Wow, it's been waaaaayyy too long since I've updated this story. At present the Grey Jedi has taken all my inspiration, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 9

The docks of Dublin city in a nearly empty warehouse a hooded figure stealthily slipped through a window while another figure wearing a fedora and long coat strode through the front door. The figure who strode through the door stepped into the light and looked around then said, "We actually come in peace, ya can come out. I'm only tryn' ta find someone."

"Gin Ichimaru. Your reputation precedes you. However we must ask, where is your partner? Where is Itachi Uchiha?"

"Itachi? Oh he's right here in my front pocket, who may I say is calling?" Gin, said this he removed his hat, "I'm sure e'll be around soon if e' don't find himself in Barney. You know how it goes don't ya?!"

"I don't think you understand. The person we work for is extremely powerful and he doesn't wish to be disturbed. Mr Silverblade asked us to not allow anyone past this point without a proper reason." the speaker then materialised from behind a shipping crate. He was a man of average height, average build though, Gin noted that he walked mostly on the balls of his feet and when he stopped in front of Gin he stood in a well disguised combat stance.

"Ya don't know Jack Silverblade like we do. This is a test, one of three if memory serves. Infiltration."

"You don't appear to have done very well at that."

"I'd have ta disagree wit ya on that. I'm here as a part o' a pair so my partner is passin' the first test while I start the second one. We don't have much time so we're gonna rush it." as Gin said this he reached into his coat then pulled something out and held it held up. It was what appeared to be a small silver ball.

"What is that?"

"It's the means of passin' the second test innit?" as Gin said this the hooded figure from earlier dropped from the roof and tossed Gin what looked like a memory card. The hooded man pulled back his hood revealing Itch's face.

"That was actually far simpler then I remember. Though I think he hasn't had enough time to train these guys properly to set up the outpost other wise we wouldn't have to do these tests. It's fairly ridiculous that they know our reputation, but not our rank or authority." said Itachi in annoyance.

"I tink they are new and didn't tink we'd ever actually appear."

"Indeed they are new. Gin Ichimaru, I presume that Alex sent you? I'm not interested in the politics of Hub any longer. I'm only setting up outposts in case of another war. I don't have time for…" the man who had greeted Gin at the door changed his face or rather he completely morphed. The grizzled face of the dock worker morphed into the face of a much younger man who was cleanly shaven with a scar reaching from the bottom of his chin to the bottom of his lip and his hair grew out a bit becoming far more luscious then it had been, his clothes also changed from the dock worker clothes to black and white robes with a deep hood that was currently down.

"Jack Silverblade. We weren't expecting that." muttered Itachi.

"The Cap'n did send me this li'le thing fir ya Jackie boy." said Gin pulling something small from his pocket and throwing it powerfully and accurately at Jack who caught it without trouble then looked at it.

"Well it seems that I have no choice but to return then. That is a pain in the ass. Well I'm going to have to leave you guys to watch the base."

"Jack, Aaron…"

"I know. I'm leaving now I'm going to gather as many other other Creators as I can. You two are to stay here and help Artemis and recapture Esbrelle Ballard, if this turns into the war I believe it will We shall need the powers she teaches to her followers. Rick, Max and Belinda should be simple enough to find." The last part Jack mostly muttered to himself before his body started to glow to the point that it was painful to look at him then he was gone along with the light.

"The Creators are annoying ain't they Itachi? E's a git an' a 'alf ein't he?"

"I refuse to comment." said Itachi, "Let's get back to Fowl manor Artemis has likely guessed and come to the conclusion that we'd still be here after finding Jack. Let's get going." Itachi then exploded into a murder of crows, Gin clicked his tongue then burst into a thin pale silver flame and was gone.

Back at Fowl Manor.

Artemis was sitting at his desk deep in thought, thinking back on the last few years. Specifically the incident with Esbrelle and her lover. The way that events had transpired that day. Artemis and Alex had been tracking both Esbrelle and Raphael Blackheart, they had finally found them after interrogating several servants and assassins. Artemis was snapped back to the present when he heard a knock at the door. "Come in."

The door opened and Jace stepped in looking around, "Now I can see where you got your decorating sense from. This office looks almost identical to the one you maintain back home."

"I presume you didn't come here to speak about my office decorations, what is it?" Artemis asked impatiently.

Jace dropped into the seat across from Artemis, "It seems Itachi and Gin have been assigned to help you. The Captain and his friends seem determined to deal with the situation on Hub without us."

"I've noticed, for that I am truthfully grateful. Alex could easily crush the uprising with my help, though he doesn't believe I'm ready for the responsibility of such a battle or yet able to handle my power appropriately." Artemis said, from behind steepled fingers.

"And you disagree with him?"

"No, I agree with him. The ability to control minds as I can is something beyond my scope of imagining." Artemis said calmly, "Now, I have a plan for finding Holly. Though It's not as polished as my plans once were, Alex has rubbed off on me more then I'll care to admit."

"The Captain does have the bad habit of coming up with a plan then making up the rest when he gets to it." Jace said with a small hand gesture.

"The parts of my plan that haven't been completed require some extra information regarding Esbrelle's location. Gin and Itachi should be able to help us up with that." Artemis said standing and walking to a corner of the room to calmly make himself a cup of tea. Calmly pouring from a pot resting on a hot plate, strangely enough the mug he used was bright neon green and had text saying, 'I do not think that word means what you think it means'.

Jace stifled a snigger when Artemis took a sip of the tea and revealed the bottom of the mug which had text that read, 'Inconceivable!', "Where did you get that mug?"

"It was a gift from Alex, he thought it was funny. I've never understood why myself, apparently it's a reference to a film." Artemis said, placing the mug on his desk, reaching into one of the pockets on his coat Artemis pulled out his holo-projector and placed it in the center of his desk. Clearing his throat Artemis stated, "Contact Gin Ichimaru."

The holo-projector showed a pulsing trio of dots, leading to Jace clicking his tongue, "He does like to leave you waiting."

"Unlikely, from what I know of him he is unlikely not to answer." Artemis said tapping a tattoo into the wood of his desk with his fingers on his right hand.

The holo-projector pinged and Gin's ever smiling face appeared, "Artemis. I see ya heard from Jace of the Cap'n's orders."

"Indeed, I require you and Itachi to run recon on the location I'm sending you." Artemis said waving a hand over the holo-projector.

"Aye, aye." Gin said in a way that Jace was fairly certain was mocking Artemis.

Artemis either didn't notice or simply ignored the mockery, "How long will it take to get me the information I require?"

Gin seemed to consider for a few moments, "I recon 'bout two day. Are we allowed freedom?"

"You are grated permission to use any means necessary to acquire the information I require, however you are to avoid detection." Artemis said seriously, Gin simply nodded and cut the transmission.

"How much information do you require from those two?" Jace asked.

"Everything they deem necessary."

"You're placing a lot of trust in those two." Jace said, standing and walking to the door, "Also Mulch says he may have a few contacts who would be able to help us out."

"Good. I'll speak to him now then." Artemis said standing and following Jace out the room.

Back on Dublin's docks Gin and Itachi strode out Jack's warehouse after having spoken the Artemis. As they walked they read through the carefully worded instructions Artemis had sent them regarding their intelligence gathering of Esbrelle's hiding place.

"Interesting that he wants to know what art she has displayed on her walls." Itachi noted.

"Aye, I recon 'e wants ta see if that Chiss was onto something wit art analysis." Gin said tapping a finger against his chin as he contemplated the idea.

"Perhaps. Mitth'raw'nuruodo is particularly insightful with such things. I don't believe Artemis has quite the same tactical ability when it comes to this job. He was never meant to be a killers." Itachi said as he walked, not stopping at the end of the dock and simply floating in the air above the water of the harbor.

Gin walked along side him, "Not, many can. 'E has a strange way o doing tings."

"Indeed, I believe we should use a faster means of reaching the London safe house for tonight. The locals wouldn't react well to floating beings over their harbor." Itachi commented, before suppressing a yawn. Gin raised an eyebrow at the yawn before he burst into flame and Itachi into a murder of crows.

Gin re-appeared in a burst of flames in the fireplace of Alex's London safe house, ducking out the relatively large fireplace. Looking around Gin found a picture of Alex and a girl with fiery red hair, "Interesting, didn't see ya as havin' a girlfriend 'ere, Cap'n."

Outside the apartment Itachi re-formed just outside the door of the apartment and opened the door with a key off a chain. The key seemed to shift shapes as Itachi inserted it into the keyhole, stepping into the apartment Itachi found Gin juggling a trio of beer bottles. Ignoring his partner Itachi walked through to the strangely large kitchen and calmly made himself a pot of tea, at least he started to prepare some tea. Gin silently followed Itachi into the kitchen and placed the beer back in the fridge. Itachi turned to Gin as he turned on the kettle, "What was the point of the beer juggling?"

Gin shrugged, "It was fun."

"It could have been a waste of decent beer, it's rare for us to find any worth drinking." Itachi said reaching into a cupboard above the kettle and pulled down a pair mugs along with a container marked sugar.

"Sugary tea? Itachi ya should know better, use honey." Gin said taking a seat at one of the trio of seats within the kitchen.

"Perhaps, though I don't believe this tea mixes well with honey. At least that's what Alex says." Itachi said pouring the tea into the two mugs.

"There is only on tea the Cap'n would say that a'bout. You made us Earl Grey?" Gin asked, his smile sliding a bit.

"Indeed." Itachi said taking a sip of the dark liquid.

Gin held out his hand and the mug Itachi had poured for him floated to his hand, he took a deep drought of the liquid, "Ya do make a good cup o tea."