Gaudy Billboards

[Raif]

Atzerri, City of Talos

Atzerri wasn't necessarily a bad planet. In truth, compared to a lot of the poodoo-holes Gareth Voltaris had wound up in over the last decade, it wasn't bad at all. The planet was mostly marshes and cities where almost anything, legal or illegal, could be had for a price. That was one thing that Gareth enjoyed quite a bit.

What he didn't like, though, were the gaudy billboards here in Trader's Plaza. Not all of the billboards, of course. Just one, to be specific, and as the big scarred Knight sat at a dingy cantina drinking an ale he couldn't seem to take his eyes off of it for long.

It was a recruiting billboard. For the Imperium.

Atzerri was technically neutral, of course, but it was spitting distance from the Imperial border. And like roaches in a scum-ridden alley, Imperial sympathizers had sprung up on this and who knows how many other worlds, trying to convince their comrades to open their arms and willingly embrace the Imperial yoke of servitude. This particular group of bootlickers had rented out an old storefront and turned it into their political headquarters, replete with a neon-studded billboard that announced in flashing lights and moving letters all of the wonders to be had as an Imperial subject.

"How things change..."

Gareth spoke softly into his glass, thinking about how he used to be one of those bright-eyed idiots singing the praises of the Empire. That was before the Sith, though, when he was still a proud, upstanding member of the Imperial Knights.

Before the Sith. Before the torture. Before the Scourge...

Keeping his hood pulled low to hide his horribly-scarred visage, Gareth kept his eyes on the billboard, counting down the minutes in his head until the fireworks started. Inside his head, a not-so-quiet voice raged at the timidity of the coming show. The Scourge could only be sated by blood, but Gareth was the one calling the shots. For tonight, at least.

Gareth took another sip, readying himself for the confusion and chaos.

Tick, tock...