Private Addicted to Violence

[Vergessen Contii]

As Zar tore the head off the decaying body, the spine collected along with it. Tiny, interwoven fabrics that could simulate synapse responses began to separate, the mind that once inhabited the machine finally dissipating along with the rest of it.

It was a swift and precise execution, and Contii could only grin wildly ear to ear at Zar's success. He put a hand over his excited smile and began double tapping the leftover bodies with his lightsaber. Most of the henchmen had run away after witnessing the complete slaughter of their accomplices. This act that Contii and Zar committed together was in reality an instigation of war. Following this massacre the two would surely be faced with a bounty on their heads, or even an invasion of Contii's planet if the Slave Trade's roots really extended as far as he theorized.

But, in the moment Contii couldn't help but... Quite literally... Writhe in ecstasy over their overwhelming success. With the specialized equipment safely secured from the Fleshgait android, the two were simply left to pick up the pieces. Or at least, Contii's team would.

[^]"Wächter, our expedition was a resounding success! Please come to our location for immediate extraction."
He turned off his transceiver without humoring the call further. He turned to Zar, who was probably finally succumbing to the full effects of withdrawal, as well as adrenaline fatigue and exhaustion from the close fight.

Contii had pushed himself farther than he realized too, as he heaved over onto the floor and coughed up some sort of phlegm into his mouthpiece. Disgusting... Thankfully the suit was capable of cleaning it, just like it cleans leftover residue after inserting samples of RAGE.

"Zar, I invite you to my fleet headquarters to discuss the additional rewards on top of your contract."

---

A small, pod-like aircraft landed, unfolding into a set of metal stairs where Wächter gestured for them to enter. Whether Zar wanted to come for a little chat or settle the terms immediately was up to his own patience.

 

[Jakharl]

Zar looked down at the gnarled stump of a severed head and spine he was currently holding, at the jerking mechanical corpse at his feet and the piles of ruined flesh around him and began to wonder if this all wasn't some form of elaborate overdose-dream. Combining performance enhancers with stimulating hallucinogens probably wasn't a good idea, but the wet, crunching sensation in his hands felt too real.

"Yes, additional rewards. Those sound nice." Zar replied, almost absent mindedly as he walked over to Contii, cool as a Hoth winter despite the absolute chaos he'd just help unleash, twitching cyber-brainstem still in tow.

"I hope that includes a dry cleaning budget, this is a satyn coat." He was half-joking as he cracked something resembling a grin and entered into the pod with his employer.

Vergessen Contii

 

[Vergessen Contii]

"You'll be escorted by a few of my dignitaries to a temporary room to collect yourself, as well as indulge in a few of the services aboard HQ. Yes, that includes dry cleaning. My robes are top shelf as well!"

---

Inside HQ, Contii, Zar, and a few dignitaries including Wächter walked down the narrow hallways of the complex after giving Zar a moment of respite. A few turns left and once right, and they entered another small room like the one they were inside in the beginning of this "adventure". This time, the atmosphere was warmer and more vibrant. Silky purple felt dangled off the walls bearing Contii's governmental insignia, and a small metal chandelier hung above them. There was a large wooden table in the middle of the room, with two chairs, an ink pen, documents, and a small silver coin sat on top of it.

"Zar Kevdac. Sit down..."

...

"This document outlines a contract in which Lord Contii will grant you one 'favour' in addition to the surplus of KRIEG--"
"Hold on. I didn't tell him about the KRIEG yet."

Wächter simply nodded in response and allowed Contii to provide an explanation.

---

"The substance you used on the battlefield today was not in fact BLITZ. If I had given you BLITZ in the middle of combat, your body would have temporarily atrophied after overexerting all your muscle function. BLITZ is honestly more of a party drug... Pull off awe-inspiring acts of strength, and then wait until you begin to writhe in your own exhausted body, as your brain overloads with dopamine... I didn't want you drooling on the floor so somebody could just stomp your head in."

"I've altered the terms to supplement you with the experimental KRIEG variation of BLITZ. It provides slight strength and reflex-based benefits, while providing a steady stream of dopamine until it begins to wear off... But since I've diluted the substance, the benefits remain while the dangerous side effects cease.

"For you, it looked like it took around 30 minutes after a hit to feel withdrawals. It's a reliable way to spend the evening but... It's a superhuman drug at the end of the day. You are being supplied a weapon."

Contii cleared his throat. He still had more exposition to deliver, but he could feel his voice begin to frail from his abuse of RAGE earlier that day.

"So... "Favours", charmingly named, are a contractual obligation to honor a recipients request for a number of things. Information, services... I could provide you with a small army, or you could simply demand I sever a finger off. Albeit this contract hinges on the mutual agreement of both of us, so I can provide you with the fullest extent of my capabilities, but nothing more than that. I'm not a god, just a king! Hilarious."

"But Favours are only worth their weight in... Verloren..."

Contii rolled the small silver coin over to Zar's side of the table, letting it wobble and finally collapse.

"That's a special metal that only my planet can produce. One coin is equivalent to one favor."

"So... In a nutshell? You keep that coin in your pocket, in your ship, in your underwear drawer... Whatever... And when things are at their worst... Or there's something you want above all else, you call me, and we'll come to a... Reasonable conclusion."

 

[Jakharl]

It was strange seeing the conference room from the start of this little escapade again, it looked so much cleaner and brighter than earlier, it helped Zar ease down from the cocktail of lingering substances and adrenaline still working through his system. As he sat, he listened intently as Contii explained the nature of the substance he'd shot himself up with and the little token he got to keep as a favor. Now that the imminent threats of death and potential organ harvesting, this was starting to sound like a pretty sweet deal.

"Credits, performance enhancers, favors, I gotta admit this is a better deal than I thought. I'd be more than happy to do more wetwork for you in the future. Just...next time we talk details before I get drugs in my system."

Vergessen Contii

 

[Vergessen Contii]

It was strange seeing the conference room from the start of this little escapade again, it looked so much cleaner and brighter than earlier, it helped Zar ease down from the cocktail of lingering substances and adrenaline still working through his system. As he sat, he listened intently as Contii explained the nature of the substance he'd shot himself up with and the little token he got to keep as a favor. Now that the imminent threats of death and potential organ harvesting, this was starting to sound like a pretty sweet deal.

"Credits, performance enhancers, favors, I gotta admit this is a better deal than I thought. I'd be more than happy to do more wetwork for you in the future. Just...next time we talk details before I get drugs in my system."

Vergessen Contii

A decent deal for sure, but an underlining fact still remained... Contii wasn't a stranger to lying by omission. KRIEG was in reality an experimental substance, and the gamble he took during his mission was a secondary objective. KRIEG had been tested before on human subjects... Unwillingly - people with families, with a history of their own. Twelve deceased from preliminary testing due to the synthesized chemicals being unknowingly deadly. It took twelve drafts of the substance before Contii could attempt to test it on an able-bodied soldier. The twelfth experiment only partially succeeded, sustaining the improved human body for thirty minutes before the endocrine system became overwhelmed.

Apparently, the Arconan's neurological design can consume KRIEG without suffering fatal effects. Contii simply grinned to himself over another success, and extended a... Gloved hand towards Zar Kevdac.

"Only if you continue to be reliable... But I know you will.

His smile grew wider.

---

ADDICTED TO VIOLENCE - END​