Pat: Threatening Father

883.M30.

Colonid Sector, aboard the flagship of Rogue Trader Lewis von Valancius, the Vostonia Loyalty.

Pat, dressed in a black robe, stood on the observation platform, gazing down at the decks layered below.

Ever since becoming a Spectator, he had enjoyed observing the expressions, bearing, verbal tics, presence, and emotional colors of different social strata from a bystander's perspective.

Before arriving on Terra to attend the celebration ceremony for the Rangdan War, he received his father's gift and became a Mind-reader. From then on, he had been able to read surface thoughts.

During his time serving as a Shadow Guard, through observation and mind-reading, he had summarized the emotional reactions of the Imperium's upper echelons, learning what subtle expressions and body movements should accompany each type of emotional response.

This voyage was his final journey as the Shadow Guard of the Navigator of House Visscher, and he had placed more of his attention on the officers and crew at every level of the Rogue Trader's vessel.

Pat looked to the other side of the platform, at the Rogue Trader's master of whispers.

He stood within the shadows, observing with the same scrutiny as Pat.

His eyes were sharp, and there was a hidden blade buried in his heart. He could smile while killing someone without the slightest mercy.

The master of whispers was the Rogue Trader's trusted confidant, his eyes and ears, in command of intelligence on enemies both within and without.

As Pat thought, Leman's Ear twitched.

Inside a sealed chamber two hundred meters away, the chief steward's voice rang out.

"Vox Master, I need your support. Numino's project is mine..."

Pat shook his head slightly. Though the chief steward was the number two aboard the ship, he was destined to be disappointed this time.

As Visscher's guard, before