https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt524wGJFqs
Zeke had gotten a holocall from a man, one from long in his past. There were only a handful of people who knew who he really was, and what he had gone through and done. Those who could keep that secret, he cherished. So when one of them called up out of the blue and asked to meet him on Commenor, he did just that.
His speeder zoomed through the crowded streets of the space port city, dodging other speeders, watching out for the local security so he didn't get pulled over. It was a beautiful planet, and honestly, beauty made him think of the new found flame in his life. [member="Loreena Arenais"] was a beautiful woman. And she had been spent an increased amount of time inside his mind, as of late. Hmm, she was from Commenor as well. Probably some noble's lost kid. But, he didn't care. She was amazing.
He came up to the bar/coffee shop, his friend frequented. It was a quaint building, brick, with large glass windows to allow lots of light inside. Zeke pulled off the road, and parked in the open parking area outside of the building, and got out. He was dressed in a full black tuxedo, white undershirt, black gloves, dress shoes, and a tie, a brief case in hand. When not love struck, he was always the immaculate professional. It's why those who knew him had a hard time believing he was actually trying to start a relationship with anyone. He never had the time before.
Ah, he had to get her out of his head, or else this would get dicey. The man walked into the store, a bell attached to the door handle rang to signal his arrival. He didn't wait to be seated, and instead, went to the back, where there was a corner booth. In it, an old shriveled man, held an honest to goodness paper newspaper. Such antiques, but, like with his own art, sometimes, a man just wanted something to hold in his hands.
As he set the briefcase on the table, and sat down, the shriveled man pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
“You are late, Zeke. It's been awhile. If I remember correctly....” Almost immediately, a black caf was sat in front of Zeke, two creams and a single sugar at its side.
“Hah, you remembered. It was you who taught me to drink it this way, you know.” Zeke smiled warmly at the old man.
“How are you doing, Zil?”
The man he called Zil shuffled his paper a bit.
“While I would love to catch up, there is something I need from you. I'm calling in the favor. The Queen of Commenor is missing.” Zeke's eyes go wide.
“Zil...Zil, I've been out of the Game for a long time now.”
Zil finally put down the paper and blew out a puff of smoke.
“No you haven't Zeke. Don't try and fool me. You are sharper than ever before. More focused, more capable, with an information network that spans the entire known universe. You don't do it for money now, but you do it. Damn it boy. She is my Queen. If I could, I would do it myself, but I can't. I need you. And you need to do this. You need purpose again, you've lost your way. And...I KNOW it will help you with something else in your life too.” He slid pictures of Zeke and Lori in a sweet embrace. Zeke's lips pursed. Then Zil shoved another picture, a younger one, but it was clearly Lori....with the King and Queen. It made a lot of sense, honestly, and yet changed nothing in how he felt about her. But it did mean Zil was right.
“
Let's say I believe this. Any leads for where to start?” Zil tapped the brief case, and Zeke opened it. He pulled out a holodisc, a datapad, and several old papers, from a satchel at his side, and placed them in the briefcase “
This should give you enough to start with. It's all the information we know about it. As well as about her, current enemies and the like. I called you, because, Zeke, you need to get your act together. Don't do this for me. Do it for yourself, do it for HER. Imagine, if that is how you break the news to her, with her mother safely returned hmm?” Zeke nodded, and closed the briefcase. After he engaged the locks.
“Understood.”
Zeke leaned back, and drank the caf slowly as his mind reeled. Of course he would do this. Zil got to the heart of the matter. Zeke was a serial killer of criminals, those that the law couldn't or wouldn't touch, but who preyed on the innocent. He wasn't a good man. And before that, he was a private assassin for his family. He never understood what truly being useful was, but Zil was also right, in that this was a job up his ally. Research, active information gathering, stealth, infiltration, and recovery. These were all things he was good at. “
I'm on it.” Once finished, he talked with Zil for a time. However, not for long.
Soon he was back in his speeder, and headed back to his hotel room, to piece this puzzle together.
[member="Argos Xalen"]
