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[hr][center][color=808080]𝕀𝕟 𝕔𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙[/color][/center]
[center][@The Savant][/center][hr]

The authorities were always unnecessarily rough though he might have deserved it a little bit — he just shot four of their kind in front of them. Grudges were going to be held. However, he was barely bothered by the idea of the authorities being annoyed with his existence since that was something that has been noted for decades. 

They didn’t bring him into the court's cells but they brought him into an entirely different building with a holding chamber that was less than pleasant. ‘[color=B87333][i]Time for another trial,[/i][/color]’ he rolled his eyes while those words escaped under his breath. Always with the trials. Trials were bullshit in his mind, after almost five decades, and hundreds of trials a year. Roach noticed how unorganized they were with a lack of pattern to laws, especially if someone had money or a good looking face in society. 

‘[color=white]Councilor Isolde will be visiting you shortly,[/color]’ one of the guards said in their monotone ways of informing prisoners. 

His face looked disinterested while he looked over at the man, ‘[color=B87333]O, goodie. Lucky me,[/color]’ he forced a faint smile that was enthusiastic enough to tell anyone that he didn’t care for the company but he knew he couldn’t fight it at this rate. They had stripped him of all devices, weapons, anything that could be used as a weapon, so he didn’t have much on — a slightly baggy undershirt tucked into his pants and his boots. They even took his belt and shoe laces. 

There was no reason for him to attack the young councilor though there was every reason for him to kill councilor Geode, if he had the chance, which he doubted would ever happen. Going over to the cold metal bench and sitting down, he noticed a stickiness to his right, and he wiped his hand off on his pants. ‘[color=B87333]That’s comforting…,[/color]’ he mumbled while staring at the bars of the cell that were reinforced with electricity. They really wanted to keep him in. He folded his arms and decided to wait for the young councilor. 

Isolde had some things in the works in the background. After that disaster of a trial she knew she needed to take the reins and establish control from the Council’s perspective. She signed up to provide an exclusive interview to hopefully tamp down on the out-of-control rumors circling, but she knew there would still be people who used this as an opportunity to cause trouble.

And she was all but certain a lot of them would be from the Council.

She made her way through the building’s upper limits and down to where Roach was being held. She made note of the certain…decor that hung about. She approached two of the guards that stood outside and waited for them to open the door and allow her inside. One of the guards gave her a look that asked [i]’Are yo usure about this?’[/i] and she knew she was never more sure than she was right then. He opened the door and Isolde made her way inside.

She scanned the room quickly, making several notes. Finally her eyes rested on Roach. [color=9e3f4a]”Hello Mr. Vexler. How have you been?”[/color] She knew the answer, but needs must. 

He leaned back against the cold wall, his body relaxed, ‘[color=B87333]I’ve been worse,[/color]’ his voice was casual. With all of his life experiences, this was one of his better days, so he couldn’t really complain about it. Not even the part about exposing some of the council for who they truly are. 

‘[color=B87333]I don’t suppose you want me to ask you how you are? Or possibly offer to take you out for coffee sometimes,[/color]’ he chuckled as he found his own words amusing. ‘[color=B87333]What did you want to talk about, Counselor Isolde?[/color]’ Roach knew this was a business matter and nothing more. The pleasantries were a waste of time in his eyes. His silver blue eyes looked at her face as a whole, not zoning in on her eyes, or anywhere specific. 

[color=9e3f4a]”Corruption.”[/color]

Isolde let the word hang but a moment before she persisted. [color=9e3f4a]”I’m not about to waste both of our times Mr. Vexler, I respect you too much to pretend. I have long since believed that the powers that be are tinted with malice and silver. I am embarrassed to admit that Council Geode had escaped my notice but I suspected something at the top for a while now. The trial, if one could still call it that, allowed me an opportunity I had to grasp if I had any hope of rooting it out. You helped with your….debacle. Useful, sure, but sloppy. So I come here with an offering: help me investigate the tyranny plaguing our home from those who seek to bleed it dry. I will, of course, compensate you as you see fit. Within reason, of course. I don’t believe you guilty, Mr. Vexler. I believe you to be a pawn.”[/color]

The older man couldn’t help the small chuckle that came from him, ‘[color=B87333]Corruption?[/color]’ he repeated with amusement though he was not mocking her words at all. It was always funny when people wanted to [i]discuss[/i] corruption because he would say that he’s pretty sure Dominion has been corrupt since its founding. 

‘[color=B87333]Everyone is a pawn, Councilor Isolde,[/color]’ he sighed those words out. ‘[color=B87333]And you not believing that I am guilty is suspicious to me. I’ve done plenty of things to be guilty of,[/color]’ which was true. If Isolde did any background research on the man — she would know or find out that he had been a Green Beret for the Dominion Military Service at a very young age and he deserted his position because of a secretive mission outside of the wall. That mission isn’t public knowledge at all except for its name in his file, [i]Mission Starlight[/i], which no one was allowed to discuss. A very public incident about him happened when his wife and daughter were brutally murdered in his late 20s. A lot of the news outlets were wondering if a scandal happened, if the men that did those horrible things were sent by someone, and so on. Roach went off the deep end and he cleared out all the violent criminals in Qona. And he didn’t get charged for it because he did it under his bounty hunter license — he knew how he could get away with certain things and how to implement them so he didn’t get bit in the ass for it. 

And he shrugged his shoulders, ‘[color=B87333]I understand, you are young, and you are ambitious, but you need to be careful with what you are getting yourself and possibly others into by even asking such things, Councilor Isolde. Corruption isn’t pretty. You can end up dead and I can too. People that you care about can end up dead because you find a clue that hits too close to someone’s home,[/color]’ he knew his words would probably not dissuade her at all. However, he wanted to warn her, because he knew people didn’t always think about how ugly the truth could be or how dangerous the ugliness was. 

[color=9e3f4a]”You misunderstand me Mr. Vexler. I said you were not guilty, but did not say of what. I know your past and I know you are no beacon of innocence. I don’t claim to be free of any guilt either, but we do what we must when the situation demands it.”[/color]

She stood up now and walked a bit around the room. [color=9e3f4a]”Pawns are useful in a game of chess. They don’t move much, but they are often underestimated. If we, as you say, are all pawns, then we help control the board. Unless the other players are cheaters and liars.”[/color]

She made her way back to her seat but did not take it. [color=9e3f4a]”You disparage my youth and you are correct, in a sense. Perhaps I view the world as it could be rather than what it already is, but the fact remains that this is rotten at the top and, whether you want to admit it or not, you and I have been used and continue to be so. So, again, I will offer you a chance to help aid me in putting a stop to it. You can say no and I will leave and never bother you again.”[/color]

‘[color=B87333]You always have to assume others are cheaters and liars. You never know how far someone will go to win a game,[/color]’ he ignored the comments about him not being innocent but he understood she meant innocent for this particular situation. It was a complex situation or maybe it was simple — he was doing what he could in legal means while protecting someone that he cared about. It was all dicy at the end of the day. 

Then he looked around the room for a second in thought before letting his eyes land back on Isolde. ‘[color=B87333]I never said I wouldn’t help you in your ventures, Isolde…[/color]’ he sighed heavily while leaning back more against the metal wall. ‘[color=B87333]I told you that you need to be careful.[/color]’ Which he wanted to make such a statement… just in case in the future he had to say [i]’told you so[/i]. 

‘[color=B87333]Just don’t expect me to be like a dog. I’ve been told I am terrible at learning new tricks.[/color]’ he chuckled but it was true. He was [i]very[/i] bad at listening to orders when he thought those orders were bullshit. Depending on the situation, you were either getting an earful from him and he was becoming your issue or he would wait until the right time to bite back — exactly what he did with Geode in the courtroom. 

Isolde waited a beat. She had second thoughts but she was already here and Roach was her best bet. [color=9e3f4a]”You’ll have to pardon my language Mr. Vexler, but I am not here to have a dick measuring contest with you. I may be young, I may be the people’s chosen Councilor and could lose my spot at a drop of a hat but I am not some damsel needing aid of my prince charming. I understand the danger. Hell, I even relish it as it will only serve to justify my concerns.”[/color]

She knew Roach’s past, knew he would not be, as he so eloquently put it, a dog on a leash. [color=9e3f4a]”If I wanted some obedient pup I would go out into the street and give the first person I see their weight in gold. I do not need a blind follower, I need someone who gets results and who has a dog in the fight. I believe you fall into both of those categories.”[/color]

The man barely noticed her language except for her excusing herself for it. It wasn’t anything he hasn’t heard before and he’s definitely heard worse than that. A sigh left his lips while he thought about it and he nodded, ‘[color=B87333]I’ll aid you in this venture,[/color]’ he knew he didn’t have to say it. Say that he would aid her but he had boundaries. She most likely knew that and knew what she can push for and what would be shoved back at her. 

She stood up. [color=9e3f4a]”First things first is getting you out of this cell. Unless you prefer to remain in this detritus-filled room for the remainder of the day?”[/color]

An indifferent shrug came from him, ‘[color=B87333]It’s not like I have anything outside of the cell waiting for me and honestly…[/color]’ he looked beyond her to where the guards were positioned. ‘[color=B87333]I was considering tricking those guys and stealing their keys, though if you are willingly going to let me out. I’ll take it.[/color]’ he smirked a little because he thought it was amusing. The thought of tricking the guards, opening up the cell, and knocking their asses out, but he sadly wouldn’t be able to have that sort of fun today. 

Then he stood up and a pop in his back could be heard, ‘[color=B87333]Sounds like I am getting old. That metal bench was doing a number on me without me even realizing it,[/color]’ Roach began to stretch as he waited for Isolde to make a decision or take an action. 

With Roach’s agreement Isolde made her way out of the room, gesturing for Roach to wait but a moment. Once she had the guard’s attention she spoke, [color=9e3f4a]”Gentlemen, by authority of the Council I am taking custody of Mr. Vexler. At such a time in the future we will reconvene to determine if he needs to be placed back in custody or not, but for now his services are needed elsewhere. I trust this will not be a problem.”[/color] 

With Councilor Isolde’s direct attention, one guard nodded their head, and the other one spoke up, ‘[color=white]Yes, ma’am, that is fine,[/color]’ most of the guards were not trained to go against the councilor’s wishes. The only thing they could do is put it in their daily report before clocking out for the day. 

Roach waited until everything seemed fine and he began to approach Isolde . ‘[color=B87333]See you later guys,[/color]’ he gestured with a half-ass wave while moving out of the cell. There was a subtle glance towards the counselor.’[color=B87333]Anywhere you need me or just lie low until you call?[/color]’ Roach was curious if she wanted him to do something [i]right now[/i] but he doubted it. She seemed like the type of person to consider everything before giving any type of orders. 

[color=9e3f4a]”As of right now, Mr. Vexler, I have no need of you so you are free to go back to wherever it is you call home. All I ask is that you lay low for the time being. Also, if you have any information on Councilor Geode you are at liberty to share, I would appreciate it, otherwise I will see about gathering such info myself.”[/color]

He shrugged his shoulders in more of an understanding way. If he had to lay low, he would go home — to his actual home — and chill out. Probably read something or play a video game or two. Kick some teenagers asses in a first person shooter and age drop on them so they are shocked and puzzled how someone three or four times their age were better at games than they were. ‘[color=B87333]Sounds like a vacation to me,[/color]’ and he seemed to think about all the information he had on Councilor Geode. 

‘[color=B87333]Well…[/color]’ he began. ‘[color=B87333]That’ll be a very long talk or I can send you an encrypted email of everything that I have done for him and his family,[/color]’ Roach spoke somewhat cautiously since his eyes scanned around to make sure no one was close to them. Only the guards behind them which they most likely couldn’t hear the pair. 

And he sighed, ‘[color=B87333]And that’s about all except the things that he has said when hiring me and so on,[/color]’ he added. There was a lot but not much at all depending on what Isolde was trying to find. Finding Geode guilty? With all the information that Roach had, she would be able to figure out some horrendous items and events that weren’t accidents and were directly attached to the councilor. 

[color=9e3f4a]”Yes, send me the encrypted information and I will work from there. I need to go give an interview to calm the masses. Part of why I need you to stay low and I trust you are good with discretion. When I am ready to proceed, I will call for you and we can meet at a trusted, neutral location.”[/color] She wasn’t about to invite the man into her home.

He nodded in agreement, ‘[color=B87333]I’ll send you the encrypted information when I get home and I have plenty of neutral-safe locations we can meet at in the future, princess,[/color]’ Roach walked up to the doors that would lead him out onto the streets. ‘[color=B87333]Is there anything else you need or will that be all?[/color]’ The man was not trying to stay in that building any longer than he had to. Though  he wanted to make sure she didn’t have anything more to request or ask of him. 

Isolde shook her head. [color=9e3f4a]”As of this moment, you are a free man Mr. Vexler. Or as free as one can be here.”[/color] She allowed him his exit. She had things to ponder, information to sort, and an interview to prepare for.

‘[color=B87333]Later than,[/color]’ he gestured as if he was waving her off with a simple flick of his hand and a dip of his head before disappearing out the double doors and into the busier streets of Dominion.