The Shadow of Sirius

[Crysis]

-819AS

Three years since their escape, the two had originally made for Magellan, touching down in Freeport 4 where they stayed the night before parting ways. Erich purchased some illegal identification off a freelancer he’d met at the bar that night, the conversation had a lot to do with smuggling and the Border Worlds, the man mentioned Planet Malta, about his little ranch, the two made off for the Rheinland in the morning. Reiner felt himself deserving of snatching a civilian eagle fighter from the hangar, it was just like the ones in the simulators at the institute, it felt right, and so he took it. He headed for New York in the early hours of the morning discretely evading the authorities and on a direct route to Rochester base.

Reiner’s future was to start in an unusual place, one he would return to in the near future, a tavern which was to him his doing and undoing, little did he know now. It at the Rochester Inn Bar where Reiner met the Mandalorians, a group of elite mercenaries playing a major role in both ‘peace-keeping’ and killing of many bounty targets across Sirius placed by their customers. He joined the group and within his first three days of service was summoned to the Mandalore’s Office, Mandalore William Bishop. He was astounded at the skills of Mr. Hetsau as is shown in the log kept of the meeting that day by the advisor at the Mandalore’s side, where he was handed the ‘Murcyur’, an ancient blade crafted for one sole purpose, as a token of respect and as a present for his amazing work. This blade was used on a number of occasions throughout the short life of service and Reiner vowed to bind his soul to it and make it a part of him.

There were certain encounters which changed Reiner, some experiences in the Bretonia Sector dealing with the Joker’s Gang sparked some unfortunate fuses in his mind. It was a calm morning, departing from California Minor after a nights rest, Reiner reported for duty once in space, he took a deep breath before stretching in his seat and exhaling loudly in a mid-yawn. He turned on his communication systems; ‘This is Reiner Hetsau, calling in’… *’Good morning Mr. Hetsau, there is trouble reported in the Bretonia Sector, -:[Threat Report Level: High – Bretonian Armed Forces Report]:-‘, the text which appeared on the screen got his blood pumping, it seemed like money was to be made today. In little less than the hour he had arrived at Leeds, he could see a firefight in the distance which he approached close to an asteroid field, it was the Jokers, and they outnumbered the armed forces, twelve cronies this lunatic had rounded up.

“Officer’s, I’m here on behalf of the Mandalorian’s, if I can be of assistance, I would be happy to help” Reiner smirked on the Comm. Channel, it gave off both a relieving ambience at the sound of backup, and a very sinister one at the eagerness to engage in combat.

“This is Lieutenant Commander Edward Doyle leading this defence team, I’m glad to hear the voice of a friend, your aid is greatly appreciated” His ship was hit by a missile, it spiralled out of control for a moment before stabilising. In an instant twelve of the Joker’s cronies were amongst them, they didn’t do much of the talking, they left that for their leader. In swooped Reiner, undertaking a number of evasive manoeuvres within the asteroid field dropping mines as he went, with a kill of the engines allowing him to turn at a quick one hundred and eighty degrees, he was now facing a trailing pack of enemies sat like ducks amidst his mines. Reiner opened his eyes and laughed manically, a train cruise disruptor was fired into the fray, the explosions and shockwave blowing up three fighters as they collided and exploded in the blast zone. He had one on his tail, his hands gripped tightly on the control sticks, Reiner pulled back killing the engines of his ship once again, with no counter propulsions and his thrusters off the momentum allowed it to flip at twice the speed re-engaging the thrusters driving him directly on top of his victim where he dropped a torpedo directly behind the engines blowing up the fool he even attempted those shots on his back and knocking his own shields of as he collided with an asteroid. Reiner clenched his teeth as he tensed up as hard as he could to keep himself steady in his seat as it was rocked, ricocheting off the asteroid it hit, the hull damaging slightly, the dogfights went on, they were winning but two of the three Armed Forces Pilots were down, there were two threats still alive, four had so far taken ten, the quality of training was really showing off amongst them. Commander Doyle’s ship challenger was out for the count, it had a damaged wing, no ammunition and was suffering from a fire on the secondary engine, Reiner engaged his warp speed and heading directly for Doyle collided with him wedging him into a crack in an asteroid as it spun round. “Sorry Officer, it’s for your own good” Reiner continued his charge towards the two targets unleashing hell with his guns before strafing directly at the target waiting for him to steer off. The two pilots stared each other dead in the eye as they approached, none wanting to give up their route and bail out, Reiner once again killed his engines spinning another one eighty now facing the same way as the pilot as who was about to joust him head on. The thug faced him looking confused, Reiner grinned as he rammed his opponent off a nearby wreck belonging to his ally and firing off the ships guns, before disabling its shields and thrusters, the man sat there, bleeding from the head, a gash caused by the impact, electrical sparks came off wires and panels which dangled from the cockpit. He could see through the corner of his eye the last and only remaining member of the thugs make a run for it, he knew he had no chance.

“Is it over? Mandalorian, is it done?” Doyle panted, he sounded peeved and hurt, he had been wedged here, useless and injured.

“Almost, just sit tight Commander… Please” Reiner sounded different, he seemed to smile a lot, it was rather uncomfortable in the given circumstance.

Reiner’s eagle closed down on the thugs sabre. He hovered above it before reversing and ramming his landing door into the thug’s ship. Reiner pushed the button to lower the back door, it creaked and banged as it did so grinding hard into the metal of the other ship revealing its interior before getting stuck. Reiner in a black bio suit with body armour, his dark black shrouded helmet, a purple light shining through the left eye could be seen approaching the door from the thugs’ cockpit. The thug attempted to free himself, but he his safety belts were jammed in combat mode locking him in place he wriggled before looking back with an uneasy smile to remain in role. Reiner approached the lodged door and kicked it hard with his boot twice until it wedged itself lower in, enough for him to fit through. He stepped in, the heavy sound of his boot chattering with the steel plates with covered the interior of the cockpit, his hand raised over his head and reaching into the scruff of his neck, his blade still retained its position, the seething of a perfected blade leaving the sheath created a distinct ghastly ambience in the room, the atmosphere was cold. Reiner stepped before the thug before staring him in the eyes taking hold of him by the throat before cutting him free from the seatbelts. Commander Doyle’s ship still wedged in the crevice of the asteroid had now turned to face the scene between Reiner and the thug. He could see the men through the cracked and damaged glass of the cockpit, like two shadows, he then lost sight of them as it spun once again, ‘What was going on he thought?! How did that happen?!’. Reiner holding a dangling, smiling thug by the throat lifted him with one arm to a standing position, before revealing his face pulling down his mask ‘The Murcyur’ held hilt in hand and blade against his forearm. The thugs smile dropped, he had never seen something so ominous, even in the eyes of his manic boss, it was a harnessed evil, and you could see a clear built hatred within, they looked thirsty, and he knew it was over. In a solid, punching motion across the man’s neck, blade held protruding slightly passed the outer forearm, Reiner had opened a large gash in the man’s neck, severing the carotid artery. A maroon red spray of blood gushed out, followed by thick warm crimson streams, it was a bloodbath, his face was dripping his armour covered, the cockpit a mess. In his blood fuelled rage, Reiner calmed himself as he crawled through the mess which was the door back into his fighter, he seemed to have quenched his thirst in the frenzy of battle.

He approached Commander Doyle, tractoring him into the cargo hold as he released himself from his ship. The cargo doors opened, the Commander stumbled out, weak and shaky and through himself on the ground behind the pilot’s seat.

“Thanks pilot, you saved us all out here today, I don’t know…*He breathed as he rested his hands beside him* how to repay you…” As his hands touched the ground he had placed them in a puddle, quickly pulling back at the surprise he looked at his hands. They were covered in blood, as a matter of fact, he hadn’t paid any attention when he tossed himself to the ground, he opened his eyes, there was a lot of blood everywhere. “Pilot?! What is this…?” He startled.

Reiner turned his head over his shoulder to face the Commander, his face a blood covered mess, dripping, a look fit for the dead, however he retained a smirk. “Firstly, it has been a pleasure… Hehehe, Secondly... Strictly dealing with business…” He laughed manically.

“Business? Explain yourself… What does this blood have to do with business? Is this the thug? No… No, that’s not how we do things around here Mercenary?!!” He sounded very annoyed and attempted to stand up, without a chance Reiner was already standing before him the stare alone forcing him back down to the ground.

“Listen, Commander… You have a problem, you requested our aid, I came forth, I dealt with it… How that is conducted is not your business, now I advise you to remain seated and rest until we can drop you off” Reiner shook his head, ‘Pathetic fool he thought to himself, never seen some blood or the extent of battle and rage’… He looked on, slouched in his chair, he was fed.

He remained loyal for a number of years before leaving the dispersing organisation, he was always a difficult individual with an intense lack of sentiment and emotion at times, it was almost as if it could be triggered at will. No one knew about his ‘psychotic releases however’ and those who did, never made it to tell the tale. He fell into hiding where he sought solitude in an attempt to find peace, in a universe where it was scarce.