Freelancers: Falcon & Phoenix Read Online Free Page A

and heads up the stairs to the ladder leading to the roof.
    Falcon pulls himself up and over the railing. The steel pops as his boots hit the metal bars acting as a platform. He continues racing after his prey.
    Jim vaults himself over the edge of the building and onto the roof. Falcon mirrors his movements and makes it halfway across the roof before he sees Jim wink at him and slide down the ladder on the other side. Falcon double times it.
    Several feet away from the edge, he leaps forward and grabs the rails of the ladder, flipping himself around to the other side of it. Falcon’s feet hit the rails and he slides down just as Jim’s feet hit the pavement below.

    P hoenix stands on the corner of the intersection. She watches as more rickshaws and bicycles pass by. There are fewer cars on this street, though that isn’t saying much considering how few there are on the market street. She watches as drunk individuals-- and those on their way to drunkenness--meander sloppily along the side walk. Lights flash around her and loud music blares from the different bars and parlors, doing everything they can to entice those with money to come in and spend. After the day she’s had, Phoenix is tempted to do just that. She shakes the thought and turns her head just in time to see Falcon hit the sidewalk.
    “Hey!” She starts after him.
    Falcon sees her approaching but continues after Slim Jim, anyway.
    “Not again!” she yells. It’s mostly for herself but it also doubles as an order. One that is quickly furthering itself from being heeded. “Stop!” She draws her gun and fires it into the air again. Falcon ducks down and looks back but he keeps moving forward.
    “Falcon!” A deep voice bellows. The Freelancer faces forward and is met by a massive hand colliding with his throat. The hand is attached to the arm of a very large man who lifts Falcon into the air. Falcon watches over the man’s shoulder as Slim Jim turns around and salutes him before disappearing around a corner and out of sight.
    Falcon tries to swallow. The man’s grip is tight but not too air restrictive. “Big Wang. Nice to see you.” Falcon tries to hit the large man’s arm, hoping the strikes will release him. They don’t.
    “Falcon.” A smaller man appears from behind the larger one. “What are you doing here? You know you were banned from the Empire.”
    “Little Wang,” Falcon starts. “You’ll have to ask her about that.” He flicks his thumb back at Phoenix.
    “Well, hello, Phoenix. It’s a pleasure to see you again. You honor us with your appearance in our capital city.
    “He’s my contract.” Phoenix walks toward Big Wang and Falcon.”We’re just here for a car. You let him go and I’ll get him out of your hair.”
    “Actually.” Little Wang’s words cause Phoenix to stop. “It’s good that you’re here. Both of you. The Emperor has requested an audience.”
    “How does he even know we’re in the city?” Phoenix asks.
    “You Freelancers.” Little Wang laughs. “Don’t you know by now? The Emperor knows all. He sees all. Now, if you’ll please follow us.”
    “To the castle?” Falcon asks.
    Little Wang and Big Wang look at each other and laugh. As though the very thought of him going back into the castle was the funniest thing they’d heard in their entire lives.
    “The castle?” Little Wang recomposes himself. “I forgot how funny you could be. Big brother, do you mind?” Little Wang looks at Big Wang.
    Falcon’s eyes dart to the large man lifting his fist. “Is this really necces—” Darkness cuts him off.

4
    T he smell of incense eases Falcon into consciousness. He slowly opens his eyes to a sparse but ornate room. One window gives the only view to the city outside. Four gold paper lanterns hang in the corners. And a large chair sits in the center of the room.
    Chair is an understatement. It looks more like a throne. The seat and back cushions are of black velvet. The armrests are the open mouths