The old man walked amongst the ruins of what was once home.
He was escorted by four guards who held more interest in what was held in his back pack than he himself.
They led him into what was once the home of the mayor, the lights from the lamps embedded into the walls, reflected of their armor and rifles as they led him through the halls.
The once pristine walls were now scarred with the remnants of their invasion, the stench of smoke assaulted his nostrils. In but a few minutes he was led to the main hall where the soldiers were gathered, their attention all focused on him.
"I hear from my men you want to speak with me. Here I am".
The leader decked in the uniform of the federation stepped forward. He was an elderly man with spots of gray in both his beard and hair. On his chest bore various medals speaking to his experience and accomplishments.
"Great Arteus, this humble one has heard much of your name and your exploits-"
"Enough with the trivialities, get to the point" Arteus interrupted the old man with an outstretched hand.
"This old man's name is Caelius, I am but a simple farmer and I come to you with a humble request. My daughter was a clerk under the mayor's office, I heard she is one of your captives." At this Caelius fell to his knees, with Arteus simply watching him whilst making no attempt to help.
Caelius opened his bag revealing a drive as well as a small pile of litherium, "this is all this old man has, this drive has 13 million credits on it, with this litherium adding up to another million at the very least. I beg of you to release my daugther".
Arteus took in Caelius frame clearly, Caelius had long greying brown hair that went all the way to his shoulders, his grey robes were frayed in multiple places. The dirt underneath his fingernails were obvious, after taking in his form he shifted his attention to the litherium and the drive that he claimed held 13million credits.
Making no attempt to pick up anything, he simply signaled with his eyes.
At that signal one of his men moved forward and picked up the drive before verifying the amount on the drive. After only a few seconds he looked away from the drive and gave Arteus a nod.
"Admirable yet how does an old farmer like you have what seems to be 15 million in total? This wealth is something some smaller houses in the galaxy would fail to produce."
"This old one was an adventurer back in my younger years but now I am naught but a simple farmer and a father who begs of you to let my daughter go." Caelius pleaded, groveling before Arteus' feet. His actions elicited a slew of emotions from the soldiers who surrounded them but Arteus remained steel eyed.
"Jonah bring up all the female captives" Arteus with his eyes locked upon Caelius spoke up.
"Sir" Jonah responded with a nod as he walked away from the group, "On your feet", Caelius refused to stand, remaining grovelling.
"I said, on your feet" Arteus repeated with a more forceful tone.
Caelius finally decided to stand on his feet, as he did Arteus drank in the feature of his face with his eyes.
"An adventurer huh?"
"Yes, like many other young men I once yearned for the stars and travelled a variety of star systems." Caelius still maintained his subservient tone as he responded.
"And yet here you are settled on a moon at the fringes of the galaxy, living life as a farmer. Not exactly the end of a great adventurer no?" The corner of his lips curled up as he regarded Caelius carefully.
"I was not great, simply one of the thousands of souls searching the stars, merely lucky to make it out alive."
Jonah returned with 17 women and two other guards in tow.
Once the women were brought up, Caelius eyes immediately found his daughter, his body tensed with his finger nails biting into his palms as he restrained himself from simply rushing over.
Arteus took note of everything and turned around following Caelius gaze and landing on a young lady.
Taking in her features Arteus concluded she had to be in her early twenties. In a few steps he was standing before her, her brown hair was a mess with her face stained with soot. Her fingers were stained with dried blood yet Arteus could find no visible wounds on her person.
Gently lifting her by chin Arteus asked, "what's your name?"
Trembling she stuttered out "Angelina".
"Angelina" Arteus tasted the name. "A beautiful name, straight from the homeworld."
"Thank you for mercy great Arteus, I'll be taking her away now." Caelius spoke up, moving to take his daughter.
However with just one step, five rifles were trained on him. "Great Arteus, what is the meaning of this?!"
"When did I say I would give you your daughter?" Arteus turned to face Caelius with a mocking grin.
Arteus watched as the calm that Caelius had had from the beginning disappeared, in his eyes was unmistakably blinding rage that seemed like it would spill at any moment. However interestingly, Arteus noticed that Caelius was still controlled aside the obvious rage in his eyes nothing else gave him away.
"Your daughter worked in the mayors office, a mayor who serves House Dundson. A Traitorous house." Arteus emphasized on the word traitorous as he stepped away from Angelina, stopping a hair's breadth away from Caelius.
"What makes you think I would simply hand her over without questioning her. Not to worry, if after everything she proves herself to be truly innocent I will release her to you. However until then she remains under my care."
The air between the two was tense as Caelius looked Arteus in the eye, the tense silence last a full ten seconds before Caelius spoke.
"This old man understands, and hopes that my child can be released soon. Am I allowed to return with my items at the very least?"
"Of course" at Arteus word the soldier who had claimed Caelius wealth on his behalf had returned it to Caelius.
Caelius grabbed the bag and looked once more to his daughter, before turning around and stepping out of the Mayor's home.
Arteus watched his back until he disappeared, then turned to Jonah.
"Return them to their cells". with his order the women, were led out. Arteus focused his gaze on Angelina but like all the others she offered no resistance and simply allowed herself to be led by the guards.
"The rest of you as you were, Dimitri, you're with me. I have some questions."