Logbook entry

The Cost of War (part 2)

       Ugh, is that cognac I smell?  My vision starts to clear and sounds become less muffled as I lift my head to shake off the grogginess.  Looks like I'm on the bridge of the Corvette.  How did I get here?  The thought eats at me as I try to soak up as much visual information as possible.  My HUD should tell- My helmet has been taken off!  Another realization that I'm not liking.  Add the fact that my arms are bound behind me and tied to the wall... I'm having a grand 'ol time.

       "Space-Christ!  You snore like a drunken Space-Hobo, David." Noxa's voice sounded from across the hall.  Space-Christ... 'stay calm' and space-hobo is 'poor situation'.  He's warning me about the situation.  David is my name designation on missions, everyone always said I looked like a David so it stuck.

       "I get it.  We're in space." I replay snarkley.  Understood.   He didn't need to say anything more.  We were disarmed and bound, probably going to get tortured as well.  Looks like Noxa had been roughed up a little.  Blood dribbled down his chin and his left eye was swollen.  Still has that shit-eating grin though.  He probably cocked off a bit to our captors.

       I can see four guards, two at the lift door and two on the bridge on either side of the hallway opening.  There are two navigators in the outer seats, ladies that were probably great at their job but were chosen for eye candy.  I'd lay down money that Noxa's been making kissy-faces to them and trying to ask them out to a fancy dinner.  I can see the ship's Commander in the pilot seat at the front looking out into space and holding my HF blade is in his hands.  He's looking at the blade wonderingly, like he had found a grand treasure.

       There's a man standing in front of the center pillar, medium build from what I can see.  This person seems to be holding a fancy cane with his left hand.  He clearly isn't using it for support, it's more than likely a fancy discipline stick that the rich use on the lower class.  I can't see anymore detail from where I am but I know who it is...

       "Douglas Drumpè."

       Douglas peeks over his shoulder and looks as me with a big smile full of arrogance.

       "Ah, our noisey guest has awakened." he says smugly  "Come Commander, let us greet our new guest."

       The Commander gets out of his chair and rests my sword on his shoulder as he follows behind Douglas.  They stop close enough to me so they can assert their 'superiority'.  

       "Aw, you guys aren't going to play with me anymore?  I'm going to get really lonely." Noxa's words are met with a kick to the face from the Commander.  "Ugh.  You'll regret that, you fucking yuppie."

       "Quiet you Imperial vermin!" The Commander snarls.

       "Now, now Commander, let us show some measure of respect." Douglas smiled, the kind of smile you see on a slimey used ship salesman.  "These 'vermin' as you call them, are inquisitors from the Kamadhenu Chapterhouse.  It seems that they have caught wind our little plot here. ...and after such careful planning.  They are either smart... or we have a leak."

       "Fortunately, I happen to know the system and it's people." Noxa seems to be dropping the playboy act, maybe he's got a plan.  "The fact that the Union would start an open conflict with an Imperial group that is known for raising the working conditions in the systems that they inhabit, just stinks of gross manipulation.  The only thing I can't figure out is a real reason why.  You were making a good profit before this."

       "Mass profit, my dear Commander Noxa."

       I looked at Noxa in shock.  How did this pompous ass-hat know who you are?  I can see the same reaction on his face and that's a bad sign.

       "Yes, I know who you are." Douglas could obviously see the look on our faces.  "Commander Noxa, one of the top brass in the Kamadhenu Chapterhouse of Inquisition.  You are known as a mover and a shaker in Imperial space.  I'm honoured that you decided to come here personally."

       "Some matters require a more... personal touch." Noxa's eyes narrow with anger.

       "Indeed." Douglas scoffed.  He turned to me and looked me over with a puzzled face. "I do not know this man.  Perhaps he is your Imperial Slave?  Doesn't matter really... I know a killer when I see one."

       I'm smiling.  He has no idea what I can do.  ...wait, I'm smiling?  Why am I smiling?  I don't enjoy killing.  I simply do what I have to in battle, especially in war.  Too late, go with it.

       "Aye, I've killed.  What man on this bridge hasn't?" I ask, still holding my smile.  Donald seemed to be satisfied with my answer and walked away from me.

       "Do you know what we found within the rocks of the planetary rings and in the clouds of the gas giants?" Donald moved toward Noxa twirling his cane.  "Something much better than gold.  Perhaps even better than palladium.  Something more add-"

       "Sir, perhaps you shouldn't go monologuing and tell them." The Commander cut Douglas off.

       "Oh come now my dear commander, where would the fun be if they didn't know what these pions were dieing for." the smug prick thinks this is a game!  people's lives are nothing to this monster!  Douglas looks directly at Noxa with a crazed look and twisted smile.  "Besides, dead men tell no tales."

       The bastard then raises his cane and sends it right into Noxa's gut.  I can tell that it hurt.  Hell, I might have even vomited.  Not Noxa though, his face goes red but manages to smile back at Douglas.  He may have even scored a few points of respect.  Even the Commander seems to be impressed and even says something under his breath about having balls.

       "Now where was I?" Douglas gets up and starts twirling his cane again. "Ah yes, what we found.  A special piece of ice containing a biological agent that's much like a double edged sword.  Once our people had time to study it, we found that it could enhance muscle fiber and brain function for a short time.  However, it is highly addictive.

       Do you know what people will do get get their fix?  Do you know what they'll do for you if you can provide that fix?  Let me tell you... people will lie, cheat, steal, and spend all their credits.  And I mean all of it.  All of their life savings even!  Heh, and when that's gone, they will sell everything.  Everything!  Even their own family members.  Which means I get more supply for my side business!  Ha ha ha!"

       At this point the bastard has his back to me, while his Commander had walked back to his chair shaking his head all the way.  I can feel sweat dripping down my brow, but it's not hot on the bridge.  Am I afraid?  This guy is clearly a psychopath, and it's obvious that he means to kill us after he's done gloating.  I mean, I've faced death so many times now that really it's become a game.  Hell, I've started counting the different ways people threaten me.  However, I am afraid, and I don't know why.

       Noxa coughs and spits on the floor, breaking my dark thoughts.  He's motioning to Douglas and mouths Keep him talking!  Good, he's got a plan.  All I can think about is my odd fear.  No, that's not all.  There's something else... Well, I can't let myself be distracted now, there's work to do.  Turning my head toward Douglas, I suddenly feel something in the pit of my stomach but I decide to ignore that and open my mouth.

       "So you plan on getting money from junkies.  Heh heh heh, plenty of druglords do that already.  What makes you so different?  What's worth risking your company and your backing from the Feds?" I make sure I add just the right amount of cockyness to my voice to get his attention.  People who enjoy wealth and power hate it when people of 'lower' stature speak up.

       "Well, well.  It seems the noisy killer thinks he's got some balls." Bingo!  Douglas turns and starts walking my way, tapping his cane against his boot.  I only see him tighten his grip on it before... Oh shi-! KKRRAAKK!

        I can taste blood.  That's not the worst of it though, I can barely see out of my right eye.  It feels like it's burning, wait... both my eyes feel like fire, just more intensely in my damaged right eye.  I don't care though, I'm pissed and I now want to hurt the clown standing in front of me.

       "You're not wrong though, killer." he smiles as he cleans off his cane. "Junkies are worth nothing to me, after their credits are gone anyway.  However, they're not just junkies.  This 'medical agent' will make them into obedient super soldiers that are willing to do anything to get that next fix.  Once they have their fix, they can easily win wars for me, thanks to the heightened strength and senses.  Naturally, I'll sit back and reap the spoils of war.  There are always places that will... 'employ'... the orphans and widows."

       At this point Noxa had freed himself already from the restraints (he had a knife hidden in his boot most likely) and shot the two guards at the door with paralysis needles.  I didn't see it happen, and thankfully no one else did.  I was too fixated on Douglas.

       I want to beat him with his cane and have him feel every bone-breaking, flesh-tearing hit.  I want to break him!

       Turns out, I'm not afraid of Douglas Drumpè,