The ride was slow, and lazy. We've earned it and Eiger was hurt in the arm so Dietrich was driving. Old man really didn't liked it too much, the manual gearbox giving him a headache.

Blitz spaced out with his PDA, already receiving some e-mail from Emilie, judging from his grin, so me and Glory had most of the back of the van to ourselves.

Which did not explained why Glory was sitting in front of me, comfortably resting back on my chest and head on my shoulder. Not that I minded, especially with one arm draped over her warm stomach.

First thing she did was getting rid of the bulletproof vest and going back to wearing her revealing apparel that I loved more every time I looked on her.

Finally, we've made it back to Krezubasar.

Only then we all realized how beaten, bruised and exhasuted we were.

"No business, funny or not. We have time and money so everybody sleep!" I've ordered and zig-zagged towards the bed.

I've managed to land on it just after taking off at least some of my dirty clothes, before Glory just appeared next to me and nuzzled in like a kitten.

It was worth it, to save the world for moments like this.

I've woken up with a pained groan. I felt something pressing onto me and my whole side was burning...Rubbing my eyes open I've slowly came to my senses and solved the mystery.
Dante, that heavy bastard, was laying on one-third of me and acting like dead weight while rest of my torso was occupied by Glory clinging to me in deep sleep.

Funny, I had a hellhound laying on me but it was my chrome-laden girlfriend who was now like a bloody furnace. Ah screw it, I'll manage. Let these two sleep.

Falling back onto pillows, I was out before I knew it.

Next time I woken up it was much sweeter. Because first sensation I've noticed were full lips kissing me. Opening eyes and at the same time pulling Glory closer, I've kissed her back.

"Hey there. Bored, you started kissing me?" I've asked, looking at her playful stare.

"No, just wanted to wake you up but nothing else worked so far." She replied and kissed me again quickly. "Time to get up, you do't wanna miss all the daylight, no?"

"Oh I do like the sound of you agreeing to go for a walk with me in daylight."

"Huh...?" Glory arched eyebrow at me, then slowly smiled. "Okay, I guess I can go for some fresh air."

"Awesome. Give me five minutes." I've grinned at her. She smiled back and moved away, already clothed so not giving me the pleasure of watching her naked.

Shame.

Walking out of my room, I saw Dietrich sitting on the couch but looking rather tense.

"Hey, D. Something on your mind?" I've asked, getting him to look at me sharply.

"Was there a point to all this, Rai? We've lost Paul, Monika, all those people in Krezubasar...It was supposed to be an easy job. Quick enough to get in time for 'Wyrm Talk'."

"Yeah, it sure wasn't a milk run. But not like we've foiled a conspiracy that was forty years in the making and saved the world from global disease and a maniac who tried to unleash the most brutal and bloodthirsty dragon upon the world right after turning Berlin into ashes. I say it's something."

"That's not the problem here, Rai." Eiger stepped in closer. "We're street level, we run the shadows. World-grade problems of dragons, dominance and wealth...that's not us. We don't worry about issues like that. We don't meddle with things like that."

"We don't. That's the whole fucking point, Eiger." I've replied, slightly dumbfounded. "Look guys, I don't think you've got the my message across through all these actions-"

"They want us to think we can't do anything. The dragons and their pawns." Glory's voice joined, much to my surprise. "They want us to think we can't do anything to them, to their order of the world."

"But we can. We had the power in our hands today amd we made it!" Dietrich picked up. "And now the world is different, without Vauclair, without APEX and sure as hell without Firewing."

"For better or worse."

"You're right, Glory. But we can't see the future. I don't think anyone can. The world is different than yesterday and we've changed it."

"So did we um...Did we won?" Blitz finally joined the discussion.

I gave up. I wanted them to actually think nothing of it and enjoy being alive but hey, let them bask in achieving the impossible...

"Sure we did, Blitzy boy. We're all still alive in here, aren't we? There's a new day going and sun shines onto Krezubasar. Our home still stands, we've avenged those who have fallen, we've made sure everyone who can will have tommorrow. I call that a big fucking win for a group of shadowrunners from small kiez, ay?" I've looked over faces of my team.

"...So now what? Monika's gone. Paul's gone." Eiger killed the moment as always. "Do we keep running together, or this is the end of the road?"

"I'm in. I'm not going anywhere even if you'd try to make me so." Glory stepped in, and shamelessly (absolutely shamelessly, I'm telling you) interlaced her fingers with mine. "I'm happy here." She beamed.

"You sure changed in that short time, love. You're the opposite of what you were before, Glory." Dietrich smiled at her and she just shrugged at him. "Well, count me in too. I'm too old to settle down and find God so I may as well find my end in the shadows."

"You're not dying anytime soon, old man. I need you to train local punks how to kick arses in case anyone gets bright idea of thinking Krezubasar got weakened by the attack. We need you and Dragonslayer to rail some youngster and train them how to survive a good old streetfight." I've countered immediately, reminding Dietrich of our arrangement.

"Spoken like a true anarchist, Rai. Sure, I'll be glad to turn the slackers into real militia."

"Militia? You? Y'all gonna need some military experince for that." Eiger smiled and got off the wall she was leaning against all this time. "And since Rai will be too busy drooling over Glory, I guess I have no choice but to stick around for a bit."

"Well we sure would miss your charming personality and diplmatic skills if you'd leave, Eiger." I grin at the troll soldier.

"Fuck you, Rai."

"In your dreams, precious." I've retorted and got a sour face from the sniper. "What about you, Blitzy-boy? How do like the taste of shadowrunning?"

"I'm good with the terms unless every job with you guys end up with pissing off a dragon and uncovering mind-blowing conspiracy!"

"Nah, that was just something extra to make you more interested in the job." I've laughed, seeing bewildered expression of Blitz. "Relax mate, you've passed with flying colours here, you'll be an awesome rigger on our team."

"But I'm-"

"Rigger. Blitz. With occasional decking." I've stopped him. He glanced at others and got a solid nod from everyone.

"Okay, I guess...And yeah, it's kinda fun to ride around with my Krieg and just kill baddies safely."

"Krieg?"

"My drone! Together we're an awesome duo: The Blitzkrieg!" Bltiz struck a conquerous pose that made Eiger laugh hard enough she had to support herself against the couch.

"Ah, that was good...Okay, since everybody's still in then I got a message to Rai, this turkish guy from coffee shop wanted to see you. Sent a new golfer about it." She told me once done guffawing.

"Oh? Alright, I'll go check it out. In the mean time, I order a couple of days off work so everybody relax...Blitz, you were supposed to pick up some flower for Emilie."

"Holy shit boss, thanks for reminding me, gotta go fellas!" Blitz bolted out of the room at olympic speed.

"D, don't wait up for me with cracking open that Glennfidich. treat yourself." I've waved at shaman who was already holding said bottle and eyed it up with delight. "And you Eiger...Go get drunk. And fuck someone as you said. Just, relax."

"This one time, I'm not even going to argue." Sniper replied and went towards her corner, already letting her hair loose and in the middle of changing into something probably more sexy than leather jacket with steel plates.

"And you darling, you are coming with me." I've said to Glory, this hole time holding her hand and not intending of letting go.

Taking a stroll through sunlit streets of Krezubasar, it made me not even notice it was early December. The clouds were absent, and everything looked so...pure. Without the everpesent dirt and danger lurking in the shadows.

I've heard a phrase that God is in the rain, even so I was glad for the sun.

We walked slowly through the street and...People recognized me. Glory too but to much smaller degree. And all of these people greeted us. Nothing fancy, just hellos and good days, then going back about their business.

I wasn't a ruler, some high-up sovereign they feared. But I wasn't any dishrag-grade hero taken for granted by others.

I was a part of bustling community. Respected and accepted. It was home, my home...

"Rai, Glory! I see you've made it." Mettbach welcomed us from his stall, the clay pipe back in his mouth. "How it went?"

"Oh your Buzzsaw worked like a charm. I say it played instrumental role in making sure the people who attaked our kiez will never, *ever* do it again." I've finished and was graced with a broad smile.

"Atta boy, that's the way to do business! No refunds though." Gunari finished with a cackle, letting us move on.

Finally we've arrived to the cafe but Glory stops.

"I don't think I want to listen in on you doing business with this creepy guy..." Glory wrinkled her nose. "I'll wait for you at Winerkeller, okay?"

"Fancy a drink? Sure. I'll get there as fast as possible."

"Good, don't make me wait." Glory given me a deep kiss and moved away, her heavy boots clicking against the cracked pavement.

Entering Cafe Cezve, the familar gust of soykaf washes over me. People are back, sipping on various types of caffeinated black sludge, and converse unaware how big of a bullet they've just dodged.

"Ah, how very propitious it is that we may speak again, Oh Master of Mayhem!" Altug welcomes me, his sardonic play also back into play. "I have a proposal that is most lucrative to all sides, arkadas."

"I'm listening, Oh Master of Hyperbole" I jab back, making the turk grin.

"With passing of Herr Amsel - God let him rest in heavens for eternity - you found yourself in need of a new Fixer. I wish to offer my services to you in this regard. You will soo n find that Altug Burakgazi is a well worth business partner."

"Sounds like a match made in heaven, Altug. I'm more than glad to do so." I've replied and extended my hand which turk eagerly shook. "Where do we start?"

"With a very rich client who wishes to speak with you immediately. A matter of seeing you in person, he said. Do not worry, this is not any set up, I have checked thrice and I vouch with my own head!"

"I just want you to be aware that I something does happen to me, Glory will collect your head, literally." I reply slowly. "Also, you can assure people that anyone who'd try doing any harm to her, I will hit them so hard their grandkids will be stil sorry for it."

"By all means, friend. That is already a common knowledge not only in this but in neighbouring kieze that Rai and his crew are best to have as allies and worst as enemies." Altug replied quickly. "But about the client, go to the U-Bahn station next to market stalls, he'll be waiting there for you."

"How will I recognize him?"

"I'm sure he'll recognize you, Herr Rai."

I'm not feeling like dealing with another stuffy, panicked corporate bastard but hey, life already given me a lot good so I guess I'll just suffer through talk to one more suit enraged he'll have to deal with a *ruffian* like me.

Walking down the steps, I immediately caught sight of tall guy in immaculate, italian suit. Surely tailored and perfectly fitted. Damn, a CEO of sorts standing in the den of anarchists? Shit must've hit the fan real bad for him.

"Herr Raidan Wallace, I presume?" The man spoken to me and if not for the weird aura of him, I'd knock the guy's teeth out and squeeze out of him how he knows that.

"Rai. That's the short and long version." I reply coldly.

"Oh, I apologize, I honestly didn't meant to offend you." Suit replied and maybe one day I'd believe a guy like that to be genuine but today was not the day. "Well then Herr Rai, I assume your business with Dr. Vauclair is concluded, yes?"

Oh fuck! I knew it would be too good to be true. Fuck, you can't even kill a dragon these days without somebody going after your ass five minutes later!"

"I didn't caught your name." I've replied instead, trying to buy some time and see if there is a killsquad coming after me already.

"Hans Breckhaus." The white hiared guy did a little bow, his features almost elfy but more...robust. Something was way off about him, especially the eyes...

What metahuman race have golden eyes?

"I reperesent an 'interested party'. Someone who wishes to know about you...encounter with Dr. Vauclair." The guy continued and the way he spoken, I knew I was driven up against the wall. I was a small fish held by a tiger.

"Information about what people like I do or do not, are a commodity, Herr Breckhaus. And I wonder how do you know about any involvement of mine in this case."

"My employer would also like to know about Lady Fuerschwinge...Such a fascinating creature. So unlike her brothers and sisters. It's a pity she has passed from this world. She was a magnificent creature, and the world is dimisnished by her passing. I am sure you would agree." The suit spoken and now I got it. And my blood ran cold, because I was sure I was talking to messenger from one of the dragons. Personal messenger.

"Never looked up so high to consider world where dragons live, but I know that last night I've made sure Berlin will be still standing. What permeated to such circumstances was out of my hand. I simply stopped someone from making a huge mistake. Human nature, to make mistakes and pay for them. I find no guilt nor pleasure in knowing what happened to Firewing. It was out of my hands and above my pay-grade. Somebody else made the choice already before I even knew it."

"Interesting...You don't seem bothered at all by what you've experienced in Harfeld Manor."

"I am, just differently than you think. Still, mind telling me what brought a high-level corporate official down here to talk to a lowly creature like me in person?"

"I am a representative of a potential client. A very influential one who pays extraordinarily well. And he demands some modicum of respect. Now listen..." Breckhaus got in my face. "I tell you all of this, so you have a context, a perspective, before I ask you this next question: If Doctor Vauclair's weapon had not require dragonfire - if it had been capable of destroying every dragon on earth without touching a hair on metahumanity's head - would you have used it?"

"No." I simply reply, part of my mind occupied with idea that nearly makes me shake already. "Because as a cynical bastard that I am, I think that Dragons keep their wars high enough to not affect people like me too directly. Not all the time at least. And with them gone...Who knows what other great powers would rise to seize control of the world. I've learned to like the way world is today, and I don't feel the need to change it." I've replied and adjusted my hood.

"Wise answer. There are things far worse on earth and beyond it that could arrive if the dragons would be no more...Now, onto the business. My employer wishes to secure your team's services for series of operations that will likely require the remainder of 2054."

"That is a very concerning offer. After Green Winters starting this whole...problem, I need to have a better idea of who I'm working for these days."

"Understendable. It is terrible to be manipulated and my employer wishes for no such things to happen. No secrets between us, your employer would be Great Dragon Lowfyr."

"As a matter of fact, I'm in some ways honoured to receive an offer straight from a Golden Wyrm himself." I've continued, weighing words carefully to not sound sarcastic. "But I don't feel like working for a dragon."

Breckhaus smiled at me with expression you give a child that tries to back talk just because doesn't know it's impolite. "You were working for him for quite a while, Herr Rai...Or do you think Green Winters found Harfeld Manor on his own?"

Of course it went like that. Fucking dragons.

"Strange, if Lowfyr knew about Firewing, maybe even about Vauclair...Why not handle it by his forces? Task an army he surely has...Hell of a gambit, betting handful of unknown shadowrunners to not only cop out but actually standing up and winning against Feuerschwinge turned into bioweapon against her own kind, atthe hands of delusional maniac. What were the odds? Five to million? Not only that but maybe if Lowfyr would have struck sooner, Firewing's body wouldn't have been lobotomized and died when the machinery pumping toxin into her was shut off. I get the feeling he didn't wanted her dead one bit."

"Perhaps yes, perhaps not. You are not in position to know." Breckhaus replied.

"I'll take your word for it."

"Wisely." He nodded and a train just rolled onto the station. "Coming?"

"I'm good just fine in here, in my own little, limited world that as you can see I will bite anyone no matter how big, to protect it. Your employer can hire me just like any other dragon would - without me knowing it. But outside of that, I prefer my illusion of being a free man. Now if you'll excuse me, I have important matters to attend to." I've nodded to the man and turned my back, taking my leave up the stairs.

Getting back onto the streets, my gut tells me I've made a grave enemy to myself. I've just told off someone you don't tell off because you don't even get to see him.

Yes, those yellow eyes that woman posessed by Firewing had...I've just pissed off Lowfyr himself. And I've killed Firewing whom he apparently liked more than Alice had suggested.

Fuck, everything's complicated again.

Stepping into Die Winerkeller, I've spotted Lucky Strike chatting with Glory.

"Don't hit on my girlfriend, Lucky, I'll get jealous." I quip, making them both stare at me. "Hello to you too, cyborg blondie."

"Ugh...And here she almost convinced me you are not such an asshole, Rai." Strike huffed and moved away, but already having a smirk on her face.

"Sorry I've kept you waiting." I've sat next to Glory and ordered a beer.

"I've managed." Brunette replied and sipped on her own drink. "What taken you so long?"

"Altug already set us up a client but it was a dud, guy tried to recruit us for corporate work, exclusively." I lied, sure. What was I supposed to say? The most influencial dragon in the world made me an offer I couldn't refuse and still I did, possible writing off a dead warrant on my head and everyone around me?

I couldn't bring myself to do that, when we all finally got a moment to catch our breaths. Especially Glory, she earned herself a reprieve and some peace.

"Pfffft! Like hell I would." Glory retorted, looking almost cheery. "I'm not switching one devil for another to rule over me."

"I've told him somewhere along this line and he looked very disappointed that throwing money in my face doesn't changed my mind."

"Out of all people I know, you're the last to be bought." Glory smiled and put her palm over mine. She was already warm...Maybe she was alive enough to put some life in these metal arms. Or maybe I was just imagining things. "By the way, you've told Lucky off so sharply but I thought you like blondes." Glory looked at me with delicate smile of mischief.

"Red is...was my color actually." I replied truthfully and quickly raised hand to stop Glory from replying. "I've seen you with ginger hair on the picture from the past and I have to say...This natural black fits you best, love. Don't change it."

Glory closed her mouth and merely nodded, blush steadily blooming on her face until she bursted into laughter.

"Okay...I guess I'll spare you detail why I worn that color in the past then."

"I don't care about the past, especially since it all tied up and buried." I've retorted. "And I do love that red make-up of yours."

"Well I really do like this..." Glory reached out and brushed red top of my hair "Works nice with the black on the sides."

All I could was just to grin silly at her, realising that such stupid moments were the reason I was putting up with all the shite around for so long.

"Thanks love, I owe you one." I've left her with kiss on cheek and little confused face, my thoughts this time staying in my head. "But you know, since we have a solid team here but not that much roots to keep us down in here...Ever been to Hong Kong, by any chance?"

"Never even left Germany." She admitted.

"Would you like to do a little traveling with our pack? I've also got invited to California, if you'd like to catch some sun and knock off seven margharitas in a row."

"...I never liked America really... but Hong Kong you say?" She smiled at me. "Tell me more about it."

Now that you all know what happened in Harfeld Manor and beyond it...I hope you'll understand when some of the things I've said weren't exactly the way they were. A lot of details were forgotten in the heat of the moment, or just ignored. There was a lot more bleeding, a lot more welding of damaged cyberware. I think Blitz actually pissed himself once...

Anyways, that's probably the last time we were seen in Europe. The deal with Lowfyr made me too paranoid, too afraid of losing Glory and the rest, to stay in Berlin. for a good measure it appeared so as not much later the goverment army went to town and decimated Flux-State.

Can't say I didn't missed Krezubasar but...I guess that's how the world is today. I'll keep bunny-hopping around the world with my guys and who knows whom I'll meet on the way.

Life's about improvement. And whenever I looked at smiing Glory, I regret nothing.