Raffo's Bar & Grill, Planet Manhattan, Newsprings District
Dixon sat at the bar's office, making battle plans for the upcoming weeks in the sector. Every once in a while, he looked at the clock, waiting for his guest, and every single time his eyes wandered off from the clock to the painted riotgear, that was set up in the corner. His ask for a rescue seriously surprised Dixon, for he didn't know this man to get into so much trouble. Quite the opposite, Dixon thought that he isn't taking too much risk, but by the looks of it, he was mistaken. Nevertheless, his four best guys were on the case, led by the youngest, a hard faced 16 year old kid by the name of Tommy Jones.
Not too long after the expected time, Tommy's face showed up at the door, leading in the guest of honor. "Well... You look like shit" - Dixon commented on the appeareance of his guest. "Take a seat. Tommy, get us some drinks, then you'll have the day off" -The kid turned around, and left to get some bottles
Ampere was shattered. There was no other way to put it. Cuts and bruises on his face and a still-fresh wound around his abdomen where a small patch was holding on. He looked up to the desk and noticed the glass of whiskey that Tommy brought over. Without hesitation, he downed it before looking up to Dixon.
"Well... certainly had better days..."
His datapad was placed on the table as well with a broken screen still showing a map about the uncharted territories.
Dixon picked up the datapad, glancing at the map showed. He recognized some of the routes shown, at least one of the systems having a rare periodic connection. "Might I intrigue what were you looking for? There are no lost treasures there, as far as I know."
He poured another glass for Ampere, he sure could use it. The man before him was ruined, not just physically, but pscyhologically as well. Dixon felt a mixture of pity, and rage, as he didn't really knew him, but still considered Ampere to be in his tribe. And whoever hurt his tribe, had another thing coming. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Ampere placed his hands to the glass of whiskey but did not lift it to ease his thirst. The pain over his body was great but in his mind and soul it was a much older pain stinging deep.
" Its... nothing... nothing to really worry about. A problem of mine from the past "
He drank half of his drink while leaning back a bit along with deep sighs
He drank his whiskey as well, and poured another one, and started sipping it. "Most problems are from the past... But for the argument's sake, if it makes you go out to deep space, and leaves you look like that you've just got out of a forkfight with a hungry corsair, I'd consider it a present problem."
He stopped for a few seconds, letting it settle in Ampere's mind. His eyes wandered back to the broken datapad, and he pulled out a freash one from a drawer, placing it close to himself, "Will you tell me now, or do you really want to play twenty questions 'til Belial shows up, and stitches you together?"
He let out a deep sigh and looked over himself. Glanced over the cuts, burn marks and his now ruined civilian clothes.
"I guess at this point its obvious I can't let her go... I'm,, im still looking for Jenny.. "
His eyes teared up a bit trying to avoid eye contact with Dixon. His internal pride tried to take over as the leader of a pack he cannot show his emotions. The very emotions that he uses to torture and fight his foes torturing him at the very same time.
Dixon sighed, and poured into both of their half empty glasses, and instantly emptied his. He looked at him for a moment, before speaking "I know the feeling. And we're alone, if you want to drop the act. But after we're out of her Amp... Richard, you'll have to pull yourself together. As many shortcomings our dear friend Hemlocke had, he was right in one thing: This is a dog eat dog company we keep"
He was smiling a bit and shaking as he was holding onto his plaster for the wounds. Slowly lifting his drink and taking a few sips before again making eye contact.
"I lost contact with my wife twelve years ago Dixon. Twelve years ago the Liberty Government denied her existence. They raided my flat, they took almost everything that reminded me of her.. all i got is this... stupid thing.. i made.. where... "
He got a little emotional and pulled out a mobile holoprojector from his pocket that just about survived his fights. His own little technology. The well-engineered little device showed the dedication and precise actions that Ampere is capable of. He placed it on the floor and activated it with his legs. The holographic picture of a semi 3D woman appeared and with a slightly robotic female tone asked "Hello dear, how was your day?" Ampere cleared his eyes from the tears and after a few seconds turned the holoprojector off.
"Its hard... to accept that she might have never survived her mission... I promised her that I will find her. One day... one day"
Ampere finished his drink quickly before leaning back to be a bit more comfortable.
"I ... i was away for a few weeks... what's going on... Hemlock is a name i haven't heard you say it for a while... "
"It's a headache we don't need right now, believe me" - Dixon raised his hand, pushing away the thought - "Let's just call it SNAFU"
He looked at the hologram, and was amazed by Ampere's capabilities. He picked up the empty datapad, and started uploading everything from the broken one for him
"I know it's hard to let go, but I doubt you'll ever find anything" - He pulled out a small porcelain flask, and poured something else into his glass - "It's been a long time. And besides, if she was alive, what would she see now? Her husband became a criminal, and a mastermind at that. I see you've spent a lot of time on this, hell, you migth even contracted the Lane Hackers, or someone else with the suitable skills."
Dixon then pulled out a cigar box, and offered one to Ampere - "But if you're unwilling or unable to give up the search or her, I can help... in some form or another"
Ampere accepted the drink and the cigar, something to feel home a bit, he relaxed and visibly let go of the worries. His emotions were tumbling of being the criminal he became, the things he did.. and the things he might be doing.
"Funny... I used to be a holo tech engineer.. with high honors you know all that crap.. the medals and flags... a lab everything. Fancy lights that brightened up my every day and made me believe that I'm safe and I can trust my bosses. She was a research officer... one of those that could find a whole galaxy in front of you just like that... "
He managed to light up his cigar and took a long deep breath, resting its fumes on his tongue before breathing it in deep and then out.
"I... killed my boss, and his boss... and probably scarred the officer for life that sent my Jenny to that mission. Funny how I don't miss my old life. Always... playing the good citizen... that model betrayed me and her. But thank you, I don't want to forget her. If I do... then she is dead for sure."
He took a few more in from that lovely smooth cigar.
"But I also recognize the fact I cannot find her... i cannot trace where she so signal was originated from... and the hackers are reluctant to give access to higher capability sensors so... for the time being I got my theories and my... oh yeh.. i don't have my shuttle anymore... well then I have theories where she could have ended up. But I'm sure.. that this is not what you wanted to really talk about?"