The Allies we choose--the Enemies we are Born With

[Thraxis]

It seemed the words were lost on James' ear. Though it seemed he was right as to where to go, strange but likely just absent-minded luck. He followed with haste, hoping to get this over with so he could sample the local Cantinas and see if this place was worth investigating more into.

Thraxis paused for a second as he looked in the ramshackle of a room, it had... character to say the least though his head snapped towards the boy and his words did not fall dead on Thraxis. "Well... in all fairness. He isn't wrong about the dirty work." he said aloud, meaning for it to be an inner thought, though he continued to spew words, "Except that one homeless man." he said as his hands mimicked that of a gun being shot to imply to the boy that it was a bloody mess to find the kid.

 

[James Justice]

James gave Thraxis a serious glare. He bit back the urge to punch his across the very small room, instead he let out an angry snarl, "Ye did that, not me. And not with me consent. I did what I had to do. Ye did too," his eyes narrowed, "Do ye ever shut up?"

He pinched his nose and sighed, before looking to the boy. To say he was scared in the conventional sense wasn't entirely true. But to say that he was prepared to fight for his life, and had already assumed that was the course of actions that would be taken, that was a truth. The spacer worked a few kinks out of his neck before leaning back against the duracrete wall and folding his arms across his chest. The leather vest and pants would be enough to stop most blades from penetrating his skin, so James wasn't too worried about that. Besides the apparent nonchalant nature of this pose, it was very calculated. His hand tucked close to his body was near the stun baton under James' jacket. His other hand would be ready to swat an attack away, his leaning back gave him extra space to be ready to react if and when the boy made his move. James was praying the boy wouldn't. It was clear what he needed to do was help this boy see that the spacer meant no harm. And that this wasn't a confrontation--exactly.

"Listen, Calvin," James said, the green sick lighting of the room casting strange shadows on his face as he spoke, "Me name is James Justice, there be no need to raise ye voice. I ain't here to fight ye, I be here to talk. I dun't kill kids. And if I did, ye would already be dead. Trust me. I be pretty damn good at killing. Ye know someone, walks in black cloaked, mechanical voice. We need to find this person. And we need ye help. I can get ye out of this hellhole in return," James took a moment to let the offer sink in. And, of course, there would be a paternity test to see his relation to James, but that was no matter at the moment, "What do ye say?"

[member="Thraxis"]

 

[Thraxis]

Clavin considered the offer seriously, his eye looking up and down the man. He looked like he had the look, the swagger and the style to be a bad man. A criminal he was most assuredly. But in this galaxy he had never seen a kid get killed. Though he rarely saw anyone get killed at all.

"I already know who you are. Your name spread like wildfire." he muttered as he took a few steps back, pulling the bloody shiv closer to himself. His hand swayed behind some rubble to pull out a half-cooked woompa rat. Raising it to his lips he took a small bite out of it. Holding it in his free hand he stayed ready on the chance he may need to use it as a ranged weapon to make a sprint for it. "As well as already knowing who it is you are talking too." he said as he spat out and narrowed his eye looking directly at James.
[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James blinked. The part about his name spreading like wildfire didn't surprise him. However, the reference of who he was talking to--well that was a different story.

James gave a slight shrug, "Ye name is Calvin Justice. The name be pretty distinct, there ain't many of us around, and the few that are came from me loins," he settled in a little more against the wall, drawing a cigarette and lighting up. As much an act of hospitality as bridge-making he offered one to Calvin as well. "Me da went and left a world of riches and stupidity, stole a tramp freighter, became a smuggler. He changed his last name to Justice. I dunno why, dun't ask. Maybe ye are a cousin, maybe ye are one of me own," the spacer let out a puff of smoke, "I ain't gonna lie to ye, me and him did a lot of screwin' around. Not at the same time of course to the same women," he added hastily, "but ye get the idea."

Jame shrugged, "On the other hand, the galaxy is a big place. There could be a dozen families called 'Justice' out there."

[member="Calvin Justice"]

 

[Thraxis]

"Yeah. Your exploits spread fast too." he said with a disgruntled grunt, he hoped the stories weren't true but it seemed that he was being hopeful. He moved his hand into the rummage and grabbed a paper, it had everything he wanted to know about him from the cheap investigator he hired to find out more about him an it seemed that James here, well. he was the closest to the punch.

Calvin stared at the cigarette, he hadn't done drugs, they were expensive and a luxury he couldn't afford. "Are... are you seriously offering a kid a smoke?" he inquired slack-jawed as he looked to James with a curious eye. It was something he had experienced before sure, but expected the customs to be different on planets that aren't backwater.
[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James shrugged, it wasn't like the kid hadn't done it. Or drank. Or worse, James was sure.

The spacer gave a shrug, "When I were ye age, I were smoking and drinking steady, not like those of us who grew up on the dirty side dun't do that at an earlier age. Me oldest daughter smokes already, she ain't much older than ye, I ain't gonna stop ye. Ye want it or no?"

Besides, offering cigs to minors was pretty small considered to some of the other crimes had committed; mass theft, assault, drunken driving on every account, and many a breaking and entering. When the decision had been made, James pocketed the carton and got to what he was thinking next. Apparently they were going to be wading in crap sooner or later and the kid needed a decent meal--and probably wanted answers.

"Ye wanna stay here and chat or ye wanna go to some place where we can eat? My treat," he looked to Thraxis, "I ain't counting on ye sticking around for what we gotta say. And ye know why."

The last thing James needed was Thraxis deciding to experiment on this kid--or worse take him under his wing.

[member="Calvin Justice"]

 

[Thraxis]

"What? I thought you needed me to get information out of this kid." he said as he crossed his arms, his brow furrowing as he looked at the kid, kids were an uncommon thing for him to break, and were if put as a food. More of a snack, they tended to be weak and easy enough to snap. "Oh well whatever. I got people back at the Pitt who need to be hung on the meat hooks anyway." he coughed out.

In all honesty he figured that if James didn't want to get information the hard way, he would get it the easy way through conversation. But Thraxis was going to meet half-way. He left the sewers memorizing which way to go and how to get back. Planning on coming back in an hour or so to rummage through the kids stuff. Surely the kid had to have something of use.
[member="James Justice"]

 

[Thraxis]

"I suppose not." he said, it was strange, he couldn't waste time on drugs or being with friends, he had to survive, their was little in life that was a luxury to him, his luxuries was cooking and getting food. That is how he was raised, he was taught that a hard day of work meant a good nights sleep by the homeless people. Though when he looks back it did seem strange that he done hard work when they got to taste the luxuries of drugs and other stimuli.

Though the last thing James said was strange, and required a question, "Why don't you want him around?" he said as he lowered the shiv walking close and whispering it into his ear, falling a foot short of being very audible, hoping that James understood the question.
[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James glared at Thraxis the whole time as the sociopath left before he began to leave with Calvin. Ugh, he had a hard time believing he was even remotely in the same Gene pool as that freak. What if they were not-so-distant cousins? Or even worse--siblings due to his mother's hoeing around? The spacer shook his head, he did not want to think about that.

James was soon, once again sloshing through crap with this kid. They left a trail of smoke, as before, behind them. Calvin was smart, and he was brave to ask these questions. Or he felt somewhat comfortable with James. That was a good sign.

"Because he wants to torture ye," the spacer said frankly. There was no point in lying to the boy. He was more of an adult than most adults. He knew what torture was. He knew what pain was. "The man be a freak who loves to destroy things. And he has his uses. Sometimes. He can do things I can't--cause I dun't know how. Or have the psychotic nature to do it."

James led him out of the sewers. And up, out of the Underworld, the Undercity, and to the wealthier portions, the parts that had good food and real meals. They stopped at a cafe at an outside table in the dazzlingly busy metropolis.

"What will it be?" the waiter asked.

"Nerf burger for me, and anything he wants," James said motioning to Calvin.

[member="Calvin Justice"]

 

[Thraxis]

"Oh... so is he the kinda guy that goes to the homeless and kills them for fun." Calvin inquired, it was good to know who the man feeding him was working with, even though the answer was one he didn't particularly like. He walked through the water along side James. This was the man he paid his money to find out about. As far as Calvin could tell them man was... strange compared to what he was told. Though t seems the sleeping around was a tad under-exaggerated.

After what must have felt like an eternity of wading through crap filled waters they arrived at a fancy restaurant. Calvin looked around, all the fancy clothing around was strange to see. These kinds of people never went to the slums, these were the kinds of people that would toss their money down the sewers. Well, Calvin had them to thank at least for free money.

As the question was thrown back to Calvin he panicked, he had just eaten Woompa Rats and foul water. Maybe the occasional delicacy like bread or clean water, but never ate anywhere this fancy. He had to think to what he had heard, then a single word popped to his mind. "Salad?" he asked politely, a bit confused as to whether that was the correct etiquette or not.
[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James waved the waiter away, 'Ye heard the man, get 'im a salad!'

He was partially genuinely amused, what teenage guy wants a salad? He was trying, that was obvious. It was clear they would both be doing a lot of learning soon. Calvin on all things not involving the stabbing and the street life, James on--well how to raise a boy. He wasn't all too sure on if he was James' son or cousin quite yet. Either way he was kin. If he could give him a better life, James would be happy. That's all the spacer wanted for his kids; a better life than he had. He wouldn't force them to go through what he had been through. Ever.

"Yes, Thraxis kills for fun, I kill out of necessity, and when I do, it be rapists, murderers, slavers, and the lot," James said at last. He took a drink from his glass of tea. It was milder, he tried not to let his vices show before youth; they needed a better example than the one he set. "I am sure ye know a lot about me, but I dun't know much about ye. Why don't ye tell me a bit more about yeself? And I am sure ye have questions."

[member="Calvin Justice"]

 

[Thraxis]

"There isn't much to tell you really. Its only been something like thirteen years." he remarked pulling his hair back to look at James, "But if you want to know." a small breath was taken, ready to unfurl the mysteries of his life to James. There was nothing he was particularly ashamed of. His life was necessity, no frivolities were gifted to him as he grew up.

"Short story. I was abandoned by my mother I suppose. Homeless raised me to look after them in the age, while they kept me fed." he said as he looked around again, wondering what the hell a salad was. "The long answer." a deep breath was taken as he relaxed, "The same as the start. Difference is in that one I lost half me eyesight." another pause was taken as he then revealed his tattoos strewn across his wasting skin. "Became an aspiring Tattoo Artists canvas. Then hired someone to look into who I am." a sigh of relief living his shriveled lips as he looked at James.

"As for questions. The inspector dealt with most of that. At least what I needed to know." he said as he wrapped his arms up and planted his cupped hands onto the table, "Member of some clan. Womanizer extraordinaire. Does a lot of drugs. All I really needed to know." he paused for a second, thinking if there was anything else, "That's about it. You can't get much for a hundred credits." he scoffed, to him it seemed like a fortune only for him to realize how little it really was.
[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

"Its true, ye can't," James shrugged as the salad was brought. Of course the Nerf meat, and James' meal would take longer to cook than a few leaves.

"I dun't do drugs, but I am an alcoholic," James affirmed, "I smoke. Constantly. Have since I were ye age. I made a business--from nothing. I started out with me da's tramp freighter and turned it into a--well a criminal empire," he continued, "we do what we have to do, but we do it for the right reasons. We free slaves, give them new lives. We give the poorest of the poor work. It ain't perfect mind ye, but we give them a chance at something better than that," he said with a wave to what Calvin and he had just come from.

"We wipe the worst of the galaxy off the map, and we free the oppressed," he continued. "It ain't perfect, no. If we dun't have to move guns and drugs to do it, we wouldn't. If we didn't have to kill to do it, we would stop. But someone has to fight the good fight and no one said it would be pretty. We ain't no saber-jockeying idealists, and we ain't no crusaders in shinning armor."

By now, he was sure Calvin had finished most of his salad by the time James had finished his speech about--well his ideology, "Ye want something else? I sure ye must be famished."

[member="Calvin Justice"]

 

[Thraxis]

"No. I have already intruded enough on your hospitality." he responded, the first time he had ever eaten food at a restaurant. It was enough to make him know full well. Salad tastes worse then the Woompa Rats. "But Alcohol and Smokes do count as a drug. Just not an illegal one." he retorted to him. But it was time they got to what James wanted to know, just because they had the same last name didn't mean that he had any reason not to ask what Calvin was certain was on his mind.

"Now then. Lets get to business." he said, his voice had snapped from his normal nature to deathly serious. He had the prosecutor help him, and knew that James wanted to know what Calvin knew about him. "Lets not play charades with this illusion. You didn't hunt me down. You hunted down the Prosecutors lead." his single eye staring at James, his eye cold as elbows fell back, his chin resting on his hands.
[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James nodded. The inevitable was here. The spacer leaned on his elbows and sighed. Well, the truth was here and they might as well talk about it.


"I dun't know what ye know about the Prosecutor, but what I know is even less," he said, "they wear a black cloak, wanna kill me. Been a game of cat and mouse for a few years. Many years. And now I be taking the offensive. They tried to bomb a city I was in. They tortured me once, after," after Thraxis did. "After a while I escaped. I ain't gonna force ye, but if ye could help me stop this, I would appreciate it. And I can repay ye, of course. More than the pennies I be sure he be giving ye. Any information ye can give me, is more information that we had before, I assure ye."

[member="Calvin Justice"]

 

[Thraxis]

"Huh. Looks like it takes all kinds." he said aloud, meaning to think to himself, "Well. I dunno much. He was heavily clothed so I didn't really see much of him." he continued, ignoring the fact that he spoke aloud.

"But I do know a little. But I need to know what you can give me." a slight smirk growing on his face as he looked at James, hopefully this information was worth the feed and then some, though from what James had said, it sounded like he had a lot riding on this and Calvin could possibly make back what he spent if he was lucky.
[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James smirked back. Ah, they were certainly related. The kid had the Justice spunk and eye for profit. Oh, eye, ok, best to not think or bring sight up. However, it would serve its purpose for now.

His meal arrived at last and the spacer gave the waiter a nod before returning his attention to the business at hand.

"Well, first I can give ye a better life than rotting away in this hellhole," James started, waving his hand at all that was around them. "I can give ye a chance to get forward in this galaxy. I think that's more than enough payment. I can give ye work, a real home, money, real clothes, and a chance to not have to look over ye back every five minutes. I can put ye in a real job and if ye prove yeself ye can advance along the chain of command fairly quickly and fairly easily. How fair does that sound?"

[member="Calvin Justice"]

 

[Thraxis]

"As long as I have to earn it I'm happy." he responded, most people would take the easy way in life but Calvin wanted to work, it was what he was good at, he needed to grow up without anything being handed to him. It built character. "Now then, onto business I suppose." he said as he looked to James' meal but pulled his sight away back to the business at hand. It seemed he knew what to order.

"Now then. I know of a small safe house. Nothing big from what I know." he thought as he rummaged through his mind, trying to remember what little he had heard, "But I do remember something about defenses. Lasers and ships. Might be a weapon stockpile." he continued, he had exhausted the little he knew about it, though if it meant a job he was happy to oblige.

"Just gotta say my farewells to the group who raised me." he said, in honesty, he was going to pay them some credits to substitute for the time they spent raising him to look after him.
[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

Typical Justice. Hard working, too proud to take a handout. James could actually feel his chest swell with pride. Well, yes business. James listened as he ate away, nodding every now and then. Lasers, ships, weapons. Defense. James's mind mulled over the possible ways they could hit it. Frontal attack was not likely. Too many civilian casualties. Side attacks, those would likely be defended against already.

There was only one possibility; and they would do it. The spacer reached into his coat pocket and grabbed a business card and pen. He scribbled something on its back before handing it to Calvin, "This be where me ship is at, I be staying on it. Come here when ye be ready. I'll be planning our attack, we will hit it tomorrow. Ye employment begins then."

James was sure that Calvin had a few things and would want privacy, plus he would want to get his personal affects too he was sure. Part of the spacer wanted to offer to help, the other respected him enough to give the young man his space and privacy.

[member="Calvin Justice"]

 

[Thraxis]

Oh dammit. I forgot to ask what job it would be. Well great. Now you gotta go on the front lines CALVIN! YOU SCREWED US OVER CALVIN! he screamed to himself, this time remembering not to speak aloud. He moved his hand over to take the card, looking at it he took mental notes. Now all he had to do was gather his things, go to the bridge and say bye to those who raised him. This was looking like it was going to be a spectacular day indeed.

"So. Important question. What is the job? You uh... you ain't sendin' me onto the front lines right?" he tried to say bravely, though his lips quivered and his hand shaked as he pulled it back down beneath the table, he couldn't let his employer see weakness that was a bad move.
[member="James Justice"]