The light was just beginning to illuminate the broken lands of the Hellfire Peninsula as the worn-out and exhausted knights entered their small camp. It had been another long, gruelling night patrol where they had fought a number of small skirmishes with the Fel-Orcs of the Shattered Hand clan. Luckily though thanks to the their constant training and the fact that a good number of them were paladins the ‘Knights of the Righteous Path’ had once again suffered no casualties. As usual their leader, Lord Sim of Stormwind dismounted from his rather unique mount and headed straight for his command tent. No sooner had he sat down than his second in command Captain Alpharius strode in, clearly wishing to speak to him.

“I grow tired of these constant patrols,” Alpharius complained. “When are we going to get an assignment that we can really sink our teeth into, something that truly challenges us?” he demanded to know from his superior.

“You seem quick to forget that we were given a task that we could, sink our teeth into as you put it, but it proved to be beyond our skills,” Sim responded as he removed his helmet, he was growing annoyed with his second as he had been complaining about this for days now.

“I think you’ll find it was beyond only some of our knights skills, not all,” Alpharius stated the insinuation clear in his tone, Sim knew that the younger man was trying to goad him into losing his temper.

“That may be so, but yet again you fail to see the bigger picture,” Sim rebuked his voice calm and even. “Just remember without the backup of our younger more inexperience knights you and your followers would have been quickly wiped out, what’s more since we are a ‘private’ organisation there will be no reinforcements from Stormwind should any of our number fall. So until I judge that ALL of our forces have the skill needed to take on bigger challenges I will not be putting forward the ‘Knights of the Righteous Path’ for any assignments that I deem to be too difficult for us to handle, now drop it.” He explained maintaining the calmness in his voice which clearly annoyed Alpharius, as the younger man strode out of the tent.

With and exhausted sigh Sim contued to remove his armour as he contemplated their situation, he had been volunteering for nights time patrols now for the last few weeks. His goal had been to raise the skills of his knights, something which was happening far slower than he had hoped for. As time had passed their seemed to be a growing rivalry between Alpharius’s experienced veterans and his own younger novices instead of the bonds which usually grow between men and women who fight together against a common enemy. The source of this, clearly was the tension between himself and the captain. However he was confident that his second would toe the line as without Sim’s help Alpharius would still be suffering from the repercussions of that terrible incident involving the pretty blonde barmaid. So with a large yawn he lay back on his bunk and went to sleep.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * *

“Ok let me just point out to you what you have done,” Brimstone said. “You have agreed that the ‘Fist of Fury’ are to basically break the Burning Legion in Hellfire Peninsula, signal handily.” To her left Maestro shook his heads in amusement.

“Look I did what I had to do to secure Trollbane’s aid,” Rascal stated crossly with a hurt look on her face. “If you think you can do better your welcome to try,” she added.

“Calm down Rascal,” Tout’Sweet said placing a arm around her waist. “Brimstone’s only teasing, you did the right thing all of us here would have made that deal.”

“Really?” she asked looking at him hopefully, he nodded, and the other two laughed causing Rascal’s face turned red with embarrassment at how easily they had tricked her.

As they expected the Den was quit at this time of day so finding a table was easy, Tout’Sweet chose a chair facing the door and pulled Rascal on to his lap while the other two sat either side of them. A young woman took their drinks order, which was the same as always; and then promptly disappeared leaving them alone to discuss the assignment.

“Ok so the problem is that the legion are using powerful teleporters to rush reinforcements in to Hellfire and thus keeping Honour Hold’s forces busy while at the same time constructing new Fel-Reavers, which once completed they will use to destroy the stronghold.” Tout’Sweet summarised Rascal nodded.

“Our best chance of success will be an aerial attack,” Brimstone commented. “Use griffons to fly us over the targets and blow them up with bombs.”

“Agree’d we have the munitions to make them back at the based,” Maestro added. “The question is what strength do we need to make the bombs to ensure that they do the job?” the four were silent for a moment.

“Let not make any mistakes with this, I what as many Super Sapper Charges as we can build those should pack enough of a punch,” Tout’Sweet told the others, the waitress arrived with their drinks. “Thank you my dear tell Jub’jub to out this on my tab,” he told her she nodded and walked away. “When we get back all of you get to work on that I’ll explain to Xue what we are doing and why. I’ll also try to convice her to remain here with Beladia and Torgina, as those two aren’t for combat right now,” his tone suggested that this would be difficult.

“Brimstone what did you find out about Zujin?” Maestro asked the warlock.

“Not much but enough,” Brimstone shrugged. “I know that he is a member, or at least his parents were of the Burning Blade and that they somehow escape the near destruction of their ‘clan’ at the Dark Portal. What is interesting though is he has had numerous clashes with warlocks who are affiliated with or at least rumoured to be connected with the Shadow Council. He uses his demons to protect his family and advance the interests of the organisation he is part of rather than for personal glory or power.”

“Well that’s something I have not heard of before a warlock who does not like demons,” Tout’Sweet commented. “What do we know about his family?”

“All of them are dead, bar his sister, I not sure how they died but my sources say that they were involved in a plot that endangered the horde and so steps were take to eliminate them before they could bring their plan to fruition.” Brimstone answered. “I can only assume that since he is alive that Zujin was key in bring these events about. As for his sister she has paired up with a officer in the Horde army a Blood Guard Jarax if I recall and she lives in Grom’Gol with their twins while he serves in Thrallmar.”

“Jarax?” Maestro mused. “Was he not one of the names that…”

“Yes it was,” Tout’Sweet interrupted. “This means that Zujin as we suspected knows more about the group we are after than he let on.”

* * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * *

Their was very little light in the chamber he had taken for himself, sitting silently on his large chair he watched as Kitty entered, she had left her robes in her own chamber and stood in her skimpy armour. With the power he had given her she had made her body flawless except for her mid-rift which had a large ugly scar where she had sustained the horrendous wound that had almost killed her.

“You summoned me master,” she said kneeling in front of him.

“Yes, there is a task that I can trust only to you,” he replied.

“Tell me what I must do?” she asked.

“While the others are gathering what we need for the machine I need you to acquire something of a darker nature,” He answered. “I have become aware of a tome that is in the possession the Shadow Council,” he chuckled at some form of private joke that she did not understand. “It contains powerful summoning spells and demonic incantations that we will need to increase our power.”

“Where will I find this tome?”

“They have a camp in an area known as Terokkar Forest go there and acquire it for me my dear oh they will be resistant to the idea of you to the taking it, but I know you’ll be able to ‘persuade’ them,” he instructed her grinning maliciously.

“Of course Master, your wish is my command,” she said rising with an equally evil smile on her face and left the chamber.

After she had gone he sat back in his chair, without thinking he rubbed the back of his wrist, some of the skin split and began to peel off much to his irritation. Jar’ag’s machine better work he thought as time was short, already he could feel the attentions of their enemies focusing on them, soon his group would be exposed and they needed to be ready for when their location was discovered.

The sound of whimpering and crying brought him back from his thoughts, rising from his chair he pulled the shadows to him and headed out to see what all the commotion was about. In the main chamber he found Ezekyle leading a group of very dirty dishevelled looking blood elves towards the very small rooms that had been converted into the groups prison cells. Crux was actually carrying two of the frail humanoids who had obviously passed out on their way from the Arakkoa camp.

“Did you have any trouble with the bird men?” the Master asked.

“No Master they eagerly accepted the gems you gave us as payment,” Ezekyle answered, there was a smugness in his tone and the scent of blood on him that told the Master his minion was not telling him everything.

“What else happened?” he demanded to know. “You have been involved in a battle, if not with the Arakkoa then who?” for the merest second the hunters face was a mask of surprised at the question.

“Well there was a pair of mercenaries that attempted to interfere with our deal just as it was happening,” Ezekyle informed him. “But I took care of them both,” he added in an attempt to reassure the Master.

“Hmm, do those bird men have any clue as to our location?”

“I don’t see how they would Master, none of my group mentioned it and I made sure we weren’t followed.”

“Good, go see if you can help Jar’ag at all he has already returned from his mission, when Falkus returns I want to see you all in my chambers,” the Master ordered dismissing the Draenei.

Now they had two out of the three subject groups they needed to begin their experiments and with Kitty bring him the tome soon they would be ready for every and any enemy that could challenge them, still though time was short.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * *

(In the Past)

Zujin rode up to the small house on his old grey wolf standing in the porch was his baby sister Varlet who leapt over the railing with the agility and confidence that only the young possessed and ran to him. She held her arms wide and threw herself upward all most knocking him from his mount.

“Hi big brother I miss you,” she said pressing her face into his dreadmist robes.

“I missed you too,” he replied wrapping his arms around her as a shadow fell across them both. “Ah there you are Rokash I hope little Varlet has not been too much trouble for you,” he joked with the large tauren.

“None at all Zujin,” Rokash replied rather stiffly. Zujin smiled at him at least he was calling him by his first name now not ‘sir’ like he had only a few weeks ago when he had purchased the large bull from the goblins in Undermine, something he would not have done if it had not been for Varlet. “Did you have a chance to think about what I suggested?” the tauren asked his tone remained stiff.

“Yes I did thank you,” Zujin replied looking over his shoulder as a small cart stopped in front of their home. “Varlet Rokash tells me that you are rather lonely without any other youngling about to play with,” he explained to his intrigued sister. “He suggested that I contact the local orphanage for a friend for you,” as he spoke an elderly female orc climbed of the back of the cart and helped a small orphan down. “So I would like to introduce you this little one,” the small orphan was a girl with a grubby face and dressed in rags, she looked two or three years younger than Varlet with her thumb wedged firmly in her mouth. “Varlet this is Torgina.”

There was a tense moment where everyone looked at the two younglings who were staring at each other. Then Varlet jumped down and grabbed Torgina’s free hand and pulled her towards the house, she talked excitedly about the toys they could share and the games they could play, Torgina her thumb still in her mouth followed with a bemused but eager expression.

“Well Rokash,” Zujin grinned. “the good news is that your idea is a great success, but I think you have just double your own work load.” There was another awkward pause and then the bull laughed.

(The Present)

Zujin rose from his chair and moved to look out the window, Rokash sat quietly in his chair clearly not sure what to say. The knowledge that Torgina who had vanished several months ago without a trace despite an extensive search by both the army and Zujin, had not just been found by the ‘Fist of Fury’ but even now were under their protection was something that took a while for him to get his head around. He remembered that as youngling she and Varlet had driven him to distraction, always getting in to trouble but while the older girl was able to sneak away from it the younger favoured a straight brawl. When she was old enough Zujin used his influence to get her into the army, something she jumped at eagerly and with Rokashs training she easily outstripped all the other would be grunts in her company. The silence was broken as Saku entered the room, he did not look too pleased.

“Care to tell me why there are four dead Seering blade assassins in the back room?” he asked flatly.

“It would seem that my sudden drop in security caught Neeru’s attention,” Zujin replied looking over his shoulder, there was a smug amusement in his tone that both Rokash and Saku picked up on.

“You knew they would be coming,” Saku stated his eye narrowing.

“Well I can’t say that I knew for certain, but I had heard rumours that my ‘good friend’ was training a group to end our rivalry once and for all,” Zujin said turning to face them. “I had to deal with them at sometime so I figured I could kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. Rokash stops them and in doing so blunts his rage.” The big tauren laughed.

“Good plan that,” Rokash smiled, Zujin nodded his head to the compliment.

“Well then I’ll leave you to it I have to get back to Outland,” Saku told them. “Jarax’s has something which I think it might be connected with our currant situation,” the hunter turned and left the room.

Zujin waited for him to go before walking over to his large desk and producing a small book from its drawers. Flipping through the pages he stopped on one about two thirds of the way through and after looking at it for a moment sighed in frustration. He closed it, picked it up and returned to his seat across from Rokash.

“I need you to retrieve something for me it’s very important that we have it as soon as possible.” The warlock said.

“What?”

“Years ago my Uncle and Father borrowed a book from the Shadow Council which they intended to use to summon a powerful dreadlord,” Zujin explained. “I was with them at the time and from the impression the council members gave it was that this book is one of a kind, however now I don’t think it was, as my spies within the Burning Blade tell me that another copy has been recently moved to a small camp in Terokkar Forest in preparation for a dangerous ritual to bring the legion right on top of Shattrath city. This book here with give you’re their location and numbers,” he added and tossed the book to him

“You think this book will help you defeat this demon?” Rokash asked.

“Yes, I’m hoping that it will have the answer to the one question I have been asking myself since I found out it had come through,” Zujin answered. “What is it up to?”

* * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * *

“Lord Sim,” a voice called waking him from his slumber. He opened his eyes to see the young female knight who he had appointed as his aid poking her head into his tent. “There are riders from Honour hold to see you,” she explained.

“I’ll be right out,” he stated sitting up. “Send for Captain Alpharius,” he added.

He quickly exited the tent after splashing some of the water she had left out for him in his face and generally tiding himself up. Outside a group of four Honour hold outriders sat on their horses, they all look dusty and rather scruffy he thought, typical of troops who were the move for great lengths of time. Their leader removed his helmet and nodded respectfully, and to him and Alpharius who had just appeared.

“Forde Commander Trollbane requests your presence in Honour hold as soon as possible,” the rider told them.

“What is it he wishes to speak to us about?” Sim asked.

“I do not know Lord Sim but the commander was most insistent that you not keep him waiting long,” the rider responded. “If you are ready to leave now I and my men can escort you.” Even as he spoke the paladin’s mount were brought up saddled and ready, Sim looked at his aid who was leading them and gave her a wink causing her to blush.

“It looks as if we can go right now,” Sim commented as he took the reins from his aid and pulled himself up onto his saddle. Once Alpharius was in his they set off at speed towards the stronghold.

The journey took no time at all and soon Sim and Alpharius were walking the short distance from the stables to the Keep, however as they approached the gate Trollbane himself walked out. He was in deep conversation with his officers and did not see the pair until Sim coughed politely.

“Ah Sim, Alpharius glad to see you made it here so quickly,” Trollbane commented and dismissed his officers. “There is someone who wants to talk to you, come with me,” he told them and headed towards the inn. Alpharius looked at Sim his expression puzzled the older paladin merely shrugged. Waiting for them in what could only be the Commander’s personal rooms was a stunning blonde that both me knew, Rhea.

“Captain Rhea?” Sim said diplomatically bowing to hide his surprise at seeing her, Alpharius said nothing but also bowed.

“Lord Sim, Captain Alpharius,” Rhea replied bowing in return as was the paladin custom. “Please sit and we will discuss why you are here.”

All four sat round the table which was covered in a large map of the peninsula, Sim noted that several areas had small models on them representing the faction which controlled them. Rhea took the seat opposite him, her long hair falling forward over her shoulders as she did so, he smiled at the memory of her turning him down when he had attempted to charm her it had been at a celebration of the paladins victory over a group of bandits in Westfall. He had just walked up to her as she was taking a mouthful of mead, but before he had even opened his mouth she had held up her finger as a signal for him to wait a moment while she swallowed her drink, before speaking her first and only words to him during the party, ‘There’s not enough Alcohol in all of Azeroth,” before walking away. A lesser man would have been resentful of this rejection, but he just laughed and picked another pretty girl.

“I’ll get straight to the point I here to offer you a deal on behalf of ‘Fists of Fury’,” Rhea said right off the bat, both Sim and Alpharius stiffened noticeably. “You know its funny, they had the same reaction when I suggested to them that you should work together on this,” she commented on their reactions. “But they still agreed to this partnership,” she added.

“Very well lets hear what you have to say,” Sim responded. “How can our small group help the famous ‘Fist of Fury’?” he asked with a slight tone of mockery Alpharius smiled.

“Well first off you can lose the attitude,” Rhea snapped back sapphire blue eyes narrowing. “The ‘Fists’ are currently employed in looking for a particularly dangerous band that has made its home somewhere in Hellfire Peninsula, they need help in hunting down its key members and tracking them to their base, as quickly as possible. When I heard the names of these key members I instantly thought of you pair and your ‘small group’,” she said with a slight of her own at the end.

“Just why would the members of this group be of interest to us?” Alpharius came back at her clearly angered by her last words. Trollbane looked at Sim with a warning glare to keep his dog in check.

“Well in fact its only one name that would be of interest to you,” Rhea smiled clearly please that she had managed to rile him, the two had always been rivals due to the fact that at one time both had being rising stars with in the paladin order. “The key member of this band I’m referring to is some one that both of you know, Falkus.”

Instantly at the mention of this name Alpharius turned white and gulped as he turned to look at Sim whose lower face now rested in his left hand as he drummed the fingers of his right on the table. He was silent for a few more moments before finally speaking.

“Are you telling us that Stormwind’s number one most wanted murderer Falkus ‘The Widowmaker’ is free and at large here in outland?” he asked falling back to his diplomatic tone to hide his fear, Rhea nodded.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * *

With an angry snarl the orc slammed into the hut wall, Falkus’s boot print emblazoned on its face, on any other race such an attack would of stunned and disorientated the victim but these brutes were tough. It came back at him swinging its large two handed mace over its head in an attempt to flatten him into the earth, but the blow was far too slow and he side stepped it and was inside the orc’s guard, then lashed out with a small punch dagger making a small, harmless looking cut on its large brown shoulder.

“Your going to have to do a lot better than that,” the orc mocked as the two moved apart. It stepped forward to strike out at him again but its weapon slipped from its grasp and it stumbled to the side as if for some reason, it was losing control of its motor functions. “What…” it began but the only sounds that came after that word was incoherent gibberish. With its eyes glazing over it slowly toppled backwards losing consciousness even before hitting the ground.

Still holding his punch dagger Falkus stood his fallen opponent, the Master had tasked him with capturing at least twenty of these brown skinned orcs or Mag’har as they were apparently called. He was particularly pleased with the results of his newest creation, a poison which completely paralyzed the victim before rendering them unconscious.

“Throw this one on the wagon with the rest,” he ordered, removing his fedora he wiped the sweat from his brow before looking over the small village. That was the last, it had been a tough day and they had used all of this particular poison. Replacing his hat with one hand he smoothed down his moustache with the other, “Ok lets get out of here before more ar…” he began but was interrupted by several loud yells.

Turning he saw a large group of Mag’har coming straight at him and his crew. With a cold smile growing on his face Falkus slipped his punch dagger away and drew two other larger blades both coated in an altogether more deadly looking substance. His fellow rogues and scouts followed his lead all eager as he was to get into a real fight.

“All right lads, lets see how tough these brutes actually are,” he laughed and ran towards the charging orcs, the others right on his heals.

The first orc he reached stabbed out with a two handed sword, but Falkus dived under the weapon and impacted hard into the orc’s torso. With a grunt of pain and surprise the orc fell backwards and Falkus went with it piercing both its sides with his blades. His momentum meant that he was able to roll forward over the top of his foe and had him back on to his feet, face to face with the orc that had been behind the one that now lay violently convulsing on the ground. Before this second orc could react to this surprising event he slashed his right dagger across its throat, while simultaneously stabbing his left into its abdomen. Like the first this orc began to convulse aggessivly enough to throw itself off his blade, allowing Falkus to move on to number three.

This third orc had seen how quickly he dispatched his kin which clearly pissed it off, so despite being unarmed it attacked him. Grabbing both his wrists as he attempted to stab it, it kicked out hitting Falkus in the groin. Pain wracked though the rogue’s body and his eyes began to water, clearly the orc thought it was on to a winner as it tried to do this again, but what it had not expected was for Falkus to suddenly jump and bring both his feet hard into its chest. This manouver served two goals, the first was that caused the orc to fall forward on top of him, however unlike moments ago where he had used a similar tactic to slay a orc this time he used it to free himself, as he hit the ground her bent his legs until the orc was completely off the ground, then he straightened them again with such force that he launched the orc over his head and in doing do broke free from its grip. Wasting no time he rolled backwards this time and ended up on top of his foe which he promptly stabbed twice.

By the time he was back on his feet the battle was over with his crew having slain the other orcs in similar displays of skill. As he sheathed his dagger silence descended on over the small outpost and Falkus doubted if there were anymore of these brown skin orcs to threaten them. So he turned and headed back towards the wagon where the restrained living Mah’gar lay unconscious.

“Any idea why the Master wants these orcs?” one of the others asked him.

“It something to do with that machine we found in the compound,” Falkus shrugged. “If you really want to know ask that lunatic Jar’ag,” he added.

“Not a chance I don’t want to be within five feet of him, or his abominations,” the other rogue responded. Falkus smiled, despite the fact that the group was made of numerous races each kept to their own and looked on the others with distrust, whether the Master knew this or even cared was something that none of them could tell.

“Ok let’s get this wagon moving the sooner we are back at base the sooner we can all rest up,” he called out to the others as he mounted his steed. Though he was not eager to be in the company of either Jar’ag or Ezekyle he was very interested in what it was their Master was seeking to achieve with all these prisoners.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * *

(5 Years ago)

Around them the city burned, though how it had continued to burn with such ferocity for all these years Oathbreaker had no idea, not that he cared. All he was interested was like the others with him he was here to do a job. Two days ago he had been part of a group put together by the Argent Dawn with one goal to slay Baron Rivendare the self appointed ‘Mayor’ of Stratholme. It was the hope of the organisation that without the powerful death knights presence that the scourge would be easier to defeat.

So now here he was with a small group of mercenaries and adventures hacking and butchering their way through seemingly never ending waves of undead. The attacks though had stopped after they had managed destroy the three Zigguts after they had overcome the building defenders. Now they rested in a dark alcove between the town and open ground before the structure which was filled with powerful abominations the Barons bodyguards.

“By the will of the light,” exclaimed an olive skinned, dark haired human. “The gore which these soulless monsters leave behind gets every where,” he complained scoping a handful of red and green slime out for the joint between his left gauntlet and bracer.

“Quit you moaning Andrezj,” replied an orc who was checking how many arrows he had left in his quiver. “You’ve been doing it non-stop since we left the chapel and I’m getting sick of it.”

“Mitzar, your welcome to come over here and shut me up if you think you can take me,” Andrezj spat back.

“Will both of you be silent,” snapped the bands leader, an Argent Dawn battle mage officer called Heka. “The hardest part of this whole mission is ahead of us and if you don’t keep your mouths shut I’ll kill you myself,” she looked ready to make good on her threat and both fell silent. “Oathbreaker, you and Naraxis to take out the abominations on the right while I and the jokers here put down the ones on the left, clear.”

“Perfectly,” Oathbreaker replied as he and another large tauren rose from where they sat. Both bulls drew their weapons and started to walk forward, Oathbreakers weapon of choice was a sword which had a vicious hook at the end that was designed to cause more damage coming out that going in, while Naraxis favoured a large serrated blood stain axe.

“That’s a strange name you got there, Oathbreaker,” Naraxis smiled in a friendly way. “You’ll have to tell me how you got it after this is over.” He added.

“No I wont,” Oathbreaker stated, the other bull shrugged and raised his weapon looking to see that the others were ready.

Heka had just finished casting her protective spells nodded as Mitzar loaded a arrow into his bow and Andrezj summoned an aura of retribution around them then place his heavy plate helmet on his head. Without and further hesitation the two bulls charged the monstrous undead that stood between them and their target.

(Presant day)

“Hey Oathbreaker, you still with us?” Oleysia asked smiling up him from across their table in Thrallmar’s Inn.

“Huh, oh yeah sorry I was miles away there,” he replied shaking his head.

“Yeah you looked like it,” the warlock commented. “Thinking about a nice girl back home,” she joked.

“No my first mission after I was exiled from Thunderbluff,” he stated matter-o-factly though he noticed that he eyes softened when he mentioned it.

“Can I ask why you were exiled?” she politely and quietly asked.

“I cant stop you from asking, but I wont tell you,” he shook his head before reaching over and patting her on the head.

“Hey, don’t mess up my hair,” she cried out, making him laugh.

At that point Ruya returned with their drinks and place them on the table, she pulled her chair out and sat down looking over her shoulder at a group of grunts who called out to her inviting her over for some more fun like they had the last time, she laughed and told them maybe later. Oathbreaker shook his head but said nothing where as Oleysia held her hand up to her mouth and giggled.

“Friends of you?” she asked the shaman, jokingly.

“Uhuh,” Ruya smiled. “Hey why don’t you join us,” she offered teasingly. “You might enjoy the attentions of one of the hunky, muscular grunts,” she commented in a husky voice, Oleysia blushed furiously.

Just then the table of grunts fell silent as a large silhouette filled the door way, it was Jarax. He had a grim look on his face as her entered the room but he nodded to his troops as he made his way directly over to the trios table. Grabbing an empty chair he sat himself down before producing a scroll and a bag of gold.

“I’m glad you three are still sober,” he commented. “Cause I have a job for you, an important one.”