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Rodaph is very much a 'do-it-yourself' kind of guy, even though he's a corporate executive, a brilliant engineer, and a baron with a family estate worth more than the kings of yore. That extends, for better or worse, towards so-called 'dirty work' - tasks that would normally be outsourced to a team of disposable meat shields and liability deflectors mercenaries. Unlike most barons, Rodaph doesn't outsource bounty contracts put up by the Terran Empire. And why shouldn't he? With a little bit of training and a box of very expensive scraps, he can get a loadout the envy of any other mercenary and ensure that what needs doing is done. For things he can't do alone, he can count on his twin sister, Varna, to handle anything involving psionics, or a diverse team of specialists for any other task.

When first starting out, making a name for themselves and getting a feel for how such bounties are handled, even the most brilliant of individuals will find their plans come with some snafus. Getting in to this Old York data vault for a data extraction bounty was easy enough, as the facility's defenses were no match for a few well-placed heavy laser rifle hits and someone who can feel the presence of everyone inside. Getting out, however, was where they tripped up. Neither of them realized that one of the guards was inert, meaning even Varna's abilities couldn't sense their presence.

Both of them quickly dispatched the lone witness, but they were too late. The alarm had been raised. The outdoor patrols quickly converged on their position to seal off their only way out. In a desperate effort to punch through, Rodaph kept suppressive fire on the patrols while Varna's telekinesis took literally everything and anything around them to use as a shield. Corrugated sheet metal, loose car doors, trashed desks and chairs, even ripping out chunks of the reinforced concrete beneath their feet. It was a slow and arduous advance, but eventually they did make it through. A well-placed transformer explosion on their way out later and they managed to make a stealthy getaway to their rendezvous.

So much work had to be done, including literally risking their lives, yet the twins could easily make more with far less risk driving a corporate desk and living the high life. To them, it wasn't about the thrill of the fight, the weapons and equipment used, and the allure of adventure. Every breach, every captured crook, and every escort was done not for passion, but for spite.

Every bounty put them one step closer to gutting the Empire of the lowest of the high.

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Rodaph and Varna recognize that their status as trillionaires (yes, trillionaires - twelve zeros) means they hold enormous sway in the political and economic machine that is the Terran Empire. Literally anything can be bought and sold with the right connections. Though the Terran Empire heavily regulates mercenary work within their cosmic territory, that doesn't stop the illegal kind of work from being executed, either. A gripping reality Rodaph and Varna had been thrust into when their former estate flagship was infiltrated and their parents were murdered in front of them during a video call by an infamous black-market hitman hired by a former prime minister.

I like to imagine this particular scene being them early on in their 'side hustle' as hired hands with a particular agenda. As much as they want to be the so-called "peoples' barons", in the sense that they are more empathetic to those less fortunate than others of similar status, they also recognize that not everyone will play by their same morals. And they understand when that happens, the gloves need to come off and do what is necessary for the security of themselves and those they care about. If there's one piece of advice they've taken from their parents, it's to be the change they want to see.

Once again, art by  toughset <-- go watch this guy, he does great stuff! :D

Rodaph and Varna Cannason, the "I do my own stunts" twin furdragon barons, belong to me! :D