FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Ok here's chapter 9. The beginning of this chapter and the next few tell a small piece of personal history of each freelancer that Shadow goes out with on a job. It also gives info on why each freelancer has a grudge against the Electus. Side note, I forgot to give Dead Eye a description when he first came into the story so he gets one in this chapter.

Please vote and please comment if you have something to say.

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"Forgive me father for I have sinned" a 14 year old male raccoon said. And as if to add effect "Sin" echoed off the walls as lightning flashed and thunder rumbled.

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He was of the usual coloration that raccoons had, striped bushy tail, gray and black fur and a black mask that covered his eyes, as well as the white fluffs of fur on his cheeks. Right now he was 4 feet tall (5' 7" as an adult) with green eyes, he seemed frail and week but as he gets older he'll be very athletic. He has black hair that he keeps short (even as an adult).

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It was around six in the evening. The skies were gray and darkening fast as night approached. It was raining fiercely out and there were strong gusts of wind blowing through the old crumbling church he was in. Lightning was striking violently all around as well, leading the young raccoon to believe the storm was god's wrath. He was kneeling at the alter of what was left of the church, praying for forgiveness.

His name was Kevin Einder, and he was a runaway. He had run away from home, and his abusive family. Every day he had to steal to survive and every day he'd return here. It was his home now; located on the outskirts of the town he stole from to survive. People had seen him and tried to stop him but no one could ever find him, and no one ever bothered to check the old church. Being that it was a house of god; even in its ruined state, he believed he would be safe and every time he did wrong he'd pray for forgiveness.

He grimaced as pain shot up from his leg. He had nothing to clean or bandage the wound he had received just the day before. It looked as if infection had set in and there was a rotten smell emanating from it, he figured that this too was part of god's wrath and was fitting punishment for what he had done. He cursed himself for the thousandth time for going to that farm.

Yesterday he had stolen some food out of a farmer's kitchen and was spotted. He had stolen from the farmer's neighbors and this one was going to make sure that nothing of his got stolen. Right when young Kevin exited the house and had gotten into clear view; unknowingly, of the farmer, he was fired upon. The farmer wasn't trying to hit him just scare him, then threaten him if he ran he'd shoot, but the energy round that flew from the farmers rifle hit Kevin in the leg. He managed to escape due to the adrenalin that was rushing through him, but he was badly injured.

As he put his paw just above where the shot had hit, he heard footsteps. He tried to get up but his leg gave out on him and he fell on his side; the leg with the wound smacked against the stone floor and with his body weight being put on it in a strange way he couldn't help put cry out in pain.

Whoever had entered the church had heard his cry and was in the room in seconds. When they rushed into the room Kevin was rolled onto his other side grasping at his leg; tears freely flowing from his eyes.

When Kevin managed to look at who had found him, he noticed right away the black and blue uniform of the police officers. He would have run if he could but he could hardly move his leg without it hurting. The officers looked at Kevin then walked over. One spotted the injury that Kevin was grasping at and he called in and said that they needed medical assistance.

After the ambulance arrived and they got him loaded up they took him to the town's hospital. After he was taken into the O.R. to clean out the wound and seal it up, he was given some antibiotics to help with the infection. Since he had an infection he couldn't be put on the healing accelerators; due to the fact that the infection would also accelerate, so he had to heal the old fashioned way.

Later that night while Kevin was passed out in bed, several humans walked into the hospital. They went and talked to the head director of the hospital and asked what patents had recently been admitted and their backgrounds.

When they were told of Kevin they went and talked with his doctor. After discussing it with him and the director they managed to "Persuade" them into letting them have him. After that night he wasn't heard of again. When he next woke up he was in a laboratory where there were humans...and only humans, dressed in white coats; all giving him disgusting looks. He was surrounded by other furs; cubs and teens alike, all kept in cages like animals.

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

Five years later Kevin was still there; although just a shell of his former self. He was the only one that was still alive; and the only one who ever survived any of the experiments he was put through, from when he was first brought in. New cubs and teens arrived and left usually in the same day, some would survive for a while; a week, a month, but would usually die after that. It was tragic that so many were brought here and tested on like rats then disposed of as if they were used rags.

Everyday he prayed for forgiveness from god; believing this to all be punishment for what he did, also being that he was the only one who ever lived it seemed like god was allowing him to live just so he could be punished even more.

Today there were only three furs in the cages, Kevin, and two younger furs about ten years old, both wolves. They looked like they could have been twins, one girl and the other a boy. They had been brought here about a year ago. He usually never talked to any of the furs in the cages but, something made him talk to them.

He found out that they had been taken from their older sister, after the three of them had been taken from a planet that was on the edge of the frontier. It was on a transport ship of some kind that their sister was separated from them on. Their names were Tiffany and Michael Nance, their older sister's name was Kathy. He always talked to them and was glad when he was brought back into the room and they too had returned.

Again humans entered and unlocked their cages and dragged the three of them away, just like everyday before this one. Today however, he had a bad feeling and was worried for them. He was experimented on and put through multiple tests. When they were done, he was still alive. They seemed very excited that he lived through this one for some reason.

After the experiment that day he felt totally drained. This experiment seemed to be different, and he felt different from the other times. When he was thrown into the cage that had been his home for the last five years he noticed that he was the only one brought back.

"They must have been killed..." Kevin said sorrowfully, not that they didn't live but for they were able to die and their torture was able to end unlike his. He just wished he could have said goodbye.

Then once he had been sitting their for a few minuets, passing in and out of consciousness he did something different then what he usually did.

"Please god..." He started in a shaky voice "Just let me die. I can't...I can't take it anymore. (Sigh) Please, free me from this pain." He asked before passing out.

Several hours later he awoke to the sounds of screams and gunfire. There were several humans in the room watching over him, and they seemed like they were about to transport him somewhere else. They were fully armed and had their weapons at the ready but that didn't help them for when another human; with short brown hair, hazel eyes, and multiple minuet scars that lined his arms, entered the room.

They all went to aim their guns at him but he had disappeared. Kevin didn't know what happened, but the next thing he knew the human with the hazel eyes was on the other side of the room and the several other humans dropped dead with blood spraying from their necks due to slit throats.

This human looked around the room. There was no expression on his face but it looked like he was looking for someone in particular. Being that he was the only one in a cage the human opened his cage door and looked at him. Kevin was very thin from malnourishment and all the experiments he had been though. The human; however noticed all this, seemed like he didn't care. There was no emotion on his face at all, and when he spoke it was like hearing hollow words.

"Get out, you're free now." The human said before he turned around and exited the room.

Kevin was in shock for a few moments but once he snapped back to reality he said "Thank You." Before he slowly got up and exited the cage.

He followed this human, knowing only that he freed him. He had killed the others that had tormented and experimented on him for years. He followed him for a few minuets, the next thing he knew they were outside. It had been the first time the sun had shined down on him in five years. He was brought back to reality when he heard more gun fire.

The human who had freed him just killed another guard and had started walking off towards a ship. Kevin went to follow him but he suddenly got a nervous feeling. He looked around and when he looked out towards the horizon he actually spotted a snipers nest. He couldn't explain exactly how he was able to see it so far away. It was like his eyes actually closed in on the sniper. He could perfectly describe the man who was had his rifle pointed at the human who freed him.

Thinking quickly Kevin grabbed the gun from the guard that had just been killed. The human with hazel eyes turned around and saw him grabbing the gun. The teen pointed the rifle towards the horizon and fired without hesitation. Whatever he fired at was hit just as another gun went off in the distance. An energy round had just flown by the human's head and hit the wall behind him; he stared at the charred mark on the wall for a moment before he looked at Kevin and asked.

"What did you just fire at?" In a deadly calm voice.

The sound of the human's voice frightened Kevin but after a moment he found his voice and said "There was a man aiming a rifle at you."

"How did you know he was there?" the human asked, intrigued at what he had to say.

Kevin looked down; not truly knowing the answer him self, said "I just got a feeling someone was there...and when I looked I saw him. I could see him as if he was as close as you are right now."

"They tested on you a lot here, didn't they?" The human asked which Kevin nodded.

The human turned around and started walking off, but before he took two steps Kevin said "Please...take me with you."

The human stopped and turned around. He looked at Kevin then said "Why should I take you with me?"

"You saved me from this hell. The least I can do is pledge my life to you. I'll do anything I can to help you." Kevin said as he stared at the human.

After a long pause the human said "Fine, considering what you were able to just do. With a little training you could become a great aid to me. Tell me what your name is."

"My name, It...its Kevin." He told him, surprised he still remembered it.

"I‘m Freelancer Delta, you can call me Delta."

Delta signaled him to follow him as they headed towards the ship that Delta was previously heading too. When he got there and keyed in the password the ramp opened up. He headed straight to the bridge where a wolf girl; maybe eighteen, sat. When she saw Delta she cheered up a bit but, when she only saw Kevin behind him the look on her face went dull again.

"You didn't find them?" she asked in a sorrow filled voice and looked like she about to cry.

"No...only him." Delta said as he pointed at Kevin.

"Oh...maybe you can help me?" She asked Kevin as she brightened up a bit, he nodded and she continued "I'm looking for my little brother and sister; they were taken a little over a year ago. Their names are Tiffany and Michael and ten years old, have you seen them?"

Kevin stood dumbfounded for a few moments. He was horrified at what he was about to tell her. He looked down as he said "You must be Kathy right?"

If he was looking he would've seen her face light up; believing that her siblings where still alive somewhere, as she said "You've seen them? Please where did you see them, where are they?"

"I...I think their dead. I last saw them a few hours ago." He said, wishing that these two had showed up earlier.

The look on her face faded into one of shock, sorrow and anger, all at the same time. She didn't mean to lash out but she couldn't help herself. She tried to attack Kevin; already she learned never to attack Delta. Delta grabbed her and held her as she tried to claw Kevin but after a while she broke down to tears and sobbed uncontrollably.

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Dead Eye awoke and shot straight up into the sitting position. He was panting a little in the cold night air. He laid back down and let out a sigh as he closed his eyes.

"Looks like you had a nightmare." Shadow said from the bare cold stone wall he was leaning against.

Dead Eye and Shadow had positioned themselves on the top floor of an old ruined building. Half of the wall in front of them had crumbled some time ago, letting them have a clear view of the town they were in. The targets that they were to take out would be meeting in this ruined town. It was the first settlement set up on the planet they were on, it had been abandoned when bigger settlements started up, and also the fact that wild animals would occasionally find their way into town and feast on its citizens.

"Yeah." Dead Eye said as he sat up again and looked over to Shadow "How come you're not sleeping?" he asked.

With a chuckle he said "You know me, I can hardly ever get a good nights sleep. That and I decided to tune this up a little while we wait." He added as he patted a rather large gun by his side that Dead Eye had never seen before.

"If I ask where you got that thing would you tell me?" Dead Eye asked.

"Sure, you know how I always went to a privet room on the Ira. Well I made it there over a couple years." Shadow said as he looked out across the barren grasslands that bordered the town.

"What does it do?" Dead Eye asked as he stretched and yawned.

"Don't know, figured I'd test it on the targets. If it doesn't work I still have this to use." Shadow said as he patted a phase rifle that was next to him. "So what was your dream about?"

"Just...memories of what my life was like before Delta freed me, and the day he freed me." Dead Eye said as he shivered.

"Hmm so I guess I'm not the only one whose memories keep them up." Shadow said when the sound of vehicles pulling up was heard. "Hey get up, looks like our targets are here."

Several vehicles pulled up in the center of the town, three from the east and another three from the north. Shadow grabbed the large gun he made and aimed it at the vehicles as Dead Eye grabbed his rifle and aimed it at them too.

A few moments went by and nothing happened except the cars had stopped. A few more minutes past by and sill, nothing happened. Dead Eye was looking at the targets but something moved in the corner of his eye, but when he looked there was nothing there.

Shadow swore he heard footsteps in one of the other buildings but he didn't see anything. Dead Eye spotted more movement and this time he swore he saw someone ducking under cover. He was feeling worried now.

"Shadow...I think this job was a set up." Dead Eye said as he slowly backed away from the spot they were nested at.

"I think your right. Stay under cover; I'm going to go check something out. If you can, cover me from here." Shadow said as he moved towards the door, stopped and scanned the hall before venturing further.

Shadow walked towards the end of the hall towards the stairwell. He listened to see if he could hear anyone, when he heard nothing he started going down the stairs. He went down a few flights of stairs before going towards an opening on the second floor. He got there just as he saw a few people moving against the wall towards the building that he and Dead Eye were in. He didn't get a good look at them but he knew that they were human.

"Shit" Shadow said as he edged back before heading back to the stairs.

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Dead Eye on the other hand had edged back to where he could see out side and that's when he saw a few men running behind a building. He managed to see that they were wearing power armor similar to their own.

"Freelancers? No...Outcasts!" Dead Eye said in surprise as he tapped his comm and contacted Shadow and quietly said "Shadow, we're up against Outcasts be careful."

"Oh fucking perfect. They may be like the ones I went up against while on earth, which means they have gene modifications. You be careful, I can handle myself." Shadow said before the line went quite.

"Yeah, I know you stand on equal ground but where does that leave me?" Dead Eye said to himself as he saw even more Outcasts show up.

He let out a sigh before remembering that they had arrived here on the Ira and that Nerah could beam them out. He tapped his comm again and said "Shadow, can you talk?"

After a moment, Shadow replied "Yeah, what's up?"

"Can't Nerah beam us out of here?"

"Maybe, but this was a trap set up for us. They may have planned ahead but I'll see if she can. Give me a sec." Shadow said and the line went quite again.

It was taking to much time, Dead Eye was about to contact Shadow again when gun fire erupted from down stairs.

"Shit, they found him." Dead Eye said as multiple Outcasts started heading towards the building they were in. "Might as well get some target practice." Dead Eye said to himself as he took aim and started downing multiple targets.

He had the output setting on his rifle at max so when he hit his targets heads they practically exploded; sending blood and brain matter flying. Each hit was fatal on his targets; some had their arms blown off with portions of the torso while others chests where blown open.

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"Sorry boss, but they've got anti-transporter shields in place." Nerah told him, and unaware to her or Shadow an Outcast overheard what she said.

"Damn...ok then see if you can..."

"There they are, FIRE!" one of the Outcasts yelled.

"Oh hell." Shadow said as he ducked under cover as multiple energy and phase blasts hit around him. He heard Dead Eye start firing from his perch up on the top floor and wondered how long it would be until they figured out where the sniper fire was coming from.

He quickly shot up and ran towards the stairwell when the incoming fire lightened up. He made it to cover just as several shots hit the wall he was hiding behind. Now he could return fire but sticking his head out to see what he was firing at was suicide. So he resorted to blind fire; he stuck the rifle out and fired in the direction the enemy was in. If he was lucky, he would manage to hit a few.

The blind firing wasn't doing much, but Shadow remembered he put his new toy at the stairwell on the other side of the building on the second floor. The building's stairwells would switch from one side to the other, making you have to head down a long hall to get to the next stairwell to go to the next floor.

"Oh yeah. That might do some damage." Shadow said as he returned fire once more before running up the stairs.

The blind fire didn't fool them; they knew he was heading up so they were right on his tail. Luckily none of them had his speed so he managed to reach the gun and shoulder it before they even reached the stair well.

They were coming up slowly. He hid in the other stair well with his toy at the ready. It was dark in the hall so he managed to hide in the dark as he aimed the gun right at the row of Outcasts heading for him.

"(Eat this.)" He said in his head as he pulled the trigger...nothing happened.

He was about to lower the weapon and grab his phase gun when the weapon in his hands emitted a loud screeching sound. He managed to refrain from dropping the gun to put his paws over his ears, but the Outcasts had no luck. They dropped their guns and tried to block out the noise. Then the weapon made a powering up sound then released the energy it had stored.

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Dead Eye had been firing at the Outcasts but now they had found out where he was and were returning fire. He hadn't heard anything from Shadow and hopped he was ok. He just took down his thirtieth Outcast when he heard a screeching sound then felt a shockwave as something blasted its way out of the building.

From where he was perched he saw a pure blue beam of concentrated energy fly out of the building. It not only cut its way through this building but collapsed the neighboring buildings all the way out of the town. The beam shook the building badly and it could have come down but it managed to stay standing.

Dead Eye hit his comm and said "Shadow was that you!"

After a moment Shadow responded with "Yeah...I didn't think that would happen."

"What the hell was it?" Dead Eye yelled as he took out a couple retreating Outcasts.

"You know that gun I made...that was it. I didn't think it would do that, hell it tore the first Outcast apart and incinerated the rest behind him." Shadow said.

"Haha, yeah it also took down several buildings that it passed through...can you make me one?" Dead Eye had to ask.

"To unstable...if I can get it to work the way I want it too then yeah, I'll make you one...Shit more trouble." Shadow said and he resumed firing with the phase gun.

After their momentary surprise and retreat the Outcast began to re storm the building. Dead Eye resumed firing at them but stopped when he saw several mech suits being brought in.

"Shadow...we got a problem." He said after he hit his comm.

"What now?" Shadow asked; annoyed.

"Mech suits...looks like AM model series. All seem to be the new model too..."

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Shadow had just taken out a few more Outcasts when they began to retreat again. Dead Eye called and gave Shadow bad news...then worse news when he said "new model too."

"AM Nova's?" Shadow asked.

"Yep."

Shadow sighed then hit his comm and contacted Nerah and said "Nerah...we need e-vac now. We got a few AM Nova's heading our way."

"Sure thing boss? Where do you want the LZ to be?" Nerah asked.

"Sit that bird right on my head." Shadow said as he headed up towards Dead Eye.

"Ok boss. ETA one minute, be on the roof please." Nerah said cheerfully.

Shadow continued running up the stairs at top speed. He reached Dead Eye just as an energy round hit his shoulder. Shadow went over to him and checked his wound. He wouldn't be able to move his arm for quite a while, which put him out of action for the time being. Shadow quickly grabbed Dead Eye and proceeded towards the roof.

"Ugh...that fuckin hurts." Dead Eye said as they reached the stairwell that led to the roof.

"I know, just hang on. We'll be out of here shortly." Shadow said as he kicked open the rotten door that led to the roof; he could have just walked right through it due to haw badly it had rotted.

When they stepped out onto the roof three AM Nova's began firing at the building, causing it to shake and fall apart. Half the building collapsed right there. Now there was no safe way down except jumping. Thankfully they didn't have to do that, several beams of energy started coming down from the sky as Nerah piloted the Ira and fired at the enemy mech's.

She made it hover in the air as the side ramp lowered it self and Shadow threw Dead Eye on before he jumped over to it. An energy round found its way right into Shadows leg as he jumped and nearly made him miss the ramp. He was holding on just by the edge but managed to pull himself up before more shots found their way to him.

When he was completely on the ramp, Nerah closed it and piloted the Ira higher into the atmosphere. Nerah used two of her remote controlled gurneys to go get Dead Eye and Shadow. Once they arrived where both Shadow and Dead Eye were Dead Eye got into one while Shadow just looked at the other.

"Boss you were hit in the leg; you need to go to the med bay too." Nerah told him with out letting him answer.

He slowly got into the other and then they were both rushed to the med bay. Shadows leg wound was minor so he could attach a mobile healing accelerator to his leg. Dead Eye's shoulder wound was more serious, it had struck close to his neck so he needed to stay in med bay while the larger body sized healing accelerator swung over him and started to heal his wound.

"I'll be fine here. Go find out why all those Outcasts where there." Dead Eye said as he laid back and closed his eyes.

"Sure thing." Shadow said as he limped out of med bay and headed towards the bridge.

He had just entered the bridge when Nerah said "Boss...we got a problem."

"What's the problem?" Shadow asked as he took a seat in the captain's chair.

Nerah switched on the camera screen and let Shadow see what the problem was. On the screen was an I.F.H.W. Battleship. Shadow let out a worried laugh as his eye twitched. He also noticed that there were Outcast ships with it, following just behind it.

"Boss?"

"See if you can mask our trail before they see us." Shadow said.

"Sorry boss, they know we're here."

"Fuck, we might have to fight them." Shadow said doubtfully when a light started flashing on his controls.

"Boss Dead Eye just activated the Rail gun." Nerah informed him.

Shadow opened the comm link to Dead Eye and said "What are you thinking Dead Eye?"

"I thinking I can hit that Battleship from here." Dead Eye said.

"It may be the only way boss." Nerah said.

"Fine, Dead Eye you hold off firing until we're in space and directly in front of it, Nerah get us directly in front of that ship but stay as far from it as you can." Shadow said as Nerah piloted the Ira into space.

Once the Ira was in space, the Battleship started heading towards it. The Ira's rail gun was charging as the Outcast ships followed right behind the Battleship. By the time the rail gun was fully charged and Dead Eye was about to fire, the Outcast ships where about half way past the Battleship.

"Hey when it explodes they'll get taken with it." Shadow mused.

Dead Eye aimed the rail gun and when it was locked on target he fired. As the projectile flew towards the Battleship Dead Eye and Shadow both watched and waited for the big bang to happen. Something else happened that horrified them.

When the projectile was just meters away from hitting the ship, it hit a strange new type of shield. The projectile was destroyed but the energy it had around it got dispersed around the Battleship and hit the Outcast ships. They were destroyed but the Battleship was undamaged.

Shadow and Dead Eye watched on separate screens, but saw the same thing. Both of their eyes twitched. Then something started to open on the ship and something that resembled a barrel started to rise out of the ship. It started charging up as Dead Eye made a frantic call to Shadow.

"Get us the hell out of here! That's the same weapon that fired at me from that Electus ship! Our only choice is to get out of range." Dead Eye yelled over their comms.

"Boss...now might be the perfect time to activate that upgrade you made in engineering." Nerah said.

"Hey I thought you made that gun in engineering?" Dead Eye asked as Shadow was maxing out the speed of the Ira.

"Well I did that too...what Nerah's talking about is; at least in theory, an FTL drive. Several companies that work in secret for us Freelancers have been making the advancements in technology to create it. They wanted a ship to test it out, so I offered the Ira as a test ship. They said I could test it whenever I wanted, so this I'll be that time.

"You're kidding right? You haven't even tested it yet!" Dead Eye said.

"Well how about this then, we die by the enemy or we can try and be the first ones ever to enter FTL or die trying? Your choice." Shadow said as the enemy gun was almost fully charged.

Dead Eye was considering trying to go back and destroy the gun, but he hit himself upside the head and said "What are you thinking...Go ahead Shadow, I just hope we don't die." He said and closed his eyes and started praying.

"Nerah are we at top speed?"

"Yes boss."

"OK then...activate the FTL drive." Shadow said and held onto his seat.

At first nothing happened except the Battleship firing its main gun at them. Time seemed to slow down for them as the energy blast traveled swiftly towards them. Since nothing was happening Shadow figured it was a failure...so he actually closed his eyes and prayed.

"God...we don't talk much, but I guess a little faith never hurt anyone. Please, get us through this."

Both Dead Eye and Shadow's fur was standing on end by now as the energy beam closed in on them. They were almost overtaken when a sound emanated from engineering. Right when Shadow opened his eyes everything flashed by in mere seconds. They were far away from the Battleship and out of harms way, and already a few hundred light years away from where they were. They stayed in FTL for about another minuet. They were going so fast that nether Dead Eye or Shadow dared move; they were already three fourths the way to the Sol system when they exited FTL.

The ship started to rumble as it dropped out of FTL. Engineering was practically destroyed and the long rage communications had shorted out from the electrical current from the energy blast. The engines were toast as well due to the overload in energy; which is what wrecked engineering.

Luckily they ended up near a fur friendly planet. After establishing contact with them, the planet sent a tug ship to them. After the tug ship showed up and started pulling the Ira to the planets space stations dry dock for repairs. Shadow and Dead Eye both headed to the med bay.

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

"Shadow...don't ever do that again." Dead Eye said as they both lay in med bay, recovering from their injuries as well as the being checked for any negative effects of entering FTL.

"I can't make any guarantees...at least we're not dead. And we can live to see another day and another job." Shadow said as he started to fall asleep.

"You can go on another job...I'm stuck sitting on my tail for a while." Dead Eye joked; he didn't mind taking a small break after that job.

"We need to find out how the Outcasts knew we'd be there. That was too many on just a hunch." Shadow said.

"Yeah, and with that Battleship there, with that weapon too...I think the Electus is either arming the I.F.H.W or arming I.F.H.W. ships that are primarily controlled by Electus members." Dead Eye said.

"Probably, I think we may have a spy on Inner Haven telling them where which Freelancer goes where and on what job too." Shadow said and shook his head.

"I agree...but who. Who in Inner Haven would be able to do it?" Dead Eye asked.

"I don't know...we have to let Delta know first off though. Since he's staying on Inner Haven for a while, he can search for the traitor." Shadow said.

"All the while we have to go and get shot at...lucky bastard." Dead Eye said then looked at Shadow; who was looking at Dead Eye, they both burst out laughing.