Valiant

"No room for cordiality"

Gavin looked up and stared at Nathan who heaved the second crate on his shoulder before setting it onto the table. Gavin adjusted himself in the metal chair and wiped the sweat from his hands before stifling a cough, "You plan on doing all of those?" The sweaty man turned to Gavin and rolled his shoulders "Aye...Don't see why I wouldn't," Nathan replied chuckling. "Er, uh yeah...heh" Gavin mumbled breaking eye contact, Nathan raised an eyebrow before returning to his work. Nathan was a large man with short cropped blonde hair and deep-set eyes that tended to end arguments before they started, Matthew was his comedic opposite with thin arms and jet black hair. Gavin sat awkwardly in his chair shifting his attention from ceiling tile to ceiling tile.

A small plasma light hummed softly above, casting a rich pale yellow on the smooth metal walls. As the two men continued their work a small female voice was broadcast into the room through a small inlaid speaker on the ceiling "Ventrell to see Mr.Delltori" The voice said punctually. Gavin felt his chest tighten as he rose shakily and walked down the hall. Matthew waved as Gavin passed, a gesture that was not reciprocated. A small door slid open soundlessly as Gavin stepped through  the threshold, the thin man behind the desk looked up and smiled curtly. "Hello, Mr. Ventrell...or do you prefer Gavin?" Delltori asked as he quickly straightened a stray pen.

"Either is fine"

Delltori nodded languidly before straightening in his chair.

The office was furnished with a broad mahogany desk with fine carved detailing along its trim, shaming the rest of the room with its presence. A small projector clock put the time of 7:34 behind Delltori's head and a small leather fitted chair sat before the desk. Delltori sported a thin beard with long black hair that was too thin to be flaunted, his face was thin and boney with sunken eyes. His teeth were pointed but well cared for and a pair of curled ears sat slightly farther back then they should on his head. Delltori brushed a troublesome bit of fluff from his cuff before affixing his dark yellow eyes on Gavin,

"You came here with a complaint, yes?"

"I did sir."

"This isn't a schoolyard Mr. Ventrell please don't talk to me like an old man...it's Delltori."

Gavin rubs his hands together firmly breathing slowly, "I'm sorry Delltori...and yes I did have a complaint."

Delltori gestures for continuation.

"It seems that you've purposely cut off monetization to Arius-"

Delltori bristles. "That's a rather bold assumption Gavin, I hope you've brought evidence of such a claim!"

Gavin reached down to pull up his pant leg revealing a small gauss pistol strapped to his ankle. The gun fit comfortably in Gavin's hand as he rose from the chair, waving the weapon slightly.

"I feel like you know I'm right already...Sir."

Delltori stiffened in his chair and ground his teeth painfully.

Gavin forced a stern expression as his brain began to reel.

Gavin pressed a small recessed button on the gun causing it to hum gently.

"Before I kill you let me know why you did it, eh?" Gavin stared darkly at Delltori.

Delltori dug his nails into the chair.

"Are all Milvians as worthless as you? I assume living with the government's hand up your ass for as many years as you've had can set judgment askew."

"What will killing me solve?" Delltori asked shakily.

Gavin felt his trepidation fade as anger quickly took its place.

Gavin pointed the gun at Delltori's head, "...Not much..."

"W-why bite the hands that feed then? I could give you anything you want!"

"I don't want anything of yours...All I want is you dead, some problems can be very easy to solve like that"

Delltori blanched, " I'm not the sole incitement here, other forces are at play! You must listen to reason Gavin!"

Delltori shook heavily, his sweat causing his hair to stick messily to his head.

Gavin swallowed and ground his teeth, "There's a point...When a house gets so infested with termites that you've just gotta burn it down"

Gavin stared through Delltori, "Sadly I have to be that fires source..."

"Passé Perdu Mr. Delltori" Gavin muttered.

Delltori made a small noise before the pistol hummed louder and his viscera painted the back wall. Gavin shook violently before turning away and breathing. Before Gavin could turn to the door it opened and Matthew entered, his face instantly went stiff and a wavering breath escaped him. Matthew had begun to turn away from the grizzly sight before his blood splattered on the door and his body slumped to the floor. Gavin kept the gun pointed where the man's head had been and felt bile rise in his throat again. The sound of someone running echoed in the halls as Gavin staggered out stepping over the young man's corpse.

Gavin stood and breathed in deeply before calming and pressing into his ear with a finger,"I'm done" He relayed quickly.

"Good, the elevator in the room to your right will take you to the lobby, and no more fatalities,one more stunt like that and forget your pay, I can't hog the signal forever...I'm only buying you so much time so hurry.." A voice grated from Gavins ear-piece.

"Do you think I killed him on purpose?"

"I don't care if you did or not, I'm just telling you...now hurry the hell up before we run out of time!"

Gavin stood quickly watching as a small pool of blood stretched out into the hall and touched the far wall. Gavin stepped out of the puddle and continued down the hall.

An alarm began to blare harshly in the small room causing Gavin to wince as he sped up his pace to the door. The door slid open as it had done before and revealed a woman standing behind her desk with many panicked people requesting to be let out. As Gavin entered the room went suddenly silent without thinking Gavin found his gun pointed at the small group of people, "Everyone down, Now!" he yelled.

The rooms occupants all dropped to the floor suddenly, Gavin quickly made his way to the elevator and pressed the button. The elevator remained silent, "Why isn't this working!?"

The woman cowered behind her desk as Gavin walked quickly over and grabbed her by the scruff of her shirt lifting her up.

"Why isn't the lift working? Fix it now!"

The woman whimpered softly before pointing a finger to the desk.

A small button was set into the desk giving off a light blue hue. Gavin dropped the woman back to her knees and pressed the button frantically. A small Meerian scampered out of the way of Gavin's boot as he quickly ran to the elevator. The elevators button lit up as Gavin pressed it repeatedly, it soon dinged announcing its arrival. Two small doors slid open showing its lavish interior with smooth wood and stainless metal and a laminate floor now stained with the blood from Gavin's boots. The lobby button was pressed with the nose of Gavin's pistol as the elevator began to quickly make its descent.

AN: Thank you very much for taking the time to read the first part of my story. I ask that you give me your opinion on it, I would adore hearing your complaints or compliments. Have a fantastic day,night or evening, until next time.