Cold Winds

[Ryummel]

The quiet rhythm of the music flooding the bar in the storage room 116 kept him immersed in his own train of thoughts running in his mind. Rewording his plan over and over again, trying to find any missing link where he would start rewriting from so that the big picture he had in mind would convince those that decided to follow him away from Malta.

He sipped from his cocktail of mixed drinks, already on his second one yet barely feeling any touched as opposed to the poor guy sitting several stools away from him. He breathed deeply from the small inhalator attached under his nostril and returned to his full senses afterwards, just to hear the sound of the heels of her boots approaching.

His glance diverted from the next colorful drink he just ordered for himself to the stool on his side, where Lucrezia had quietly sit down. "Didn't know our brethren found their way into building a casino and a bar here at Barrier Gate." She said, breaking the silence as they exchanged smirks.

Marco motioned at the bartender to come their way and take note from Lucrezia, him not seeming talkative for the time being, perhaps hoping she would understand his pun where she used to be the silent one during most of conversations they had in the past. Truth for now, the reason he summoned her required the least unwanted ears as possible.

Lucrezia ordered a random cocktail, as she did not really care what type it was, the only thing that mattered was that it had alcohol in it. "So, what's up?" She asked after the bartender brought the ordered drink. "You must know that I was busy with something very important when I got your call, so I hope this is worth my time."

"What are you up to in Barrier Gate, if I may ask?" Marco asked, denoting a tone of curiosity that would sound cynical as well. "I know my apparent promises of something interesting happening soo haven't shown any result yet but... Here we are to quietly discuss the first steps." He added.

"I was obviously busy finding some entertainment for myself. This base has proven itself to be good enough for this." She replied with a grin. "Go ahead, I'm listening." Lucrezia then added and took a sip from her drink.
"Well, entertainment can wait while we arrange what will be our... way to make a living, soon." He said, kindly making his glass clash against hers before sipping from it as a way for a silent toast.

"I've been flying a couple of days across Liberty, and honestly... The idea of taking part on the side of our supposed friends there after us cutting a fair amount of ties with our Maltese families... Won't revert in any benefit, at least in short term." He began explaining, lowering his tone as he advanced. "There are neither friends, nor foes. They're only called tools and obstacles." She dryly said.

"Well my dear Lucrezia, and si, my dear one, I believe considering each of us as tools will not ensure any good outcome in this big agenda that we're slowly plotting, hm?" He answered, never failing to find amusement in her often drastic wording.

"You are special, my dear Marco. You're almost considered as my family." She pointed out. "I was merely referring to the people we meet here in Liberty."

"Oh, certo. Back to the point. I have been thinking out of the box while I was down there. You know, probably we would live long enough to see Liberty couped by a foreign military and at the same time filled with a dependant population on Cardamine." He resumed, having taken another gulp from his drink beforehand as he scanned Lucrezia quietly and surprised that she indeed was careful enough to keep her manners in front of him and not show up with several blood stains over her clothing.

"That's right, at most taking a role as a smuggler, watching passively how everything changes around us. But I thought... Why not being some wind of change ourselves? Why not cautiously..." He lowered his tone enough to make him lean himself closer to Lucrezia and whisper to her ear. "Slip our way in the current established systems?"

"And what are you planning to do inside this system?" She asked. "Cause some havoc?"

"As I said, the agenda is quite extensive, and as we take further successful steps, we will have plenty of directions to take. As a rampant, invisible wind. Say I suggest to cause havoc among the local pirates in Liberty, what would you say?" He whispered again.
"Causing havoc is something I generally can't resist. It has always been something I loved to do, whether it was good or bad, I never cared about its outcome." She replied, taking another sip from her drink. "But do tell me, what about the lawfuls?"

"We're Maltese, fine Maltese. I can't see myself tagging along any of the vermin present there. Mind you, neither law enforcement nor those opposing it." He replied, leaving the question unanswered as he leaned back from her to properly sit up on the stool before continuing. "They can be either tools or obstacles, you said it. But I'd suggest avoiding as many obstacles from their side while we test the waters together."

"Nothing will stop the predator once it has spotted its prey." She replied. "I just can't resist this opportunity. This opportunity to take so many lives..."

"We're shifting preys however, and while you and many others will demand a decent explanation out of this, I can't just draw the whole picture yet, but rather ask for your trust once again. Blood, you'll have as much as you want, granted." He explained slowly and almost putting a certain tease by the end.

"I never needed a reason to kill somebody and I definitely won't need one now. As long as I can bathe in the blood of my enemies, everything is fine." She said, meaning it literally. "Besides, I've been utterly bored these past weeks. Haven't done anything interesting besides getting drunk every day." She admitted.

"I'd dare to think your life is fueled by enigmatic purposes, so enigmatic that any man or woman would pick interest in you. Like a black widow, but out there I need a cold wind, remember it." He concluded, feeling he had earned the loyalty of Lucrezia despite his hesitation concerning her lifespan out there in space if she was indeed moved by such blind desire of destruction.

"I will follow your command." She then said. "But do tell me, will we show our true identity, or will we act under some sort of disguise?"

"Mhm... Can't say how shocking it would be for both sides of the fence if a bunch of Maltese turned out to be walking over the edge of said fence, so I'll trust your wisdom in revealing your identity when needed." He answered, gulping down from the glass.

"I can't promise anything, but I'll try my best." Lucrezia replied. "Even if they would find out who I am, I really wouldn't care about it."

"Don't think I'll need a leash for you, si?"