Heavy Is The Head That Lies The Crown PT 2

Posted on 18 Aug 2022 @ 8:18pm by Captain Jonathan Reynolds

Mission: Through the looking glass
Location: MU Blackhole Bar VIP Area
Timeline: MD3 23:00
1769 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Previously on part 1:

"What do you think?" Jon turned to Xu amused that she had been annoyed at him calling her out on snapping back and forth and then reverted back to flirting again. "I think the rest of the leaders would welcome exploring an alliance with the El Aurians. But we are just the one faction.

And now the continuation ..........


Beating the lust for leaping across the table and cutting this women's throat, spilling her blood aside, Xu was bored but she had picked up on one thing... "If this pretty trinket, as you say, has no real value to you, why are we still talking... She will either sell the item to us, exchange it, bargain for it or I kill her, her friend and the guards and we walk out having had some fun along the way!"

"Such fierce words from such a pretty thing." Veran mused.

"Easy," Jon told Xu. "The prospect of an alliance is beneficial. And the others would not be happy if we let an idea like that not be scrutinised by them. So lets stop throwing around threats and mistrust, the flirting I don't mind," he beamed at Veran, "and try get a deal done without any blood shed ehh."

Something was bothering Jon. "Hang on you said the Empire want the crown? Why? The goddesses abandoned us. Liam has no love for them. Liam did not know of Methalina the last time I saw him in person. The fifth. The secret goddess. We must have spy in our ranks. Only our organisation had that information," he said looking at Xu. She sensed uncomfortable but then she always sensed uncomfortable when they were trying talking and diplomacy. Give her free reign to massacre people and she was in her element.

"I believe there is a Betazoid scientist, Keiben Haistro, who is interested in the headpiece." V gave this information freely as it didn't really amount to much. "They work for the Emperor and I have heard through my palace contacts has hinted to the Emperor that it would be of value. From what I have gathered the Empire Scientist did hear about it from another source, but that can either be from your camp or through someone who knows I have it." She shrugged. The thought of empire troops knocking her door down did not phase her in the least.

Xu remained stoic, only allowing her mistrust and distain for this El'Aurian to radiate from her, if anything it was acting as white noise and nothing else could be read from her, enveloping her like a shield that not even the strongest of telepaths could penetrate.

Veran could do nothing but smirk at the woman behind Jon. A lack of emotion was a sign enough, even if she wasn't an empath. "If the crown is for Methalina, a goddess of old, then is stands to reason the crown is powerful in the right circumstances or under certain condition. It is possible that Dr Haistro is wanting to use it to gain favour with the Emperor, maybe he thinks it'll give him godly powers... or maybe they are interested in opening up their own gateways into other universes. A unique talent let me tell you."

Rashad was avidly listening to all of this, in the back of his mind he was also wondering where his counterpart could be at. He kept that clouded, though he was still observing what was going on, especially just looking at this universes Jon Reynolds, then back to this universe's XU. He had to keep himself in his personae though. He pulled out a flask from inside his vest and took a drink of it. "This bargaining is bringing on a mighty thirst, would any of you like some of this?" pulling out a bottle from the satchel where he had the crown wrapped in soft cloth.

“No thank you, I am only after a crown. I have plenty of Latinum for you to name an amount and if you truly want to look at an alliance I need to bring you to meet some people. And you will be brought in blind as to our location. That’s a deal breaker.

This Dr Haistro can swivel back and forth on what he does and doesn’t know. I know my brother and a crown won’t impress him. He will just destroy it,” Jon stated. “He hates the goddesses and anything around them. The scientist won’t curry favour but you will anger Methalina if it ends up destroyed. And end any chance of that alliance.”

He mentally made a note of the name though. If this went south Xu had her next target. In fact perhaps they should just make plans to take him out anyway.

"That would be a great loss indeed for the crown to be destroyed." Rashad commented after taking a good drink of the bottle he pulled out. "If your brother is one who wishes to destroy said pretty, I would rather deal with you than your twin. It would be a waste of something as valuable as that." Rashad giving another scrutinizing look towards Jon as well as Xu. He most certainly was paying attention to how she moved, the way she gripped her weapon.

Jon nodded at the other human. He knew he was saying all the right things but he was not the person doing the deal at all. The El Aurian was most definitely in control here. He however liked to live dangerously the way he was watching Xu.

"So then lets get this deal on the table shall we?"

"It should have been on the table the moment we entered the room rather than playing these ridiculous games!"

Xu's anger finally erupting to the surface, her temper at the end of its tether but before she could pulled her tessen and insert it into the throat of the El'Aurian Jon stepped in front of her. He knew her to well.

“Why don’t you go get a long hard drink,” he placed a hand on her shoulder squeezing it gently. “In fact take this chap. Cool down and the go contact the others with their offer.

Myself and V can get this deal signed, sealed and delivered. Besides there’s still some negotiation to work through. I’m going to need to know more about this scientist and …. “ he winked at the El aurian. “She’s plans for using my face.”

Rashad stood up, getting ready to defend V, he wasn't liking the fact that his partner was being threatened. This deal had to go through successfully. When the offer of going to have a drink with Xu, he looked back and forth between Jon, Xu and V. "I can deal with a drink, as long as you don't put that sharp object where I wouldn't like it." his eyes narrowing towards Xu then Rashad smiled, "A drink while the two of you work things out, that would be good."

"Yes, off you go and behave. Let us grown ups talk and tie up some loose ends." Veran placed the emphasis on tie up as she looked Jon up and down before her eyes rested back on the aggressive woman. She did not feel threatened by her in the least. V had been around a long time and that wasn't going to come to an end any time soon.

She looked over at Rashad and gave his an affirmation that he could go with Xu. She would be safe with Jon and knew that they would get things done quicker without an audience and with fewer distractions.

Rashad gave a nod and then handed the shoulder bag to V, "Here you go, V." then he looked towards Xu, "Shall we?" rising up from his seat, and giving bit of a slight bow.

Jon watched his colleague go off no doubt NOT Happy. But he wasn't getting this crown if she kept threatening the El Aurian. That much was clear.

"I assume your associate can handle himself. Now lets you and me iron this out no further side-tracking or interruptions. I can pay handsomely and I can provide as you know more useful things. I happen to be the Emperors identical twin," he said.

Rashad looked over his shoulders towards V, he knew she was capable of closing the deal. He also was getting the 'feeling' that she had her suspicions about him. He needed to watch his body language more carefully. He also needed to watch his back where Xu was concerned as well.

"He can. If not then... well more for me." Veran smirked. "I am a huge believer in wealth can make one happy to a handsome fee always brings a smile to my lips." she added as he mentioned being the Emperor's IDENTICAL twin. "Well, how would you want to go about using that? It can be dangerous to look like the man in power... everyone wants a piece you know?" she asked rhetorically.

Behind Jon's shoulder V could easily see Xu and Rashad, his hand touching Xu's shoulder and starting to travel down her back. Her reaction was like lightning, her arm whipping up and out, wrapping abound his, contorting the arm in a way that it could have only meant he would be sore and bruised while her free arm came around as she repositioned, driving an open palm with the force of a freight shuttle at his nose, shattering the bone there also. She continued the fluid motion by stepping over the screaming man who now lay on the floor and walked back to Jon.

"Turns out he can't handle his drink... Or his women!"

Rashad barely moved enough to keep himself from getting killed from the blow to the nose. She was experienced in Martial arts, rather good, and his arm was going to be injured, but not broken. However it was time for him to leave, his hand snaked into an inner pocket, pulling out a hypospray to stop his pain. The relief it gave him was enough for Rashad to stagger to his feet. He gave a rather dark look towards Xu, and then turned to leave. He was done. He staggered out, pressed a button and disappeared in a shimmering light, and was gone.

~Its a good job I can~ was all Jon thought.

OFF:

Rashad Elgin
aka Ethan Smith
PNPC: Michael Hawkins

AU Jonathan Reynolds
PNPC Jon Reynolds

Veran Opala
PNPC Harper - Gatekeeper and Rogue

MU Xu Chang-Lau
PNPC - Cassandra Higgins