Artis's Story

“Excellent.” Xavier said.

His voice exuded a childish sort of obnoxiousness, although his intonation seemed to imply he was at least trying to be intimidating. It wouldn’t be so bad if this man wasn’t so physically imposing. Of course, he didn’t know about Xavier’s enhanced biology.

“I’ve sent the rest of your pay wirelessly, as promised. You’ve done well. Much faster than Escargo Express. Here’s hoping the manufacturers have done their job as well.”

Xavier examined the package for any damage or signs of scuffing. It looked well enough and had obviously not been opened. Xavier put the package into his backpack, mostly empty beside his laptop for this situation. He smiled.

“You didn’t tamper with the package. You don’t seem to be too concerned with legality. Tell me, James, how flexible is your morality when compared to your wallet?”

The term ‘wallet’ was hyperbolic, of course. Very few carried around physical currency. And mentioning his name? Well, that was Xavier showing off.

James looks down at 'X' before answering his question. First off, this guy knowing his name is kind of suspicious, as he usually keeps it out of dealings like this, but he supposes that it wouldn't be to hard to find. So he'll let that slide. And he obviously didn't mess with the package, he's not interested in computer parts and all that. Another thing is that it seems that he's asking about his willingness to do a job. At least he's says he's paying him, so he checks his Comm device for the confirmation of the payment. Yep. It was there. He thinks a bit before speaking. "My morality doesn't come into jobs. It's the morality of my employer that matters. I just do the work." He feels like he's said enough, but he continues. "Look, if you have a job, I'll take it."

Xavier smiled.

“Really, it’s more a question of skill than morality. If the job is done perfectly, then no one will get hurt and no one will even know it happened.” He said. “My affiliates- subordinates, really… Have an interest in the blood banks of Wing City. We’re scientists, and the blood is necessary for our research. There is one in Wing City central that I’ve always felt charged a little too much for the product they delivered. Now when there are foolproof ways of attaining as much of the stuff as we could need, for no charge, it doesn’t seem sensible, does it? Here, have a look at this.”

Also coming from his hoodie pocket, Xavier offered the Courier a ‘USBat’, an inconspicuous little black USB with two needles on one side and a modular adaptor on the other.

“I just need you to infiltrate the bank, find their server room and pierce any of their servers with that device there, see? Once accomplished I will have a driver waiting to return you to the spaceport and our business would be concluded. Assuming you agree and all goes well, you will receive what my and my subordinates would have paid the bank. Easy money for someone like you. Am I right?”

He was very sure he was.

James glances at the employer as he takes the USB, and nods. "How much is the pay? I can't go around breaking into banks for near nothing, you know." He's not exactly unsure of his capabilities for this job, but this feels like a big thing to be asked to do. He wants to make sure he can accomplish the task and then be rewarded in a way that he sees fit. "I mean, I know it's not like you're asking me to kill anyone, but this is technically il-" He cuts himself off as he realizes most of the things he does aren't nescessarily legal, so he just nods again. "Where is this blood bank?" He feels kind of suspicious towards this guy, he honestly doubts him being a scientist, but he supposes he doesn't need the truth. He pockets the USB, and looks back up at X.

“You need numbers, fair enough. Speaks to your intelligence.” For a brief moment Xavier considered testing his hypnosis.

No, not like last time, he thought.

“50,000 Terran credits.” Xavier was bluffing, somewhat. His intention was to redirect the Detente’s next payment to the Courier. However previous payments matched the ballpark and he was satisfied that even if he was off by a couple thousand, the Courier would be satisfied as well. “You'd be headed to 75th Street, which you’ll find in the business district. Public transport will take you. You’ll head south onto northern Main Street, then east to reach the business district. From there you should have no problem heading into 75th street where our blood bank is. Not an overly popular area, but hardly devoid of human life either. I’ll send instructions via communicator once you arrive. I promise that if you follow them perfectly, you’ll have your money within 24 hours. Do we have a deal?”

50,000 Terran credits. James is kind of stunned by that figure, as it seems like a lot of money for a task like this. Usually if he were to do something like this, it would be maybe ten, twenty thousand Terran credits. And it's not even a monetary bank, so it must mean a lot to this guy if he's willing to pay that much. A blood bank... Something kind of registers in the back of The Courier's head, but it goes unnoticed. "We have a deal." He holds out his hand to shake X's.

Jay Null disembarked from his shuttle after setting it down gently on one of the spaceport's platforms, to the sound of the familiar klaxons chiming in announcement of another arrival. He click-click-clicked his prosthesis as he walked down the ramp, entering into the busy plaza below.

He approached one of the terminals to take a look over the latest listings.

Hrm... seems like the market is still stable.

he opined, looking towards Main Street, towards the south.

Others kept filing through the Spaceport, of little concern to Xavier.

James let out his hand to shake his, something that almost seemed unnatural to him at this point. After a wave of confusion washed over his face, Xavier took his hand and shook it with childlike fragility. This could be the start of a friendship, even.

Don’t be stupid.

“Perfect. Perfect. I’ll accompany you to the bank. Then we shall part ways, although as I said I’ll be in constant contact with you until the job is done. No time to waste.”
Xavier stood up, swinging his backpack around and heading outside to the public shuttle centre.

Jay Null clicked his prosthesis and moved onwards. He had things to do!

Winne Rineswurth navigated towards the one and only shuttle headed to her destination. She was notably different than the others preparing to board, and Winne took mental note. A tight-smiled stewardess waved her on board. She dazzled her own grin back.

Lewis checks his watch. He's an odd figure, standing in this spaceport, but then again, when were there not odd figures in a spaceport? His mission may be odd, though. He's here to hunt vampires, of all things. The cross-shaped patches sewn into his shoulders glint silver as he turns, and he looks at the digital clock on the wall to sync his watch up to.

Linus Trucidabunt stopped abruptly shortly before the doors, by an almost overflowing ashtray next to a recently emptied garbage can.

"Well, ye got yer wish," He tapped at his pockets as if looking for a wallet. A joke.

Carmen Dellevon dropped her smile, reaching up to touch the soft petaled flower she had tucked behind her ear. It had begun to wilt. Were she an enchantress, it would have never. But, she was not.

She sighed audibly, heavy, exaggerated.

"Aren't you having fun, though?"

Linus Trucidabunt chuckled and folded his arms across his chest. So, she wasn't gonna pay up easy, eh?

"Nah. Hate the city. Hate space. Good in the water. You payin' or 'm I hollerin'?"

He hated to do it, but he wasn't so sure about leaving Terra just yet. He had this sick underwater thing that he had pieced back together himself. He had a decent hustle, which was about to get a little more strict when it came to items of transport.

No, Linus wasn't interested in becoming a wanted refugee. He liked his lil' life as a captainless pirate.

Carmen Dellevon harrumphed and fished a wad of cash out from somewhere that Linus didn't catch. She slapped it at his chest.

Linus Trucidabunt shuffled to catch the money and shot Carmen a glare.

Carmen Dellevon flashed Linus a devious smile, turned on her heel, and marched off to the shuttles. Sneaking on ships was her recent specialty. Perhaps she's dry it again, perhaps not. Either way, she supposed she was done with Linus. He had been paid and now he was gone.

Linus Trucidabunt didn't hang around, just in case someone who had seen those wanted ads just so happened to see him accepting money from Carmen. So far, it seemed, so good.

Carmen Dellevon snuck around the spaceport nonchalantly. She noticed security was a bit lax around one bay, tucked down a hallway that was too inconveniently long to have much traffic. There weren't even any shops down this way. What a fortunate meander!

She slipped under a piece of neon yellow tape doing a bad job at blocking the bay entrance - not bothering to notice that it was police tape.

There wasn't anyone inside, which again seemed very odd. A quick glance around and she realized why. The place was fully covered with security cameras. It looked like the whole bay was automated. But, she hadn't tripped any alarms.

"Yeah, we just got it working last week- but it's..." Said a voice deeper in the bay to someone else. They were in the control room it sounded like, but the door was open. Carmen kicked off her shoes and tucked them under an armpit. Cowboy boots weren't exactly quiet and it was a miracle nobody had noticed her.

"I don't see why we don't," responded another voice. They sounded impatient. Carmen crept around the perimeter of the bay.

In the center was a tall thing covered with a giant black sheet-like tarp. It looked heavy and weatherproof- and it touched the ground right over there.

"...Politics, you know?" The first voice said again. Carmen wasn't catching the whole conversation.

"...up and running if they're just going to decommission it. Makes no sense!" the second voice said. Carmen ducked into the fold of the fabric covering the thing in the center of the room where it touched the ground. It was just big enough to hide all of her, and if they hadn't been looking at the cameras to see her get this far...well. That was the opposite of her problem.

Footsteps started to approach. Carmen held her breath.

"We did our job," Said the first voice.

"Woulda been nice, though, to be able to push them buttons," Responded the second.

"Yeah, woulda coulda shoulda. I'm starved," the first voice changed the topic. It sounded like they were going out the way Carmen had come in.

"Same. Clock out & hit the diner?" The second voice was all too willing to talk food over work. The footsteps quickened and receded down the tunnel that led to the bay. Carmen could have burst out laughing. If that was security, well. It was no wonder she was to fly out from here. What security?!