Indigo - The Actions of a Madman

'''Gallius Slums 213.143M41 '''

The Slums were dimly lit but what little light there was danced off the gray rock, casting shadows. She chided herself for being jumpy, she assumed she would get used to it in time. She was new to Gallius, she had come here to flee crushing poverty and even these truly terrible conditions were a step up from her previous home, the lowest levels of any Hive city were a dangerous place, somewhere no one lived by choice.

She was being watched by a man who kept to the shadows, a knife held in his belt. She would not be his first or even his fifth. For all of the physical pleasures Gallius offered there was one he savored above all others, there was only one god over all men, the Immortal Emperor but he was the god of these streets, he held the power of life and death in his hands and in his steel.

He saw his moment, and burst out from the shadows. It was over quickly, He clamped a hand down over her mouth to muffle her screams and a single backstab drove the breath from her lungs. Again and again, 15 times ending with a long slash across her throat that left her in a pool of red.

He vanished into the darkness, paying little attention to the screams and prayers rising up behind him, a smile formed on his face. The sweet sounds of fear washed over him. She was number 12, the latest in a long line of truly wonderful nights divided across the artificial world’s 4 habitats. Next time he thought Maybe the Eastern habitat- it’s been too long since I last visited there. Only he cared about the poor citizens of Gallius, Security thought nothing of them, nor did the Arbites elsewhere in the system. They would not deny him his hunts.

Gallius The Indigo Heart 215.143M41

Located on the upper floor of the Northern Polar habitat it offered large windows that always showed the stars, thundering music, rich food and fine liquor. For all of this the nightclub’s true draw was the second floor- private rooms where wealthy men indulged themselves with exotic women. Andreus Mellas would never have been able to afford their services if not for the fact that he was a bouncer at the club below, a reserved timeslot once a week was a part of his pay.

He could not hear the nonstop party below breaking up or the cleaning staff beginning their work. He was too wrapped up in his surroundings, red leather furniture, walls made of real wood imported from Corbonis, a half empty bottle of Amasec on the bedside table but most importantly the company. He still held her, running a hand through her long dark hair, still savoring the feel of her bare skin against his. The night before had been fantastic as it always was, just because he knew all her tricks already did not mean he enjoyed them any less.

“Have you heard about that monster in the slums? Been killing women for over a year and Security can’t catch him- he’s up to 12 now...” She spoke in a calm casual voice, reaching for her short indigo robe “God- Emperor is that tragic or what? That’s the kind of story you hear from a battlefield…”

She rolled out of the bed, heading off to the suite’s bathroom not waiting for a response from him. He just sat up and shrugged. Last night had simply been business, neither had any real feelings for the other. He just dressed in the previous night’s clothes and headed on his way. Mellas saw the habitat waking up, he dropped a single coin for a newspaper- actual paper, a subtle luxury here in a world of excess but a luxury all the same. He didn’t bother with the front page when he saw the lurid headline, yet another murder committed not 2 days earlier.

His companion had found out before everyone else knew- he wasn’t surprised, off duty security officers liked female company too- they even got a discounted rate. He didn’t think much of security- Imperial Guard washouts, ineffective mercenaries, some of the least capable fighting men ever to shame mankind. No wonder they hadn’t caught this monster. Witness reports were vague and conflicting but agreed on a few points: a grotesque mask, possibly an opera house castoff. A long coat with a turned up collar and long black gloves, fine clothing and shoes. The most important detail of all was his knife- untraceable, silent and deadly, serrated, 8 inches long judging by the wounds left behind. (fill in)

Eastern Habitat 310.143

He was hunting elsewhere tonight- the wealthier areas proved to be more of a challenge, they were more crowded and security patrols were much more frequent. He had a low opinion of them but even they could get lucky, he had no illusions- he was the god of these streets, a god of death but he was still mortal. He was a being of flesh, one shot in the right place could kill him.

But wealthy women died just as easily as poor ones, his thirteenth victim died alone, her pearls scattering from her broken necklace to bounce across the tiles. She would not be alone in death. That night would be his most productive yet, 2 more met the Emperor at the end of his knife.

Indigo Heart 344.143

Calandra Vassos moved well for a self-proclaimed “Syprios farm girl”. He watched from a dark corner, unrecognized without his mask and unnoticed beneath the strobing lights. He watched her dance across the floor on high heels. A very tight, very short strapless dress showed off her long legs and perfect body, daring all eyes to turn to her. He saw a man come up to her and place his hands on her hips. She led him upstairs and he returned his gaze to the rest of the club’s patrons.

Vassos would not see the next sunset, her lifeless body was found only 3 blocks from the Indigo Heart, bearing the same knife wounds so many others had received.

 Indigo Heart 345.143	

“We continue on. We cannot let this monster win, we mourn for Calandra but do as she would have wanted.” Alysha Nulaati spoke from the second floor, addressing her staff. Suellen Maedke stood beside her but deferred to her co-manager. (name) was there as well, wearing a black band on his arm as a sign of mourning. “We celebrate her life, we weep for her death and pray that her killer is caught. Soon."

He noticed that she hadn’t mentioned The Emperor when she talked about prayer, he also noticed the edge in her voice, something angry and defiant. He just took his place at the door with a dataslate in hand.

( more victims between now and 021.144)

Northern Habitat- 052.144 M41

A single nondescript vessel appeared in orbit over Gallius, 3 Aquila Landers set off on their course and made an unannounced landing at the Northern Habitat. The manager, already surprised by the unannounced guests, almost fell out of his office chair when a harsh voice buzzed over his private comm channel. "I demand to speak to the manager- by the authority of the Adeptus Arbites."

"And who do I have the honor of addressing?" "We speak in your office. Not negotiable." The harsh voice demanded again.

(fill in)

"Arbitrator Constantine Mojaro- the "Indigo Killer is our business now. Since you clearly cannot managed you own affairs- it falls to us. We will succeed where you have failed so many times. Get me and my men a room."

The officer demanded and unwilling to argue with the highest law of the Imperium of Man complied, afraid to speak against the man suddenly in his office. 3 minutes later and the newly arrived Arbites had a location to work from, a conference room in a nearby hotel, sealed off from the rest of the universe and free hotel rooms. The Arbites swore the staff to complete secrecy, threatening them with charges, should the word spread. Word spread regardless security could not keep their mouths shut and word filtered back to The Indigo Heart.

He heard- he had his ways of knowing. He knew his time was ending, he would be caught and likely killed so he would find what pleasure he could in what he had left.

(10 more including "working girls" between now and day 073- can be told in background) Indigo Heart- 073.144M41 (showdown- final 4 die)