Present day,
EvocatusThe residual hum of the ship's manoeuvring jets eventually faded to nothing, leaving only the quiet beeping of the bridge controls and the quiet chatter of the small crew to disturb the silence. It was almost relaxing, though the patter of raindrops over the transparisteel viewport removed any cheer from the dull-looking landing bay. Dull as it may have been, it was the only landing bay on the planet that was large enough to hold Hades' 100 metre-long assault cruiser - a docking bay that was usually reserved for commercial activity. The rest of the large ships docked at the space station above the planet and were ferried down from there, but for the fast-ascending Demetrius, that just would not do. "It looks like there's a welcoming committee, sir," the voice called Hades' attention to the far side of the utilitarian docking bay, where - true to the man's word - stood a party of a dozen or so figures, though the rain and the grey walls combined to prevent any hints as to their identity.
"Well," Demetrius murmured, hands clasped behind his back in a traditional at-ease stance, immaculate black uniform missing the rank bars he usually donned - he wasn't here on duty, after all, though the code cylinders remained. "If this is how the planet's weather greets someone, I doubt their officials will be much brighter," he mused, mostly to himself.
"Perhaps not, sir," it was a familiar voice, one he knew without turning belonged to his old comrade, Jarv, "professional courtesy never goes amiss, though."
"As long as it doesn't," he muttered in reply, "very well, best to get it over with. It doesn't look like this drizzle will cease any time soon in any case. Bring a cadre of guards, too, just in case."
He didn't need a response, bright green eyes peering out into the the light fog brought down by the rain as if to pierce it with his eyes alone. Without another word, Demetrius turned, shiny black boots clicking against the sleek obsidian floor as he made his way toward the ramp. He was rarely attired in anything
but black, so it made sense that his ship was black too - not just any ship; Hades had never liked the more common things in life. No, he had to have a rare ship - a ship which Jarv had managed to acquire at no cost to Hades himself, which made it all the better. As he approached the ramp, four men in more functional - though still black - uniforms fell into formation behind him, with Jarv slipping past them to stand at Hades' side. The younger man shot Jarv a cursory glance, though did a double take as the light exaggerated the grey hair growing on his temples. He tactfully said nothing, however, instead clearing his throat quietly as the large ramp lowered itself onto the duracrete landing pad, exposing the group of black-clad figures to a cold breeze. "No better than it looks, is it?"
"No," Hades commented idly in reply to Jarv's question, "not at all." His gaze roved the bay, though found nothing amiss - it was a fairly austere chamber, lined with some supply crates and consoles. The young officer inhaled quietly before descending the ramp and allowing his boots to touch down planetside for the first time in the better part of three days - Evocatus wasn't as bad as Tatooine in its location, but it wasn't exactly conveniently placed either. The rain stung his cheeks and forehead as the six men crossed the landing bay toward the waiting figures under the cover of a small awning before the exit, icy cold to add to the already chilly wind. It didn't take long to reach the relative shelter of the exit, whereupon the figures turned out to be a small group of customs officials, the highest ranking of which was a Lieutenant with drooping jowls like a strill.
"Commander Aita," the Lieutenant saluted. While he didn't let the surprise register on his face, Hades
was surprised - admittedly, he'd not been overly subtle during his arrival, but it still surprised him that anyone took notice, "Welcome to Evocatus. I'm Lieutenant Lyle Koombs, Officer in charge of the Evocatii Customs Authority. Perhaps you've heard of us?"
"But of course. Your efficiency is legendary, Lieutenant." He lied blatantly with a polite smile, "And please, call me Demetrius - I'm off duty."
"Well, I wouldn't put it like that," the Lieutenant replied, attempting to appear humble, "but yes, we do our part for the safety of Evocatus. Now, Commander- I mean Demetrius, the governor would very much like to meet you. So much so that he's waived the standard customs checks, in fact. Right this way."
"But of course," he inclined his head slightly, politely, glancing back to Jarv with a questioning stare. He received much the same look back; neither of the two knew why the governor wanted anything from him.
--- --- ---
Roughly half an hour later, the group arrived at the Governor's mansion by way of three flash-looking customs speeders. It wasn't just a mansion, not to Hades anyway - it was more like a palace. The place was huge with vast, sweeping grounds stretching at least a kilometer from the house itself before being cut off by high walls topped with security wire and the occasional holo-camera. The rain hadn't stopped its assault, but even so the governor stood outside with three women that Demetrius assumed to be his family, alongside an array of umbrella-bearing servants. The group piled out of the speeders and a smile lit up the governor's agreeable-looking features, a matching one finding its way onto the older of the three women's face. The other two members of his family seemed to bear a slightly more forced smile, but they smiled nonetheless. "Commander Demetrius Aita, I presume?" He had a friendly voice too, loud but not overly so. "Maximillian Vintus,"
"A pleasure, Governor Vintus," Hades replied cordially as the man nodded at the customs lieutenant, who quickly made himself scarce. "Allow me to introduce Jarv Tyrus, my mentor and friend."
As Hades and Maximillian shook hands, the Governor glanced past him to Jarv, who he quickly approached after releasing Demetrius from his firm grip and repeated the handshake with him, "most excellent. And these are?"
Demetrius glanced back, seeing his uniformed guards standing there stoically. "My personal guards, sir. You can never be too careful on fringe worlds."
"Guards? Here?" Maximillian chuckled, "well, I suppose Evocatus
is a fringe world. No need to call me sir, though - please, call me Maximillian."
"As you say, Maximillian," he nodded politely, glancing to the women behind him now, "and whom else do I have the pleasure of meeting today?"
"How rude of me not to introduce them," Maximillian offered in apology, "this is my wife, Lavinia, and my daughters." He gestured warmly to the slightly taller of the two daughters, "the eldest, Rayella and my youngest, Isabelle."
"Enchanted," he offered smartly, half bowing with a smile.
"Well, let's not dally in this dreadful rain. Please, do come inside. Your guards can wait in the servants' dining room, if you'd like. I'll have some food prepared for them." Maximillian began to lead them inside and Demetrius shot Jarv a look that told him it was alright to let the men go down to eat for now, though Jarv would come with Hades - he didn't want to meet with the Governor and his family alone, after all. The rain ceased as soon as they entered the archway of the house, the huge double doors swinging open as a duo of the governor's servants cleared the way for them, giving Hades his first view into the vast entrance hall which was - quite simply - astonishing. The detail, the craftsmanship that would have been required to construct such an interior was just monumental. It reeked of decadence and splendour; fine royal blue carpets lining the floor with an array of valuable art displayed quite obviously.
"Magnificent house you've got here," he commented to Maximillian.
"Thank you. My grandfather built it in the final years of the Republic. Evocatus didn't get involved in the war, you see. We were quite prosperous until the civil war; the Rebels tried to annex us as the Empire fell, but failed on account of the Imperial Dominion's intervention. They were no better - all of Evocatus celebrated when they were defeated, and the Vast Empire made me Governor." He exhaled, glancing back to his guests with a friendly smile, "but you don't want to be bored by war stories. I've arranged for rooms to be made for you and Jarv so you might stay."
"That is very kind of you, Governor, but unnecessary. I'm sure we can find accommodation without imposing on your hospitality-"
"Nonsense!" He clapped Hades firmly on the shoulder, "I'll not have a patriot like yourself staying anywhere less than he deserves. Before you protest any further, note that I might take offense."
He was of course joking, but Hades said no more, "of course. I'll send for my things. Jarv, tell one of the men to return to the ship and fetch our things immediately."
"And how exactly would he get there?" Jarv answered bemusedly, "the good Lieutenant has just left."
"I'll send Vintro down with him in the speeder," Maximillian offered a solution politely, glancing between the two men, "he has to fetch some things in town anyway, it'd be no trouble."
"Thank you, that's very helpful," Demetrius answered, nodding to Jarv, who paced off in the direction of the servants' chambers. He noted that a servant moved off after him; no doubt the man 'Vintro' that the Governor had spoken of.
"Well, seeing as you haven't anything to change into, why don't you join us in the sitting room for some refreshment?"
"Why not?" He smiled, noting the lazy expression on the younger of the daughters' face. The elder daughter had evidently practiced her polite face more often than the younger.
"Right this way," Vintus moved off toward a door at the far side of the room, Hades only moving to follow after the lady-folk of his family had moved as well. "How was the trip? Not too long, I hope."
"Three days from Abrae," he responded, "but in the comfort of the captain's cabin, it's far from demanding."
"Indeed," they passed through the smaller doorway which led to a long room with tall windows and bookshelves on almost every wall, with a desk at the far end and a number of lounges around a large, antiquated fireplace, "you made good time of it. Three days?"
"Three days," Demetrius confirmed, "my ship has a class one hyperdrive," with an apologetic glance to the women, he elaborated, "that is to say it's considerably faster than the majority of commercial and private transport."
"Yes, Lieutenant Koombs said it was a fearsome looking vessel," Maximillian smiled, gesturing to a seat. Hades did as instructed and sat on a single-occupant, cushioned chair that sat opposite a larger seat. The four members of the Vintus family found their seats on the larger chair, looking across the elegant coffee table at the foreigner in their home.
"It is," Hades replied genially, "though it's no luxury yacht."
"No, I imagine it's not," Rayella, the eldest daughter, replied - with just a hint of condescension in her tone. The remark earned her a glare from her mother, though. "You must take father up in it sometime. He loves military ships,"
"Is that so, Governor?"
"It is true, yes," Vintus admitted, bowing his head in acknowledgement, "though I wouldn't want to bother you."
"Really, after your kindness in letting me stay here, I should think a ride in my ship is the least I can do," Demetrius waved off the man's protests, "though I foresee being planetside for quite a while, so I don't imagine I'll have need to take it up for some time."
"There's no hurry," his wife, Lavinia answered for him as she patted Maximillian's arm affectionately, "it's not like he's going anywhere."
"Indeed not. Ah," Maximillian glanced up as a servant entered with a silver tray, atop which sat a pot and several cups, "I hope you like Kopi tea."
"It happens to be my favourite," Hades commented, though couldn't help but feel a little out of place in this grand home. He wasn't aristocracy, nor had he ever been... That was not to say he didn't mean to climb.
"Wonderful, then," As the servant poured a cup for each of them, Hades frowned slightly and looked toward the door.
"I wonder where Jarv has disappeared to," he remarked. The servant pouring the tea straightened.
"He went with your man to fetch your belongings, sir," the servant answered after a nod from the Governor.
"Thank you Miles," Vintus responded to the man, evidently high in station amongst the servants. He might not have known much about the upper class, but he knew that few servants were ever invited to address guests.
"I see," Hades raised his brows as Miles moved off, offering an apologetic smile to the quartet facing him now, "it appears my friend has abandoned me."
"I imagine a house like this is quite daunting to him," commented Rayella - again, the touch of condescension coloured her tone as she smiled, making it seem all the more mocking, "have you been in a house like this before?"
"Rayella please, be polite," Maximillian glared at her, in reply to which she gave a slight shrug of her small shoulders.
"It's quite alright, Governor," he replied, "Yes, I have. It wasn't for anything as nice as tea, however."
Rayella obviously took his smile to mean it was something inappropriate and continued with her remarks, "I can't imagine why, then."
"No," he answered with a small smile of his own as he sensed a minor victory, "I wouldn't think so."
Lavinia seemed to take amusement at that as Rayella raised a brow, "a military man with a sense of humour," she said with a good-natured smile, "we'd be foolish not to snap you up."
Hades blushed slightly as he got Lavinia's meaning, even though it was a joke. "Perhaps we could go ten minutes without insulting or embarassing our guest?" Ever the proponent of propriety, Maximillian spoke up in reprimand to both ladies.
"It was only a joke, Max," Lavinia patted his arm reassuringly and Hades took the cue to smile.
"That's alright," he remarked, "as Lavinia said, I'm a military man with a humour. I've been through far worse."
"I can imagine," Rayella muttered, causing all three other family members to roll their eyes at her remarks.
"It must be quite exciting, Commander," it was the quiet one, Isabelle, who spoke up now, "what you do for a living, I mean."
"Profitable too, if you can afford a ship like that," Maximillian added.
"It can be both exciting and profitable, yes. I served as Chief of Naval Training for a while and made some profitable investments then, but most of my funding comes from my late parents," he explained, "I left home when I was very young... and it was only after they died that I was informed they'd had quite the fortune which was bequeathed to me."
"You must tell us some stories from your service," Lavinia insisted as they sensed the conversation going to a rather dull end, "I'm sure you have plenty."
"I wouldn't want to bore you with tales of war," Demetrius said with a quiet laugh, glancing to Maximillian who seemed to agree with him.
The conversation went on for a good half an hour after that, mostly with the Governor's family questioning him. After that, though, he was saved by the bell, so-to-speak - Jarv had returned with their belongings, at which point they retired to their respective rooms with the promise of dinner in two hours. A knock on the door drew Hades from his stand at the window, looking out over the countryside; it was a marvelous view from his room. "Come in," he called, the door opening to reveal Jarv, who shut it behind him, "Jarv."
"Demetrius," the older man responded, "I trust you got on alright with the Governor and his family?"
"Yes," he answered with a small smile, "though I think the eldest daughter has it in for me, and that his wife intends to sell her youngest daughter to me."
"Sounds like you had a ball," Jarv remarked with a grin.
"It might have helped if you hadn't abandoned me," Hades shot back accusingly, though he was only joking..
"Houses like this are a bit too daunting for me.. Along side that family, too. I just don't belong," Jarv explained. Hades snorted at the fact that Rayella's condescending remark was actually a very accurate assessment.
"You and me both, old friend," he murmured as he turned back to the view, "don't worry, we'll be out of here as soon as I can buy out Kenth's property."
"Will he sell?"
"Mm-hm," Hades made an affirmative sound, "he has to now."
- OOC:
- Wordcount: 2,875. The first of a series of character development storylines for Hades, both past and present.
AAR: Hades arrives on the VE fringe-world of Evocatus, roughly three days travel from Abrae. He is quickly greeted by the governor's representative and taken up to the governor's mansion, where he is invited to stay. Unbeknownst to Governor Vintus and his family, Hades is on the planet to invest in a permanent residence with the money of his parents' only recently discovered fortune. He trades barbs with the Governor's eldest daughter, before retiring to his room and having a little chat with long-time friend and mentor, Jarv Tyrus.
Evocatus: A world out of the way enough to have avoided the worst of the wars (Galactic Civil and subsequent Plague Wars) but valuable enough to have changed hands several times since the Republic, most recently becoming part of the VE after the ID fell; it is home to roughly 26 million people (mostly humans) and is structured very much like late 19th to earl 20th century England, with a dwindling aristocratic population and increasingly liberal 'pleb' population. It is technologically advanced, though its society has lagged behind somewhat.
Its biggest asset is most likely the natural beauty and the architecture, built by the first human inhabitants hundreds of years ago. Any VE presence is largely restricted to the orbital station, while the Evocatii Customs Authority police the planet itself; a corruptible but well trained and well equipped police force. Terrain wise, it's very English - as is the weather. 'Eyesores' (read: factories) are mostly confined to the larger cities, of which there are only around half a dozen. There are two spaceports on the planet; one for private ships and shuttles to/from the orbital station and the other for freighters and the like.
The only native species to speak of are the predatory, bear-like Vocans that are assumed to be well beyond any form of civilisation. A wide range of fauna exists - as can be expected on a terrestrial planet - and provide the main source of food for locals.
More to come