Another Line in the Ledger

[Sayne]

Act 2 - Beneath the Crown

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Blake hated long distance travel. He preferred sticking to Liberty. It was less of a headache than passing through customs in different houses, being scanned by inept CDI forces every twenty minutes, and being hassled for papers. The list went on. He rested his head against his fist and looked out the window at the passing lanes as they streaked by the viewport. He sighed without realizing it, annoyed, drawing the attention of Joel, one of his guards. Blake noticed the look and waved a hand.

"Travel just pisses me off, Joel. Nothing to worry about."

Joel nodded begrudgingly in agreement. "Couldn't agree more, sir. Your father hated it too." he said.

"So that's why he hid our next destination outside of Liberty?" Blake asked dryly.

Joel smiled, a rare commodity.

"I never said he made any sense."

Blake guffawed at the remark and turned his attention back to the viewport for a time.

It's gotta be something he wanted hidden from the other Rogues, but why? Why the subterfuge? Why have Mother be the one to get the key in the first place? No doubt he hid its true purpose to make sure she couldn't use it as leverage over him but... I can't shake the feeling there's more to it. I just don't know the players on the board...yet.

His thoughts were interrupted by an announcement that they were arriving at Waterloo and that a shuttle would be standing by to take passengers to the surface. Joel, quiet as ever, stood without a sound and made preparations for Blake to depart the ship onto the station orbiting the Bretonian capital world. Blake rose, buttoning his tailored long coat and adjusting his tie and undershirt for the arrival. No sense looking disheveled to people who had practically coined sophistication, even in ancient times.

The mooring clamps engaged a short time later and the hatch opened. A station attendant took the paperwork from the captain and cleared the passengers for customs...again. A short time later Blake and his guards were passing through the station. On paper, Blake was a wealthy Freelancer arriving planetside to visit a cousin and enjoy one of New London's many attractions.

The truth was far more mysterious.

As the three arrived at the shuttle, Blake did his best not to recoil at its condition. Debris and litter covered the floor, and more than one passenger looked barely a step above homeless. He stood near the exit as his guards flanked him. The shuttle detached from the station and slowly maneuvered through the docking clamps before beginning its descent to the surface. Blake had to admit the pilot knew what he was doing. There was barely any turbulence as they broke through the atmosphere.

When he and his guards stepped off the shuttle, the cold wind of New London made him balk for a moment before he regained his composure. Charles, his other guard, stifled a chuckle. Blake shot him a dirty look, though the faint smirk that followed made it clear he wasn't truly upset.

"We use the intel our friend in Liberty gave us and find whatever my father left behind." Blake said, intentionally sprinkling a Bretonian accent into his voice for anyone who might be eavesdropping. "We get what we came for and we bug out after seeing our cousin."

The two guards nodded curtly, and the trio disappeared into the brisk morning fog.

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I've lost people who meant the world to me...and I'm still doing just fine.

I'm coming for everything they said I couldn't have.