Eodem: A Rifle and Sword Adventure (Complete)

Chapter 17: of Modernity, Mega-corporations and 'Life'

"Hello again Diaz." A man pointing a .45 Pistol in Diaz, Aliathra, Kayin and Iris' general direction affably greeted.

It didn't also help the fact that several of his associates also aimed, yet discreetly to not avoid a scene in the public Starport Terminal, their weapons to multiply the amount of force they can apply on them.

If Diaz could remember his old boss' M.O. when it comes diplomacy:
'Speak softly and carry a big or a lot of sticks.'.

Aliathra hid behind Kayin and Iris fearing the worst after her harrowing time being stowed away in nearly driven mad with the isolation and all of the 'Demonic Corruption' dismissed as severe case of 'Hysteria plus Clarke's Third Law' according to Lieutenant Rose. Kayin shielded the blonde-haired elf as he stoically stared down on their hostile welcoming party. Even Iris took up a faint combative stance, ready to unleash all sorts of magical missiles at them if they dare twitch their trigger fingers.

"Well if ain't 'Dare Runner'. How's your little exile going on?" the lead gun man asked Diaz.

He was a stout man in an intricately designed polo shirt that was completely unbuttoned to expose his sleeveless undershirt beneath it. His hair was slicked backwards creating a low dropping fade lined up to create a shiny top for the semi-well-dressed man.

"All sorts of crazy shit, some usual some you won't believe." Diaz answered.

"You know we have all been in this business for years Vinny. Try us." He challenged his disbelief.

"Well there I was in shitty Prison Garments and all of a fucking second there's some crazy Harry Potter shit flying around me. Then I got conscripted, saw some more crazy Harry Potter shit and..." Diaz tried to explain briefly the events that transpired before his arrival until the soft click of a cocked pistol alerted his ears.

Now he is staring down the dark empty barrel of a .45 ACP pistol.

"You expect me to think after all this time since you left which is, I don't know... 3 Months, you come back here and save the day?" he told threatened him.

"Whoa, what the hell happened when I was gone?" Diaz defused the slowly escalating tensions.

"Ever since you got booked the other gangs and Corpos been trying to muscle in now that one of Aparo's best men just got out of the equation." One of the triggermen said.

"Damn... 3 Months and all already the competition is stepping up? Was I really that important?" Diaz asked again the lead triggerman.

"Pretty much. But that's besides the point boy." He said before slowly asserting himself forward and pushing his pistol closer to Diaz's forehead.

"You now work for the Federation now, conscripted or not. A likely story. How can we trust you? I mean Harry Potter? That old fucking kiddie book? So, you saw what? Dragons, fancy shmancy lasers and unicorns? I call bull shit on that." The trigger man said. His finger began to slowly inch towards the hair trigger of his pistol ready to blow the Penal Soldier's head clean off.

For the Kayin, Iris and Aliathra, the situation couldn't get any worst, their sweat began to trickle down their foreheads as the two female magic users in instinctual self-preservation conjured their magic gradually ready to reign fire down on the triggermen. But Diaz smiled comfortingly to them in contrast

"Would you dare say that when I am holding this?" Vincent said as he held up a white colored smartphone from his hand.

Kayin observed keenly that the device is not Diaz's own Smart Phone.