"How did you lose them?" Councilman Eric Stahlbaum shouted at the person on the other end of the telephone. "What do you mean the trail just vanished?" He asked and listened to the soldier's explanation. After a few more moments, he hung up angrily.

"What's going on?" Ravenhurst asked.

"We were tricked," Stahlbaum explained and rubbed a hand over his face, "It appears that the cyborgs are smarter than we thought. The scum who kidnapped my daughter left a trail of metal for us to follow, giving them time to escape the city. No doubt they're outside the city limits now."

"How very clever of them," Ravenhurst commented and rubbed his chin, "He would definitely be an interesting prey."

"What are you suggesting?" Stahlbaum asked slowly.

"You know full well that before I became a councilman, I was a hunter of metal men."

"You were a mercenary, if I recall."

"And a hero," Ravenhurst added, "During my career, I saved hundreds of lives."

"And killed hundreds more," Stahlbaum muttered.

"What's it to you?" Ravenhurst growled, "Need I remind you that These are the same people who currently have your daughter?" He paused. "Stahlbaum, the truth is, I miss the hunt. The rest of the council doesn't have to know; I just want to be out in the field. If you refuse my services, you know that the council won't do anything now that your daughter is outside city limits. If you hire me and I succeed, then you have your daughter back, but if I fail, then it's no different than what the council will do."

"What's your price?" Stahlbaum asked after several moments.

"I want you to give up your hold on the military and hand it over to me," Ravenhurst replied, "It's time to accelerate this war, and I can't do this with my meager power."

"Fine," Stahlbaum replied, "Get me my daughter back and you can do whatever you want to the monsters who took her."

"Consider it done," Ravenhurst said, "The hunt begins now."