Hey all. This is a brief story I made about a one-off character I made some time ago. Let me know if you like him.

The setting sun shined an amber colored light through Valus Thyren’s office. A long shadow spread across the room from the back of his chair made the visitor’s seat look small and foreboding. The rest of the room was designed with a very warm and classical feel with dark reds and browns that made anything in the room not touched by light feel disconsolate. Bookcases that reached the ceiling lined one side of the wall with old books that looked pristine but the medium itself gave away their age. The other side had a digital fireplace that emanated heat and a dim glow throughout the room. The door was ornately designed, depicting various religious spirits ranging from battles to peace time with a red light depicting the lock.

Valus was sitting at his large wooden desk, filing his claws with delicate precision. He had a relaxed, almost bored, look while he did so. He was dressed in a very baroque suit that filled out his shoulders, making his already large frame more imposing. His facial features were sharp and immaculate that only someone who obsessed over their appearance could be. On the desk lay an orange circular phone that was connected to his omni-tool. A voice came through from the other side that sounded less than happy.

“What the hell makes you think that they’ll actually go ahead with the deal?” The irritated voice called out from the phone.

Valus continued filing his talon, paying particular attention to the primary finger. “And I’ve told you a dozen times already,” he started, his tone calm and collected. “Nova Pharmaceuticals can’t afford to pull out of their investment with this colony without looking suspicious.”

The tall turian stood up from his seat and placed the file down on his desk. “Besides,” he said, walking around his desk to the guest chair, dragging the newly sharpened talon against the top of the desk. His gold eyes stared coldly at the seat that was occupied by a human. He was badly beaten and bruised, gagged and tied to the fancy chair. He looked to be around 40 years of age, clean-shaven and medium length hair. His form was mostly shadowed by Valus’ tall chair but his blue eyes reflected the soft fire light perfectly for Valus to see the horror shining through. The human hadn’t taken his eyes off of Valus the entire time he was on the call. Valus trailed his sharpened talon from the human’s hand all the way up his arm and to his neck, leaving a gleaming trail of red blood behind it.

“I have a good reason to believe that the Prime Minister of the colony can’t refuse their help anyway.” Just a flash of a toothy grin appeared on his face before it vanished as quickly as it came. The human was trying to flinch away from the turian’s hand but wasn’t able to move at all in his seat. Valus gripped down hard on his shoulder to keep him still.

“What was it that the colony was having trouble with again?” Valus asked over the phone but was speaking at the human as if the question was for him as well. Without looking away, he tapped the mute button on his omni-tool and jabbed his sharpened talon into the gap of the human’s collar bone. He released a muffled shriek of pain and thrashed in his seat.

Valus clicked his tongue at the human and shook his head disapprovingly. “What did we say about speaking out of turn?” He spoke as if he was conversing with a small, adorable animal. The human looked back up at him with tears in his eyes but ultimately stopped his bellows, choosing to breath heavily instead.

“You know why, you crook.” Another voice over the phone said. “The colonists need the meds for helping to acclimatize to their new environment.”

Valus leaned his head down to put it right next to the man’s. “That’s the reason, yes?” Valus asked coolly, moving his finger around inside of the wound. The man inhaled sharply as if he were going to scream again but held it back and just nodded his head furiously. Valus smiled and removed his finger. “Good boy.”

Unmuting the phone, Valus spoke again. “Which is why Nova wants to keep selling and the colony wants to keep buying. Furthermore, no one in the colony needs to know that those meds were being unnecessarily rationed away from them to keep control of them. After all, no one likes being out of control of their lives.”

A simple grunt came over the phone in response.

“Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me I have many more calls to make today. I am very busy after all.” Valus said and without waiting, tapped the phone to hang up.

He then stood in front of the human and cupped his cheek, brushing the bloody finger against his cheek. “Just remember, Prime Minister, the ration level of that medicine you set is clearly not enough but the precedent has already been placed.” He paused to allow his gaze to linger on the human’s. Oh the fear was so delicious.

“You’ll get what you want but I also get what I want…”