Chapter 23: A Dangerous Bargain (Edits)
Roman had just gotten out of the bath in a clean robe with a glass of Death Stalker Fire Whiskey in his hand. Even the pumpkin-spiced scented candles, which were supposed to relax him, did nothing to improve his mood.
Roman was struggling with conflicting emotions, feeling torn between blaming either Qrow or the kid for their respective actions. On one hand, Qrow had carelessly caused a significant stain on Roman's coat, a garment of great personal value, which was now being attended to by his trusted associates. On the other hand, the kid's audacity in attempting to invade Roman's personal thoughts had left them feeling violated and disrespected, fueling his anger towards the youngster.
He really didn't want things to go that way, blood was always such an unpleasant thing, but he hadn't made himself the undisputed kingpin of the underworld by being soft. Off to the side, he saw Neo playing darts with a picture of Jacen, who already had several darts in him.
He still had a bit more information regarding what Jacen could actually do.
According to Neo's account of her altercation with Jacen, it appeared that the Jedi followed a certain code of ethics when it came to taking a life. However, Roman couldn't help but notice the unmistakable look of someone who has had prior experience with killing in Jacen's eyes.
Then there was this Separatist who gave the White Fang members at the Black Citadel those droids.
Roman hadn't heard anything about that from his contacts in the White Fang, though given the White Fang's recent reputation, they were probably dead. The only name Roman had heard was the name Axis. Rather pretentious name now that Roman thought about it.
Despite his skepticism, Roman found himself agreeing with Jacen's assessment of the so-called Separatist - they seemed like the type to manipulate unsuspecting individuals like Roman into serving as their pawn or, more likely, a scapegoat for their own nefarious purposes. Roman couldn't help but feel uneasy at the thought of being used in such a way, and he resolved to keep his guard up around anyone who seemed too eager to enlist his help.
Roman Torchwick was not subservient to anyone; he followed his own rules, and his foremost principle was to be excellent at lying, stealing, cheating, and surviving.
Roman expressed his disappointment in the fact that his men, who had been assigned to explore the ruins of the Black Citadel, had only returned with the damaged equipment and uniforms of the White Fang members and an unidentified blade. He believed that salvaging one of the droids could have yielded better results.
Roman had heard rumors within the White Fang that the droids in question were more advanced than the Atlesian Knights, which were usually used for military purposes. It was clear that Axis, whose gender was unknown, didn't want anyone else to discover what was happening.
Yet, all wasn't completely lost; while Roman couldn't get his hands on even a damaged droid, there was a silver lining that came up recently.
His men discovered something interesting along with the mysterious blade, and Roman returned with at least one of the so-called cortosis blades. However, Jacen and the meddlesome huntsman Qrow absconded with the other one.
Jacen hinted that wherever he was from, cortosis was very valuable. That sounded like something Roman could capitalize, that is, once he found out why it was so important that Jacen was neglecting to mention it.
Roman understood the importance of patience, particularly when it came to making a profit. However, he couldn't help but feel a sense of regret that Jacen chose to act like a heroic noble instead of utilizing his exceptional abilities for other purposes.
What good was being a hero when Avantine lay on the bed, emaciated, pale, and wasting away? The world had a certain order of things. One either stayed at the top or became food for those who lived at the top.
Grabbing his hat, he lit his cigar and went into the back to change. It was time to see what exactly his men discovered and if it might be just as promising as whatever Atlas had under tight wraps.
Neo had been sour over the entire ordeal. She'd hoped she'd be able to get the drop on that Jedi, but he kept using that power of his.
Most people didn't even realize she was using her semblance until they were already dead. Yet, Jacen was able to predict nearly every move she made.
The events that occurred left a lasting impression on her. The sheer brutality of the act was nothing short of shocking. It was difficult to imagine what he would be capable of if he didn't have some form of moral compass guiding him. The memory of him flinging her across the room and crashing into the shelves of Junior's liquor collection was still vivid in her mind. She cared deeply for Roman but found herself in situations where she had to intervene and extricate him from trouble. One such instance was the time they had to navigate their way out of a terrible mess at Junior's club.
Neo observed the blade that Roman was using to interrogate Jacen. He wondered what made this blade special. Jacen had mentioned that it was crafted from cortosis, a material Neo was unfamiliar with. To Neo, it looked like an ordinary blade.
She turned her head when she heard Roman, now in one of his suits with his hat and cane, motioning for her to bring the blade with them. While she couldn't talk, Neo could communicate in an alternate way.
- "What are we doing with this sword?" Neo signed.
"Bringing it with us to our storage areas," Roman said.
"I want to see what exactly my men discovered a while back."
Neo gave a silent sigh, grabbed the sword and her parasol, then followed Roman out the door.
The woman in charge of the storage room, whom Roman appointed, waited for him at the front entrance. She was dressed in a Mistralian style outfit with a high collar, and the dress covered her legs except for the area where her pants met her shoes.
Her black hair was cut short with the bangs being symmetrical on both sides and she often wore black glasses that reflected one's image. She made sure that Roman's interests in Mistral were running smoothly and if not, she'd made it plain what happened if someone proved incompetent.
She was equally a deadly assassin in addition to being a severe supervisor. She laid a hand on the black lotus flower pinned to her chest, which was also where she got her sobriquet.
She had a few of her bodyguards with her to greet Roman when he finally arrived in one of his cars. Roman still cut a very charming and handsome air about him in addition to that confidence which always left an impression.
As she caught a glimpse of Neo strolling alongside him, she suppressed a grimace. Though she never revealed it, she couldn't help but feel envious of the special treatment Neo received. While she was stuck in Mistral, attending to Roman's every need, Neo was always by his side.
"Good evening, sir," she said, her voice in a professional tone as she gave him a respectful bow.
"Ah my dearest Black Lotus, I hope our men were able to discover what exactly we've uncovered," Roman said, giving a tip of his hat toward her.
"It has proven difficult, but they were finally able to get it opened sir," she said, motioning to her escort and entering the storage area.
As they entered the room, Roman saw that it was filled with numerous crates and boxes. These containers held a significant portion of Roman's personal collection, and he was immediately intrigued. As they approached the center of the room, they saw a team of people working on a large metal crate. The crate was unlike anything Roman or his associates had ever seen, even compared to the crates that contained the refined dust acquired from the Schnee Dust Company.
She fixed one of the men who'd been trying to crack the unfamiliar lock on the crate, and the man stiffened when he saw both of them.
"B-boss," the man said nervously.
Roman interrupted the woman just as she was about to scold him by raising his hand.
"No need to be nervous," Roman said with his customary gentleman's voice.
She stood back as Roman placed a reassuring arm over the man's shoulder.
"At least tell me that you've managed to find a way to open this thing," Roman said.
The apprehensive worker nodded his head in agreement as Roman trailed behind him to one side of the crate. Roman could clearly see that the material this thing was made of was not a common alloy infused with dust. A part of him suspected that Jacen might have been correct all along, that the Separatists might have stolen something that Atlas was tasked to protect.
"This crate doesn't seem to match anything that Atlas usually creates," he thought.
The information he'd received regarding what occurred before the Black Citadel was destroyed wasn't very illuminating. He'd hoped his men would at least have found something else other than the so-called cortosis blade like those alleged droids.
Roman crossed his arms as the worker finally managed to pry open a panel, revealing the contents inside. Neo stepped back since her short height didn't allow her to see what was inside. They were expecting to find whatever Atlas and the Separatist had been working on, but what they found was not what they had expected. The compartment contained an array of unfamiliar weapons, neatly arranged by size, ranging from what looked like a type of sniper rifle to handguns.
"These don't match anything Atlas has ever created," Roman said as he picked up one of the handguns which he appraised
One thing he didn't see was any indication of a cartridge or any dust canisters.
How was anyone supposed to use this? There was one way to find out.
He quickly shifted his gaze towards a crate that was some distance away, and without delay, he pulled the trigger of his gun. However, to his surprise, the sound of the shot was not the typical bang that guns produce. Instead, a bright reddish bolt of energy burst out from the barrel, hitting the crate with exceptional accuracy. The impact of the bolt was so intense that the crate exploded into a dazzling burst of light.
Roman's eyes widened in shock as he gazed at the firearm that he held. Black Lotus and Neo's attention, however, was fixed on the crate that Roman had struck moments earlier - the wooden structure now blazing with flames.
This wasn't the standard for even the most top-of-the-line sidearm for the average Atlesian soldier, and this was only a handgun.
Off to the side, he saw Neo signing at him about what the other weapons inside might do.
Roman grinned at the possibilities, and Black Lotus gave him an inquisitive look.
"This is definitely military grade," Roman said as he appraised the rest of the weapons.
Unfamiliar or not, Roman could recognize a military arsenal.
-What about that lightsaber thing that the Jedi brat uses?- Neo signed to Roman.
Roman thought deeply about Neo's question. Jacen had implied that cortosis had some hidden value. Roman closed his eyes and tried to imagine the person who previously owned the cortosis blade that Jacen fought against. He wondered if the cortosis impregnated into the blade made it capable of blocking a lightsaber. Roman frowned, Neo's parasol had stopped it, but Roman suspected that had more to do with Neo's aura. Roman hated struggling to assemble puzzles like this, especially when it might lead him to the mother load.
"You," Roman said to the nervous lock picker.
The man jumped when Roman addressed him. Roman motioned him over and handed the nervous lock picker the cortosis blade.
"Stand over there with that blade held in a guarded position," Roman said, pointing at Neo, who was miming one of Jacen's fighting positions.
The lock picker hesitantly did as Roman instructed, standing in the position Neo had mimicked. Then he aimed the gun in the man's direction.
"Sir!?" The man said with shock.
"If that blade is as extraordinary as that Jedi kid hinted they were, you might not have anything to worry about," Roman said.
Sure, Roman aimed for the blade, but the lock picker was shaking so much that he was likely to be shot by the energy bolt. Well, you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs.
Roman fired the energy bolt, which hit the cortosis blade. However, rather than the man being shot, the lock picker was sent flying into Neo, who was standing out of the way.
Roman gave a suddenly satisfied grin, though Neo looked at him grumpily.
"Now it all comes together," Roman said, giving Neo a hand before looking at the blade.
As Roman observed the aftermath of his blaster bolt hitting the cortosis, he noticed that instead of leaving a white hot spot, it had created a unique starburst pattern before completely dissipating. The energy dissipation was impressive, and it piqued Roman's curiosity about the nature of cortosis.
He wondered what properties it possessed that might affect Jacen's lightsaber, considering that both the energy blade and Roman's blaster bolt seemed to be of the same quality. This thought stayed with him, and he made a mental note to test his theory the next time he encountered the Jedi.
Neo was studying the unfamiliar weaponry Roman had taken from the large metal crate and placed it into a neat assortment. She didn't understand the appeal Roman saw with these weapons; they didn't appear to have dust canisters, which was what all the other weapons she and Roman sold or gave to their associates were.
Then there was another thing that was nagging her in the back of her mind. Where did these advanced new weapons come from?
From how they fired a bolt of pure energy, firing red energy bolts, it seemed like the bolts matched the characteristics of that Jedi's lightsaber. Neo hated struggling to put pieces of puzzles together, and Roman wasn't sharing what Jacen had hinted before when he spoke of cortosis.
She picked up the aforementioned cortosis blade, remembering Roman's test and how the energy from the bolt he fired made the energy dissipate on contact. Therefore Neo could see the potential of using it in armor, but what was it about cortosis that Jacen was reluctant to share?
She studied the cortosis blade, which Roman also allowed Neo to keep, and she could see why Jacen was reluctant to discuss cortosis.
Despite their attempts to neutralize Jacen's lightsaber, he still possessed an unusual power. Roman was urged to investigate this power even before the confrontation at Junior's location. Hadn't that young Jedi referred to it as the Force?
Roman had contacted all of the bookworms and philosophers he knew, but none of them could provide any insight into the Force. Neo was concerned that Roman was starting from scratch. Jacen had access to the Force, which gave him an advantage until they could figure out how to deal with it or unless he abandoned his moral obligations.
The Force was much more powerful than a mere appearance. Neo spun the cortosis blade before turning to Roman, who was giving orders to collect and distribute containers similar to the one in the storehouse to select members of his network. Roman dismissed Black Lotus before he and Neo were alone.
-Say we actually have a way to counter that punk's lightsaber; what about that power of his?- Neo signed.
"One problem at a time, Neo," Roman said.
"Surely, if there's a way to nullify Jacen's fancy weapon, there must be something to counter even that odd power of his."
Neo hoped that Roman was right and that Jacen would finally be removed from their operations. However, Roman himself probably didn't know the source of the weapons.
Roman tended to be meticulous in finding out every detail he could, and Neo hated struggling to assemble puzzles.
-Do you know where these weapons even came from?- Neo signed.
To her frustration, Roman shook his head.
"It must be reasonable to assume that it came from this so-called Separatist Jacen mentioned," Roman said. "One doesn't simply leave stuff like this lying around."
Neo looked at the box and noticed it was marked with a sigil she didn't recognize. It definitely wasn't the familiar snowflake sigil which marked items belonging to the Schnee Dust Company. It was in the shape of a hexagon, not especially elaborate, but there was something purposeful in the design.
Roman took a puff from his cigar as he spoke. "It's getting stranger every day. First, a Jedi shows up. Then, someone who claims to be a Separatist appears out of nowhere. And now, we've got mysterious individuals leaving behind large sums of money in exchange for these new, unknown weapons. Who knows what's really going on around here?"
-What if they're something worse?- Neo signed.
Roman exhaled some smoke as Neo continued signing.
-What if Jacen was telling the truth about Separatists, and these weapons belong to whoever or whatever this Separatist is?- Neo finished.
"Let me explain this in detail," Roman offered. "When Jacen used that term, he was suggesting that the person he mentioned had seceded from an existing government and formed their own independent state. Moreover, Jacen talked about a war, but based on the available evidence, there is no mention of a Jedi or a group of Jedi participating in the Great War, unless there has been some misinformation."
Neo reminisced about her time as Roman's apprentice. During her studies, she came across several accounts of countries rising, seceding, or being created during the Great War. However, she could not recall any use of the term "Separatist," nor did she come across any information about the laser weapons that Roman now possessed. Furthermore, she was certain that there was no mention of the word "Jedi" in the historical records she had studied.
Roman inhaled more cigar smoke than Neo saw him contemplate what Jacen hinted about the Separatist.
-Do you think this Separatist has a way of countering Jacen?- she signed.
Roman's smile showed she was on the right track but hadn't reached the main point.
-They might have a way to counter Jacen AND these weapons Roman,- Neo signed.
Roman exhaled more cigar smoke, grinning, and Neo figured Roman had already reached that point.
-You knew the Separatist might have a way of dealing with Jacen didn't you?- Neo signed, accusing Roman.
Roman nodded, and Neo frowned. Why didn't Roman share that particular point earlier?
-Then why not find this Separatist first, then use whatever they might have to deal Jacen a fatal blow,- Neo signed.
"I had thought about that, but why just seek out this Separatist when we could potentially find whoever these weapons came from and take advantage of both to rid us of Jacen?" Roman pointed out.
Neo hadn't thought about that possibility, and Roman took Neo gently by the chin.
"I'm not sure what happened during Jacen's fight at the Black Citadel, but I have a feeling he'll be looking for whoever created this," Roman said, holding up the cortosis blade.
"Why not keep up the element of surprise?" Roman asked.
Neo looked puzzled, -What do you mean?- she signed.
Roman suggested that Jacen may not be aware of the weapons they had discovered, and instead, he might be focusing on finding the Separatist he had mentioned earlier. Therefore, if they want to know who Jacen is searching for and what the Separatist is giving to Atlas, they should use Jacen to gather information.
Neo smiled, realizing what Roman was saying. Use Jacen to lead them to this Separatist.
Meanwhile, Roman would have his network find rumors of who might be leaving these weapons caches for them to discover.
Roman's eye fell upon a smaller container beside the opened weapon crate.
"What about this?" Roman asked, pointing at the container, which resembled a suitcase, with his cane.
Black Lotus took a confident step forward towards the case that lay before her. With a steady hand, she reached out and picked it up, feeling the weight of the container in her grasp. Slowly, Roman unlatched the case and lifted the lid with a sense of anticipation. As he peered inside, he could see a series of small containers nestled snugly inside, each one bearing a striking resemblance to the ones he had used during his ill-fated dust robbery the night he ran into Little Red. However, upon closer inspection, it became clear that the contents of these containers were very different from the dust he had been after.
Roman carefully examined the contents of the small jar and noticed that the substance was a powdery golden-orange color. As he leaned closer, he detected a rather strong fragrance emanating from it. The scent was intriguing, but not like one might pick up from a flower. It had a distinct, almost spicy quality to it that he couldn't quite place. Despite his curiosity, Roman couldn't help but feel a bit wary. Surely this couldn't be what he thought it was.
"I have a hunch that this is some variety of narcotic, but I can have it analyzed," Black Lotus said.
Roman was in complete agreement with what was being discussed. As a prominent figure in Remnant's criminal underworld, he had established connections with various cartels in Vacuo who specialized in smuggling drugs and other illegal substances. However, he was well aware of the dangers of distributing a newly discovered substance without fully understanding its effects.
Despite all the power and influence he had gained in his criminal empire, the cartels remained a source of great resentment for Roman. The drug trade was a strictly regulated business, and he had to resort to making several deadly examples to ensure that the Vacuo cartels remained compliant with his expectations.
"I want this stuff thoroughly examined," Roman ordered, with as much emphasis on "thorough" to get his point across.
Black Lotus nodded, closed the case then issued orders to load up the awaiting vehicles.
As Roman watched the last of the trucks leave, he contemplated something he'd never thought of in years. Jacen's words about Avantine rang into his mind.
Who would ever guess that the notorious Roman Torchwick, a name that still sends shivers down the spines of many, was once just a young farm boy named Remus Brunswick? His father's aspirations for their secluded farm in the middle of nowhere were lost on him. Avantine, a person of great significance to Remus, was no longer with him, just like everyone else from his past.
Even though Roman had Neo, his long-time partner, he had never opened up to her about Avantine, as it brought back too many painful memories that he had buried deep inside. He had shut the door on his past, and he wanted it to remain that way. The fact that Jacen had so casually pried into his past had angered Roman deeply.
Roman Torchwick was a different person now, and Remus Brunswick was nothing but a distant memory. Jacen's actions had stirred up unwanted emotions, and Roman was determined to make him pay for digging up his past.
Jacen was the most intriguing thing Roman had ever come across. Lately, he had been followed by droids that some of his connections within the White Fang mentioned. Furthermore, his men were discovering similar caches of new weaponry, which appeared to match those used by the droids provided by Axis. Although obtaining one of those droids would have been a more valuable prize, Roman knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Roman was concerned by the discovery of a new narcotic that was found in the remains of the Black Citadel. He suspected that the White Fang was using the drug to make their prisoners docile and obedient to any order given to them. He wondered if Axis, who allegedly supplied the Fang with droids, had also provided them with this new drug.
Despite feeling annoyed and angry about the kid's intrusion into his mind and the kid's interference with some of his other tasks, Roman still held a certain level of respect for Jacen's apparent proficiency as a warrior and strategist. However, Roman wished that Jacen was not held back by his delusional belief in heroism and morality, which ironically proved advantageous in some aspects.
He turned toward Neo, who was twirling her parasol. Jacen had used that Force power of his to toss Neo into Junior's liquor shelves in the back of the bar. If Jacen wanted, he could actually have done far worse.
The idea of the Jedi, their extraordinary abilities through the Force, and the iconic lightsabers they wielded were so novel that it seemed like a legend or a fairy tale about mighty warriors or even magic. Considering this, it begs the question - who would have more knowledge about the Jedi? Is it the Separatist leader who supplied the White Fang with caches of sophisticated weaponry or could someone else know?
It is intriguing to note that Jacen's existence seems improbable based on the lack of any birth certificates. Additionally, his name did not conform to the typical naming convention for individuals born after the Great War in Remnant. This raised questions about the origins of this peculiar Jedi and who might be searching for him, as he appears to be evading discovery.
End