Just Another Day On The Job... (Mirrorverse Event Prolouge)

[Draven Carter]

Today's weather is sunny with some small, happy clouds moving in across from the northwest. Long live the Emperor. Today's temperature will be a high of 78 and a low of 72. Long live the Emperor. Today's---
*click*
In other news, a Public Servant rescued a ca---
*click*
typical Cormalum radio music
*click*


Using the government controlled radios was like repeatedly searching the fridge for something to eat; you instinctively keep checking back and you keep getting reminded that there's nothing good to have. This was one of those days. In fact, every day, there was nothing but the "same old, same old". Reports about how the Empire was controlling all aspects of everyone's lives, including the weather. Reports on how publicly acknowledged servants of the Empire have committed heroic acts and how you can sign up to be just like them. To top it all off, when they're not in the middle of spreading the "good news", they flood the airwaves with nothing but "the most soothing and constructive music to better society with" in between the news. It didn't help that there were only 3 channels...

Draven Carter was behind the wheel of his unmarked government issued speeder. Sitting in traffic was the cause of Draven "checking the fridge". There was, once again, "nothing to eat". The signals changed and he was allowed to unclog from the busiest section of Cormalum's speeder traffic. One of the bonuses to the amount of control the Empire had was that they could make it so "rush hour" became a matter of minutes instead of a long drawn-out ordeal that could result in an accident. Score one for the Empire...don't mention the other side of the score, though.

After getting out of Docklands territory, Draven eventually came to and found a government worker designated parking spot in the best kept area of the Black Hole district. This district was where the best "fishing" could be found when it came to his job as an Agent. That's right. Draven Carter was an Agent working for the Empire. His mission: to find any and all Deviants. It paid the bills and kept the Empire happy. If the Empire was kept happy, then he was also kept happy. Dead or alive, they were coming with him.

This was just another day on the job...but change was on the horizon that no one below the Emperor himself could ever see coming....​

Part 1​

Spoiler

[member="Mirror Emperor"]

 

[Draven Carter]

Draven exited the speeder. His contact in this district was Philly Moskowitz, a young and impressionable teen that liked the trinkets Draven threw his way in exchange for services rendered. His nickname was Mouse, because he used to be small, unassuming, and he had brown hair. Now, he should probably be called Rat or Ferret because he had grown to be quite tall and slinky. You see, a long time ago, he had literally tripped over Mouse, who had been staring inside a ground level window in an alley in the Black Hole. Draven had been distracted by thoughts of how little success he had recently been having and the kid's body had been blocking the light from the window. After Draven had picked himself up, he was visibly upset with the poor kid. The kid tried to shy away, unsuccessfully, and stammered out how he was just "watching them do funny things".

This piqued Draven's curiosity. He ignored the kid (who stayed on the ground), crouched down and peered inside. Sure enough, there were five men inside who were "acting funny". They appeared to be in a laughing conniption over nothing except a table with LOTS of "blue sugar", a particularly popular drug in the more rebellious sectors of life in the galaxy. What was a special, rare night for a group of friends was highly illegal to the Empire. Back at the commune, this would have been seen more as recreation. But, this wasn't the commune. This was the Empire and he worked for the Empire.

He looked down at the kid and smiled broadly and genuinely. It was reserved more for his turn of luck than the kid himself, but maybe it would still seem ingratiating to him. He took out a decorative signet ring that was given out for good work done. Back in Imperial Centre, these things were highly common and inexpensive. However, maybe they held some more worth around here. It certainly looked pretty cool to the kid. It only took a call and 5 minutes for a full on Imperial Peacekeeper team to breach, clear, and take out the Deviants. One of the Deviants died. He was shot because he looked like he was pulling a gun when he was only fighting back in his sugar fantasy. Draven told Mouse when he usually showed up in the Black Hole and where and that he should check back on those days if he wanted to be "profitable".

To the Empire, it was a major bust. Mouse watched silently from the window, his expression unreadable. Today, he looked at Mouse and his face was the same unreadable expression as that night. If Draven cared more about Mouse, he might have actually...you know, cared. But, he was here to catch Deviants, look good doing so, and get paid. He didn't have time for some boy's hormonal mood swings. They went through the usual meet and greet routine to "appear normal". Mouse seemed disconnected, but he still responded normally to Draven. The change was subtle...maybe it was a girl. Wasn't that always the source of a boy's trouble at that age?...Meh. Who knew?

Mouse dropped a tip. Illegal gambling in a warehouse. Apparently, it had been going on every Friday night for the past couple of weeks. Draven figured that he didn't have to go in and bust everything up just yet. He could take the time to ingratiate himself with the locals, play a few games for fun, and then lay a tracking device transponder for the Peacekeepers to heed later on. That was just one idea. Draven was flexible. He had to be since catching Deviants wasn't easy in a restrictive society that puts a heavy price on such deviant pursuits.

Mouse guided him to the front of the warehouse. Draven could see lights on deeper inside through the haze of the "stained and dirty" glass. That was likely camouflage to tighten security. He went inside while Mouse stayed outside, since he was poor and he would be out of place there. There was a large expanse of empty warehouse and the sounds of camaraderie and gambling chips coming from behind a lot of shipping crates. He casually strolled across the room and around the corner...to find an audio player.

The door opened and the sound of many footsteps and clattering metal were heard. Draven pulled out his revolver, which lit up with a small electronic whine as he armed it, and held it down by his side. He peered around the edge to find a large gang of men armed with chains, bats, and even a freaking bow and arrows. He rounded the corner and swiftly brought his gun up to point at the archer whose bow was only half knocked. That was when he noticed Mouse standing in their midst and his eyes narrowed. After he spat on the ground in disdain, he said,

"I get it, I get it. It's a trap!" he said with a conniving sneer.

Part 2​

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Spoiler

[member="Mirror Emperor"]

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[Draven Carter]

The bow man froze, unsure of what he should do next. He looked over to one of his friends and that friend signaled for him to calm down and not move. The sight of an actual firearm was surprising for those who were kept in restriction from them. Some looked afraid while others were envious. There was a silent moment of awkward standoff. Draven didn't want to kill anyone. He could only shoot so many degenerates before they closed in on him and he didn't want to risk a close quarters engagement. Finally, the tallest, well muscled of the group stepped forward, his hand stroking his chin as though he was deep in thought. Mouse kept staring off into a corner, not wanting to meet Draven's spiteful gaze.

"So...You're the Agent who's been picking apart Black Hole. If Philly here hadn't nutted up and come clean, we wouldn't have been able to catch you like the rat you are."

Draven grimaced at the leader and spat on the ground in front of him as a clear sign of disrespect. These guys were annoying him. If he wasn't getting what he came for, then he felt like he needed to get out of here before the men here got what they came for.

"That's funny. You're acting like you're in control around here. Well, guess what, princess? I'M the one with the gun and YOU'RE the one who's karked." If they were going to get anywhere, he needed to test the waters, Draven-style. The man was, of course, offended, but he was more surprised by Draven's attitude. Weren't Imperials supposed to be self-righteous, brainwashed, uptight poster boys? This man seemed just as much of a Deviant as they were. Regardless of his position, it was clear to the leader that Draven had chosen his side.

"Look. I don't know what's wrong in your head, but you've done too many bad things to too many good people to walk out of this with your life."

And, just like that, the man had tipped the group's hand. They had no intention of allowing him out of here and it was clear they had an agenda for revenge. Torture was probably on their mind. His eyes narrowed and his aim focused on the bow man. The archer's eyes went wide before a solid bolt of energy punched a hole through his neck. The attack was seemingly unprovoked, so Draven was able to down two more before they had time to act. Those who were at the left and right edge of the group and the leader started to run forward while the rest were taken aback.

Draven quickly shot the two goons and shifted the barrel of his hot gun to poke the leader in the chest as he came to a sudden halt in front of the revolver blaster. The barrel was hot, so the leader was starting to feel the heat when Draven kept talking.

"Now, I know how much ammo I have before I need to recharge, but I honestly can't remember if I shot 5 or 6 times. So, the real question for today...and remember, this one's for ALL the beans...Are you feeling lucky, punk? Well?? Do ya'?!?"

The leader took his chance: He tried to bring his arm up to knock away the gun, but Draven was anticipating it. His last shot entered through the thoracic cavity and exited out through the middle of the spine. The crumpling body of their ex-leader hitting the ground was enough to break their spirits. His thumb depressed a button and the chamber of the revolver blaster popped out and to the left. The heated, discharged rounds ejected off to the side and made room for ammo to be placed inside. The last three scattered, but Draven swiftly brought the ammo pack out of his coat and into the gun's chamber. He loaded, spun the chamber, and ended the last three Deviants before they could make it across the warehouse.

​ Draven stood there in the new-found silence. That was like shooting fish in a barrel...stupid Deviants. He scowled around the warehouse, his eyes casually glancing over the still corpses of the recently fallen. He started to walk out, but the he stopped dead in his tracks halfway through the warehouse. His gaze swept the shadowy corners of the poorly lit building and he said,

"Come out, Mouse..." His hand tightened around his gun and his brows knitted together in anger. There was one more loose end to tie up.

Part 3​

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Spoiler

[member="Mirror Emperor"]