Chapter 15

Pyotr listened half heartedly as he was brought up to speed, a planned theft, a murderous thief, and unreliable allies, very human problems overall. Pyotr looked towards his future employer, taking stock, he hated her, but it seems the more he chewed the thoughts rounding in his head the more willing he became to the concept of working with her. Worse case, he could always kill her later. For now though there was always value in having a friend in a stupidly high unassailable place, and it doesn't get much higher these days then her.

Pyotr was still thinking about all the ways he could leverage this later, when the Doc returned carrying his new arm in hand, along with insurance sheets, and pill bottles.

Looking up as the doctor walked in Pyotr paused his conversation with the princess “perfect timing doc.”

“Im sure it isn't, anyways the printer managed to spit this out for your specs give it a once over” the Doc said dismissively handing Pyotr his arm.

He took it and had T remote connect to the arm, ensuring that the firmware was compatible. It whirled as the magnetic motors and carbon cables pulled against each other flexing and stretching like real muscles. As the reinforced sections began to sink into place as large plastic plates and joints moved in conjunction with each other. He checked the modifications, most were already in his default settings and a few needed minor adjustments that T was doing in live time.

While that was happening the Doc handed Pyotr two bottles “one for the pain, itll still be some time before your healed. The other is for infection one every day with dinner got it?” he asked Pyotr

“Clear copy”

The doc nodded and pointed out the space on the insurance form Pyotr would have to sign later. Then as quickly as he came, he left. Pyotr turned his attention back to his soon to be employer.

The gurgling sounds of the princess lowborn being translated with a short delay as T is having to multitask. “... and that's what brought us to you. I'm sure you have questions?”

“Not a lot but yea one or two, first who else knows?”

The arm finally stopped clicking, before doing one final half rotation to slot itself into his lower shoulder joint. Snapping in with a jerking motion, Pyotor picked it up doing the final movement test, ensuring his electric impulses were translating within a margin of error. Even if it wasn't perfect, the software would learn in time and translate it to action accordingly.

Another series of gurgles and phlegm filled speech.

“Besides myself, the minister, the guild master, my knights, and a small handful of trusted agents. No one, the official story has been that the scribe is a perfectionist, and refuses to submit a finalized piece until he is satisfied.”

“What about the guild? Nobody there knows?” Pyotr asked

“No… why?”

Pyotr thought back, every ship has breached, every facility he's entered, shit even since becoming a savage everywhere he goes double and triple checks his id and gene tags.

“Well thats weird right? I mean if this place is as important as you've said then they would have only top tier security right? So how does someone enter unnoticed?”

“I…i’m not sure.” the princess omitted

Pyotr thought for a moment, “seems like ill have to start there, but i want to make this clear might not be able to not involve others, i can keep it quiet but to move around in high society, yea thats another problem, a problem that requires you to give me some legitimacy

“What do you suggest?” asked the princess

“The guild master, you trust them?”

“They were the one who informed us of the theft in the first place.”

“Might be worth it to reach out see if they are willing to work with you. Make a claim im working for them instead.” suggested Pyotr

“Wait i haven't agreed to your terms yet?”

“Are you going to deny my requests?”

A momentary pause as Pyotr glanced over towards the now contorted princess.

“No I guess not” she admits.

“Even the one about me killing the squids?”

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Another moment pause, punctuated only by the strained “ill agree to that too” that escaped the princess’s form.

“great , so ill let you have your people reach out to the guild master let him know im coming, and you and I can go and have a sit down with the fixxer. Never work without the details written and bound, a lesson you'll learn in time i'm sure.” Pyotr jabbed.

While both goldi locks and the princess looked uncomfortable under Pyotrs gaze neither were actively trying to kill him. So he took it to mean progress was indeed being made.

Pyotr put his clothes back on as an electric current ran from his cybernetics to the new material as it shifted around his form. He signed some insurance form the doc had left him, and turned back to the two squids. Let's go before I get bored and raise the price.

Pyotr wasn't sure if it was the drugs or the fact he was gonna get to kill some squids later but he was in an undeniably good mood walking back to the Sheikh.

The Sheikh was shocked to say the least, looking like he had seen a unicorn offering a rim job for $0.20 on the corner.

“How the fuck are you still alive, and how the fuck did you get them to agree to work with YOU!.” the Sheikh said in an accusatory tone like Pyotr had some kind of grand conspiracy.

“Trade fucking secrets, now you ready to do some buissness”

“Fuck me, alright, you sure this isnt going to be a problem?” the sheik asked doubting Pyotrs self control

“Na, i get to kill some squids and get away with it this is gonna be fun…” Pyotr said as he pulled out a case of painkillers the doc gave him, putting two in his mouth quickly.

“Fine give me a few minutes to find some staff, meet you in the bar, i need a fucking drink.” he said pointing Pyotr over towards one of the far corners of the first floor.

As Pyotr and the princess entourage made themselves comfortable the Sheikh wrangled up one of the squid's “house of laws” members so all proceedings could proceed. As all interested parties sat down and opened eahc other up with negotiations and disclaimers, Pyotr grabbed himself some Vodka, and poured himself a glass, he didnt really need to get involved the Sheikh had his interests in mind. So he got to sit and relax, a notification sat unread in Pyotrs HUD. looking over Pyotr had received an email from his brother. It was titled “to whom it may concern” A reply was at least as far as he could discern more progress. Reading it over

From the office of Sub-Admiral Degenhardt

In Response to the earlier request to have a clandestine meeting through non linear channels.

Pyotr, i don't know what kind of angle you're playing this time, or what you want, but if you do anything at the rock except pay your respects to your sins i will have you thrown in a blacksite filled with sadists who are professionally paid to find new ways to inflict pain.

If you understand that, than also understand i'm a busy man, and you burned your last “bridge” a while ago. So ill afford you 15 minutes for you to pay your respects after that, the hunt will resume.

Hmm interesting “T what's this shit about clandestine meetings?”

The voice in his head was uncharacteristically quiet.

“T..? what did you do?”

“I sent the message like you asked.” she reasoned

“And what was in the message cause this feels like a whole lotta hate for a hey wanna meet up.”

She didn't respond.

“T!”

“He said he wasn't going to show up, so i made a small addendum to your message.”

“For fucks sake T, what did you say?”

“I mentioned about some possible critical intel”

While this silent marital dispute was happening in one corner of the room, in the other the war of wits when it came to contract law was taking place between he Sheikh and

“Alright and under for this particular job what if any stipends will you offer?”

“stipends? “

“Fuel, credentials, ammo, expendable resources that will not be counted towards cost of work.”

“Is that really needed, especially after considering the sum the captain is asking for.”

“Its closer to security, hate to be held up at port waiting for money to be gathered for your hired agent to leave said port, or perhaps your thief has taken a fortified position and he’ll need some heavy ordnance to crack it open. These are concerns that I as his legal representative need to consider and you as his employer be made aware of.”

“True but shouldn't that be planned ahead of time? It seems shortsighted to not have these cost prepped in advance.”

“We can prepare for the normal deviancy fine but preparing for an extreme differential on every mission is simply not practical in the long term.”

“Hmm i can see the logic behind that thought, however considering the aforementioned sum and the qualitative connections hell be using surely this can be considered compensated in some other manner.”

Pyotr and the Sheikh both internally registered that today as it turned out was going to be an exceptionally long painful day.

3 and a half hours later

Documents signed, plans made, Pyotr was finally free to start hunting. Taking the minister as his escort to get to high society, Pyotr and some of the internal security teams from the Last Stop escorted their squid patrons back to the elevator out of Earthtown. The trip out at least was a rather quiet affair, especially when compared to when the aforementioned collective entered the hell hole humanity called the capital city.

The shuttle journey to the center of the galactic empire was another thing entirely, all adorned with gold and marble. Pyotr had seen the intel files, on this section of the planet but had never seen it personally. It had a number of huge wrapping gold and marble conch like towers built and held aloft by large saucer shaped platforms. Thousands of flags representing thousands of noble families adorned nearly every building Pyotr could see.

As the shuttle slowly descended Pyotr could see the large curved building with a number of secondary spires built around it, his targeted location. The Guild of Bloodlines.

Pyotr could feel his fangs curl as he smiled, this really was about to be alot of fun he thought as he double checked the mag on his pistol before slamming it home and racking one inthe chamber…

“Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in.” he whispered his hands barely kept steady as his hed rushed with endorphins.