Fiction:Red Snake Rising/God Amongst Men

Kol Daren visited one of the black market hideouts in a star system not far from Imperial space. The place is busy after an influx of items from the Imperium over the past few months. Looking around Kol Daren, growled as he budged past a few lower alien races in search of some specific items he heard about that was getting sold. Several aliens, wary of his reputation, kept their distance. In a quiet corner of the market was a droid selling genetic samples sourced from a large variety of aliens, He noticed and walked over, pushing over an alien that looked physically strong, but was scared of what Kol had just done and ran away. Kol wandered over and leaned in, examining the samples. Kol - Do you have any...Zazane, here? Droid - ''Customer Identified: Kol Daren. Welcome sir, we currently have a few samples however the scarcity of Zazane genetic tissue has caused a price rise over the past 3 days.'' Kol - ''Price raise? And how the hell do Zazane samples grow scarce?''

Kol Daren snarled and then stood back up.

Droid - Increased interest from certain parties.'' Kol - Certain parties? Hmph. Give me what samples you have, droid.'' Droid - Processing now.''

To Kol's right a group of aliens were muttering. One of which was a Kroogvont; A yellow frog-like alien guarded by two larger Val’Kar. None of the three looked like natives of Borealis. Kol turned his head slowly to the muttering aliens, and he snarled loudly

Kol - ''Hey, you three! Get over here!''

The group stopped talking abruptly, the Kroogvont had a frustrated look in his eye when turned and he saw the alien who barked at him.

Kroogvont - I'm sorry, what? Droid - ''Price comes in at four medium supply crates at 12,000 sporebucks each. Total price comes to 48,000 sporebucks.'' Kol - Hold my order, droid...*turns to the group* I said, come over here! Kroogvont - I am conducting important business, so why should I? Kol - ''Because if you don't, you really will regret it. Tell me what you lot are muttering about.'' Val'Kar - The boss said no.

The Kroogvont's contact looks over and was frozen in fear to see Kol snarling and marching over to them. He shook his head at the Kroogvont with his eyes bulging as Kol approached with pounding steps.

Kol - Excuse me? Kroogvont - ''Erm... I.. er ''

The merchant croaked. The Val'Kar primd their rifles, keeping alert. Kol looked at the pair of bodyguards with a smile.

Kol - Oh, how cute.

He chuckled and stretched out his hand, and then clenching, he caused the rifles to implode on themselves.

Merchant - Please... Go easy on him Mr. Daren, he is a foreigner to these regions, he does not fully know about your reputation... Kol - ''Hmph. What were you lot talking about?''

The Kroovont croaked again in panic.

Kol - Answer me! Merchant - ''This gentlemen was offering me some... erm very rare euipment... or so he said.'' Kroogvont - I er...hopre you're *croaks, now quivering* paying for those.. Kol - ''Rare equipment? I presume stolen. From whom, may I ask?'' Kroogvont - ''If I tell you can you keep it quiet? I don't want the owners to know they... have a lot of ears.'' Kol - ''Do you take me for an idiot? Course I'll keep quiet.'' Kroogvont - ''A friend of mine managed to 'procure' these from the Imperium, Inquisition-grade. ‘’’Draonid’’’ Imperium, that is.'' Kol - ''Draconid Imperium? Hmmm...They are new to me. But they sound...somewhat strong. And what is the Inquisition?'' Kroogvont - ''An order of zealous warriors. The Imperium likes to give them some of the best tech and training money can buy, I hear they're psychic too.'' Kol - ''Best tech money can buy? Psychic? Hmm...Where did you manage to get these parts?'' Kroogvont - Trade secret.

Kol grabbed the Kroogvont, growling angrily and his tail swaying, knocking over several people.

Kol - I ask you again, where did you get those parts!? Kroogvont - ''I... I can't say!''

The Val'Kar drew close-combat weapons and struck at Kol Daren. They staggered back as their blades shattered on his skin. He dropped the Kroogvont and turned to the Val'kar, before within several seconds, blood and organs were splattered everywhere over the marketplace. he turned back to Kroogvont who scrabbled backward.

Kol - You were saying? Kroogvont - ''Please... Just let me go... PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!'' Kol - THEN TELL ME WHERE YOU GOT THOSE PARTS?!?! Merchant - Fuck's sake Grott just tell him! Kol - Yes, listen to the merchant! Grott - ''THEY'RE FAKES ALRIGHT! I THOUGHT I COULD MAKE A KILLING SELLING THIS STUFF!''

In a small fit of anger, Kol Daren raised his leg and crushed Grott's head beneath his foot, growling and roaring in utter rage.

Mercant - ...Pun intended? Kol - ''Quiet. Tell me where I can find the Imperium, and the Inquisition, before you share the same fate.'' Merchant - The Imperium has colonies a few-dozen parsecs away but they're from Andromeda originally. Kol - Andromeda? Merchant - ''Yeah, they control a wormhole that allows them to travel between there and here in rapid time. Rumours have been spreading that one of their senior members, some bitch named 'Arsac' managed to fight Capastrus the emotionless and win, and she was still in fighting condition afterward.'' Kol - ''Tell me...where can I locate this wormhole? It may be of use to me.'' Merchant - ''It is in the core of their territory here about 100 parsecs from this system. I hear the only people to use it are the ones the Imperium allows so *shrugs*.'' Kol - ''Arsac, huh? She sounds like a real tough woman. Reminds me somewhat of a Zazane.'' Merchant - ''If rumours are true, fighting someone of Capastrus' nature is a day-job for her. So I'm sure she is.'' Kol - ''You're serious? Hmph. I will find that bitch and see what she is really capable of.''

He turned back to the droid and walked over

Kol - Pass me my samples now. Droid - Your purchases are ready for collection, please provide the fee of 48,000 sporebucks.

Kol growled and punched the droid, sending his fist straight through it. The droid’s owner emerged from the back of the shop look at the scene.

Kol - Wrong answer. Merchant - What did you just do to my--

His eyes widened when he noticed who it was and muttered ‘Blast’.

Kol - You're going to help me bring those crates to my ship. Merchant - ''...Thank you for making me waste my money. Look.. I... I purchased that droid so this wouldn't... erm.. happen...?'' Kol - Excuse me? Merchant - These samples weren't cheap, not since those other Draconis came along. Kol - Wait, Draconis are looking for Zazane samples? Merchant - ''They looked like Draconis, but they had red scales. They bought 10 crates of samples 6 hours before you arrived.'' Kol - ''Hmph. Any idea who they were? Did they give any identity at all?'' Merchant - None whatsoever, but they had very large wallets <> Kol - <> Now just help me with getting these crates to my ship! Merchant - ''They paid me, alright! I have some service droids who can help you out.'' Kol - ''Fine. Get them to take my crates to my ship, seeing as you don't want to break your back.''

The merchant grumbles, pressing a few buttons on his wrist-computer calling for two droids pick up the boxes.

Merchant - ''Will you at least <>... I guess not.'' Kol - You know that you said you didn't want to break your back with work? Merchant - ''Kinda... because I have a shop to run and you just busted my clerk droid.'' Kol - Well, you're going out of business for a while.

Kol closed in on the merchant, and all everybody else could hear were shrieks of pain for about a minute before Kol walked away with the merchant’s wrist computer.

Kol - ''I'd get a medic if I were you, before you bleed to death. If you're lucky, you may walk again.''

Kol walked away, now in control of the droids. The shop’s merchant whimpered in extreme pain, he struggled up to the counter pressing a but