A Little Jazz to End the Day

[Void]

Ræ was sat alone, out in front of him Coruscant's skyline was just a jagged silhouette as the sun began to set on the far side of them. With his credits dwindling he was in desperate need of some kind of income before he had to potentially do something stupid.

It had been over a month since Vesper left with the ship, containing all of his possessions and there was no sign of him returning. Since their ordeal on Radnor and Metellos Ræ thought that he was able to trust him, that however seemed to have been a decision he was now beginning to regret deeply.

He got to his feet and began pacing back and forth the skyscraper's roof. He was completely lost in his thoughts.

 

[Gambler]

Another quiet evening, another lovely sunset. It was that time of night again, the time when the sun dropped just below the horizon, igniting a burst of colors across the sky. With the skyscrapers and innumerable speeders zooming by in the background, the scene was all the sweeter. The clouds were scattered across the sky, sucking in the light and holding shades of violet and darker magenta. Beautiful perfection, the kind that only nature could achieve. No artist could capture the exact tint of the cloud, how industrial smog wafted from towering skyscrapers, or the sheer intensity of the sun. Even with such livid features, a storm rested on the horizon.

"Take your life in hand," a man sighed, "and seize it by storm." He was neither a young nor old man. His face lacked the wrinkles of age while being bereft of the smooth angles of youth. Instead, the two merged, creating hard planes and emaciated cheeks, hollow eyes and a strong chin. Those eyes, sunken in on that hardened face, were the eyes of a killer. Striking blue pools that saw everything, taking in the scenery with a single glance. He carried himself with the sure step of a soldier, yet his frame lacked the sinew of man in such a profession.

He stared out at the horizon, a silent count falling from his lips. From where he stood he could see everything. Coruscant, in all her glory, stood before him. Skyscrapers were bared to his glance. Should he so desire, he could take the binoculars out of his coat pocket and hone in on the smallest detail. From his perch he could spy on the lonely pickpocket slouching towards the bar, ready to waste his stolen chit for the thrill of another deathstick, or the Senator hurrying towards his speeder, unconsciously brushing dust off his jacket as if the motion could similarly brush away his infidelity.

He smiled. Politics were a strange game in this day and age. His eyes saw all, even when he didn't wish to notice. It was his training, he decided, that made him this way. If he had stayed at home and followed his father into banking his life would be dramatically different. He would be a respectable businessman, or a lying cheat. He would be blissfully unaware of the going-ons behind the public eye. Most importantly, he would be alive.

That's right. He was a ghost, an angry spirit come back from the dead to haunt the galaxy at large. Such was wont of his ilk.

He shook his head. He had to focus on his mark. A quick glance through the binoculars showed him the exact situation that had played out for the past hour: the man paced across the roof of the skyscraper, paying no heed to the fading daylight. Back and forth, back and forth, the endless repetition was grating. Measured step after measured step brought him closer and closer to the edge, then he would turn and complete the circuit. Well, it was boring. Stake-outs were always boring. This was no exception.

"It's time," a hazy voice whispered into his ear. The crackling of static made it hard to understand, and the device that disguised the voice didn't make it any easier, but the order was unmistakable. About time. The cold was beginning to seep in, and all of this stationary stuff was killing him. "Move in." The repeat was unnecessary, he was already moving.

Belkov - yes, that was his name now - took the elevator down, exiting Skyline Industries within a few minutes. Then he began his ascent to the neighboring building. Ups always took longer than downs. The universal truth of the hiker. The same could be applied past hiking mountainous terrain, however, and going up an elevator to the top floor and then climbing a flight of stairs to the roof certainly fell into one such category. He was at the door, catching his breath, pausing for a moment before proceeding. A slow count of three, then the door clicked open.

"Good evening," he said. "Good evening, indeed." He showed no surprise at having found another person on the roof. On the contrary, his eyes betrayed satisfaction. His goal was half reached. A few more minutes and they could get to the fun stuff. This was the whole reason he joined. Times like this, when he could use every detail to his advantage, feel the rush of the chase, the excitement of almost being caught. Life or death, no matter. If he was caught, he was dead in any case. But that was besides the point. A quick mental shake focused him back on the situation at hand.

"You have style, R, enough to bring you the attention of a unique little group. Are you a devout man, R? Have you ever thought about making this world a better place?" His speech was bombastic for a reason. These precious few moments were always the best. The shock and awe, priceless. "If so, then tonight will bring you off the sidelines, out of the frying pan, and smack dab into the fire. I hope you are good with homeruns, R, or have a very good luck street. You're going to need it." He smiled, meeting the man's eyes with those hollow, searching orbs.

 

[Void]

Ræ's steps were silent, any possible sound would have drifted off into the night's sky and with every one his emotions shifted slightly. How could Vesper do that, it was not like him at all!

Something suddenly disrupted his rhythm and the steps sharply came to an end. It was him, Vesper, he had returned. His heart filled with hope as he turned on the spot to see his companion's white hair glistening as the final tiny slither of the sun was viable through the strands.

As Prime completed it's setting in the distance Ræ started to notice something different with Vesper, then as one of the building's night lights activated, reacting to the sudden lack of radiation colliding with a sensor or possibly even a well calibrated timer, it began bathing the two figures and the rooftop with artificial light but the man no longer resembled the one he waited for. Ræ was shocked at how his mind was able to twist what features he could see and convince himself that it was Vesper stood before him.

Ræ stood stunned as the man finished his introduction, before speaking. "Who are you?... Sorry... I thought for a moment... Don't worry." He felt muddled as he could almost feel as the hope slowly left him and continued to just stand there staring at the man as he was now unable to recall what had been said by either of them.

 

[Gambler]

Belkov pursed his lips. There was an unexpected turn, this might just turn out to be a little longer than he had expected. "You may call me Belkov, and, before you ask, it is not my real name." It was a haughty answer, delivered with the kind of self-assurance gained through experience. There was nothing factual about it, just pure arrogance. The question was, however, whether or not it was real. It was futile to try and guess, as he remained unreadable as ever, but speculation didn't require results. It was only natural, of course, for one to wonder and speculate when the answer was not readily available. In this grey area of confusion Belkov thrived. Keeping one's opponent on edge, not knowing what was going to happen next or if one's enemy was the true threat brought him a sort of rush.

Like an adrenaline junky out for his next dive, Belkov got his thrills through social manipulation at its finest. In the world of spies and spooks, one wrong move landed the offender six feet deep with none the wiser. The trickiest part of it all was that even when one managed to deliver a crippling blow to his unseen opponent, the results were never palpable. It was a game of cat and mouse played between mice, both of whom under the impression that the other was the cat. The subtle ingenuity gave him chills.

"I believe I said that today is your lucky day, R." His face never changed, even though his eyes seemed to smile. He might have missed his dramatic entrance, but the absentmindedness of his mark might well ensure some more entertainment along the way. The fading light only enhanced the dramatic effect. Perfect for this sort of this. "Or something like that. Maybe I said that you'll need a great deal of luck. Both are true. Today is your lucky day, but to survive it you're going to need more luck than you've ever had. That sounds about right," he said.

"We're looking for men and women with a very particular skill set, and it just so happens that you are one such man. Take pride in what you are, Ræ, because no one is going to do it for you." It was hard to tell, through the gauzy light, whether or not his expression softened with those words. "Nevertheless, I have an offer for you, one that you cannot possibly reject."

 

[Void]

"The thought of being watched is not very encouraging," Ræ made sure to take in each and every one of the words spoken before him this time round as to not look such a fool. If this man was putting forward a legitimated proposal then he would have to pay close attention but then again even if it wasn't he would have gone along with whatever the man asked of him, he had now become that needy. "If you are who you say you are then you have come just at the right time, I should also not have to explain why if you have been watching , unless... you are just the messenger. Who is the 'we' you are speaking of?"

Ræ was unsure of how to perceive the man and he had potentially just put forwards a threat when he spoke about surviving the day or he had a challenge to put forward.

 

[Gambler]

Belkov smiled.

The night was young, and the sun was low, yet his mark was already within his grasp. These recruitment jobs were almost too easy. A few coy words here, a shrewd smile there, and the mark is on the edge of his seat. Not a challenge whatsoever. One of these days he was going to have to make something more exciting up. What he had so far was dramatic to say the least, but it didn't set off those warning lights in anyone's head. Just a little curiosity and perhaps a hint of confusion. Oh well, it would have to do, for now. But really, he should have come up with something new this time. The spiel was getting old.

"We are shadows, ghosts brought back from the grave in order to serve a higher purpose. Even if I told you our name you wouldn't recognize it, so there is no point in filling you in now. There will be plenty of time for that later." He walked over to the edge of the skyscraper, looking down at the streets below. Leaning on the rail, he let out a heavy sigh. The game was almost over and he still hadn't had his fun. Once Ræ accepted, the rest of it would be out of his hands.

"It's cold up here, Ræ, so make it quick. Walk away now, or take the job of your life. I don't feel like staying up here all night playing twenty questions with you. Say 'yes' and you'll be filled in. Say 'no' and you will never see us again. I will warn you, however, that if the answer is no you will be watched. Try and find out who we are..." he trailed off. Threats were more potent when left to the imagination. He shook his head, emphasizing the unspoken threat. "Suffice to say, it will not be pleasant." A few more minutes and it would be full dark. Lamplight filled the streets below, the timers switching the streetlights on like clockwork. Belkov's finger twitched near his pocket, his impatience almost visible.

 

[Void]

((Looks like he will be redpilling it.))

Ræ thought about his options for only a second before turning from the man and walking towards the door leading off of the roof. "Yes." The door shot up and out of sight as he approatched. "I will see you on the ground floor after going to my room. Unless you say other wise."

As he walked the corridor towards his and Vesper rooms he was unsure if he had made the right choice. He graded what little items he had and kicked in the door to Vesper's room. Inside was nothing he had planes not to return to this hotel. Ræ saddened by his so called friends actions left the room and headed to meet the man and begin the job of his life.