He was woken up for the beeping sound of the transponder, which is the same exact device as the verification scanner that he had used previously to confirm that the high energy stabilizer was in the container. The red light flashes a few times, and a location coordinate is being synced with the ship's navigation systems.
'Hmmmm...' Zel squinted at the location given, which turns out to be in the middle of absolutely nowhere, somewhere quite some distance half way between wormhole acceleration gates just to the outside of the central systems.
It would take another day before he would get there. Typically, the hand off is done on remote planets as to save some trouble for transport, but it seems like the transaction here will be performed in space.
It suits him, however, as the time saved on the journey will mean more time for him to look for other jobs.
With the strange coordinate inputted into the system, Zel can't help but reminisce about the first time he met with a representative from the organisation that hires him. It was certainly a rather 'strange' encounter, despite all the things that he has been through.
Hebo 6 was a cold mining planet where nobody except for miners and people with special interests come. The whole ecosystem of mining, gambling and shady trading draws people from both the edge of the settlements as well as the neighboring central regions to this place. Life is exciting here if you are into the tales of galactic outlaws, despite the not so welcoming climate and location.
Zel had just done a small sized job that gets him about three thousand credits and handed the things off. Now is a time for a little break. Zel held onto the fake ID that he bought a while back and swiped himself into the entertainment area of the city. He is really never one for fun, but the food here is typically of the utmost quality, and he also liked the liveliness.
Being surrounded by people makes him feel a lot less lonely, and he knew that he is not alone in this department.
'What do you think, Zel? Let's get a good meal, shall we?' Zel murmured to himself and walked straight into a restaurant near the entrance of the entertainment area. Bright flashing lights lit up the outline of the building while signs in multiple language says that this is the single best restaurant in the whole of the Hebo system.
'Please be seated at position seventeen.' A robotic voice welcomed Zel into the restaurant, and he followed the arrow on the floor to find a seat by the bar. An Aquarian bartender that is currently busy with mixing four drinks at the same time turned to Zel and asks politely, 'Would you want something to drink, young human gentlemen?'
'Can I have a serving of Aquarian Shocker please?' Zel replied nonchalantly, but there is no response from the bartender, and the rattling sound of drink mixing has also stopped.
'Are you certain, Sir?' The bartender asked yet again, 'it's rather strong for a human.'
'I am also rather strong for a human.' Zel stared at the Aquarian right in the eye with a hint of anger and annoyance and made him step back slightly. Realizing that he is not acting normal, Zel cracked into a smile and waved his hands a few times, apologizing, 'I am sorry...it's just that I am fed up with people saying the same exact thing everywhere, and I hoped you can understand.'
Funnily enough, Zel is rather talkative when dealing with complete strangers that he will never meet again.
'Certainly, Sir, an Aquarian Shocker coming right up!' The bartender swung around and walked away, returning shortly with a light green liquid in a well polished glass jar. Three ice cubes floats amongst the Aquarian shocker and pushes against each other gently with each tiniest movement of the jar.
Zel picked up the drink and had his first sip in what felt like weeks. The rough sensations brought forth by the Aquarian Shocker is something that Zel cannot really get over, but also something that he is absolutely obsessed with.
With the feeling of fire burning all the way down his digestive track, it brought him back to the time where he was truly engulfed in flames, and that's the last time he saw her.
The fire within him eventually dies down, and all that remains is the overly dramatic cold.
It's time for another sip.
'You drink strong for even an Aquarian.' A feminine voice came from beside him, and a brunet human female with small eyes, pale skin and a pointy nose sat next to him. She brought a smell of expensive perfume with her, yet it's unlike those worn by the upperclasswomen of the central regions.
It's a light touch that brings joy and relaxation, rather than a scent that proves superiority.
There are some light touches of make up on her eyebrows, but it's only noticeable as that reminds Zel of her. She looks good. Too good for this planet.
'Not really a shocker.' Zel took the sip and relives the feeling again. When it subsides slightly, he then turns and greets the women next to him, 'May I help you with something?'
'Well, given I will be seated here,' The women pointed at the number she was given for her seating, 'maybe you can keep me entertained for this meal?'
'And what do I get out of this entertainment?' Zel turned back to focus on the drink in front of him, and pulled up the menu to look at what options of food he can get.
'Maybe I can entertain you after the meal.' She winked at Zel, but it doesn't seem like Zel realised what she is implying, 'I am Lady Lily.
''Zel.'
If anything, the menu of this restaurant certainly does not disappoint. It covers cuisines from nearly all styles and types of the three races. The standard human meals of old oriental, Indian , European origins are a staple and actually extremely popular amongst the Rockies communities, and the quirky flavors of Rockies cooking gained a fair bit of traction for those with an acquired taste.
The Aquarians are like the westerners of the past, being stuck between extreme flavors and savory food, but they do make a mean beverage.
Zel was initially quite taken aback by the plethora of options, but soon he zeroed in on a mixed salad with BBQ grilled lab meat on top. Lady Lily went with steak and fries for her main and also got herself a jar of Aquarian Shocker. The bartender know better than to question her decision this time.
'So, what's your story?' Lady Lily leaned over and asks, 'what brings you to Hebo here?'
'A job.' Zel spun around the ice in his jar and answered, 'what other reasons are there?'
'An escape from reality, a compromise from society, a second life, a fun night?' Lady Lily tilted her head and retorted. Zel's eyes widened slightly and stopped playing with his jar.
'Is that why you are here?'
'That's what I am working towards, Zel.'
'What exactly are you doing here then, Lady Lily?'
'You are certainly a blunt instrument.' Lady Lily teases Zel and runs her finger alongside the mechanical arms of Zel, but the black general purpose arm actually has no sensory units attached to its surface, so all Zel felt is just a nudge into his shoulder joint, 'are you this straight forward with any women?'
'Only the ones that sits next to me.' Zel drew his arm back slightly and looked right ahead at the screens right above the shelves of beverage, 'the world is harsh. You can't be too careful.'
'I like you, in a human resources kind of way.' Lady Lily smiled and followed his gaze to look at the news display, 'I am a recruiter, and I have been told that you have a special talent, or rather I have seen your operations.'
Zel didn't say anything, and Lady Lily takes it as an invitation to go on.
'You see, there has been quite a few thefts or robberies of advanced technology from various firms and companies recently. Have you heard about it?' Lady Lily asks casually.
'Are you the one behind all that turmoil?' Zel returned the question.
'Me? No. I am just a recruiter. I organize things.'
'And what do you want from me?'
'Like I said, you have a special talent, and there is one job that suits your skill set, and your particular outcomes too.'
'Ah.' Zel tiled his head and finished all the rest of the Aquarian Shocker in one go, 'and here I go thinking it's me you want.'
'And who's to say that's also not on the table?'
The food was good, but the dessert is better.
'Take this device. It will verify if the cargo is right.'
Lady Lily escapes Zel's embrace and sat up on the bed. She reached into her bag and takes out a short cylindrical black box, 'when you give me the all done signal, I will get in contact with you with a meet up coordinate.'
'Ok.'
Zel rubbed his eyes slightly, it's only afternoon now but the exertion was still rather substantial. He took the box and left it on the bed side table, 'but I am not all done yet.'
'I see. So you have more than one special talent....' Lady Lily turned around and went on top on Zel, her warm body touching his, and their arms went around each other.
Yo, kid. Thinking about that women again?
The artifact woke him up from his nap. I have seen many things, and figures like those are always quite dangerous.
'Don't tell me you were watching me back then.' Zel rolled over to his side and covered his ears.
Just be careful. I think she might be another bearer from the way she is acting, but it's impossible to tell if it's not activated. The artifact is actually quite helpful here, but Zel really want to hear none of that. Zel has finally arrived at the rendezvous point after many hours of journey filled with boredom.
He is quite surprised to see that a much bigger cruiser ship has already been waiting at this coordinate and gave him the docking signal. He turns off the ships engines and lets the tractor beam take it in. The lateral sides of the cruiser opened up a small opening and swallows his ship.
The hanger bay is quite empty to Zel's surprise and there is only one operator in a complete black in the corner of the bay directing traffic. Zel's spacecraft touches down gently in the inner most pad, and he gave Zel a signal that gravity has been turned on and the hanger is repressurised.
Zel nodded, got up from his seat, swung the jacket on and walked out with the container behind him.
'Please follow me.' The operator came in front of Zel and greeted him. The two continued on, leaving the empty hanger bay and headed through the ship's storage area and into the workshop. There are a few people overseeing the automated working and assembly of many different equipment, weapons and armor.
The deal seemed more and more interesting by the second, and Zel is fairly certain that him being shown these things are totally intentional.
The operator took off his helmets and visor and hung it near the exit. Then the two finally went into the living and office area of the ship. The container is being put onto a trolley that follows the two, and they eventually ended up outside an office which has number 2 indented at the eye level of the door. The operator nodded at Zel and walked away.
The door opens, and Lady Lily walks out. She looks just as attractive as the first day they met and the red dress with dragon patterns she is wearing today only elevated her beauty. The oriental dragon was laid out on the sides of her body in a lacy fashion with it's body following the curves of hers and ending with the it's mouth in a roaring motion on her shoulders. Her silky skin seeps through the dragon's eye and gives off quite a glow. Zel swallowed nervously and forced a smile.
'It's lovely to see you again, Zel. Now, don't you look a little startled?' Lady Lily welcomed him into the office and steps aside to allow the Container to move in after him. The office she's in is filled with well organised shelves with many books all arranged in a alphabetical fashion.Zel noticed that almost every furniture in the room is made from some sort of a red wood and glows a golden brown when exposed to the yellow light. A light scent of green tea fills the air mixed with the aromatic smell of... lilies.
'Yes.' Zel tried to keep his eyes at her eye level, but struggles to do so. The simplest way to stay on track would be to talk business, he thought, 'I have the container, and it was verified by the box.'
'Or so I have heard.' Lady Lily shut the door and went back to sit on her chair behind the desk, 'Was the job a smooth one? I have not heard any reports of missing equipment from Vulcan 5 yet.'
'It was quite unexpected in a few ways.' Zel refrained from giving any details of the artifacts no matter what he thinks this organization knows about them, 'but it was done, and that's all that matters.
'I see.' Lady Lily nodded slightly with a mysterious smile on her face. She stood up once again and headed towards the container sat in the middle of the room. She took out a brush pen made of a vaguely familiar color of silver metal from a pocket upon her chest and spun it in between her fingers.
Her steps are slow and rhythmic like a type of dance and she bent over to look at the labels of the container.
'Seems about right.' She smiled at Zel who's seated on the chair. He is nervous, yet he doesn't know why. S
he held the brush pen in between her fingers and swiped it as if it were a sword. The body of the pen lit up with curly patterns not dissimilar to that on Rydel's glove and the sealed container was cracked open. Zel sat there confused.
He is fairly certain the container was securely sealed with multiple encryptions and layers of protection, and all Lady Lily had to do was a brush?
The sides of the container rolled open like how a paper cube is constructed out of a flat piece, and it reveals the inside.
It's empty.
'Huh.' Lady Lily was surprised.
'Huh?' Zel was also surprised.
'What is this?' Lady Lily pointed the tip of the pen at the empty space, 'where's the cargo?'
'Don't say that.' Zel felt like he wanted to scream out loud, but instead he just breathed deeply in and out quickly and grasped deep into his legs.
Something went wrong, and it went right under his radar. He need to figure out what happened, he had to, 'Let me think.'
Nothing would have happened during the journey. He is completely certain that he is the only one on the ship, and also no one on this ship would be able to do a bait and switch of the device. So that possibility is ruled out. What happened before that?
He was on Vulcan 5. He has just warped Rydel out of the pocket domain and used that opportunity to run away. During their time together, Rydel was nowhere near Zel, let alone the container sat a few meters behind him. So there is no way he could have done anything while both of them are waiting for Zel's artifact to reboot. What happened before that?
He was on top of the roof and was just about to be warped away into the pocket domain when suddenly he felt like something grabbed him. Next thing he knows, Rydel was trapped in the pocket domain as him, and his red arm was gone. What happened before that?
Wait wait wait. What did Rydel do?
Rydel somehow grabs the space around him, and also snatches away the red arm? Rydel is another artifact user. A spatial one. But Zel never thought he would be able to do something so sneaky.
Right before he was warped out of the pocket domain, he reached out and snatches the high energy stabilizer from inside the container, and kept it stored away somewhere without touching the container at all. Since Zel can't afford to open the container to check as it would trigger an alarm, there is no way he would have known.
This seems to be the most viable solution.
The one controlling space has to be Rydel.That bastard.
'Was the container unopened before you touched it?' Zel looked up from his deep thought and asked.
'Yes.' Lady Lily crosses her arms and awaits an explanation, 'So?'
'Something has happened, in a way that I can't quite understand...' Zel leaned back slightly, this might as well be the perfect time to confirm what this orginzation is really planning to do with these devices, 'and someone somehow snatches the device from within the box. Without opening it.'
'And how can one steal from a thief?'
'By being so much better, or having much better technology. Something like that.'
'Something like that?' Lady Lily raises her eye brows slightly and rubbed her finger alongside the pen. Zel was reading her closely, and he knew it.
'I am sure you would know it better than I do.' Zel crossed his arms and smiled.
Lady Lily took in what he said, and fell into a silence. She bit her lip as thoughts rushed through her head, 'This isn't something you want to get involved in. I hoped you wouldn't get involved in this.'
'And yet, here I am.' Zel shrugged his shoulders innocently, 'or else I would act surprised when you broke the most advanced security system in the galaxy with a pen.'
'It's no ordinary pen.'
'No shit.'
Lady Lily returned it to her pockets and walked towards Zel, stopping right in front of him, 'That's a costly secret Knowing less is more here.'
'Costly, but not as much as trying to gather the most advanced technology in the galaxy to try to crack it. I work with tech too, and anyone with these kinds of knowledge and experience with these things would know.'
'Are you saying this to prove something? That you didn't deliver the goods on purpose?'
'No.' Zel shook his head, 'on the contrary, whatever you are doing, I want in.'
'That's certainly a surprising development.' Lady Lily went ahead and sat on Zel's lap. She wrapped both her hands around Zel and looked at him right in the eye, 'you know, you seem to be quite a big deal for a thief. You got some personal encounters with these things?'
'If you want the high energy stabilizer, then we will need to work together.' Zel said as he also curls his arms around her slim waist, 'Also, show me what you can do with the pen, so I can make a plan to get it back.'
'Not so fast, tiger.' Lady Lily laughed off Zel's attempt at gathering more intel, 'we will offer you all the help you need, provided that you hold your end of the bargain.'
'Of course.'
'Good.' Lady Lily stoked Zel's hair gently, 'Now that the business talk is over, let's do something else.'