WD rule eighteen is entitled 'Bad guys plan for funerals, not retirement.'

Previous rule seventeen: One realizes ignorance truly is bliss only after a little knowledge becomes a very dangerous thing.

Next rule nineteen: Good Gamers avoid the game over screen. Exemplary gamers see the game over screen as a benchmark for greater gameplay.

Summaries page

-Short summary-

Giancarlo explains his reasons for leaving science for drug pushing as a big name drops into the race for (and against) World Destruction.

-Long summary-

Despite the morbidity and possible inappropriateness of making the trip, Lukas and Jitka make the trip the Bao Zheng Cemetery as they wait for Jia to recover. The day before they had gone to the Hefei Luzhoufu Temple, and Jitka had secretly (overtly) insisted she be taken to the Hefei Wildlife Zoo. Lukas has to admit that while he had some misgivings regarding traveling with his brother’s shooter, he is deriving a fair amount of enjoyment of he and Jitka’s travels. Of course even if he wanted to complain about it, he can’t since it’s her mission to ensure he does not contact his friends. Fair enough. Lukas can respect that, as he’s under orders himself. Just because for the most part his mission had ended doesn’t mean that Jitka’s done too.

So when he gets a call from Nolan after they leave the cemetery, it serves to put a minor wedge between the two. Minor of course being a major understatement. It’s as if all of their merriment vaporizes into thin air and the two are right back to where they started before the whole Dao debacle. Lukas glances down at his phone and intends to answer it when he feels Jitka’s eyes on him. She’s reaching into a pocketbook with the intent to shoot it from his hand, but the operative gives a heavy sigh and then a look of pure malignance. He very quietly states that he does understand she has her orders, and he does respect her abilities, but he’s not breaking the rules here. Beyond that she is keeping him from communicating with his team. He’s put up with it so far, but she shouldn’t think he’s simply going to stay quiet forever. The welfare of his team is his highest priority –even higher than himself. He can promise not to talk about Salvo, and promise not to reveal she’s here if that will pacify her, but he’s not going to ignore this call. So if she’s going to shoot him, she’d might as well wait till after he’s done talking. However he’s not going to take it lying down, so she should be prepared for that too.

Jitka appears to think this over for a moment, and with a resigned sound removes her hand from the pocketbook and turns away from him in an attempt to give him privacy. Lukas replies with a curt ‘thanks’, and then answers the call.

Nolan’s voice barely hides his surprise that he managed to get Lukas despite only trying to call him once. He asks his boss how things are going in China? Lukas glances at Jitka who is checking her face in a compact mirror (or more likely for people behind them) quickly and replies to his teammate that things are going pretty well. He managed to finish Ruka’s work, and is just enjoying the sights. To keep things from going into getting-shot-for-divulging-this territory, he then surmises something his going on at home? Nolan’s not the type to call unless there’s something going down. Nolan grunts affirmatively. He then tells his boss about Matilde’s sniper, Mo’s WD theorem tip, and the current search for the aforementioned sniper. Lukas is intrigued by this new tip Mo found, and asks Nolan if he knows anything about it? Nolan doesn’t hide his chagrin from knowing next to nothing and how not surprising that is considering Mo. Lukas concurs, but he figures Mo’s judgment is impeccable so if she thinks she has something she probably does. Nolan is less than convinced, but doesn’t voice this aloud –Lukas knows how he feels about Mo already, and it doesn’t change the situation much to harp on about it. He then lowers his voice and asks his boss about his plans involving Ruka? She had vaguely hinted that what they witnessed was something orchestrated by him. Lukas neither denies or confirms this and replies instead that they’ve got a lot to do in order to stop Matilde's plans –whatever they are from gaining traction. He apologizes that he can’t say too much since with her watchful eyes having plausible deniability is important, but he will keep them in the loop as much as possible. He can almost hear Nolan shaking his head disapprovingly over the phone as he responds to his boss that traveling into the lion’s den alone is equal parts noble and foolish. Lukas agrees, but there’s no gain without risk. He thanks Nolan for the update, and asks him to keep an eye out for Matilde’s gunman. He’ll be back within a few days, and then he can help figure out what’s going on in regards to that. Nolan agrees and ends the call after saying goodbye. Lukas looks into the screen and then back at Jitka who seems to be staring into space with a lost expression. He stands and stretches before asking her if there’s anywhere else she’d like to go? Lihwa and Jia are understandably busy, and exploring anywhere alone isn’t much fun. Jitka gives him a pointed look and shrugs. Lukas grins and asks if she’d like lunch? –His treat. Chinese food in China isn’t the most novel idea, but they say eating stuff from the source is better tasting and better for you. Jitka stands and nods in agreement.

After finishing his phone call, Nolan joins Heike outside of the Sevens’s HQ. Heike yawns and asks in annoyance where this sniper guy is supposed to be? Ruka had made it sound like he’d be somewhere obvious, but in the end he’s probably hiding nearby isn’t he? Nolan wonders if he’d even try again at this point? Nothing’s worse for a sniper than to know his target is onto him, and they had made it very obvious by taking shifts guarding Matilde in collaboration with Wargle. Heike figures it all depends on whether he’s an amateur or not. See, if he were he might try again out of desperation. Someone gunning for Matilde has information on their side since she’s not exactly a celebrity, and although he’s not too sure right now , this also screams ‘paid hit’. Why else would they risk gunning down someone like her? If this amateur has to report to someone, he’s not going to want to start off his report with ‘Uh you see what had happened was….’

Nolan points out that Heike is contradicting himself. Why send an amateur to take on such a momentous job? Wouldn’t only the best sniper do? Heike runs his hand through his hair and admits he’s kind of fuzzy on that part himself. Although a sniper’s whole raison d’etre is not being seen and therefore not having to get concerned with what the target might do if they get caught, he wants to imagine that anyone who knows what kind of shit Matilde has done would stay far away from this job. There really can’t be enough cash in the world that would get someone to deal with her voluntarily—unless of course they were an amateur who was only given some details on the job. Y’know, stuff like who to hit and where.  The two men stand silently for a moment, the gears in their heads working to figure out this whole situation until Nolan ‘ah’s’ with an epiphany. Heike’s right that there probably isn’t enough cash to get someone to take on Matilde, but what if the reward for this isn’t cash? There are other ways to motivate people. Heike muses on this for a moment and then asks if he means being threatened into it? That might do it sure, but what sniper is gonna let themselves end up in that situation? Nolan admits there are very few, but Heike has his own epiphany and realizes that being promised a ‘status’ might do the trick. Cash lasts a while, but status can last a lifetime. The Irishman rubs his chin and admits this makes sense. What kind of status though? Then the two look at each other and point. Immunity. Being able to kill without having to worry about the repercussions. There’s only one sniper who’s literally gunning for such a thing, and his profile fits this job snugly. Now that they know who they’re looking for, finding him should be that much easier….right? Heike grins and says he’s got a pretty good idea of where to look.

Meanwhile Mo and Meifa pull off onto an alley deep in some Baltimore suburb with their guest Giancarlo in the back seat. The car is in bad shape with bullet holes in the trunk and back window, a broken passenger rear-view window, and driver’s wheel shaft mostly exposed. Meifa is still proud of her driving, and says she’ll do the getaways for now on. Mo glares at her and asks if she was trying to hit every trash can she could find? She essentially had to buy this car, and while it is hers now she was hoping to save it for another time she’d need to run away from someone. Meifa answers the first question with an empathetic ‘Hell fuckin’ yes’. And continues by saying that they can just charge Nosfaro or whatever lame ass moniker he’s going with for saving his life. Just raise the price by just enough to buy two cars, and a paint job, and tag and licensing fees and---

Mo rubs the bridge of her nose. Great.  She’s created hell on wheels. Though honestly Meifa had done a pretty decent job of outrunning their pursuers. They had shaken them off a while back, but Mo wanted to be careful and asked Meifa to drive through town for a while until they were sure the guys were completely off their tail. She could have done without the running into trash cans on purpose bit, but she’d be lying if she didn’t admit Meifa shows some real promise. She then turns to Giancarlo who’s nursing a lump on the side of his head as he mutters curses. Meifa had hit a right turn kinda hard and he winged his head on the car window. Mo feels a little sorry for him (emphasis on ‘a little’.) Though he really deserves it for lying to them.

She then declares it time to introduce himself proper. As he can see he needs more help than a couple of bouncers can provide. She knows guys who can give that kind of help, but only to those who she can be sure aren’t bullshitting her. Giancarlo glares at her and keeps his actual thoughts in check as he asks again who she is and who she works with. Mo reminds him that she’s asking the questions, but replies that she and her friend are working with a certain agency….not quite fed, but close enough. She knows about CPI because her agency had managed to talk to Pietro himself. Giancarlo gives her a look and murmurs that she’s pretty badass then. The old man makes sure to stay out of the public eye.

He introduces himself as Giancarlo Ferraro. Despite his image he actually went to school and all that shit. Studied medicine and biology. While he was in the educational joint (his words), he and a few other guys were approached by CPI people looking for researchers on a ‘World changing’ project. They would be paid handsomely for their efforts, and lets be honest. Schoolin’ ain’t cheap. Meifa’s eyes widen and she asks if he’s saying he has student loans? Giancarlo gives her the evil eye, and Meifa laughs out loud. This is fucking rich!! A drug dealer with student loans?  She’s heard of strippers and shit who have to dance to pay their way through school, but who the fuck gets the loans and then turns to crime? You coulda just dropped out then!

Mo asks him to ignore her and continue. So CPI is looking for new blood huh? Means that they’re actively working on improving or changing the WD theorem? Penbur was on that team years ago and stole something. Though this was before the church fell into Uncle Sam’s pocket. Giancarlo whistles and doesn’t hide that he’s impressed she knows that much. Yeah, they’re working on stuff on the down, down, down, down low. The Govt guys probably don’t know anything about it, because they deal with Pietro and he makes sure to keep a distance from them. Mo frowns at the implication that there’s even more work being done in regards to world destruction. Had they ever even stopped working on the theorem?  She’d have to look into that later with Lukas.

Giancarlo then explains that he and the other scientists were hard at work on the research CPI had gathered, and making small strides. However this all came to a terrifying halt once the Church decided to bring outside help to speed up the process and keep the US Government at bay. Truth be told the Church had been running the group of scientists they had ragged to keep research streamlined, but since this is a hush-hush project they can’t exactly go advertising opportunities on Monster. So they got someone known for his expertise on science and underworld crime. His epithet alone brings fear to those who oppose him, and glory to those he supports.

One day in the lab, production ceased so that a man in black can introduce the new ‘help’. The scientists are happy to have a possible reprieve, and prepare to give the newcomer their warm welcome.

A man wearing a dark black jacket and fedora strides in, his small-rimmed glasses and narrow blue eyes serving to cage the overwhelming aura that comes from him. He has a black beard and wears slacks and a comfortable pair of brown doc martens. He looks to be firmly in the middle of his forties and is Caucasian. He stands beside the man in black who introduces him as Walter the deconstructor.

In the present Mo and Meifa are deathly silent. Giancarlo notes this and states that it was like working hard your whole life and making it to the second coming, but Satan shows up instead of Jesus. Mo shakes her head. That’s impossible. Walter the Deconstructor had retired from crime, science….all of it. The guy had single handedly destroyed the Mafia’s competition, and created some of the most potent gears of biological warfare. It’s rumored Uncle Sam patronizes him, but good luck getting them to admit it. It’s said when Walter gets involved, the opposition is left –deconstructed in his wake. Hence his nickname.

Giancarlo shrugs, and admits he has no idea how CPI had lured him out of retirement nor is that important. He could tell the day that he met the guy that he was there to figure out what they were up to and then eliminate them to run things more efficiently. In the underworld however, people aren’t given pink slips and asked to have their stuff out by the end of the working day. Walter would have them all killed by CPI or do it himself. That was the rumor floating around, and true enough their numbers started to dwindle soon after Walter started working there. The really fucked up thing is that Walter doesn’t just waltz up to someone and drag them out kicking and screaming…no. You’d just see his target there one day, and not the next. Some people didn’t even notice. Giancarlo however decided not to wait his turn, and using some connections he made through college got the hell out of there and into drug dealing. Though that had been a good year or two ago….why had Walter waited so long to start sending guys?

Mo figures that it’s because he prioritized production over him. Giancarlo doesn’t know much about the final product so it hadn’t been necessary to deal with him. CPI must be at a point where they’re nearing completion, and therefore would want to deal with lose ends. Mo sucks her teeth and growls –she had been prepared to protect Giancarlo, but dealing with fucking Walter the Deconstructor is the last thing she needs. She looks over at Meifa who has been quiet since Walter’s name was revealed and asks if she knows about him? Meifa nods –she has been pretty much raised by the Govt, so she’s heard the name a few times, and some of the shit he’s done is pretty legendary….in a bad way. Mo nods and leans back in her seat. Now the stakes are up, and she’s not sure if she can get the help she had promised before. However she’s got no intention of letting a lead like Giancarlo die. They’re going to clean up some loose ends of their own, starting with Giancarlo’s current identity. The drug dealer asks how she intends on doing that? Mo smirks and replies, ‘by giving the guys after you what they want’.

Meanwhile in ‘Garden’ –a resort for retired spies, the previous leader of the once active Seventh sector gets a call that he has a guest waiting for him. Jaxon Murray is surprised since he wasn’t expecting anyone, but agrees to meet them nonetheless.

Jax was leading Sector seven for many years until Lukas took over until it was disbanded. He hadn’t heard from anyone related to his old life for some time but he figures they must be doing well. At the same time, he’s a little surprised at himself for thinking about them in relation to this mystery guest. It could very well be anyone, so why is his mind immediately set on them? Though to be fair, they should be the only ones to know of this place. So then the question becomes…why now?

Jax comes into the building that separates ‘Garden’ from the outside world and asks the ‘pleasure coach’ (AKA Guard.) about his visitor? He leads Jax over to a room and allows him in. Inside Jax stops in his tracks as his mouth hangs open in surprise.

Before him dressed in a mini jacket and one piece dress is Lukas’s girlfriend Yelena. Her expression is remote even after Jax enters the room, and she quietly asks him to close the door. Jax blinks and does so, asking why she’s here? …and where is Lukas? Yelena reveals that he is in China now and doing fine as far as she knows. However, she is here to state her intent to him.

Jax turns and with a solemn expression comments ‘It’ll hurt you both, you know.’

Yelena clutches her dress and nods.