Mar 08 01:23:47 107 PA - To Catch a Thief

From Chronicles

Weather at Wed Mar 08 01:23:47 107 PA (-10.48C, 13.14F): A frenzy of clouds are wisked through the sky by fast breezes that extend to the ground. Snow is sustained in the air by the directionless wind, constantly in motion, yet still from a distance. The waning gibbous moon hangs overhead.

Inside the rec centre, everything is lit in harsh fluorescent light. The building itself is a rectangle, the long side having a door leading to the outside world. One end of the building has a pile of mats, and high on two walls are basketball nets, the floor between them painted to make a court. The wall opposite the door is painted with a bright, colourful mural, showing the city of Kingsdale, tucked between forests full of demons and rolling farmland. Above the city, the sun hangs low in the sky and painted over the sun is a blue shield, the emblem of the Vigilantes. Two doors are set into the wall far left of the entrance, marked with drawings of a man and a woman. Presumably these lead to change rooms or bathrooms. A final door peeks out of the wall beside the pile of mats, this one marked with a blue shield as well.

Early evening and the plan is on. Sofiya is stuck listening through the radios, tense and irritable, at their apartment. The Rec Center is half full, the usual assortment of teenagers and gang related folks hanging out, playing basketball and doing business. Their mark is out the back, in the offices, and definitely doing business. The door opens and closes a lot, people coming and going, and in some cases, coming again.

Zero is doing his part. He's reappeared and made himself known for a little while. Nothing wrong, nothing afoot. He's even spent the money he made on his job to fix up his truck. Blood money? Not a problem for him. he's got his hoodie off and wrapped around his waist, leaving him in jeans and a lighter white tshirt. Cooler for doing some work with the basketball as he used to. Patience is easy when you can play a little ball while exercising it. Though for now he's merely shooting baskets casually with a few of the regular boys.

Sebastien sits on a nearby rooftop, 300m away, riding armor's smooth lines broken up by an odd-looking helmet that has several lenses arranged in a cluster rather than a visor. On his back is a jet pack, and cradled in his arms is a peculiar-looking crossbow. He watches the building's entrance from a severe angle and a window showing a small slice of basketball court. He's long since identified the power junction on the outside where lines come in from the street. Tied up in front of a small wok restaurant is Sara, who seems more interested in a small tuft of grass poking through concrete than a robot horse in barding should.

Zero's willingness has been noted apparently, as one of the younger runners interrupt the game to fetch him. A jerk of the thumb towards the door indicates where he is expected, and behind it one of the office doors is open. The gates of hell? Flames? No, a very tidy, formal office suite, complete with desk and filing cabinets. And a man in a suit, with dark hair and a moustache. And pale blue eyes. He is leaning back in his chair, awaiting Zero with confidence.

When Zero gets 'tapped' as it were, he pauses, having just been about to shoot again. He glances towards the open door and nods, casually tossing the ball towards one of the other guys. He casually walks over, without haste or reluctance. He moves into the office and considers the suited man before he knocks back with a heel to hit the door closed before he walks over to have a seat. He doesn't say anything for the moment, but gives the man a casual smile. And a running device in one of his big, shapeless pockets.

Sebastien sighs. He stays motionless up here, watching the goings-on below. He's been up there a while, in fact -- since well before nightfall. A jittery leg marks a likely need to urinate, and with a reluctant look he pulls back from the roof's edge to fetch his bottle. Again.

The man returns the look and the smile, waving a hand towards one of the seats. "So I hear you make explosives?" The question is casual, friendly, as if they were talking about sandwiches. "I am Richard, I'm sure you knew that." The ego peeks out, and he leans forward on his elbows, giving Zero a serious look. In the apartment, Sofiya is on the radio, listening as hard as she can.

Zero doesn't miss a beat in nodding about the man's name, even though he's never heard of it. "I know how to string a few wires and such, you might say," he replies. "If I get some good parts and such, of course. Not real cheap, you know? So I don't tend to get it going to often. I guess you like things that blow up too?"

Sebastien presently eases back into position, fluffing the sand bags under the stock of the crossbow and easing it a few degrees to the left, tracking that bit of featureless wall behind which Zero talks to the Dick. Then he swings it back, aiming in on the power box as he waits, and leaves the crossbow pointed there to settle in and listen.

"I like things that get the results I want, that speed my business up and make me look good to the bosses." Richard's world view is simple. He waves a hand quickly at a seat, staring hard at Zero. "I want two like the ones that hit the Clash. Can you do it? We can afford you."

"Two? That's a tall order," Zero replies, a ahnd lifting to stroke his chin slowly. "Though, you know.. if you let me know what sort of thing's getting hit, could make them better, right? Didn't much know what you were doing before, so wasn't really sure how big or little to make it. Might have been a little too big the last one. lots of collateral, you know? Tends to happen anyway, but why make it worse?"

Richard hesitates, before giving a forced smile, "Obviously you know that we didn't plan that one. The girl did it on her own. A mistaken hero complex. Two. One to finish the business down there, the other to remove another building. Theoretically." Richard is watching Zero's reaction closely.

Zero tilts his head a little. "Really? I mean, might have been a little big, but was a good piece of work still," he says. "Didn't figure what that nice little piece was saying was right, but I guess if you're saying it was all her too, then I should be a belier, right?"

Sebastien rolls over, shouldering up to the crossbow, flicking up the visor to his helmet to sight down the scope, zooming out first to look at the area around the power box, and then in to focus on the junction of street wiring and building power. Tapping a button on the side of the scope, he gets a reading. Range: 338m. One hand reaches to move the scope dial two positive clicks counter-clockwise. Then turning his head aside, he flicks the visor down on his helmet to watch the goings-on through the windows. The guy in the blue shirt is still winning the backetball game. Hm.

Sofiya is pacing, listening to the conversation and a snort in the radio makes it clear what she thinks about being described as a nice little piece. Meanwhile, the corner of Richard's eye twitches. "She told you what she was going to do?" The tension in his fingers shows as the pen he is holding snaps.

"Well, I don't really know just what she's up to, now.. likes to talk after a good tussle, you know?" Zero gives Richard a lopsided grin. "But seems she's looking to spin that off into some sort of deal, you know? A bit testy over almost getting offed or something. She's looking to make some credits, but.. who isn't, you know?"

Richard's gaze shoots to Zero's face, his eyes widening slightly before he covers it. "Uh, it was my understanding that she died in that blast. You know where she is?" The question has an edge to it and Richard rises from the seat, moving around the desk. His movements reveal that he isn't as suit-like as he might be considered, that there is both muscle and weapons under that suit.

There we go. Sebastien rolls sideways, flicking the visor up and closing his eyes a moment, focusing himself and becoming centered. It's an easy shot at a large target, but Sebastien *is* using a magic whizbang shooter that's an amalgamation of technologies from the 14th century to today. He draws the string back easily, with one finger, and slides a thick bolt into place from his small pack attached to the side of the bow. Then thumbing the safety off, he rests his finger over the trigger guard, breath coming in steady and even.

"Well, you don't just forget about someone like that," Zero says with a nod. "I mean, crazy chicks like that don't come around everyday." He grins, his expression slipping towards the mischievous. "Not sure where she's at, though. I drive her around sometimes, but mostly for the tips, if you get my drift. Well, she tosses me a little money sometimes too.. must be getting it off something to do with whatever she's got going. But I guess if she's being real quiet, probably not really going to let me know just where she's hiding out. Been picking her up all over." He shrugs a little.

Richard moves to Zero's side of the desk, leaning against his, the pose casual, the tension in the man's shoulders and face not casual at all. "I'm certain, for a price, you could deliver her to me. Just next time you pick her up, drop me a line and leave her with me." He is aiming to be persuasive, but the hand absently touching the butt of his weapon isn't casual. "There is of course some credits in it for you. We can't have someone like that upsetting the balance of the city."

Zero leans back a little, his brows rising at the nearness. Not hard to affect a sense of nervousness, his eyes straying down towards the weapon. "Oh, aahh.. really? Credits are always welcome," he agrees. I suppose I could do something like that.. a little line drop or some such. Though.. is what she's saying true? Cause I dunno.. sounds like someone with some money is believing her. And people with money.. usually good to believe them, if you catch my drift here."

The man's tension levels rise and he gives Zero a hard look. "Depends what she is saying. If she is saying she took the bomb there, then yes. If you think a scrawny brat like that has the brains to plan anything useful, you might be better off sticking to your wiring." The words are a restrained snarl and his thumb rubs across the weapon, the forced smile more like a snarl than a smile.

"She was claiming the whole thing. Says its her right after getting screwed over," Zero replies, remaining leaned back slightly, a touch wary. He shrugs, then lifts a warding hand slightly. "But relax, man.. I wasn't really believing it. And I'm not really getting my nose in.. I got no problem making that what goes boom for those that want things to blow up."

"Screwed over? That little ..." Richard looks as if he might explode, before he makes a serious effort to rein himself in. "She didn't even know what the hell she was carrying. Stupid little runner. You really think she had the brains or the balls to carry that out?" The scorn in his voice is fighting for face space with pride at his own brains. "You make those bombs for me, deliver the girl, and then I'll clear this mess up."

"Oh, sure man," Zero says, his hand waving a little to diffuse the tension in the air. "Relax, relax.. we're cool, alright? Get me them parts and I'll see about getting what you want going, right? might take a bit, tends to just pop up she does. So gimme a little time. Can't rush art, right? But can't be slow either. Should try and keep it cool, they say anger's bad for the heart. Don't' feel real good either."

"Alright then." The confidence in his own ability to command shows as he gives Zero a slow nod. "And I'm cool. You just bring in the girl and the bombs. And if you don't, I'm sure we can find that lovely truck of yours and you, and deal with any problems." The threat is overt, obvious and the man rises, looming over Zero for a moment before he moves, back to the other side of the desk. "One day."

"I'll see what I can do, man. No need to get hostile, now,' Zero replies, getting up from the chair casually. "Maybe I'll bring some brews too, they make things a bit more relaxed, you know? I'll be great." He starts backing his way out, though casually so as he continues to talk.

"Don't see what you can do. Do it, Zero." The conversation is clearly over, as the man reaches for his jacket, heading out of his office, closing the door behind Zero. Outside, the game goes on. On the radio, there is fluent, vocal Russian cursing with the man's name interspaced.

A small apartment that's showing its age. It has a fresh coat of white paint for the walls and ceiling, but what can be seen of the wooden floor is clean, but scuffed and a little scared in places. There are two rooms beside the small bathroom.

The main room is nicely sized, centered around an old, but clean sofa that's missing the short, stubby feet to keep it off the ground. But otherwise it's in good condition with worn, but clean, black upholstery. A slightly bent, but stable set of industrial metal shelves are set against the wall in front of it, with a well worn PDD audio player set with a pack of discs by it. A scratched video unit is next to it with a few old books, tools and trinkets scattered about to add to the casual mix of items. There's a table in an alcove formed by the counter enclosed kitchen space. It's a narrow space, but has enough room for some cabinets, a small fridge, stove and single sink. All are old and weathered, but clean and show signs of heavy use.

The bedroom is simple. A king sized mattress in good condition is shoved into one corner, lacking a box to rest on and is scatted with blankets and pillows, none of which match. The closer is closed and a scarred, but serviceable wooden dresser takes up another wall. An bent metal work table takes up much of another wall, a few crates of junk pushed underneath and some coffee cans with smaller bits of junk in the half broken hutch shelving over it.

Zero will arrive home not too awful long after the meeting. He's checked with Seb and made a point of driving around a bit before actually coming back to the house. A little bit of judicious paranoia. And he does glance back and make sure he's not being followed up to the apartment. Once there, he slots his key and after one more glance, pushes his way into the main room. He breathes out a low sigh and turns, closing and locking the door. Later in the day, evening coming on and he's feeling a little wiped.

Sofiya is still pacing, the emotional ride of the last few hours clearly showing. As he opens the door, she turns, moving across the room to him quickly. The relief at seeing him safe, here and whole is obvious, and he gets a hug that squeezes him tightly. "Zee..." She buries her face against his chest for a moment before a muffled comment, oddly touched with bravado, "Crazy chick?"

Zero oofs softly as he's squeezed, giving a lighter hug to the young woman as he grins at her question. "Good crazy, of course. Neither of us is normal, after all, right?" He grins casually and says, "You didn't think what I was saying to that guy were my straight up thoughts? I was playing to him, you know? Had to play like you were just another piece of tail to me. Otherwise that would have been trouble."

Sofiya doesn't let him go, the brief hesitation before she shakes her head, "Course not." Another squeeze and she steps back, giving him a serious look, studying him thoroughly. "Course not. But he admitted it. He did admit it and we have it on record..." The slight doubt that the guy did say it shows in her face.

"He said a lot. Not as smart as he thinks, you know?" Zero gives a casual, confident grin. With her looking up at him, he leans forward to drop a light peck on her nose. "You are a hot, crazy chick though. That's what I like, though. The hot truck rocking action is just part of why I like it here. There's food too." His tone lightly playful as he says as much, keeping a warm, but relaxed grip on her.

Sofiya's expression softens at his grin, and she lifts her face for a kiss. "I'm not crazy." She doesn't protest the rest though, "There is food. I had to do something when I was waiting..." He gets another tight hug, before she pulls away, turning towards the kitchen, where food does await him. And then other rewards, less diet related, await him later.