It certainly appears that way, mate. We've gotten word of cartels in Mexico running around with Venom tech, and the CIA's missing a field operator and a mercenary in the same place. Both reported dead in Mexico City, killed by a cartel. Americans recovered the mercenary's body, someone told me his call sign was Sidewinder, apparently he'd been contracted to keep an eye on some stuff down there. We've got reason to believe that there are some hold-outs in Mexico running with the cartels. [i]He said, not sounding happy to have said it. This was something he had hoped that he'd never have to deal with.[/i] We don't know who's calling the shots or what they want. Been a dead trail for the most part, and Parliament's not letting me chase this, neither is the Castle.

[i] Lance mag-locks the blade to his thigh. He was nothing if not a blade addict.[/i] "Then it's a good thing you have a capable operator who doesn't answer to any suits." [i] Lance says with a grin in his tone.[/i] "They're looking for Jackson. I don't know why, but the guy in charge, Atlas, gave them the orders."

Why Jackson? Lad didn't have anything to do with Schrader? And Atlas, you said? Not anything I'm familiar with. Never knew anyone with that name. [i]He turned away from Lance, and looked off to the horizon, and made a call.[/i] 'Ello, Alex. I need you to do me a little favor, I'll pay you handsomely. Yes, I need you to be violent. Lance has a live one, I need information from her. Anything so long as it isn't sexual or severely mangling. Yes, you can waterboard her. [i]He turned back to Lance.[/i] I think you can figure the rest of this out, mate.

"Let's hope the new blood isn't as hardened as the old." [i] Lance said, a joke towards the girl's willingness to give up intel. He knew people like Blackjack and Crow back in the old Venom days were too solid to have info tortured out of them.[/i] "Yeah. I can figure it out though. I appreciate the help Crow, give me a call if you need a favor from your favorite oriental white man."

Just keep her here until Wilson arrives. I need to know what in the bloody hell is going on. [i]With that, Crow disappeared, leaving Lance alone with the girl, waiting for Wilson.[/i]

"Oh. Great. Leave me to make dealings with the psychopath. Thanks a lot." [i] Lance muttered to himself, occupying himself by reaching into his back pocket, pulling out a coin and rolling it across his knuckles. A black coin the size of a half dollar, a pagoda on one side and crossed katanas on the other.[/i]

[i]A rip in the air appeared before him with a monstrous sound as Wilson stepped forth in his full suit of power armor, weapons clearly visible. Behind him, the tear in space and time closed, and he stood, looking at Lance. He looked down to the girl, and kicked her body over to the other side. Bending over, he lifted her up, fireman-style.[/i] May want to avoid this for a little while... gonna be ugly... [i]A maniacal chuckle escaped him as he entered another rift, disappearing again.[/i]