<p><font size="1">Iv'e actually written a whole story on this to-be-modified-into-an-adventure. Here's a little piece of it for the time being. More will be produced once I get the hang of being a dad for ankle biter two!<br /></font><br /><br />Gabriel rapped repeatedly on the facing door.<br /><br /><em>"Yeh?",</em> growled a stifled voice.<br /><br /><em>" It's me Kirby, I need to speak."</em><br /><br />Gabriel's head leaned on the door and he tapped the frame, slapping the framework as it edged open. A leering eye peered out, a pause, and the door flung open. Behind it revealed a huge, brawny man with a beaming smile. Dishevelled, and hung-over, Kirby motioned for Gabriel to enter.<br /><br /><em>" Gabriel! What brings you here? Come in, come in! Don't mind the mess!",</em> Kirby exclaimed cheerfully.<br /><br />The staleness of the air struck Gabriel as he entered. The room, unkempt and filthy. Clutter streamed over any attainable surface it could cling to. Kirby reached down and shovelled a seat clean, offering it to his visitor. The blond man steered around to the proffered chair.<br /><br /><em>" Cleaners day off?"</em> Gabriel mused softly, as he kicked a couple of empty bottle out of the way.<br />Kirby smiled, and hunkered down on the sofa and clapped Pup, a huge mongrel, who grumbled softly.<br /><em>"So what can I do for you friend?"</em> The large mans attention on Pup.<br /><br />Gabriel leaned forward. <em>"I've got a job for you. Merc work, in and out. Hostage rescue."</em><br /><br />Kirby glanced up. <em>"I got a job with Stanta. Easy work, sociable hours."</em><br /><br /><em>"Very sociable, I see."</em> Gabriel looked at the liquor bottles. <em>"This job, it's good money. Enough to get you out of this hole."</em><br /><br /><em>"Wanna drink?"</em> Kirby offered. Gabriel shook his head. Nonplussed, the big manripped open a can and quaffed a good portion. He squinted at Gabriel as he drank.<br /><br /><em>"So, what's the catch? Who's yer hostage?"<br /><br />"Juggers."</em><br /><br />Kirby stopped drinking and stared directly at Gabriel, his genial mirth suddenly gone.<br /><br /><em>"Crith! They're no walkabout! You got appropriate hardware to tackle them?"<br /></em><br />Gabriel nodded. Kirby resumed drinking slowly, and paused.<br /><br /><em>"Who's employing?"<br /></em><br /><em>"Your old associates, Vroom"</em><br /><br />Kirby's face bunched into a scowl at the name.<br /> <br /><em>"Them?" he hissed, "No chance, find someone else!",</em> spitting the last words out venomously.<br /><br /><em>"Come on Kirb. Look, the money is real good, and it's quick. In and out."<br /></em><br /><em>"Gab, I don't care about the money, an' you bloody know why! I ain't workin' for those crithers!",</em> he snarled.<br /><br /><em>" Kirb, I really need you on this, and besides I'm employing you, not them. I need the best team on this. You said yourself, Juggers are no walkover."</em><br /><br /><em>"Said it already, Gab. No chance. Why you so desperate for this job anyway?"</em><br /><br /><em>"I owe someone and they called it in,"</em> Gabriel leaned back in the sofa, sighing. <em>" And that's what I'm doing with you Kirb. I'm calling in what you owe me."<br /><br /></em>Kirby said nothing and drained the remainder of the beer, wiping the spillage from his face. He looked down.<br /><br /><em>" You're that desperate. You knew I was going to say no."<br /><br /></em>Gabriel shrugged. <em>"I had no choice. Like you."<br /></em><br />Kirby stood up, resigned to the fact. <em>"Okay, I'll grab my stuff and Pup's coming too." </em>The dog raised its head at the mention of its name. grumbled, and laid back.<br /><br />Gabriel stared at the mongrel. <em>" You want to bring that stinking mutt, fine. Be at the docks, 19 bravo, at 1700hrs."<br /></em><br /> He stood up, negotiated the debris, and opened the door.<br /><br /><em>"See you then."</em> He said, <em>" and Kirby, clean yourself up first - You're a mess!"</em></p>