Besides details of different bank accounts separate from his main ones and a few contacts with some sketchy traders, there was no real reason to keep the pig alive anymore.
So I had him executed.
Orga didn't seem to like it, but the deed had already been done, so that conversation didn't go far.
Orga also did his whole speech about being part of Tekkaden to the kids, we accepted, and now we had a few more mobile suit pilots on our side as well as a crew to run the ship we were taking with us.
I sent David and some of the assault unit guys to the other ship just in case along with Robby and some of his guys who were going to see how well the ship was operating.
You know what I realised while I was busy sorting out The Rioter as we renamed our newly acquired ship.
Andre was nowhere to be seen most of the time. I mean, our jobs meant we didn't see each other much but we did train and have lunch together.
Turns out, he was on Naze's ship having the time of his life with whatever that girl's name was.
Robby and David had also found a home in Naze's ship when they weren't working from what I managed to find out. Bastards even had the guile to skip work to have fun when they thought no one was watching.
I had to send Richy and some of the assault team guys to fetch them. I couldn't have em doing nothing just cause they were my friends.
Especially when I was working my ass off.
I needed to keep up with my regular training, both physically and with my wonder pistols, managing the books, discussing the plans Cody had sent me on increasing our gambling den/ casino operations, keeping up good relations with many of the guys and kids, and taking regular lessons from Merribit with Richy.
Mind you, I was still injured.
This was without mentioning the need to think on the whole shitshows coming up.
First things first, no one but me, David and a few trusted guys were leaving the ship. I would bring Andre to but I needed someone trusted to keep watch on board for anything or one doing anything unexpected.
This would allow me to work my magic and potentially get into the good graces of the rebellion leader or get something out of this whole ordeal.
I could just escape and we leave all this shit behind but that wasn't businessman like was it?
Allowing this shit to fester would definitely earn us potential jobs in future.
There was no way I would leave without anything though. Rob a few places during the chaos? Maybe. No, that would require us staying long enough for chaos of that magnitude to erupt.
Maybe secretly keep some of the cargo? I don't know. They would catch on easily.
Offer services? No, ain't got time to volatile a situation for a small company like ours and we were still on a high priority mission.
"Y'know, if you work yourself to death, I will haunt your funeral," a groggy Harley said beside me. "C'mon, boss man. The ship won't fall apart just 'cause you slept in for once."
If it were only that simple. " I have a lot of duties and plans that need to be thought and carried out."
Harley huffed, unimpressed. She slid her arms around my waist from behind, leaning into me. "Darius," she drawled, "the only thing that needs to be handled right now is you getting some goddamn rest."
She tapped a finger against my tablet. "This thing? It can wait."
It really couldn't. We were nearing the Dort colonies and this was a situation that needed to be carefully thought through and handled with a needle, not a hammer.
She must have guessed my thoughts cause her eyes narrowed. "You might be built different as you like to say, but even you need downtime, babe. Or are you trying to set a new record for the dumbest way to die; stress and sleep deprivation?"
She tugged at my arm, trying to pull me back down into bed. "Five more minutes. Just five. And if you're still sooo worried about your grand master plan, you can get back to it after. Deal?"
I hummed in contemplation. I was a bit tired recently. There was a lot to think on which has affected my sleep and even worse, my fun night time activities.
Well, I wouldn't get a choice here anyway so why fight it?
She straddled my lap, plucking the tablet from my hands with a smirk before tossing it to the side. "Sounds like you need some convincing then," she purred, leaning in close and pecking my lips.
My eyes glanced at the tablet but any logical thoughts left me at that moment.
Her fingers trailed up my bare chest, nails lightly grazing my skin as she tilted her head. "I mean, if planning logistics and political strategies are really more appealing than what I'm offering, who am I to stop you?" She shrugged dramatically, about to climb off my lap.
Game on.
I wrapped my arms around her waist, locking her in place and retaliating with a fiercer kiss." I thought you wanted me to rest."
"I do," she purred, trailing her fingers down my spine, causing me to shiver in excitement. "But you're really bad at following doctor's orders."
She tilted her head, feigning deep thought. "So, I figured… if you're gonna be up anyway, I might as well give you a reason to enjoy it."
I twisted us, placing the succubus onto the bed with me on top. " Can't argue with that logic."
*******
When we neared Dort, I decided to call everyone and inform them that no one was allowed to head out since there was a lot of instability and rising danger in Dort.
I got a few curious and disappointed looks but no one argued. I thought it would end there but just as I was about to filter out of the command room with the rest, Orga called out to me, telling me to hold on since he wanted to talk.
He crossed his arms and closed one eye. "Listen... back there. The way you gave those orders... felt like you were makin' decisions for me."
No shit Sherlock. I just wish you hadn't figured it out or confronted me about it this early.
He paused, considering his words. "I'm not sayin' you're wrong or nothin'.I know you're smart. Smarter than me, probably and definitely more well informed considering I didn't know half of what was happening on Dort."
He looked like he had choked that out. I could see where this was going. I was really hoping he would wait till at least Earth before we talked about this.
"But we're supposed to be runnin' this together."
There it was.
I should have really prepared for this better when I knew there was a high possibility of this happening. Well, when there's no plan, just allow my mouth to do the thinking and talking. "Am I right in saying you have no idea of what cargo we're transporting to Dort."
" Yeah?"
" We are transporting weaponry. Do you know why?"
His brows furrowed at the reveal. "...No."
"The cargo is meant for the Dort workers. They're preparing to revolt against the company controlling them."
His eyes widened then narrowed in anger. "And you didn't tell me because...?"
" Orga, have you thought about what we need to do after completing this mission?"
He blinked in surprise and confusion, caught off guard by my sudden question then furrowed as though searching for an answer.
"You haven't, have you?" I pressed. "Because you're still thinking like a soldier following orders, not like a leader building something bigger."
Orga's lips pressed into a thin line.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you're so focused on getting to the finish line, you haven't thought about what happens after we cross it. You want Tekkadan to be a family; a place where the weak can belong. I respect that... but families don't survive on ideals alone."
I took a deep breath in cause I felt a rent bubbling within yearning to burst out." Look, Orga. You're a good guy, you're a role model to the younger ones, you're honourable and have a good moral compass...but that, that isn't what we need at the moment. We need someone who thinks and sees ahead, someone with flexible morals, someone who doesn't believe in free meals which is why they secretly checked the cargo and figured out what the plan was. "
I paused to allow my words to sink in, for me just as much as for Orga.
"We need someone who can view the company and situation for what it is, a paramilitary company being led by a bunch of kids over their heads who can and will be used and abused by anyone and everyone if given the chance. "
I circled the table and stood right in front of him.
" You're right, I am taking charge because I need to. You're a good leader which is why I agreed to co-lead, but you're not a good manager, a good businessman and between the three positions, two of them are most needed to steer the ship at the moment and that's why I am."
A heavy silence stood after my impromptu…lesson? Speech? Scolding? A mixture of all really.
"I'm trying my best," he muttered, voice low, probably in an attempt to save face or cause of damaged pride.
"I know you are but your best isn't gonna be enough, Orga."
The boy looked to the side. I think that one might have stung. Well, it was the truth. The truth in my eyes anyway. If it wasn't for plot, I'm sure shit would have hit the fan.
There were just too many lucky moments in the show to be called anything but that. I'm sure Orga is a decent leader since he managed to lead Tekkaden as far as he did, but I'm almost certain it could have been a lot better under some more ruthless, business-minded guidance.
" I'll take your opinions into consideration along with everyone else's, but there are things you just need to allow me to manage, to lead and when I say, jump, you simply need to ask how high. I'm not doing this as a way to spite you cause our differences or to prove my superiority. I'm doing this for Tekkaden. So I want you to understand and agree."
The tension in the room was thick as the silence prolonged. Orga kept his gaze locked with mine and it felt like whoever broke first lost this.
"Fine." The word felt like it was being ripped from the lavender-haired boy's throat.
"I'll follow your lead... for now." His voice was low, strained. "But don't expect me to just roll over and take orders like one of the kids."
I nodded.
Seeing that I had gotten the agreement, I decided to leave the heavy room. Just as I was at the door, Orga's voice stopped me.
"Why?"
I paused, glancing back over my shoulder.
"You said it yourself... I'm not cut out for this. I'm not a businessman or a manager. So why keep me in charge at all? Why not just try take over everything? You're clearly a good leader just as you are a businessman and manager."
Well, a good amount of people wouldn't accept such, I need someone to handle the boring tedious work, I wanted someone to handle the leadership role cause I didn't wanna handle everything when there were people who could fit that role.
I could probably name a dozen reasons but there was one good reason that would also lighten the strain I created.
However, why was he asking this?
Did he want me to take over?
No, that's not it.
Maybe he was just trying to understand me if I had to guess. I was standing opposite him in most stances so it would be a bit weird to want to keep him around.
He could also be seeing if I did have any intentions to take his position now or in future but the question was too blunt to be that, or he was just that blunt.
"Because you're still the heart of Tekkadan.You give them something to believe in. Something I can't."
Orga's eyes widened at that.
"You want to protect this family, Orga? Then be the one who makes them feel like a family."
I turned fully now, locking eyes with him.
"I'll handle the dirty work... the blood and the deals. But you? You're the reason they'll keep following us."
Turning back around, I left the room.
Oh yeah, I killed it.
*********
Today should be the day we arrive at Dort. Despite all my thinking, I had no definitive plan on what I wanted to do with this whole issue. I had a few ideas at best but that's all they were.
Sighing I took a sip of my shitty coffee. While I was walking to my office, I had to pause at the sight of a blond curling in on herself with her hands covering her obvious blush in the middle of the hallway." Could you not have...whatever this is in the middle of the corridors."
Kudelia stiffened before she peeked through her fingers, an amusingly mortified look on.
"I-I'm not...!" she started, voice muffled behind her palms before she abruptly cut herself off.
Her hands slowly lowered, revealing her flushed cheeks. She forced herself to straighten up, seemingly trying to salvage whatever was left of her dignity.
"...You wouldn't understand," she muttered, avoiding my gaze.
I took another sip. We really needed better shit than this. " Alright. Hit me. What's the matter? I promise not to tease...too much."
Her lips parted, but the words looked to be tangled in her throat. Instead, a soft, helpless sigh slipped free.
"...It's nothing, really..." she finally managed to say. I might have accepted it to if I didn't need a distraction from the upcoming shitstorm.
" Fine. If you won't tell me, I can figure it out. There are only two people who can get you to blush this hard. Considering that I'm one of the two, I'm guessing it has to do with Mikazuki."
Kudelia's head snapped up, eyes wide in shock and another open mouth, no words of protest coming out.
Bingo.
Her eyes flickered down to the floor, her voice dropping to almost a whisper.
"...He kissed me."
Wait, I think I remember this. Happened after the funeral. Wasn't it cause of Naze and his public affection thing. How did it end again? Eh, it didn't matter or else I would have noted it down.
"And... I don't know how he feels about it."
" Ah, I see."
Another sip.
" Well, do you want a likely truth or do you want me to fill your lewd fantasies."
Kudelia's face ignited, her entire body stiffening as if she'd been struck by lightning.
"L-Lewd?! I... I don't have any of those!!" she stammered. Her hands flew to cover her burning cheeks, eyes squeezed. My goodness, how could she make it this easy. Maybe I was expecting too much. She wasn't like Harley afterall.
"I-I just...I don't know how he feels," she muttered weakly, trying to steer the conversation back on track."And I... I want to know if it meant something... or if it was just... him being Mikazuki."
The last words came out barely above a whisper, almost as if she was afraid to admit them out loud.
Now, if I were a good person, I would have reassured her. Told her Mika liked her or something but…that didn't sound like me.
I'm an asshole.
So I took another sip of my tar in a mug and feigned a sigh.
" Sorry to say it but, it's likely Mika being Mika. I think it was the influence of Naze if I had to guess. After all, he has interacted with two girls his entire life. Knowing him, probably observed or was told that kissing was a way to show a girl your appreciation or something."
I would even bet that I was right too. I don't remember why he did that but what I said sounded likely.
Kudelia must have agreed with my logic cause she deflated. Seeing how the noble girl was becoming a sad sack, I felt a little bad about dashing her hopes away.
"I... I see,"
Her eyes dropped to the floor, golden strands falling into her face
"I suppose... I was foolish to expect anything more..."
Alright alright moral consciousness, just allow the asshole version of you to work its magic. I'm sure it has a plan.
I walked up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. " Don't be like that. I was only guessing. I could be wrong, you'll have to ask him yourself."
When she looked up, I shot her a reassuring smile that quickly turned teasing. " And hey, if things don't work out, I'm willing to be the one to kiss you."
The blush that had disappeared came back in full force.
"I-I... that's not funny, Darius!" she stammered, quickly pulling back from my touch as if my hand had burned her. "This isn't a joke to me..."
" When did I say I was joking?"
To show how serious I was, I leaned in and kissed her forehead. " See."
That had done it
She seemed to have malfunctioned, probably cause of all her blood going to her cheeks. I mean, I don't think she ever went this red for Mikazuki. Maybe it's cause of how deliberate and obvious my flirting is.
"I... I don't understand you..." she finally whispered. "I don't... know if you're mocking me or..."
" That's for me to know and you to find out." Having had
my fill of teasing Kudelia for the moment, I began walking off.
" If you ever want another one of those, you know where to find me. "
Well, that was fun. Definitely relaxed my nerves anyway.