Session #1: Enduring pt.1
Multitudes. It was the only word that came into mind while walking through the densely compressed streets. As my eyes gazed forward; I saw people with faces that resemble more like the dead. I looked up and saw nothing but, a vast structure trying to reach for the sky; almost like it was trying to crawl away from all this death and despair. My nostrils filled with the smell of machinery and smog and my ears were filled with constant chatter and working factories.
"All too familiar." I said to myself.
"It's been awhile since I've been on a hive world." said Serina.
Lt. Serina, she was the first officer of my ship; she was a fairly young woman, couldn't have been older than twenty four years of age. She was quite the spectacle to behold, her beauty was unparalleled with ocean colored eyes and golden flowing hair that reached to her hips. Her manner of speaking was always voluptuous, as was her figure, regardless to whom she was speaking to. Apparently, she was born on an civilized world and comes from a Highborn family; why she chose to join the Imperial navy, let alone a dilapidated vessel like mine, is beyond me.
"Captain you were born on a hive world right? What was it like?" She asked.
"What's there to say?" I answered.
"It was a constant rat race; filled with death, disease, despair and thieves!"
Before I could even finish my sentence I felt a hand grab one of my bags from the hip of my belt. I grab the person's arm in an instant, unsurprised; the thief was a small child who seemed no older than nine years of age, wearing ragged clothing. I put my hand out, showing my palm to him, silently demanding my bag back. The child returned the bag and, after I released him, he ran off.
"Poor kid, reduced to such a life." said Serina with a sad tone.
"Such is life on a hive world." I answered, emphasizing on the word 'is'.
We continued our walk in the densely packed streets; until we reached the meeting point. A bar, is what I would like to call it but, it was more like a sewage facility that was commandeered unofficially.
"Are you sure this is the place, sir?"
Serina said with a puzzled look on her face. I ignored her question and walked down the stairs.
"Alright, just ignored me then, I guess." She said under her breath.
As I walk closer to the entrance I starting hearing the sound of a guitar playing; the melody coming out of the room was a very sorrowful tone. As Serina and I entered the room, we saw a dingy room filled with worn out decor and, even more, worn out people. They were all staring down into their drinks, with melancholy faces, while listening to the somber song that was being played by a young lady near the bar. I couldn't understand any of the lyrics she was singing yet, I felt a sense of sorrow coming from them. Her guitar looked fairly worn out; it seem to have an insignia on the headstock but, I couldn't read it because it was scratched off. Her song ended and the room was filled with a deep silence then a moderate applause which I joined in but, not Serina.
"They're clapping but, I didn't understand any of it." Said Serina.
"It ain't the words that are important, it's the feeling you get from 'em." said the voice to our right.
It was the bartender; he was quite a scruffy old man, his head was completely bald with a gray beard and moustache combo, he had a very large scar starting from the top left of his forehead to the bottom right of his cheek. His attire consisted of leather sleeveless jacket with a white shirt and, baggy pants with multiple pockets. I could clearly see the Imperial guard insignia tattooed where his shoulder meets his right arm.
"Don't think I've ever seen you folk's before? New around 'ere?" the bartender asked.
"You could say that. We're actually waiting for somebody." Serina answered.
"Well while you're waiting, what you'll poison be?" the bartender asked.
"I'll have some Dammassine." Serina answered.
"Stygers milk, if you got any." I asked.
The ex-guardsmen gave me a confused look while Serina sighed and said;
"Captain can't you order something a little more mature."
"Lt. Serina, what is the governing rule of my ship!?" I asked her with authority.
"Alright, alright you don't have to keep reminding me!" Serina said with a sigh.
"Besides Styger milk is better for you in the long run." I said with a small grin.
The guardsmen bartender served us our drinks, I could smell the faint smell of hazelnut coming off of Serina's drink, I chugged down my drink and finished it in one go, Serina only took small sips of hers all the while trying to hide her embarrassment of me.
"Embarrassed to be seen around me, lieutenant?" I asked her jokingly.
"No, not at all, I just love it when my captain at like a child." She said with a sarcastic tone; I let out a slight smile at her comment.
The young girl guitarist, who was playing earlier, walked up to the counter.
"Beautiful music as always Eleanora." The bartender said with a smile.
"Thank you Coty; you've been a big help for me and my brother since…" the girl hesitated.
"Now, now no need to be feeling down; besides how could I not help after all that your family has done for us hivers!" said the bartender enthusiastically.
The girl, Eleanora, had a petite body, she had short almond colored hair that barely past her shoulders; her clothing seemed more elegant than the common Hiver garments and she also had a small golden necklace around her neck that she tried to hid under her dress. Eleanora started to look around her, she seemed worried, as if, she lost something important.
"Hey Coty do you know where Alexander went?" Eleanora asked.
"Not quite sure meself, the little bugger must 'ave run off somewhere." Coty answered.
"I hope he's not getting into any trouble." she, worryingly, said to herself.
I suddenly heard the door to the bar swing open behind me; Serina and I turned our heads slightly to the door.
It was a child, the same child that tried to steal my bag from me. He seemed frustrated; he had his hands in his pockets and stared at the ground with a sour look.
"Alexander just where in the world did you run off to?!" Said Eleanor as she quickly sprinted and kneeled down toward Alexander.
"Just look at yourself, covered in grime and dirt, don't tell you were pickpocketing again?" Eleanor said with a disconcerting look. Alexander swiped Eleanor's arm away from his face and said;
"Enough, alright; and why do you care where I've been!?"
"I'm your sister of course I care where you've been."
"I'm not little kid anymore so stop treating me as one!"
Alexander yelled at his sister, Eleanor; the whole bar went silent. Alexander walk towards to a stool near the bar and sat down, all the while pouting. Eleanor remained silent; at moments it seemed like she wanted to say something, she even took a breath but, nothing came out.
Suddenly the silence was broken as we heard the swinging door openly creaked behind us. "I know your bar is famous for being a hole in a wall Coty but, you can spruce up the place every once in awhile."
I turned my head sideways to see the person who came in; there were three young man. The man in the middle was hunched over a bit, he had his hands in his coat pockets and he seemed to have a holster but no weapon to speak of. His head and body were quite elongated with an evil grin upon his face. The man on the left was short and stubby; the way he walk seemed more like a waddle. The last man on the right was extremely tall and muscular; he had a cybernetic implanted arm that seemed old and rusted, probably more for show than strength.
"what do you want Grigori?! You know full well that you're not allowed in my bar!" said Coty with a snarling voice.
"That's Grigori Delavallade to you; and I hope you take great care to remember that!" Grigori said with a pompous voice.
"Besides I'm not here for you, I'm here for her." Grigori turned his head slightly and looked an Eleanora with sinister eyes.
"Eleanora you look as lovely as ever." he said while approaching towards Eleanora.
"And you look even more revolting than the last time I saw you." said Eleanora with a distasteful look.
"Ah you wound me but, that's beside the point; Have you reconsidered my offer?" said Grigori.
"Again with this; how many times do I have to tell you, my answers no and it will always be no!" Eleanora yelling carried throughout the bar.
"No?" Grigori's sinister smile turned sour. "No!" Grigori suddenly grab Eleanora's arms; Eleanora, frantically, tried to release herself from her restrainer all the while yelling;
"Let me go, I said let me go" but, no matter how much she struggled, she couldn't release herself.
"No one, and I mean no one, ever says 'No' to Grigori Delavallade!" Grigori tightened his grip on Eleanora's wrist. Alexander, Eleanora's brother, got up from his seat and started to yell at Grigori.
"Hey get away from my sister you pile of Grox manure!" Alexander started to hit Grigori but, his attempt to help his sister failed, as he was kicked away by Grigori as he yelled out;
"Hive trash!"
Eleanora cried out;
"Alexander!".
Grigori's attention return back to Eleanora;
"Listen here, you wench, I have been more than patient with you but, now it's run out!" said Grigori angrily threw his teeth. "Why do you keep refusing my offer? I plan to take you away from these filthy hivers into a life of luxury and comfort; Or," Grigori's anger turned back to a sinister smile. "perhaps, you enjoy the company of these worthless worms. Your father seemed to enjoy it as well."
Grigori's companions chuckled at his comment; my eye's left the situation occurring and started to scan the room. Many of the patron's had their head turned around others, look towards the ground or at their drinks. Even Coty did nothing to help Eleanora; all he did was just stand there with anger in his eyes.
Pathetic. I thought to myself.
I stood up from my seat and approached Grigori from behind; he didn't take notice until I grabbed his forearm. He turned his head immediately to look at me;
"Hu; the hell do you want, you asshole?!"
I answered his question;
"In all honesty I couldn't care less what you hivers do to each; but, that being said, it would be a travesty if you were to harm her."
I let out a small smirk.
"After all, how will she be able live if she can't play her beautiful music."
His hand slipped out of Eleanora's arms as I twisted his arm behind his back. He let out cry as he let go of Eleanora's other arm; before, he could react I let go of his arm and punched him square in the face sending him flying across the room. He fell on top of a table, where two men were sitting, and brought down the table to the floor with him. Grigori's two associates ran toward him;
"Boss!" they yell.
Eleanora was surprised from my sudden actions but, she regained her composer and said to me;
"T-Thank you." She did a slight bow while offering her thanks.
"Don't mention it." I replied.
Chatter, shock and surprised filled the bar, Eleanora rushed over to her brother;
"Alexander, are you alright?"
"Ya, sis, I'm alright." Alexander was covered in slight bruises; Serina cover her face in embarrassment. Grigori recovered from my attack, his associates were kneeled by his sides, Grigori's nose and mouth were bleeding. He spit out some blood from his mouth and spoke to me;
"You dare hit Grigori Delavallade, you damn Hiver trash!"
I sighed and shook my head. I raised up three fingers and said to him;
"There are three thing you need to know Mr. Delavallade, first of I'm no longer a Hiver, second you don't have to say your name over and over again and lastly yes, I do dare to hit you!"
Grigori growled and clenched his teeth at me, he turn his head over to the large man with cybernetics;
"Brook teach this fool a lesson!"
The man gave Grigori a sinister smile and stood up, he started to walk towards me;
"With pleasure boss!"
He held his hands together to create a single fist, he raised it above head and swung downward to strike me. I quickly sidestep from his attack while I unsheathing my cutlass, I immediately sliced both of his cybernetic arms during his swing; they flew high above to the bars ceiling before they landed back down. The brute stood there dazed and confused, he shook while looking at his now severed arms;
"M-my arms, my arms!" it was he could say.
Before he could react, I flipped my cutlass sideways so that the cutlass pointed downward, I sticked the brutes head with the guard sending an electric shock, he was out cold after my attack. I turned my head towards Grigori;
"Is that all you got." I said tauntingly.
Grigori was now shaking in his boots;
"B-Buck t-t-take him out!" he said to his short subordinate.
The small man was surprised at Grigori's request;
"But boss!"
"Do as I say you ingrate!" Yelled Grigori.
The small man unsheathed a small knife from his back, he stood and shook for a second before rushing towards me all the while screaming. I prepare to attack but, out of nowhere the short man was struck across the face by a bottle. The bottle smashed all over the short man's face, cutting him all over, dropping him towards the ground and leaving him unconscious. I turned my head to see my first officer, Lt. Serina, holding a now broken bottle;
"Thanks for the assistance lieutenant." I said while sheathing my cutlass.
"Not a problem Captain; but, I do which we sometimes go out to a bar without starting a fight." Serina said with a 'playful' displease look.
I smiled at her comment;
"Maybe you're just asking to much."
Our talk was interrupted by Grigori, who was now up on his feet;
"You, you bastards! You'll rue the day you've ever cross paths with Grigori Delavallade, I swear it!" He ran out of the bar leaving his underlings behind.
"Man was he a broken holotape or something." Said Serina.
"My thoughts exactly lieutenant." I answered.
Another voice interrupted us but, this time it was from Eleanora;
"Um; thank you for helping me and my brother, we really appreciated" she said timidly.
"It's no big deal, besides, it was payment for the beautiful music you play earlier." I said to her with a smile.
Once again, another voice interrupted another conversation of mine.
"Yes it's a big deal; don't you know who that was!" cried out the bartender Coty.
"By my guess, some lowly no name hive gang leader who thinks too much of himself." I answered.
"He's not just some punk kid; he's the leader of the largest gang in this planet and not only that, he's the planetary governor's son!" cried out Coty.
Serina and I were both taken back at what he just said. Serina buried her face in one of her hands;
"Oh Emperor, not again."
Coty looked surprised;
"What, again?"
I crossed my arms and smirked:
"Well how many times does this make it now, lieutenant?"
Still buried in her face, Serina answered;
"Twelve, exactly twelve."
All I could do was smirk;
"And here I thought this day would be boring."
← To Be Continued