NationStates Jolt Archive

Time passes, and waits for no man. No matter how hard you may wish for something to return again, or perhaps never return, time moves on.

Time acts on its own accord, bringing together people, and sending them careening apart through the odd twist of fate and the even stranger turn of destiny.

Time is not a friend of Alexander Valient and Jordan Kruv. They had a past together.

One they both did not want to remember...

One they both wished never happened...

One they both realize may mean the end of one of their lives.

Time can do that to you...

At the Blue Moon Lagoon, Father Red O'Hara drank his scotch, and sighed. It was a Friday... Father O'Hara used to love fridays... but after he took up the cloak of priesthood, he came to loathe them. Fridays were when the "holier than thou" type Catholics loved to call him on his free time and demand that let them confess the fact that they might have accidentaly thought about possibly consuming alchohol... It's not that O'Hara didn't care, but he had a more important job to do. It was still daylight, barely, so he still had some time to kill... He fingered the trigger on his modified H&K Mk. 23, and wondered if he was up for another crazy night...

John Becan stopped outside the dusty pub and looked up at the blinking neon pink sign that repeatedly flashed, "Open."

Pressing a clean hand against the scuzzy window, he wiped aside some of the grim and looked in. One lone waitress, one forlorn, dark man, and a Priest.

He shook his head and stepped back from the window. Could he do what he had come to do? No one would suspect him, but the mission was a dangerous one, one that could result in unforseen circumstances.

They were waiting as I stepped through the door. All of them. Had the young and Brazen Alexander Valient planned this. I saw two funny looking humans, each about the size of a brahma bull. They were from the neighboring Oak town and had been scoping out there invisible terrorities waiting for me Jordan Kruv to violate one of those lines and let them see how many colors of bruises they could raise on me.
I wasn't armed. At least not seriously. Even if i had been blasting through two full size Oak troops was not reccomended for anyone wishing a long and happy life.

I knew a trick to deal with Oak troops that i had picked up in my "trader" days. And this was the time to use them

I mustered the deepest voice I could and said to them "Do your mothers know your here boys?" I continued. "Its late. Go Home. NOW!"

The one on the left had faster molasses than the other one and said "You are not an Oak officer!" "You will not speak to use that way!" He stepped towards me arms flexing--and I let out a warbling blood freezing scream. He froze face stricken. I was stationery and he was moving, he had violated my territory. I had given the proper Oak military accusation/indicment/challenge shout and was entitled to the first punch. I didnt give them time to realize I was an Oak citizen and I quickly stepped forward clenched my fists and drove them straight donw on his kidneys. He let out a forlorn squeak for a man of his size and hit the ground with a satisfying pub shaking thud. I moved quickly into the pub before his friend could realize what had happened. I moved through the maze of tables and chose the corner booth away from the main part of the pub.

I pulled the beautiful waitress to the booth asked for a vodka straight up, and handed her 200 credits the universal currency in AHA and told her thats for the mess i caused. She left a bit shocked at my gesture and I turned to see Valient facing at me, a bit suprised but composed nonetheless.

Ah Valient, I said I guess its time we got to talking.

Valient cocked his head slightly at the man across the table from him. He was slightly older, and perhaps had seen more trials than even he had endured.

But times changed. People changed. People were born, married, had kids and died.

Funny thing about people like Valient and Kruv. They never died.

"Did you really have to do that," asked Valient, taking a sip of his cold ale and gesturing to the fallen soldier. "I mean, aren't we past all of that?"

Kruv turned around to where Valient pointed. The uninjured soldier had almost completely dragged his fallen comrade out of the bar. "It is all about survival, Alexander. You either learn how to, or you die."

"Perhaps..."

The two men sat across the table studying each other some more. It had been years since the two of them had seen each other, let alone worked together on assignment.

But again, times changed. Now Valient needed some assistance, and the only person he could trust was the man he had come to loath: Kruv.

"I wish there was more time to explain all of this, but I need you to follow my lead," whispered Valient. Pointing outside with his glass, he continued. "There is a gentleman outside by the name of Becan, John Becan."

"Yes?"

"I need you to eliminate him."

"What will you be doing?"

"I have a confession to make... Can you do this?"

"What? John Becan?" I sarcasticly remarked. "I thought you needed a fourth for bridge."

"John Becan has been on a secret assignment for reasons I do not know Jordan. All know is tonight he must be eliminated."

Jordan Kruv new the circumstances, he knew the game. The younger man Valient had chosen the exact time and place to confide all this.

"Whats the pay? I am after all an independant shipper." Well I wasn't really quite independant anymore since the time Brother John bailed my partner and I out of serious financial woes and enlisted my ship the Stormy Banks into his asrensal of smuggling. But Valient needed not to to anything of that at this time.

"5000 AHA credits. Its the best I can do." He said a bit defensively.
"Fine I'll take it." 5000 credits wasnt going get me rich but i was going to starve either for a job that took around 3 days to complete.
"You have a last know residence location for me?" I asked.
"Right here." He said as a flicker of surprised ran across his face knowing i didnt try to squeeze more money out of him.
"Valient he will be dealt with in 72 hours. I need to tell my partner to go and deliver the cargo himself" I said almost flatly. Brother John would not be happy that both of us did not make the apperance with his cargo, but as long as it got there then well he couldnt say much.

I left the pub quite quickly and upon my last steps out the door. A priest slipped a piece of paper in my jacket, to be honest if it wasnt me he was doing the slipping no one would have noticed. John Becan darted a glance at me which I did not return. I hailed an autocab and told him to take me to the hotel i was staying in.
I had dreams of a soft bed and scotch waiting until i opened my door and in was totally dark. I did a ridiculous half dive half fall into the room and had my USP out in a flash. A smooth voice called out. "Jordan is that you?" I gave a half-hearted sigh and clicked the saftey back on my weapon. "Yes Ian its me. Believe it or not Alexander Valient offered me a job today to take out John Becan." I said. Ian must have been either shocked or thought I was lying. "You are joking?" "No he looked about 20 years younger and changed his first name, knowing how big his family and last name was he'd think I wouldnt know."
"Brother John is not going to be happy that you wont be there to deliver his cargo."
"You can do it you have 2 crewers, you and your symbiot. You can work out the details with the Port Authority when you get there." "Anything new?" I asked. "Yes well all the commotion is going on in the city some explosion must have happened, you may find that your John Becan is not here and left during the commotion."
"Not a chance," I said easing my sore leg from that dive onto the bed.
"And why not?"
I lay back onto a lumpy pillow. Yet another lumpy pillow, at yet another lumpy spaceport, in what seemed to be an increasingly lumpy life. "Because" I said with a sigh, "I'm not nearly that lucky."

Serene sighed and looked around at all the mess that had just been caused. Damnit, why did John Becan have to pick that moment to look through the window? He was her contact and poof, once trouble arose, he disappeared. True, that was what he was sent to do - check up on her, and report back.

At least her cover wasn't blown. There was no way it could be - to all those macho men, she was just a hot, sexy young waitress. Nothing more, nothing less. That was how she wanted it.

Slipping into the back kitchen, she began brewing a pot of coffee.

Suddenly, a hand slipped on her left shoulder, and before she could make a sound, a strong hand covered her mouth and whirled her around.

John Becan stood there, green eyes flashing as he whispered intensely, "Don't say anything, just listen."

Serene nodded quickly.

"They don't know about you. Keep it that way. They are looking for me, which is good. Their focus and aim is towards me. This is how we wanted it. You have to lay low, gather up what clues and information you can. I'm going to go into disguise.

Trust me, the way our company works, I could walk into them during broad daylight, and our enemies wouldn't even bat an eyelash.

I'll be back for you Serene."

With that final statement, Becan turned around, and slipped out the back door into the cool night.

Serene stood there for a few moments, gathering her thoughts.

She could only wonder what would happen next.

At least the pub was closing up for the night soon.

Bobby North was on his way home from his part-time job, when he decided to take a route home that he never had before.

It turned out to not be such a hot idea.

BAM!! A tall man, about 6'2, ran right into him, knocking him over and sending his backpack flying.

He laid there for a few moments, panting, trying to get the sharp pain in his stomach to subside.

The man was quick to leap up, and hold out his hand for Bobby.

"I'm sorry son, I didn't quite see you there. My mistake," said the man, his bright green eyes shimmering underneath the moonlight.

"It's...ooo..kkkk. Ugh, my stomach. You really knocked the wind out of me," groaned Bobby.

"I am very sorry. Say, what are you doing around here anyway kid?" asked the man.

"I'm on my way home. From my job," replied Bobby carefully.

The man stuck out his hand for Bobby to shake. "My name is John Becan. How would you like to make a few more dollars this evening son?"

Father O'Hara saw everything, the fight, the conversation, and the waitress disappear for an odd amount of time to leave customers unattended...

Father O'Hara walked over to Valient, and grabbed his shoulder.

"Boyo, what was that man here for? i know that look, some kind of secret was traded between you too."

Valient looked hesitent to tell a priest what was going on, until he glimpsed the .45 in the Father's right hand.

Alexander Valient was no man to give in to threats, but at the present time, there was nothing he could do but tell the man.

"I... hired him."

"Good, so you have contact with him... Call him back here, I need his services. Your vendetta can wait, the Church needs a man like him. More importantly, if you agree to help, we can give you some... financial support."

Father O'Hara was getting to be a bother. He was going to have to be more careful...that old man was too smart for his own good.

And that kid...he better do the job well. If he did, he may have a permanent position within the company.

Valient stared up at the barrel of the .45 in the father's hand, and cursed himself for leaving the desert eagle in his car.

"I am... afraid that I cannot just call him back, Father," said Valient, looking up into the eyes of the priest who looked less and less holy by the moment. "He works on his own accord, as do I. I am sure you can appreciate that."

The priest sighed, and looked around. The waitress gave them a glancing look, and then turned back to putting the chairs up on the tables.

The pub was closing. Time to move on.

"Alright, I'll have to get him later, i suppose. C'mon, let us leave this establishment and head for somewhere more... appropriate."

The two gentlemen, one prodding the other with the help of a gun, left the pub. Serene watched as the two men left.

That Valient. He was definately not as what she was told...

****************

Valient and O'Hara apprached the car, with the Father motioning the man into the driver seat. Valient got into the car and started it up. The night sky had alit with stars, making the whole scene something out of a movie.

The man beside him holding the gun at his head brought Valient back down to reality.

"Ok, what do you want from me?"

"Ok, son, let's get this straight... I know that you have relations with the man called Kruv, the trader... I know that you, Alexander Valient I believe it is, are not from the Red Oak. That's the limit of my knowledge. However, I have a job for you just the same. Whether you decide to take part in it or not, that is your choice. I have with me a list, a list with exactly fifty names. These names are relevent, because on July 24th, these fifty people will be attending an AHA summit. I want either you, or your buddy, Kruv, to make sure that after the 24th, these people never breathe again."

Valient accepted the list, and the priest put the gun down. The list contained names of prominent religious figures, heads of state for The Red Oak, Valient, and Truth-Seekers, generals in the militaries of USA2, The Red Oak, and Valient, and even a couple media figures.

"Ok Mister Valient. This is a matter of church internal affairs. Speak of this matter to no one."

Valient nodded slowly, putting the piece of paper into his pocket and continuing to drive down the lonely, darkened highway.

"Over there - Pull over"

Valient again nodded, sliding the car surrepticiously off to the shoulder of the road. He got out slowly, hands slightly up in the air.

"Ok, now what, Father?"

The priest got into the driver seat and rolled down the window.

"Now you get the job done. Either with, or without the trader."

"And if I don't?"

"Then you make the biggest mistake of your life. There is no turning back now."

The priest rolled up the window, and set the car away in a hail of dust and stones.

Valient looked around the night sky. The moon had just appeared from behind a soft cover of clouds.

Valient didn't like it when he didn't have choices. Choices were what made the world a little more believable: to realize that things were out of his hands, that some things happen and that you weren't able to stop it, was liable to make a man crazy.

He didn't like that one bit. It reminded him too much of what happened 7 years in the past.

"Out of my hands... always... out of my hands."

He had little over a week before the 24th. He had until then to find a way to stop the Church from it's planned coup.

Valient pulled the list of names out of his pocket, and a cell phone out of the other. He dialed a number.

*Breeeep - Hello?*

*Kruv, it's Valient. Cancel whatever plans you had for Becan. I have another job for you. Come and meet me at Johnson avenue and Tarman Road.*

*Fine... CLICK brrrrrrrr...*

Valient closed his cell, and sighed again. He started back towards the city.

OOC: The RP tech is 2050. Space trading and travel has begun.

IC:I had just gotten off the phone with Valient. I was set to meet him at 6:30 this morning. It was 5:30 when I headed out to the spaceport. I planned to check out the long term resident area where Becan was supposed to be staying before meeting with Valient. I looked at the piece of paper the preist had slipped into my pocket. It read "Thy Lord calls thy Saints commanding. 9:00 PM Inter AHA Catholic Chruch." Just then a heavy aromatic hand fell on my shoulder.
"Captain Jordan Kruv?"
I turned to see two AHA guards had left their posts and were standing behind me. "I'm Kruv." I said cautiosly.
"Come with us please, the Director wants to speak with you."
I was escorted to the Directors office 30 meters away from the main thoroughfare. My fees were paid, we were cleared to depart. He someone finally backtracked one of Brother John's cargoes. If so then I had alot of explaining to do. "Ah--Captain Kruv, good of you to drop by, Please sit down."
"My Pleasure Director." I said sitting down and watching on of her flunkies was searching my bag. "Whats this about?"
"A message has come down from my superiors to ask you about this person."
She pulled a photo out out her top drawer.
It was a picture of Alexander Valient. So it wasnt about Brother John's cargo after all.
"He looks like a good citizen, but I never seen him or talked to him."
"An eyewitness told us not 15 minutes ago you were speaking with him in a pub. He was very specific about your name."
I felt cold feet running up my spine. "Your witness was either drunk or a troublemaker," I said standing up.
"Sit down Captain." She said sternly, "are you telling me you werent out visiting any pubs last night?"
"Of course I was out, what else is there for a trader to do. But I didnt't talk to anyone." I said.
"And there is the trouble, your word versus an unidentified infomant."
"Wait you do even know who he is?" I demanded. "What kind of scam is this."
She had my file in her hand. "Your photo does you no justice at all."
"It was taken seven years ago back when I started independant shipping and trading."
"Captain your record is hardly encouraging for us to believe you."
"Five years in the Oak-Guard Auxiliary," she went on. "Apparently a reasonably promising career that went steeply downhill during the last of those years. Court-martialed and summarily drummed out for severe insuboridnation."
"He was an idiot. I just was the only one who said it in his face."
She flipped a few more pages. "After that was a four year stint with the Oak Customs Service. Another career ended with another sudden dismissal. This one for taking bribes."
"I was framed. If you look I never had a trial."
She kept going, "and then there was the time--"
"Look I was there remember? If there is a point to this, get to it."
She eyed the photo of Valient, "You dont stray to far from what your file suggests, that you would assist a murderer."
The word was so completely unexpected I almost choked. "Murderer?" "This guy killed someone?"
"Yes.." she spat. "A massive explosion rocked the outer city yesterday morning."
"We didnt make dock until a little after local noon."
"The blast sent massive amounts of dust into the atmosphere causing a backup in landing operations." "At the blast site investigators found the charred body of Dr. Raymond Chou of TS Phamecuticals." She picked up the photo. "Others with the research gropu indentified him as the murderer." "Are you sure you didnt even exchange a few words?"
She was making this too easy for me. All I had to do was say yes, he'd hired me for a job, but that was before I knew he was a murderer. I would hand over the meeting place and I could walk away free and clear. And best of all, I wouldn't have to face Brother John about this disruption in his precious schedule.
With a sigh I shook my head. "I'm sorry Director," I said laying the photo on the desk. "I wish I could help."
"Very well Captain since that is your final word."
"It is. May I go now, I have a schedule to keep."
"Before you leave we need to conduct a complete search of your ship. Your guidance tag please."
"Fine." I growled. Giving her the Stormy Banks guidance tag, any of Brother John's cargo would be hidden well enough to servive event a serious AHA search.
"I will be waiting in the hospitality center."

I spun on my heel and stalked for the door trying to use as much righteous indigination I could muster. Did they really seriously think I would lead them to Valient.
"Captain Kruv?" The Director called from behind me. For a half second I thought about running but that didn't make any sense than it had five seconds ago. She was on the phone and by the time I had reached the desk he was done.
"My apologies, Captain." "You may go." Handing me my tag in the process. I looked frowningly at the tag. "Just like that."
"Our witness just called and changed his story saying you were with a known robber that was apprehended 3 days ago, long before you arrived. Obviously a troublemaker, again my apologies."
I quickly walked out of the door and didn't believe it for a minute. It was too pat, too convenient. Had they planned to let me loose so I could take them to Valient. They must have planted a tracker since they weren't tailing me. The question was how. Molecular sonar echo beacons are useless in the spaceport, so it had to be a larger needle-sized one. And i would swear in court her flunky searching my bag didnt plant a thing.
It had to be after the search. I took a good look at my tag and i found the needle tracker tucked in the edge of the plastic. I yanked it out and found the opporutnity to put it on someone instead of tossing it and the tell-tale non movement signs. There he was a stubby looking man i side stepped and turned my head while slamming full tilt into him.
"Sorry," I said dropping the needle in his coat pocket, "Take these 5 credits and spend them for the trouble i caused you."
He grunted something and ran to the hospitality center to spend it. I followed him into the center that was 40 meters away and weaved through the tables to the door that said NO ADMITTANCE. I opened it into a storage room that was bigger than it looked and it was dark. I went in and flipped my jacket inside out and attached a few things to my USP before holstering it. I moved for the door when the lights kicked on and I heard the faint click of a released safety.
"Jordan Kruv I believe you overpayed me" a woman's voice echoed in the small room.
It was the waitress from the pub last night. She had pure crystal blue eyes and golden hair. She held what looked like a tranquilizer pistol at my chest.
"I know you spoke to Valient at the club, I also know you were hired to take out Becan and I what to know why."
She was related to Becan, if she was his woman the AHA ex soldier of fortune made hero had made a pretty good life for himself. Making a half turn I spoke "I dont know what you are talking about."
"Dont play games Kruv. I heard the whole conversation with the Director just now and from last night." "Why does Valient want Becan dead?"
"Look I dont know what your talking about." I clamly said.
"This isnt my style going out for information. But you are gonna tell me what I want to know."
She had her arm fully extended with the gun aimed at my chest for over 5 minutes. She had a toned figure but her arm was shaking from the obvious strain.
"Or you'll shoot me?" i said.
"If I have to I will!" she shouted.
It seemed she had never shot anyone at close range in ever. I was her first real up close target. I had to work my way out of this.
"Look I was hired to do a job. With the Shipping trade going all to the big corporations i need the money as a independant shipper. Valient said he'd pay 5000 credits after I dealt with Becan."
"Well where are you supposed to meet." She said.
"Look what has Valient done to you? What have I done? What have we done to deserve this?"
Right as I thought her eyes dropped and she relaxed her posture and i moved in. I spun right into her body my shoulder sliding under her extended gun arm. I pushed her against the wall of the room and pressed my body weight on her so she couldnt bring her arm to point the gun at me.
"Don't get any ideas." I said a little playfully.
"I was about to say the same for you." she spat.
I pused more of my body weight or her and drove my elbow into her upper ribs causing her to lose her breath and drop the gun.
"YOUR HURTING ME! GET OFF!" she screamed.
I had my USP out with my other hand and spun off aiming it at her.
"Sorry I wish I didnt have to do that" I said.
She glared at me those blue eyes against my gray eyes.
"If you move I will have to shoot you. And I really dont want to do that. So dont move." I calmly told her.
"You dont have to do this." she said hastily. "I wasnt here to take you down Jordan"
I didn't listen but instead picked up the dart gun and holstered my weapon. I pulled the slide back and watched a new dart load into the chamber.
Serene was in the habit of being one to mistrust Kruv or Valient but she had to get out of the room. She thought about here cyanide pill. Before she could finish the thought--I made moved close to whisper

"Such innocent pure eyes should never have to hold a gun. You should be living a long and happy life, away from the evils of the world." I said.
She looked like she had been struck by something at the words I had said.
"Please don't" she pleaded.
"Sweet dreams" i answered and fired a dart into her abdomen. She slocuhed forward head on my shoulder and I let her gently to the ground. Such pure eyes. I hope she would mind the dart when she woke up. I pocketed the gun and left a 100 credits bill in its place and exited the room.

I had used alot of time. It was nearly 6:30 and my phone rang.

"Kruv its Valient. Where are you?"
"Look they said you killed a Dr. Chou."
"We meet in 4 hours North Side. Make sure you arent followed" I quietly said and ended the call.
4 Hours...What the hell else could happen? I thought

Father Red drove his newly acquired car down the road... After an encounter like that, he needed some more scotch.

Valient was the right man for the job. Red knew it from the very bottom of his soul. Valient would finally get rid of the more traditional members of the church... The ones who stated that God allows free will...

Under the new order, if you sinned heinously, you were punished. Punished, he thought, with whippings, chastity belts, and possibly death. Father Red was actually not a very strong believer in such things... But he was told he would receive great power, and in the grand scheme of things, that was all that mattered to him.

Father Red pulled into the Luck o' the Irish Bar and Grill, and stepped inside. The place was all but deserted, with just a lone bartender, two barmaids, a few waiters and waitresses, and a family eating a late dinner.

Father Red sat down at one of the bar stools, but then he remembered... He couldn't drink... the man called Kruv had read his note by now, and he only had time for a brief snack before he headed out to the church.

In another part of Oakshire, Marc Sturmgeist headed home to see his wife. Marc had a bouqet of roses for her birthday, as he had every day for the past twenty-eight years. He remembered the first time he ever got her roses for her birthday, and thinking of the blush on her then young face, Marc felt a surge of youthfulness. Marc and his wife, Helga, were both fifty-two, and had been married for near to twenty-six years. Marc owned a pawn shop on 5th and St. Peter, the bad part of a "business deal" with Brother John.

It's not that business was bad, it was really quite good, the problem had more to do with how legal it was. More than once Marc had been tried for possession of stolen goods, but Brother John's crack trial lawyers had saved his act, more for the good of Brother John's rep than his, Marc supposed.

Marc snapped out of his daydream and looked ahead. There was a man, fairly young, standing on the side of the road. He was putting his cell phone away when Marc drove up. Marc slowed down, pulled over, rolled down the window, smiled the best he could, and asked, "Hey there son, you need a ride?" The man nodded, and said "Take me to North Side, if you could, I have to meet a friend there." Marc smiled, and replied, "You're in luck, I'm on my way to my house there. My wife is fifty-two today, and I've got her some red roses." "I can see that," the man said. The man had buckled up at this point, and Marc tapped the gas pedal with his foot. His Lincoln Towncar went forward, and they began their journey.

"So what's your name, sonny?" The man in back replied, "Valient, Alexander Valient." Marc tried to remember the name... It sounded familiar from somewhere... He could swear he heard that name seven years ago, when he still had a job with the Red Oak Ministry of State. But his memory was failing him, just another sign of getting old... He turned on the radio, and Warren Zevon blared, singing about werewolves of London as the car drove off into the night. "By the way," Marc said to Valient. "My name's Marc Sturmgeist. I think I know you from somewhere but I can't remember..."