Snippet #1489359

As Gabriel was hacking or playing with the console, whichever seemed to get the job done, James didn't quite understand the basics... He tended to shy away from technology on account of his luck. Never know when one may decide to short-circuit and take him out. However, he did understand the reasoning. Mortix ran everything they owned on a tight shift, and hardly anything went past the mechanical eye of the cameras... He believed Gabriel told him stories about that. Something about a ghost or an old man named Enigma or some such mysterious moniker... Personally, James thought they were ghost stories and thought that they were being monitored by a large team of technicians... Such an Orwellian world they lived in, James thought.

He then looked to his feet an spied a couple of soggy leave... The gears in his head began to churn as he bent down to pick them up in a balled fist... An idea. With his other hand, he licked a finger and tested the wind. It was rather mild for the moment, and what he thought was going to require... A little bit of luck. A Cheshire grin spread on his face. Hacking is good and all, but nothing beats a stroke of good luck. He blew on the leaves which left his palm twisting acrobatically in the air. Then, a gust picked up and carried the leaves over the walls and towards the cameras... James couldn't be certain, but luck was on his side and the leaves should land in the lens of various cameras... Combined with Gabriel's hack, this would make them twice had hard to spot.

Karmic backlash was instant as the same gust tugged at his pocket and lifted a twenty dollar bill and flew it across the street. James grabbed wildly for it, but the finniky bill avoided his hands like the plague. He watched it skip merrily down the street. He refused to give himself away and run down the money... Besides, even bad luck can be good luck with a certain point of view... The money may find it's way to a guard who would then be ecstatic about his find just to run off and buy something. Not to say it was a certain thing, as the karma was unknown to him from that end.

However, by this time Gabriel waved him down, and James was more than happy to oblige. He clutched the man's shoulder with one hand and his hat with the other. Hate for his hat to follow the route of his money and skip down the streets. As it was, the feeling of phasing through the wall was unnatural for James and caused him a slight shudder. No doubt it was a mainstay for Gabriel, just as immediate luck was an acceptable act for James. Then the man let go of his clutch on his shoulder, instantly fading into existence. "Will never get used to that," James said with a final shudder.

"We're kinda tapped for time, depending on how busy their technician is right now, so try and find anything marked "pharmaceuticals." Mortix has an interesting sense of humor that way. Fire's touch is a red liquid, I think. We don't need a lot, but let me know if you find it before I do."

"Bet you I can find it first. I won't even use my luck for it, to give you a fair shot," He said with another Cheshire grin. He kinda hoped his passive good luck would be enough for that. That and he was kindly tired of the backlash kicking in. Besides, using his powers here may just alert something to their presence. James was a lucky bastard, not a stupid one. With that Gabriel started towards one pile of crates... Rather gentlemanly and refusing to break out into a run. James on the other hand, held no such illusion and he was at his chosen stack within moments.. A stray glance at a camera, and James believed he saw something resembling a leaf obstructing the lens. He couldn't be for certain and just keep searching for the desired good.

He cracked open the first case. Nothing but random merchandise, no doubt part of the monopoly Mortix held on the city... A thought scampered across his mind of taking a nice long piss on the goods... But he didn't have time for that. Second case? Same deal, more merchandise... But the third case? Ah, well they say that third time's the charm. He picked the crate up and as clear as day it read "Pharmaceuticals". James copped a grin and opened it, revealing vials of crimson red liquid... If anything deserved the title of "Fire's Touch" then that would be it. The liquid held a sinister glow about it, as if one taste would hook anyone instantly. James grimaced... Being a slave to such a substance, it was pitiful to be sure... James wished he would never have to encounter something like that himself. That and Lady Luck would make sure that the withdrawal symptoms would lay his ass out.

"Ooh Chevali-ier!" James cooed, drawing the last syllable of Gabriel's alias out, "I think I hit pa-ay dirt," He continued, clearly enthused about his find... He then grinned at the man and shrugged, "It's all in the Luck of the Draw." James said, showing him the red vial and the crate he had found it in.