Mythlands: THE HEIST

Hare's Eleven

The Hare and Jessica's next meeting was in a trendy sushi place in DC's lower east side.

Over salmon rolls and sashimi, Hare caught Jessica up on the latest goings on.

'Vali arrived yesterday to be Loki's physical presence in the city. Renard was there, but I still haven't seen this mysterious silent partner, the one that bribed the security monkey and dog. I asked Bruin about them by the way and he just shrugged. Zodiac are going to be interviewing the board members tomorrow, which is going to make things tight.'

'How so?' asked Jessica as she nibbled at some tempura.

'Well apparently Loki wants me to lead some kind of team. I asked why Me and he said I have a certain skillset. Since they cracked the encryption ...'

Jessica sat up. 'Whoa! Hold on a minute there lop ears. Why didn't you lead with that?'

The Hare glanced around. 'Sorry, I'm less nervy than I was, but this isn't exactly a walk in the park for me. If the Zodiac suspects me, I'm finished and if Loki's lot find out I'm passing on information ...'

He let that thought hang.

Jessica waved her hand. 'Alright, lets cut to the chase. Have you found out anything useful?'

'I haven't been able to get near enough to swipe the encryption or see the file, if that's what you mean but Renard did tell me a few things. You see, I might have led him to believe I was like him ...'

'An untrustworthy grifter who thinks only of his own main chance and to hell with anything else?' Jessica folded her arms.

The Hare reached out to take her hands. 'Jess, I know you hate me. I hate myself, but honestly, this whole experience ... I've changed. I just want to go back to normal, to get back to my casino and appreciate what I've been given ... oh god if I could wipe the slate clean, I'd do it and I'd tell ol Tort that i'm sorry, that I know now, he's the best damn friend I ever had. And I feel utterly worthless ... I betrayed him.'

Jessica looked long and hard at him, head bowed, tears streaming down his furred cheeks. She squeezed his hands and he looked up. 'I don't hate you Hare,' she said and was surprised to find she meant it. 'Now, what else do you have?'

The Hare wiped his eyes and smiled. She smiled back, knowing he was always very quick to change temperament and could go from abject misery to happiness in seconds, according to circumstances.

'Renard likes his Sake, which is why I suggested this place. Gonna pick up a few bottles before we go. Anyway, when he gets drunk he likes to boast about how clever he is and I let him assume we were friends and kindred spirits. So, apparently Loki had a theory of his confirmed by the information. This Vault of Myth ... the way its set up. Most of the heightened security is geared towards the assumption that gods or creatures from the godly realms are going to try to get in, if they discovered the location. This means Loki has to rely on us lesser creatures and not his usual minions or those following his buddy Eris from the Olympian realm.'

'This is ... Hare, this is big! It means he has to find willing ... or coerced hirelings and we can use that knowledge. What else do you know? Anything more about this Weapon? You mentioned a team. How many and to do what specifically?'

'Renard says there's a list. Me, him, the Weapon and others they want to recruit. Eleven of us in all ... Hmmm, Hare's Eleven!