The door of the elevator slid open as Kross Tsutomegi entered an office on the top floor of Tedan Tippedai Headquarters. He wore an ornate, sleeveless, white tunic over a navy blue shirt, armored plates upon his shoulders. His forearms were covered with a pair of gray colored greaves with black gloves on his hands. He also wore a pair of baggy, navy blue pants which where tucked into his gray boots. To top it all off, a short, red cape, which was attached only to the left shoulder armor, cascaded down to about his wrist, adding a bit of a regal flare.

Of course, one must look regal if he wanted to enter the office of the new Tedan Tippedai President, Mr. Puttubayh. The jet-black haired president sat behind his desk, looking out the window at the setting sun of Myce. Kross approached the desk, brushing a gloved hand through his dirty-blonde hair.

"...Touka’s not in his lab." Kross said as he finally made it to the desk, gaining Puttubayh’s attention in the process. "None of the other scientists saw him leave either...or so they say."

Puttubayh turned his chair to face the young Vice-president with a small grin. "Well, we should have expected something like this from that old geezer. He is associated with that girl, you know."

Kross returned the grin as his arms folded over his chest in a casual manner. "Do you think he’s on to us...? It wouldn’t be good it our plans were to be spoiled so soon by the old man."

Puttubayh chucked softly as he stood up from the chair and walked around his desk. "Touka is of no concern to us. Even if he were to hire someone to do his dirty work, we would be there to take them down before they could carry out anything! Soon, we will revive ‘him’ and then we will gain his complete submission. Then not only will we be able to control ‘him’, but also his clones! Just think about it! Our own endless army!"

Kross’ brow arched slightly. "We will gain control of him...? And I thought that he was killed by that female Hunter...that girl? How can we bring something back from the dead?"

"Ha ha....Full of Questions, I see. Don’t worry my boy, all will reveal itself in due time. You just keep a pretty face towards the public and I will deal with everything else."

"Yes sir..."

"Good. Now, I have a meeting I must attend. Keep an eye out for Touka though. He may not be a threat now, but I will not have my plans foiled again. Also call the team at the Bachnia Center and make sure that those Zeiramoid beacons stay intact." He walked over to Kross, placing his hand on his armored shoulder. "If things go as we planned, we will have the world---no! The universe at our fingertips!" With that he turned towards the elevator and the door slid closed behind him.

Kross watched him and grinned as he made his way around the desk. "Bring back Zeiram, eh, Old man...?" He sat down in the large chair propping his boots up on the desk. "If can be done, then yes, we will be the most power force in the entire universe! But there’s one thing you’re forgetting, Mr. President...." He said with a darkened, evil smirk, "...the universe isn’t big enough for the two of us..."

*****

Iria pulled up into the parking lot of a rather large building called ‘The Outrigger’, a bar which was notorious for hosting the most vile and despicable citizens of Myce. With just one glance at the place, the young Hunter could tell she was already in over her head. Just in the parking lot, she saw groups of thugs gathering around, most either rolling dice on the pavement or dealing numerous narcotics to the highest bidder. There were many, scanty-clad women who were, from Iria’s point of view, probably out to gain a few Kem from a lucky customer that might walk by. Dempadan gangs, prostitution, fights already breaking out, drug use...and hey, that was, once again, just the parking lot.

"Damn Bob...what the hell have you gotten me in this time?" Iria said softly as she slowly drove the Kreeper around, looking for a spot to park.

"Well, I wouldn’t worry as long as stay inside the Kreeper...you might want to put the shields up while you’re at it."

"Well, thanks. That’s real reassuring....!" she responded sarcastically as she parked the Kreeper off in the corner of the lot, away from most of the action.

"Just remember..."Bob went on. "Try to keep a low profile. I’m sure that some of these people don’t like to be in the company of outsiders. After all, you are somewhat of an authority figure..."

"Yeah, yeah....I know." She said as he hopped out of the vehicle, grabbing her rifle in the process. "I can take care of myself..."

"Good, then I leave you to your work then..."

Iria’s face went pale as she looked down to her armored forearm, seeing that holographic image of the AI pop up. "What are you talking about?! You can’t leave me here alone!"

"You want me to hack those files on that Hunter for you, right? I can’t be in two places at once, you know that. You partner will be around soon so just lay low until then. I‘ll check back with you in a while, ok?"

"B-but Bob--!!" Iria shouted, gaining the attention of a few bar patrons off in the distance.

"No buts. You‘ll do fine." Bob said. "Good luck and stay out of trouble."

"W-w-wait--!!" But she was too late and the hologram faded away. Iria let out a frustrated sigh as she leaned back against the side of the Kreeper. "Damn...." She looked around once again, seeing what was considered Myce’s filth at work. She noticed that a few people were still staring at her with dumbfounded looks, but she just chuckled nervously and gave them a little wave.

Just then, about ten yards off, a small, sleek, gray Kreeper came to a stop in front of the young Hunter. Iria’s brow arched as she watched the cockpit hatch open slowly. Then she let out a gasp as a male figure, donning a long, black trench coat and black helmet leaped out into the asphalt parking lot. Yes, it was Hunter Kazon Locke....the soul of silence.

"Wha--!! You...!!! Again!?!?!" Iria shouted, steam nearly coming out her ears. "You’re the old fart that swerved me out of my pay!! Please don’t tell me I have to work with you now!!" The dark figure only gave her a quick glance before turning back to the Kreeper, removing his two katanas from a cargo container and strapping them to his back.

Iria was furious and red faced now. "Hey!! Are you even listening to me!" She began to march up to the man with authority. "Now, look here you old geezer, I’m not ab--" then Iria stopped, because it was then, with his back turned to her, Kazon began to remove that black helmet.

She gazed at him with wide eyes as he slowly removed the helmet, revealing that he wasn’t a gray haired old man at all. His dark brown hair tumbled out of the helmet with those unorthodox bangs, more prominent on the right side, and 6 red and black hair beads behind his left ear. The hair towards the back of his head was pulled into a short ponytail. Iria could hear him let out a soft sigh, as if to breathe in the fresh air he was deprived of while being in the helmet. He tossed the helmet back into the cockpit and then turned to face the awestruck Iria. Instead of a pale, old, wrinkly visage she thought was behind the visor, she saw his young, flawless face of an amber skin tone.

Kazon ran a gloved hand through his thick hair, as those icy, hunter green orbs dove directly into her own reddish-brown eyes, causing her to let out a small gasp. Even from a few feet away, she could see the cold bitterness encased in those eyes, as if they were swirling with countless thoughts, making this dark man even more mysterious.

Iria continued to stare blankly. "H-he....he’s...." she thought to herself, but even her own thoughts were jumbled. The redness of her face was no longer cause by anger, but now because she was blushing. "Are-are-a-are you...my partner...?" Iria asked still wide-eyed and fumbley. "Did Dr. Touka send you a contract too?"

"....Iria, right...?" Kazon asked in a bit of a low, raspy voice. She nodded slightly as his eyes remained trained on hers, there haunting presence nearly sending chills down her spine. Kazon noticed her continuous staring as he spoke again. "...got a problem?"

"Huh...? Oh!" She quickly shook her head. "No, no! Of course not!" She said with a nervous chuckle, then she got a bit quieter. "You’re just...not what I expected. You are...Kazon Locke...?" Iria asked, "...aren’t you?"

"....just call me Kaz." He said as he finally broke the stare and glanced over to the front door of The Outrigger. Iria nodded again, but then she realized how she was talking to. Mysterious, cute, or whatever, that still couldn’t change the fact that he had cheated her out of her bounty....in her mind at least.

"Yeah, well that was a cheap stunt you pulled earlier today. I had that situation under complete control until you showed up! Then you just had to go and claim the glory for yourself!" Kazon stood silently, still keeping his eyes on the door. It was like he was in his own little world from her point of view. "Hello!!" Iria shouted at him and then she just shrugged looking away. "Great...now you act like you're deaf again...!" she said, mainly to herself. "I know you can hear me, you je--"

"Tell me...." Kazon said above her to cut her off. His commanding voice easily shut her up long enough to where he could say something.

"Wha--...?" A now clueless Iria looked back to him.

"...did you hesitate and drop your guard against Zeiram like you did in Sabaku...?"

"You know about Zeiram!!" She asked, but the only response she got from him was his arms slowly folding over his chest. "Tch...Yeah, you’ve got a marvelous personality!" She said sarcastically. Then she gave him a little smirk. "Besides...its not like you know what it’s like to fight Zeiram...!"

Her arrogant grin, however, was swept away in an instant as Kazon’s eyes finally snapped back at her quickly, making her jump back a little. That icy and seemingly emotionless stare dove right into her eyes, but this time, the gaze was was different. It was like he would lash out on her in a second if she didn't take the remark back. After boring holes through her for a brief moment, he simply shook his head as a turned to the building as head towards the door, his hands sliding down into his coat pockets. "...whatever. Let’s just get this over with...Touka’s waiting."

"H-hey! Wait up!" Iria called out as she ran to his side. "Now you tell me, how do you know Dr. Touka?"

Kazon continued to walk, giving a quick glance to the thugs that were scattered about the lot. Normally, Kazon wouldn’t answer such questions, because he was always taught not to ask or listen to questions about a job. In this case, however, working with another person, he decided to give Iria a little information...

"...maybe it’ll shut her up," he thought. "I meet him on Toawajon a few years ago..." He responded aloud. Short, but to the point.

"Well, then how old are you?" Iria asked rather curiously.

"...just like a child." Kaz though to himself. "They never know when to mind thier own business..." The dark Hunter simply shook his head as he automatic door slid open for them. "My age isn’t important. All that matters now is finding Touka..."

"...you’re no help." Iria scoffed as she walked in behind him. She took her eyes off Kazon for a moment to look around at her new surroundings. Structure-wise, the large room consisted of a ground floor then balcony with two flights of stairs on either side of the room leading up to it. But as for patrons and their effect on the atmosphere, however, weren’t as simple...

The dark, smoke filled room set off a gloomy feel to it. There were a few lights over the bar and a couple over a few of the scattered tables. Hoodlums sat at those tables and at the long stretched bar, either smoking, playing a hand of cards, men seeing what kind of action they can get into for the night. Not Myce’s most glamorous people either. The entire room was crowded and over flowing dirty, leather bound thugs along with their slinky, scanty-clad women. They were all overly loud, crude, rude...a family get-together this was not.

"How are we gonna find him in a place like this...?!" Iria said to Kazon, glancing around to the hordes of chattering people around them. "It’s a mad house!"

Kazon’s deep green orbs slowly peered around the room, glancing up to the balcony. "Just keep a low profile, don’t let anyone get the impression that you're a Hunter." He glanced around again as Iria looked over to him. She found his seriousness to his work rather odd. After all, she had been living with Fujikuro for the past year...

"So what now...?" Iria asked again.

"Split up. You take the top floor. If you find him first, get whatever information he has then meet up with me in the parking lot..." Kazon responded his hands leaving his pockets and came to a crossed position over his chest.

Iria couldn’t help but to grin a little. "And what if you find him first, huh...?"

Kazon gave her a quick glance before walking away from her. "Then that’s your loss..." Then he was gone, weaving his way through the crowd.

Iria let out a soft sigh as he began to make her way to one of the staircases. "Figures..." She began to climb up the stairs slowly and cautiously. She glanced over the rail to see if she could spot Kazon in the crowd, but could see nothing of him.

"Man..." She thought to herself. "...he so serious about his work...but...at the same time it’s like he defies it. He’s....he’s like Gren...well, in a way. Gren wasn’t such an asshole! I wonder why Kazon is like that...? But still...he‘s...still..... ....so..." She shook off the thought as she reached the top of the stairs. "C’mon Iria! Get it together! You gotta find Dr. Touka."

Iria stood there for a minute as her reddish-brown eyes glanced around the balcony floor. Fortunately, it wasn’t as crowded and full of action as the level below her, but it still contained the same types of people. She decided to walk around a bit to get a better view of her surroundings. A few of the more drunker men tried to get her attention as she strolled along, looking for Touka, but she some how managed to ignore them. After all, she didn’t want to have to shoot anyone for touching her...as Fujikuro stated before she left home.

Then she caught a glance of an old, gray haired man sitting at a table alone from the corner of her eye. "Dr. Touka?" she thought. Yes, it was the old doctor she used to know, and nothing about him had changed. He sat there in a darkened corner with his arms folded over his chest with an irritated look in his eyes. Iria smiled to herself as she stood there watching the old man, "Still as impatient as ever. Well, better get this over with..." And then she made her way over to him.

"You’re late..." The doctor said with a stern voice as Iria approached him. "I’ve wasted the last half-hour of my life in this cesspool because of you decided to take your sweet time!"

Iria casually shrugged her shoulders as she took a seat across from him. "Well your the one who wanted to come to this place...I’m just following orders. And it’s not my fault I’m late. You can blame that on the ‘Speechless Wonder’ you linked up with me."

"Yes, well..." Touka glanced around, his eyes moving to both staircases. "Where is Hunter Locke, anyway? You were supposed to stay together."

"He’s supposed to be downstairs looking for you..." She responded with another shrug. "But with his attitude, he’s probably already given up and left."

Touka grinned a bit. "No, Kazon would never abandon a job offer. He’s a very determined worker to say the least, although he still is a bit defiant. That boy’s as tough as they come, well...after everything he’s been through...who wouldn’t?"

Iria‘s brow arched slightly as she propped her elbows on the tabletop. "What do you mean by that...?"

"Let’s just say he’s been through things that would make a normal man turn gray..."

"Like you...?" Iria said with a mischievous smirk. "....‘Grandpa’..."

Touka’s eyes narrowed slightly at that nickname which was so humbly bestowed upon him one year ago. "I see you still don’t know how to watch your tongue. Respecting your elders must mean nothing to you!" He shook his head as he took two small briefcases from off the floor and set them on the table. "In any case, here’s yours and Locke’s payment. 10,000 for each of you, up front like I promised. Although I don‘t think you deserve it."

"Yeah, whatever Grandpa...but there’s something I don’t get." She said as he rest her chin in her hands. "Why exactly did you tell us to meet you here instead of going to Tedan Tippedai HQ?"

"Yes, that’s exactly why I called you here. Those higher-up weasels in the Tedan Tippedai Corporation have something up their sleeves." He said as he took the briefcases and set them back on the floor, away from peering eyes. "I wanted to meet you here because if I called you inside the main office, surely they would have caught on to me and sent in security. Plus this was the closest place where no one would interfere."

"Yeah, that’s what Bob thought too." She said. "But what are they planning to do...? Who’s all involved?"

"As you’re probably know by now, President Puttubayh and Vice-president Tsutomegi are putting new taxes in order, correct?"

"Yeah, it’s on the television all the time now..."

"Yes, well, they are using the money they receive from them to fund in their new so-called ‘Zeiramoid Extermination Project’, when in fact...Tedan Tippedai have been the ones calling the Zeiramoid all along and are putting all the money they gain from taxes into the real project!"

"What?!" Iria’s shouted as her eyes widened and her fist slammed down on the table. She got a few stray looks of confusion from the other patrons, but they quickly lost attention.

"Settle down!" Touka said quietly. "The last thing we need is to cause a commotion...!"

"What do you mean Tedan Tippedai’s the blame for the Zeiramoids?!" She said in a more quieter voice. "Don’t they know what kind of Hell they put the people through with those things on the loose?!"

"I’m the head of the science team you know. For the past couple of weeks, Puttubayh has made us construct these artificial Zeiram beacons from the DNA of the killed Zeiramoids using the information we gained on the beacon one-year ago. They’re being held in a lab far away from the city. By using these, they plan to call the Zeiramoids to Myce from the ends of the universe where they will carry out they’re ultimate agenda...."

"Ultimate agenda...?" Iria asked.

"Vice-president Tsutomegi has given Puttubayh the thought of running the planet by a fear factor. If they can intimidate the people to the point that they are too afraid to resist, then they will be the most powerful force the galaxy has ever seen. No one would dare stand in their way."

"Puttubayh?! HA!" Iria said almost with bursting with laughter. "That shrimp couldn’t intimidate his own refection in the mirror!"

"N-no....that‘s not what I mean."

"Huh...?" Iria said with a arched brow.

"They’re calling the Zeiramoids here because they intend to gain control of them and form and army that basically will replenish themselves. But the only way to do that is to--"

"--revive Zeiram so he can control them." Iria’s face went pale for a moment. "They’re not--!!"

"Yes..." Touka nodded slowly. "They are. But not necessarily ‘revive’ him. Using the same techniques use to create the beacons, they are taking the DNA of the Zeiramoids and, through the process of genetic engineering, they will construct a living organism that is a direct duplicate of that brutish creature, Zeiram. That is what they’ll use for intimidation...."

"Bring back Zeiram....? Doesn't Puttubayh know by now that Zeiram can‘t be controlled?! He’s tried it once already and look what happened!!" She said quietly as thoughts of her past battles the beast rushed through her mind. Thoughts of the unkillable butcher that haunted her dreams and....Gren... "Is there any thing we can do to stop them...?"

Touka grinned as he pulled out a folded piece of paper and slid it across the table to her. "This is a map to the Bachnia Center where the experiments are being held. Tomorrow morning, I want you and Hunter Locke to head out there and destroy those beacons and put an end to the new Zeiram Project as well. Be careful though. I don’t know how much of the new Zeiram model is complete...."

Iria took the map and gave the doctor a funny look. "You want me and the stiff to work together...? You got to be kiddin’ me!"

"Oh, please..." Touka said with a grin. "Spare me the details. After all, maybe when it’s all over, you might develop a crush on the old boy!"

Iria slammed her fist on the table again, harder this time. "You take that back!!!" This time, however, instead of just getting looks from the other patrons, she felt a hand rest on her shoulder. She let out a little gasp as she glanced over her shoulder to see four scruffy looking men, clad in leather, standing behind her with grins on their faces.

"Yanno lady...." The one with his hand on her shoulder said first. "Me and my boys here couldn’t help but notice that you and yer old boyfriend here were makin’ a bit of racket for the past couple of minutes..."

"What do you want...?" Iria said as she pulled her shoulder away from the man’s grasp. "I don’t have anything for you...."

The man pulled his hand back and grinned slightly. "Me? No, I don’t want anything. But I think my friend here would probably try as persuade you for a little something..." Just then one of the other man kneeled down beside Iria‘s chair, on the opposite side from the others.

The man had a huge stupid grin, he obviously didn’t look like the world’s brightest or prettiest man either. "Say there cutie! How’s ‘bout you and me get together and a...." He licked his lips a bit. Iria simply closed her eyes as Touka watched on. "...make a little--" But then he was cut off as a Iria’s fist made a quick shot with her fist to the man’s already nasty face.

"Bug off, creep..." She responded to the man’s request, her eyes remained closed the whole time.

The man fell down flat on his backside as he began rubbing his nose. "OWW!! Hey Boss! Ya see that! The broad went and hit me!!!!"

The one who spoke first, known only as ‘Boss’, grinned as he looked over to the pouty man. "Quit cryin’ ya wuss! You gonna take that from a woman?!"

Another man that stood in the back, probably the youngest of the group, folded his arms over his chest, a smirk on his face. "Boss, you want us to rough her up a bit...?!"

The Boss grinned as he looked back down to Iria and beat his taped fist into his palm. "Why not....? But, as always, I get firsts!" As he started to approach the nonchalant Iria, a black gloved hand grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back.

"What the--!?!?" The Boss’ eyes narrowed as he turned around to get a look at the person who grabbed him. "Now look, we’re trying to conduct a little business and we don’t want--" but before he could finish his sentence while he turned around he was face-to-face with a pair of icy, hunter green eyes, the eyes of Kazon Locke.

"Whatever business you have has to go through me first..." the silent one said in his low raspy voice, "...and I make sure you get what you deserve..."

The Boss just laughed as did his counterparts. "And who are you?" The Boss said as slightly pushed Kaz’s shoulder. " ‘Superboy’ perhaps?" He started laughing again, even louder this time. "Here comes the Knight in Shining Armor! Here to save the maiden fair!" The gang’s laughing continued as the Boss kept his eyes glued on Kazon.

But to the Boss’ surprise, Kazon just gave him a little grin of his own, instantly shutting the gang up. It was then when one of them caught a glance at the pendant Kazon wore around his neck, the licence of a Hunter.

"Uh....Boss...!!?!?" One of other gang members said in a scared voice. "He’s a....a-a-a...!"

One of Iria eyes finally peeked open and glanced over to Kaz. "So much for the ‘low profile‘...?"

"Whatever..." Kaz responded, motioning towards the briefcases at Touka’s feet. "Get the money, and meet me outside."

"Sure..." Iria said as she glanced to the Boss before looking back to Dr. Touka. "Later, Gramps!" And then quickly pushed herself out of the chair, ramming her shoulder into the gang member that was kneeled down beside her. She then ran to the other side of the table and grabbed the two briefcases and broke out to the staircace on the right in a sprint.

Touka shielded himself from the charging Iria and then yelled back to her. "Be careful tomorrow and don’t get yourself killed!"

"Alright!!" And then she stormed down the stairs.

The remaining three members, including the Boss, surrounded the silent Hunter in a triangular pattern Kazon crouched down and gave the one to his right a stiff elbow to the gut, then sweeping the man’s feet out from under him with his leg. The one on the left charged him while Kazon was still crouched but was cut short as Kaz flipped back and held him self up with one hand on the floor. He shifted his weight around, causing his legs to have a windmill effect and his metallic alloy boots both caught the man across the face. As the man twisted in the air before falling to the balcony floor rather hard, Kazon had brought his feet back to the floor and focused his eyes on the Boss as he straightened himself upright. A grin crossed the Hunter’s lips, as if he was enjoying this brief moment of action.

The boss began to step backwards as he trembled in fear of what this man would do to him next. "W-what are y-you!? Punishment from God?!" But before he could say anything else, Kazon sprinted towards him and performed a leaping roundhouse kick, his foot catching the Boss right on the side of his face. The Boss was sent flying backward through the air and crashed into Touka’s table, smashing it into pieces.

Kazon straightened himself once again as he tucked his gloved hands into his trench coat pockets. As he turned to leave, he gave Touka a quick glance.

Touka stood from his chair and brushed himself off. "Well, it’s good to know that you haven’t changed...." Kazon merely looked away from the old scientist and made his way over to the stairs.

Outside, at the two Kreepers, Iria tossed one briefcase into Kazon’s Kreeper then did the same for her own payment. She caught a glance of the black coated figure approaching her. She sighed softly as she leaned back against her Kreeper. "You didn’t make it too bloody did you...?"

"...they’re fine. Now tell me, what did Touka say to you...?" Kazon said as he propped himself against his own vehicle, folding his arms across his chest. "Just get to the story..."

Iria’s brow arched slightly, this attitude was really starting to get to her. She let out a sigh as she started repeating her earlier conversation with Touka word for word, not missing a single detail. Although it didn’t seem like it, Kazon listened intently.

"....and that’s it. So now we have to go to that center Touka mentioned and stop Tedan Tippedai’s plans." Iria said as she finished her story.

"...revive Zeiram....?!" Kazon thought to himself. "...not again. Not this nightmare again.....!!!" Little did he know that his thoughts took over his usually emotionless outward appearance for the moment. His eyes narrowed and his teeth began to grind together. "....shit. Tedan Tippedai...those idiots..."

Iria pushed herself away from the Kreeper and eyed Kazon curiously. She slowly made her way closer the dark figure and ducked a little bit to see his eyes from beneath his hidden face.

"...‘you alright, Kaz...?" But before Iria could make contact, Kazon quickly turned away and leaped into the cockpit of his Kreeper with out a word.

Iria jumped back a bit as Kazon started up the engines. "Hey, listen!" She yelled out over the low humming sound from the engine. "Meet up with me at my house in the morning! It's just outside of the city to the west of here! You hear me?!"

"I hear you...but let’s get one thing straight..." He responded, keeping his view forward and not to her. "...I'm not in this to expand friendships...when the job's done, I'm out of here. And one more thing... if I were you, I wouldn’t slow me down..." and then he pushed a button on the console, the hatch closing in a flash. The nimble Kreeper sped out of the parking lot and headed off into the streets of Myce City.

Iria let out a sigh of frustration as she stomped on the ground. "Of all the people I have to put up with...!! Now him?!"

"Iria...! Iria!!" A computerized voice called to her. Iria’s armor-clad arm emerged from the maroon cloak as the holographic image of Bob’s AI reappeared. "I got the information you wanted. You won’t believe some of this stuff..."

"Yeah, well..." Iria said narrowing her eyes, "I just had a run-in with ‘Mr. Personality Crisis’!"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean this Kazon guy was hired by Touka! Now I have to work with him!" Iria shook it off as her other hand ran through her hair. "Anyway, I got the job description from Dr. Touka, ready to hear it...?"

Bob’s ‘eye’ panned around at the surrounding’s before focusing in on the front door of the Outrigger as is slid open. Iria’s gaze followed and got a view of four fumbling men running out of the bar, the one in front was holding the side of his head in pain.

"Where are those pipsqueaks!" he called out to no one in particular. "When I get my hands on that guy...!!!"

"Hey Boss!!" One of the others said, pointing out Iria off in the distance. "There’s the girl!!"

"Umm.....!!" Bob stuttered, "Iria....!? What did you get into now!?"

Iria’s eyes widened as she saw who these people where and then turned around quickly to leap into the Kreeper, the hologram fading from view. She looked back over her shoulder the see the gang sprint toward her with that angry look in their eyes.

"Well Bob, Maybe you’ll have to wait until I get home for the explanation...!!"

"Friends of yours...!?!" Bob’s voice called out to her as she took the controls and flipped on the engines.

"You could say that...!" Iria said as the punched the throttle and sped of like a bat out of Hell, leaving the gang in a cloud of dust.

"Damn it....!" Iria thought to herself. "Today just isn’t my day!"

********************

NEXT TIME!!:
Iria returns home to gain more information on her mysterious partner, as well as play relay for Touka’s mission. Then, it’s time for the rest of the posse to meet Kaz! But how will he be accepted by the crew? Or better yet...how will the crew be accepted by him? Well I’m not going to spoil anything else but all of this and plenty of more action in IRIA: TSoS Episode 4: 'Blacklisted'!!! Stay tuned!