Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 465: Favortism

Mountain hastily began putting his revolver together as Jace watched. Ulin’s people around the room were relaxing a bit as they waited. Keeping a cool head so they do not overstress themselves.

"May I ask what information you are seeking?" Mountain Man asked as he was almost finished putting back together his revolver. It was a smaller caliber revolver, the rounds it could fire would pierce a target but would not blow off their head like Jace’s revolver would.

"The location of the Vexical and Hex royal records. I know you are the one holding the auction. I also know you plan to hold it off sight. Which is also where you are holding records until the auction." Jace informed the man with a smile.

Mountain Man hesitated for a moment before nodding his head. "You are after those... You know just about every country, criminal group, and most large businesses are sending representatives for the auction. If you spite them-"

"They will likely throw a fit and put a bounty out on my head." Jace interrupted with a shrug. "I know, but I do not really care." Jace answered as he leaned back in his chair.

Mountain Man was almost finished putting the revolver together. "I suppose you are some form of military. Not many branches would willingly start a fight with just about everyone just for some books that you probably can’t even use or open."

"What do you mean we can’t use or open them?" Ulin asked as she paced behind the Mountain Man.

"It is just as I said. The ’records’ are some weird technology combined with a book that restricts who can read and understand the contents. I even informed all buyers ahead of time but they still insist on purchasing it." Mountain man explained as the click of him finishing putting the revolver together sounded throughout the oddly quiet tavern.

Jace smiled as he thought about it for a moment. "Probably because they know how to access the records. Chances are they use something similar in some part of their government or organization."

"I suppose I am just behind the times?" Mountain Man offered as he reached into a pocket and then pulled out round. It was clearly a blank one that would just explode with gunpowder and no bullet. But Jace also noticed that he also had another round in his hand. He could see as the man pulled down his weapon to close it he switched out the bullet.

He looked up and saw Ulin noticed as well but Jace just shook his head slightly to stop her from doing anything. He then watched as the Mountain Man spun the chamber of the gun. "Now then, would you like to go first or should I?"

"You can go first, but I would like to add a rule to the game." Jace declared with an innocent smile.

—--------------------------

The door to her temporary office beeped. Director Fenrir looked at a camera feed that pulled up and smiled when she saw who came to her office. But she quickly altered expression as she opened the door from her desk.

Dahlia Dakota walked in with an annoyed expression on her face. "Director Fenrir, I think I have been patient enough. I specifically asked for the assignment to reacquire the royal family records. I did the research and the initial discovery for it."

"You did yes, but you also wanted to dedicate the entirety of The Elysium to the mission. When not only are you tired from back-to-back operations and casualties. Your people need the rest commander." Director Fenrir reminded her with a guttural growl.

"That is right! I am okay with that! But I also know that that is not the reason for taking me off the operation. In fact, this is not the first time. You specifically blocked me from participating in several operations that you deemed too dangerous. Even Sakana Nine!" Dahlia began explaining.

"Sakana Nine was an unknown-"

"Yet you still for some reason decided to send your prodigy!" Dahlia began raising her voice. "You could have done several other options but you decided to send him instead!"

"Commander Dakota, I believe it is time to sit down." Director Fenrir leaned back in her chair and frowned.

"No, I will not sit down! I want to know why you are overprotective of me! I am good but I am not that good." Dahlia pointed out.

"I would like to know as well." A voice pulled Director Fenrir out of her daze and Dahlia out of her anger. Director Fenrir looked and saw the High Priestess had entered the room at some point in the last few minutes while she was being yelled at by Commander Dakota. The High Priestess closed the door and then sat in one of the two seats across from the desk. "Considering the fact that the Director of MILD has taken special interest in one of my military vessels is something I would like to know."

Director Fenrir looked between them before letting out a tired sigh as a look of sadness took over her expression and she pressed a few buttons on the desk. A moment later there was a holographic call that connected. Dahlia blinked in surprise when the former emperor of Vexical appeared. "Fenrir~ are you missing me-"

The High Priestess coughed loudly and the hologram of the emperor spun around. "Oh! Sorry about that." He then looked back over at Fenrir. "What ah... what did you need?"

"Dahlia and the High Priestess are asking about my favoritism toward Dahlia. Can I tell her?" Director Fenrir asked with a tone of clear hesitation.

"You should have told her already. But I recall you wanted to hold back so I respected your wishes. As I recall, the only ones with all the facts are Jace and yourself. Because he figured it out when he trained at Echo. So yes, please tell Dahlia. Can I tell the Princess?" The emperor then looked to the side and listened to something, "Admiral Dakota also says you should have told her awhile ago."

"How does Jace know when I don’t?" Dahlia asked with a scoff.

"Because Jace, the freak of nature as he is, somehow has a perfect memory." The emperor declared with a scoff then tilted his head. "Which in his case has also resulted in certain... personality issues."

"Yes, you can tell her. Thank you." Director Fenrir hung up the connection. Her last lifeline disappearing along with her last excuse to put this off. She looked at Dahlia and sighed before reaching into her personal bag and pulling out an ancient bottle of unopened whiskey. "I need a drink. Would you like some?"

—------------------------------

"I do not quite understand. Can you explain it again?" Mountain Man asked for about the third time. Jace could even hear Ulin sigh in the background.

"Okay," Jace took a deep breath. "The rules are fairly simple, yet I am explaining it once again." He then held up the revolver. "Each time you point it at your own head and pull the trigger you get a point. These points can be used in three different ways. You can spend two points to respin the chamber. Which would basically reset the game. You can spend one point to point the gun at the other person instead. But it would not increase your own points if you do that. Then to win, one has to be the first person to get five points. Of course if you ’shoot’ yourself you lose or if you get shot."

Mountain Man nodded his head. "Okay, I understand now. But how are we going to start it off?"

"We won’t, you will. You loaded it, you go first." Jace waved his hands forward and then set them down on the table.

Mountain Man hesitated for a moment. Looking at the revolver in his hand before raising it up and pointing it at his head and pulling the trigger.

CLICK!

In the almost silent tavern the click of the bolt hitting an empty chamber was almost deafening. It was followed a moment later by the clacking of the revolver hitting the table and Mountain Man breathing heavily.

Jace chuckled, "don’t look so worried. It is just a blank, at most it will just singe some hairs."

Mountain Man weakly smiled and fake chuckled with him. "You are right, I do not know why I am getting so worked up."

Jace picked up the revolver and using a miniscule amount of electricity checked the schematic of the gun. Which also showed him which chamber the round was in. It was actually in the last chamber. So they would get through five shots before the gun went off.

He was cheating, but it was not like this was an actual game. This was him intimidating Mountain Man to give him information. Jace put the barrel up to his head and pulled the trigger.

CLICK!

Jace then set the gun down on the table and slid it back over to Mountain Man. All while smiling which was unsettling the man. "I guess that means we both have one point."