To Catch a Thief

[ze_leaper]

In the life of a mercenary, you often took jobs that were far outside the law. Occasionally, you also took jobs that, while still illegal, skirted the line of lawlessness. And sometimes, you took jobs that were actually legal, but where the client wanted to stay off the books.

Such was the case now. Horizon Labs was experiencing significant theft of its technological developments of late, with the thief leaving no or minimal traces. Fortunately, a slightly less ethical member of the board had access to a few quasi-legal channels, and reached out through the Dark Web. Professional curiosity as well as the paycheck had prompted Adrienne and Millicent to take it.

Analyzing the pattern, they had determined that one of the Lab's warehouses was probably the next hit. Adrienne was up in the rafters, while Millicent outside on the perimeter.

She gently tapped her earpiece. "Anything?" she asked.

Comments

[weapons_mistress]

Millicent's helmet picked up on the sudden shift. She dashed to the right, bringing one of her tonfas in a sharp arc, hoping that perhaps the electricity would have some kind of disruptive effect on the Ghost's intangibility.

"No, you're coasting off the reputation of someone else. And that Ghost was more than a mere thief. However warped, that man had ideals. They don't fear you. They fear his legacy."

[ngm_foes]

The electrical strike made her cry out, sending sparks dancing across her armor. The Ghost seemed to flicker in and out, becoming transparent and then solid in rapid fire sequence.

"What... what did you..."

[ze_leaper]

Adrienne had finally gotten back to her feet. "Zat... zat does not look good."

[weapons_mistress]

Millicent didn't allow herself to get lax from the encouraging results of her strike.

"I believe I just shorted out your suit."

[ngm_foes]

Fear crossed the Ghost's face as she flickered more and more rapidly. She reached out, pleadingly, but no sound came when she opened her mouth.

[ze_leaper]

"That... That does not look good..."

[weapons_mistress]

"Shit!" Millicent wanted to cancel the phasing effect, not..whatever that was. She flicked the switch on her tonfas to reverse the polarity of the electricity within the tips. Sometimes Millicent was annoyed that she had a conscience. She swung at the Ghost's flickering from, hoping the reverse polarity would stabilize what was happening.

[ze_leaper]

Part of Adrienne did not particularly care what happened to the Ghost. She relied too much on her technology and not enough upon skill. And she had appropriated the name of, not a great man, certainly, but a principled one, for petty thievery.

Still, her father had raised her with a sense of honor. She took no joy in what was happening.

[ngm_foes]

The tonfas passed through the Ghost, but seemed to do nothing of any positive effort. Instead, the flickering intensified to the point of appearing as though a strobe light had turned on.

There was a silent scream, and then she began to glow from the inside out, as though ready to explode.

[weapons_mistress]

"Sodding hell! Get down!" Millicent ran at Adrienne to tackle her out of the way of what was about to happen.

[ze_leaper]

"Ooomph!" Adrienne wasn't expecting the tackle, but instantly rolled with it, ready to ride out whatever occurred.

[ngm_foes]

The light grew to a crescendo, growing almost blinding... and then the Ghost was simply gone, with only a scorch mark on the ground to mark where she had been.

[weapons_mistress]

When everything began to clear, Millicent spoke.

"Well..that wasn't what I expected. You all right adri?"

[ze_leaper]

"Merde..." Adrienne hissed. "I will live, I think. More than we can say for her."

[weapons_mistress]

Millicent cursed again. She didn't mind killing if it was necessary, but the whole thing seemed extreme overkill for someone who was just robbing the place.

"..Let's go home. This place is leaving a bad taste in my mouth."

[ze_leaper]

Adrienne shook her head sadly. She too, was not opposed to taking a life if the situation called for it, but she was not some casual assassin either.

"Agreed," she said. "Not the most auspicious of nights."

Though it would still come with a substantial paycheck.

[weapons_mistress]

"Adrienne..handle the employer contact for me, would you?" Millicent sounded weary and tired.

[ze_leaper]

"Of course, Millicent," Adrienne assured her. "Of course."