Death in the Darkness 3

[b]Thank you. As stated, Gregzilla and I are working on this chapter, with some help from Strider at the end. With this chapter, we will almost be done.[/b]

 

[size=4]Chapter 3: Silence Unbroken[/size]

 

[i]Bravil, Gold Coast, Cyrodiil

11:00PM[/i]

 

On a small peninsula in southern Cyrodiil, at the mouth of the Larius River, lies the small city of Bravil.  It has been described as the "dark grate of the sewer drain where foul and unappetizing debris collects" by his guide.  So far, these descriptions had proven to be highly accurate.  Petty crime was common, drunkards were often seen stumbling out of the all too many pubs, and Skoooma (a sort of hallucinogenic drug) was easy to get a hold of.  The guards, despite the very description of their jobs, did little to nothing to stop the rampant crime, leaving the common populace to fend for itself.  The leader of the town himself, Count Regulus Terentius, was just as bad as its inhabitants, often getting drunk and practically encouraged the Skooma trade.

 

This was the city that Zero, under the current codename of "Cadenza", had come to.  He had originally visited this world with Sergeant Ian, also under her own codename, but they had decided to split apart, better to cover more ground that way.  Having heard rumors about the city, all of them bad, Zero had decided this to be a good place to start.  The basic mission was to clear out crime in Cyrodiil (excepting the likes of the Thieves' Guild, who had some sense of honor and justice, unlike others), and Bravil certainly had an excess of that.  His brown cloak was wrapped tightly around him, hiding his Reploid frame.  Although his somewhat iconic helmet was still visible, as well as his incredibly long pony tail, it did not draw as much attention as his full armor normally would.  His Z-Saber had been replaced with a blade that would not draw attention.  The Glass Sword, which was much more strong than its name implied, was held in a sheath strapped around his back, also hidden by the cloak.  

 

Since the guards refused to do anything about the crime, and in fact occasionally took part in it, Zero had been mostly acting as a vigilante, taking out the more violent criminals, as well as the biggest Skooma dealers.  It was slow work, but Zero had patience.  He would soon move up to the corrupt guards and city officials if necessary, but for now, he served as a silent protector against the petty criminal.  With the letter sent to Ian, he may have been receiving assistance in this mission soon, if she was finished with her own, but he wasn't holding out hopes that she would be there for some time.  It seemed he was on his own, for now.

 

The Maverick Hunter had taken residence within a hole-in-the-wall one-roomed hovel in the seediest part of the already seedy city.  To not be found, it was best to blend in with the hordes of poor and thieves, and he had been successful in these efforts, so far.  This was exactly why he was somewhat surprised when there was a knock at his door.  Walking away from the small table in the center of the room, which held a map of the city, Zero approached the door.  He picked up the Glass Sword, still in its sheath, just in case, and slid a slot at eye-level on the door open, getting a look at the person standing outside.  He worse a dark hood, keeping his face hidden.  Not much else could be discerned from Zero's vantage point.  

 

"What do you want?"  Zero asked gruffly, hand still on his sword.  

 

"I was... I was sent by Kilo Two."  The man replied.  This caught Zero's attention, and he opened the door, allowing the man to come into the relative privacy of the hovel.  Zero closed it behind him, propping the Glass Sword back against the corner.  "You're the one she talked about, then.  Nestal."

 

"Yes,"  The man, evidently Nestal, replied.  "I was sent ahead of Ian.  She is on her way."  

 

Zero nodded.  "Good, she's finished with her mission."  

 

Nestal looked about the hovel.  Nothing but a few lanterns hanging on the walls, a table in the center, some supplies piled under it, and a small stack of hay in the corner.  And apparently just a single room.  Even if this "Cadenza" was still incognito, Nestal wasn't quite sure how he lived in these conditions.  There was no cot, or food in sight.  Not even a chamber pot.  

 

"How do you sleep..."  Nestal muttered, still standing in front of the door.  Zero had turned back to the map, making several marks on it, but turned at the statement.

 

"What?"

 

"I... how do you sleep in these conditions?"  Nestal replied, surprised Zero had heard him.

 

Zero looked at him for a moment, before saying, "I don't."  And turned back to the map.

 

Nestal looked....rather put off by this. "I... see. By Mephala..." He sighed, looking around a bit more. "I take it she told you all there is to know about what we do?"

 

As if on cue, a knock came at the door. It was heavy handed and slammed again and again into the frame, whoever it was trying to get in.

 

The Breton allowed the apparent non muscular Nord to take it. "Go ahead. I do not travel to this city unless necessary. This place is near to Tear. Never before have I seen such a wretched hive of scum and villainy."