Urgent message for you.

Race sat up from his desk at Delphi sticking her head in through the door. Yep, this meant something serious. "What's up?" He inquires hesitantly.

"You've a message from the Starship Reliant. It's just four words..." She fires off looking back and forth from Race to the paper in her hand.

"Spit it out!" He blurts. Words Race isn't accustomed to telling a beautiful woman by any means

"He's escaped. Prepare yourself." The confusion on her face is clearer than the blue of her eyes. "He...who?"

Race utters a single word as he rushes past Delphi. "Lobo."

The edge of Rhydin dimensional Space
I know your eyes in the morning sun,
I feel you touch me in the pouring rain,
And the moment that you wander far from me I wanna feel you in my arms again.

And you come to me on a summer breeze,
Keep me warm in your love and then softly leave.
And it?s me that you need to show?

How deep is you-

The juke box machine in Ray?s Intergalactic diner explodes in a shower of sparks from a single shot of a blaster.

?Sorry folks, I just couldn?t take that crap no more.? Towering above most of the patrons, a man walks forward from his table to the bar. Dressed in black pants with spiked accouterments on his knees and belt, the figure casts an imposing shadow. He chews on the end of a thick cigar, setting cards down down on the polished surface. ?There?s for the coffee.?

Little else is said on his way out the main door.

?What about my machine!? the owner calls from behind the counter.

?Send me a bill, I might use it to wipe my keister.? Laughter echoes as he mounts a strange hovering motorcycle. From a compartment on the front, he takes out a device that displays a galactic map. ?All right, Race. Time to pay the piper.?

"You're not leaving without paying for that!" The owner along with several others come rushing out of the diner, weapons in hand. However, the stranger is already flying away.

"Spacer trash..." the owner mutters, until he hears beeping coming from beside the door to the diner.

"Well, that was a blast." Lobo laughs, looking back over his shoulder to the mushroom shaped cloud that used to be Ray's Intergalactic Diner.

The Wonderplex

"Race, this is Ebon. I got your letter and... well, I'm a bit of a loss for words. From the sound of it, there's not much I can do to help you in this fight, but I'd hate myself if I didn't offer. Let me know."

How many times he listened to the message, Race didn?t track. ...I?d hate myself if I didn?t offer?

...I?d hate myself if I didn?t?

...I?d hate myself if I?

...I?d hate myself if?

...I?d hate myself?

...I?d hate?

Pause, rewind, play. Pause, rewind, play. Race kept looping the message again and again as his own thoughts crystalized. Cellphone in one hand, a piece of cloth in the other. Yes, Race is a pretty smart guy, but there are many things beyond his ability to computate and factor. The cloth being one of such item. An experimental fabric from Reed. Something about solar optics and reflective threads. Even for Race, the science was beyond his ability to understand. Reed had enough materials to make a single bolt of the fabric. Would there be enough?

Lobo didn?t earn his reputation by being dumb, the Czarnian would be expecting a fight, some kind of trap. That?s why Race knows it has to be this way. Just the two of them on open ground. Perhaps if he is lucky, Lobo would just drop a bomb on the park. Race could survive that, probably. After all, he worked to keep recent developments to himself and his closest friends.

...I?d hate myself if?

?Time to get to work??

Race, it's Chelle. Have you lost your ever loving mind? I get that whole man's got to do thing, but going on your own with zero back up? That's just not how I was raised.

Be careful out there, Race! Sometimes, we gotta be our own rescue party!

He listened to the latest messages from Chelle and Maggie, Rhiannon pulling out the work crews. Most of the sentiment he expected the backlash for, Delphine probably got her letter within hours of the rest. Frankly he?s a bit surprised she?s not yanking on his ear going all ragin? cajun, which could be hot. He?s seen her do that to others and needed to get popcorn. However being on the receiving end would be far from pleasant.

Black and green fitted pants. Any other time she may of made a comment but at this moment it looked more like he was suiting up for something and she knew what. His curious look got him a scowl. "Wot is up with ya leavin'a letter dat, Ah ain't gunna lie, look more like'a will den anything."

Her eyes drifted across the equipment before landing on him. "Ya really gunna do dis alone?"

"Not much other choice really, Del. This kind of fight? It's not for folks that have attachments. Spouses, children, both. An' that's what all the people I could call on have. Spouses and spawns." He says with a shrug.

"Ya have attachments, too, couillon." She just called her boss that so maybe it was a good thing he may not understand it. "Or ain't does ya call friend or family not count t'ya? Why ya bein' so damn pigheaded?" She wished she had the letter in her hand instead of leaving it on the floor of her room. "Ya ain't as alone as ya seem t' think ya are and Ah swear if ya give me dat lame ass excuse dat dey don't come t'ya again Ah'm gunna thwap dat head o' yas. Ya got people, Race. Ah've heard da messages. Betcha ain't contacted a single one o'dose who are obviously worried 'boutcha."

Race frowns a bit at the name. Really needs to get a French to English dictionary. "I never said I was alone. I never said people didn't care about me. It has nothing to do with pigheadedness or anything of the sort. Did you not hear what I fucking said?"

Hands scrub over his face before brushing hair back from his face so he can regard her fully. "Say something happens, we beat this guy, I survive, but one of them dies? I have to take that news to them, tell their children and spouse that mommy or daddy aren't coming home. I'll have to look them in the eye and drop that bombshell. Not you. And, I don't want to live with that."

She bristled when he spoke to her like that. "Do ya want me t' recap our last conversation, Race?" She snapped back at him. "Dat is it? Really? Tell me, Race, ever gave thought t'da ones who will be hurt if ya die?" Her lips drew in as she collected herself. It did upset her and controlling what emotions wanted to spill was hard. "Ya gotta better chance o' everyone livin' in numbers."

"You're with me till the end, I remember. Doesn't mean you're going to be doing any fighting..." He retorts with a shake of his head. "The ones hurt should I die? Believe it or not, Del...that's a very small list."

She looked at him, slackjawed. "And dat list, just because it be small -" She took a step to him but didn't get close to his personal bubble. Hands curled up at her sides she looked at him, caught somewhere between being furious and wanting to cry. "Do ya even 'ear yaself?! Do ya think dat just because ya list o' people who care is small dat ya don't matter? Does da size even matter?!"

"Size always matters dollface..."

Race spins around, his face going white as a sheet. He even steps into Delphine's personal bubble like a fleshy barrier between her and the intruder.

"And the Main Man, is the biggest game in the known universe...."

She didn't have a chance to see the color fade from Race when he shot around but that didn't mean she wasn't leaning to see who the hell it was that butted into their conversation. "Sounds like ya aren't doin' somethin' right if ya think dat." She could only guess who it was she was speaking to by Race's reaction.
6:08 PMRace Bannen
"Maybe after I rip the arms off the geek, I'll show you how I do it, sweetcheeks." A grin plays off of Lobo's black and white features as he turns his head from left to right, cracking several vertibrae.

"Delphine, it's time for you to get out of here. I need to get dangerous...." Race holds up his hand as something small and green flies off the workbench. No sooner is it in his palm, The Mogul is engulfed in a green light that expands into a full body suit of green and black.

She shook her head to Race but stepped back as something flew towards him. "Can't ya just, Ah dunno, go on ya merry way 'n leave Race alone?" Probably was too much to ask but hey didn't hurt to ask! She didn't want to leave but she also knew she couldn't help. She had no abilities to help him. She wanted to argue and it showed as she took a few more steps back. "Don't die, Race. M'serious. Ya might not care 'bout dat small list but Ah am one on it."

The Research and Development lab implodes in a wave of sheetrock and dust. Red brick tiles splinter from the impact of Race touching down. His body rolls before ultimately stopping. Plaster powder coats his body as he hacks and coughs from breathing it in. His eyes sting where plaster meets sweat, forces himself up on hands and knees. He knows better than to just wipe at his eyes ;spreading the dust and further hinder his sight. Even now he can hear Lobo coming in that slow, predatory, gait. The mercenary enjoying the moment.

Race works his throat muscles, forcing saliva from some last reserve in the back of his throat. Spitting into his palm, he alternates between dabbing at the moisture with his index finger and brushing along his bottom eyelids. The dust congealing under his nails into a paste as it?s scraped away. He blinks away what?s left as two black boots come into view.

?You?ve lost your edge,? Lobo observes despondantly.

?Sorry to dis-? A heavy strike in between his shoulderblades turns the words tto pained gibberish as he tries to stand up. The force sends him crashing through the floor to the level below.

?Simon didn?t say you could get up.? The scorn in Lobo?s voice is palpable.

Deftly rolling to the side, Race vaults to his feet seconds ahead of Lobo?s landing. The mercenary?s white lips are spread wide in a large grin. The kind that screams I?ve got a secret and I?m not sharing. Which doesn?t help the Mogul?s confidence in the slightest. Each step Lobo takes forword finds Race taking one backwards, his mind racing through the options. He really hadn?t expected the Czarnian to actually use the front door like a regular joe. Part of the reason he hadn?t bothered giving a picture of the space biker to park security.

?And you haven?t said a word to me at all since the skeezy female ran off. Send your tongue away with that sweet piece of ass?? Lobo?s masterful rotation between sarcasm and taunting works itself into a sneer on his monochromatic features. His red eyes gleam with mockery from between black eyelids. ?Get done with you, might find her and give her some Main Man private diction...what ya think??

?Don?t even- ? Race flies forward in a burst of speed catching the Czarnian off guard. Two solid strikes to the ribs, a right and a left, with a follow-up left cross combination spins Lobo into othe wall. His bodily crater leaves a hole, exposing pipework and wiring. Lobo staggers towards the middle of the hallway in time to find Race half-way through a Superman punch off of the opposing wall.

The strike drives Lobo to one knee, but the Czarnian rallies with a tackle catching Race around the waist.The two power through office cubicles in a whirlwind of stationary and flying office supplies. Race catches a red stapler in mid-flight and pries the hinge apart, calling on his early days as a filing clerk. He starts to play paddle-ball of pain with Lobo?s head. Cracking the staple release into the merc's skull again and again leaving rows of shiny staples embedded into the skin and hair.

Blood drips from his face in a slow trickle; it coats his knuckles like engine grease. Breathing heavily through his mouth, Race's chest expands and compresses rapidly. What's left of Lobo's face is only a mashup of meat and bone... "What have I done?" he whispers in horror.

He scrambles backwards off of the Czarnian, tripping on a boot to lay sprawled on the cracked pavement.

He's never lost that kind of control, or at least to this extent. A cold hollow feeling settles int he pit of his stomach while sitting there, staring at the bolognaise Lobo's face has been reduced to.

Delphine circled the building after speaking with Ebon. It sounded like time was needed and she could do that. Entering the building through a side door she made her way to her office. It didn't matter where you were in the building you could hear the fight taking place. It resounded in the building as if to fill every nook and cranny.

Race never asked about her past. In fact when they first met for the job opening he made it loud and clear that her past didn't matter to him. As long as she got the job done, that was all that mattered. In its own way it was a comforting feeling, not having to worry about the sins of the past clouding up what could be a possible future. Race gave her that - a future, and it was high time she paid that back.

Once in the office she was just about to close the door when something flew by, taking the door (and part of the wall) off in the process. The rush of air caused her fiery hair to whip as she looked at what had been the spot where the door had been. It was already moving downward, toward the lobby. It was a good thing people were evacuated then, wasn't it? Time was growing short and this knowledge set her back into motion. The office was nicely furnished but one of her favorite pieces was the hardwood storage cabinet that hugged the wall near the massive window. Not only the design of it but because it could hold practically anything, including a body - and there had been times she had been tempted to shove Race into it.

Once opened there were a few dress suits and other things hanging up that she pushed to the side in order to gain access to the large case she had stowed away. It was pulled out, and with a heave, set up to rest on her desk. A code to unlock the case had it snapping open and the lid raised to reveal the pieces of a sniper rifle. How amusing, and ironic, that it was an Intervention model. She wasted no time in snapping the pieces together as if the routine was something she had done many times before. Only after the muzzle break was in place did she realize the fighting had gone silent. That could be a good or bad sign and it was time to see which it was.

After snagging the AP cartridge she moved to the edge of her office which, surprisingly enough, showed an open view of the lobby below. There was little flooring outside her office door thanks to the breeze by of the fight earlier. It gave just enough of a bird's eye view to witness the crash landing into the flooring of the lobby like some wayward shooting star. That had been way too small to be that Lobo fella and her lips spilled silent curses as she snapped the cartridge into place and set the rifle into a position that would make it easiest for her to get a shot off. Her target was Lobo's skull, or ass, depending on the chance she got. Unlike Race, she didn't care if he was the last of his kind or not.

To her surprise the ghost white figure looming over race retreated. Well that was a curious thing but at the same time it set off one hell of an alarm. So she waited, sight trained on Lobo as he retreated before turning back on the unmoving Race. "Move, damn it."

Time seemed to move at a crawl and once Lobo was out of sight, she released the gun to the floor and quickly moved from the office. Scaling down the rubble as carefully as she could, she was all but sure Lobo couldn't give a flying whoop-dee-do about her and his threat on her had been nothing to rile Race up. So the thought of him circling back or around in search for her was not something she was concerned with. Her only concern, at the moment, was her boss just laying there.

Once at Race's side, Delphine leaned down to grab his arm. "'ey." Please be alive. The words a mental pleaded as she slid her hand along Race's arm until she found his wrist and eventually his hand. Searching for a pulse she was sure to be there. "Whatcha doin' layin' on da job?"

Delphine didn't like the look her boss wore. It was not like Race to get lost in his head in such a way that his expression went blank. His pulse was found and his breathing there, the redhead gave a sigh of relief. This man was going to give her a heart attack thrice over then shake her out of it just to make sure that the triplets were on their way for a good time.

It took a bit of effort not to shake him when he just stared at her like he was - to shake him out of whatever state he had crawled into. It was the smile that suddenly crossed his face that stopped her from doing so but his words would reinforce the desire twice-fold. "Wot kinda nonsense are ya spewin'?" The hand that was not holding his wrist reached up to his brow. With her middle finger and thumb she flicked him right between the eyes. "Seriously! Wot kinda crap are ya spewin'? Ya lettin' dat white-skinned bastard in dat head o' yas? Ya really want 'im in dere?" A second pluck was made just in case he didn't feel the first.

"Just think how many folks would o' got hurt if ya hadn't evacuated. M'self included. Ya gave 'im a beatin' but wot Ah wanna know is why ya let ya guard down like ya did." Her hand lowered from his forehead, instead moving to comb through his hair and to the back of his head while she sat down, carefully moving his head to her lap so he could have something cushiony to rest on while he collected himself. "Ya held back 'n Ah could see it even from where Ah was. If it is that silly notion dat he is da last one o' his race that had ya pausin'," she sighed at him. His heart was in the right place.

"So get up, dust yaself off, and stop thinkin' dat garbage. Ya better than dat, Race. Plus da job ain't finished. Who knows were dat guy is goin' or gunna do." She was worried about his condition, both physically and mentally. It marked across her face in worry lines and a frown. There was also a hint of anger in that frown which steamed from him calling himself useless.

A single pit stop to change clothes and get cleaned up gave Race the time to gather his thoughts and really think about what their plan should be. Standing outside the bathroom door while Delphine put herself together, the man bad started pacing. Nevermind it was hard to turn off the ability to hear on the other side. Sounded like she was shaving something in there by the weird whooshing sounds and mumbles. Where would Lobo go next? Off world? That?d be his guess. Then again, the man might try to stick around and stir up a mess to clean up. No, Lobo wouldn?t stick around. He?d want to stay on the move after breaking out. He escaped, came here as expected, now he?d be off to enjoy his stolen freedom.

Delphine wasn't entirely sure why Race brought her along. Without her guns she was pretty much a sitting duck and an easy target. She wasn't like him. She had no special abilities - unless you counted being able to keep up with all the man's demands. She could, however, hear him pacing outside of the bathroom. Once changing out of her clothes and into a pair of shorts and tank top, washing her face and dampening her hair back, she exited the bathroom. While she would much rather a nice soak in the tub she wasn't going to get that luxury. "Ya gunna burn a hole in da floor if ya keep pacin' like that." Being it him? That was a possibility.

A quick glance to her bring him short as he just...looks at her. He?d worked with her for a couple of years now and he?d never really seen her. Not like this. He?d seen the business her, the flirty her, but this just felt like the real her. Something of all the elements completely bound. ?Uhm, while you were in there I got you something??

With an absent gesture, he motions to a black box on a nearby table. A pair of equipments box as any other to be found in a military warehouse. Next to them is a green munitions box. Inside she?d find a pair of 357 SIG Sauers along with holsters and a pair of sunglasses.

The way he stopped and looked at her drew a brow to rise from the cajun woman before it clicked. Ahhhh, yes. He never seen her really in street clothes. Once in a dress when she was preparing for a date, which she was stood up for, but never in down dress. She made no attempt to hide that the short cutoffs were a little shorter than she would wear her skirts nor did she try to hide the tattoos around her thighs that looked as if they were the top of stockings - graceful lines of black inked lace. She wasn't all business but then again she didn't exactly wear slacks and a jacket when she went sniping either.

"Hmmm?" she questioned him before he gestured to the equip box. Oh goodie! Maybe she would be some help after all. While Race never did ask about her background, nor cared where she came from as long as she did her job well, she sure did handle those guns well. One of the sauers was plucked up and she went through a check process with the gun as well as its clip. "Dis comin' out m'pay?" It was a fair question and one she dished out while sliding the sauer, not into the holster, but into the back band of her shorts.

The last order was to take the sunglasses and slip them on, her stance sinking back onto a heel while her other hand settled on her hip in a striking pose. "How Ah look?" She flashed a grin, showing off them pearly whites.

?Like you?re completely dressed..? he answers with a nod. With the sunglasses on, she?d find they were actually small heads up display screens that showed her direction angles, distance readings and heartbeats. ?Figure if you?re coming with me after Lo-Brow, you?ll need something with punch. The bullets are an off-world alloy. And no, not out of your pay. Figure if you?re coming on my run, might as well bankroll your necessary equipment. Going to need body armor or anything like that??

She knew Race was into some heavy tech but these specs were awesome. "Dese are pretty damn neat, Race." She purred in appreciate to the new toy. A little snicker was given when he came up with a new name for their 'target' and while she plucked the second gun from its nestled place she considered his question. That was a good one. "Ah don't plan on gettin' up 'n front with the fella or anyone fer dat matter." Her head rolled and she tipped her eyes to him. "Granted m'a lil squishy and Ah don't think any type o' body armor is gunna help me against a fella dat can punch ya through walls." The tip of her tongue snaked out to wet her bottom lip. "Maybe a few more clips with a waist belt." She would go gunslinger with these. Sniper gun? Not so much but she was sure that carrying one of those bad boys with her might draw attention. "Are ya plannin' on restin' before we head out or we goin' straight int' the lion's den?"

30-40 minutes later?

"I can show you the world. .." Race croons as he flies with Delphine towards the Rhydin space port. "Shining, shimmering, splendid.."

Del was trying hard not to look amused but it was hard not to. He was singing to her, after all, and she was pretty sure it was due to him trying to distract her. "Ya are so corny, ya know dat? It is kinda cute."

"Kind of cute? This is straight up, totes adorbs as the kids would say these days. ..." he can't says anything with a straight face.

"Yeah but ya aren't a kid. Well ya do tend t' act like a man-child." Err. She probably shouldn't be saying that to the man that pays for her bills should she? Combing back her bangs she muttered something that may of been an apology. "So ya came up with a plan yet or ya just plan on jumpin' in on everyone and see who comes up on top?"

"We're not going to prison, I can't just single out the biggest loudmouth and make an example for the other mooks..." Well, he could. But no one makes friends that way.

They weren't going to make friends. Reaching up the cajun woman knocked her knuckles atop his shoulder. "So what is the plan? Or ya just gunna keep me hangin'." Maybe a bad time to say that particular thing. "Ya aren't plannin' on just droppin' m'ass in dere and waiting, are ya?" He was not going to make her do all the heavy work!

"I'm not? But you do good work..." hard to say if he's kidding.

"Ya expect any less from ya assistant?" She was a good girl and didn't say babysitter though it was hanging like fiery cinnamon on the tip of her tongue.

"Only the breast. ..I mean best." An awkward cough add the set down on a rooftop.

Oh good job, Race. He earned himself a sour look. "Didn't realize Ah could be so easily replaced." Once he sat down she stretched her body out and dismounted from him before he could say anything that would get him a shovel.

"You? Easy? Replaceable? Pffft, couldn't ask for a better assistant. Get that notion right outta ya head." He shakes his head while looking at the building across the street with an intense focus.

"Probably super easy if all ya require is boobs. Pretty sure da triplets would suit ya needs." Her arms folded and she looked across the way to the building he was focused on. "Ya do know that dat are fake, right? Probably all six o'em."

"I require more than boobs. A forceful personality and organized dedication are important. Independent spirit, witty rapport to match my own.." he lists the qualities off. " In these areas, the triplets are a bit flat. Plus, nothing's hotter than a chick that can handle a sniper rifle..."

She couldn't argue with that. The triplets did only seem to specialize in keeping one thing up and going. A grin pulled her glossy lips, striking to one side higher than the other as she looked at him. "Ya talkin' 'bout da gun, right?"

"Maybe?" A grin tugs at his lips. " I count ten inside the first room at the main entrance. Handful in the room to the left, looks like a rest room..."

"If Ah had m'sniper rifle with me Ah could o' lessened dat some." Her arm tightened at her chest as she watched him from under her thick lashes. "Race?"
"Yes, D?" He glances her way.

Geh! When he looked her way she lost all reason to even bring up what she was going to. A swift shake of her head was given to him. "So what is da plan, Mister Bannen?" She scowled mentally for lacking the professionalism and calling him by first name.

"You're going to go in the front, pretend to be stranded. I'm going to cut a hole in the back. Roll the dice from there. .." he said firmly with a nod and grin.
He was serious? She tilted her head and sighed. Just for show she adjusted her breasts in her bra, hiking them up in the top. Just for a little more she tied the bottom end of the shirt just under her bustline. "Ya could o' at least dropped me on da ground if dat is the plan."

"It's not. You didn't want to do the heavy lift..." He trails off watching her personal adjustments.

?Ya starin', Mister Bannen." she teased him as she chuckled. "S'fine. Just don't leave me hangin' in dere too long."

"Ahem, sorry." He scratches the back of his head in a sheepish way. "Upside, I don't think we need to discuss safe words..." Positive mindset, right?

Wow, she wasn't sure she had ever seen him look sheepish. It was almost a boyish quality. It was rather cute and not something she should be watching him over for. "Safe words?" She pulled herself back from her train of thoughts.

"If you get into trouble. .." he states simply and then looks at her. " What did you think I meant? "

"Pretty sure I won't need a safety word for that. Holy shit pretty much covers it." She smirked to him, attempting to slide right past his question. Steps were taken to carry herself to the edge of the building so she could look down to see how far it was. Sure, she could take the fire escape down.

"Holy shit works." He can work with that.

"As long as you got my back." She glanced over her shoulder to him before leaping off the edge of the building. It was easy to grab the edge of the fire escape's ledge and drop herself the rest of the way safely. She glanced upward before making her way across to way and on into the building. Her only worry was walking in and Lobo be freaking right there. Would be her luck.