The bar was smoky and cramped. Spyder hated these sorts of places – stiflingly hot and full of detestable, sick-minded businessmen who paid substantial sums of money to watch scantily-clad young girls dance around on the stage. He checked his watch again – 8:28. The man should be here any minute.

This was the Paladium Lounge in Riazza City, where Spyder had arranged to meet the man. A few months ago there had been a fire here, but the place had been expertly restored and now gleamed with newness. Well, gleamed as much as it is possible for a back-streets bar in the industrial capital of Astra to gleam. He could hardly imagine the Paladium Lounge being more than the perverted realm of debauchery and lawlessness that it was now.

For reasons vaguely known to Spyder, the once safe and lawful city of Riazza had fallen from its former glory and had become a dangerous, wicked town of crime. What was known to Spyder was that a short period of time ago, the gangs of nearby cities had temporarily banded together and had lead a massive assault on Riazza City, at that time an industrial gem of Astra. The cops and bounty hunters in the city fought bravely but all were quickly overthrown and slaughtered. Only a couple of weeks ago the cops had all together cut off reinforcements to Riazza City; they had simply abandoned it to the crime lords and mobsters that had invaded it. Spyder could not imagine the type of man that his contact would be since the man had decided to meet in Riazza City.

The door opened and closed with a snap, and Spyder felt a slight draft of cold air from outside on his face. He saw a man wearing a high-collared trenchcoat come down the steps to the bar and gaze out from beneath a large hat. The man looked around and spotting Spyder sitting alone, casually made a beeline for him. The man sat down, his face in shadow, and lit up a cigarette, saying nothing.

Spyder was unsure how to react to this man. All he knew was that this man apparently knew something about Gellar’s whereabouts and just might be able to lead Spyder to him.

"You Jack?" he inquired of the stranger. The man nodded offhandedly. "Drink?"

"Red rum."

Spyder beckoned a waitress over and ordered their drinks. Both of them drank in silence for about a minute, Spyder studying the man closely before speaking.

"I hear you have some information for me regarding the whereabouts of the crimelord Gellar."

Jack leaned forward so that his face was in the light. He had short brown hair, startlingly blue-green eyes and a cleanly shaved face. When he spoke, his voice was low but not terribly gruff.

"Yeah. But listen I ain't giving it up that easily."

"Oh don't worry," Spyder said quickly, "the money means little to me so much as Gellar dies."

Jack shook his head and retreated back into the darkness. "Good. More money for me. If i join that is..."

Spyder's eyebrows shot up. He didn't quite trust this Jack character. Studying him for a moment he decided that he seemed sincere.

Spyder streched out a hand towards Jack.

"My squad could really use someone like you," Spyder said simply.

Jack started chuckling softly. The laughter grew until it appeared he was having a fit of some sort. Spyder withdrew his hand and stared at Jack.

"You don't think I'm still alive today by mindlessly signing up with a crew I know nothing about," Jack stated icily as the laughter subsided. His eyes were set into a deep glare now. His eyes seemed to pierce straight through Spyder.

There was a moment of silence before Jack spoke again.

"I'm not gonna give you the information right away. And about joining your squad," Jack stood up and grinned,"we'll see. Meet behind the abandoned warehouse on 8th Street tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. Make sure you and your squad are well armed."

Jack pushed his hat down to conceal even more of his barely visible face and strode out the door.

Spyder still had an uneasy feeling about this Jack but he couldn't help but feel excited. He could feel that his revenge and Gellar's demise grew near. He pulled out some bills and placed them on the table before exiting the stuffy, smoke-filled Paladium Lounge.