Omega 17

(Chapter Six) When Lies Become Truth

*the morning comes and with it a sense of sadness. outside the rain pounds upon the ground and the skies are a dark grey. Jake stirs in his bed in a fitful sleep once again. turning and tossing he finally gives up and wakes up. sitting up in bed he rubs his eyes and sighs looking around the dreary hideout. standing up he gets dressed picking up a small rectangular board rounded on both ends. putting on his shades he slips on a rain jacket and climbs out of the hole. stepping onto the strange board it comes to life hovering a foot off the ground and he leans forward and it shoots off the rain pelting him in the face. he swerves and streaks past vehicles on the road and down the line of shops by the Seaside. his depression grows as he mounts higher up a hill and then down it the city starting to fall behind him he narrows his eyes against the rain.*
"when the world becomes dark the light will dim search long and you will find salvation!"
*a loud speaker echos this message as he draws closer to another part of the city the back drop area and he groans. he knew the sound of that voice: Father Crin a self-proclaimed holy man from another world. a short man he looks human upon first inspection but looking closer you will notice him as a Glorkon a humanoid reptile like species with gills instead of a normal neck able to breath in and out of water. this adaptation is needed for their world is mostly water with only floating cities as land mass.sighing Jake speeds up into the city to see what has brought this so called "holy man" to yet another city. pulling up short he sees a large crowd gathered around in the central plaza on their knees or standing applauding him. Jake shakes his head in disgust knowing this to be yet another scam of Father Crin's. Crin known to many as "The Liar" has gone thru city after city planet after planet claiming to speak to their God known as Gren who will bestow blessing upon the generous and the despot. it never came true of course but Father Crin made off with a healthy amount of cash and jewels and never appeared on those planets again. no one has ever been able to catch him and thus cannot keep claims against him for theft. many a world would pay a hefty price for his head....but Jake has not turned him in. why might you ask? because as much as he hates the man if it wasn't for him bank rolling his operation he wouldn't have a resistance...playing friends with the lesser of two evils you might say. hovering over to a corner Jake steps off his board and leans against a wall to listen to his words smirking at his boldness*
"We are one in the same my fair people! we have been cheated and wronged by those we serve and have blessed! the time is now to strike back and bring forth retribution! Blackwell cannot hold us prisoner! WE MUST BE STRONG! COME MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!"
*the crowd cheers and Jake shakes his head yet again. why is this bigot here? why to collect more money of course. its all it ever is for. of course there must be something else because Crin doesn't just show up and challenge a major superpower for no reason other then money. disgusted yet curious Jake stays and listens a bit more*
"TOGETHER WE CAN OVER THROW THEM AND BRING FORTH A NEW AGE OF PROSPERTY AND LIFE ANEW! COME FORTH AND BRING YOUR DONATIONS TO THE CAUSE AND WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS!"
*as if drawn by a tide the crowd gathers forward dropping cash into a large box along with jewels and other valuable items. as always Jake is bewildered at how easy it is to fool people and convince them of such lies. waiting for the crowd to disperse after this enlightening speech Jake moves forward board in hand. Crin bends over the box his pudgy little hands counting the money with glee unaware of Jakes approach. clearing his throat Crin looks up slightly startled. he jumps back a little as he sees Jake and smiles sheepishly the rain getting lighter. speaking his voice is a little higher then usual*
"oh ho well hello Jake what can i do for you?"
*Jake smirks and holds his board carefully in one hand*
"well for starters....you can tell me what the fuck your doing here and why your scamming those already too poor to live...and secondly why your openly challenging Blackwell you know they will have your balls in a noose before you can say mercy once they catch wind of this"
*he shifts and smiles back a little slyly*
"well my good friend money is business and business is good. its not as if they will need all of it you know....as for challenging Blackwell....heh well...there is a bit of truth behind my lies ya know"
*Jake looks at him curious. this is definitely a new turn for Crin. Jake nods at Crin to continue. delighted he continues his tale*
"well you see even tho i may be a heartless thief i do have my standards...Blackwell is hammering down on most of the planets now and i cant make a decent profit with all these Warships cruising around and chasing away visitors and traders on blockaded worlds soooo....if i disrupt their activities maybe i can make a little more profit and help out the helpless in the meantime eh?...."
*Jake cocking an eyebrow shakes his head*
"so its all for money still? damn Crin and here i thought maybe you were gaining some kind of nobility at last"
*Crin looks at him with a hurt look*
"oh come now i am noble i depart people with their money and give a slice to you for your little revolution isn't that noble?"
*Jakes eyebrows both go up this time*
"When you put it that way Crin you sound as if your a bloody saint"
*Crin laughs a booming laugh his green skin flashing with scales in the rain*
"oh well im not saint but i can certainly play one very well don't you think?"
*Jake laughs this time and sighs*
"convincing maybe but that doesn't make me like you any more"
*Crin simply grins and pulls out a medium sized bag. filling it up he hands it over to Jake who takes it with reluctance. if he could've he would've simply been rid of Crin and gotten the money some other way....but no one else will support his operation so what other choice does he have. taking the money he shrinks it down into his belt and tucks it away*
"So when the hell did you get into this system anyways? Blackwell has Omega 17 locked down tighter then a bars liquor supply on Saturday nights"
*Crin shifts his feet slightly*
"Um well...its just that i uh...well i might have...certain contacts inside Blackwell......"
*Jakes eyes suddenly blaze*
"You what?"
*his voice is low and deadly and Crin backs away slightly*
"Look its not what you think Jake! i did what i had to....some old friends of mine work for Blackwell now and they are my inside source i haven't sold anybody out i fucking swear it"
*Looking into his eyes Jake seethes with hate but sees truth in hos words and backs down growling angrily*
"Why haven't you told us this before i....."
*suddenly Jakes mind begins to whir with thoughts and an idea forms*
"Wait....Crin how high is your friends in the command chain?"
*Crin seems taken aback by this question but furrows his brows and thinks*
"Well...one or two of them are just grunts right now..another is an officer...oh yea and my last friend is Commanding Officer of the Warship Dalron"
*Jake stares at Crin as if struck stupid. his lips move but he cannot speak and Crin looks at him oddly. after a moment Jake finds his voice again*
"hes Commander of the fucking Dalron!? The fucking Dalron? the most legendary Warship in the entire Blackwell armada!?"
*Crin grins widely at this and nods happily*
"oh yes yes indeed! he made his way up the chain of command rather quickly and is quite popular among the Council. they made him commander of the Dalron after his last raid on the planet of Earth taking down a corrupt Blackwell cell that had splintered off"
*Jake thinks this over and smiles widely in his own turn*
"Say Crin....how possible would it be to get four passengers on board without Blackwell noticing?"
*At this Crin smiles slyly his eyes alight*
"depending on who...very easily...why do you ask?"
*Jake smiles back a fire in his eyes*
"I need you to get me onto that warship....i need to take a trip"
*Crin not needing any more info simply nods and bows*
"Consider it done Jake Brackson....i will contact you when the time is ready"
*with that he grabs his box of cash and leaves leaving Jake in the rain with a smile for the first time in a while. turning his board back on Jake hops on it and hurries home intent on his soon to be victory....soon...Blackwell will taste the wrath of Hell itself*