And I Told Myself I Wouldnt Cry

[200]

Rain drops on the man's suit, and another comes up behind him with an umbrella. He opens it up, and holds it over the suited man. Crime lords came in different styles, some looked like drug addicts, others looked like they we're decent business men, and women. Jerrick saw through this man's attire, and saw the cruel slave driver he was. Through the scope of his Zealot, the Czar had the shot that would take him down forever, but he had to watch, observe. There were other key members of this slave drive that needed to be identified, and eliminated. The rain pinged off his armor, and drizzled down his HUD. Through the HUD a picture of the man popped up, and some small data cache appeared about him.

"Richard Deffian, owns a few pawnshops, and a storage building. He's seen going in, and out with others not identified yet. He's forty-six, from Corellia, and seems to like his home planet's ale more than anything else. Clean record." All this was said in his helmet's comms by an synthetic voice of a woman. It wasnt a AI, just helped him from having to watch the data, and the targets at the same time. 'If Rolland was here, we would have those names, and faces by now, and I could pull the trigger.' He thought to himself. He sighed, and blinked once to forget the thought. He hadnt seen the man in years.

The orange armor blended well with the neon lights of Nar Shaddaa's clubs, which surprised him more then the fact that he was pretty much sitting behind the light with the rifle in resting on the sign's O that spelled out Orion's Post. It was two stories high, and people came in, and left. The music vibrated his butt, and it made it itch. He wiggled it, trying to ignore it.

@Rolland CZ MK 002

 

[Commander Lusk]

[member="Shado CZ MK 001"]

Walking out of the building in front of the group of crime lords was a foot Goliath coated in worn zodiac armor. The mountain clanked it's way forward with loud steps that seemed to echo on the concrete through the drops of rain. It was Rolland, the former super soldier of the empire and now gun for hire. Reaching out a firm hand he placed it on Jerrick's target shoulder and the two seemed to be having an inaudible conversation through the scope of Jerricks rifle. Looking up Rolland looked towards the buildings ahead and shook his head. His employer was exposed out here and he didn't like it, he didn't like it one bit.

With his own IAS dangling from his chest on a strap, one hand on the pistol grip of the weapon. Rolland pointed over to the building they came out of and soon began to usher his employer inside of it. He was not about to let someone blow the persons head off without him getting paid first.

The building was a small diner by the looks of it, no windows and only a door leading in and out. A great place for crime lords to meet without eyes watching through any windows. However it made it difficult to flee if anything were to go wrong. As the group of men and women went in Rolland stood at the front of the door his helmet staring into the crosshairs of Jerricks rifle as he seemed to look at him, the skull on his face mask glistening in the rain. He didn't see Jerrick, he was too blended in for him to see. He was looking past him for a few moments before walking inside closing the door behind him

 

[200]

Jerrick blinked a few times, and sat there with his mouth open. "How the hell...its like he new I was here..." He grumbled as he got up. He had someone he had to get through to get to the target. "Son of a queen, looks like I'm going in." He said as the walked into the building. He hopped down, making a nice thud as he landed, this caused a few people to scatter away from him. In his orange armor, he stood out like a sore thumb, but this mattered little to him now. "God damn criminals, with their god damn mercs." He mumbled more as he walked towards the building. With his rifle shoulder, and his dual pistols on his hips, he was ready to cash in a big check.

"The bonus wasnt that big anyways." He said shrugging as he reached the door. His Zodiac armor was cleaner than usual, probably from the rain. "Should I knock?" He said out loud with a fist raised. "Nah!!!" He said as he kicked in the door, taking out the two guards at the door by smashing one's face in with his rifles butt, and kneeing the other in the ribs. "Alright so this is the deal. No one move, literally dont move, I lost clip to my rifle." He said looking down at his feet as if searching for something. "Eh, fuck it. So with is this big Richard guy, and his merc friend that just walked in here like not even two minutes ago?" He asked.

Guards were all up with their weapons pointed at him, but not firing, guess when you come in like a damn krayt dragon, and mash a face in, then joke around no one will ever take you seriously. He shrugged again to himself. "What's that, a E-11? Do we still use those?" he said pointing at a man's weapon. [member="Rolland CZ M1 002"]

 

[Commander Lusk]

[member="Shado CZ MK 001"]
The guards in the room staggered back a bit , the amateur hired guns I sure how to react in a situation such as this one. There was only four of them left now and they were not about to stand there and let this man kill them like the others. Fumbling at their weapons slightly the men aimed up and were about to fire before a voice rang out, cold and emotionless. "That's enough! This one is mine." Stepping he out from the shadows the giant in zodiac armor came forth and flicked a gesture over to the other men to grab the VIP and take him into the back.

The armored man looked at the smaller assassin and rolled his shoulders, worn bones popping as he did so. "I don't know who you are, and I can assure you that you will not be killing my employer." The men quickly escorted the VIP into a back room where he vanished from sight. "And if you want to do that, you have to get through me first."

Cocking back his rifle he loaded a new round into the chamber and pointed his rifle up at his opponent. His sights focused center mass at his target. "I'm going to count to three for you to leave. One." He said as he flicked off the safety the Atrisian rifle speaking in a soft robotic voice that matched the one earlier in Jerrick's helmet. "Safety off." The voice said and it was now time for the rumble in the jungle

 

[200]

The large man was taller then him, and even looked somewhat familiar. He just laughed, bending over and holding his sides. "You crack me up. I'm so happy you can count!" He mocked. He pulled put his dual pistols, and started to empty his clips on the merc as he ran to the right, hopping behind a table.

He dropped his empty clips, and loaded new ones in. "Hey buddy! That employer is my paycheck! I need his head, and his friends! We're gonna have a few drinks! Well...I am. Their gonna watch me!"

He popped back up, and fired his pistols again, emptying his clips again. He wasn't sure if he hit him with any of the shots, and he didn't care. This was way too just fun. @Rolland CK M1 002

 

[Commander Lusk]

[member="Shado CZ MK 001"]

The first few shots struck Rolland's shoulder plates, the slugs becoming lodged in a piece of the armor. The other slugs he was fortunate enough to get out of the way of when he noticed the little guy start to pull the triggers. The guns barked and Rolland using his enhanced reflexes dove past a table flipping it over and taking cover. Lifting up his rifle as he took cover the front mounted camera synced with his HUD and he peered across the room to see nothing. The little guy was fast, almost too fast. As if he had some modifications of his own.

There was silence for a moment before the mouthy little guy spoke again. It was like nails on a chalk board, yet he found it oddly comforting. It reminded him of someone who died a long time ago. Of someone he had killed. Shoving those feelings of regret back into his mind re focused back on his target as he popped back up letting another burst of the twin pistols go keeping him sir pressed and under cover. Rolland had to pop back up and get an accurate shot so for now all he could do was suppress back and use his superior magazine capacity.

Spraying a few shots at the gunman through the camera sight Rolland rolled to the side before picking himself up and shouldering his rifle at the hip. Looking at his ammo count he had forty rounds left out of fifty and continued to pot suppressing fire at his target hoping he could dick back down and stay there long enough for him to press forward for the kill shot. "Get out of my job merc!" He said with his cold voice

 

[200]

The bullets pinged into Jerrick, and sent him fliying backwards into another table that flipped over. This cave him cover, but the wind was knocked out of him, and the bullets were also stuck in his armor. It was if neither could get the upper hand for too long. Jerrick felt a prick in his ear as the merc spoke, it was all too familiar to him. With a curious nature, he poked his head out from the side to look at the large man. The skull on his helmet made him think of a brother he once had, a vod he loved dearly, and not in the romantic way

Has if to dare death, he stood up, and holstered his pistols. He walked from behind the table, and cocked his head at the man, hoping he wouldn't fire at him. "This is going to be really weird, but you wouldn't be of the Galactic Empire would you? I mean the original one, not the crack head Remnants. Man those guys make me wanna drop kick a baby in the face."

With a blink in a eye, Jerrick shot forward at the man, topping 32 mph. He was already on the man, and with that he attempted to drop kick him with all his momentum that he had coming behind him.

[member="Rolland CZ M1 002"]

 

[Commander Lusk]

Rolland was on him and pressing the attack firing bullets and had his target pinned. He was ready to pop the corner and put a bullet in his head. He had hit him that much was certain, "I will give you another chance, leave now and I won't kill you." Rolland walked up to where the other mercenary had taken cover and steadied himself, his nerves and reflexes cool and ready to react at the drop of a dime. And then the man stood up, pistols holstered he thought the man had given up. But then he started talking in that familiar voice. About, the empire? Rolland tensed for a moment and his mind raced with thousands of possibilities. How could this person know anything about him?! It must of been his armor something with a capacity to draw up info.

"System, scan that armor." He said to himself softly. But in his moment of shock the mercenary was on him in blazing fast speeds and struck him in the chest hard. Rolland's reinforced rib cage buckled backwards and roared in pain as he flew backwards impacting a wall to leave a Rolland sized dent in it. Rolland's HUD flashed in static and he knew he had to get on his feet. He felt that kick before, he knew that move! "No." He said softly. "Scan complete." The voice said "Mark One Zodiac Dura Armor, do you require additional information?" The voice asked and Rolland's world came crashing down around him

"No, no, you're dead, you're dead." He muttered to himself as hot tears ran down his face. That wasn't Jerrick, it could not of been Jerrick. Regaining his reserve Rolland stood up and did a few things. He reached back and drew a long and slick vibro katana, the one that had killed his brother all those years ago. And with the other hand he depressurized his helmet with a snap and a hiss. Taking his huge hand he gripped the sides of his helmet removing it to reveal a pale and scarred face. It was Rolland.

 

[200]

In a instant things had changed, and Jerrick was on his knees. Rolland was alive, and right in front of him. Memories flooded in, rushing his mind like a train, and he was for a minute was not there. A flash back he didn't recall of the katana held by his brother, smoke in the background, screams, gun fire. It all came in too fast for Jerrick. He gribbed his head with both hands, and fell over screaming in pain. Rianna was there, standing by in tears as a katana pierced his chest. Rolland held him, he had died by his brother, and in his same brother's arms.

After the flash back was done, he ripped off the helmet with that similar snap, hiss sound. His face was distraught with grief, and his eyes filled with tears. "What happen! Why did you kill me!?" He screamed in a rage. Nothing made sense, and the only thing he knew to do was rush Rolland, but he resisted that instinct. "What...what...what...YOU STABBED ME! OF ALL THINGS!" He had to struggle to stand back up. "You couldnt kill me in some awesome way of flaming glory!" It seemed he was fighting to keep himself from doing something stupid, like attack a man he knew would put that sword through him, again.

"It was..a war...Rianna was there.." he mumbled. "The GE was attacking the Republic...right? No..was it the Fringe? I..I cant remember...: he said stumbling backwards. Clearly something was wrong with him. [member="Rolland CZ M1 002"]

 

[Commander Lusk]

[member="Shado CZ MK 001"]

Rolland didn't say a word, hot tears of regret ran down his pale face. He had blamed so many things for the death of his brother, duty, Jedi, Rianna, Ordo. For so long he enveloped himself in killing and death to the point where it was as if he were taking out the trash. His walls were crumbling now, his bearing and killer instincts replaced with the face of a grieving brother. You could see the pain, all of it plastered on his face as the emotions ran wild through him. He made a soft choking sound as if he tried to speak, but he couldn't. He couldn't give the words of what he wanted to say

The memories that he shut out began to flood back to him. Jerrick's betrayal against the empire, him siding with the Jedi over duty and their jobs. The anger filled him and was soon replaced by the memory of him driving the blade he held into his chest to finish his weak and dying brother. The regret he felt, the sadness and nightmares that came after. He was duty bound by the empire to kill anybody who betrayed the empire. Or he would of died as well. He wanted to say something but he couldn't, he just couldn't speak

With a loud clang the blade dropped to the floor and Rolland ran up to Jerrick and did something he had never done in his life. He hugged Jerrick. He wrapped his arms around the smaller man and cried hit tears as he sobbed and wept like a child. He held Jerrick reaching one of his hands to hold the back of his hair as he pushed closer to him their armor rattling together as the grown man cried finally coming to face his pain and regret

 

[200]

Jerrick wrapped his arms around the behemoth of a man, crying with him. So much of his memory was a blur, he couldnt make heads, or tails of what had really happened. His eyes felt puffy from the tears as he hung onto his brother. Then the squeeze got a little to tight. "Cant..breathe...Rolland..." he tapped the lager man's shoulder plate.

With some large effort, he managed to wiggle out of the Czar's grasp. He panted as it had taken some major strength to get out of it. That was Rolland for you. "Calm down ner'vod. I'm still confused. What happen?" He asked rubbing away tears. His hair was all matted to one side now, and he ruffled it up, causing his bangs to fall back into his face. @

Rolland Cz M1 002

 

[Commander Lusk]

[member="Shado CZ MK 001"]

What did he mean "what happened?" Rolland had driven a katana right through his chest was what happened. Did he not remember anything? Did he not remember O'reen at all? A darker part of Rolland wanted to lie to Jerrick to take advantage of the man and regain his innocence in a way. But deeper emotions said that he needed to tell him the truth, about everything. About the battle, the Jedi, all of it.

Rolland looked down and a hot tear dropped to the surface of the floor as he began to tell Jerrick. "We were on O'reen. The republic was hitting us hard and we were sent in to support fringe and Atrisian stormtroopers. We get to the beach and we start fighting." He said in a low and frightful tone. "We run across Rianna, you couldn't do what needed to be done, you couldn't kill her. You spoke to her and you changed sides. You betrayed the empire." Another wave of hot tears fell to the ground and Rolland sighed wiping them off. "So I did my job. I did what needed to be done." Rolland looked down ashamed to meet his eyes. "I killed you. I was duty bound to do so, I didn't want to. If I didn't do it then they would of killed me. I'm sorry. " he said before falling to his knees to put his face in his palms. "I don't remember much after that, all I remember was approaching Rianna with my knife then blacking out."

 

[200]

[member="Rolland CZ M1 002"]

Jerrick looked down, and rubbed his hands together. Shaking his head, he looked back up. "You did what you had to ner'vod. Duty bound is what comes first....do..you still need to finish said duty?" He placed his hand on his pistols. "Cause...I'm not sure I'm ready to die again.." Another flash back came, and his head began to throb like he had just been hit with shell shock. Rianna was talking to him, about memory loss...about Rolland's memory loss. "I remember now...she...she was going to help you..she was going to give you back your memories!" He said in shock. "Did it work? Did you get them back?"