Ghost Orchid's recruitment

[Ridley]

Ridley’s gaze narrowed to slits as he perched on a rounded chair. His throne was impressive, meant to show the prestige and power of his rule with the Xenomorphs he had personally killed.

His personal perch was a rounded thing, strong enough to hold Ridley’s weight as he Dug into it with all four talons, and pliant enough beneath his claws to be of comfort. It also forced Ridley to stand up straighter, something which left him standing yet taller than before as Ghost walked into the darkened room, Ridley’s eyes glowing within the darkness.

“Lord Ridley.” Ghost introduced himself with a short bow. He did have more respect than Lilith, more poise, and more sanity - though that could always be hidden, Ridley knew. Still, his information seemed to indicate that Ghost was merely a competent, quiet and dedicated assassin. The man wasn’t too difficult to look up, though finding more than rumours of his presence often was.

“You are known to me, assassin.” Ridley replied. “You are competent enough to gain a reputation. If I understand your bank account correctly-”

“You looked in my bank account?” Ghost asked, shocked, but not horrified.

“Doctor Octavius looked in your bank account.” Ridley replied. “You are underpaid.”

Ghost slid his weight to one hip, as he crossed his arms. “...Are you saying you’ll be different?” He asked, and were it not for a complete lack of arrogance in tone Ridley would have considered discipline. This one was rather innocent - more of a sense for murder than politics, he expected.

Ridley instead leaned forward. “An army fights on it’s stomach. Pirates are a bottomless pit.”

“Lilith didn’t make you out to be interested in philosophy.”

“Lilith is a hedonist and a pervert.” Ridley replied, expecting that to answer the question.

“But you keep her around?”

“She is WYVERN. And She gets results.”

Ghost seemed to tilt his head, as he thought about that. “I’m interested in the job, but what does being WYVERN mean then, Lord Ridley? All I know about your aims is that you’re a pirate. What are your goals? Dreams?”

Ridley thought about it. “Your boss.”

“...Claudio?”

“-Is a pig.”

Ghost’s head tilted harder, as Ridley gave an irritated snort.

“Power, decisions, influence, all belong to the strong. Those who invest. The crossroads’ worlds are filled with the opposite. Those who do nothing to secure their power control it. I despise it. Those who are born with the strength and will to shape their future are held back by a society interested in defending the stupid, weak and infirm. That children often hold thrones under no other reason than bloodline, or that Claudio’s head remains on his shoulders, disgusts me.”

Ghost’s body posture seems to relax as he thought the statements through. “...I’d always assumed you were interested in money.”

“I am interested in power. The power to shape the galaxy. But I grasp it with my own talons. I do not do it to grow fat and complacent.” Ridley replied. “I will remake this system into something stronger with my own teeth.”

Ridley craned his neck. “But for now, I’ve a job for you. Consider it a test run. A way to feel out WYVERN.” The dragon offered, his grin growing sinister as Ghost shifted just a half step backwards.


“...what do you want me to do after that antimatter heist.”

“Alone, or with help, bring me Claudio’s fortune… and his severed head.”

 

[Ghost Orchid]

An unnerving coldness ran through Ghost’s veins at the request. That wasn’t something he’d even considered a possibility. To be forced to remove the man that gave him his start. In a place that now hunted him like a wounded deer.

This was of course how initiation would go, he thought. This was a being that wanted the universe in his grip. One slain dirtbag was just a steppingstone. Though it would be a tougher task than he wanted to admit. Claudio would stand no chance against him if he was close but… Could he really kill that man?

"Forgive me if this is out of turn, but is it truly a necessity? Is it not more dangerous that I return to Arcadia; a place where I caused a miniature war?"

Yes, he was absolutely right about one thing. Claudio was a pig. The man had made scores of enemies through his betrayals. He was also someone that wasn't committing many atrocities. He did what he had to do to survive just like Ghost had which is how they had connected.

A shift in Ridley's position came then, as he turned to look at something that wasn't there. Until it was. A holo-screen appeared. Displayed on it was clearly Claudio. He was finalizing a deal in some seedy alleyway. He had guards with as he was oft to do. The two on the opposite side of the deal were young. Late teens, early twenties at most. The deal seemed to go fine. It wasn't until it was complete that Claudio turned to leave when his guards descended on the two. They beat them until they were nothing but pulps of red. Their bodies then flung into a nearby trash bin like they were garbage themselves.

Ghost looked astonished at the screen. Never having seen such a senseless act of violence occur from the man before. He'd even turned away. Too cowardly to face what he'd ordered. For a moment, Ghost said nothing, but when he went to speak Ridley took that chance from him.

Extended from Ridley's great talons was a stack of papers. It was thick and organized with Claudio's full name at the top. It almost looked to be a script due to its format. Ghost sheepishly took the stack and opened it.

“Read.”

The assassin was silent still as he read. The atrocities committed by the man he worked for were indescribable. Well, that wasn't true, as they were being described in these very documents. Ghost himself would just never repeat them. He didn't need to. He thought his own psyche would have been better off not knowing the things that have transpired with Claudio's wicked hands entangled in them.

He even thought for a moment. Made a comparison to Lilith. It was almost comparable.

But even Lilith hadn't harmed children.

Ghost threw the documents aside as he ran a hand down his cold mask as if he was feigning wiping sweat from his face.

"That's enough. I don't want to read anymore of that filth."

The rogue almost vomited in his own mask. The size of Ridley displayed him to be an intense monster. One of myth and spoken of in lore and fear. Even still, Ridley seemed a saint to Ghost now. The worst monsters wore faces like his.

"I'll bring you his head. His entrails. His limbs." The sheep turned lion quick in his tone. A mere bowing subservient now speaking as a predator.

"The only thing I ask is that you let me make him suffer."

 

[Ridley]

Ridley’s smile glittered like a shark’s, as his eye scanned every detail of the assassin’s countenance. He was the type to find those he despised utterly unsympathetic. A monster when in service to killing other monsters.

It was a moral back-door, a way for nature to reclaim its throne, and Ridley just needed to give Ghost a prod along the right path.

“Then savor it, Ghost Orchid.” Ridley would reply. “You’ve a month to kill him. The Dreadnought will be ready to pick you up, when the time comes. You’ve a berth on the ship until we’re in range.” the old bird would snap. “Are we finished?”

Ghost’s fingers tapped against his leg with a poorly disguised rage, as Ridley looked to him.

“Will you ever… do things his way?”

Ridley cocked his head to the side slightly, as he leaned back on his perch. “No. I don’t have time to bask in baseless indulgences.” Ridley snapped back. “Anything else?”

Ghost’s voice travelled a few seconds later, after a loud intake of breath. “No. I think I have everything I need.” the assassin spoke through clenched teeth. “I’ll go prepare for travel.”

Ridley gave a short, slow blink of his eyes, before turning to other vid-screens across his chambers. “Then go. I’ve work to do.” the dragon snapped, as he regarded the screens surveilling the ship. His crew was at work, his minions were all up to work, with the only one doing very little being…

Well, a very bored Lilith lounging next to his throne on the bridge. He would have to keep that one busy. The acidic terror was far more dangerous without prey in her sights. That was fine. The hyper-drive was working, and after Ghost was dropped off planet-side, he had plans for the two of them around the desert world of Mesa Roja. By the time Omelette had his new modifications finished, he planned to have a fully staffed army inside of the Dreadnought’s hull. And once Vindictus returned with the expected prize, they would have far more…

Ridley preened, before stepping out past the same doorway Ghost had exited a moment before.

A new raid was coming, and Ridley already relished the upcoming challenges. It was time to shout his supremacy in the sands of the Desert, and not a single man on mesa roja would ever forget his name.