Harvest, part 3

Where is he?

Another loud strike could be heard, the sound of the metal cap of Khata'ra's boot against bone, followed by a muffled sound of jaw breaking.

Leopold was standing over at the window, looking at the white curtains that surrounded it. The curtains were an illusion of sorts, as the only thing beyond the window was a ventilation shaft, but they still played in the wind like regular ones. Leopold shrugged and looked over his shoulder, at the body of Gaun Ycarr, the Ghoul, lying in a small pool of blood in front of him.

He turned around on his heel, making his way closer to the Ghoul and kneeling next to him with a light grin. His eye went over the man's face, scanning it quickly. The expression on it was still, but he could see a little hint of fear, like a small gust of wind that is about to knock a stone tower down.

I won't tell you, you Vindictus dog!

The man on the ground grabbed some effort and spat in Leopold's face, which was followed by another quick kick from Khata'ra's boot, this time in his stomach. He growled in pain and lowered his head. Leopold just shrugged and grabbed a piece of cloth from one of his pockets, turning around and nodding to the two kameiras standing at the entrance.

The assault on Lebora went precisely as planned. With detailed geodetical maps of the city, a squad of Hound class stealthbomber with Ushra'khan ID numbers was called down, decloaked and launched a few bane torpedoes on the city's defensive posts, efficiently routing the local militia. With the ECM comms jammer Lebora had in place, they would have to disable it first to call for help, which would take about a half an hour. More than enough time for the wolfspiders to infiltrate the Lebora fortress, take down the city's elite Eagle Guard and move down to it's heart itself. The office of the Ghoul.

We shall see about that, mr. Ycarr.

Leopold got up, wiping the spit from his face with that piece of cloth before folding it back in his pocket. He remembered reports Khata'ra forwarded to him from the Vinductus operation she was assigned to. This man was no saint, having gotten his nickname for a habit to mutilate Vindictus scouts and leave their bodies out to dry on Lebora's walls. The Ghoul. A skilled tactician, and one of Carthat's main operatives. A right hand mand if you'd believe the wolfspider reports. If someone knew where Carthat was, it would be him.

Then again, Leopold couldn't care less if he was a saint, actually.

You see mr. Ycarr, you are a strong man. You have seen the Dakani - Vinductus war and actively participated in it. I respect that. Most of the time I spend in combat is over a ship's interface, without any real feeling of the battlefield... it is... it makes you different. A bit cold in the end.

Leopold looked to Khata'ra, noticing an underlying smile on her face. She must've been content to have finally found the man she was hunting for a year, now lying bleeding and humiliated in front of her. Leopold nodded at her and she kicked the Ghoul again, leaving bloodied and muddy footprints over his officer's robe.

The man looked up, twitching in pain and looking up at Leopold with his healthy eye, the other one covered in blood pouring from his broken eye arch.

Wha.. what's your point, you bastard?

Leopold chuckled, lightly shaking his head.

There is no point, mr. Ycarr. I am just chatting... killing time till...

Leopold looked over to the small metal casket the kameiras have brought in after they stormed the Ghoul's office. Flashbang on the door, quickshots at the guards, a rifle butt to the incapacitation target's stomach. Standard procedure.

...you see, I was hoping you'd match your reputation. You are a fierce supporter of the House Dakani, mr. Ycarr, and as I said, I respect that. However, sometimes in life, we have to make.... choices.

Leopold turned around as the door opens just in time. Through it walked two kameiras, pushing a woman, a teenage girl and a small boy in front of them. They seemed scared, shocked, unkempt, as if someone just pulled them from their beds with flashlights pointed to their faces. Leopold noticed a bruise on the woman's eye and smiled, walking over towards her.

I for one, really treasure family, mr. Ycarr. Do you know what time it is this month? Time of the Harvest... I am an agrarian myself. My whole family gathers on our estate to pick the grapes and make spiced wine...

He stopped behind the shaking woman as she twitched with a silent moan, and then looked at the Ghoul lying on the ground, noticing his face expression has changed a bit. It was more a mixture of anger and fear now. True, unsurpressed fear. Leopold smiled, caressing the woman's hair and looking up in her face.

Don't you think so, mrs. Ycarr?

The Ghoul's hands started shaking violently, and he tried getting up, pulling himself closer towards Leopold. Khata'ra's boot was once again quick to stop that, as she suggestively pressed it against his windpipe.

You see, mr. Ycarr... it's quite easy. Either you start talking on Carthat's location, or...

Leopold pulled out a 12mm sidearm, cocked it and pulled it inside the woman's mouth, still caressing her hair and looking at the Ghoul with a grin.

... or your wife here will have a minor... ballistic accident, so to say.

YOU ANIMAL! LET HER GO OR I'LL...

All noise in the room suddenly stopped, after a muffled gunshot filled the small room. Mrs. Ycarr's brains were splattered all over the wall behind her and Leopold, some of the blood on his robe as well. He gently let go of her body, letting it fall to the floor, breaking the silence in the room. Khata'ra looked up at Leopold with a slight hint of fear herself. She didn't expect he'd actually do that. The Ghoul was just watching in awe, his eyes now filling with tears.

You....no...NO!

Leopold smiled and slowly walked over to the girl. She twitched in fear and hugged her plush furrier a bit tighter, as the kameira behind her held her arm firmly so she couldn't escape. Leopold stood beside her, pat her head and pointed a gun against her temple.

Ok, I'll give you some more time with your daughter, mr. Ycarr... Here's my proposition. You tell me where Carthat is, and your daughter and son will live. I'll make sure myself that they are taken in in the best Sisters orphanage I can find. However, if we come over some... communication problems during our discussion, the only thing that will be taking care of them is the sanitation service. Now. Where. Is.

Leopold cocked the gun, pushing it a bit harsher against the girl's temple.

Carthat.

The Ghoul broke, having started to cry and howl, hitting his head against the floor. It must've been what happens when something you have been trained for most of your life, not telling the information to the enemy, comes in conflict with something you have in yourself naturaly, which is the wellfare of your offspring.

Ok... ok... just don't kill them! He's... Carthat's not here... He's on Athra, on Dam Torsad...He has friends here, and... I don't know who... I just know who he...

Leopold sighed, lowering the gun down. The Ghoul looked up at him with a sort of a thankful and tranquil smile, which twitched into a painful grimace as Leopold put a slug through his daughter's knee.

Names, mr. Ycarr... names. I can't work with geographical locations itself. And yes, I know where Dam Torsad on Athra is, thank you very much.

Inara.. Inara Khavarr... She's... she's Carthat's mistress in Dam Torsad... she... that's all I know... If anyone knows where she is exactly, it's her... That's all I know... please... don't..

Leopold let go of the girl, lowering down, then nodded to the kameira behind him. The wolfspider took her and the boy and pushed them towards one of the corners of the room, making them sit down in it

I'm glad to see we were able to work this out in the end, mr. Ycarr... it was a pleasure doing business with you.

He passed his gun to Khata'ra, and she quickly aimed, shooting one slug into each of Ghoul's knees. Leopold chuckled, walking over towards the small metal container the kameiras have brought in when they stormed the room. He opened it, revealing a warhead of a caldari navy widowmaker missile, fitted with what seemed to be a timer next to it. Leopold outstretched his eyelids with his fingers and pulled himself closer to the retinal scanner. There was a faint beep as the timer started ticking, each second marked with the same silent beep, yet in one's mind, they were building up as a crescendo.

10:00

09:59

09:58

However, I have some business to take care of on Athra... enjoy your day, mr. Ycarr.

09:47

Leopold turned around and walked towards the exit, followed by the wolfpsiders. Khata'ra took one last second to look at the wounded man on the floor, and his children in the corner, then followed, closing the heavy door behind her. Time to get out of here before the Imperial Navy appears.

09:22

Ycarr passed out. His eyes tried to discern the numbers the timer was showing, but the wounds and the blood loss were too much for him. He cast a glance at his children in the corner and smiled, before hitting the floor with his head.

09:03

The small boy hugged the girl tight, looking over to the weird mechanical looking beeping thing on the desk.

Mirna? Are we going to become angels?

08:52

She pat his head and closed her eyes. Tears were going down her cheeks and her voice was broken as she spoke.

Yes, Caran. We are.

Leopold was sitting on the hill outside of town at the Lebora fortress. Two Imperial Navy Omen class cruisers have lowered themselves from the orbit, hovering over the city with their big tracking lights. The rest of the wolfspiders were around, packing things up for a Prorator skyhook evacuation of the squad, one that would pull them back in the orbit and away from the swamps of Emyadalad.
Leopold looked down on the clock on his datapad and shrugged.

00:02

There was a large bang as the Lebora fortress exploded, the thermal wave spreading through the ventilation systems and setting everything inside on fire. One of the Navy Slicers that joined the Omens in the approach was almost caught in the blast, but managed to evade it with minor armour damage. The heatwave of the missile would be enough to melt all evidence inside the fortress. Leopold turned around and grinned at Khata'ra.

Time to go home.