He looked over at Raven, a broken and abandoned thing being cast out again. A pang of guilt stung his soul. Could something be done? Would it be worth it? The window of oppertunity was closing and he could foresee a potential future for her, if one wanted to call it that. A hellish desire to inflict revenge upon everyone and everything who wronged her, that is if Death was cruel and stayed her hand.
You're releasing her? if so please, give her this He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt and removed his Rosary from around his neck. The small silver crucifix glinting in what light there was. The gesture would be comical to others, but what else could he do. He could not intervene physically, the man would never sell her and she...well, she would disappear yet again. Perhaps this small thing would help her in some small way, show her not all was lost.
She would likely throw it away, probably because she didn't care, had no need for it or just out of spite. But it was his, his personal Rosary that he had worn for years. He had nothing else to give, so it would have to do. It might serve as a light for her, when all other lights go out. He said quietly. This was deeply troubling for Steiner, she was by all rights, an enemy that deserved nothing from him, much less his personal belongings. But seeing her as she was, her needs were greater than his. Take it and begone He said thrusting it toward his captor.
He took the trinket lying in front of his feet. He murmured its name as he glanced at it carefully.
"Alright. I will."
His words were genuine. Honoring the request of a prisoner in hopes to help another. He could've ignored the request. Could've tossed the thing away after leaving the Containment Room. In reality he did care - in his own twisted way - of everyone he ever met. Ever her, to a degree.
It wasn't long before Ego had left the Dunlin with Raven in his cargo hold to honor a deal he'd done with Kimiko. He was many things, but a conscious liar he was not.
Four hours later
Ego had returned from the Taus, but Raven hadn't. She was traded away to the person he promised her to. Soon it will be the same case with the Director, although he had mixed feelings about the situation. During those four hours he'd managed to amass a bounty of hundreds of millions of credits from who he believed was Cazadora. The coincidence was too obvious, yet the fact that the same individual knew everything about the mercenary was out of place. But that meant nothing to him at this point. What name he used to have no longer applied to the person he had become. Polar opposite, yet with only a few common aspects left.
"She will be safe now. But you, Director. We haven't solved your problem. Cazadora knew much more than I anticipated, but didn't give me the answers I- we were looking for. What's funnier? There are two Cazadora. Something is fishy, because two people wanted you."
"Test the sharpness of your sword against another. And when that is not enough, unsheathe your cunning as the hidden dagger that ends the fight."
Well this was a little alarming. Two people both with the same name ready and willing to pay an awful lot of credits for him, he wasn't quite sure what to make of it. If I didn't know better, I'd say this is a set up Turning people against each other was never a strong point of his, but persuading people to take a moment, now he could do that. Amusing as it was that he was a wanted man all of a sudden, the reality of the situation was that he was seemingly being hunted. By whom he didn't know, but he didn't want to find out. How many people did you tell that I was here? Not many I imagine, yet here we are. I think it'd be best if we took a moment to think about this, who is Cazadora? Why are they hunting me? What do they want?
"I've told no one you were here. But, maybe Raven did us both a twisted favor and ratted us both out. Two people want you dead, one of them paid top to see me dead as well. Either you've done something really, really stupid to piss off the Corsairs, or you've annoyed more people than just the Corsairs.
Presumably another Cazadora contacted me. I will see for myself if this is the real one. If it is, we'll have some solid answers too. I will go alone, as to not risk your safety."
"Test the sharpness of your sword against another. And when that is not enough, unsheathe your cunning as the hidden dagger that ends the fight."
Corsairs? he said with a raised eyebrow, his head cocked slightly. I've never dealt with the Corsairs before, Gallia mostly, Order occasionally, Auxesia if I must but never Corsairs. Now this was interesting, someone from the Corsairs had enough issue with him to put a bounty out, but who? He barely knew the Corsairs, and he doubted any of them knew who he was.
Still, leaving to go by himself to meet said mysterious person didn't seem overly clever. I hope you have a plan B. You never did accept my offer earlier, it does still stand. Perhaps venturing out into the back woods isn't the best of moves but if it is, I would appreciate you sharing what information you can gather.
"I have a plan B, don't fret. And I've already told you I'll share what I find out."
He replied, before turning to leave the Containment Room one more time. Ego wasn't sure if the meeting was a smart idea or a stupid way to die, but it was the only option nonetheless. A dangerous game where all cards mattered, and the penalty for loss was death or worse. He couldn't do much else, though. He had to finish this job as fast as possible and disappear once more. He was officially branded as Vincent Abrams now without most memories of his past self.
One hour later
Ego had seemingly returned. Helmet slightly charred from the burn marks and the right sleeve of his trenchcoat burnt off, revealing a grotesque looking cybernetic arm. While the technology was somewhat impressive, the long decayed synthetic skin gave it the look of a poorly maintained artificial limb. He left out a low chuckle as the contraption strapped to the same arm began to hiss audibly, spewing out orange fumes as liquids had begun to flow through transparent tubes going deeper under what was left of his outfit. A crude device for sure, but a necessary one.
"Unlikely friend that you've made a few years back. A she. A Corsair. She wants you alive, and definitely wants to dominate you or something. Knows you from the time you were a Lieutenant within the Armed Forces. Does that ring a bell, Victor?"
He spoke with a sarcastic tone, muffled by the slightly damaged helmet followed by a pained groan as he sat down on the floor in front of the Director's cell.
"Test the sharpness of your sword against another. And when that is not enough, unsheathe your cunning as the hidden dagger that ends the fight."
His confusion was evident, a Corsair woman? He struggled to remember and then it hit him. All the memories long since hidden away came flooding back in an instant.
Belen.
Oh... His heart sank, he remembered now, and what he did. He ran, abandoned her to go home. But she understood that, she knew that he was always going to do that. It wasn't going to work, a Corsair and an Military officer, he had a duty to preform. She knew he would inevitably do that, wouldn't she? No matter, at the very least he knew who she was now. More unfinished business that he needed to deal with. More skeletons in the closet and secrets he had buried long ago.
But was this his fault? He moved on, he left her and she never followed. She knew where he was, could have reached out years ago, could have sent him a message any time. Why now? He had a right to be annoyed, the level of inconvenience caused, he wasn't the boy she knew, to that end she could have just sent a letter, or had someone deliver a message but no, that was too easy it had to be a loot and scoot didn't it?
He sighed and straightened himself up, fine, if she was going to go this far to see him then he could at least turn up. But the Bounty Hunter, well, he was a curious case if ever there was one. He'd proven himself to be an honorable enough fellow, a little cold perhaps, in the way he treated Raven, but that wasn't his concern anymore.
Right, lets get this over with. I've a few words that I'd like to say to my Ex. And you sir, can bloody well come with me. I'm not walking into the gates of the abyss without a wingman and unfortunately for you, you're it.
Perhaps he wasn't in a position to order the man around and it's likely he never would be, but Steiner hoped that he would understand at very least, the situation he found himself in. After all, as the old saying went 'Heav'n has no rage, like love to hatred turn'd...
Ego left out a low chuckle. The absolute irony which led to this moment was golden. He could almost relate to the awkward situation his prisoner faced, if it weren't for the heart of a Corsair he broke.
"Right, then. You want me to tag along and make sure you won't get castrated, then fed your own balls. Normally I should just deliver you and walk away. That is the sanest thing to do.
What do I stand to gain out of this, Victor? Her Majesty's undivided attention?"
"Test the sharpness of your sword against another. And when that is not enough, unsheathe your cunning as the hidden dagger that ends the fight."
He blinked and stared at the man with a blank expression, attempting to register the question fully.
You have her undivided attention right now.
For God's sakes, he might be a prisoner for now, but he was still Victor Steiner, Director of the SIS. He answered to the Queen, he worked for the Queen. He reported to the Queen. If she said jump, he said 'how high?'. Which means the SIS and himself were answerable only to the Queen.
So yes...Caliban had her full and undivided attention.