[3] The Road

[Friend or Foe]

Orion had to take a walk. It pained him to leave his hostages, each worth a good hundred thousand zeni, but as long the vehicle was parked and the group was taking a breather, he may as well take a moment to relax and figure out what he was going to do. After all, he had been presented with a rather difficult choice. Take the money, or fight for justice? As a saiyan, the option seemed obvious.

"He makes a good point," somebody said, without warning.

Immediately the one-eyed saiyan turned around, one hand raised up in a defensive position over his chest. In front of him was a tall, lanky man with long brown hair, held in a ponytail. He was clearly human, mainly evident by the freckles and glasses atop his face. He looked very weak, but was standing confidently against a rock that protruded from a sandy dune, out of visible sight from the others near the vehicle.

"Who are you?" Orion demanded, "Are you spying on me?"

"My name is Sebastian," the human explained, "I'm one of Kai's lieutenants. He doesn't know I'm out here, though. I wanted to speak to you, personally, saiyan. If you don't mind."

Orion put his hand down. He looked around, preparing for something, anything, out of the ordinary. It didn't come. "If Kai doesn't know your here," Orion began, "That must mean you're doing something he wouldn't like."

The human shrugged and crossed his glove-covered hands over his chest. He looked up with red pupils, showing how little he seemed to care of the question. "I'll make it simple. Kai is paying you 100 grand each to get the hostages to him. But those runts, the redhead and the blonde...they're just chasing a ghost that's long gone."

Even though Orion was starting to get the situation, he wasn't going to throw his assumptions. Obviously, Sebastian here had something to lose if Kaden and Piper continued their hunt to stop Kai Demolic.

"You want them dead," Orion noted, "How much do I get if that happens?"

"Smart man," Sebastian said. "Two hundred thousand. Each."

He tried not to react, but Orion had to look away and click his gums, stopping himself from gasping or giving away surprise. He then looked up, raising his brows. "You people are quick to promise money with no proof it exists."

Sebastian nodded. "I wasn't about to leave you empty-handed," he said, pulling out a large bag from his pocket. "Fifty thousand zeni in large bills and coins. It'll fit in your backpack. You can count it if you want."

Still keeping his composure, Orion took it silently.

"You can keep that," Sebastian said, "Whether the job gets done or not. But you stand to make more if you play by my rules. Make sure Kaden and Piper don't get to that mansion."

The cycloptic saiyan stuffed the bag in his backpack that Kai had given all the hunters at the start of the game. "Are we done here?" He asked. Sebastian nodded without saying anything, and Orion turned to leave.

"Oh, wait," Sebastian said, "One more thing." He couldn't help it. He, like Kai, couldn't help but start trouble. It was the best thing in the world for him to pull the strings. Unlike Kai, however, he never had to a plan. He just did things and let the pieces fall where they may. "Your buddy, Ares. Keep an eye on him. I've been watching the cameras...he looks ready to cash in on your hard work...if you know what I mean."

Orion grunted through his nose and showed no sign of believing, or brushing off, the comment. He turned back around and walked away, contemplating what to do.