And "Old School" isn't too cool for some . . .

And to allay any residual fears on both sides of one side trying to screw the other over, both parties signed a very detailed contract . . . in their own blood. One does not break such contracts without serious (painful) consequences.

By now, the G-Man had seen enough to at least not roll his eyes in disbelief over this contract business. Before, he'd been somewhat condescending towards the human beings for ever having believed in their past this mystical/magical hogwash. Here, with the Champions, the fantastic was a rather true and valid .

Just thinking back to what crispy conditions the men he'd sent to "recover" Reika now happened to be in had rather been eye opening for the G-Man (re: 62148). That and subsequent events pretty much drove it home, eh?

Still, certain measures still had to be taken and thus the contract signed in blood...

Mina

"Pleasure doing business with you," grumbles Elrondir, glancing a bit resentfully at the G-Man. Applying one of those fantastic whirring healers (a "dermal regenerator" they are called) to his wounds, he sighs and mutters something about it coming down to this. That done, he then picks up the weapon that did the dead.

CLICKCLICKCLICK!! goes that infernal "butterfly" knife Elrondir used to draw blood from each and every one who signed that contract, back to ready for stowage. Believe me when I tell you that it is as wickedly sharp and well honed as every OTHER weapon that elf has on his person, believe you me!

It most assuredly leaves a painful sting afterwards as well once the cut lands home...

"Yes . . . I do say so at that," the pale man in question drawls sarcastically, attending to his own hurts and giving his own resentful glare towards us. "Now, I understand the need for blood even with an admittedly limited understanding of the actual . . . mechanics involved for this ceremony. However, why did we just have to actually receive cuts in order to perform it properly? Wouldn't hypodermic needles have done the job as well?"

Glancing at me as I offer him my own fast healing device (wonderful medical technology these "Star Trek" people possess, I must say!) he hesitates a moment, and then takes it slowly from my grasp and looks over it.

Hrmph! The G-Man is not a very trusting man I see! Not even a polite "thank you"? Well, I guess one has to expect such ill manners from curs like THIS! I swear that I shall NEVER be happy that we must be forced to continue doing business with his like!

Too much like the business I had left behind on my old home world with . . . Bond. That is one of the reasons why I was none too thrilled with coming to this-this Neon Genesis world! International intrigue and warfare is not something that anyone would wish to dive into, and yet here we are! The Angel War is done, but the intrigue is still thriving! Brings back old, unwanted memories for all of us in one way or another, I should have you know. Besides, some of these "spooks" are so trying even NOW. Why, not only an hour ago some SEELE assassin tried to actually . . .

Nevermind. This place is definitely going to be a bothersome memory soon enough. At least not ALL of it was unbearable.

. . .

Reika and Lilith...

. . .

Hm, to work and stiff upper lip and all those clichés, eh?

"Well, you did insist on a proper 'sign contract in blood' ceremony," Elrondir explains slowly in an overly patient voice. "The best ones are done 'Old School' and that my fine 'friend' means we use ceremonial knives. Anything else ya wanna know?"

The G-Man bristles at the last, still NONE to happy to know that amongst other things Elrondir had known of him was the very contents of his briefcase, somehow. Oh, not really earthshaking the contents: 3 pencils, 2 scribbled sheets of paper, a 9mm handgun in a holster, an identity card, and a portable computer. Elrondir just "shared" with the G-Man after getting a bit too fed up with the pale man's amused, superior airs. Still, while it put him in his place I must say Elrondir had been rather rude, I fear. Rather invasive intrusion of privacy, I must admit, even IF the knowledge is only from that video game the elf has played from time to time!

Yes, and I rather do fear that it's been the source of continued conflict and sparks between elf and half human/half other since then.

"Elrondir hush," I say softly, putting a firm hand on the elf's shoulder before anything more inflammatory can be said. Right now it falls either to me (as the de facto 'second in command') or Sigin to reign things in before it gets TOO out of hand. Even IF I do secretly enjoy watching the G-Man bristle from Elrondir's sniping.

Elrondir's mischievous grin vanishes as he glances up and me and sighs.

"Yes ma'am," he sighs, laying off.

The meeting soon breaks up after it was decided that they should soon meet again at the agreed upon "start point" for this Quest. Those who were of the more . . . mortal variety needed their shut eye, after all. With appropriate safeguards, of course. Dr. Akagi (the mother and daughter) are going to be sleeping up in space tonight on AK-47's spaceship for safety reasons. The rest shall see to their security (by arms or alien devices).

At least, right after this ONE loose thread is taken care of, you know.

1. "So . . . you are my mother I take?" a young sounding, pleasantly female voice asks dryly. "So . . . what exactly happened, Mother?"

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