Three days passed since the initial meeting. I wasn't passive. I went out and finally bought myself some techwear. It was expensive, nearly 130 Rayn for just a jacket and pants, but I had so many pockets now. Seriously, it felt like even my pockets had pockets.

My jacket had one on either arm, four on my chest, and one on my back. That's seven pockets! The pants had even more. I doubt I'd ever use most of them, nor would I actually use the variety of straps and buckles, but it was still insanely nice to have. Best part? It was rainproof and tear-resistant.

And I couldn't have picked a better time. Techwear blended in with most environments in the city, and I needed the added advantage. That, and I would have more than enough pockets to stuff with loot. Better than my Jade Fang hand-me-downs.

I also took the time to get a high end backpack. It was 230 Rayn, which was a bit depressing. I liked to look at it as an investment in the future, though. Made it sting way less.

Unfortunately, I was the only one without a CAS or comm link, so I had to go out and buy an earbud. It was a 100 Rayn just by itself. I felt tears at the time of purchasing it, but I couldn't deny its usefulness in a crew setting. So yeah, my bank account was back to 364 BP. Broke once more.

About thirty minutes from zero hour, Shinobu pulled me to the side. We walked into a small room right near the ambush point. He even took out his scrambler and activated it before he spoke, which set me on edge. "Shiro, the plan changed."

"What do you mean?" My muscles tensed up instinctively. This wasn't good. Plans didn't just change thirty minutes before they were supposed to be enacted. I subtly prepared to bolt to my bike at the slightest hint of something foul.

"Nothing serious, I just need you to do something extra." He pulled out a cracked phone and handed it over to me. "I need you to drop this while you're in the truck. Without anyone else knowing."

I grabbed the offered item and looked it over. "Why?"

He hesitated, looking as though he was fighting an internal battle with himself. The silence stretched on, causing my tension to climb at a rapid rate.

"Okay, okay." Shinobu sighed. "Look, the fixer offered to not take a cut in return for 'accidentally' dropping the phone in the transport."

Then we were setting up a fall guy for this. The fixer must've been offered money to make someone fall and decided this was the perfect opportunity. Since she was already getting paid, she offered up her sixth of the cut as payment. "Then that would mean-"

"Yeah… I was originally going to take the extra sixth, but… well, you're the one doing this for me… I'll split her cut, whatever it may be, with you." He shrugged. "As long as no one ever knows, and that phone is deposited? Both of us walk with one and a half."

I felt my tenseness fade quite a bit. He almost, almost conned us. I still thought he was a pretty nice guy. Heavily biased opinion, but which one wasn't? He didn't fully turn his back on me, so I wouldn't betray his trust. And we were all crooks anyway. "Okay. I'll do it."

I could've argued for more of a cut, but at the end of the day, I was only getting a cut thanks to him. He brought me in, and he shared another half a cut so it would be best to not get greedy. Greed was the fall of many.

Shinobu smiled his bear-like grin and turned off the scrambler. "Nova. Let's head back before the others get suspicious."

— — —

It was time. The gangs were fighting, which almost entirely cleared off the streets. It was just us around under the light rain of Aythryn City. The cracked roads reflected neon, shimmering with each drop of rain.

How is it that something so broken could still look so beautiful? I realized in the past, of course, but these streets of vice and mayhem looked so very pretty once all the people cleared off. It was kinda weird.

I stood in an alley, my back against its wall. The others were already in their posts, and Anon had cut the feeds of every nearby camera. As far as this went? We were practically ghosts. At least, assuming nothing went wrong.

I forced myself to take deep, calming breaths. It didn't work. I could already feel myself starting to shake, just as I did before every major heist. I couldn't help it. Heisting was just so- so exhilarating!

My earpiece crackled to life. Kat's voice came through. "Soo… what were y'all talking about?"

Shinobu replied. "I know you're bored, but now really isn't the time."

"Aw c'mon! While we wait? You might as well tell us."

"I'm also curious, and we have a minute before they roll up," Anon said, his voice sounding cold and mechanical. A voice modulator?

There was a stretch of silence. Probably Shinobu failing to come up with a plausible excuse. I decided to bail him out. "More of a lone wolf. He was giving me some advice about working with a crew."

"Lame. I was hoping it would be something more exciting." Kat yawned loudly into the line.

"Well, you're about to get all the excitement you need. Target just turned onto our street." I could barely hear the rapid clicking of a deck. "Twenty seconds out- Fuck! There's two!"

"Shit! He didn't say anything about there being two. They both Armored Transports?" Shinobu asked.

"No. Looks like an escort truck in front, and the AT at the back. Lots of com chatter in the AO though. I can't crack in without leaving a trace." Bo said.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Okay okay." There was a brief pause. "Okay. Keep going just like we planned. You think you can get by, Shiro?"

I could practically hear the anxiety in my voice. "I-if you guys distract well enough when I need to escape, it shouldn't be an issue. I'll have to dodge potentially four sets of eyes instead of two."

"Right. Kat, don't hold back. We're going to get into a fistfight in the last ten seconds. The more violent the better."

"Damn. Okay, boss." Kat nervously chuckled. "When I said I wanted excitement, this wasn't quite what I meant."

A car rolled by my alley, sprouting a turret on top of it. On the side of it was a crescent of stars, the symbol for Yue Security. It was a beast of a car, but not nearly as big of a beast as the AT.

The Armored Transport practically took up the entire lane with its bulk. If it was built according to the blueprint, it had half-inch-thick walls that were fully bullet-resistant. Its armored windows were tinted and barred, although the passenger had his window slightly cracked. Getting in without a key? Extremely time consuming.

I stepped out of the alley into the sidewalk. My pace stayed calm and collected, like I was just a normal civie going about their day. I looked both ways, ready to cross the road-

Bang!

A crash came from the front. Anon spoke up. "Move, Shiro. Distraction set."

I ducked behind a car and flicked on Blackout. Immediately, it felt warm in my head. The cool spring weather helped manage the heat somewhat, but I wasn't sure for how long. There was only one shot for this.

I activated Stalk and darted out across the road, hoping it'd hide me from any prying eyes. I stopped just behind the AT and cracked open the emergency access panel with a screwdriver.

I pulled out the shard Anon gave to me beforehand and slid it in. I whispered, "It's in."

Shouts and curses came from the front of the two vehicle convoy. My lungs felt frozen with nerves listening to Kat and Shinobu absolutely go off on each other. The cold rain helped me keep calm somewhat, but I was practically vibrating on the spot with excitement.

"Right. Disabling security and sensors." A second passed. Two. Three. Anon replied on the fifth. "Done. And open!"

I heard a light, near silent, click from the door. I didn't open it all the way. I cracked it barely enough to slip in before I shut it just enough to look closed. I could feel my left eye heating up, growing uncomfortable from the extended use of Blackout.

"Forty seconds." Our overwatch said.

The inside of the truck was basically a giant box lined with boxes. Briefcases sat on almost every single surface, and there were even loose bags of chips tossed in haphazardly. Two cameras sat above either side of the door, but Blackout took care of those.

I locked in, my nervousness fading away. I felt fully in control of myself, every muscle practically vibrating with tension. This is it- that moment that I always looked forward to. The moment that made or broke stealth.

I slunk forward, my training from Fox's Paw kicking in to avoid the scattered goods and slide up against the wall. Stalk played an unseen part, preventing either of the guards from noticing me crawl through their peripherals.

The guards at the front didn't seem all that alert. They just casually chatted. I couldn't tell what they were saying since it was in another language, but they didn't seem panicked at all. In fact, they were both laughing without a care in the world.

I glanced around, spotting the briefcases with red tape wrapped around them. There were two on opposite sides of the van. I peered at the grated door for a moment. Should be good now?

I lunged for the briefcase and ducked back into my corner, heart pounding. Nothing from the front. I pushed the marked briefcase into my bag. The other one quickly followed it.

That's it. Anything else should just be extra. Let's see here… the access ports for the security boxes should be… right here? I lifted a panel and stuck another shard into it. I couldn't whisper to Anon, but I hoped he got the message.

While I waited, I took out the cracked phone and lightly placed it into a dead zone of the camera. I also took the time to grab as manly loose chips as possible and stuff them into my pockets.

I managed to get a ton of them before Anon spoke again. My eye was really starting to burn. The entire eye-socket throbbed dully with heat. "Open. Twenty seconds."

As carefully as possible, I cracked open the security box just enough to reach in. My hand wrapped around something, and I pulled it out. It was another briefcase, but marked with golden highlights. I didn't hesitate to plop it into my bag.

There was one more briefcase on the complete opposite side of the Armored Transport, but going for it might expose me. Best wait until I leave. The distraction should fully be in swing then. Less chance of being spotted.

Ugh- my eye was practically on fire. It took all I had in me to remain still and not rub at it fiercely-

"Fifteen." Anon announced the time.

It hurt so bad, I was shocked my head hadn't caught fire. I sat dazed on the side of the truck as the heat only amped up. My focus started to slop-

"Now Shiro! They started fighting!"

That jogged me out of my stupor. I practically leapt to the back of the transport and snatched the last briefcase. My feet caught on themselves on the way out the door. My entire head felt like it was submerged in lava. Lava… pretty lava. Is this how lava felt? Oh, so warm.

Right, the door. Can't forget the door. The big mean door. I barely remembered to close it and stumbled back to the alley. A full minute passed since the start. Blackout automatically shut itself off.

My legs gave out beneath me. I collapsed into a pool of rain water. So cool. It felt so very good against my magma face. Or was it lava? Ugh- so hot. Hot. Sun? Magma! Lava? Metamorpheous…

The world swam with a dizzying sea of colors. How'd I end up in the sea? I'm supposed to be a volcano sun thingy. My entire body felt damp. Did I drown? Am I drowning? Mermaids weren't supposed to drown.

A hand dropped onto my shoulder and pulled me out of the ocean. Shinobu's face appeared, jittering around. "Y-y-you-ou-ou O-o-okay-ay, Shiro?"

Weird. Why were there five Shinobus? Ugh- everything kept spinning. Was the world supposed to spin? That's how I stayed on it, right? Spin was important. This much spin though- I felt sick.

Laughter erupted from my throat. His face spun like a clown on a lollipop. "Scheck, cheks? Ne'er be'er. Soh ot."

Shinobu's face crinkled. It smashed together like a hammer and a donut. It's been a while since I had donuts. Mom used to like donuts. Mom… I miss Mom. Tears spilled from my eyes, drowning me in the ocean. Why was my face wet? Right-

"You don't look so hot." His voice didn't echo this time. Wait- was Shinobu always a cat? His ears were so cute! Where was the tail though?

"Jushhhhhh-" I lifted a finger to my face- who's poking me in the ear? Stop it. "Thired?

I blinkered. Left turn coming. Or, at least tried to. My right blinker worked fine, but my left froze up. Stupid eyelid! Close when I tell you- oh… it's melted? A flashback to the rock garden's lightning hit me. "Pffttt! Shtrick Shtttruck! Shinnyyy!"

I didn't feel so good. My head felt like a balloon. Dad once got me a balloon. I think it popped? Was I popping? "Mira thould 'e stho' mad if I thied."

Seriously, what would she do if I died without saying goodbye? I didn't get to say goodbye when they abandoned me to sleep for a long time. Maybe now I would? "Sthurely, 'e would thig 'e up to kill 'e herthelf."

I heard a voice speaking- wait, was that my own? Was I talking aloud? Laughter erupted from my throat again. I didn't even mean to do that! "Shtupid head, SThiro."

The next couple hours blurred, every moment fun and terrying. Honestly? Not worth mentioning. The world warped and shifted with every movement of my pounding head- or was I just walking? I felt hungover and extremely confused by everything.

At some point, my disjointed world faded away. A familiar voice called my name, lulling me into a deep slumber. Oh- did I die again?

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