Dean was in a hoodie with a bandana wrapped around his forehead and fake dorky glasses on. Wasn’t the best disguise but it would do. One thing about being a famous criminal in Reighs City meant if he wanted anything above ground he had to dress up so people wouldn’t recognize him, otherwise all he got was screams, profanity, or cops called on him. Dean only had one mission though. He wanted to find The Rat in the Grey Hat. Or someone who knew him. He decided the best place to look was in computer stores or other geeky shops that attracted people who were on the computer obsessively.

Dean entered a computer part shop and took a quick look around at the mostly deserted shop with a bored looking cashier up at the front. This wasn’t exactly the best place to ask customers, but maybe if the customers overheard his conversation with the cashier and they knew something, they’d approach him.

“Hello.” Dean greeted the teen who looked around his age with moppy brown hair and dull brown eyes. He was playing a computer game on his laptop from the looks of it. The boy lazily looked up at Dean.

“Hey.” He said emotionlessly. “What can I do for ya?”

“You’re online a lot, right?” Dean asked causally. The boy didn’t even respond as he turned back to his computer game with a small shrug. A little discouraging yes, but Dean wasn’t ready to give up yet. “You ever hear of anyone called the Rat in the Grey Hat?”

“Look, dude, I just work part time to sell computer parts. I’m not here to help you reconnect with some jerk on the internet.” The teen rolled his eyes.

“Right. I get that, but maybe you’ve heard talk about this guy? Anyone around here ever mention someone with that username?” Dean pressed.

“Do I look like I keep up with stuff like that?” The teen shrugged.

“Okay. Well, why don’t I leave you a number and you can give me a call if anyone does say anything.” Dean sighed scribbling his number down on a notecard.

“Whatever. You gonna buy anything or what?” The teen asked not looking up from his video game. Dean set the notecard down on the counter and tried his best to shoot a smile before turning and leaving. Well, that had been a complete waste of time.

No. No. No! None of these would work. Nick was picking through the cables they offered one by one, the cables were either unfit for use or incompatible. Why didn't they sort this better, or even bother to check their products. His eyes glanced towards the cashier, busy on some game. He figured this store would not have what he was looking for anyways if the cashier was that incompetent. He bet that if he wanted to he could just steal anything he pleased from this store.

He sighed, throwing a package back onto the shelf, not bothering to hook it up properly to the others. He was about to leave when he overheard a rather interesting conversation. A man in some questionable fashion choices had asked the cashier about his other life's name, Rat in the Gray Hat. He kept himself from looking shocked or even looking at the two. Instead he merely got a glance at the man as if he were a curious stranger before looking back down. Once the man had left, he had left. Not after snatching the number first.

He returned home, or at least what he could barely call home. His rat squeaked a greeting from its bed. He did some research upon the number, not much information could be found about it. Burner phone perhaps? Either way, this man was looking for him. Why keep him waiting?

Utilizing his own burner phone, he called the other number and spoke just as he heard the phone pick up and the other person speak, "The Rat will be waiting for you at Slater Park, be there."

He hung up before the man could respond. He'd just find him when he got there.

--

It was dark now, the park was not a very big one, but it was easy enough to find someone in. The drone was placed on top of a building overlooking the park. It was almost time to go looking around. The propellers started up, as Nick went to search for the strange man that was looking for him. The drone was silent in the night, a stealthy sleek and black color helping it blend into the sky above of the dimly lit park.

He spotted the man, flying around behind him before having the drone speak, "Could you be any more suspicious? Usually when people are searching for someone of my talents they shoot an email or just contact a previous client..."

Dean hadn't any luck with the next shop he went into as well. He was sitting on the rooftop of some apartment complex munching on some pretzels he'd nicked from a gas station on the way over, when his phone suddenly went off. Dean swallowed his mouthful and answered the phone curious who would be calling him, but partly excited because no one knew this number except the people he'd been asking around for.

"Hello?" Dean asked.

"The Rat will be waiting for you at Slater Park, be there." A man spoke. Then there was a click and the phone hung up. Dean didn't waste any time. He shoved the rest of the pretzels in his hoodie pocket and hopped down the fire escape before running off in the direction of the Slater Park. He had a pocket knife and a gun on him as a defense. He wasn't stupid, and was certainly going to check the area out a little first before just blindly walking in. He had to remember, he had no team to back him up this time.

After checking the perimeters and still not seeing anyone threaten, Dean deemed it safe enough. He kept his hands in his pockets though on his knife ready to tack action if it came to it. He placed himself in the open where it would be rather hard to drag him away without him giving a fight first.

"Could you be any more suspicious? Usually when people are searching for someone of my talents they shoot an email or just contact a previous client..." Dean flipped around ready to face the man only to find a drone copter in it's place. Dean raised an eyebrow but admired his cautious approach.

"Emails would be out for me because I can't read. As for contacting another of your clients, the only ones I know of whose had contact with you is a cop, and two people I'm not in current contact with anymore." Dean responded with ease. He kept an eye out on his surroundings though ready to fight if this happened to be a trap. "So suspicious, yes. But understandably so. Most people with my background are."

Dean took a breath and then decided to get right down to business. "About a month ago, you contacted the leader of Strike Out. Now, we need to prove identities here so we know we're dealing with the right people. I need you to tell me what you did for Striker and his friend and I'll give you my real name in exchange so you can go look it up, hack whatever files you need to verify it. Deal?" Dean said.

He was a little weary of giving out his birth name but if this man was as good as Dean believed him to be, then he could go hack the police files and know his real name already based on the appearance and voice.

Nick hesitated, the drone suspended in place as the small copter kept itself afloat. It was his policy not to talk to others about his jobs, what happened was between him and his client. Nobody else knows, or else lives will end. Mostly on Nick's part.

However, that was not an official job. It was more of Nick's desire for revenge. Rats bite when cornered, and boy did he make sure that man paid for his crime. The drone spoke up, "They were not clients, it was not an official job. I was not paid, but I still have policies in my business. I will only reveal that I simply traced the IP and gave them the location of a person that certainly deserved what he paid for."

Nick was a bit doubtful that this man only knew three clients. Jobs were few and far in between, but he doubted that the underground kept quiet about his presence. Did they? He was not sure, he never went down there. No way in hell he'd go down there. The drone's camera tilted downwards, whirring a bit and zooming in on Dean's face.

"Why do you seek me out?" he asked.

Dean listened to the explanation and nodded. He had loyalty. He wasn't going to give away the whole operation on command. Good. That was the type of loyalty Dean was looking for. Dean lowered his hood taking off his bandana and fake glasses. He looked straight into the camera attached to the drone.

"Name's Franklin Erikson. Better known as Dean, Ex member of the Strike Out team. You can look up the name to verify my face if you like. I'm sure the police have a very long record on me." Dean glanced around again to make sure no one was around to see or hear all this. He didn't need some ease droppers spreading all kind of shit to the underground criminals.

"You're right. They weren't your clients, but two of them were my friends, which is how I know of you. As of recent, the Strike Out team have parted ways. Details, not important there, besides run into any criminal on the street and I'm sure they'll give you just as much information about it as I'd be prepared to tell you." Dean paused trying to get to his point. "I'm recruiting people currently to start my own team, gang, whatever you want to call it. Think of this more like a job you'd be signing up for. I'd offer you payments for your tasks and protection if you ever needed it."

Dean paused to allow the man to reply to the offer. He needed to know what was important to him to know how to sell the case.

A permanent job? What? Nick certainly had not been approached for this kind of offer before. The drone hovered where it was, not revealing anything as Nick thought about it.

"I have to admit, never have I ever been approached for position such as this before," he spoke, "Usually it's only a single job, revisits, and simply multiple uses of my service. What prompts you to ask of a more permanent position?" Nick was liking the idea, a reliable paycheck was certainly promising. However, why the sudden change of pace? What was this teen planning? He suspected that this man was planning to lure him out of the drone, see his face and then sell his head to the highest bidder.

He would need to verify the identity later, the drone was incapable of hacking into a police database, he still needed to upgrade that. It was hard to fit a whole computer into such a small and intricate object. The easy part was simply programming. The drone lowered itself a bit so that Dean would not need to speak louder, but he still stayed outside of his reach in case he tried to make a leap for the drone and grab it.

So there was interest? Good. Dean kept his face free of the excitement he felt that the man was possibly considering the job. No need to make the man realize how much Dean possibly valued his connection. With this hacker, Dean would have a way easier job getting information and other resources he needed. He'd always relied on Striker and Conner to find work, and now that he was off on his own, he had to step up and find work for himself. Sure he had starter money that could motivate people to come to his side and help, but he still needed to continue the cash flow or he'd be out of luck in a few months.

"Call it what you want, but I need strong allies at this point. You definitely have proven you have skill. You're not required to ever be in person with me, as long as you can hack at a distance and I can keep in contact with you. However, if you were to meet me in person, I would also add teaching hand to hand combat skills to the offer. Strike Out is done, and I need a new name to build up around here. I feel your skills will be valuable to me, and of course I would be of value to you via payments, protection, and training if you desired." Dean shrugged as if it didn't matter if he took the offer or not.

"Of course, if you take this job, I need to know to what extent your hacking abilities are and if there are any other abilities you have to offer." Dean concluded.

Again Dean checked his surroundings, being overly cautious that no one was coming to get him. Call him paranoid if you wanted, but he was better safe than sorry. In his life, one could never be too careful. Dean's gaze returned to the drone awaiting his counter offer or agreement. It could go down a couple of ways. He wasn't going to put all his eggs in one basket, but this was definitely someone had in mind as an ally in his new team/gang.

The drone was silent for a moment as Nick further considered the offer. His mind evaluated the danger with the benefits, he supposed working for this guy would not be too bad of a deal if he gets paid nicely.

"My technique for my service is unique, not exactly something I could explain easily. I can get into nearly any database with ease, however more protected technology, along with ones not connected to internet or wi-fi, would require one of my drones to be present to download a program into the system. The drone would then need to remove the program as well once the job has been complete. I can also send this program to things like phones and then have the phones hooked up to the needed tech as well. Treat it as an infection if you will. As a note, my drones are not expendable. They are not to be destroyed at any cost," he said instead of simply saying 'i accept'.

"There may be some that I am incapable of getting into, but that would be advanced United Nation level of protection. With your previous records, I doubt you're going to be doing anything of that level. As another note, my policy had been altered since the events of Death Master that will require you to notify me of the purpose of the tasks. I do not want to end up on the news as the one who helped launch some nuclear weapon, not only would it make my life difficult but it would damage any future business chances," he explained, "I will not tell others of my relations with you due to the security policy as well in the small chance that I am discovered."

"By the way...are you serious about not being able to read?" he asked, the drone's voice monotonous though he felt a bit of disbelief. Who didn't know how to read!? Well Striker did, but this guy too? Really?

Dean listened and took note to everything he said. The important details were highlighted in his mind. Protect the drone. Must know what each mission is for. Dean nodded along with everything showing he understood, but still was secretly praising himself for gaining his first member, and it being the member he wanted. The speech finally ended with the drone asking if he really couldn't read.

Dean sighed. It was a challenge yes, but Striker couldn't read and he'd lead on of the most successful criminal teams here. Dean didn't think it would be too much of an issue. He'd seen the ways Striker had gotten around it, and he'd make do the same way. Besides, if he needed an email set up, he could always pay this guy to handle the emails and determine which jobs he thought the new team could handle and what not.

"Yes, I was serious. It was never very important to me or the people I grew up with that I learned. Therefore that may be one of your jobs later if I desired to set up and email to find local jobs around here from other criminals. I'd have you handle the responses. It would allow you to up front see what we were getting into as well." Dean replied. "But for right now, an email is not my priority. We should discuss payments. And I also had a small task for you to begin with. Police should have a record of a Conner Lee McDuff. All I need is his cell phone number from that. It's not anything business related. Just a personal matter."

Dean wasn't sure if the guy would request more information on what personal matter he had for Conner, but he figured as long as it wasn't business related, he didn't need to know. Truthfully, this was less of a test of the hacker's skills and more of a longing Dean had. Dean wasn't sure if he'd call Conner any time soon, but he needed the number in case he wanted to get in contact with him. He knew now was a bad time to call though. People were probably watching every movement of the three right now. He'd have to wait until things settled before contacting Conner and checking to make sure he was alright. He had Reiner's number if he needed to get in contact with him, but so far, Dean hadn't given him a call. He was considering it. He was considering asking Reiner and Doniel onto his team, but he knew that they had been considering the clean slate program and wasn't going to drag them back down if they wanted out of the criminal life. He'd keep in contact with them and see what their decision came to before mentioning his own team.

...This guy really couldn't read. Nick was a bit confused as to how it was not important, since reading was a basic function needed in life. Just how long had this guy been on his own for? What the hell were his parents doing? The answers did not matter, so he did not ask, besides they were too personal. Asking personal questions usually led to beheading.

"Learn to read," He stated as more of a demand though it could have easily been mistaken as a suggestion however since the drone killed all emotion in his voice and altered his voice. It was a feature to help hide his identity and personality, it was impossible for anyone who had met him as a drone to recognize him on the street this way, which was exactly what he wanted.

He was given a task already? Shit, he couldn't do that right now, not in this drone.

"I am currently not in a situation where I am capable of getting such information easily. I will definitely have it by our next meeting however. Is there any meeting spots you would like to establish? A base of sorts? I usually operate via instant messaging or e-mail but due to your circumstance, a meeting spot would need to be established," he spoke. The drone lowered itself to eye-level with Dean, Nick was fully prepared to shoot straight up and out there if there was any suspicious movements.

"Learn to read." was the response. Dean raised an eyebrow slightly, but said nothing about it. Yes, reading would be helpful, but he'd lasted 18 years without. Did he really need it? He didn't imagine with his life style he'd last more than 30, so he only had 12 more years to go before he wouldn't need it ever again.

"I am currently not in a situation where I am capable of getting such information easily." Dean resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He hadn't meant right that very second. Actually, Dean would've been more than impressed if the man could produce the number that quickly.

"I didn't mean right this moment. Just a task to start on. I don't know how long it takes you to obtain that kind of information." Dean replied. "As for a meeting spot, I prefer the roof of the Anderson Apartment building. I'm not quite prepared to give my base away as I would be at a disadvantage of you knowing my identity and me not having a clue who you were. We would need to meet at least once weekly for you to receive compensate and for me to give updates on what I need. However, you can reach me via phone for right now, until I throw this phone out for a more permeate one. As I said, I don't know how long your process is, so give me a call when you have the information."

Dean wasn't sure what else to say on the subject, so he waited to see if the drone had anything more to bring up. He did watch the drone with somewhat awe at it's fine machinery. He didn't even think Reiner would be able to build something like that.

Nick was a bit surprised that the man did not mean right at this second, usually people assumed that he was behind a screen and not actually there with them. The drone whirred as it lifted itself a bit more, "Not long Mr. Erikson. Not long at all," he assured the man. Normally it would take quite a bit longer, but with his ability the information was available in a matter of moments.

"What days of the week? I'd prefer to have a bit more variety in the meeting times at the least, an occasional change up as well. My tracks are easily covered, however yours might end up with a trail or two if you're not careful," Nick pointed out. It was easy to hide behind a screen, or in his case a drone, but being in person lead to a lot of dangers and factors that were difficult to keep up with.

"I do not plan to present myself to anyone in person ever, its more difficult to pin crimes on a name than a body. Height, Skin Color, tone of voice, every little variable in a person leads closer and closer to narrowing down who that person is. Anonymity is quite a blessing in disguise," Nick finished. The drone waited for the answer, hoping that his new long-term client would not get offended and simply understand his reasoning. He's had quite a few clients be upset over the refusal to see him. It was all a part of the policy.