Trezlan always knew he'd have to kill Aelanes. It was one of those things he set aside in his mind "Oh and kill Aelanes", a check box hanging out there. He knew he had to kill him before the red war, after the red war he definitely knew he'd have to do it. But like any other long term maintenance issue, you keep ignoring it hoping something or someone else gets there before you do. Trezlan understood that Aelanes had the same condition that Morley did and that he somehow avoided. He just assumed it was their asshole nature that kept them dying over and over again while he lived mostly unscathed, but that seemed like a polite fiction with reality probably being something else entirely.
Aelanes's lair was unnaturally clean. He had taken residence at the top of a building he personally owned and every hallway was devoid of color, just a stark white metal. No windows, no paintings, no humanity whatsoever. Trezlan could sense that something was wrong, there was so much magical power in the building, but nothing that he could directly see. It was like he could sense the trap, but not see it yet.
"I'm so glad you came." It was a huge open room with a skylight, just as white and empty as the rest. Aelanes was standing in the middle, surrounded by elaborate blood runes. Trezlan sucked in his breath a little bit, Aelanes had effectively turned himself into a huge necromantic bomb.
"Well your invitation was so hard to ignore, though I do have to say you've looked better." Aelanes's entire face was covered in boils, it was similar to the malady that affected Morley, but not the same type, it seemed each man suffered a unique horror which made Trezlan wonder where his necromancy showed its damage.
"Do you like my runes? I looked them all up, I believe you've used some of them even." The runes were more brute than anything else, Trezlan had used the type of magic several times, but never overlapped like Aelanes had done.
"I have to wonder how much damage that will cause when you set it off."
"Enough to kill the whole planet, that is unless you want to help me Trezlan, do you want a whole planet on your conscience?"
"Well I've already got a whole galaxy, what's one more planet?"
"YOU SHOULD DIE! YOU SHOULD SUFFER!!!!!" Aelanes flexed his power, the runes started shining bright, he was close to blowing everything up, Trezlan had to think on his feet or he'd be not making that evening shuttle off planet.
"I get that you're upset Aelanes, no one told you the dangers of necromancy and here you are hundreds of years later feeling that tearing away at you, but no one also told you something really important about necromancy..." Trezlan acted quickly and drew the pistol, and fired once, the bullet hit Aelanes in the middle of his torso, not a kill shot by any means.
"You doddering old fool, what does shooting me have to do with necromancy."
"Oh that we get our power from a higher power who's not too fond of us normally." Aelanes was going to say something when his face was suddenly sucked in on itself. His entire body followed shortly there after. Hanlon clapped behind Trezlan.
"Bravo, I loved that bit at the end."
"That's another one you owe me Hanlon."
"I'll put it on your bill of things you owe me Lorentino, neat trick putting one of my runes on your bullet."
"You did tell me your ordinarily can't find them, so I figured much like the Fire God highlighting where one is would get you to come calling."
"Naturally, you look good, though I guess you'd rather I leave."
"I'd hope you can untangle all of those runes or the rest of this planet will go along with poor stupid Aelanes." With a wave of his hands the blood runes were gone, Hanlon always had a lack of thing for theatrics.
"It's good to see you Trezlan, if only for a little bit, son's looking good as well."
"Stay away from the boy Hanlon."
"Oh Trezlan, if he's anything like you he'll be knocking on my door soon enough." Hanlon disappeared and Trezlan was moderately annoyed, ever since he learned of what Hanlon really was, the man only got more obnoxious not less.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Father Never Knows Best
Rolando awoke angry. He didn't know what his father hit him with, but he did know Trezlan was gone and Dubois was left. He couldn't be mad at the assassin, he was of course just doing his job, but he was pissed as all get out at his own father. Trezlan was a liar and worse, but he thought just this one time the old man would be honest with him, he thought wrong, and he knew that, but it still burned him up inside.
"So you'll not take me to where you dropped off my father?" It was a useless question both men knew it, but pride demanded it be asked.
"You need to understand what must be done and move forward." Dubois was not a verbose man, he let actions speak for him.
"We'll have to agree to disagree, so what now?"
"Now we kill Lyn's assassins, and then we kill Lyn, he's not on planet mind you, but I know where he is." Dubois did not in fact know where Lyn was, but he knew he could find him, its what he did.
"I can help with the assassins that's within my duty, but if you expect me to go off planet that would get me kicked out of the military for sure."
"Fair enough Lieutenant, but I will warn you I value my life above yours if the choice is there."
"I understand Dubois same to you." The assassin cracked what went for his smile and then exited the shuttle into the dank undercity portion of society. Rolando paused for a moment, wondering what exactly he'd agreed to, and then followed after.
"So you'll not take me to where you dropped off my father?" It was a useless question both men knew it, but pride demanded it be asked.
"You need to understand what must be done and move forward." Dubois was not a verbose man, he let actions speak for him.
"We'll have to agree to disagree, so what now?"
"Now we kill Lyn's assassins, and then we kill Lyn, he's not on planet mind you, but I know where he is." Dubois did not in fact know where Lyn was, but he knew he could find him, its what he did.
"I can help with the assassins that's within my duty, but if you expect me to go off planet that would get me kicked out of the military for sure."
"Fair enough Lieutenant, but I will warn you I value my life above yours if the choice is there."
"I understand Dubois same to you." The assassin cracked what went for his smile and then exited the shuttle into the dank undercity portion of society. Rolando paused for a moment, wondering what exactly he'd agreed to, and then followed after.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Boys Are Back In Town
"I'm glad to be working with you Rolando." Trezlan was in an unusually cheery mood. Well unusual to Rolando, he was sure his father was happy for someone, not usually him. He only recalled disappointing Trezlan at all times for everything. Deliah, his mother, told him that was just Trezlan's way, but he always took it personally that his own father never seemed to appreciate what he did ever even when it was something that Trezlan wanted.
"Yeah its great to be working with a known criminal and an assassin on a nebulous task while I'm technically breaking my oath to the empire." The three of them were riding in Dubois's shuttle, they figured it was safer since Lyn wouldn't be actively trying to kill an assassin, in theory.
"He does have a point Trezlan, perhaps we should put him back with his people."
"Nonesense, he's already screwed for what he did, might as well see it through to its bloody end." Trezlan had already told Rolando a lot of people were going to have to die, it was something he always said, it seemed to Rolando that death was something Trezlan used as the solution to every problem.
"Gee dad you're so kind to me, so exactly what are we doing?"
"We aren't doing anything, you two are going to deal with Lyn, I will take care of the necromancer."
"Yeah that's not how this will work, you can't cut me out of this Trezlan, I'm not an assassin, and I'll be bringing that necromancer in, he's got to answer for his crimes."
"Gentleman if you are going to argue I'm going to turn this shuttle around." Dubois never had any children of his own, but plenty of the other Mordere's did, so he was used to these kind of disputes, usually about something similar.
"This isn't an argument," Trezlan reached over and touched Rolando's cheek and he passed out.
"Some kind of skin poison?" Dubois had never seen someone be able to touch someone and make them pass out.
"Trade secret, keep watch of the boy, he's useful enough in a fight, now drop me off at these coordinates I got business to do." Dubois did as he was instructed, it was the price of his orders allegiance to Trezlan. When Rolando woke up he was furious, but most son's generally were when their fathers left them behind.
"Yeah its great to be working with a known criminal and an assassin on a nebulous task while I'm technically breaking my oath to the empire." The three of them were riding in Dubois's shuttle, they figured it was safer since Lyn wouldn't be actively trying to kill an assassin, in theory.
"He does have a point Trezlan, perhaps we should put him back with his people."
"Nonesense, he's already screwed for what he did, might as well see it through to its bloody end." Trezlan had already told Rolando a lot of people were going to have to die, it was something he always said, it seemed to Rolando that death was something Trezlan used as the solution to every problem.
"Gee dad you're so kind to me, so exactly what are we doing?"
"We aren't doing anything, you two are going to deal with Lyn, I will take care of the necromancer."
"Yeah that's not how this will work, you can't cut me out of this Trezlan, I'm not an assassin, and I'll be bringing that necromancer in, he's got to answer for his crimes."
"Gentleman if you are going to argue I'm going to turn this shuttle around." Dubois never had any children of his own, but plenty of the other Mordere's did, so he was used to these kind of disputes, usually about something similar.
"This isn't an argument," Trezlan reached over and touched Rolando's cheek and he passed out.
"Some kind of skin poison?" Dubois had never seen someone be able to touch someone and make them pass out.
"Trade secret, keep watch of the boy, he's useful enough in a fight, now drop me off at these coordinates I got business to do." Dubois did as he was instructed, it was the price of his orders allegiance to Trezlan. When Rolando woke up he was furious, but most son's generally were when their fathers left them behind.
Friday, September 25, 2015
Not the Best Reunion
"There was an explosion, market district." Rolando and Barker had settled into the local police monitoring station. Rolando knew that his father would cause a problem sooner or later it was in his nature. Barker was skeptical up until the bomb went off. It was almost enough for Barker to believe that the Lorentino's had some intrinsic link to each other. Or that Rolando was working with his father as his superiors long suspected.
"That's dad." Rolando was already snagging his gear getting ready to move.
"How do you know? Could be a gas explosion or any number of things?"
"He's in town for less than a week and something exploded, I know that's my father."
"Sound reasoning, lets go, I'll brief the team on the way." Rolando and Barker made their way up stairs, they had a shuttle waiting to take them to the bomb site and Rolando was almost inside when he got a sense something was wrong and he grabbed Barker and ran away from the ship, right before it exploded. Barker looked to be in bad shape, he took a large hit of metal through his back. Rolando was mostly fine, some scratches and bruises, but the ship and its occupants were dead. Medics arrived shortly to care for Barker. Rolando didn't really know the man, but he felt bad he got blown up. Still he had a job to do, so while the medics were tending to Barker he took the key to his shackles and undid them, he had to get to his father to figure out what in the gods name was going on. Back in the command center as people were rushing around he managed to snag one of the techs.
"Can you get me video of that explosion?"
"Which one sir the one we just had?"
"No no the one from earlier at the cafe, I just need to see it." The technician looked at him with a perturbed glare and then pulled up the burning building where the explosion had gone off. He turned around to make a comment toward Rolando, but he was gone, when the technician turned around he could clearly see him near the explosion though it was many miles away. The technician just turned his screen off and went for a break clearly shit was way over his head.
"Dad." Rolando didn't know how far he had shifted, but he could feel it in his veins enough to know the answer was far. He wasn't surprised to see Trezlan standing there even though the feed showed no one, Trezlan was a mysterious man.
"Rolando."
"Dubois." The assassin was a bit of a surprise though for Rolando, he did not expect to see him again.
"Lieutenant Lorentino." He tipped his non-existant hat.
"There now everyone see's everyone else, I'm glad you're here son, I might actually need you." Rolando immediately regretted everything in his life that had lead him to somehow winding up as a cog in his fathers mechcination yet again.
"That's dad." Rolando was already snagging his gear getting ready to move.
"How do you know? Could be a gas explosion or any number of things?"
"He's in town for less than a week and something exploded, I know that's my father."
"Sound reasoning, lets go, I'll brief the team on the way." Rolando and Barker made their way up stairs, they had a shuttle waiting to take them to the bomb site and Rolando was almost inside when he got a sense something was wrong and he grabbed Barker and ran away from the ship, right before it exploded. Barker looked to be in bad shape, he took a large hit of metal through his back. Rolando was mostly fine, some scratches and bruises, but the ship and its occupants were dead. Medics arrived shortly to care for Barker. Rolando didn't really know the man, but he felt bad he got blown up. Still he had a job to do, so while the medics were tending to Barker he took the key to his shackles and undid them, he had to get to his father to figure out what in the gods name was going on. Back in the command center as people were rushing around he managed to snag one of the techs.
"Can you get me video of that explosion?"
"Which one sir the one we just had?"
"No no the one from earlier at the cafe, I just need to see it." The technician looked at him with a perturbed glare and then pulled up the burning building where the explosion had gone off. He turned around to make a comment toward Rolando, but he was gone, when the technician turned around he could clearly see him near the explosion though it was many miles away. The technician just turned his screen off and went for a break clearly shit was way over his head.
"Dad." Rolando didn't know how far he had shifted, but he could feel it in his veins enough to know the answer was far. He wasn't surprised to see Trezlan standing there even though the feed showed no one, Trezlan was a mysterious man.
"Rolando."
"Dubois." The assassin was a bit of a surprise though for Rolando, he did not expect to see him again.
"Lieutenant Lorentino." He tipped his non-existant hat.
"There now everyone see's everyone else, I'm glad you're here son, I might actually need you." Rolando immediately regretted everything in his life that had lead him to somehow winding up as a cog in his fathers mechcination yet again.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Your Problems Are My Problems
Dubois always had a knack for finding people. It was how he wound up as a Mordere in the first place all those years ago. It was a gift he believed he got from the Fire God herself. He never had to look, he just seemed to go in a direction and run across who he needed to find, and that's how he seemingly out of the blue ran into Trezlan Lorentino. Lorentino was revered by his order for all sorts of things, most recently his efforts during the red war, but he was also known for his direct contact with the Fire God, she favored him for whatever reason and so his order kept him and recently his family safe, whether he wanted it or not.
"Mr. Dubois always a pleasure." Lorentino was ageless, though through necromancy not any kind of godhood as some people assumed, Dubois's order tended to kill necromancers as they showed up, but Lorentino again was a special case.
"You have a problem."
"I have several problems Mr. Dubois you'll have to be specific." Lorentino was seated outside a cafe waiting for his order, Dubois didn't see the godling Valrym, but he knew he would be around.
"Mr. Lyn is trying to kill you, and your son."
"Yes I'm aware of that, but what really concerns me is what is taking my food so long? I swear to the gods eggs with bacon should not be this hard to acquire." Dubois never could understand how Trezlan could be so blithely aware of the danger. Or how in modern cities he avoided being seen by all the cameras everywhere, maybe he was a god?
"There are times I don't think you take things seriously." Dubois took care not to mention Lorentino's name, he figured whatever kept him off cameras would not keep his name off audio recorders.
"I take everything as seriously as it warrants, when you've lived as long as I have you take solace in the simple things, like breakfast which has been over an hour..." Trezlan stood up just as an explosion blew up the cafe. Both men were tossed from the outdoor area into the street, miraculously neither seemed very harmed.
"Ready to take Lyn seriously now?"
"I'm seriously pissed he ruined my breakfast, so yes Dubois I am."
"Mr. Dubois always a pleasure." Lorentino was ageless, though through necromancy not any kind of godhood as some people assumed, Dubois's order tended to kill necromancers as they showed up, but Lorentino again was a special case.
"You have a problem."
"I have several problems Mr. Dubois you'll have to be specific." Lorentino was seated outside a cafe waiting for his order, Dubois didn't see the godling Valrym, but he knew he would be around.
"Mr. Lyn is trying to kill you, and your son."
"Yes I'm aware of that, but what really concerns me is what is taking my food so long? I swear to the gods eggs with bacon should not be this hard to acquire." Dubois never could understand how Trezlan could be so blithely aware of the danger. Or how in modern cities he avoided being seen by all the cameras everywhere, maybe he was a god?
"There are times I don't think you take things seriously." Dubois took care not to mention Lorentino's name, he figured whatever kept him off cameras would not keep his name off audio recorders.
"I take everything as seriously as it warrants, when you've lived as long as I have you take solace in the simple things, like breakfast which has been over an hour..." Trezlan stood up just as an explosion blew up the cafe. Both men were tossed from the outdoor area into the street, miraculously neither seemed very harmed.
"Ready to take Lyn seriously now?"
"I'm seriously pissed he ruined my breakfast, so yes Dubois I am."
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
No One is That Lucky
"Wow me with your brilliance Lorentino." Barker and Rolando were in Barkers small office, they were looking over various files on Trezlan. Most of it was complete bullshit to Rolando's eyes. Trezlan was said to be almost a thousand years old, he was either involved in starting the red war or key in stopping it and he's supposedly unkillable by conventional means as he's some kind of god. Those were the most egregious examples to Rolando, what he knew of his father was that he was a borderline competent business man with some talent for bullshit and magic ability. He still didn't have a clue how he was going to find the man let alone convince him to help them set up a sting.
"Give me a moment Barker I'm going to unleash something on you, you'll see." Rolando had no idea what he was going to do. He tried the device he had used to connect the last time but it was none functional, so he was left to just searching out his name on the net and seeing if his dad left him anything. Barker was not impressed with his idea, until of course the screen lit up with Trezlan's face.
"I hope you've got a good anti viral on that network, you've been in some ugly places young one, oh and is that Lieutenant Barker? Nice to see you again Barks, well this is the first time you're seeing me, but I've see you before, no Sergeant Kyriac with you? Rolando you might want to ask that little Sergeant about your mom when you get a minute." Barker just stood their mouth agape, Rolando was equally stunned.
"Mr. Lorentino..." Barker started in seemingly unphased beyond the amazement of seeing Trezlan in the flesh.
"You need my help setting up an ambush, you can't promise me anything blah blah blah, look boys its nice you think you can do something here, but you can't, do me a favor stay out of this one, I know Rolando I said you can have this one, I lied there is unfinished business here and your dad has to clean house, do me a favor don't get in my way don't worry he won't be alive when I'm done." The screen winked out and Barker looked over at Rolando.
"So that's that then?"
"Nah he's just being an asshole, but we do know he's in town at least, so that's definitely something Barker, and you said I couldn't..."
"I swear Lorentino, I'm going to be there when your luck runs out and it'll probably get me killed."
"Well you might want to skip out on this one Barker, I can only imagine that it's probably going to get at least one person killed."
"Hopefully the necromancer killing those people, come on lets brief the team."
"Give me a moment Barker I'm going to unleash something on you, you'll see." Rolando had no idea what he was going to do. He tried the device he had used to connect the last time but it was none functional, so he was left to just searching out his name on the net and seeing if his dad left him anything. Barker was not impressed with his idea, until of course the screen lit up with Trezlan's face.
"I hope you've got a good anti viral on that network, you've been in some ugly places young one, oh and is that Lieutenant Barker? Nice to see you again Barks, well this is the first time you're seeing me, but I've see you before, no Sergeant Kyriac with you? Rolando you might want to ask that little Sergeant about your mom when you get a minute." Barker just stood their mouth agape, Rolando was equally stunned.
"Mr. Lorentino..." Barker started in seemingly unphased beyond the amazement of seeing Trezlan in the flesh.
"You need my help setting up an ambush, you can't promise me anything blah blah blah, look boys its nice you think you can do something here, but you can't, do me a favor stay out of this one, I know Rolando I said you can have this one, I lied there is unfinished business here and your dad has to clean house, do me a favor don't get in my way don't worry he won't be alive when I'm done." The screen winked out and Barker looked over at Rolando.
"So that's that then?"
"Nah he's just being an asshole, but we do know he's in town at least, so that's definitely something Barker, and you said I couldn't..."
"I swear Lorentino, I'm going to be there when your luck runs out and it'll probably get me killed."
"Well you might want to skip out on this one Barker, I can only imagine that it's probably going to get at least one person killed."
"Hopefully the necromancer killing those people, come on lets brief the team."
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Lining up Dominoes
Dubois hated the light. It hurt his eye, it reminded him of how age had racked his body, and most importantly it let others see him. Even with modern sun glasses the pain of light hurt him during long exposures. So being in front of the Royal authorities while they questioned him on his questionable use of his assassin license was painful for more than just the questions. It had been a rough few weeks for Dubois ever since he helped the Imperial Government he'd been subject to all kinds of new regulations he wasn't even aware existed. He would have cursed his luck for the situation, but he felt it probably not wise considering it was the fire god herself who set him on his path.
"Fifteen men Mr. Dubois."
"I'm sorry what was the question there." It had been three hours of questions at this point, Dubois had let his mind wander, the light was especially harsh it felt.
"You killed fifteen men, in a public space, we have video."
"I'm a licensed assassin, these men were on a list I've provided all of this to your office I don't know why we're doing this dance."
"I'm concerned Mr. Dubois, as an assassin we don't even have an accurate accounting of your activities, and you're required to report all lawful kills to the proper authorities, but you go months without reporting." The inquisitor was a thin man with a bird like face, Dubois had thought of all the ways he'd kill him if given the chance, strangulation seemed like the best.
"I go a long time between jobs, I'm not the man I used to be Inquisitor."
"And yet you recently involved yourself and your brotherhood in imperial affairs."
"I don't see what one has to do with the other, I gave my statements to your government after the incident, my people were in the right place at the right time, didn't even request payment, if anything you owe me not the other way around."
"We don't view it that way and we think you owe us and we'd like to collect."
"Of course, your government can't simply pay an assassin you have to indebt him to you to do your dirty work, let me guess the head of the Lyn family." The inquisitor smiled.
"You have one week."
"Going to need longer than that to find him, give me a month."
"Two weeks."
"Fine inquisitor, but after this we're done, and believe me you don't want to see me again." The man scoffed at the threat, but Dubois never made threats, he made promises. Just like he promised someone earlier to kill Mr. Lyn anyway, if anything the Imperial government got in the way of that, but he couldn't exactly tell them that, Lyn wasn't on any official lists after all.
"Fifteen men Mr. Dubois."
"I'm sorry what was the question there." It had been three hours of questions at this point, Dubois had let his mind wander, the light was especially harsh it felt.
"You killed fifteen men, in a public space, we have video."
"I'm a licensed assassin, these men were on a list I've provided all of this to your office I don't know why we're doing this dance."
"I'm concerned Mr. Dubois, as an assassin we don't even have an accurate accounting of your activities, and you're required to report all lawful kills to the proper authorities, but you go months without reporting." The inquisitor was a thin man with a bird like face, Dubois had thought of all the ways he'd kill him if given the chance, strangulation seemed like the best.
"I go a long time between jobs, I'm not the man I used to be Inquisitor."
"And yet you recently involved yourself and your brotherhood in imperial affairs."
"I don't see what one has to do with the other, I gave my statements to your government after the incident, my people were in the right place at the right time, didn't even request payment, if anything you owe me not the other way around."
"We don't view it that way and we think you owe us and we'd like to collect."
"Of course, your government can't simply pay an assassin you have to indebt him to you to do your dirty work, let me guess the head of the Lyn family." The inquisitor smiled.
"You have one week."
"Going to need longer than that to find him, give me a month."
"Two weeks."
"Fine inquisitor, but after this we're done, and believe me you don't want to see me again." The man scoffed at the threat, but Dubois never made threats, he made promises. Just like he promised someone earlier to kill Mr. Lyn anyway, if anything the Imperial government got in the way of that, but he couldn't exactly tell them that, Lyn wasn't on any official lists after all.
Monday, September 21, 2015
Like An Asshole Convention
Mr. Lyn's chair was feeling a bit confined as of late. He never left his office ever, not since he had become the head of his family, but still the chair was feeling more and more like a prison. He blamed this on Lorentino, the younger for killing his assassin, the older for birthing the younger and then feeding his men to horrific spider creatures. He worried about Lorentino's retaliation, Trezlan was known for many things, letting things slide was not among them. So he didn't leave his chair except to go to the restroom and he was beginning to wonder if he should just have a machine do that for him as well, he could trust a machine.
"Confirmed Mr. Lyn Lorentino is on site."
"Which one?" He had people looking for both Lorentino's since they had slipped off his radar, he was getting close to finding the son, but finding Trezlan again was difficult.
"Both of them sir, though not together, not yet." Lyn was beyond happy at the news.
"Perfect, set up your fire teams, and eliminate both."
"Yes sir." Lyn didn't know why the Lorentino's were together, but it didn't matter,he'd kill both of them and be able to move on with his plans. Just then his chair didn't feel so confined, and he smiled the kind of smile that unsettles people who aren't awful.
"Confirmed Mr. Lyn Lorentino is on site."
"Which one?" He had people looking for both Lorentino's since they had slipped off his radar, he was getting close to finding the son, but finding Trezlan again was difficult.
"Both of them sir, though not together, not yet." Lyn was beyond happy at the news.
"Perfect, set up your fire teams, and eliminate both."
"Yes sir." Lyn didn't know why the Lorentino's were together, but it didn't matter,he'd kill both of them and be able to move on with his plans. Just then his chair didn't feel so confined, and he smiled the kind of smile that unsettles people who aren't awful.
Friday, September 18, 2015
The Unknowable Mind of Trezlan Lorentino
"A question if I could?" Valrym was seated across from Trezlan in the shuttle. They were on the way to the planet Rolando was on to solve the necromancer situation. Trezlan said this matter of factly after they had signed their lease on the new space they had taken up residence at.
"Mordere, I always sign things in Valerind's name, I mean what's the chance he comes back a third time? Yeah not going to happen." Trezlan had on his battle get up. Or what Valrym called his battle get up, that stupid sword he refused to ever relinquish, and a modern pistol, bullet not electric Trezlan despite being able to conjure fire from his hands, did not trust modern energy weaponry.
"No that's not, and he's come back? When did that? Nevermind nevermind, I'm wondering why we are going further into RIG territory, I mean you helped Rolando with that necromancer stuff, why are we specifically going to resolve it?" Trezlan sighed.
"Because I realized immediately after sending Rolando that stuff he doesn't stand a chance, also this one is on me I should have killed this asshole years ago and I didn't." Valrym was amazed Trezlan was actually admitting he made a mistake, it was a first in a long time.
"How will you find this guy?"
"I'm lucky, I'll just roll into town and I'm sure it will work out it usually does."
"This seems like a very bad plan."
"It seems that way, but its not trust me." Valrym hated trusting Trezlan, hated it more that he was usually right about his damnable luck. It's almost like the universe supported the idiot, which seemed unfair in a lot of specific ways. But Valrym had hitched his fortune to Trezlan and so onward they went, at least he wasn't currently wanted by the Imperial Guard, so if Trezlan got caught the most he'd be out is an annoying travel companion.
"Mordere, I always sign things in Valerind's name, I mean what's the chance he comes back a third time? Yeah not going to happen." Trezlan had on his battle get up. Or what Valrym called his battle get up, that stupid sword he refused to ever relinquish, and a modern pistol, bullet not electric Trezlan despite being able to conjure fire from his hands, did not trust modern energy weaponry.
"No that's not, and he's come back? When did that? Nevermind nevermind, I'm wondering why we are going further into RIG territory, I mean you helped Rolando with that necromancer stuff, why are we specifically going to resolve it?" Trezlan sighed.
"Because I realized immediately after sending Rolando that stuff he doesn't stand a chance, also this one is on me I should have killed this asshole years ago and I didn't." Valrym was amazed Trezlan was actually admitting he made a mistake, it was a first in a long time.
"How will you find this guy?"
"I'm lucky, I'll just roll into town and I'm sure it will work out it usually does."
"This seems like a very bad plan."
"It seems that way, but its not trust me." Valrym hated trusting Trezlan, hated it more that he was usually right about his damnable luck. It's almost like the universe supported the idiot, which seemed unfair in a lot of specific ways. But Valrym had hitched his fortune to Trezlan and so onward they went, at least he wasn't currently wanted by the Imperial Guard, so if Trezlan got caught the most he'd be out is an annoying travel companion.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Plenty of Bad Choices
The most recent crime scene was still the nice penthouse apartment. Rolando and the rest of the hounds plus Therod were searching for any kind of indication on who or where the killer might have gone. The search was going poorly, there were five of them all told looking for any kind of clue and all Rolando could identify was that he hated rich people, which didn't really help anything.
"So Lorentino wow me with your abilities." Barker was the lieutenant that lead this particular branch of the hounds. Why Kyriac had been sent to evaluate him over Barker was beyond Rolando, some people just like to delegate.
"Going to have to admit something, I'm not getting shit."
"I'm shocked, shocked that someone who over sold his abilities is out of ideas, should have never let you out of lock up." Rolando didn't know Barker very well, he did not like him at all.
"Give the boy a moment Barker, he's a Lorentino, masters of bullshit luck." Kyriac had been a part of the hunts for Trezlan for years so he had experience with the completely horse shit way the Lorentino's had managed throughout time. Barker was about to respond when the message system of the penthouse lit up.
"Gentleman I know you're looking for me and I'll make this easy on you, bring me Trezlan Lorentino and you'll get the Detective Simon back, don't and I'll leave her bits and pieces all over the city." The man's face was obscured by a mask, but Rolando could see his eyes and they looked like he was sick with something awful. As soon as he delivered his ultimatum, the screen changed to some coordinates.
"Like I said you totally need me here." The rest of the hounds looked at Rolando and shook their heads, but at least they had something more than they began with, even if that something was finding the one man no one in the imperial government had caught the entire time his name had been on the list. Something was better than nothing.
"So Lorentino wow me with your abilities." Barker was the lieutenant that lead this particular branch of the hounds. Why Kyriac had been sent to evaluate him over Barker was beyond Rolando, some people just like to delegate.
"Going to have to admit something, I'm not getting shit."
"I'm shocked, shocked that someone who over sold his abilities is out of ideas, should have never let you out of lock up." Rolando didn't know Barker very well, he did not like him at all.
"Give the boy a moment Barker, he's a Lorentino, masters of bullshit luck." Kyriac had been a part of the hunts for Trezlan for years so he had experience with the completely horse shit way the Lorentino's had managed throughout time. Barker was about to respond when the message system of the penthouse lit up.
"Gentleman I know you're looking for me and I'll make this easy on you, bring me Trezlan Lorentino and you'll get the Detective Simon back, don't and I'll leave her bits and pieces all over the city." The man's face was obscured by a mask, but Rolando could see his eyes and they looked like he was sick with something awful. As soon as he delivered his ultimatum, the screen changed to some coordinates.
"Like I said you totally need me here." The rest of the hounds looked at Rolando and shook their heads, but at least they had something more than they began with, even if that something was finding the one man no one in the imperial government had caught the entire time his name had been on the list. Something was better than nothing.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Unleash The Hound
Rolando was in the waiting room. He'd been sitting there kicking his feet waiting to talk to Brubaker. His new secretary a young man who looked freshly pressed into uniform was the only other occupant. The secretary was using a hybrid interface for his computer, part neural connection, part optical. It mostly meant the young man stared off into space with a monocle over one eye while he processed his requests. Rolando never liked the idea of the machine literally being a part of you, he'd be using his fingers until the day he died. Trezlan was the same way much to Rolando's chagrin. But he had something about machines taking you over or something, it was his usual madness. Rolando's thoughts were going down the rabbit hole when the young man's voice told him Brubaker was ready.
Brubaker's new office on top of having a waiting room with secretary was now a lot larger. He still had his wall of monitors, but they weren't the majority of the room now, they only took up a small portion of it. He had a large wood desk, and comfy chairs in front of it. One of them was occupied by a green skinned shorty, Rolando had heard of people being disfigured by mining accidents and shorties always took the brunt of that kind of thing, still it was weird seeing someone who was green.
"Sit."
"Sir I'd really like to discuss the necromancer situation." Rolando had given up his fathers files to command, he's also told them about the missing Detective but nothing had happened. He'd sat and stewed it over, but nothing was going on and he was tired of it, that poor woman was out there because of him and his lack of doing something and it ate him up in side.
"I'm aware Lieutenant, you have requested several leaves to track the man down, and I have rejected them all, you're not a field agent."
"BUT I WAS YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!" Rolando was upset, he had become aware that since he saved the Emperor he wasn't being granted freedom, he was being granted prison, to keep him safe since the Emperor liked him, but all that meant was he got a pretty cage and nothing to do, he'd rather be on the rim.
"Sergeant?" Rolando hadn't even noticed the shorty had a military rank, or that he was wearing a uniform.
"Oh that's my que? Yes, nice to meet you Lieutenant, Sergeant Kyriac, I'm with the hounds in this sector of space. I've looked over your report, but I'm at a loss here as to what you think can be done that hasn't already been done? Sure the necromancy angle is new, but we've been looking for this guy Lorentino, what can you bring that we already aren't leveraging?" Rolando admitted he didn't have a lot more to bring other than what he'd provided, but he had to do something.
"Me I bring me, and what I am is lucky, sometimes that's better than simply being good." Brubaker shrugged and the Sergeant smiled.
"Well alright Lieutenant, if the general ok's it you can join us, temporarily mind you, we don't need you long term."
"You will, Trust me." Brubaker sighed, but Rolando was happy, he was being let out, even if it was provisionally. That was always the first step, then when they couldn't do anything without him they'd have him on full time, was only a matter of time.
Brubaker's new office on top of having a waiting room with secretary was now a lot larger. He still had his wall of monitors, but they weren't the majority of the room now, they only took up a small portion of it. He had a large wood desk, and comfy chairs in front of it. One of them was occupied by a green skinned shorty, Rolando had heard of people being disfigured by mining accidents and shorties always took the brunt of that kind of thing, still it was weird seeing someone who was green.
"Sit."
"Sir I'd really like to discuss the necromancer situation." Rolando had given up his fathers files to command, he's also told them about the missing Detective but nothing had happened. He'd sat and stewed it over, but nothing was going on and he was tired of it, that poor woman was out there because of him and his lack of doing something and it ate him up in side.
"I'm aware Lieutenant, you have requested several leaves to track the man down, and I have rejected them all, you're not a field agent."
"BUT I WAS YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!" Rolando was upset, he had become aware that since he saved the Emperor he wasn't being granted freedom, he was being granted prison, to keep him safe since the Emperor liked him, but all that meant was he got a pretty cage and nothing to do, he'd rather be on the rim.
"Sergeant?" Rolando hadn't even noticed the shorty had a military rank, or that he was wearing a uniform.
"Oh that's my que? Yes, nice to meet you Lieutenant, Sergeant Kyriac, I'm with the hounds in this sector of space. I've looked over your report, but I'm at a loss here as to what you think can be done that hasn't already been done? Sure the necromancy angle is new, but we've been looking for this guy Lorentino, what can you bring that we already aren't leveraging?" Rolando admitted he didn't have a lot more to bring other than what he'd provided, but he had to do something.
"Me I bring me, and what I am is lucky, sometimes that's better than simply being good." Brubaker shrugged and the Sergeant smiled.
"Well alright Lieutenant, if the general ok's it you can join us, temporarily mind you, we don't need you long term."
"You will, Trust me." Brubaker sighed, but Rolando was happy, he was being let out, even if it was provisionally. That was always the first step, then when they couldn't do anything without him they'd have him on full time, was only a matter of time.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Baiting The Trap
The room was very clean, it was the thing that scared Simon most. Ever since she had been gassed and she woke up in the clean empty white room she was worried what the necromancer would do to her. Clean was terrifying because it was devoid of clues, devoid of intentions, it was just an empty room without any indication of whats going on. The walls were some high tech material Simon could figure that much out, not easily broken and pretty hard. Room was also sound proof her cries for help went no where. She was at the mercy of her captor and in what had felt like two days since she'd arrived in the room she had no connection to this mysterious person. She mostly spent time sitting opposite of the one door in the room waiting for the man or woman who had kidnapped her to arrive. He eventually did open the door looking not at all like the dapper killer she imagined him to be.
The man was of average height, he wore a jump suit of sorts like a maintenance man might wear. His hair was long and grey and hung down to his waist. The face was a nightmare, full of pus and boils like he was suffering from a horrific skin disease. Which was supported by his freakishly thing body. Simon was repulsed at the sight of him even more than what he represented.
"Your revulsion at me is heart warming Detective Simon." He talked with a slither to his voice.
"Who are you?"
"Other than the man you've been indirectly looking for? No one you would know, or any of the people in this place. No I'm known to only a few and only one of those is one I'm looking for."
"So what do you want from me?" The man just looked at her for a moment not saying anything just unnerving her with his presence.
"To be a good hostage and not try and do anything, you're merely bait for a trap. I have no desire to harm you, but I will if you try and screw with me, and you've seen what I can do, don't test me." The man withdrew after that. Simon regretted not asking him for food or water, but then shuddered to think what he'd bring for either. She just hoped whoever he was waiting on would show up soon, especially if it was that asshole Lorentino.
The man was of average height, he wore a jump suit of sorts like a maintenance man might wear. His hair was long and grey and hung down to his waist. The face was a nightmare, full of pus and boils like he was suffering from a horrific skin disease. Which was supported by his freakishly thing body. Simon was repulsed at the sight of him even more than what he represented.
"Your revulsion at me is heart warming Detective Simon." He talked with a slither to his voice.
"Who are you?"
"Other than the man you've been indirectly looking for? No one you would know, or any of the people in this place. No I'm known to only a few and only one of those is one I'm looking for."
"So what do you want from me?" The man just looked at her for a moment not saying anything just unnerving her with his presence.
"To be a good hostage and not try and do anything, you're merely bait for a trap. I have no desire to harm you, but I will if you try and screw with me, and you've seen what I can do, don't test me." The man withdrew after that. Simon regretted not asking him for food or water, but then shuddered to think what he'd bring for either. She just hoped whoever he was waiting on would show up soon, especially if it was that asshole Lorentino.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Death Magic Very Dangerous
There was so much data. Rolando never knew his father to be a brief writer, but the information he had collected on Necromancy, which he had titled "Necromancy and idiots guide", was extensive. The information had been written directly to Rolando, part warning, part explanation of useful techniques Trezlan himself had supposedly used. Rolando had the information spread out on three screens just trying to digest it all. Most of it wasn't even that useful, just awful rituals his father had either done, been a part of, or was aware of. Rolando took hours just to sort the signal from the noise, eventually he had settled on various rituals Trezlan knew of that would require sacrificing someone else to the extent he had felt in the apartment. None of them were good, especially with the frequency of deaths that Simon had shown Rolando. Whoever was doing the necromancy was working up to something. Something even Trezlan hadn't figured out in his research.
"Simon this is Lieutenant Lorentino, I can help you." He left the message with Simon's office and waited. And she never got back to him. He figured she gave up on him, until a distraught young woman arrived at sanctuary looking for him.
***
"Gloria Simon, you know my mom?" The room they were in was normally an interview room for new members to sanctuary. Gloria Simon was mid twenties by the look of her, had a lot of her mother in her face and mannerisms.
"Vaguely, she sought my help once, I turned her down, I recently came across some info that might be able to help her, do you know where she is?"
"No, I was hoping you did, she's been missing for a couple weeks now." Rolando was mad, mad at himself for letting Simon deal with this shit on her own. Mad at whoever was doing this, and also mad that effectively he couldn't do anything. He was on lock down in sanctuary.
"You have to get me out of here Gloria."
"How would I do that?"
"I haven't a gods damned clue."
"Simon this is Lieutenant Lorentino, I can help you." He left the message with Simon's office and waited. And she never got back to him. He figured she gave up on him, until a distraught young woman arrived at sanctuary looking for him.
***
"Gloria Simon, you know my mom?" The room they were in was normally an interview room for new members to sanctuary. Gloria Simon was mid twenties by the look of her, had a lot of her mother in her face and mannerisms.
"Vaguely, she sought my help once, I turned her down, I recently came across some info that might be able to help her, do you know where she is?"
"No, I was hoping you did, she's been missing for a couple weeks now." Rolando was mad, mad at himself for letting Simon deal with this shit on her own. Mad at whoever was doing this, and also mad that effectively he couldn't do anything. He was on lock down in sanctuary.
"You have to get me out of here Gloria."
"How would I do that?"
"I haven't a gods damned clue."
Friday, September 11, 2015
Always Know When To Ask For Help
Connecting.
Rolando stared at the word on his screen as it flashed over and over again. He was worried. Worried about a lot of things, but mostly that he would actually connect to the person he was calling. He had never tried this before, he had the little data device for years, but this was the first time he actually tried it. He was just about to turn off his monitor when connecting changed over to connected and the bald red bearded visage of his father showed up grinning back at him.
"Rolando I'm so pleased you decided to finally contact your father." Trezlan looked to be in some kind of diner, Rolando could see people just walking by.
"Not a social call."
"If you're attempting to trace this with your royal imperial friends they'll find I know quite a bit more than I let on." Trezlan always acted dumb. Rolando had seen it over the years, he'd pretend to forget things, or be unknowledgeable about something to ply a client in to underestimating him. Only when the deal was about to go against him he'd suddenly show competency and screw the other party over. So Rolando knew the old man was not lying.
"I'm not trying to trace this, I'm attempting to keep this conversation off the books."
"Ahh so you need my help with something, probably that necromancer running around your current planet." Rolando was taken back by this, but again he knew his father always lead on he was dumber than he was, so not too shocked.
"Its not you is it?"
"No, I haven't been in civilized space for a while now, but I do keep my ear to the ground as it were when it comes to my chosen religion. So you're calling because I warned you to avoid death magic, but you really want to help out because you're an idiot."
"Well thanks for being blunt about it."
"Welcome, but if you are so dedicated to doing something about this necromancer let me transmit some of my data to you, you can tell your government whatever you want on where you got it, now if you don't mind I have to go arrange for some people to be murdered."
"You don't really mean that do you dad?" Trezlan smiled.
"Oh fine its more sign a lease, the only thing being murdered is my love of not being tied down." The signal winked out and the device that had connected Rolando to his father smoked a bit, so if Rolando wanted to contact Trezlan for a follow up he could not. Which meant all he was his fathers data. He looked at the file sitting there on his desktop, and decided he'd get back to it. He'd had enough bullshit for one day.
Rolando stared at the word on his screen as it flashed over and over again. He was worried. Worried about a lot of things, but mostly that he would actually connect to the person he was calling. He had never tried this before, he had the little data device for years, but this was the first time he actually tried it. He was just about to turn off his monitor when connecting changed over to connected and the bald red bearded visage of his father showed up grinning back at him.
"Rolando I'm so pleased you decided to finally contact your father." Trezlan looked to be in some kind of diner, Rolando could see people just walking by.
"Not a social call."
"If you're attempting to trace this with your royal imperial friends they'll find I know quite a bit more than I let on." Trezlan always acted dumb. Rolando had seen it over the years, he'd pretend to forget things, or be unknowledgeable about something to ply a client in to underestimating him. Only when the deal was about to go against him he'd suddenly show competency and screw the other party over. So Rolando knew the old man was not lying.
"I'm not trying to trace this, I'm attempting to keep this conversation off the books."
"Ahh so you need my help with something, probably that necromancer running around your current planet." Rolando was taken back by this, but again he knew his father always lead on he was dumber than he was, so not too shocked.
"Its not you is it?"
"No, I haven't been in civilized space for a while now, but I do keep my ear to the ground as it were when it comes to my chosen religion. So you're calling because I warned you to avoid death magic, but you really want to help out because you're an idiot."
"Well thanks for being blunt about it."
"Welcome, but if you are so dedicated to doing something about this necromancer let me transmit some of my data to you, you can tell your government whatever you want on where you got it, now if you don't mind I have to go arrange for some people to be murdered."
"You don't really mean that do you dad?" Trezlan smiled.
"Oh fine its more sign a lease, the only thing being murdered is my love of not being tied down." The signal winked out and the device that had connected Rolando to his father smoked a bit, so if Rolando wanted to contact Trezlan for a follow up he could not. Which meant all he was his fathers data. He looked at the file sitting there on his desktop, and decided he'd get back to it. He'd had enough bullshit for one day.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
I Totally Can
"You can't just give up after you drop a bomb on me like that, you have to help me solve what's going on here." Rolando resisted the urge to just shift out of the apartment, to shift and keep shifting until he was far away.
"Look dad told me all sorts of things about magic, volumes of things, he told me once if I ran into necromancy just run, don't walk, don't screw around, just run, and so I am, that's it Simon this is all you, I'm going back in sanctuary and you can work this shit out on your own, here's a spoiler though you won't." Rolando even reshackled himself and waited by the door.
"Can you do something with him Therod?" Simon didn't want Rolando, but now that he was here and at least knew something of what was going on she needed him at least for now.
"No Detective, he outranks me." Simon slumped, but she still called her men to come retrieve the Lieutenant, she couldn't actually make him get involved in the investigation and he whole heartedly did not want to be. Still at least she now had a new thread to pluck which was more than she had before, though not a lot more and it was the worst thread ever, that being a necromantic one. So she stood there in the apartment one of the suns going down behind her in the blood spattered luxury and wept.
***
"You can help you just choose not to."
"I liked it better when you were this mute person who suffered a huge trauma Therod." They were back in Sanctuary now, Therod had been on Rolando none stop since he had gotten back.
"Don't you throw my shit back at me, you don't want to do something hard so you ignore it."
"Do you know what necromancy even is? What it does? My father sure as gods does and he told me to avoid it, so I'm avoiding it, forgive me for not wanting to have my life force ripped out of me."
"You will never be forgiven Lieutenant, I hope you know that." Therod left his room and Rolando punched a wall. Its not that he didn't want to help, he did, to an extent. He just remembered the terror his father had in his eyes when he went over the dangers of death magic, and he recalled as a boy never wanting to be involved with it ever, and yet here he was trapped between doing nothing or risking it all. For a moment he longed to be with his dad running guns and being terrible.
"Look dad told me all sorts of things about magic, volumes of things, he told me once if I ran into necromancy just run, don't walk, don't screw around, just run, and so I am, that's it Simon this is all you, I'm going back in sanctuary and you can work this shit out on your own, here's a spoiler though you won't." Rolando even reshackled himself and waited by the door.
"Can you do something with him Therod?" Simon didn't want Rolando, but now that he was here and at least knew something of what was going on she needed him at least for now.
"No Detective, he outranks me." Simon slumped, but she still called her men to come retrieve the Lieutenant, she couldn't actually make him get involved in the investigation and he whole heartedly did not want to be. Still at least she now had a new thread to pluck which was more than she had before, though not a lot more and it was the worst thread ever, that being a necromantic one. So she stood there in the apartment one of the suns going down behind her in the blood spattered luxury and wept.
***
"You can help you just choose not to."
"I liked it better when you were this mute person who suffered a huge trauma Therod." They were back in Sanctuary now, Therod had been on Rolando none stop since he had gotten back.
"Don't you throw my shit back at me, you don't want to do something hard so you ignore it."
"Do you know what necromancy even is? What it does? My father sure as gods does and he told me to avoid it, so I'm avoiding it, forgive me for not wanting to have my life force ripped out of me."
"You will never be forgiven Lieutenant, I hope you know that." Therod left his room and Rolando punched a wall. Its not that he didn't want to help, he did, to an extent. He just remembered the terror his father had in his eyes when he went over the dangers of death magic, and he recalled as a boy never wanting to be involved with it ever, and yet here he was trapped between doing nothing or risking it all. For a moment he longed to be with his dad running guns and being terrible.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Worst Help Ever
The apartment was a fairly expensive one. It was a pent house type with a lot of gorgeous views overlooking the city, he didn't know how much it cost, but it had to have cost a lot based on its location. The furnishing were equally as expensive. Rolando got the sense whoever had owned it had paid more money for it than he'd ever make in six life times. The blood was definitely not a selling point, whoever was killed had been bled all over the room (the bodies had been removed according to Simon so Rolando didn't know how many people had been killed, but from the blood at least two).
"Mr and Mrs Werg." Simon rattled their name off like it meant something.
"Well they are definitely dead." Therod chuckled, Simon crinkled her face.
"Yes the bodies were a big hint, so do your thing Lieutenant dazzle me with your insight." Rolando thought it strange that Simon seemed so flippant regarding him since she sought him out, but apparently that was her style.
"I'll need the shackles off Detective, I can't read anything with them on." Simon looked at Therod who shook her head.
"I'm getting a no on that."
"I can't read with shackles on? What are you afraid of me breaking out and just going on a murder spree of my own? Come on I saved the Emperor's life, I'm in the military you can trust me." Therod shrugged and produced the key for Simon who gave Rolando a long look and then unlocked his shackles. With them off he shifted away, briefly and then right back.
"Ok that was just as a joke don't put the damn things back on."
"Do that again and you'll be the joke." Therod's statement didn't exactly make sense, but the menace in her voice was enough to instill the point. Rolando got to work, it mainly involved standing there looking like he was thinking real hard. He's had to read magic before, a technique taught him by his father, but that was just simple stuff, like finding a trail that went cold. This was not looking for someone magical, it was trying to figure what magical event happened in that room. His first probe into the event was like a bomb going off in his head, the power of the magic used was exponential. It infused everything in the room with its presence. And the presence was dark, Trezlan had once warned Rolando if he ever ran across this type of magic to run.
"Necromancy."
"What?" Simon had heard all sorts of theories, this was the first with the big N word.
"Yeah, so I'm done here. Good luck Detective, do call and tell me how it went."
"Mr and Mrs Werg." Simon rattled their name off like it meant something.
"Well they are definitely dead." Therod chuckled, Simon crinkled her face.
"Yes the bodies were a big hint, so do your thing Lieutenant dazzle me with your insight." Rolando thought it strange that Simon seemed so flippant regarding him since she sought him out, but apparently that was her style.
"I'll need the shackles off Detective, I can't read anything with them on." Simon looked at Therod who shook her head.
"I'm getting a no on that."
"I can't read with shackles on? What are you afraid of me breaking out and just going on a murder spree of my own? Come on I saved the Emperor's life, I'm in the military you can trust me." Therod shrugged and produced the key for Simon who gave Rolando a long look and then unlocked his shackles. With them off he shifted away, briefly and then right back.
"Ok that was just as a joke don't put the damn things back on."
"Do that again and you'll be the joke." Therod's statement didn't exactly make sense, but the menace in her voice was enough to instill the point. Rolando got to work, it mainly involved standing there looking like he was thinking real hard. He's had to read magic before, a technique taught him by his father, but that was just simple stuff, like finding a trail that went cold. This was not looking for someone magical, it was trying to figure what magical event happened in that room. His first probe into the event was like a bomb going off in his head, the power of the magic used was exponential. It infused everything in the room with its presence. And the presence was dark, Trezlan had once warned Rolando if he ever ran across this type of magic to run.
"Necromancy."
"What?" Simon had heard all sorts of theories, this was the first with the big N word.
"Yeah, so I'm done here. Good luck Detective, do call and tell me how it went."
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
The Assassin in the Room
"You're not going to do anything about what happened?" Valrym didn't like space travel, Trezlan wasn't fond of it either, but Valrym hated it, he hated not having his feet on the ground. He always was worried they'd get sucked into the vacuum of space and that would be it. Trezlan was planning out his next move, looking at star charts and plotting which war to involve himself in.
"I never liked that cave, I mean the spiders were creepy, and it was a bit out of the way. We need to find a place to hide in a civilized place, with at least some good liquor." Trezlan increasingly felt that Valrym didn't appreciate his magnanimous nature enough, because he didn't.
"I mean Lyn, he tried to kill us."
"Oh right that, nah we killed his guys back that's fair? Should be done now." Valrym was visibly upset, but Trezlan wasn't looking at him so he couldn't tell.
"Didn't you used to believe yourself to be the god of vengeance? Weren't you going to have Lyn killed now you don't care?"
"Val, you have to understand, I got older, I've looked past simple transgressions like trying to kill me, I mean its not like he'll try again, I had his team eaten by spiders, I think that sends a clear message."
"IT'S ONLY BEEN A DAY HOW CAN YOU HAVE GOTTEN OLDER IN A DAY?" Trezlan sighed.
"Val if you want Lyn dead so bad why don't you kill him?" That shut up Valrym and Trezlan went back to planning where was best to hide out. For as nice as it was to have the godling around, he really needed to understand how things worked in the crimanl underground. Also Trezlan couldn't stand how Val read over his shoulder when he wrote journal entries, it was the most obnoxious behavior of an obnoxious man.
"I never liked that cave, I mean the spiders were creepy, and it was a bit out of the way. We need to find a place to hide in a civilized place, with at least some good liquor." Trezlan increasingly felt that Valrym didn't appreciate his magnanimous nature enough, because he didn't.
"I mean Lyn, he tried to kill us."
"Oh right that, nah we killed his guys back that's fair? Should be done now." Valrym was visibly upset, but Trezlan wasn't looking at him so he couldn't tell.
"Didn't you used to believe yourself to be the god of vengeance? Weren't you going to have Lyn killed now you don't care?"
"Val, you have to understand, I got older, I've looked past simple transgressions like trying to kill me, I mean its not like he'll try again, I had his team eaten by spiders, I think that sends a clear message."
"IT'S ONLY BEEN A DAY HOW CAN YOU HAVE GOTTEN OLDER IN A DAY?" Trezlan sighed.
"Val if you want Lyn dead so bad why don't you kill him?" That shut up Valrym and Trezlan went back to planning where was best to hide out. For as nice as it was to have the godling around, he really needed to understand how things worked in the crimanl underground. Also Trezlan couldn't stand how Val read over his shoulder when he wrote journal entries, it was the most obnoxious behavior of an obnoxious man.
Monday, September 7, 2015
Whatever It Was, It's Not My Fault
A normal in sanctuary was an event. Most of the military personnel in the facility were magical, and the ones that weren't were so common no one minded their presence, when the lady detective showed up it was an event. She was there with two other officers, but they were unimportant. By the time she got to Rolando at the gym he had heard her all about her from everyone down the chain even though it only took about five minutes for her to run through the check in process. He was waiting for her at the door, she had the men with her wait outside.
"Rolando Lorentino?" She was shorter than he was by about a foot, didn't wear lifts in her shoes like some short people do to appear taller. Her skin color was a light brown denoting she was probably from a warmer place than the planet that they were currently on as the temps there never got much above long sleeve weather in Rolando's short time of living there.
"Whatever you're accusing me of, I didn't do it, I've been here the whole time, my body guard will attest to that." Therod hated being called Rolando's bodyguard, its why he kept doing it.
"Detective Simon nice to meet you, is there some place less sweaty?" She didn't even bat an eye about his behavior, she had read the files the Imperial military had supplied when she asked for an expert. Rolando while not his father was known to have an extensive knowledge of magic because of his father, its one reason he was in the hounds in the first place.
"Well lets step into my office." Rolando lead Detective Simon up his office. It wasn't so much his office as it was the place he lived, but he liked to think it was his office. Therod waited outside with Simon's back up.
"I have a murderer out there Lieutenant, I've tried catching him or her with traditional methods, but its not working. I've even had the hounds out but they aren't catching this guy either, I'm at the end of my rope, and I need someone like you, well I need someone like your father, but you're the best resource available and so I come here looking for your help."
"First don't reference my father it upsets me. Second you are wise to seek my help and you're in luck I"m available, and third should I wear my winter or summer jacket?" Rolando smiled and Simon rolled her eyes, she could regret immediately seeking the young Lieutenant's help.
"Rolando Lorentino?" She was shorter than he was by about a foot, didn't wear lifts in her shoes like some short people do to appear taller. Her skin color was a light brown denoting she was probably from a warmer place than the planet that they were currently on as the temps there never got much above long sleeve weather in Rolando's short time of living there.
"Whatever you're accusing me of, I didn't do it, I've been here the whole time, my body guard will attest to that." Therod hated being called Rolando's bodyguard, its why he kept doing it.
"Detective Simon nice to meet you, is there some place less sweaty?" She didn't even bat an eye about his behavior, she had read the files the Imperial military had supplied when she asked for an expert. Rolando while not his father was known to have an extensive knowledge of magic because of his father, its one reason he was in the hounds in the first place.
"Well lets step into my office." Rolando lead Detective Simon up his office. It wasn't so much his office as it was the place he lived, but he liked to think it was his office. Therod waited outside with Simon's back up.
"I have a murderer out there Lieutenant, I've tried catching him or her with traditional methods, but its not working. I've even had the hounds out but they aren't catching this guy either, I'm at the end of my rope, and I need someone like you, well I need someone like your father, but you're the best resource available and so I come here looking for your help."
"First don't reference my father it upsets me. Second you are wise to seek my help and you're in luck I"m available, and third should I wear my winter or summer jacket?" Rolando smiled and Simon rolled her eyes, she could regret immediately seeking the young Lieutenant's help.
Friday, September 4, 2015
So This is What You Do?
"I can't believe all you do is read and go to the gym." Therod who had become Rolando's personal bodyguard/minder was amazed at how little he did in a given day.
"I have no useful skill to the general public, I'm in the military, but not currently assigned a task and I'm extremely dangerous, all I can do is work out and read, I could probably even skip the work out and I might be able to be free, no one is afraid of a fat guy." Rolando didn't even know why he needed a minder in Sanctuary, he was shackled, there was anti magical crap everywhere and a ton of guards. It was really confusing.
"Can't you impart your wisdom or something to other hounds?"
"What would I tell them? Uhh shift in stick the guy with a needle and then wait for men to shackle you back up? I have a unique skill Therod." She harumphed, she did that a lot that Rolando noticed.
"I just believe you should do more with your talents Lieutenant."
"I agree Sergeant, but until command sees fit to have me do something I read and I work out it's all I do."
"Well watch a movie or something watching you read something is boring to me!" Rolando smiled and Therod left. He wanted to do something as well, anything aside from what he was doing, but he had long ago come to understand because of what he was he would never have the freedom others did. And he shouldn't because of the danger he presented to others. It was something he could never convince his father of, that being he completely accepted he was a dangerous magic user who like any very dangerous thing, should be kept under lock and key. And so he read and worked out and Therod had her conversations with him that ultimately told him he should do more. These went on for a month until the Detective showed up and then things got more interesting. And dangerous.
"I have no useful skill to the general public, I'm in the military, but not currently assigned a task and I'm extremely dangerous, all I can do is work out and read, I could probably even skip the work out and I might be able to be free, no one is afraid of a fat guy." Rolando didn't even know why he needed a minder in Sanctuary, he was shackled, there was anti magical crap everywhere and a ton of guards. It was really confusing.
"Can't you impart your wisdom or something to other hounds?"
"What would I tell them? Uhh shift in stick the guy with a needle and then wait for men to shackle you back up? I have a unique skill Therod." She harumphed, she did that a lot that Rolando noticed.
"I just believe you should do more with your talents Lieutenant."
"I agree Sergeant, but until command sees fit to have me do something I read and I work out it's all I do."
"Well watch a movie or something watching you read something is boring to me!" Rolando smiled and Therod left. He wanted to do something as well, anything aside from what he was doing, but he had long ago come to understand because of what he was he would never have the freedom others did. And he shouldn't because of the danger he presented to others. It was something he could never convince his father of, that being he completely accepted he was a dangerous magic user who like any very dangerous thing, should be kept under lock and key. And so he read and worked out and Therod had her conversations with him that ultimately told him he should do more. These went on for a month until the Detective showed up and then things got more interesting. And dangerous.
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Like The Sun Rising
There were five men in the fire team. They had specific orders to eliminate Trezlan Lorentino and secure any and all information about his son. The cave had no real security, no doors, or even guards, it seemed very easy and welcoming to the men as they came inside, which should have been their first indication something was wrong. Just as the men entered what appeared to be an empty residential section of the cave view screens in the area lit up.
"Good evening gentleman, Trezlan Lorentino here." The leader of the hit squad muttered shit as the face of their target smiled on, "You know its sad after all the none business I did with your boss he decided to try and kill me, well sad for you, not me I'm actually on my way off that rock of a planet and you are on your to being digested, have an unpleasant death." The screen winked off and the men looked at each other with a shrug wondering what he meant by digested. They didn't see the first of the spider creatures as it descended from the ceiling, but they did see the rest as they seemingly emerged from the walls and attacked. The sounds of screams and energy weapons lasted a short time.
***
"You're a sick man you know that right?" Valrym was in the back of the shuttle with Trezlan, they had gotten a warning about the hit squad a few days before they ever touched down, a side effect of Trezlan's extensive criminal contacts.
"What? I had to make it up to those beasties after I took over their cave, I mean sure I could have just set a bomb or something for those men, but where's the fun in a bomb? I mean no one sends other men into a spider lair to check out a bomb Val." Trezlan was sipping a drink while he looked over some reports about a border dispute, he knew his guns would definitely be needed there.
"Like I said sick."
"Sometimes I don't think you like being a criminal Val."
"I don't!" Trezlan smiled, the godling had always been annoying, but he took joy in that the man seemingly stuck with him forever now, at least it cut down on him feeling like he was crazy.
"Good evening gentleman, Trezlan Lorentino here." The leader of the hit squad muttered shit as the face of their target smiled on, "You know its sad after all the none business I did with your boss he decided to try and kill me, well sad for you, not me I'm actually on my way off that rock of a planet and you are on your to being digested, have an unpleasant death." The screen winked off and the men looked at each other with a shrug wondering what he meant by digested. They didn't see the first of the spider creatures as it descended from the ceiling, but they did see the rest as they seemingly emerged from the walls and attacked. The sounds of screams and energy weapons lasted a short time.
***
"You're a sick man you know that right?" Valrym was in the back of the shuttle with Trezlan, they had gotten a warning about the hit squad a few days before they ever touched down, a side effect of Trezlan's extensive criminal contacts.
"What? I had to make it up to those beasties after I took over their cave, I mean sure I could have just set a bomb or something for those men, but where's the fun in a bomb? I mean no one sends other men into a spider lair to check out a bomb Val." Trezlan was sipping a drink while he looked over some reports about a border dispute, he knew his guns would definitely be needed there.
"Like I said sick."
"Sometimes I don't think you like being a criminal Val."
"I don't!" Trezlan smiled, the godling had always been annoying, but he took joy in that the man seemingly stuck with him forever now, at least it cut down on him feeling like he was crazy.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Safety Is Boring
"I didn't even get to say good bye." It was the thing that Rolando kept thinking as he was shuttled away from Ronerawth prime. The emperor was being moved to an undisclosed location and he was shackled and locked away being transported to potentially a prison. Rolando felt it unfair, but it wasn't like he could argue about it. He did literally drop a man to his death with a blink of his eyes.
The shuttle was packed with four members of the emperors guard, they were not ceremonial. They were dressed in combat vests with lots of extra ammunition and weaponry. Rolando thought maybe they were part of a strike team instead of guards, but he couldn't imagine they had him going anywhere to be part of a military strike, not in his uniform and shackled as he was. No one would talk to him though, it was unnerving sitting in the back of a shuttle on the way to somewhere with four people who didn't seem to want to discuss it. This went on for four days. by the time the shuttle opened on another populated planet with more guards Rolando was willing to do anything to be free, if only for a little bit.
"Welcome to Sanctuary Lieutenant." It was Brubaker, now a General welcoming him to his new prison. And Rolando knew it was a prison, Sanctuary was a gilded cage for magic users, a place that they were locked into to keep them safe/society safe. Rolando found himself longing for being placed back on the rim.
"Got a promotion did you Brubaker?" The Emperor's guards remained on the shuttle, Brubaker's sanctuary personnel took over the guarding duties, he noticed Therod was among them.
"I like to think I earned it Rolando, I can understand from your tone you don't believe I did."
"I made no such inference." Inside the facility was nice and clean, plenty of locks and anti-magical wards though, Rolando saw several methods he recognized from ones his father routinely used.
"Right you're just mentioning my promotion in comparison to yours despite all the things you've done and all things I haven't."
"Well when you put it like that Brubaker." Rolando was shown past groups of people who kind of had a sharp intake of breath as he walked past. In the coming days he'd come to know he had become a bit of a media sensation as the man who saved the Emperor. He'd also come to know the extremes of boredom. All his former stuff was present in his new room, and the planet this sanctuary was on was a lot nicer than the rim, but he also wasn't technically a Hound anymore, instead he was a member of Sanctuary Number 857 and thus was only responsible to make sure he didn't hurt anyone, which was a great way to say "Sit on your hands and do nothing."
Rolando remembered Trezlan warning him about this before he shipped out for Imperial space, he was sure the old man was laughing about it wherever he was at the moment.
The shuttle was packed with four members of the emperors guard, they were not ceremonial. They were dressed in combat vests with lots of extra ammunition and weaponry. Rolando thought maybe they were part of a strike team instead of guards, but he couldn't imagine they had him going anywhere to be part of a military strike, not in his uniform and shackled as he was. No one would talk to him though, it was unnerving sitting in the back of a shuttle on the way to somewhere with four people who didn't seem to want to discuss it. This went on for four days. by the time the shuttle opened on another populated planet with more guards Rolando was willing to do anything to be free, if only for a little bit.
"Welcome to Sanctuary Lieutenant." It was Brubaker, now a General welcoming him to his new prison. And Rolando knew it was a prison, Sanctuary was a gilded cage for magic users, a place that they were locked into to keep them safe/society safe. Rolando found himself longing for being placed back on the rim.
"Got a promotion did you Brubaker?" The Emperor's guards remained on the shuttle, Brubaker's sanctuary personnel took over the guarding duties, he noticed Therod was among them.
"I like to think I earned it Rolando, I can understand from your tone you don't believe I did."
"I made no such inference." Inside the facility was nice and clean, plenty of locks and anti-magical wards though, Rolando saw several methods he recognized from ones his father routinely used.
"Right you're just mentioning my promotion in comparison to yours despite all the things you've done and all things I haven't."
"Well when you put it like that Brubaker." Rolando was shown past groups of people who kind of had a sharp intake of breath as he walked past. In the coming days he'd come to know he had become a bit of a media sensation as the man who saved the Emperor. He'd also come to know the extremes of boredom. All his former stuff was present in his new room, and the planet this sanctuary was on was a lot nicer than the rim, but he also wasn't technically a Hound anymore, instead he was a member of Sanctuary Number 857 and thus was only responsible to make sure he didn't hurt anyone, which was a great way to say "Sit on your hands and do nothing."
Rolando remembered Trezlan warning him about this before he shipped out for Imperial space, he was sure the old man was laughing about it wherever he was at the moment.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Power Corrupts Absolutely
Walters loved being in charge, the power of being able to do what he wanted was a freedom he had never had under Wix. Sure working for Morlatech was all about supporting an evil corporation that conducted at the very least extremely unethical experiments to further their creepy robotic overlords unnatural life. But for Walters at least now he was in charge! His first task from the top was to clean up the project he and Wix had been involved in. Which meant salvaging the wreck where the biologicals had been created. Walters was moderately surprised that the Imperial military had not shown up there, he would have thought based on the incident it provoked they would have at least wanted to check it out, but they weren't, it was just Walters and his salvage crew. He hadn't brought any of warbots with him, just some salvage technicians.
"Is there anything?" Walters had been out there for about a day, his people tried using drones to search through the wreckage, but they had been mostly unsuccessful in locating anything, so he had sent men in suits out there before calling the whole thing a wash, best not to disappoint Mr. Morley.
"No sir, there is just twisted metal here, between the missiles and the reactor nothing survived."
"All right come back in."
"Wait I see something." And then the technicians com signal and vital signs flat lined. Walter panic'd, he wanted to pull the ship away from the wreck immediately, but he didn't know how to move a ship and most of the people who piloted the ship were outside of it. He saw as their health signs all blinked down to zero. Walters tried to figure out the controls, but wasn't fast enough, he heard the creatures before he felt the pierce of one of their tendrils. With his dying thought Walters was just surprised they could live without oxygen, he didn't know they could do that.
"Is there anything?" Walters had been out there for about a day, his people tried using drones to search through the wreckage, but they had been mostly unsuccessful in locating anything, so he had sent men in suits out there before calling the whole thing a wash, best not to disappoint Mr. Morley.
"No sir, there is just twisted metal here, between the missiles and the reactor nothing survived."
"All right come back in."
"Wait I see something." And then the technicians com signal and vital signs flat lined. Walter panic'd, he wanted to pull the ship away from the wreck immediately, but he didn't know how to move a ship and most of the people who piloted the ship were outside of it. He saw as their health signs all blinked down to zero. Walters tried to figure out the controls, but wasn't fast enough, he heard the creatures before he felt the pierce of one of their tendrils. With his dying thought Walters was just surprised they could live without oxygen, he didn't know they could do that.
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