He tread along, bright and absorbed neon signs seemed to be a product of this world's "culture" for lack of better word.  The mercenary was being followed, the intruder yet to reveal themselves, only speaking to him with utmost hostility.  Trying to detain a detainer...usually does not work out for their efforts.

"You wanna give me a little to go on, like, a face?" he said, as if speaking to no one.

Coming from up top, there was a figure that wore white armor, and a reflective helm.  Their overall body was painted red and blue, mostly overlapped by a chatter white finish.  Although this person said nothing right away, the mercenary could detect some level of familiar and in this instance he began to question it?

"Have we met before?  You could also loose the mas-" 

It took a step forward with provocation in mind, entering a stance of aggression.  The mercenary withdrew conversation for his keen eyes and intuition, this was a passive approach before enacting hostility.  Then the voice started chatter, as if this were a ventriloquist act.

"[b]Now now.  Why so stern and forceful Sal?  Don't you recognize this person?[/b]"

"I have a strange suspicion we've met before."

"[b]Exactly.  See we did some investigating on your background and found someone that knew you, this is them.  Amazing how the master made a lifeless machine out of us all, and oddly enough you are the one still stuck, hardest to break.[/b]"

"Your starting to spout nonsense like General O'nam did, the very first time we met five years ago.  Do you know him as well?  Then you must also know that the master-"

"[b]That the master brainwashed you, and used you to satiate his research, turning you into the prototype weapon against us.  Eventually converting us to what you are now.  But you'll see, we beat being machines!  And we've all got a vendetta against you to pay back...in full.[/b]"

Chains circle just above the mercenaries head, carrying open shackles that quickly latched to the mercenary's wrist.  The knight in white jumped straight up.  A sword that spewed a violet colored burst of heat, hit the ground in front of him with a massive impact, slinging a mound of granite-rock the size of a boulder straight up (similar to a see-saw launching like a catapult).  A collection of winds followed the white knight to boosted their elevation, propagating themselves for a spike, smacking the granite boulder straight for the bound mercenary.

"You've gotta be kidding..." he stared at the boulder, then the sword.  "Shit, improvising a dodge!"

He formed a block around the blade and brought it to his hands, cupping the grip and turning the stream of propulsion was enough to throw him straight up (while bound) out of the direct impact of the boulder.  He hit a balcony and tugged on the chains to throw someone down.  Vaguely catching glimpse of a blind giving him a sinister smile, a yellow pelt of light, flying in a straight line for the mercenary's head.

PING!

The block disintegrated almost instantly, creating one the size of a basketball to protect his head from being penetrated.  As he looked over, it was the General.  As he looked down, they began to group up, a green haired man picking up the sword, the blond to whom bound him, the white knight to whom was supposably an acquaintance of his past, and this massive male with a muscular build, towering at the very least seven feet in height.  They were joined by O'nam.  He could now see all their faces with the exception of the one clad in Armor.

"You're all...Steel Hearts?"

"[b]Finally starting to remember?[/b]" 

"Five of us..." 

"[color=0054a6]Bingo.[/color]" said the blond pointing to his own head with the hand gesture of a gun.

Salforge sighed, and he sat on the balcony up top and let his feet dangle.  "Take your pick, which one of you wants to explain, i'll even let you vote."

"Prick!  You should be-  Wait.  Forgot your still a machine, my mistake."

Salforge shrugged, "Please stop wasting my time, I can only be polite for so long." he'd already began ninja-coating the entire area since upon running through the district, and he was nearly done. The longer he stood still, the faster this could be achieved.

"[b]You wish to know, do you even remember our names?[/b]"

"Huh?  Names?  Isn't shorty over there O'um Van Glieth or in short O'nam? That blonde guy is Justin Black aka Black Justice.  The Bladed swordsmen is known as Phillip FLLFFL or just as "Alfa", you are Vortemis, a cross of Vortex and Artemis, basically you're a hunter that manipulates the wind.  Yes, I remember all of you, but that doesn't answer my question of why you're here, who that knight is, and why I'm even still relevant after 20 years."

The mercenary started to impose a manufactured laugh, before instantly returning to his usual neutrality devoid of any mixed signals or interference.

"[b]We came to recruit you.[/b]"

"Pfft.  Send a letter next time, so I can respond swiftly by saying not interested.  Are we done?"

They all said the first word in unison and Vortemis finished, "No.  [b]That was to see if you'd cooperate, we actually just want you dead.[/b]"

His feet stopped dangling, and he stood up.  There was a reflective sheen visible to everyone, (similar to right before a boss fight) "There area has been sealed off.  It's either you cooperate and tell me the knight's identity and leave quietly or I beat every single one of you senseless or worse.

"[b]It's looking like worse old friend.[/b]"

The mercenary sighed, "I won't tell the commander about this O'nam if you promise not to pull some outlandish story out of your ass, after I throw the impact on it, no hard feelings ok?"

As everyone geared into the ready state, in five voices the same sentence.

"Busou Renkin!"