Scum

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There were times when you needed to be quiet, and times when you needed to be loud. Today would be the latter.

The first step on Rook's journey was one he was not entirely pleased with. As a soldier, he'd been taught that honor and a sense of duty was what made a man. Everyone needed to craft their own moral code; something to hold them accountable. When he was just a boy, he and his brothers had come to understand that combat was one of the galaxy's only truths. What you fought for - who you fought for - decided what you were. Words were fleeting, action was forever.

What did he fight for now? Vengeance? The moral high ground? Something to do? The question gnawed at the former soldier as he strode into Hades. It was a night club within the bowels of Taris - a world once destroyed, revived, and killed once more. Still, civilization found a way here. Part of it chose the route of crime. It was something Rook could understand; his very birth was a criminal act. Yet, he understood the difference between himself and the scum of the galaxy.

He killed because he saw it necessary. They did it for profit. That might seem needed to those folk, but they were delusional, lost. Wealth was a fleeting thing.

Still, they could be useful. There was a woman here of some renown in the underworld, or so Rook had been told. The Inferno was what they called her. A little too grandiose for the clone's tastes, but it had its merits. It was far better than something like the Ripper or the Bloodmonger, both of which being individuals he'd been forced to deal with in the past.

Those memories were not particularly pleasant.

He made no effort to hide who or what he was today. He strode up to the entrance of the club, clad in his Zevronce gear, simple clothing with phrik and durasteel plates here and there. He wore a thin durasteel helmet, and a red hood to enshroud it. Two DC-15s sidearms hung from his belt, along with a vibrosword that jutted out from his leg piece. He'd left his rifle behind today.

A bouncer stopped him outside the door - a mean looking, large man.

"Little bit strapped for this place mate."

"I'm here to see the Inferno."

"Then leave the guns."

Rook snickered. "She'll speak with me. Escort me to her if you have to, but I'm keeping the piece."

@Ember Rouge

 

[Ember Rouge]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSnZs_9lTcQ​

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Ember sighed. She hated when her little lackeys thought they were smarter than her. Especially when they thought they could smuggle her own goods underneath her very nose. She snapped her fingers, and the lackey in question was thrown to the ground. The dancing ceased as Ember stood in the middle of them.​

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"Do you know why you were brought to me, lout?"​

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The lackey shook his head with an obviously guilty expression. Ember sighed, annoyed.​

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"Well then, let me remind you. Sufficient evidence has been brought forth, linking you with several attempts at smuggling my firearms to a client I had previously denied business with. And yet, you sit here and claim that you. Don't. Know." ​

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She walked up until she was right above him.​

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"Tell me, lout. Why do they call me Inferno?"​

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As she spoke, Ember's eyes lit up with an eerie orange-yellow glow. The man looked suddenly afraid. He began trying to crawl backwards toward the door. Ember smirked, following him as he did so.​

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"Oh? Are you running now? How truly pathetic."​

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Just as the man's hand touched the permacrete outside the door, Ember's hand ignited in flame. She threw a fireball directly at his chest. He began to scream very loudly, so loud that it was even heard over the music in the club. He burned for only a few seconds before he was nothing more than a charred corpse. She turned her back to it.​

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"Kif, please remove that to the back of the building. It's making our customers uneasy. Oh, and Garen..."​

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She gave the bouncer outside the still open door a sideways glance.​

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"Let the man in, for goodness sake."​

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[member="Rook"]​

 

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Corpses weren't the prettiest things in the world. Rook stared disinterestedly as the man was turned into a human bonfire - though internally he as reeling. Was this the kind of woman he wanted to do business with? No, but there were no other options. Swallowing his reservations, and his pride, he nodded to the bouncer and walked inside. He did not look too out of place for Taris, though the helmet made him look a little odd given the club's clientele. They were here for a good time. He was doing the opposite.

He made a point to stand up tall and proud as he approached Miss Inferno. He was a huge man, stranding well over six feet tall, and with the bulk to match it. All his brothers and sisters were the same, of course, so to Rook, everyone else was just small. Imperfect.

Wrong.

He set aside the arrogant thought as he approached the woman.

"Looking to talk. One of your friends crossed a line. Need to find him." He grunted, casting a quick look around. "So long as you're not going to try that magic on me, sweetheart, I think we could do business."

He paused, taking a moment to look her over. Tall enough, slim, not at all what he'd expected. Then again, people rarely were anymore.

"Somewhere with less people, preferably."

@Ember Rouge

 

[Ember Rouge]

Ember continued to stand with her back to the door, giving the man a sideways glance as he spoke. She cocked a brow at him.​

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"It's our business to cross lines, sir. It's what we do. Each of us have our roles to play. I am merely one player of one role."​

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She began walking toward a large staircase in the back of the room, using her finger and motioning for him to follow.​

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"As for the 'magic', rest assured that I won't be using it again. Well, at least not until I see fit."​

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She led the man to a large rounded booth, enclosed on all sides. This was where Ember usually was when spending time here. She made herself comfortable in the center, gesturing for him to join her.​

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"Now, why don't you tell me a little more about this friend of mine?"​

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[member="Rook"]​

 

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"Never know. Some people get a bit crazy with that. Spent enough time with Jedi - seems even regular folk are throwing star destroyers with their minds."

He followed after her without a moment's protest. As he walked, he took in the surroundings. Not unlike any other club he'd come across; they all tended to stick close to their parent concept, and it worked. Still, he found himself a bit uneasy as he settled into the booth, taking a position alongside her.

"Guy named Montimas. Works with stocks...had his hands in some shady business." He explained, leaning back into the cushions. "He's a bit of a problem child. Dunno where he's gone. Need to fix that." He reached up to tap his helmet. The HUD flashed once, then twice. With a sigh, he popped the pressure seals, and removed the helm.

He was a young man in his mid-twenties. Bright blue eyes stared curiously at Ember as he ran a hand over his shaved head. "Figure you might be able to help, so tell me sweetheart, what's the usual price for this type of thing?"

@Ember Rouge

 

[Ember Rouge]

"I suppose professional names are out of the question when you speak, aren't they?"​

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Ember said, her eyes flashing the same glow from before as she looked at him. She didn't take "sweetheart" lightly. She picked up the martini that was present on the small table in front of them, gently stirring the contents with the toothpicked olive. She then slowly downed all of the liquid in the glass before setting it back on the table.​

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"As to the whereabouts of Mr. Montimas, it varies. He was never one to stay in one place for too long. A very squirmy little man, to be sure. Luckily for you, I have a datastream of his travel patterns for the last month. They might help lead you to him."​

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Ember gave the man a sideways smirk.​

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"I only require one thing from you: A favor, of my choosing. One you must carry out without question whenever I tell you to. Then, your debt shall be paid in full." ​

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She pulled out a small datapad, holding it out to him.​

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"So. Do we have a deal, or not?"​

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[member="Rook"]​