When things go bump in the night
I own nothing except OC's: Warhammer 40k belongs to Games Workshop.
Undercrofts of House Heidheim spires
"My lord I know we have opened up all this space and have room to expand, but we don't have the men!" The poor adept with his notes and ledgers said, trying to keep up with the energetic power walk of Yokar.
"You mean to tell me that all the work I spent acquiring, moving the mechanicus facilities, and renovating building 1246 just to have you lot lagging behind like a paralyzed puppy?" Yokar asked, not bothering to look at the adept as he made his way into the central command room.
"Sir I don't see where we get the men to fill out the ranks. Not without people becoming suspicious…" The adept said before being cut off.
"This hive alone has 30 billion people. I don't care where you have to dredge them up, find them, break them, and train them!" Yokar roared, and with a bow the terrified adept ran off.
He panted after that and looked around. All around him everyone stopped their work and was staring, till they saw him looking at them and snapped back to work. With a massive sigh Yokar sat down in the chair nearest him hard. The introduction of Darius into the mix had made things difficult. He was no longer the smartest of his family. He could not have that. However, he was still extracting good ideas from him. Time was to tell how much longer he would put up with it.
"Your Recaf sir." Turas said as he put a platter and poured him a cup of the caffeinated beverage.
"What agents do we have available for an assassination?" Yokar asked, not even looking at Turas.
"Who has incurred your wrath this time master?" Turas asked unphased.
"My 'little brother' Darius." Yokar spat out with venom.
"Are you sure killing an officer of the imperial navy is such a wise move? You're actively going against the imperium directly, not some planetary noble." Turas asked, eyebrow raised.
"He is an active threat. He can come up with brilliant plans on a glance. He could discover us out if he saw something off." Yokar said with surprising change in energy.
"I will not deny that is true. However, all our agents and contacts are full up at the moment with the refurbishment and acquisition of both Building 1246 and additional undercrofts of the spires." Turas explained.
As the ever-trusty butler left, Yokar was left with this quandary. As much as he wanted to rant and rave about it, that would not change that fact. In his drive for expansion and to push his eventual plans into high gear, he had ultimately opened himself up to a situation like this. The fact it did not happen sooner was honestly a miracle, but now he was as potentially exposed as ever. If he could not do it internally, then he would have to shop around for an external source.
One of the greatest advantages of a hive is its people. Literally billions upon billions stacked one on top of the other in a mountain of permacrete and steel. In the harsh and unforgiving world, they call home, it breeds an equally harsh, unforgiving, and downright brutal kind of people. Each hive worlder is a hardened survivor, adept at navigating the labyrinthian inner workings of its monumental works, and adept at utilizing basic melee and firearms to defend themselves. However, a mere hive ganger was not going to deal with Darius, who is guarded by house guards 24/7, he would need trained killers.
Yokar donned his heavy hive trench coat and boots and headed off to where he thought he could find what he was looking for. Like he had grown up in the winding, grimy back alleys of the lower noble spires, he headed for the holdings of one of the most secretive and dangerous houses of all. House Vextus. Occupying the lowest levels of the spires, they acted as the gatekeepers of high society. Secretive, silent, and cunning, they knew more about many noblemen than they knew themselves. Yokar knew their services would come at a steep price, but it was a price he was willing to pay as he walked up to the Greenwater Amasec house.
"No funny business now." The bouncer said as Yokar walked in.
"Since when has that stopped me." Yokar answered as he made his way towards the back rooms.
The backrooms were spacious, but dimly lit as many half circle cushioned tables ringed the place, as beautiful courtesans and performers danced in the center. Yokar looked around carefully, trying to find what he was looking for. After a minute of searching, he found a table with a single woman wearing tight fitting clothing, and a distinctive silver skull iconography on her. A member of one of the myriad death cults on the planet. With a smirk he walked over and slid into the table sitting cross from her.
"May I help you?" The woman asked coldly.
"If you are a dealer in death, then yes." Yokar answered after ordering a drink.
"What kind of a death do you seek?" The woman asked, raising a curious eyebrow.
"The death of a sibling of mine that is causing me problems." Yokar explained, keeping details close to his chest for now.
"It is rare for someone such as yourself of noble birth to require my peoples services." She said bluntly, sipping her drink, and stunning Yokar.
"Due to recent events my assets are busy with other projects. Hence why I require outside help." Yokar continued.
"What is the target?" She asked, now clearly curious.
"Darius Heidheim, imperial navy officer, guest room 252 in the Heidheim estate spire 3." Yokar answered.
"You clearly are very ambitious, or very foolish." She said simply, looking at Yokar like he has gone made. Whether that is actually true or not is up to interpretation.
"I assure you that you will be properly compensated for it." Yokar said simply.
"Prove it." She answered curtly.
Yokar sighed and unfurled his coat a bit. He then pulled out a badge from his clothing, that of House Heidheim. Its platinum frame was pressed into a roaring horned dragon head, the main symbol of the clan's head echelons. Any doubt or suspicion from the woman melted away into surprise and stunned silence. She now realized the kind of company that was in her presence.
"Does this provide you with enough proof?" Yokar asked, and the woman answered with a stunned nod.
"We will require an entire team for this job of some of our finest members. That will not come cheap." She answered finally.
"Money is no object for me. Set the price and it will be delivered. What I want to know is any other extenuating prices your kind will set." Yokar said, trying to fish for what she is hiding.
"I want 2 favors from you that my cult can call upon." She said sternly.
"What kind of favors?" Yokar asked.
"We do a job for you; you do some jobs for us." She spoke.
"What kind of jobs?" Yokar asked again, raising an eyebrow at her boldness.
"You want us to take out a rival, then we wish you to take out some of our own." She replied.
"Send me the contract and we will go from there. For now, I will send you a retaining fee. 1 million thrones sound fair?" Yokar asked.
"That will be more than sufficient as a retainer." She answered.
"Have a good evening then." Yokar answered as he got up and left the table.
"Have a good chat over there mi lord?" The bartender asked.
"Yes. Make sure no one finds out." Yokar answered.
"But of course, boss, have a good day." The Bartender said with a smile as he passed on that order to the rest of the staff.
As some of the less reputable people in the back room were being "removed" Yokar walked out into the streets. He was not the keenest on getting into a grudge war with a bunch of death cults, but that was more preferable than letting Darius run around any longer. He needed to end him now, and make sure he had as few loose ends around the spires as possible. It was better to deal with the death cults, of whom no one would believe if they told them about him, or Darius, a bastard of noble birth and an imperial officer. Between those two, he knew exactly which one he could live with.
Yokar's office, the next morning
Yokar and some of his adepts read over the contract with a fine-tooth comb. As far as they went it was fairly simple. Several million imperial thrones, the two favors of which to be called at a minimum of a month's later date, and parameters for retaining their services. Most nobles would scoff at dealing with such low lives directly, but Yokar has already sullied his hands with far worse. As he signed the paper, he only dreaded the situations he potentially he had put his limited combat forces into. Dealing with hive scum is one thing, dealing with trained assassins in their home turf is another.
"Boy, deliver this to them. Coordinates will be given. Do not let anyone get ahold of that other than that specific cult or die trying." Yokar ordered a teenage boy runner.
"Y-Yes sir…" The boy said nervously.
"Do not be scared of them boy. If they harm you, they have me to answer to." Yokar said, putting a hand on his shoulder to try and reassure him.
Lower quarters, approaching borders of the underhive
The poor runner, Z111, gulped as his pale grey eyes darted about, looking for any sign of trouble. He took the mass transit down, but in order to reach the coordinates on this level he had to cut through leagues of gang riddled territory. He was getting close to the coordinates when he took the wrong turn, and found himself in a alley with two autogun wielding gangers. At first they did not notice him, but when they did, they found Z111 frozen in fear.
"Well, well well, look what we have here." The first ganger said with a smirk, putting out the stump of his lho stick in the wall.
"Looks to me like a little runner with a package." The other said as the first grabbed Z111 by the shirt and lifted him up.
"Let me go, that is not yours!" He said as he tried to struggle.
"Shut up you little shit! You think we care?! Now let us see what you got…" The ganger said has he punched the teen, then reached for the container before getting a hole punched in his hand.
"What the fuck!?" His friend said and he wheeled around, only to have a mono-knife thrown into his skull, killing him instantly.
The one that had a hole put in his hand tried to reach for his slung gun but was not fast enough as a long and very sharp blade was put through his chest. This caused the now corpse of the ganger to fall into the hard alley floor. Z111 looked up to see a cloaked figure sheath a sword and pick up the knife they threw. They then turned to look at him.
"Fear not child, I am not here to hurt you. If I were, you would have been dead a league ago." The figure said coldly.
"A-Are you…" Z111 tried to ask before he was cut off.
"Yes. Now come with me." They answered, flashing the symbol Yokar was shown to him, and helped him inside a building.
The building, an old warehouse, was very spacious, but filled with various religious symbols, shrines, and training pits. The sounds of hymns and clashing blades were heard throughout. Many hooded and robe wearing individuals looked on as Z111 was brought to the very same woman Yokar met at the Amasec house.
"We have been expecting you Z111." She spoke.
"How do you…" He tried to ask, but the woman put her finger gently on his lips.
"Relax child. We knew you were coming. Now I believe you have something for me?" She asked with a small smile.
With a nod of his head, Z111 presented the scroll container to her. Taking it from his gently, she pulled out the contract and read it over, smiling as she saw that he signed it. Handing it to a servant, she looked down at the teen.
"You've had a long journey. With night falling now it will be too dangerous for you to head out. We have arrangements for you." She said kindly.
"T-thank you lady…" Z111 tried to say, but he was cut off again.
"I am Headmistress Amelia. And no thanks are necessary. Now if you will excuse me, I must prepare." She said before leading, a smile on her face.
Z111 did not say anything more as he was led further into the building by servants. However, a cold shiver went down his spine. He did not quite know if it was the cold of the approaching artificial night, or if it was that grim business was afoot.