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One
Galtera IX was the kind of world that was so far from the Imperial shipping routes and the touch of Terra’s governing bodies that somewhere along the lines lawlessness became the new Imperial Creed.
The planets ruling body had their personal coffers full with money that stank of bribery, corruption and murder. Pirates and rogue traders frequented the worlds bars and vice houses agreeing to a percentage of their takings to be handed over to the corrupt enforcers for protection.
It wasn’t unusual to see them turn a blind eye to cold blooded murder, unlike the noble Arbites who could not be brought or who would not turn a blind eye to wanton piracy and murder.
Every street corner was fraught with danger and every bar in every settlement had trouble on an hourly basis. There was no priest of the emperor here, if there ever had been that was long gone.
High in the governmental palace the leader of this forsaken world looked down upon his kingdom like an old feudal lord. There would come a day maybe when the Imperium would turn its gaze upon this world but this was one in a billion worlds and somewhere along the line it had become a forgotten footnote in the rusty halls of the Administration.
He clasped his hands behind his back as he surveyed his world. A tall man with an impressive build that had once spoke of order and power. His clothing expensive and cost more then a year’s salary to some of the people that lived on this violent world.
His hair was long the colour of salt and pepper and one eye stared menacingly at a point on the distant horizon.
Gardak Melescion was the lord and master of all he purveyed and he would do anything to hold onto that power. No one knew where he had come from but the violence he metered out to those that stood in his way built his reputation.
It was a fool who thought they could usurp this mans power and it was an even bigger fool who plotted his assassination.
There had been many attempts over the years and all had ended in failure. Not only with the death of the assassin but the one that had hired them. As he swept his gaze to the walls that surrounded his residence and the private army he used to protect him manned the walls he also saw the remnants of heads and bodies that hung over the huge gates the ones that had dared to try and end his life.
Beside him stood a man in a suit that was not as grand as his and he was busy consulting a data slate.
“It would appear my lord that all payments due have been received”
His gaze fell to the recently executed body of Sanques one of the many affluent businessmen who had owed him money. His refusal to pay had resulted in his being hunted by the enforcers and brought before the governor.
As soon as word reached the other debtors that he was dead they soon paid up.
The governor said nothing allowing a cruel smile to touch his lips but his silence was enough.
The aide cleared his throat and took a step back knowing that what he was about to tell his lord would not be received so well and he had no wish to be the bearer of bad news.
“Well?” Melescion demanded.
“My lord, there have been more bodies found. In the Desran sector, they have been in a more – violent – state of execution”
he stepped back further.
The Governor showed no signs of emotion all that told the aide that he was unhappy was the cadence of his voice.
“Who this time?”
”The enforcer commander Dasran and his cohorts”
“Well what are you standing here for? Deal with it, find a bounty hunter and get it dealt with”
“My lord, such is the potency of this killer that no bounty hunter will touch them. We do not even know where they operate or how”
He didn’t see the arm move and was back handed into the wall and groaned as he realised that you did see stars.
“You are supposed to be my eyes and ears so be them, and Vincenze, the next time you report on this, it had better be that this killer is caught or dead”
Vincenze knew the implications of those words and as he groggily got to his feet and left his masters presence some part of him hoped that this mysterious assassin would find its way here and get rid of the governor.
He moved across the rooftops, his movements undetectable despite the bulk of his armour. He was clad midnight black and unseen to the human eye and this being had the centuries of hunting and warfare to his advantage.
He had arrived here on a freight ship, it had been easy to kill the crew when they had discovered him in the cargo hold and the captain had been the last one to die, only after he had given the correct approach codes.
Once upon a time he would have taken his time killing him and feasted on the fear but that day was long gone now.
Ever since the death of his master and the change of his brothers he had focused only on his task. His promise to his master that he would find him and he would never forget him.
He sat atop the last roof he came too and perched like some great gargoyle watching over the inhabitants of this area as if he was hunting for food. He was not hunting for food; he was hunting for something else the one that had drawn him here to this den of thieves and murderers.
He had left the hall of his brothers, their mocking laughter in his ears oh how far the legion of fear had truly fallen. He had been granted passage out of the lord Percolators realm and then made his way to here.
It had been the dreams that had brought him here, all a mix and a jumble of images that did not seem to make a lot of sense and yet one theme was always prevalent and constant.
He had seen it last night, the execution of the enforcers of this place had been sublime and he found a new respect for the one he was hunting, a little rough around the edges perhaps but in time with training he or she would be a great killer.
The streets smelt of fear and he inhaled deeply, since arriving here all he had heard was the hushed whispers of the killer in the dark, the streets had become unusually quiet and yet no one felt truly safe as they believed the ghost in the dark could enter any dwelling no matter how secure and that had been true of the last murders.
The enforcers had been in their barrack house when they had been killed. He was in admiration of that after all it was not an easy thing to get into a barrack house, be they Imperium or otherwise.
This ghost had entered without being seen or heard and he had to give the meat credit where credit was due. He entered prey sight and the world turned neon, the body heats stood out like lights in sea darkness.
He returned to normal sight and made himself comfortable.
This seat gave him the best view of the district. He was not sure if whom he hunted was still here but he was patient and he had all the time in the world.
Mikhail Trueze let the darkness envelope him and he waited.
One
Galtera IX was the kind of world that was so far from the Imperial shipping routes and the touch of Terra’s governing bodies that somewhere along the lines lawlessness became the new Imperial Creed.
The planets ruling body had their personal coffers full with money that stank of bribery, corruption and murder. Pirates and rogue traders frequented the worlds bars and vice houses agreeing to a percentage of their takings to be handed over to the corrupt enforcers for protection.
It wasn’t unusual to see them turn a blind eye to cold blooded murder, unlike the noble Arbites who could not be brought or who would not turn a blind eye to wanton piracy and murder.
Every street corner was fraught with danger and every bar in every settlement had trouble on an hourly basis. There was no priest of the emperor here, if there ever had been that was long gone.
High in the governmental palace the leader of this forsaken world looked down upon his kingdom like an old feudal lord. There would come a day maybe when the Imperium would turn its gaze upon this world but this was one in a billion worlds and somewhere along the line it had become a forgotten footnote in the rusty halls of the Administration.
He clasped his hands behind his back as he surveyed his world. A tall man with an impressive build that had once spoke of order and power. His clothing expensive and cost more then a year’s salary to some of the people that lived on this violent world.
His hair was long the colour of salt and pepper and one eye stared menacingly at a point on the distant horizon.
Gardak Melescion was the lord and master of all he purveyed and he would do anything to hold onto that power. No one knew where he had come from but the violence he metered out to those that stood in his way built his reputation.
It was a fool who thought they could usurp this mans power and it was an even bigger fool who plotted his assassination.
There had been many attempts over the years and all had ended in failure. Not only with the death of the assassin but the one that had hired them. As he swept his gaze to the walls that surrounded his residence and the private army he used to protect him manned the walls he also saw the remnants of heads and bodies that hung over the huge gates the ones that had dared to try and end his life.
Beside him stood a man in a suit that was not as grand as his and he was busy consulting a data slate.
“It would appear my lord that all payments due have been received”
His gaze fell to the recently executed body of Sanques one of the many affluent businessmen who had owed him money. His refusal to pay had resulted in his being hunted by the enforcers and brought before the governor.
As soon as word reached the other debtors that he was dead they soon paid up.
The governor said nothing allowing a cruel smile to touch his lips but his silence was enough.
The aide cleared his throat and took a step back knowing that what he was about to tell his lord would not be received so well and he had no wish to be the bearer of bad news.
“Well?” Melescion demanded.
“My lord, there have been more bodies found. In the Desran sector, they have been in a more – violent – state of execution”
he stepped back further.
The Governor showed no signs of emotion all that told the aide that he was unhappy was the cadence of his voice.
“Who this time?”
”The enforcer commander Dasran and his cohorts”
“Well what are you standing here for? Deal with it, find a bounty hunter and get it dealt with”
“My lord, such is the potency of this killer that no bounty hunter will touch them. We do not even know where they operate or how”
He didn’t see the arm move and was back handed into the wall and groaned as he realised that you did see stars.
“You are supposed to be my eyes and ears so be them, and Vincenze, the next time you report on this, it had better be that this killer is caught or dead”
Vincenze knew the implications of those words and as he groggily got to his feet and left his masters presence some part of him hoped that this mysterious assassin would find its way here and get rid of the governor.
He moved across the rooftops, his movements undetectable despite the bulk of his armour. He was clad midnight black and unseen to the human eye and this being had the centuries of hunting and warfare to his advantage.
He had arrived here on a freight ship, it had been easy to kill the crew when they had discovered him in the cargo hold and the captain had been the last one to die, only after he had given the correct approach codes.
Once upon a time he would have taken his time killing him and feasted on the fear but that day was long gone now.
Ever since the death of his master and the change of his brothers he had focused only on his task. His promise to his master that he would find him and he would never forget him.
He sat atop the last roof he came too and perched like some great gargoyle watching over the inhabitants of this area as if he was hunting for food. He was not hunting for food; he was hunting for something else the one that had drawn him here to this den of thieves and murderers.
He had left the hall of his brothers, their mocking laughter in his ears oh how far the legion of fear had truly fallen. He had been granted passage out of the lord Percolators realm and then made his way to here.
It had been the dreams that had brought him here, all a mix and a jumble of images that did not seem to make a lot of sense and yet one theme was always prevalent and constant.
He had seen it last night, the execution of the enforcers of this place had been sublime and he found a new respect for the one he was hunting, a little rough around the edges perhaps but in time with training he or she would be a great killer.
The streets smelt of fear and he inhaled deeply, since arriving here all he had heard was the hushed whispers of the killer in the dark, the streets had become unusually quiet and yet no one felt truly safe as they believed the ghost in the dark could enter any dwelling no matter how secure and that had been true of the last murders.
The enforcers had been in their barrack house when they had been killed. He was in admiration of that after all it was not an easy thing to get into a barrack house, be they Imperium or otherwise.
This ghost had entered without being seen or heard and he had to give the meat credit where credit was due. He entered prey sight and the world turned neon, the body heats stood out like lights in sea darkness.
He returned to normal sight and made himself comfortable.
This seat gave him the best view of the district. He was not sure if whom he hunted was still here but he was patient and he had all the time in the world.
Mikhail Trueze let the darkness envelope him and he waited.