YOU GOT THE MOTHERFUCKING RIGHT TO REMAIN VIOLENT.
Oh no, here comes the riot.
Does everything have to resort to violence?
If you think you can hide, go and try it -
Now let's let the fucking gun break the silence.
Oh no, here comes the riot.
Does everything have to resort to violence?
If you think you can hide, go and try it -
Now let's let the fucking gun break the silence.
[2003] - The Splinters of Dusk
[2009] - The Descending Angels
[2017] - The Void
It is my honor to present to you all now a new chapter in our bloodied history. In the storied tradition of those who have come before, a new group has stepped from the shadows to wreak beautiful chaos and remind you all once again your blood is not an aspect of fucking power. Idle hands prove once again to be the Devil's playthings as fatigued warriors from across the varied expanse of the city brush the dirt from their eyes and pick up arms, rising to the call put forth by Kains Son.
A former member of the warring Lateralus lineage, Kains has established himself as a warrior of note in various conflicts and spread his influence throughout our dark alleyways - learning, listening, and waiting. Too much stock, he described to me, was put into the everyday politics, blood ties, friendships, and perceptions that muddy everything we do. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication and responding to the demand for a return to simpler times, Kains has chosen to provide the supply. "You'd be amazed how many people's eyes light up at the thought," he grins to me and I can see the same light in his own gaze.
"This is as simple as payment made for work done," he tells me across the small table we have claimed. I note the open wounds on his battered self, can smell the garlic even from here, and I watch as the simple act of lifting a mug to his lips makes his limbs tremble with exhaustion. But there is a life in him, a buzzing energy that I am familiar with but is found less commonly than in years past. It is the spark of blood, battle, and the bonds forged through it. He smiles and laughs and the vitality of him is palpable, rubbing off on me. "What I'm participating in isn't an organization in the traditional sense," he continues to explain.
There is no board to sign up for nor rambling mantras of contracts, pricing, expectations, or purpose. Somewhat surprisingly, there is also no member list. The hitters, assassins, mercenaries - whatever name you place on them - are far from a forced fellowship adhering to meaningless rules and regulations. Nor are they even regular. A number of warriors, duelists, and live fighters on his contact list, Kains puts the word out that a contract is available and any who wish to partake may. Those who answer the call do not know who the contract is on until they have agreed to it, thus ensuring a level of subjective neutrality. Once agreed, the mercenary must produce evidence of at least one verifiable hit before receiving their commission, which itself is based on a number of variables.
"All jobs are available to any nonflagged member," he says, referencing a list he keeps of those who have backed out of contracts. If a mercenary accepts a contract and fails to participate in its completion for whatever reason, they are flagged and banned from receiving future contracts. As for the matter of the contracts themselves, anyone can pick up the phone. "Contracts are negotiated on a case by case basis. Factors such as time limit, sheer number of hits, profile of the target, and other smaller bits relevant to logistics go into determining a contract price." As is the industry standard, he also assures total anonymity. "Clients identities are never shared with anyone, either publicly, or to any contracted warriors. That should go without saying. Other than that, the rest of the work is extremely transparent." Simple sophistication, indeed.
An interesting new take, however, is the option for what he calls a silenced contract. Should a client wish, they have the option to pay and ensure that the target has no idea the skirmish even occurred due to a contract. "Any member breaking such an agreement forfeits their commission on the current contract and may be banned from work in the future," he assures me.
To take out a contract, he says, any interested citizen may reach out to him personally at [madmanwbox on Trillian] or find him - as I did - in the bar. "Clients only need to put a percentage down on the contract to make sure it's booked. That down payment is held and the remainder is due upon contract completion. In the event of a problem, that down payment is refunded in full." And there you have it - an open invitation to teach a lesson, get back at that bitch, or hey, just for the hell of it. I'm certainly not judging you. You need only ask yourself...
