Like promised...

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Chapter 3: Old times

Xion heads back to one of his old haunts, a large ship floating around a planet very lush and green with life. A planet like Earth, but not very inhabited by people. The large ship, housing a large metropolis of housing complexes and shops, with a special area sectioned off for traders and warriors. Xion has a licence and gains access to this area.

Xion docks in the port near the shops, and goes up to the check counter. "Oh! Xion! It has been at least a month since I saw you last," the teller says. "How can I help you?"
"Withdrawl, items. Give me a list please." Xion replies as if he wants something. The teller nods and gives him a small hand-held computer on a security string. Xion scrolls through the list using a jog dial on the left side of the computer, and selecting a few things using a button on the right side. Xion then hands it back, noticing something on the teller's computer. "Stocks?" Xion asks.
"Money market. The price of meseta has skyrocketed. Look at this," The teller points at the computer. "With the advent of charge weapons outside of the Pioneer 2 area, Meseta has become one of the most rare pieces of money and most wanted."
"I have about eight-hundred thousand meseta..." Xion smirks. "What is the current price?"
"Currently it is at 12 credits per meseta." A shocked look hits Xion's face. "Would you like to sell some of your meseta?"
"Yes! Sell 200,000 Meseta to the market." Xion says fairly quickly, so he doesn't miss the deal. "That gives me about 2.4 million credits." The teller nods, and pulls out a machine for credit cards. Xion swipes his card, and his new total is shown. "Nice. Thank you!"
"Your welcome." the teller says.

Xion turns around to see several beams of green light. "A telepipe!" Xion says. "Who's down there?" A flash of light, and out comes Gradient, a Force as tall as Xion, with a black robe highlighted with a Light Blue trim with a bandana and dull silver hair. "Nice to see you here!" Gradient puts away his cards up his sleeve.
"Xion! What are you doing here?" Gradient says shockingly.
"Just picking up some equipment." Xion says, "Along with getting some spare credits." Xion fits his leather belt of equipment.
"I heard you have been exploring the universe. I wish I could go with you." Gradient says, depressed. Xion checks his weapons for any imperfections.
"Well..." Xion says. Gradient's head perks up. "My ship is a raider class, it is ment to have a crew." Gradient is now excited. "And yes, you may join me."
"Oh thank you Xion!" Gradient says with perk. "I'll be the best Force you will ever need!"
"Mind if I come too?" a voice comes from behind both of them. It is him.
"You..." Xion says in an angered tone. "Blood money. That's all your company runs on. I have heard about your ways. All you care about is that you have all the gems."
"You are correct, Xion." he says.
"The owner of the greatest starship company knows you by name?" Gradient says, amazed.
"Yeah." Xion wispers to Gradient. "See his suit?" Xion points at him, then points at himself.
"He made that for you?" Gradient whispers back.
"No. He is far too dense to get the matrix of his computer, let alone the whole suit." Xion whispers calmly.
"I heard that! I should kill you here for that!" He then unsheaths his silver katana, known only as an "Agiato", and takes a swipe at Xion. Xion backs away quickly as he misses him. Gradient had been slashed on the cheek, with blood on his blade. "This will come in handy." He smirks. "Farewell!" he yells, as he heads for the docks. A team of guards rush twoard Gradient and Xion.
"What happened here?" they yell in syncronyous.
"That hunter there swiped at us here." Xion points at the man. "It is just a scratch, nothing major."
"Go to the medical center, get checked out for photon poisoning," the guards say as they point at a large white building. Xion nods, and escorts Gradient to the medical center.

"Like taking candy from a baby." the man says. In his hands he holds a vial of Gradient's blood, along with a red-jeweled earring. "Another fragment."

Uh-oh! He has another fragment of the Chaos Gems! Can he be stopped? Why is he happy about getting Gradient's blood? Will we ever find out his name? Keep reading!

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So?