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Don't really know where to continue this story right now but I thought I'd present you with what I got and then update and continue the story from there.

I
It smelled of cheap wine and sulphuric acid in the poorly lit bar. Workers still in their assigned coveralls huddled together in groups of four or five, whispering amongst themselves and silencing quickly as he strode pass. He noticed that as soon as he was without hearing range the whispering started again and often with some urgency.

The sign outside had named the bar ‘The Saint’s Passage’ but nothing even remotely reminded him of a Saint or anything clean and beautiful as he strode up to the counter. It looked like every bar-counter he had ever visited with a row of stools in front of a high desk. Half clean glasses lined shelves behind the counter and a huge mirror reflected everything that happened in the bar. A middle aged man with surprisingly good looks manned the bar and gave him a cursory glance. After finishing wiping the glass in his hand he came over.

- What’ll it be? He said with an inviting gesture. We just got a new delivery in so we actually have some choices today.
- So I see, the stranger replied. He glanced at the bottles and seemed to reach a decision.
- I’ll take a ‘Guardsman’s prayer’ and also I’d like to see Carley.

The bartender turned to his bottles while taking a long hard look at the reflection of the stranger. His clothes were different from the other patrons, wearing black combat fatigues and a brown leather overcoat he looked more like he belonged in the Outlands than within the Hive. A blue-grey t-shirt that had probably seen its best days completed the look of an Outlander. The stranger was of medium build and didn’t pack any obvious weapons but something about him hinted that he was no stranger to using them.

- Carley? Haven’t seen him in a while but he usually comes here once or twice a week. Don’t try to get me to take a message though, were not the Imperial Postal service.

The bartender turned around with a red-brown drink in his hand and presented it to the stranger.

- That’ll be five Daikner for the drink or two if you prefer to pay in Credits.

He met the stranger’s eyes as he said it and was suddenly very glad that he had told the truth about Carley. The bartender had served with the Icharian 87th and he had seen the same gleam in the eyes that the stranger had, they always belonged to men of violence. He shook his head to get rid of flashbacks that very trying to intrude no his mind.

- Sorry about Carley but if you know him you should know that he follows no-one’s schedule.

The stranger gave a slight nod and put some coins on the counter. He edged over to the corner of the bar with his drink and seemed to sink into his own thoughts. The bartender went back to his business of drying the cleaned glasses but couldn’t help notice that the stranger seemed to finger something in the inside pocket of his coat.

II
Two empty glasses and one half-full sat in front of the stranger and the previous whispers of the bar had turned into a more raucous environment. The workers had been joined by more colleagues and laughter and singing filled the bar. Even though he had placed himself in the far corner of the counter the stranger stood out like a sore thumb with his introvert and serious demeanour. People in the crowd seemed to sense his apparent lousy mood and left a small semi circle around him where no-one wished to tread. The stranger in turn never took his eyes from the mirror, scanning every new visitor with a long hard glance before moving on to the next one. He lifted his glass to take another sip as finally a familiar face entered the door.

Carley was short and dressed in a mauve coverall indicating he worked in the dock area. He had thick black hair that seemed to live a life of its own when Carley gestured as he spoke. He entered the bar with another mauve dressed worker who was, by looks alone, the very opposite of Carley. She was tall and slender with her hair shaved tight apart from a braided tail that fell over her right shoulder. Where Carley seemed to live in the discussion with grand gestures and rousing talk his female companion gently nodded or shook her head as she gave her responses.

As they both approached the bar the stranger turned around and raised his glass to Carley.

- Long time no see? He took a sip as his features registered in Carley whose face switched from surprised to relief in a moment.
- Finally! I’ve been waiting for ages to see your rotten face again. Carley said with a smile.

He hurried forward and locked the strangers forearm in warriors salute.

- Meet my co-worker and business associate Myrna. He gestured toward the woman he had entered with who nodded slightly.
- The pleasure is all mine, I’m sure. The stranger said as he rose from the bar and presented his hand.

Myrna took his hand and her eyes widened as he shook it but she said nothing. Carley noticed the eyes and smiled and shrugged at the same time.

- Well since you are in town maybe we should move to a more suitable location and enjoy a more fruitful discussion? The words Carley spoke seemed friendly enough but to those who knew him they had taken an edge that most would not associate him with.

The stranger simply stood up, leaving his glass and walked out of the bar with both Carley and Myrna following close behind him. The bartender gave the trio curious glance as they left but the other patrons soon drowned out every thought he might have had regarding them.

III
Outside the bar it was dark, the Hive’s artificial lights barely lighting up walkway where the trio now stood. A thin but strong railing protected them from the fall towards the deeper levels but the massive rise of buildings around them also prevented the natural light from trickling down. The air was descent but a bit stale on this level, Carley felt grateful that last week’s acidic rain had finally stopped as he indicated to the stranger to follow him.

They followed the walkway for a while all silently, the pleasantries they had for each other had all been used up in the bar. A cool breeze rustled the moorings of a bridge as they crossed over to yet another building block built from the same pre-constructed material as everywhere else in this particular part of the hive. Only locals or fools ever ventured out here without a guide since the similarity between buildings made it almost impossible to remember what turn you had made or what particular neon sign you had seen amongst the thousands high above. Carley apparently was not a fool and he navigated the walkways with ease before finally stopping before an anonymous white washed door. He held up the edge of his sleeve where his identity badge was stored in front of the locking mechanism. The lock seemed to think for a second before an audible click unlocked the door. The cool air from outside tried to rush in as the trio entered the small apartment.

- So, can I get you anything before we start? Carley asked as he indicated the comfortable looking chairs that surrounded a small table.
- No thank you, I’ve had my share for today. The stranger sat down in the only chair that stood in a corner, giving him a clear view of the other two.
- So be it, show me what you’ve got. Carley opened his hand in a suggestive gesture as he and Marla both sat down

The stranger slowly reached into the reaches in his coat and drew out a leather pouch, gently weighing it in his hand before handing it over to Carley. Unceremoniously Carley opened the pouch and poured the content on the table. Five oval gems of various sizes and colours rolled out, two of which had small cracks in them and one that had a part missing from its end. Marla at once seized the closest gem and held it up to her face. She seemed to stare into a part of the gem that only she could see before a few moments later putting it down to her left. She repeated this procedure with the other four gems and placed them all to her left, apart from one of the cracked ones that she put to her right.

- These are all dead. She said as she indicated the pile to her left. And of little value, especially the one with the missing piece.
- This one, indicating the cracked one on her right, has been inhabited put I believe the crack has interfered with the function and that its inhabitant is now either dying, insane or both. She gave the tiniest shake of her head as she continued.
- Have you nothing else? I felt something before as we shook hands. She tried to keep her voice level but the tiniest of pleading entered anyway.

The stranger held on to Marla’s eyes for a second before looking at Carley again.

- A psyker? You brought a gakking psyker? You know what I think about psykers. Actively shutting out Marla of the conversation with every ounce of body language he had.
- Come on, you know I need to have a psyker present to know what I’m buying. You would never let me hold on to the stones for third party verification otherwise.
- I’ll give you a thousand for the five stones you’ve presented if you have nothing better? Carley raised an eyebrow and looked at the stranger’s coat.

Leaning back the stranger looked from Carley to Marla and back to Carley again. Ever so slowly he reached into his pocket again and Marla leaned forward in anticipation.

- This will cost you though. The stranger said as he drew out another pouch, this one made of padded velvet and obviously holding something of value. He put it on the table and with a flick of his wrist let it slide over to Marla.

Greedily she opened the pouch and drew out a similar stone to the others, this one was turquoise in colour and unlike the others it was fitted in a discretely ornamented silvery locket.

- Where did you get this? She asked as she slowly held it up in front of her face.
- If you really want to know I can tell you... but I think the cost will be more than you’re willing to sacrifice.

The reply fell on deaf ears however as Marla’s vision clouded over and vanished in to that space again. The temperature in the room started to drop and Carley leaned over with a worried look.

- Marla? He asked as he put his hand on the gem as if to remove it.

The trance broke in the fraction of a second and Marla shook her head vigorously.

- So strong, so very, very strong. She mumbled.
- Ten thousand for all six stones. Carley quickly stated but the hunger in his eyes betrayed him.
- Fifty. Was the strangers reply and he even let a small smile enter his face as he said it.

Carley realised that he had spoken too soon and too eagerly and that the deal was up.

- You drive a hard bargain. But yes I will pay you this time. Remember though that you come to me with this kind of goods, not to anyone else. Carley didn’t wait for a reply but continued. We will have to go to another place of mine though, I hadn’t expected to see you tonight and I certainly hadn’t expected you to bring something of this value. Don’t worry I have the money but not here.
- Then let’s go at once, I need to leave this hive as soon as possible. The stranger each for the turquoise gem as he stood up.
- Please, will you let me carry it? Marla asked. It harbours so much pain and I think I can ease it as we go.

The stranger gave an indecisive shrug but let her take it and watch silently as she slid it back into the velvet pouch. Carley stood as well and collected the other gems from the table before showing the other two out.
Again they stood on a narrow walkway outside the anonymous block and Carley leaned over to lock the door behind them. As Carley held up his hand towards the lock the stranger heard the slightest of whistling a fraction before Carley’s head exploded in a splatter of blood and gore. The stranger threw himself to the ground to present as small of a target as possible to whatever assailant was out there. Marla however did not have the same instinct and ran. The stranger heard the slight whistling two or three times more and saw chips of plascrete pulverised from the wall where the bullets hit right behind Marla. Luck or faith helped her however and he cursed himself as she vanished around the corner still holding the purse with the turquoise gem in her hand.