Chapter Text
The office was quaint.
But it was not kept a secret how lavishly Maximilien chose to live his life. It was decorated as if he had all the money in the world. Perhaps he did. Nobody was sure how much he did or didn’t have. He had his ways.
He sat quietly behind his desk, rolling the poker chip across his fingers, watching the gold embellishment glimmer with a gentle laugh. He looked at his watch, watching the second tick down to the exact moment in which there was a knock on the door. “Come in, it’s open.” He called, placing his poker chip off to the side.
A large figure entered; massive in stature, alongside the weapon he held. A hood shrouded his face, encircling his neck and falling across his back. His staff settled on the floor with a bang, making the accountant flinch slightly. “ Maximilien .” He spoke, his tone full and deep.
“Please, call me Max. You’re Talon family now, non?” Max chuckled, leaning forward and clasping his hands. “Welcome, welcome. Take a seat, won’t you?” He offered, trying to get a better look at his shrouded face. The Null Sector’s leader had been very secretive about his appearance.
The large omnic stepped forward, leaving his staff against the wall, the spinning orb within it returning to its master, floating with some unknown gravitational pull to his palm with a dull thunk. He took his seat heavily, his form still massive sitting down.
“It’s a pleasure to finally be meeting you,” Maximilian began, his eyes blinking as he offered him his hand to shake. “Ramattra, was it?”
Ramattra said nothing. But he saw his gaze shift down to his hand, shaking his head with a quiet scoff. “Yes, that’s my name.” He made no move to reciprocate the gesture, and Max’s hand hesistantingly pulled back to himself. “So, the accountant… you are quite the specimen.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your mimicry.” He explained, his voice laced with just a hint of laughter. “It’s… interesting .”
Max wasn’t sure what to think of this. He was sure Ramattra wanted to make a different remark based on his pause; he was quite aware of his unparalleled hatred for humans. It was his most prevalent quality. He was almost insulted, but… this was one of the most powerfully inclined omnics in the world right now. After Mondatta’s fall… there was a space to be filled.
“I’m not just the accountant.” He replied curtly, clasping his hands together once more and squeezing to relieve the tension he was feeling from his comment. He felt his humiliation in silence. At least it wasn’t around anybody else within the board. “I’ve also been appointed as your… manager, so to speak, while you are in the area. We are aware of your distaste for human connection.”
“I can tolerate it. I don’t need a manager.”
“Then speak to Akande. I believe he will insist on the same.” He idly reached for his poker chip, keeping his eyes on it as he scooped it into his palm. “I have my hands on omnic services that will aid your mission. Repairs, travel, and the like. I am here to help you, not ‘manage’ you. Does that make sense?” He shifted his gaze to Ramattra once more, walking the little yellow disc across his fingers with ease.
Ramattra’s stare followed the token. “… You only care about the money. They’re paying you— to do this— are they not?” He asked, his hood moving a tad to reveal a red glow beneath. It was like a bunch of little red eyes. “You don’t care about the cause.”
“Well, let’s not jump to conclusions now, mon ami.” He clutched the chip between his thumb and index finger, showing it to him. “I may have the funds, but the money is superficial. I’m an asset within myself, just as you are, to Talon. My skills just lie elsewhere from yours.” He flicked it up with his thumb, watching it spin and then catching it in his fist. “If I’m being honest, I’ve been dying to meet the omnic behind Null Sector.”
“Flattery gets you nowhere. Even if it’s true,” Ramattra claimed, reaching up and slowly removing his hood to reveal his face. The cables running across his head falling out over the back of his shoulders, his white faceplate glowing under the lights. “But… you seem like a gentleman. Despite your place among the humans.”
Ramattra’s face was sharp and geometric, his eyes angled downwards in an angry glare. It was skullish, and reminded him somewhat of Reaper’s mask, although it was more smooth and shiny. For the turmoil Ramattra put himself through, his condition was excellent. Max knew the kind of model he was— An R-7000; Ravager. Although the purple colorings on his parts told him that Ramattra had customized his appearance. He remembered being told Ramattra was an engineer, which aligned with that. He must fix up well.
Max stared for several moments, before finally picking up what he said. “My place?” He asked quietly, his eyes narrowing at the ex-war bot. Another human-like feature of his.
“Don’t you see? You’re an item to them. You run a casino you can’t even gamble at.” Ramattra made a soft sound, leaning in close to the much smaller individual. “Doesn’t it make you sick? Being a shiny toy, to be beckoned at like a dog, Max?”
Could Maximilien swallow, he would. Ramattra was very intense, and his gaze was hard to ignore. His optic lights eyed him up and down, not daring to move away. Just hearing him say his name was… he couldn’t put his finger on it. “… It is for my benefit, monsieur. Nothing more.” He spoke softly, fearing Ramattra’s presence. “And now it is yours, I’m afraid. You must come to terms with this.”
“… Hm.” He settled back into his chair, watching the accelerator pulse with light in his palm, rolling it gently with his fingers. “And what good am I to you? You seem well off as is.”
“Protection.” He stated simply, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. “As you can see, I’m not as… robust a model. You, on the other hand… could offer me some help in return for my services— did I mention a place to stay, while you’re in town?”
“I see. Bounty on your head?” Ramattra said every word so carefully, but there was no concern within the question.
“Not exactly,” Max laughed softly, letting out a sigh. “But I’m not in a safe place. None of us are, really. It can be a scary world out there for talon operatives and the like. Especially omnics like us.”
Ramattra nodded silently, weighing in on his options here. He still wasn’t exactly keen on being supervised by this accountant, but… he couldn’t be picky, at a time like this. He had already lost too much. “Where would I be staying?”
“In my villa— here in Monaco. With me.”
He made a small sound, annoyed.
“Trust me, it is a large living space. You will have lots of places to be alone with your work.”
“… I see.” Ramattra stood from his chair, looking down at the smaller omnic before him. “I trust you not to get in my way.”
There was a certain venom in the words he spoke, even if it wasn’t intentional. Perhaps it was just the intensity he carried with himself. The way he moved, so fluid and careful. He was dangerous, and he knew it. Max knew it too.
“Of course. I’m not stupid.”
Ramattra let out a low laugh, humming with content. “Clever.” Was all he said, moving back to his weapon and allowing the sphere in his hand to take its place within the crescent. It whirred gently as he picked it up with a firm grasp, pulling his hood back over his head to hide his face. “I trust I will be seeing you again soon, Maximilien.”
Max stood up as well, circling around his desk to be nearer. “Yes— tomorrow afternoon. I’ll fetch you and escort you to our location, I’m sure you’ll receive further instructions before then.”
Ramattra was a head taller than him, maybe a little more than that even. He was monstrous. Max stood his ground, despite it all. “Excellent. I will be prepared. I hope to enjoy my temporary placement with you.”
“Perhaps it will prolong more than temporary, hm?” Max said hopefully, clasping his hands together.
Ramattra tsked. “Don’t get cocky, now.”
He laughed, slowly walking over to the door and directing Ramattra with his hand on his lower back. “I apologize. But, I am eager to continue our partnership. I’m sure the rest of Talon is delighted with your decision.” He opened the door for him, graciously offering the way out.
“As am I.” Ramattra glanced at him one last time as he moved out of the doorway and into the hall. His voice was even more grim than before. “Don’t make me regret this.”
Max stared, unable to speak. He simply nodded, which sufficed enough for the large omnic to continue his trek down the hall. A guard followed him closely behind, taking him out of the building. He shut the door, staring hollowly at the wall as he mulled over what he had said.
He had a feeling deep within that dealing with Ramattra wasn’t going to be as easy as he anticipated.
I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it, he thought. He sauntered back over to his desk, sitting back in his chair.
Until tomorrow.