And then there was one

It started as riots, nothing new. the working class was restless at the conditions they were forced to work and live in. you might think of this as the planet "Rubi-Ka", but this was happening light-years away on an ice giant, known as Titan-IC. the riots got worse, people were forced to flee their homes as the ever growing mass of discontent grew closer, blood was going to be spilled, weather it be innocent or not. 2nd and 3rd Peoples Militias were sent to help those who were running to dear life to the extraction zones, we were supposed to follow a strict protocol to filter out un-important people from the V.I.P. targets.... we don't know what would of happened if we had indeed done that, part of me doesn't want to. these were our people, friends, family, we were not going to leave them to be slaughtered by some rebel wanting to get blood on his tools. Our platoon, or I should say squad, there wasn't much left of us since the first mortar attacks, was to guard the Gamma LZ for all non-military personnel, XO Grieves took charge as we could see the fires spread. You wouldn't think an ice planet could burn.....but it will if there is enough hatred to fuel it. The last few of the 3rd Mechanized platoon made a stand there, and only two made it out before the nukes hit.... Michale "Zailec" Borscov and me were the only two, by chance, to make it out on the last gun-ship before the planet glowed with radiation, and the "Titan-Troopers" would begin clean up. as the last Gun-ship came to pick up the last 5 people, the two gunners were shot by a marksman, not mortally wounded, but unable to use the XA "Hellcat" 27-1 vulcan turrents, Zailec was the first one to jump on and help, i followed along. im sure....i know if we had known what would happen in the next 3 minutes, we would of pulled our comrades in with us...no, time allows us to second guess ourselves... im not sure what we would of done if we had known....


now, skip 6 years later and there would only be one of us left, Zailec passed away after a petty thief broke into his house, and in mid-robbery, he happened upon the criminal...who also had a weapon. It was sad irony to survive such an ordeal and then be offed by a kid wanting to make an extra credit. I whish i could of attended his funeral, but i was half-way to a new life working with Omni-Tek on a small red dot in the sky.....Rubi-Ka.


"no matter where you go, what you do, who you become, the ghosts of the past will know who you are, and do not think that their tales of vengeance fall on deaf ears....."

(Yes! This is my type of RP!)

5:18 a.m., the time is etched in my mind, why? who knows, but every morning thats when i wake up. Its been about six months now since i landed on this little planet. the first week is the hardest, dealing with notum and trying to control nanobots outside your body, takes a while but ill be damned if it hasn't made life a little bit easier. the holo-screen turns on to todays weather, as usual, 80 % chance of rain in the omni territories with the sky clearing up after 4 p.m., average temperature of the day is around 83 degrees fahrenheit. I decide to have a morning walk, before the city is crowded with people, some fresh off of the island.

As the sun starts to peek over the "great" walls of Rome, i notice a small business card, its soaked in rain water but part of it is still legible, "plz help us, xx xxxx to xxxxxx sidex and xxxxx you were the one to xx xx-good pay if you xx-xx to Harry's", good pay is all i needed to read. The posters of rubi-ka state "a new life awaits you!", and my favorite " a sea of overwhelming wealth is awaiting you on Rubi-Ka!" yea right, money has been a struggle since i arrived here. unless you have a job working WITH omni-tek, your only income is what you can find and sell to the shop terminals, good thing the apartments have low maintainable prices. Security [both business and otherwise], bounty hunting [hell, even hunting most of the time], and general mercenary work isn't lucrative here anymore, at least thats what im told. Too bad though, thats pretty much what im good at. its about 6:31a.m. before i head out, "always carry with you what you don't think you will need", a lesson i learned during my first day here. Med-Packs, First-Aid kits, and a couple nano rechargers, along with a hearty supply of ammo i might add is all i needed for the trip. about 4 hours later i arrived, it would of only took a couple of minutes but i felt like having an adventure.... but due to a broken adventure sensor the trip was almost as boring as omni-Entertainment during the work day. it wasnt until 3 p.m. when a small group of bikers came into the small neutral outpost, i counted about 5 in all. the supposed "leader" of the group was a small skinny solitus male, with a name that would make you think "man, his parents must of hated him that much". he walked towards me and as he got closer, it looked like he got smaller, i tried to contain my laughter as he said, "are you the guy?", i looked at him like he was talking in another language, "are you?!" he said louder, as if it would help. "that depends, are you the ones that put this note on my door?" they all nodded yes, couldn't be more than a few weeks old on this planet, what would they need my help for, better yet, would they pay for my help. "so what do you need, the note wasn't readable", "we want you to help us change to clans!", at this point i busted out laughing, i hear of people changing sides everyday for reasons only known to themselves, but why would they need my help? then it hit me, i kept receiving mail sent to a Calexian....mistaken identity, but i wouldent tell them that, credits are to be made here. ".....okay......but it will cost you" i commented, knowing they would take the bait. "how much are we talking? 50 credits? 100 credits? " he said with a smile "50? 100? these guys are complete new-bloods!" i yelled in my mind, i soon blurted out "400k......each, that or no deal" the look on their faces grew with dread. but they scrapped up enough cash for the exchange. "okay, ill be right back, got to get my supplies" i said as i walked over to the tools terminal, i bought 5 of the clan applications, "this is going to make them mad, i know it" i thought. after a few minutes i handed them out, and for some reason i told them what they could of done to save some money, "WHAT?!" shorty mcShort person proclaimed "you robbed us, give us back our money!", "and fund a group of clans that will use it to buy weapons to use against omni-tek citizens and personnel? i think not" i sad with a sly grin, "then well take it back by force" they said, brandishing clubs, bats, and other throw-away weapons. "over my dead body you will!" 'over my dead body Kale?" i thought, 'what kind of lame come-back is that? we are going to sit down and think of some new ones tonight...'. the fight couldn't of been shorter, sometime during the fight the leader of their little gang ran away, probably to lick his wounds and re-tell their story of how they tried to rob an omni dog, then they were ambushed by 100, no 1000000 omni guards, only him able to make it back after killing hundreds of them. meh, let him have his time of fame, he will need it. it was getting dark as the clouds were coming back in "clearing up after 4 p.m.? lies..." but i cought a glimpse of a small star cluster, shining through the soft clouds and an old saying popped into my head, "what we see or seem is but a dream in a dream".....i dont know where i remember that from, but with it brought a cold and bitter wind that chilled my soul, or at least whats left of it, something from the past was heading this way, i just didn't know it yet.


"Looking up into the night sky is looking into infinity - distance is incomprehensible and therefore meaningless."

5:18 a.m., again, at first it was an annoyance but as time went on i grew to accept it. the faint orange glow of the holo-com. was blinking again, someone somewhere wanted to communicate.

::x:: One [1] New Message(s) ::x::
:
::>From:; Sicherhiet:; Omni-Prime; Quadrant 5910
:
::>To:; Kalezian:; Rubi-Ka; Omni Territory: Rome Green
:
::>Subject:; Sup man!
:
::>Message:

Hey! whats going on out there? enjoying your little piece of conflict? ha, just kidding with you, but seriously, how is everything out there? find what you were looking for yet? well, in case you are wondering, everything is great back here, legs finally got some feeling in it again, not sure if thats a good thing, now i have pains in it every morning. Got a job at that club we used to go to, needed a security guard because of some kids causing trouble for the guests. on a side note, i hear some of the Omni-Pol guys here complaining about not meeting quotas, if they would stay here for an hour or two they could get the next 3 months worth of it! oh yea, met a girl finally, kinda nice, she's one of the bartenders here and she diggs the whole veteran thing, you know what i mean, anyway, says she got a sister on her way over to Ka. if you want man i could try to hook you two up. unless your still doing the "oh woe is me" thing. but anyway, you know the anniversary is coming up....and everyone knows that your still not going to make it this year either, but still man, we are here, we are proof that it happened, and nothing can change that.

anyway, write back, got nothing else to do except work, sleep, eat, and work my charms on the ladies! you know what im sayin'?
::>End of Message


"great, how did he even get this address?" i wondered as i hit reply...

;;>Message:

Hey, long time to decide to write, inst it? the place is kinda great here, not the best, but its bearable. i still haven't found it yet, mainly because im not sure what i should be looking for. great to hear that you got some feeling back, whats next? the 20 mile run? sorry if that sounds a little harsh, this place has kinda gotten to me. it sounds like your making a living for yourself doing what you do best, im sure you keep hundreds of innocent drunks safe from their own stupidity. also good to hear you got an interest again, as for her sister, you know im not much of the social life type. when i go out, its to get things done. yea, tell the others that im still not going to be able to make it, not since marcali went section 4....i doubt any of us forgot that day. anyway, you should come out here for a holiday, once you finally get the nerve to start talking to your bartender friend that is. anyway, talk to you later.
;;>Message Sent


Sicherhiet was with us on Titan, but due to a Rebel-made firearm exploding while he was on patrol, he was forced to take a leave of duty, he came back however as our data specalist, but his injury would of made him more vulnerable, so he was stationed on the "Fate" communications relay frigate. he was the only one out of me and Zailec to hear the actual blasts and the final words of everyone left behind, he sat there in shock for about 6 minutes before he was removed from the station for a mental evaluation. 6 minutes of seeing the comm-uplink screen fade out as the packs were melted by the intense radiation....he might of had it worse but he doesn't show it.

omni-Prime is a quaint little planet, not a place i would want to grow up in, but a good place to visit [I was there for about 3 days waiting for the shuttle to arrive, and i had already grew tired of it]. the anniversary he talked about was a small get together put on by a couple of the groups that helped us deal with our PTSD/S (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/Syndrome), but Marcali, a forward observer during the final dyas, had become very unstable, and was prone to violent outbursts. in the hand outs we were given, Section 4 was dedicated to identifying early tell signs of a person that has become too instable to be taken care of by civilian groups, and that some of these subjects might even kill without regret and/or commit suicide. he did both, during the 4th anniversary he entered the room and shot three volunteer workers, and two Omni-Pol officers before killing himself. all of the victims survived however, but we wont forget that day.

Part of me wanted to see all of them again, but then i also wanted to be left alone. thats the main reason i came here, to find what i was missing from myself. maybe it is what i was, and what i had become, is what was truly the missing piece, i just didn't know it yet.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::

Somewhere in Borealis at this moment, a person will make the hardest decision ever, to take a mission that will end the life of an innocent, or to have her entire family killed off planet.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::

>>> Target Information: "Kalezian", Last known Place of Residence: Omni-Territory "Rome Blue", Subjected Difficulty Factor: 8.

>>> Target Combat History: "Kalezian" was a child conscript for the loyalist forces at age 10, at age 13 he entered regular duty as the Titan-IC rebellion started. Awards in the line of duty: Bronze, Silver, Gold Star of Combat [50-150-300 confirmed kills in combat respectively], Peoples Hammer Award, Cobalt Survivor Badge, Gold Cross of Heroism in the Line of Duty, Regular Army Certificate of Acceptance, Vehicular Combat Experience Badge, Platinum Sun of Commitment, Honorable Discharge from service. Entry rank: Conscript, Exit Rank: Sargent First Class [Field Promotion]. Subject suffers from PTSD/S level 2, this can be used as an advantage. Subject has contacts in "Groupe 6", this can cause problems if word is relayed to them. No Family/Relatives. Currently works as a paid-per-job mercenary for civilians of Omni-Tek cities.

this job pays 230,000 credits, an additional 200,000 if subject is terminated while in an Clan held territory. if in a Neutral held territory, or in the "4-Holes" area, no bonus will be given, you have 40 days to complete this objective.

the shadowy figure stands up from the bench and slowly walks away from the backyard, "the council has voted 12-4 in favor of this, operation: Bad Moon Rising is cleared, if...IF you complete this, you might be able to see your family again, but i make no promises." he dissapears into the early morning traffic of borealis, leaving the would-be assassin alone, with what could be called a tear landing on the hard metal bench, or it could just of been the rain that would soon wash away the sins of the past.




"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who in the name of charity and goodwill shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you."

"It isn't real.." I muttered, "none of it is, pointless to try this when the result is already known". "You could at least pretend that your cooperating." said the Omni-Med worker. " It would help that it wasn't the same scenes again, i know how this ends, i know how it began, so-" "and you will never forget what happened if you don't try." the operator interrupted, "and I am getting paid to be here regardless if you do the procedure or not, so it doesn't matter to me". ".... then i believe we are done here for the month, maybe this is also the last time i will have to come here" with a slight frustration "and, in case you don't know, maybe i don't want to forget what happened, maybe thats what made me what i am today." "Mr. .... Kalezian, do you really think i care?" "No, not because you live your life from day to day, doing the same routine through the day, knowing you want more," I said while strapping the final fastener bolts onto my armor, "do i care that Ive done more in my short life then you will do in your entirety of it. Do i care that, because of it, you believe you have a superiority to me just because you are in charge of a tiny machine that brings forward memories, and attempts to help the target 'forget' them?....... No, i dont. Do you care that after i walk out of this building, i will feel better because i wont have to deal with you, nor anyone else that wants to 'help? not to mention save thousands of credits in that process?" I smiled as the door hissed shut, obviously the operator was at a loss for words, possibly because of the hole he had kicked in his teeth. It had been about 4 weeks since i had moved from Rome to Jobe, but a floating city can get on your nerves fairly quickly. As the year comes to a close a cold and bitter wind blows across the planet, it feels..... evil almost.

I drew upon Borealis, a traders paradise. I would be meeting a would be client for a contract he had. A simple one, just to add manpower to a current project going on, a small security detail for a shipment of explosive ordinance traveling from 20k to Rome, not an easy trip since the ordinance was too unstable to use a warp or a whoompah to transport it, and no pilot was willing to carry such explosives with no insurance. a small contingent of other security specialists would be moving with us, only enough to lower insurance costs, as always. The escort was about 4 people, two neutral contractors, an OT Specialist, then me. No problems happened till Rome Stretch, to be exact, near a bronto burger stand beside a private city. it was a pre-planned ambush as they are all, but to the degree of this one was near the scale of a military operation, two APT's an AMT, and a couple of PMV's blocking the road, with an MSV to bring up the rear. surprisingly the OT Specialist was the only one to retreat, the two Neutral contractors called in their MAV's as i moved into the anti-mech turret. one drawback of the turrent designs is that the gunner is exposed at all times, making for an easy target. and explosion behind me sounded that the Scout Mech had met a fate on par to a leet being stepped on by a drunk Atrox. The relief was short lived as the Anti-Personnel turrets open fired on the weapon platform, the blast wasnt that damaging, it was the fall that did most of it. i saw the two hapless gunners eject as soon as the Assault Mechs turned their combined attention to them. the Personal Mechs attempted to gain their attention , only to be thwarted, one being stepped on, the other taking a direct hit from one of the MAV main cannons. During the brief firefight the cargo truck has snuck passed and was already unloading in Rome. it would of made more sense to just take it to Omni-Trade, but who was I to argue, a paycheck is just a paycheck.

A long day would be a major understatement, from a dock-manager trying to refuse payment because of a stray blaster shot singed the manifest, to a few automaton messages waiting at home, all from various "clientèle", all from the same base node, who...... I personally cant name the business, but i can say that all of their items are illegal to import to Rubi-ka, but not illegal to use. They have been wanting me to bring one of their agents planetside so he could "observe" businesses here to create a model of future items that can, or could be imported to various planets under conflict between multiple parties. Of course they wanted to offer 3 million less than i asked for, so.... that contract stopped. As the sun started to set, the chilling breeze passed through as the message screen appeared with an "urgent" class 2 transmission from the Morning Star sub-orbital space station. Little did i know that this would be the last message i would receive for a long, long time;


"... And to man is his own destiny, shall he not grasp it with full vigor lest he lose all hope and fade like the distant star?"