??? ????-Tansental- Planet side
He roiled in utter rage, the sheer frustration of it all. Smashing through yet another of the flimsy walls in this abandoned tenement, he breathed deeply of the fear around him. The building was laid out with a sameness, both maddening and familiar. Bland lighting strung down grey halls. Two doors on either side every 10 meters. This place now though was browning with moss and filth graphitti and detritus strewn through every hall. It had been occupied by the Landowar gang for years now, their filthy seat of power. Here he was in the heart of an enemy stronghold, and still, NOTHING he hadn’t even brought arms this time relying on nothing but sword and claw, wing and tail. To rend these pathetic wretches apart!
He Flapped his wings once, shooting forward dozens of paces, instantly behind the massive Magento. It was fleeing as fast as its awkward shuffle could take it. His claw tips entered at the base of the spine and didn’t slow until the spine flew over his shoulder with an unsettling squelching sound.
“WHY , WHY DO NONE OF YOU HAVE IT” It roared out. Then brutally dashed through another wall in a blind fury. Descending upon the half dozen men inside firing desperately at his horrific visage. It took him but moment's and a few unnoticeable wounds, then the room once again was still.
“Is there truly none left with a warriors soul in this worthless galaxy?” With a heavy aura of sorrow around him he finished his work room by room. With an apathetic gait he walked into the final room at the apex of the tenement. One small green alien, a Charoke if he remembered the wretched species correctly. Stood shivering in fear, it had discarded it's weapons, and was babbling something about mercy. A large Hand jutting with metal settled on the terrified Charokes shoulder.
“Now a little tadpole told me you delivered my Grave ship to someone on this planet” The voice from the void rasped.
Slev Torrent – Tansental- Planetside 1 Week after the Airimis Meeting
Slev was checking every corner around him .His eyes scanned every alley he walked past and scoured the buildings, window by window. Syntax had said that he wasn’t followed. But slev hadn't survived this long by not being at least, a lot bit paranoid. After the meeting with syntax he had gathered up his drunken companion and immediately gotten back to what he should be doing. Taking a few minor bounty’s at the guild and settling back into his routine. Nothing to see here folks just a halfway broke human on his way to yet deal with yet another asshole who, got to big for his britches. Hell he had even picked up two of his jobs from Cerberus. Since he was now on there preferred contractors list. That had opened up a surprising number of jobs for him.
If he was gonna do this suicidal job he was going to do it right . Make damn sure everyone on this planet just saw him going about being the normal terrifying human knocking heads. He was even leaning into the corporate double agent aspect a bit. He wasn't planning to take all of his jobs from Cerberus that was a bit suspicious. But half? That should be enough, as he made his preparations, To start making those greedy fuckers at Cerberus really like him. He would solve some of there gnarliest problems .Get paid for it, and then burn there fortune to the ground, at least that was the plan.
Back to the task at hand. Slev was outside of a massive shopping complex. Clear beautiful glass laid the way to tracing multiple stories high paths made of carved glass tubes. These led shops of all sizes and varieties. Bubbles of glimmering light, and garish advertising. Unevenly placed throughout the air above him. Was it an efficient use of space, hell no, but it was damn impressive. He made his way through the front door and stepped onto one of the dozens of branching conveyor belts winding through the clear pathways. He tried to ignore the small orb drones swarming around him, flashing an array of deals and sales made just for him. Actually pushing away one of the more aggressive little ad bots, he opened his terminal to go over the bounty details. Another job for Cerberus -Eladrin sunfowl wanted for corprate espionage Bounty 14,000 credits alive-. A cook at the …. Slev stammered trying to read the name out loud a few times.
“zippidiius zephherius?” he attempted. Immediately one of the ad bots zoomed uncomfortably close to his head.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Right this way valued patron!” it hovered ahead to the intersection were the tubes split ahead, waiting for him patiently as he slowly slid forward.
Slev stepped onto the conveyor belt at the intersection and began a lazy spiraling path upward. The drone started in on the menu.
“ broiled Chabodis Crutacians, stuffed Loquatis beets, Piritious Grain chutney!” It paused to see if he had any questions.
“We also have an assortment of biologically neutral nutrient pastes, for the discerning or biologically challenged patrons!” it continued its endless barrage as the elevator oh so slowly crept upward.
“Can I hack it? I will consign it to a silent oblivion for both our sakes.” Reaper chimed in, obviously as annoyed as Slev was.
“Ehh it doesn’t have any guns, if you don’t break it go for it” Slev wanted it to shut the hell up too and having his yet again unchained AI able to scout independently wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
The horrid barrage of alien cuisine finally stopped as reaper did...something..to the adbot. It hovered peacefully ahead of Slev silently flashing entree's. The elevator deposited him into one of the largest glass orbs near the center of the complex itself. The door's were a simple frame with no actual walls just a low fence and a garden of climbing vines meandering it's way through the dining floor. Red tiled mosaics spirialling aimlessly covered the floor of the dining area . Each of the mosaics started under one of the blue steel tables most of which were occupied by an eclectic mix of patrons. Slev saw well dressed eyeball's, with small pink stalks cheers with roiling cauldrons, and a pair of slugs seemingly had settled on top of a table to eat the meals underneath them.
He glanced past the quiet conversations filling the open dining room and saw what he was here for. A very artfully disguised kitchen. Molded to come out of a small grass and ivy covered hillock, just off the main server station. However he did notice several things that set off some alarm bell's. Most of the servers had poorly concealed small arms, and he could swear that a few of the artificial birds fluttering about were watching him a little too closely. Cautiously he made his way up to the Hostess near the Gateway. He might need to play this a little differently than he had planned.
Respectfully he took off his helmet.
“Seating for one please near the back if possible crowds make me awfully nervous.” he gave his best polite smile to the hostess, who for her part paled as this large heavily armored figure bared it teeth at her.
Slev settled into one of the corner most tables, and picked up a rather beautifully done menu made of some kind of silk and feathers mixed together into this wholly unique texture. He peeked over the menu trying to case the room and had the realization of how horribly under, or over dressed rather he was. Patrons were glancing at him nervously and more than a few times he heard the hushed whispers of “Is that a human?” If the other guest's didn’t settle down he was pretty sure his suspicions about this place would be confirmed. One way or another. Without him doing anything other than existing. A beautiful gossamer black falcon fluttered to land on a chair near him, its eyes focused in on him with a slight whirring.
Slev swirled the absolute ambrosia of a mixed drink that was brought to his table. It was this lovely golden hue and tasted of honeydew and pecans. He savored a deep slow sip of it. Several of the observance birds had perched near him getting a number of clear angles probably scanning to asses his capabilities, and run his face against some databases. Slev did his best to pretend he didn’t notice the blatant surveillance as he calmly waved down a very well dressed young Charoke.
“Excuse me, could I please bother you for another of this delightful beverage” He used his best nice guy voice and pointed at the drink. The waiter bobbed assent and headed towards the kitchen.
Slev continued this polite and patient act, for another two of the drinks before it finally happened. A well dressed and very well built Axtorian ambled up next to his table benignly. Slev tensed slightly he hadn’t seen many of these alien komodo-dragons since he saved Otto from a couple, they were rare and prized muscle in these parts. Moving on all fours and armed with claws and teeth. A long thin tail as well. They uncannily resembled the earthen predators, other than they were bright blue, and had frills. possibly hollow bones too based on the last time he hit one.
“The bossssssss..wantsss....ya” It hissed out roughly..but not rudely, it seemed more like he was struggling pronouncing galactic.
“About time, Lead the way” Slev downed the rest of his drink and stood up to follow. Pausing for just a moment to wink at the gawking patrons. A few gasps followed and tables were suddenly very interested in the drink menu. The Hired muscle kept looking nervously over his shoulder at Slev who had put his helmet back on. It was finally time to see what kind of business. Was really lurking behind the scenes of this well guarded front.
They walked around the kitchen hillock itself, and to a large staircase hidden behind lattices of flowering ivy leading down into the real bowels of this globe. Slev had suspected that the place had a large basement area based on how it looked through the glass on the way up. But he wasn’t ready for what was actually below. At this point he was pretty sure his choice to not just rush into the kitchen and snag a cook, might have been the most prudent gut feeling he had ever followed.
Slev breath caught in his throat as an honest to god military, combat droid scanned him when he reached the base of the stair case. They were incredibly deadly, horribly hard to get a hold of and astoundingly expensive. It looked like someone had slapped a small double barreled tank turret onto the top of metallic spider legs. Then slathered it in dozens of small shield emitters. The worst part of all of it, was reapers captive advertising bot. Hovering disconcertingly close above it.