Chapter II "Lucas Ashuman"
Nicolas Telbot, the CEO of the Nelos Banking Conglomerate was sitting at his desk enjoying the company of his Eldar guest, the pirate lord Lucas Ashuman, when the lockdown to the building was suddenly released.
"It looks as though the problem has been resolved," he said.
The two men were direct opposites. Nicolas Telbot was a portly fat slob stuffed into a red felt suit. He had a bad comb over which left the rest of his bald head shining like a bowling ball, a long waxed mustache, and smelled fittingly of bacon. Lucas Ashuman, on the other hand, was tall and thin, with long platinum blond hair, elegant, certainly attractive as a pirate lord. His one good blue eye scanned the room in annoyance. His other eye, it had been plucked out by a damned she-devil inquisitor two years ago. God, he loved that woman; unlike the fat basdaque he was being forced to endure right now.
There was sudden knocking at the door. Nicolas waved to one of his many servants, a man in a black tailor coat and knickers bowed slightly and walked slowly to the door. He approached the ornate double apertures and reached for the bronze handles. It was now that Lucas Ashuman's eyes shot open as he heard a whistling of the ancient Terran 1812 overture. He looked over his shoulder in slow motion as the butler touched the door handle. Then, the door exploded inward from a bomb killing everything within ten feet with wooden shrapnel. Nicolas Telbot ducked behind his desk cowering in fear. Lucas sat their humored, savoring what was coming, oh god did he love this woman.
"Hello darling," said Rin, walking through the blown apart door, past several wounded servants. She shot the ones still living in the head without remorse, smiling fondly, staring affectionately at the Eldar sitting in the brown leather chair in front of her.
"Hello Rin," he replied.
"Who, who, who are you?" stuttered Nicolas as he peeked over his desk.
"Ah, you must be the money laundering basdaque who's been handling this guy's money. Think fast," Nicolas blinked, flinched, shot in the face, fell backwards, dead.
Rin smiled, her body and face masked in the shadows. "Well… it's time to go Lucas… gotta get you back to prison where you belong."
The Eldar smiled, stood to his feet, and then got on his knees with his hands behind his back. In a matter of seconds the love of his life had handcuffed him and was marching him out past the door. The handcuffs brought back memories… memories that both of them were very much fond of.
Together they exited the bank; gawking citizens huddled together from the rain were held back by Adeptus Arbitus in blue leather armor and black trench coats. The mysterious physker now rejoined the group as Rin and Ashumen were loaded into a blue Rhino. The two passionate rivals sat at opposite sides within the back of the Rhino as the physker operated as a bridge between all three minds.
+Wow, it looks like you got the guy. Let's just hope that he doesn't escape again+
+Huh, I always escape. Sometimes I even get the better of you guys+
+Like on Revas?+
+Oh god, you had to bring up Revas+ he thought, smiling as he used a cuffed hand to polish his phantom eye.
+Oh please… that was your own fault you basdaque+
+HA! No big deal. You left your mark on me… and I left my mark on you+
Rin smiled fondly and her eyes softened. She had never forgotten the good old days chasing this man across the universe. That deadly game of cat and other cat? Always trading blows back and forth with the loser swearing in vengeance to win next time. You could only do that so long before 'other' emotions crept into the mix.
+You know… I'm going to miss this…+
He looked at her and also softened. They both sat crouched inside the Rhino as the treads rustled along the streets towards the local Precinct Fortress. Rain tapped gently along the metal plating of the armored vehicle as their minds continued to speak in private.
+Do you ever regret… Tanus+
The thought lingered between them for a long time.
+I regret…+ he started then stopped. They both looked at one another affectionately. Then he looked away sharply.
+I regret… nothing+
Rin swallowed a lump in her throat and released a baited breath sharply and satisfyingly. She looked at him and smiled harshly like a wild animal. Ashumen could never tell if this was Rin covering up her real emotions, or if she really was just plain deranged. Given all the insane things she had done over the years he leaned towards her simply being deranged.
The Eldar smiled again. Deranged? Like two peas in a pod, as the old Terran adage went. He was no better. Throne! They had that in common. Kindred souls when it came to sociopathic tendencies for mass destruction and flaunting the law.
Rin continued to look at him, smiling innocently like a child. Her face was jovial, not wolfish, rather soft and kind.
"You know," actually speaking, "When Adeptus Arbitus is finished with their 'Show Trial' I'm going to really enjoy your execution. I was thinking about volunteering to be the executioner. You know, long and painful… what do you think?"
Ashumen's right eye twitched as he looked at her smiling child like face, innocent, looking back at him. Yep, she was crazy, a serious screw loose, and god he loved it.