood back over his eyes a surge of darkness encased Ire’s body. All Grady could see through the chaotic shadows where Ire’s shimmering blades then they too disappeared. “Mutant!” Grady yelled to the others across the street, making his way across as he yelled it.

It seemed as if all the metal beasts had stopped coming for the moment to at hand. A shadowy figure appeared in front of Grady half way to his comrades. Instantly he pointed his gun and took the shot. The shadow dissipated and all that was seen was another officer hitting the ground with a bullet hole in his head. Shocked Grady froze, sealing his fate. Ire now stood behind the plump officer with blades at the ready. The last thing Grady felt was the cold sharp steel of Ire’s blades ripping this throat in twain. Before the other officers could see what had happened Ire had gone back to the shadows. All that was left now was the two corpses.

By the time the sun had risen he had already stopped for a cup of coffee. After he had the coffee, he tossed the cup out the window. As he pulled up to a red light he reached out to adjust the CB channel in the dash board. Beside him in the next lane up pulled a mustang. It looked like a newer model and this guy had done some mods to it. Flashy paint and some nice ground effects completed the show car look. Orion glanced over to the left as he heard the car pull up. Not thinking much of it he just waited for the light to turn. The car honked its horn and the other guy rolled down his window. Orion looked over and saw the window going down. The rain was lessening now, it was just a strong mist at this point. The other guy yelled over the noise of both engines.
"Hey, nice car! How fast is it?"

"You know, I dont really know." said Orion, which was true he didnt know what it ran for numbers, but he knew that it was one helluva hot rod.

"Wanna find out?" called the blonde haired guy who seemed to be nice enough about ithe whole thing, as if it was a casual conversation.

"Are we betting or is this just for fun?" Orion called out.

"I got just over five hundred dollars says I can beat you, but if you wanna go for fun thats cool too." the other guy shrugged.

Orion nodded, and smiled and said "Ok, but if you win Ill have to go to the bank, just so you know."

"Fair enough to me, hows down this street and through the docks out toward the westerly depository sound to you?" he asked.

"Sounds like a blast to me!" Orion called out. "On the green we go?" he asked

The stranger gave him a thumbs up and then closed his window. Orion shut his and leaned over and hurridly put the safety harness around Archon as best he could. Archon seemed puzled at this and licked Orions hand as he was working. Orion put the big car in first and matched the mustangs revved engine. They both waited for the light. Without warning it changed green. Orions years spent drag racing al sorts of cars came to his aid, but he had let out the clutch too late and the big engine was spinnging too fast. The rear tires just spun for a moment or two before he could back his foot off the throttle and readjust it. once he got that straightened out the mustang was alrteady three car lengths ahead. Cursing himself for being too eager he shifted early into second to sacrifice speed for traction. It was a gamble and he was hoping it worked. If the stranger had any brains at all he would have souped that engine up and not just the looks of the mustang. Assuming he did this would cause him to break traction if he shifted at nearly redline. Well his gamble worked, the mustang broke traction for a full second just enough for orion to draw level with him. Now they raced ahead and the night air was cut down by their headlights and the silence was shattered by the sound of two V-8s roaring their way toward redline. Orion knew that if he didnt handle this big car just right hed lose it on the first corner on these wet streets. Flying into the first corner at the end of the straightaway he down shifted earlier than the mustrang and gave him the lead. The big Charger slewed early into the turn causing the car to be pointed straigh out the other end. Orions foot reflexivly feathered the gas and his hand spun the suicide knob on the wheel. He had calculated right and the big Charger shot past the mustang as it began to slide toward the end of the turn. Though the light weight mustang recovered fast it wasnt quiet fast enough. The black Charger had at least a lenght and a half on the mustang.

The mustang although losing wasnt about to give it up without a fight. Around a shallow curve he was able to gain even with the Charger for Orion had to slow down otherwise the car would have slid sideways into the guardrail. Even and nose to nose they rocketed toward the docks. They remained nose to nose until the docks had arrived at which point Orion used the big cars weight to corner on the bumpy surface better than the mustang. Now out cornering and out accelerating him at every corner Orion gained more lead steadily. Pushing the big car to its limit in the rain he kept his lead as they entered the westerly depositories. Orion suddenly heard a sound as if a compressed system suddnly let loose. The mustang floated by him. Orion jaw dropped in disbelief. "Oh, so you wanna play hard ball, do ya boy?" he growled. He glanced at Archon whos tounge was hanging out his mouth and his gaze was fixed intently on the mustangs back end. Wondering if Archon understood the basic concept of a race Orion reached out and flipped up a red safety and flicked the switch under it. The flaps on the big supercharger opened up and the clutch on it caught and held firm. The big rear wheels on the CHarger spun breifly and then caught sending the Charger hurtling ahead. Tunnel vision ensued this great speed as Orion and Archon had been shoved into their seats. Orion pulled smoothly ahead of the mustang much to the suprise of the blonde haired stranger. Putting the throttle to the floor Orion felt the big engine surege up faster and faster. He glanced in his rearview mirror and the ustang had stopped at the designated place. "Oh shit!" Orion cursed as he stomped on the brake sending the big car skidding to a halt. Romping back on the throttle and stuffing it into first again he spun the car around and raced toward the mustang. Slowing well before the mustang he pulled up and got out and also let Archon out so he could go pee and sniff around while the guys talked.

"Damn that was one of the best races Ive ever had!" the stranger blurted out as Orion approached his arm outstretched for a hand shake.

Chuckling Orion replied with, "I definatly enjoyed myself as well."

The starnger reached into his wallet and handed Orion a wad of cash. "You won that fair and square, my friend.
Orion took the money and looked at the wad and noticed that there waa more than 500 dollars there. Orion counted out five hundred and handed the rest back to the guy saying, "We only bet five hundred dollars, and I dont wanna take all your money cause you were nice about the whole thing and you definatly know how to drive, so here take this back."

The stranger smiled and thanked Orion for his kindness, then they started to talk about cars and what mods had been done to each and where they had customization work done and how long they had been racing for and what the usual gear heads talk about when they get together. Orion found out that this guy had heard about the big race between orion and the Lamborghini a while back. After shooting the shit for a while the decided to pop the hoods of their respective cars to show off to each other. Archon could be seen from time to time wandering around the area with his nose to the ground and and his tail in the air. They talked for some more an Orion learned that this guy was at nearly every race in the state when it happened. This guy had good contacts and asked Orion if he wanted to swap cell numbers. Orion agreed readily, and they swapped number> orion asked if the guy had a CB Radio. the guy said no not yet but he had one on order from the manufacturer that should be coming in next week. Orion gave him his call sign and then they said their ghoodbyes and the blonde stranger hopped in his var and headed back toward the inner city. Orion walked across the street and went into a convience store to buy somehting to drink. At the counter the girl behind the desk asked if that had been him racing up the street. Orion answered yes, but looked skeptically at the young girl. She was pretty, but had the look of a tom girl about her. Sha asked him if he beat the guy cause she hadnt seen the exchange. Orion answer yes and aasked why she asked. She smiled and explained to him that she and her boy friend were into street racing. the problem she had was her boyfriend was into import tuners and she was into american muscle. This presented a probem cause she was trying to buy an american car to soup up to race but her boyfriend didnt want to even look at American cars. Orion chuckled and gave her his number and told her to call him in three days time and he should have a decent car for her to work with. She smiled wide and thanked him. Then a strange look came across her face and she asked Orion if he was busy friday night. Orion figured she wanted him to race her boyfriend to show him how muscle out performed tuning any time. Orion thought about it for a minute and answered that he didnt think he was. Then she asked him if wanted to go on a date wih her. Taken aback, Orion smiled but responded by explaining to her that he was engaged to be married. The girl smiled shyly and turned red and apologized for being forward. Orion waved his hand and told her to think nothing of it. Smiling he turned to go and headed toward the car when he heard Archon barking roughly. knowing Archon didnt bark for no reason he tore across the street and listened to the barking to find his location.

The rain had subsided but a nice mist hung in the air. The sound of those metal beasts in the distance coming to a halt made Ire uneasy. He was still a bit confused about what he had done to Grady, what he did know was he liked it. The pain and fear in the eyes of the plump officer brought a smile to his face. Breaking his thoughts came a sound from the distance, at first Ire was unable to discern what it was. Then after a moment more realized it was the sound of an animal approaching at a considerable speed. “The fun never ends,” He thought. Deciding to watch from afar Ire made his way to a ladder on the side of a depot shack. Once on top he adjusted his face mask and hood and let the shadow consume him.

In the distance came a furry wolf like figure. On the face of the animal stood a snarl that made Ire realize that this was no friend. After sniffing about the animal walked past the shack and was gone from sight. Releasing his hold on the shadow Ire emerged. He pulled back his hood revealing his chin length midnight hair and took a breath, something about that wolf like animal brought the thought of his former friend forth. “Something isn’t right.” He mused. From behind came a creak on the tin roof and along with the creak came a leaping hound.

The animal hit Ire square in the stomach sending him off the roof. Flipping backward with ease he landed firmly on his feet. The victory was short lived however for as he turned there stood the animal. “Persistent one aren’t you fur ball?” Not taking a liking to the remark the wolf bounded forward but this time Ire was too quick. He jumped to the side and drew his blades. “I’m sorry pup but you brought this upon yourself.”

Orion rounded a corner and saw a dark figure holding two blades and squaring off against Archon. As he pounded closer his voice roared out breaking the snarl of Archons growl.

"Stay those blades, stranger. You wound that animal you'll have to contend with me!"

Ire turned slowly toward the oddly familiar voice. Upon seeing the hulking man the voice emanated from a grin spread upon his face. “It’s been a long time Orion, too long.”

Orions brow furrowed and his long hair covered one eye. His eyes sqinted into the darkness and saw what he had missed before.

"Ire? is that you? Your alive, are you ok, hopw long hve you been out here? I cant believe I couldnt pin the blood red moon and the raining to you!"

"Humph, very accommodating for a trader! Or perhaps you have forgotten it was you that banished me?"

Ire Sheathed his swords and took a step closer to his old friend.

"I just need to know why you'd do that to me after all those years together!"

Relaxing completly Orion explained.
"No, my friend. It was not me, although I can see how you might think it was. You see the dark wizard that you were battling was in the middle of casting some spell by the time I made it to the tower to help you. The guards had given me something to chew over when they sent in a troll. Very nasty creatures those things, but you know them too. I rounded the staircase and saw him aimj his staff at you and uttering some incantation. I threw a blast of chaos into the spell trying to disapate it but apparently all it did wasa make things worse. Im so sorry, Ire."

“Sorry, Is that all you have to offer? I had things well in hand or arm as it would seem.”

Ire held out his left arm revealing the crimson gauntlet.

“This was enough to dispel it. But you had to play hero.”

Orion saw the crimson gauntlet and asked.

"What good is a gauntlet gonna do against a spell from a dark wizard?" hge started to wonder if the spell hadnt had some kind of effect on Ires sense of reason or logic. But he figured hed find out in a minute.

“Have you no sense of magic? This gauntlet was created for that reason! But that’s not the point, I’ve been looking for you Orion for one simple reason., to exact my revenge. But first I’m curious about how you’ve developed over all these years, lets play Orion but not for keeps this time. Lets just call it the benefit of a doubt.”

With that Ire drew his hood and swords and stood at the ready.

"Oooh! A work out. Dont you think its a little one sided if youve got swords and Im here weapon less? No answer meant that Hed have to use his head and his brute on this one. Knowing Ire was fast and agile he had a disadvantage but he did have somehting that ire wasnt aware of. Reaching over he pulled hard on a pipe jutting out from the building. He tore it off with a resounding snap. Hoping it could withstand the blades tht would be pounding on it. Getting a good feel for it he said. "I wish you could have stayed the centuries with me, old friend. So much has happened and so many new and interesting things have been invented and Ive learned so much. I apprenticed a blacksmith for a while. I've studied with many skilled fighters and Ive become a mechanic too. So many things I have to show you. But first I ask your forgiveness for my ignorance toward magic."

*tricity quickly scrolled to orion's number and started to call him on his cell phone.*
come on....come on....PICK UP!!

The cell phone in Orions pocket started to ring. Orion lowered the pole and held one finger up to Ire.
"Hang on a second would you? Its probably the wife. Hello? Hi hun, uuh yea so far Im ok. No, no Ive found an old friend from long before even Xaviers time. No, back farther than that, anyway Im kinda in the middle of some thing here." he said as he looked up at Ire, whos looked completely dumbfounded that Orion was talking to himself. "Are you ok, you seem a little wound up?"