Post by hollowsaber on Sept 21, 2012 13:31:03 GMT -6
If you wish to discuss the story, comment, or even if you have an idea; direct your attention here.
A quiet tone whistled from a dark room inside of the tall, 30 floor gentlemens club and gambling building. Sprung right up in the heart of the City of Luxor, the massive building was a shining star in the enterprise that spread through the planet‘s economy. The spaceport city was a key place for making money, and the man who had his feet kicked up in the executive office at the top knew how to make money. The building was the tallest out of all of those around it in the city, his windows shimmered with neon signs of dancing women and jackpot numbers. Guards were stationed all around the building as well as on the top of those around it, each of them remaining vigilant.
Inside, on the lower ten floors, gambling offices were constantly alive with fooled people coming with full pockets, then going with only the clothes on their backs. Simple slot-machines constantly spiraled and pinged, card tables bustled with dealers and the poor man trying to make a buck. On the higher gambling floors, women dressed in skimpy outfits walked about, distributing drinks and light food to keep people in their chairs as they poured money into the establishment. After a while, as men became too drunk and violent, heavy-set guards dragged them out and tossed them into the street without any money in their pockets. If the men tried to get back in, they were “escorted” off the premises, and three blocks away.
The next ten floors, exotic dancers made their daily wages which were much higher than the average woman. Men and women alike threw their money onto the tables and pole-tops. Money already stowed away in their banks, none of the women even fought over the money. It was left where it landed as the barely-dressed ladies entertained their guests. Though, after about fifteen or twenty minutes, a group of women crossed the floor with small baskets and collected all of the tips, clearing the tables, the bar, and the areas by the poles.
On the last two floors, a small prostitution ring was hushed down as men paid top dollar for the best women in the business on the planet. Hundreds of thousands of dollars passed through as the men bid on the women posing within the room. They were well groomed, dressed, and taken care of. Not because they had to look their best, but because their current owner knew how to handle them. The only difference between this ring and the rest, was that the women weren’t bought... They were rented out for only a week at a time before they would be returned. Even so, the buttons continued to be pressed and the bids skyrocketed.
Money flowed like water into the building, and the doors were like a dam, allowing none of it back out. Like a monster, the tall building swallowed up its prey and spat out only skin and bones. Soldiers, businessmen, and even the average joe, all walked through the doors with hopes to hit the jackpots. But no man did, and all came stumbling back out much lighter than when they had walked in. Though, when the jackpot was hit, the winning would immediately cash in and leave. No problems came to him or her, as they were graciously led out if they chose to leave.
The front doors of the building were old-style glass push-doors, and men stood to the sides of them in black suits. All of them wore the same clothing, and had sunglasses to protect their eyes. Their chests were slightly puffed out from body-armor beneath the clothes, and on each of their hips, pistols were openly shown. All around the building, men stood like this. Almost like statues. They didn’t move, or even look to be alive until the next shift tapped them free. Every six hours, a wave of new guards walked up, and the last shift was free for 18 hours before they had to return. On every floor, men circled the outsides of the rooms dressed like this as well, but as the floor numbers steadily got higher and higher, men were seen patrolling the aisles of the gambling offices. In the restricted areas of the 20-29 floors, several of the men on the outside walls held more heavily powered rifles. On the final two floors, there weren’t as many guards, but they were heavily armed and armored, as to keep the dealings clean.
On the final floor, the 30th, every man that walked wore military-class body armor and had the equipment on their backs that many of the UNSC’s marines wore. Even their rifles were military. Snipers lined the rooftops around the main building and the surrounding buildings. Two attack helicopters were on standby on tops, and their pilots always on station. On top of the main building, a black-colored Pelican Gunship sat with heavily armed guards standing all around it, with it’s pilots sitting in the cockpit ready to leave at any time. The surrounding buildings had all been bought out by the owner; a hotel, two restaurants, a corner-market, and even two more small casinos. All of them were owned by the main-building’s executive. His guards were allowed to eat, stay, and essentially live free in the area.
A small hospital was even made just to the left of the main building. Several highly-trained Doctors and Specialists tended to the ladies of the upper floors, as well as the families that worked for the building. If a problem arose and someone inside was injured, they’d be brought to this hospital and treated. Whether it was a guard, an employee, or a customer. Unless of course, the customer deserved it.
This place was a city within a city, and the only people who left were those stripped of their cash and dignity.
A gentle knock caused the whistling man to stop. He looked down from the ceiling to his main door and tilted his head to the side as the knock came through again. Two guards stood on each side of the door, fully dressed in military uniforms with their rifles at their sides. The man at the desk let them relax some, seeing as they stood there without moving for hours at a time. A curt nod to the guard on the left caused the guard to turn and open the door. From the other side, another guard could be seen. Two more were actually positioned on the other side of the door as well.
As the door opened, a woman walked inside, pushing the door open completely so she could move through. Dressed in a small bunny-suit, she strode in on clicking heels with a pair of men behind her carrying two briefcases inside. The executive smiled at the men who carried them. It was protocol. The women were never to carry anything heavy, but it always brought a smile to his face when he saw it, especially when the men didn’t mind it at all. The men brought the cases up to the desk, which was empty besides a computer and a few small child-toys, then placed it down. Popping the latches, they opened the cases at the same time. Inside, thick golden bars shined brightly in the dark room, reflecting the small amount of light that came in through the windows all around the room. The woman stood between the men, and the guards stepped to the side once the cases were securely open. The executive pulled his feet back and sat up straight. Business was to be done.
“Mr. Rockland, a man that arrived a few moments ago, has generously asked if he may join the corporation.” The woman smiled, her glossy red lips shimmering slightly from the gold’s glow. The executive moved his chair forward and looked over the cases.
“Oh? And I assume this is his offer to join us?” Mr. Rockland, mostly known as ‘The Executive’ to those outside of his main center, grabbed one of the bars and lifted it up before his eyes. The weight of the bar was decent, and when he placed it on the scale across his desk, he watched the price calculate on it.
“No sir. He is giving this to you as a gift.” The woman looked up at the guard to her left, then back down at Mr. Rockland. The man smirked as five hundred-forty-three thousand, six hundred-four appeared on the small screen,
“Ah… I see. So what is his offer then?” Rockland placed the bar into its original case and nodded to the guards, motioning them to put it away in the safe that was hidden on their current floor.
“He wishes to give you 95% of his building’s earning in exchange for his ability to personally oversee the operation of the building. It is a small casino to the north-east. It is only one-floor, but the business has a manageable income, which he says is still growing.” The bunny girl pointed out of the glass-panes that separated the room from the open air in the direction of the Casino that she could almost clearly point out.
“So it is Rodger’s Casino?” Rockland swiveled in his chair to see where his lady was pointed and immediately recognized the building from the large neon sign.
“Yes sir.” The woman lowered her freshly manicured hand back to her sides as Rockland stood from his chair. He walked with his hands behind his back, moving up to the window to see a little better. Down below, he caught a glimpse of a man being thrown out by one guard. Rockland shook his head then looked back to the other casino.
“Let him know that I will send an official by to check his records. I will offer him an answer when the official returns.” Rockland turned and walked around his desk to the woman.
“Of course sir.” The woman bowed slightly and closed her eyes as Rockland gave her a light kiss to the forehead.
“When you are done, go on home for the night. Thank you for handling the deal and coming to my office.” Rockland smiled as the woman bowed again before walking to the door. The guard on the left moved slightly to the right and pulled the door open for her as she smiled to him. When she was out, the door was shut behind her.
Rockland moved to the windows again and peered out over the city of Luxor. This place was slowly becoming his, and soon, he would turn his eyes for the entire planet itself. For now though, he’d take one building at a time. The city was mostly residential, but being a Spaceport city, the massive orbital-elevator had attracted a lot of transport and supply companies. Military was constantly coming and going, and newcomers were always coming with them.
He had started his enterprise as a child. Growing up with two successful parents, Rockland had an easy going life. His parents weren’t filthy rich, but they were able to support their son as well as themselves during some of the harsh times. Luxor was a city for military families, as well as those who attempted to exploit their soldiers-in-arms. Rockland’s father owned a two story building, and made the first story into a Corner store with the upper floor being their house. Rockland’s mother was a stay-at-home mom, as the store brought in a decent income for them. Though, when dad yelled up the stairs, she gladly trotted down to give him a hand.
Rockland’s father was smart, and bought the property just outside of the Luxor Military Base, a key location. Soldiers who didn’t like to buy from the base store would always come to their own, and Rockland’s Dad quickly became a familiar face to the base. The store had all sorts of goods; food, clothes, jewelry, and even some electronics. They didn’t have much square footage to really put a lot, but Rockland’s father always had quality goods. Eventually, his father was able to pay off the property so he owned it completely, and then began to save a fraction of their income. When Rockland went to college, his father was able to send him to the most prestigious on the planet for Business.
Even now, ten years after he went to college, Rockland’s parents still live in their little store and soldiers still come in. Rockland built the building in a way where he could look out and directly down to see their store.. On some lonely days, the man would sit in his chair and just watch over the house and store. Without his parents knowing, Rockland also bought one of the houses on the street and placed two guards inside as a safety precaution. Being just outside the military base, there were always a soldier or two on duty, and he sees his father chat with the men and women every now and then... It was good to see his Father...
Another knock on the door snapped Rockland from his thoughts, and as he turned, he once again saw another one of his ladies walking in. This time, there were no guards. This one was dressed in a full suit and carried a briefcase on her own. She meant business, and that was all she meant. Rockland crossed his hands behind his back and looked out the window again.
“How may I help you?” Rockland said, trying to act happy as he saw two UN Pelicans fly past his building, bound for the military base. The aircraft gave a courteous wiggle in their wings, probably to the pilots on the roof who use to do the same thing they were doing, every day.
“Sir, Mr. Rodgers has sent us his records.” The sound of the briefcase opening made Rockland look over to the smaller casino. That man came prepared. Rockland liked that.
“Have you analyzed them?” Rockland, now intrigued by the other entrepreneur’s readiness, turned and walked forward to the desk as the woman pulled a piece of paper from the case.
“He netted over five million this last year, and that has increased at an average of three million each year. At the beginning, he gained only five-hundred thousand a year. And that was…. Five years ago. His staff isn’t paid to well, and it seems he is taking the money for himself directly from the machines.” The woman paused and looked up at Rockland, already knowing his pet-peeve, but he simply looked at her, waiting.
“What? Continue.” Rockland smirked.
“Uh… Okay. The building has about two hundred slots, three roulette tables, two poker tables, four blackjack tables, and one Texas Holdem table. His staff is composed of mostly dealers and he doesn’t seem to have any security. He does have three pole dancers on his staff roster though, but their wages are extremely low and seem to show up to work only on the weekends-”
“Stop.” Rockland interrupted and held his hand up slightly to interrupt the woman.
“It is Saturday right?” Rockland asked, pointing to the woman’s universal watch.
“Uh-Yes sir, it is.” She checked the watch and saw that it most definitely was Saturday.
“Close the case and leave it. Come with me.” Rockland smiled and gently pushed his chair into his desk as the woman stared at him a little confused. The guards looked at eachother then at Rockland and the woman in front of them.
“W-what?” The woman asked, watching Rockland as he walked over to get his coat. The blazer slipped over the man like a glove as he put his arms through it.
“Come. We are going on a field trip. Parkins, Fin, I’d like you two to come with me as well.” Rockland walked towards the door with a massive grin. The guards just looked at him.
“But sir…” The woman spoke quietly and Rockland looked back at her.
“We can send someone to handle the deal if you’d like.” She insisted. Rockland just waved her off.
“I like getting out sometimes, it’s okay.” Rockland adjusted his coat and closed up some of the buttons on the front to look more professional. As he approached the doors, his guards stepped to their sides and pulled both doors open wide. Rockland nodded to them, then looked to his right at one of the guards.
“Fin, call for my ride. We are going to see Mr. Rodgers.” The guard bowed his head slightly and immediately got on the radio.
Rockland stepped into the hall and the two guards that were standing in the hall in front of the door began to walk in front of him, while the other two walked behind him, effectively boxing the man in. The woman remained in the room and sighed as she began to close up the briefcase. She lifted it up and walked after the men. Rockland was a man of action. Sitting back was one thing he absolutely hated. These deals were small, and he could send one of his bunnies to do the job for him. Though, that was very rude and unprofessional.
The woman caught up to Rockland and the guards adjusted to protect them both as she moved up beside him. He was looking down his PDA when she finally matched his pace. The screen showed stocks on his enterprise, as well as a comparison to other companies on the planet. The Luxor Enterprise was up on the top, and it was hundreds of millions of dollars higher than any of the others. The Enterprise was privately owned, but he allowed small business owners the ability to buy into his Enterprise as to help them with their economic situation. Upon buying the stock, they would of course get to say they had a piece of the enterprise, but they had not a single say in its operation.
“You know… I never got your name…” Rockland locked the PDA screen and tucked it away in his pocket as the small group reached the Executive Elevator.
“Marissa. It’s Marissa.” Marissa sighed as they were led inside. The first two guards stepped to the side as Rockland, Marissa, and the other two guards walked in.
“A pretty name, for a beautiful woman.” Rockland smirked and moved to the back of the car, with Marissa moving next to him. She was not amused.
Marissa was actually more distracted by the elevator car. Red felt lined the walls along with the ceiling. The floor was a maroon colored cushions-rug material that supported her stiletto heels much better than the rest of the flooring, allowing her to stand a little more comfortably in them. On the sides, there were rose-stem designs that entranced the eyes of those that attempted to follow the swirls and lines. Thorns and streaks of the rose stems wrapped all around her, almost as if she was in a cage.
Then her stomach lifted into her throat as the elevator dropped like a rock. The elevator worked by magnetism, and it flew down from the thirtieth floor to the first in several seconds. Gravity pods adjusted inside the cart to make it more comfortable, and after the initial start, it didn’t even feel like the cart moved. Slowly, the car braked and came to a careful stop on the lobby floor. The ping of the elevator was followed by the doors sliding apart.
“Let’s go.” Parkins’s deep voice came from beneath his balaclava and he tilted his rifle down.
The lobby was full of traffic. People coming in went directly for the entering desks, while those leaving didn’t even bother to go to the exit-desks as their pockets were empty anyways. Though, there were a couple that happily stood at the desk, handing in a bunch of chips and coins that they had won. Rockland smirked and nodded his head to the clerk, who secretly added some extra cash to their winnings without the couple knowing.
The small group moved out of the building, and Rockland caught sight of who he wanted to see. Mr. Rodgers was pacing back and forth next to his hummer, with one guard at the passenger and another at the back, with his driver sitting inside the vehicle. As Rockland came out, Rodgers quickly looked up and his worried face flashed to joy. A limousine and two heavily armored Escalades sat with their engines running and guards surrounding them.
“Executive! Sir it is a pleasure!” Rodgers attempted to run over to Rockland, but was quickly retained as Parkins stepped in front of him, and two other guards grabbed him.
“It’s okay gentlemen.” Rockland assured his guards, who released Rodgers afterwards.
“I am here simply to check the merchandise... Nothing more Rodgers.”
“I know, but is the deal to your liking?” Rodgers pleaded, kneeling down before Rockland.
“Why do you want to sell your casino so soon? You looks like you are doing well.” Rockland smirked and began to walk to his limousine that had just pulled up, with Marissa following and now Rodgers on his heels. The limousine was placed in between two large Armored Terrain SUVs.
“I-I just feel that it would do better with you watching over it. Just having your name on the casino would bring more traffic to it!” Rodgers was held several feet away from the vehicle.
Rockland paused, and held out his hand for Marissa to enter first. One of the guards opened the door, and the woman hesitantly stepped forward and then disappeared inside. Rockland turned to the man behind him and looked at him. Rodgers was on his knees again, begging.
“We will be going to see your casino. I will decide if I want to buy it or not after we look.” Rockland smiled and held out his hand. Rodgers instantly bounced up to shake Rockland’s hand with both of his.
“Thank you so much Mr.Executive!” Rodgers yelled, and Rockland sighed before turning away and slipping into his vehicle.
Marissa was sitting on the left side of Rockland as he took a seat in the far back. She was obviously a little uncomfortable, but she had no reason to be. Rockland just relaxed and nodded to his driver as the man waited for the signal. The trio of vehicles began to roll, then turned left and into the street as they headed for the new casino.
“Why would you do that?” Marissa asked after they reached the road. Rockland looked at her confused.
“Do what?” He asked, obviously playing coy.
“You’re going to buy the casino anyways, so why do we even have to go out?” She sighed, pulling a tablet out of her bag as she used it as a mirror.
“Who would fear a person who didn’t seem to have the guts to leave his office on the top floor?” Rockland chuckled and yawned, tired from the day before. Marissa shook her head.
“You don’t have to leave the building to strike fear into someone. That building is already menacing enough.” Marissa closed her eyes and gripped the tablet a little tighter, getting Rockland’s attention.
“Oh? So you think I would be as popular as I am by staying inside?” Rockland shook his head and opened the front of his jacket to let some air out. He’d button it back up later, but the car was a little warm.
“I just think you’re better off being inside, so everyone knows you're safe. Security hates it when you take these trips out into the city.” Marissa activated her tablet and began to amuse herself.
“Rats...” She muttered as she played one of the games on it.
“Security’s job is to protect me, and me moving around makes it difficult. I understand that. But it’s quite impossible to grow a business if the Executive is locked up in a cage.” Rockland looked out the window to his left as to keep Marissa in view.
The woman bit her lip and sat back against the seat. Her dress was a little shorter then her knees, and her long slender legs didn’t have stockings on as they normally did. It looked a tad tighter along her figure as well, Though, her sharp stiletto heels always made the woman look good.
“Marissa...” Rockland asked softly, causing the woman to look up at him.
“Yes?” Her gentle voice didn’t raise any higher then Rockland’s as she looked at him. Rockland didn’t turn his head over, and just stared at the distant stars.
“Have you ever thought of marriage...?” The question obviously caught Marissa off guard, as her face immediately flushed red.
“U-Uh... Erm...” She looked away from Rockland, and down at her tablet. She went silent, and just stared at the object, quietly returning to her game as to refocus her thoughts..
Then the ride was over. The vehicles pulled into the space in front of the casino, and guards immediately filed out. Several of them were dressed in full military gear while others looked like secret agents. Rockland looked over at the casino which was on his right, and waited until one of his guards opened the door. Marissa remained frozen, but at the click of the door, she snapped to life again and he face returned to normal.
As they stepped out of the vehicle, Rodger’s convoy came around the corner and pulled up behind Rockland’s rear Terrain. The man stumbled out and rushed over to Rockland as fast as he could, bowing down to the man the moment he stopped.
Rockland patted Rodgers on the back of the head then walked into the casino. The moment he walked in, two dancers moved up beside him holding out platters with orderves on them. The man didn’t even bother, and moved directly between them towards the inside of the casino as if he owned it already. The machines were full of people, the tables bustled with fools, and the money was coming in fast. Though, there wasn’t a lot of machines.
Yet, he wasn’t there for the cash, Rockland was looking for something else. Those behind the glass at the front looked bored, and moved money like machines. The dancers that were more towards the back picked up every bit of cash that fell at their feet. No plate-carrier moved between the machines as the players were either standing, or angry. The dealers were careful, and didn’t smile or sweet talk.
The casino was bringing in money, that was for sure. But the employees looked like they were worn out toys, being used simply for their looks. It was horrific in Rockland’s eyes. There was no doubt he would buy this place...
“98%” Rockland said, catching Rodgers off guard.
“P-pardon?” The man stuttered, shaking in his clothes as the Executive looked over his building.
“98% of the power, and you can continue to watch over the casino. I also want control over the employees, and the main operation of the building.” Rockland turned to face Rodgers, and instantly seemed to tower over the man.
“O-okay. A-a-anything Mr. Executive.” The man held out his hand, sweat dripping from his forehead and his knees shaking violently. Rockland smiled and shook his hand politely.
“Now, Marissa. Care to handle the paperwork?” Rockland looked over at the woman, who stared back at him flat-faced. Now she knew why he brought her.
“Of course, Sir.” She bowed a little as expected, but the tightening of her grip on her tablet showed that she was annoyed.
“Good. Call me when it is handled.” Rockland smiled at her then patted Rodgers on the shoulder.
The man bowed his head and kept it down until the Executive was gone. Rockland returned to his limousine, and sat down inside alone. He would go home tonight a little richer, and tomorrow he would have to fix that casino. Maybe he should be a little more aggressive... Waiting for buildings to come to him took a long time, as many of them feel they can still operate independently.
We will have to see how long that lasts. Maybe a year, a month, or maybe even a week. Rockland had earned his nickname because of his success in the underground world. He had the power, the name, and the muscle. It was time to make use of it. He would no longer sit in his room and stare at what he could be owning.... He’ll look out on the city that is his...
The vehicles pulled out from in front of the casino, and rolled out into the street. The didn’t make it far before a loud thud caught Rockland’s attention. When he looked up, he saw that a sniper bullet had smashed into the bulletproof glass right next to his head. It cracked and shattered the thick ballistic glass, but did not break through it. What a pathetic attempt.
In reaction, the vehicles sped forward, accelerating quickly to get away from where they believed the sniper to be. The rear SUV moved up to the left side to shield the limousine, and the guards seemed to be firing up at where the bullet came from. The convoy continued straight, then turned left a mile ahead. Keeping a fast pace, the three vehicles made a mad-dash for the main building. The underground garage door opened up slowly in the distance for the convoy as word reached the operator. In a line, the three vehicles dived down inside. A line of guards poured out and closed behind the vehicles as they disappeared inside. The door was sealed shut behind them and the line of guards spread out.
The shattered pane was immediately singled out by repairmen as Rockland was helped from the vehicle. Surrounded by guards far, and close, the Executive walked to his main elevator and stepped inside. Gunfire outside the building echoed, and the radio buzzed with combat. Several of his men were trained Special-Operation veterans, so it wasn’t a surprise that they were handling the situation with ease.
The guards escorted Rockland to his elevator, and struck the upper-most button that lead to the pelican. They had never done this before, but Rockland had told them that in only dire situations would he need to be brought to the pelican. Which meant that the fight outside wasn’t going as he thought.
“Contacts, left side of that building.”
“Roger.”
“Damn ,where did they all come from?”
“Must be a militia.”
“Keep your heads, take them out. Protect the Executive and the people inside.
“What's his eta on evac?”
“Thirty seconds, he in the elevator.”:
“This is Alpha-Six-One, we’re priming engines. Skies are clear.
“Copy Alpha-Six-One, Strike-Four-One is airborne. We have aerial superiority.”
“Strike-Four-Two lifting off.”
“Should we notify the UNSC?”
“No, this may be a full on attack but-” Suddenly as the man spoke, an explosion rattled through the radio. The man was silent...
“Fuck, notify the UNSC. This is a full assault on the building.” He returned.
“We’re opening armories Delta and Omega, heavy vehicles rolling out.”
“Roger. Strike-Four-Two, can you give us eyes on enemy vehicles?”
“We’re already on it. They’ve got some small APCs, nothing heavy.”
“Where’d that shot come from then?”
“Modified Cobra it seems. Fires 90 millimeters.”
“Damn, who the hell are these guys?”
“No clue, Strike-Four-Two, engage that vehicle.”
“Engaging the Cobra. Firing heat-rockets.”
As Rockland reached the rooftop, the sound of the explosion echoed through the elevator as well as through the radio. He was escorted out, and it was clear; someone had brought war to his doorstep. Snipers lined his building’s rooftop all around, and were firing almost constantly. His aircraft circled and fired just off the sides of the building and into the streets. Rockland couldn’t see what was truly happening, but he could hear it.
“Cobra down.”
“Copy Four-Two. Uh-Where’s the executive?”
“We’ve got eyes on him, he’s coming to the pelican now.”
“Four-One here, I’ll escort the Pelican out.”
“Four-One, this is Strike-Three-One. We’re coming in from Bravo-Base. We’ll assist with the evac.”
“Copy that Three-One, much obliged.”
“Four-One, there’s a guy with a rocket aiming at you, left building, corner of that-” Cutting the man off, one of the snipers to the left fired and the guy began to laugh.
“Never mind, good shot. Good shot.”
“Rockland is coming in now. This is Transport Alpha-Omega, we’re tipping off.”
As Rockland entered the pelican, he was immediately sat down and strapped into one of the modified seats. All of the original smaller, let comfortable seats had been replaced with more luxurious ones. His guards took positions all through the pelican as the co-pilot helped him strap in. The man nodded to Rockland, who nodded back.
“Welcome to Omega Transportations.” The co-pilot smiled and Rockland laughed some.
The pelican lurched forwards, and pulled away from the building. Behind him, a small Sparrowhawk took position as rear-guard. The attack-VTOL looked mean in its black paint job, and with its heavy armament, Rockland felt well protected in his ship. Though, he wished he could say the same for his men down below.
As he pulled away, he caught a glimpse of the battle below. His men had taken cover where they could, and their armor was helping. The lightly armed, almost canon-like enemies, littered the ground, but they kept coming. The vehicles that were supporting them were in flames already, and they seemed to just be attacking randomly and without any sense of direction.
Slowly, the fight faded, and the city began to shrink as the Pelican and Sparrowhawks lifted up high into the sky. Besides the fact that his investment was under attack, the night was beautiful. Stars sparkled all through the sky, blocked by only a few clouds here and there. The city lights twinkled, making the sky seem to crash into the ground and continue through it. It was rare that he got to enjoy these kinds of sights, but he savored every one.
Eventually, after nearly an hour of flying around higher in the sky, the radio began to quiet down. His guards seemed to be mopping up, and the attackers were dying out in numbers. Rockland turned in his seat a little and began to relax. The craft twisted back for the building as the all clear was given, and the three aircraft moved swiftly back. Within minutes, Rockland was back on the ground and being escorted back down into where he lived on the highest floor; the thirty-first.
His guards remained vigilant, and as he walked down the stairs from the air-pad into his penthouse, he was greeted by the Head of Security, as well as on of the UN Generals. Rockland paused at the bottom of the stairs as the two of them stood and looked at him. Now what was so important that the General had to come down?
“Mr. Rockland, this is General Westings. He is the head of the ground defense force for Eridanus II.” Rockland’s HoS spoke loudly, introducing the well-decorated Marine.
“Nice to meet you, General.” Rockland walked over and shook hands firmly with the General. He meant business.
“Now what can I help you with?” Rockland moved to his chair, which was opposite the couch where the other two men sat.
“We got an order from HIGHCOM that rebels were popping up in the system. And from the recent attack that occurred on your doorstep only minutes ago, I’ve got some very easy questions for you.” The General was being straightforward, and wasn’t hiding why he was here. It must be serious if Rockland was being tied into the Insurrectionist-web.
“If you want to know my affiliation, I am neutral in your war. I do not help the Rebels, nor do I help you. I am a simply entrepreneur who wants to make money. I own a casino, a club, and this area around here. I live in peace, somewhat, as do my employees. Why would I disrupt that by participating in a war?” Rockland remained polite to the General, and kept an assertive tone, but would not allow the man to dominate this discussion.
“So you are not with the rebels?” The General questioned, seeming to be slightly relieved.
“No, I am not with those pathetic rats.” Rockland waved off the question and looked to his HoS, Barkley, who was sitting silent.
“May I ask where you got all of your weapons and armor?” Westing’s next question made Rockland pull his eyebrows together. He tilted his head and looked weirdly at the man.
“I bought them from the UNSC, Westings. Are there no records?” Rockland looked to one of the girls in the corner then motioned her to go get them.
“Uh-no. There are no records of you purchasing anything from the UNSC that I know of.” Westings also seemed confused. There must have been some miscommunication within the military. Again.
“I paid for a waiver by the UNSCDF several years ago, as well as contracts with many of the same Industries that make your arms and armor.” The woman Rockland called for returned with several pages of paper, all different contracts with different companies.
“Here we are, General. The first one here is the waiver with the UNSC...” Rockland handed the first sheet over to Westings, as he himself looked over the others.
“Sorry, I haven’t exactly made any orders for a long time so bare with me...”
“It’s no problem, Mr. Rockland. I was never told of this beforehand.” Westings looked confusingly over the waiver, and seemed to be put off by what was on it. Rockland had full clearance to order all kinds of weapons and armor from the companies he was able to get contracts from. This was unheard of.
“I have contracts with Asklon, Traxus Heavy Industries, the Misriah Armory, and a limited-contact with the UNSC, should any of those companies not offer what I request.” Rockland laid the four papers that listed the weapons and armor he could buy out on the table between the men. On each paper, the UN had signed and stamped the papers with their approval, as well as the companies themselves.
“This... is different” Westings said, placing the waiver down on the table as well.
“So you are not with the Rebels.” Westings asked, still looking at the papers.
“I am not.” Rockland answered firmly, knowing the conversation was already over.
“And you are not with the UNSC either?” The General looked up, surprise written all over his face.
“I am not. I am a neutral being just trying to make a living.” Rockland smiled and nodded lightly.
“Okay then, I guess that’s all I needed then. Sorry to bother you, I know you are a busy man.” The General stood, as did Barkley.
“It is no problem. If it is to prevent conflict because of paperwork and misinformation, I don’t mind chatting about it.” Rockland smiled and stood after the other two had and held out his hand to the Westings.
“It was a pleasure to meet you Mr. Rockland.” Westings shook hands with Rockland, and the two smiled at each other, their grips a little looser as they had no reason to be tense.
“The pleasure was mine, General. Please have a nice night.” Rockland released the Marine’s hand, then watched as he also shook hands with Barkley. The General smiled and was escorted to the elevator, then disappeared as the doors to it shut.
Barkley sighed of relief and sat back down on the couch as Rockland gathered up the papers. The Rebels were coming to Eridanus II, and it seemed they didn’t like him being where he was. The UNSC was also concerned about him. His presence in the city was widely known, and it was probably a misconception that he controlled the city already. Even with his power and influence, Rockland didn’t control the city. Not yet. But tomorrow, he would change all of that.
“Go home Barkley. Get some rest. I need you ready to go tomorrow. We have some places to go to.” Rockland looked at the tired man, then over at the woman he had asked to get the papers from earlier. He handed them back to her, and she quickly disappeared with them to put them back.
“I apologize for that, Sir. He just wanted to make sure you were friendly and not an enemy of the UN.” Barkley rubbed the bridge of his nose and let his body relax in the cushions.
“What you did was fine. I would rather not have a misunderstanding, then end up having to fight against the people I welcome through my doors on a daily basis.” Rockland walked over to the glass windows, as he usually did.
“How are my boys?”
“Everyone is okay. Minor injuries and only two men have to be hospitalized for a few weeks. No one is dead. Minor damages to the buildings and streets are being handled. There were no major structural damages in the fight. Everything should be completely cleaned up by the end of next week.” Barkley held up his tablet that Rockland had assigned him, and looked over the report that was being updated from down below.
“Good. Give the men that fought some compensation. Raise their pay as well for the next year. They deserve it. Now go on home. I wish to sleep.” Rockland stared down at the street below and stood silent as Barkley left the room, taking the elevator down.
The day had been long, and now with a quick glance to his watch; it was 3 in the morning. He wouldn’t sleep well tonight, and with the looming war on his conscious, he had even more pressure on his shoulders. The media would certainly question the battle that occurred outside, and even more would arise from the people who saw it.
Whatever happened to living peacefully...?
Chapter One: First this City...
A quiet tone whistled from a dark room inside of the tall, 30 floor gentlemens club and gambling building. Sprung right up in the heart of the City of Luxor, the massive building was a shining star in the enterprise that spread through the planet‘s economy. The spaceport city was a key place for making money, and the man who had his feet kicked up in the executive office at the top knew how to make money. The building was the tallest out of all of those around it in the city, his windows shimmered with neon signs of dancing women and jackpot numbers. Guards were stationed all around the building as well as on the top of those around it, each of them remaining vigilant.
Inside, on the lower ten floors, gambling offices were constantly alive with fooled people coming with full pockets, then going with only the clothes on their backs. Simple slot-machines constantly spiraled and pinged, card tables bustled with dealers and the poor man trying to make a buck. On the higher gambling floors, women dressed in skimpy outfits walked about, distributing drinks and light food to keep people in their chairs as they poured money into the establishment. After a while, as men became too drunk and violent, heavy-set guards dragged them out and tossed them into the street without any money in their pockets. If the men tried to get back in, they were “escorted” off the premises, and three blocks away.
The next ten floors, exotic dancers made their daily wages which were much higher than the average woman. Men and women alike threw their money onto the tables and pole-tops. Money already stowed away in their banks, none of the women even fought over the money. It was left where it landed as the barely-dressed ladies entertained their guests. Though, after about fifteen or twenty minutes, a group of women crossed the floor with small baskets and collected all of the tips, clearing the tables, the bar, and the areas by the poles.
On the last two floors, a small prostitution ring was hushed down as men paid top dollar for the best women in the business on the planet. Hundreds of thousands of dollars passed through as the men bid on the women posing within the room. They were well groomed, dressed, and taken care of. Not because they had to look their best, but because their current owner knew how to handle them. The only difference between this ring and the rest, was that the women weren’t bought... They were rented out for only a week at a time before they would be returned. Even so, the buttons continued to be pressed and the bids skyrocketed.
Money flowed like water into the building, and the doors were like a dam, allowing none of it back out. Like a monster, the tall building swallowed up its prey and spat out only skin and bones. Soldiers, businessmen, and even the average joe, all walked through the doors with hopes to hit the jackpots. But no man did, and all came stumbling back out much lighter than when they had walked in. Though, when the jackpot was hit, the winning would immediately cash in and leave. No problems came to him or her, as they were graciously led out if they chose to leave.
The front doors of the building were old-style glass push-doors, and men stood to the sides of them in black suits. All of them wore the same clothing, and had sunglasses to protect their eyes. Their chests were slightly puffed out from body-armor beneath the clothes, and on each of their hips, pistols were openly shown. All around the building, men stood like this. Almost like statues. They didn’t move, or even look to be alive until the next shift tapped them free. Every six hours, a wave of new guards walked up, and the last shift was free for 18 hours before they had to return. On every floor, men circled the outsides of the rooms dressed like this as well, but as the floor numbers steadily got higher and higher, men were seen patrolling the aisles of the gambling offices. In the restricted areas of the 20-29 floors, several of the men on the outside walls held more heavily powered rifles. On the final two floors, there weren’t as many guards, but they were heavily armed and armored, as to keep the dealings clean.
On the final floor, the 30th, every man that walked wore military-class body armor and had the equipment on their backs that many of the UNSC’s marines wore. Even their rifles were military. Snipers lined the rooftops around the main building and the surrounding buildings. Two attack helicopters were on standby on tops, and their pilots always on station. On top of the main building, a black-colored Pelican Gunship sat with heavily armed guards standing all around it, with it’s pilots sitting in the cockpit ready to leave at any time. The surrounding buildings had all been bought out by the owner; a hotel, two restaurants, a corner-market, and even two more small casinos. All of them were owned by the main-building’s executive. His guards were allowed to eat, stay, and essentially live free in the area.
A small hospital was even made just to the left of the main building. Several highly-trained Doctors and Specialists tended to the ladies of the upper floors, as well as the families that worked for the building. If a problem arose and someone inside was injured, they’d be brought to this hospital and treated. Whether it was a guard, an employee, or a customer. Unless of course, the customer deserved it.
This place was a city within a city, and the only people who left were those stripped of their cash and dignity.
* * *
A gentle knock caused the whistling man to stop. He looked down from the ceiling to his main door and tilted his head to the side as the knock came through again. Two guards stood on each side of the door, fully dressed in military uniforms with their rifles at their sides. The man at the desk let them relax some, seeing as they stood there without moving for hours at a time. A curt nod to the guard on the left caused the guard to turn and open the door. From the other side, another guard could be seen. Two more were actually positioned on the other side of the door as well.
As the door opened, a woman walked inside, pushing the door open completely so she could move through. Dressed in a small bunny-suit, she strode in on clicking heels with a pair of men behind her carrying two briefcases inside. The executive smiled at the men who carried them. It was protocol. The women were never to carry anything heavy, but it always brought a smile to his face when he saw it, especially when the men didn’t mind it at all. The men brought the cases up to the desk, which was empty besides a computer and a few small child-toys, then placed it down. Popping the latches, they opened the cases at the same time. Inside, thick golden bars shined brightly in the dark room, reflecting the small amount of light that came in through the windows all around the room. The woman stood between the men, and the guards stepped to the side once the cases were securely open. The executive pulled his feet back and sat up straight. Business was to be done.
“Mr. Rockland, a man that arrived a few moments ago, has generously asked if he may join the corporation.” The woman smiled, her glossy red lips shimmering slightly from the gold’s glow. The executive moved his chair forward and looked over the cases.
“Oh? And I assume this is his offer to join us?” Mr. Rockland, mostly known as ‘The Executive’ to those outside of his main center, grabbed one of the bars and lifted it up before his eyes. The weight of the bar was decent, and when he placed it on the scale across his desk, he watched the price calculate on it.
“No sir. He is giving this to you as a gift.” The woman looked up at the guard to her left, then back down at Mr. Rockland. The man smirked as five hundred-forty-three thousand, six hundred-four appeared on the small screen,
“Ah… I see. So what is his offer then?” Rockland placed the bar into its original case and nodded to the guards, motioning them to put it away in the safe that was hidden on their current floor.
“He wishes to give you 95% of his building’s earning in exchange for his ability to personally oversee the operation of the building. It is a small casino to the north-east. It is only one-floor, but the business has a manageable income, which he says is still growing.” The bunny girl pointed out of the glass-panes that separated the room from the open air in the direction of the Casino that she could almost clearly point out.
“So it is Rodger’s Casino?” Rockland swiveled in his chair to see where his lady was pointed and immediately recognized the building from the large neon sign.
“Yes sir.” The woman lowered her freshly manicured hand back to her sides as Rockland stood from his chair. He walked with his hands behind his back, moving up to the window to see a little better. Down below, he caught a glimpse of a man being thrown out by one guard. Rockland shook his head then looked back to the other casino.
“Let him know that I will send an official by to check his records. I will offer him an answer when the official returns.” Rockland turned and walked around his desk to the woman.
“Of course sir.” The woman bowed slightly and closed her eyes as Rockland gave her a light kiss to the forehead.
“When you are done, go on home for the night. Thank you for handling the deal and coming to my office.” Rockland smiled as the woman bowed again before walking to the door. The guard on the left moved slightly to the right and pulled the door open for her as she smiled to him. When she was out, the door was shut behind her.
Rockland moved to the windows again and peered out over the city of Luxor. This place was slowly becoming his, and soon, he would turn his eyes for the entire planet itself. For now though, he’d take one building at a time. The city was mostly residential, but being a Spaceport city, the massive orbital-elevator had attracted a lot of transport and supply companies. Military was constantly coming and going, and newcomers were always coming with them.
He had started his enterprise as a child. Growing up with two successful parents, Rockland had an easy going life. His parents weren’t filthy rich, but they were able to support their son as well as themselves during some of the harsh times. Luxor was a city for military families, as well as those who attempted to exploit their soldiers-in-arms. Rockland’s father owned a two story building, and made the first story into a Corner store with the upper floor being their house. Rockland’s mother was a stay-at-home mom, as the store brought in a decent income for them. Though, when dad yelled up the stairs, she gladly trotted down to give him a hand.
Rockland’s father was smart, and bought the property just outside of the Luxor Military Base, a key location. Soldiers who didn’t like to buy from the base store would always come to their own, and Rockland’s Dad quickly became a familiar face to the base. The store had all sorts of goods; food, clothes, jewelry, and even some electronics. They didn’t have much square footage to really put a lot, but Rockland’s father always had quality goods. Eventually, his father was able to pay off the property so he owned it completely, and then began to save a fraction of their income. When Rockland went to college, his father was able to send him to the most prestigious on the planet for Business.
Even now, ten years after he went to college, Rockland’s parents still live in their little store and soldiers still come in. Rockland built the building in a way where he could look out and directly down to see their store.. On some lonely days, the man would sit in his chair and just watch over the house and store. Without his parents knowing, Rockland also bought one of the houses on the street and placed two guards inside as a safety precaution. Being just outside the military base, there were always a soldier or two on duty, and he sees his father chat with the men and women every now and then... It was good to see his Father...
Another knock on the door snapped Rockland from his thoughts, and as he turned, he once again saw another one of his ladies walking in. This time, there were no guards. This one was dressed in a full suit and carried a briefcase on her own. She meant business, and that was all she meant. Rockland crossed his hands behind his back and looked out the window again.
“How may I help you?” Rockland said, trying to act happy as he saw two UN Pelicans fly past his building, bound for the military base. The aircraft gave a courteous wiggle in their wings, probably to the pilots on the roof who use to do the same thing they were doing, every day.
“Sir, Mr. Rodgers has sent us his records.” The sound of the briefcase opening made Rockland look over to the smaller casino. That man came prepared. Rockland liked that.
“Have you analyzed them?” Rockland, now intrigued by the other entrepreneur’s readiness, turned and walked forward to the desk as the woman pulled a piece of paper from the case.
“He netted over five million this last year, and that has increased at an average of three million each year. At the beginning, he gained only five-hundred thousand a year. And that was…. Five years ago. His staff isn’t paid to well, and it seems he is taking the money for himself directly from the machines.” The woman paused and looked up at Rockland, already knowing his pet-peeve, but he simply looked at her, waiting.
“What? Continue.” Rockland smirked.
“Uh… Okay. The building has about two hundred slots, three roulette tables, two poker tables, four blackjack tables, and one Texas Holdem table. His staff is composed of mostly dealers and he doesn’t seem to have any security. He does have three pole dancers on his staff roster though, but their wages are extremely low and seem to show up to work only on the weekends-”
“Stop.” Rockland interrupted and held his hand up slightly to interrupt the woman.
“It is Saturday right?” Rockland asked, pointing to the woman’s universal watch.
“Uh-Yes sir, it is.” She checked the watch and saw that it most definitely was Saturday.
“Close the case and leave it. Come with me.” Rockland smiled and gently pushed his chair into his desk as the woman stared at him a little confused. The guards looked at eachother then at Rockland and the woman in front of them.
“W-what?” The woman asked, watching Rockland as he walked over to get his coat. The blazer slipped over the man like a glove as he put his arms through it.
“Come. We are going on a field trip. Parkins, Fin, I’d like you two to come with me as well.” Rockland walked towards the door with a massive grin. The guards just looked at him.
“But sir…” The woman spoke quietly and Rockland looked back at her.
“We can send someone to handle the deal if you’d like.” She insisted. Rockland just waved her off.
“I like getting out sometimes, it’s okay.” Rockland adjusted his coat and closed up some of the buttons on the front to look more professional. As he approached the doors, his guards stepped to their sides and pulled both doors open wide. Rockland nodded to them, then looked to his right at one of the guards.
“Fin, call for my ride. We are going to see Mr. Rodgers.” The guard bowed his head slightly and immediately got on the radio.
Rockland stepped into the hall and the two guards that were standing in the hall in front of the door began to walk in front of him, while the other two walked behind him, effectively boxing the man in. The woman remained in the room and sighed as she began to close up the briefcase. She lifted it up and walked after the men. Rockland was a man of action. Sitting back was one thing he absolutely hated. These deals were small, and he could send one of his bunnies to do the job for him. Though, that was very rude and unprofessional.
The woman caught up to Rockland and the guards adjusted to protect them both as she moved up beside him. He was looking down his PDA when she finally matched his pace. The screen showed stocks on his enterprise, as well as a comparison to other companies on the planet. The Luxor Enterprise was up on the top, and it was hundreds of millions of dollars higher than any of the others. The Enterprise was privately owned, but he allowed small business owners the ability to buy into his Enterprise as to help them with their economic situation. Upon buying the stock, they would of course get to say they had a piece of the enterprise, but they had not a single say in its operation.
“You know… I never got your name…” Rockland locked the PDA screen and tucked it away in his pocket as the small group reached the Executive Elevator.
“Marissa. It’s Marissa.” Marissa sighed as they were led inside. The first two guards stepped to the side as Rockland, Marissa, and the other two guards walked in.
“A pretty name, for a beautiful woman.” Rockland smirked and moved to the back of the car, with Marissa moving next to him. She was not amused.
Marissa was actually more distracted by the elevator car. Red felt lined the walls along with the ceiling. The floor was a maroon colored cushions-rug material that supported her stiletto heels much better than the rest of the flooring, allowing her to stand a little more comfortably in them. On the sides, there were rose-stem designs that entranced the eyes of those that attempted to follow the swirls and lines. Thorns and streaks of the rose stems wrapped all around her, almost as if she was in a cage.
Then her stomach lifted into her throat as the elevator dropped like a rock. The elevator worked by magnetism, and it flew down from the thirtieth floor to the first in several seconds. Gravity pods adjusted inside the cart to make it more comfortable, and after the initial start, it didn’t even feel like the cart moved. Slowly, the car braked and came to a careful stop on the lobby floor. The ping of the elevator was followed by the doors sliding apart.
“Let’s go.” Parkins’s deep voice came from beneath his balaclava and he tilted his rifle down.
The lobby was full of traffic. People coming in went directly for the entering desks, while those leaving didn’t even bother to go to the exit-desks as their pockets were empty anyways. Though, there were a couple that happily stood at the desk, handing in a bunch of chips and coins that they had won. Rockland smirked and nodded his head to the clerk, who secretly added some extra cash to their winnings without the couple knowing.
The small group moved out of the building, and Rockland caught sight of who he wanted to see. Mr. Rodgers was pacing back and forth next to his hummer, with one guard at the passenger and another at the back, with his driver sitting inside the vehicle. As Rockland came out, Rodgers quickly looked up and his worried face flashed to joy. A limousine and two heavily armored Escalades sat with their engines running and guards surrounding them.
“Executive! Sir it is a pleasure!” Rodgers attempted to run over to Rockland, but was quickly retained as Parkins stepped in front of him, and two other guards grabbed him.
“It’s okay gentlemen.” Rockland assured his guards, who released Rodgers afterwards.
“I am here simply to check the merchandise... Nothing more Rodgers.”
“I know, but is the deal to your liking?” Rodgers pleaded, kneeling down before Rockland.
“Why do you want to sell your casino so soon? You looks like you are doing well.” Rockland smirked and began to walk to his limousine that had just pulled up, with Marissa following and now Rodgers on his heels. The limousine was placed in between two large Armored Terrain SUVs.
“I-I just feel that it would do better with you watching over it. Just having your name on the casino would bring more traffic to it!” Rodgers was held several feet away from the vehicle.
Rockland paused, and held out his hand for Marissa to enter first. One of the guards opened the door, and the woman hesitantly stepped forward and then disappeared inside. Rockland turned to the man behind him and looked at him. Rodgers was on his knees again, begging.
“We will be going to see your casino. I will decide if I want to buy it or not after we look.” Rockland smiled and held out his hand. Rodgers instantly bounced up to shake Rockland’s hand with both of his.
“Thank you so much Mr.Executive!” Rodgers yelled, and Rockland sighed before turning away and slipping into his vehicle.
Marissa was sitting on the left side of Rockland as he took a seat in the far back. She was obviously a little uncomfortable, but she had no reason to be. Rockland just relaxed and nodded to his driver as the man waited for the signal. The trio of vehicles began to roll, then turned left and into the street as they headed for the new casino.
“Why would you do that?” Marissa asked after they reached the road. Rockland looked at her confused.
“Do what?” He asked, obviously playing coy.
“You’re going to buy the casino anyways, so why do we even have to go out?” She sighed, pulling a tablet out of her bag as she used it as a mirror.
“Who would fear a person who didn’t seem to have the guts to leave his office on the top floor?” Rockland chuckled and yawned, tired from the day before. Marissa shook her head.
“You don’t have to leave the building to strike fear into someone. That building is already menacing enough.” Marissa closed her eyes and gripped the tablet a little tighter, getting Rockland’s attention.
“Oh? So you think I would be as popular as I am by staying inside?” Rockland shook his head and opened the front of his jacket to let some air out. He’d button it back up later, but the car was a little warm.
“I just think you’re better off being inside, so everyone knows you're safe. Security hates it when you take these trips out into the city.” Marissa activated her tablet and began to amuse herself.
“Rats...” She muttered as she played one of the games on it.
“Security’s job is to protect me, and me moving around makes it difficult. I understand that. But it’s quite impossible to grow a business if the Executive is locked up in a cage.” Rockland looked out the window to his left as to keep Marissa in view.
The woman bit her lip and sat back against the seat. Her dress was a little shorter then her knees, and her long slender legs didn’t have stockings on as they normally did. It looked a tad tighter along her figure as well, Though, her sharp stiletto heels always made the woman look good.
“Marissa...” Rockland asked softly, causing the woman to look up at him.
“Yes?” Her gentle voice didn’t raise any higher then Rockland’s as she looked at him. Rockland didn’t turn his head over, and just stared at the distant stars.
“Have you ever thought of marriage...?” The question obviously caught Marissa off guard, as her face immediately flushed red.
“U-Uh... Erm...” She looked away from Rockland, and down at her tablet. She went silent, and just stared at the object, quietly returning to her game as to refocus her thoughts..
Then the ride was over. The vehicles pulled into the space in front of the casino, and guards immediately filed out. Several of them were dressed in full military gear while others looked like secret agents. Rockland looked over at the casino which was on his right, and waited until one of his guards opened the door. Marissa remained frozen, but at the click of the door, she snapped to life again and he face returned to normal.
As they stepped out of the vehicle, Rodger’s convoy came around the corner and pulled up behind Rockland’s rear Terrain. The man stumbled out and rushed over to Rockland as fast as he could, bowing down to the man the moment he stopped.
Rockland patted Rodgers on the back of the head then walked into the casino. The moment he walked in, two dancers moved up beside him holding out platters with orderves on them. The man didn’t even bother, and moved directly between them towards the inside of the casino as if he owned it already. The machines were full of people, the tables bustled with fools, and the money was coming in fast. Though, there wasn’t a lot of machines.
Yet, he wasn’t there for the cash, Rockland was looking for something else. Those behind the glass at the front looked bored, and moved money like machines. The dancers that were more towards the back picked up every bit of cash that fell at their feet. No plate-carrier moved between the machines as the players were either standing, or angry. The dealers were careful, and didn’t smile or sweet talk.
The casino was bringing in money, that was for sure. But the employees looked like they were worn out toys, being used simply for their looks. It was horrific in Rockland’s eyes. There was no doubt he would buy this place...
“98%” Rockland said, catching Rodgers off guard.
“P-pardon?” The man stuttered, shaking in his clothes as the Executive looked over his building.
“98% of the power, and you can continue to watch over the casino. I also want control over the employees, and the main operation of the building.” Rockland turned to face Rodgers, and instantly seemed to tower over the man.
“O-okay. A-a-anything Mr. Executive.” The man held out his hand, sweat dripping from his forehead and his knees shaking violently. Rockland smiled and shook his hand politely.
“Now, Marissa. Care to handle the paperwork?” Rockland looked over at the woman, who stared back at him flat-faced. Now she knew why he brought her.
“Of course, Sir.” She bowed a little as expected, but the tightening of her grip on her tablet showed that she was annoyed.
“Good. Call me when it is handled.” Rockland smiled at her then patted Rodgers on the shoulder.
The man bowed his head and kept it down until the Executive was gone. Rockland returned to his limousine, and sat down inside alone. He would go home tonight a little richer, and tomorrow he would have to fix that casino. Maybe he should be a little more aggressive... Waiting for buildings to come to him took a long time, as many of them feel they can still operate independently.
We will have to see how long that lasts. Maybe a year, a month, or maybe even a week. Rockland had earned his nickname because of his success in the underground world. He had the power, the name, and the muscle. It was time to make use of it. He would no longer sit in his room and stare at what he could be owning.... He’ll look out on the city that is his...
The vehicles pulled out from in front of the casino, and rolled out into the street. The didn’t make it far before a loud thud caught Rockland’s attention. When he looked up, he saw that a sniper bullet had smashed into the bulletproof glass right next to his head. It cracked and shattered the thick ballistic glass, but did not break through it. What a pathetic attempt.
In reaction, the vehicles sped forward, accelerating quickly to get away from where they believed the sniper to be. The rear SUV moved up to the left side to shield the limousine, and the guards seemed to be firing up at where the bullet came from. The convoy continued straight, then turned left a mile ahead. Keeping a fast pace, the three vehicles made a mad-dash for the main building. The underground garage door opened up slowly in the distance for the convoy as word reached the operator. In a line, the three vehicles dived down inside. A line of guards poured out and closed behind the vehicles as they disappeared inside. The door was sealed shut behind them and the line of guards spread out.
The shattered pane was immediately singled out by repairmen as Rockland was helped from the vehicle. Surrounded by guards far, and close, the Executive walked to his main elevator and stepped inside. Gunfire outside the building echoed, and the radio buzzed with combat. Several of his men were trained Special-Operation veterans, so it wasn’t a surprise that they were handling the situation with ease.
The guards escorted Rockland to his elevator, and struck the upper-most button that lead to the pelican. They had never done this before, but Rockland had told them that in only dire situations would he need to be brought to the pelican. Which meant that the fight outside wasn’t going as he thought.
“Contacts, left side of that building.”
“Roger.”
“Damn ,where did they all come from?”
“Must be a militia.”
“Keep your heads, take them out. Protect the Executive and the people inside.
“What's his eta on evac?”
“Thirty seconds, he in the elevator.”:
“This is Alpha-Six-One, we’re priming engines. Skies are clear.
“Copy Alpha-Six-One, Strike-Four-One is airborne. We have aerial superiority.”
“Strike-Four-Two lifting off.”
“Should we notify the UNSC?”
“No, this may be a full on attack but-” Suddenly as the man spoke, an explosion rattled through the radio. The man was silent...
“Fuck, notify the UNSC. This is a full assault on the building.” He returned.
“We’re opening armories Delta and Omega, heavy vehicles rolling out.”
“Roger. Strike-Four-Two, can you give us eyes on enemy vehicles?”
“We’re already on it. They’ve got some small APCs, nothing heavy.”
“Where’d that shot come from then?”
“Modified Cobra it seems. Fires 90 millimeters.”
“Damn, who the hell are these guys?”
“No clue, Strike-Four-Two, engage that vehicle.”
“Engaging the Cobra. Firing heat-rockets.”
As Rockland reached the rooftop, the sound of the explosion echoed through the elevator as well as through the radio. He was escorted out, and it was clear; someone had brought war to his doorstep. Snipers lined his building’s rooftop all around, and were firing almost constantly. His aircraft circled and fired just off the sides of the building and into the streets. Rockland couldn’t see what was truly happening, but he could hear it.
“Cobra down.”
“Copy Four-Two. Uh-Where’s the executive?”
“We’ve got eyes on him, he’s coming to the pelican now.”
“Four-One here, I’ll escort the Pelican out.”
“Four-One, this is Strike-Three-One. We’re coming in from Bravo-Base. We’ll assist with the evac.”
“Copy that Three-One, much obliged.”
“Four-One, there’s a guy with a rocket aiming at you, left building, corner of that-” Cutting the man off, one of the snipers to the left fired and the guy began to laugh.
“Never mind, good shot. Good shot.”
“Rockland is coming in now. This is Transport Alpha-Omega, we’re tipping off.”
As Rockland entered the pelican, he was immediately sat down and strapped into one of the modified seats. All of the original smaller, let comfortable seats had been replaced with more luxurious ones. His guards took positions all through the pelican as the co-pilot helped him strap in. The man nodded to Rockland, who nodded back.
“Welcome to Omega Transportations.” The co-pilot smiled and Rockland laughed some.
The pelican lurched forwards, and pulled away from the building. Behind him, a small Sparrowhawk took position as rear-guard. The attack-VTOL looked mean in its black paint job, and with its heavy armament, Rockland felt well protected in his ship. Though, he wished he could say the same for his men down below.
As he pulled away, he caught a glimpse of the battle below. His men had taken cover where they could, and their armor was helping. The lightly armed, almost canon-like enemies, littered the ground, but they kept coming. The vehicles that were supporting them were in flames already, and they seemed to just be attacking randomly and without any sense of direction.
Slowly, the fight faded, and the city began to shrink as the Pelican and Sparrowhawks lifted up high into the sky. Besides the fact that his investment was under attack, the night was beautiful. Stars sparkled all through the sky, blocked by only a few clouds here and there. The city lights twinkled, making the sky seem to crash into the ground and continue through it. It was rare that he got to enjoy these kinds of sights, but he savored every one.
Eventually, after nearly an hour of flying around higher in the sky, the radio began to quiet down. His guards seemed to be mopping up, and the attackers were dying out in numbers. Rockland turned in his seat a little and began to relax. The craft twisted back for the building as the all clear was given, and the three aircraft moved swiftly back. Within minutes, Rockland was back on the ground and being escorted back down into where he lived on the highest floor; the thirty-first.
His guards remained vigilant, and as he walked down the stairs from the air-pad into his penthouse, he was greeted by the Head of Security, as well as on of the UN Generals. Rockland paused at the bottom of the stairs as the two of them stood and looked at him. Now what was so important that the General had to come down?
“Mr. Rockland, this is General Westings. He is the head of the ground defense force for Eridanus II.” Rockland’s HoS spoke loudly, introducing the well-decorated Marine.
“Nice to meet you, General.” Rockland walked over and shook hands firmly with the General. He meant business.
“Now what can I help you with?” Rockland moved to his chair, which was opposite the couch where the other two men sat.
“We got an order from HIGHCOM that rebels were popping up in the system. And from the recent attack that occurred on your doorstep only minutes ago, I’ve got some very easy questions for you.” The General was being straightforward, and wasn’t hiding why he was here. It must be serious if Rockland was being tied into the Insurrectionist-web.
“If you want to know my affiliation, I am neutral in your war. I do not help the Rebels, nor do I help you. I am a simply entrepreneur who wants to make money. I own a casino, a club, and this area around here. I live in peace, somewhat, as do my employees. Why would I disrupt that by participating in a war?” Rockland remained polite to the General, and kept an assertive tone, but would not allow the man to dominate this discussion.
“So you are not with the rebels?” The General questioned, seeming to be slightly relieved.
“No, I am not with those pathetic rats.” Rockland waved off the question and looked to his HoS, Barkley, who was sitting silent.
“May I ask where you got all of your weapons and armor?” Westing’s next question made Rockland pull his eyebrows together. He tilted his head and looked weirdly at the man.
“I bought them from the UNSC, Westings. Are there no records?” Rockland looked to one of the girls in the corner then motioned her to go get them.
“Uh-no. There are no records of you purchasing anything from the UNSC that I know of.” Westings also seemed confused. There must have been some miscommunication within the military. Again.
“I paid for a waiver by the UNSCDF several years ago, as well as contracts with many of the same Industries that make your arms and armor.” The woman Rockland called for returned with several pages of paper, all different contracts with different companies.
“Here we are, General. The first one here is the waiver with the UNSC...” Rockland handed the first sheet over to Westings, as he himself looked over the others.
“Sorry, I haven’t exactly made any orders for a long time so bare with me...”
“It’s no problem, Mr. Rockland. I was never told of this beforehand.” Westings looked confusingly over the waiver, and seemed to be put off by what was on it. Rockland had full clearance to order all kinds of weapons and armor from the companies he was able to get contracts from. This was unheard of.
“I have contracts with Asklon, Traxus Heavy Industries, the Misriah Armory, and a limited-contact with the UNSC, should any of those companies not offer what I request.” Rockland laid the four papers that listed the weapons and armor he could buy out on the table between the men. On each paper, the UN had signed and stamped the papers with their approval, as well as the companies themselves.
“This... is different” Westings said, placing the waiver down on the table as well.
“So you are not with the Rebels.” Westings asked, still looking at the papers.
“I am not.” Rockland answered firmly, knowing the conversation was already over.
“And you are not with the UNSC either?” The General looked up, surprise written all over his face.
“I am not. I am a neutral being just trying to make a living.” Rockland smiled and nodded lightly.
“Okay then, I guess that’s all I needed then. Sorry to bother you, I know you are a busy man.” The General stood, as did Barkley.
“It is no problem. If it is to prevent conflict because of paperwork and misinformation, I don’t mind chatting about it.” Rockland smiled and stood after the other two had and held out his hand to the Westings.
“It was a pleasure to meet you Mr. Rockland.” Westings shook hands with Rockland, and the two smiled at each other, their grips a little looser as they had no reason to be tense.
“The pleasure was mine, General. Please have a nice night.” Rockland released the Marine’s hand, then watched as he also shook hands with Barkley. The General smiled and was escorted to the elevator, then disappeared as the doors to it shut.
Barkley sighed of relief and sat back down on the couch as Rockland gathered up the papers. The Rebels were coming to Eridanus II, and it seemed they didn’t like him being where he was. The UNSC was also concerned about him. His presence in the city was widely known, and it was probably a misconception that he controlled the city already. Even with his power and influence, Rockland didn’t control the city. Not yet. But tomorrow, he would change all of that.
“Go home Barkley. Get some rest. I need you ready to go tomorrow. We have some places to go to.” Rockland looked at the tired man, then over at the woman he had asked to get the papers from earlier. He handed them back to her, and she quickly disappeared with them to put them back.
“I apologize for that, Sir. He just wanted to make sure you were friendly and not an enemy of the UN.” Barkley rubbed the bridge of his nose and let his body relax in the cushions.
“What you did was fine. I would rather not have a misunderstanding, then end up having to fight against the people I welcome through my doors on a daily basis.” Rockland walked over to the glass windows, as he usually did.
“How are my boys?”
“Everyone is okay. Minor injuries and only two men have to be hospitalized for a few weeks. No one is dead. Minor damages to the buildings and streets are being handled. There were no major structural damages in the fight. Everything should be completely cleaned up by the end of next week.” Barkley held up his tablet that Rockland had assigned him, and looked over the report that was being updated from down below.
“Good. Give the men that fought some compensation. Raise their pay as well for the next year. They deserve it. Now go on home. I wish to sleep.” Rockland stared down at the street below and stood silent as Barkley left the room, taking the elevator down.
The day had been long, and now with a quick glance to his watch; it was 3 in the morning. He wouldn’t sleep well tonight, and with the looming war on his conscious, he had even more pressure on his shoulders. The media would certainly question the battle that occurred outside, and even more would arise from the people who saw it.
Whatever happened to living peacefully...?
