*Fun & games were over, sensed Stirling and he adjusted accordingly. Grabbing the beer he relaxed himself in the chair.*
"Oh yeah. Not that I would ever claim these rumours, and for now that's all they are, to be true, but only the gods know how many lives has lost due to indirect actions by me. Whether it is was supplying 'hattan with the biggest and strongest batch of cardamine and than seizing as many trades of it to create a high demand... which led to a lot of deaths... Or by simply 'forgetting' a run or two with food with destination Crete, because I could get higher profits elsewhere, killing is definitely a part of my life. It's alright. I haven't lost a second of sleep over it so far nor do I ever intend to do so."
She nodded with a smirk, already waiting for an answer under those general lines.
"Yes. Sometimes your world can be as bloodthirsty as the one the Reavers exist. So it won't much of a problem for you to navigate from one to the other. Although your attitude can be an issue with the rest of the Company. Not a single one of them came from your... 1%."
She offered her beer in a toasting move and looked at Mortlock.
"So to be honest, i want to see how you will adapt, Mr. Mortlock. Here's to you, Spoiled."
[13:37:45] Tyler: ****** seems butthurt and Haste seems to be going in without lube or spitting atleast on it for decency sakes.
*Looking back he answered her toast. He started grinning like a madman.*
"When do I start?"
"And that's the beauty of being one of the '1%', you couldn't care less how others feel about you. Emotions in that line of duty are a sure way to stay poor as frack."
"Spoiled. I like it."
*He finishes his beer and stands up.*
"I'll have to make arrangements for a bucket load of new ships, with missing serial numbers and such, so if you'll excuse me..."
*He gentleman bows before Umber and turns away, walking towards the hangar and onto a hopefully exciting future..*
Finishing her beer, she got up and told one of the waitresses to serve another round to the kusarian in one of the tables and another to her. She then walked to the table were 'Black' was.
With a nod, she asked.
"Black? I am Umber."
[13:37:45] Tyler: ****** seems butthurt and Haste seems to be going in without lube or spitting atleast on it for decency sakes.
"Yes, and no, I fear. Sort of the reason why I'm here."
Whilst saying this the man stopped swinging on the chair. He then continued
"You see I'm one of those nameless many floating around. Abandoned at random in a box at a station . . . somewhere, not that it matters where, the only legible thing on the lable on that box was . . . 'Color: Matt Black'. Now, aside from anything else, one thing a Reaver gets is a name. So, as a happy bonus, should I be useful enough to be accepted, I'll finally have one to call my own."
He looked at the standing figure and the empty chair tucked into the table in front of him. Then the chair was moved out with the man standing at it's back. Only thing is, for the very observant, no events seemed to occur between one moment and the other. The man was seated, the empty chair tucked into the table. The man was behind the chair, now untucked.
"Please forgive me" motioning at the drawn chair "I should listen and answer at your bidding. Sit, and I shall do so."
"Alas, when it comes to the who, they're all dead. Which comes back to the other part of the why. Having no formal identity meant I've had to work for groups too small, stupid and insignificant to notice or care about my particulars. What they did care about was my ability to be useful. Engineering, computing and manufacturing from a theoretical standpoint. Organising duty rosters, inventory, what little intelligence there was. There also was scouting with the help of a little fancy flying. Ooh, and some field repair. If you want to look at the practical, that is.
I should be clear though. I call my former employers stupid not out of any personal grudge, ill will or anything of the sort. It's just that they were. I got a decommissioned base working again after the old owners left in a hurry and the brothers in arms, as they called themselves, moved in. I quite clearly and categorically explained that the shield generator was riddled with micro-fractures and, should they activate it, the radiation leak alone would reduce them to ash. A whole new generator would be needed, no repair possible. The moment I was gone, probably sent on the errand I was given as they didn't believe me, they switch on the generator. I couldn't even get within fifty clicks to check for survivors. One of many examples of what happened. Like a bunch of lemmings trying to hump a hand grenade . . . they were just desperate to blow their brains out. All the history, names places dates and so on are on this. Have a dekko."
He slides a crimson cassette across the table then continues.
"Point is no one's left. I'm out of work. I know that compared to most I'm a bit of a wildcard but I figured in the hand of Aces and Eights there's still room for another card to play. What do you think?"
"I am sure there's a reader for this somewhere..."
She shrugged and looked back at Black. Thinking on what he mentioned, she knew taking a random unknown was always a risk for the Company, but as usual, the Company dealt extremely well in risky situations. The plus on this man was his ability to be basically a machine on every situation.
"Your technical skills and your.. compulsion to do assigned tasks, does please me, and surely will please the Boss."
Looking back at her own interview, this one did brought something to the table, not like her.
Raising her hand for a done deal shake, she looked at Black.
"I will forward your data to the boss, but suffice to say, welcome to the Reaver Mercenary Company, Matt Black. You will have some papers to sign as the norm, security regulations and protocols, a lot of jibber jabber that basically protects you and the Company in your future.
All you need is a rookie name.. Machine.
Congratulations. Head to bay 2-5D, they will be expecting you."
[13:37:45] Tyler: ****** seems butthurt and Haste seems to be going in without lube or spitting atleast on it for decency sakes.
"Thank you. Oh, I almost forgot. Depending on the people, place and type of negotiation a small gift is usually required upon achieving a positive result. As I was a bit busy I narrowed it down to a choice of two. Please take your pick.
This . . ." after pulling a rather large bottle from his suit pocket " . . . is a little something I make myself. As the records will show it has been the end of some of my former employers who were of a weaker constitution. The container, not the contents, are the gift in this case and, incidently, the inspiration for the drink's name. Black Death. Salvaged from an ancient sea vessel, long before we set sail for Sirius, that was sunk under the false assumption that one of the crew suffered from the ailment.
This . . ." after placing the bottle on the table a crystal rose was then produced from the depths of the black suit " . . . was a little something I made as well. A foray into materials that were responsive to the slightest changes, this early model didn't do much but . . . it's one of a kind. Watch."
The rose flower, thorns and stem were all a rich gloss black. Then they weren't. pulsing, flashing and gently morphing from every colour to every other colour. Oh, and the whole rose was balanced on the edge of the tip of the Reaver's outstretched finger blissfully unaware of the physics it was ignoring. Machine gently placed it too on the table.
"Not much I know." he said with a sigh of regret "Time, alas, is always against such things. But, please, choose and enjoy"
With that last word he was gone. Only to be back a second later to say
"Oh, and those forms you mentioned? Already done, filed and out the way. I'll check in to finish the in person stuff. Damn. Would've been so much more impressive to disappear without a trace just there. Well anyway . . . do pick either, the other'll find its own way back."
With that he lit up two cigarettes, holding them both between the same two fingers and smoking them both as if he only held just one as he walked quite visibly and very normally out of the room.
![[Image: Signaturev_zps8f090a17.png]](http://i1124.photobucket.com/albums/l573/TheSynergys/Discovery/Reavers/Signatures/Signaturev_zps8f090a17.png)
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