Chapter 5
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With a grunt you stand up as the bus pulls away. Cordax immediately rushes over and helps you stand. “How did I do?”
“With helping me up?” You jab, feeling your elbow. “Fine, could’ve tried to catch me, but I’d give you a seven-point-five. You’ll have to try harder for a ten.”
“No, no, with the act.” Cordax protested, folding his arms across his chest as he tried to appear cool. “I knew you were trying to intimidate me so I played it up as best I could. Was it any good? Think I fooled him?”
You stared at Cordax for a moment. “You got me a twisted elbow and a possible concussion. Yes, tremendous job.” You dusted yourself off and looked with suspicion at the train, questioning its ability to not fall apart on its own.
“Don’t blame your inflexibility on me.” He scoffed. “Now where is everyone else? And uh… I think your present got unwrapped early.”
Winger stood, cutting the last of the ropes with a concealed knife in a very Mandalorian-esqe gauntlet, which like the other highlights on his uniform was a bizarre teal color which clashed heavily with the metallic black and rough steel. “I know I can’t run or attempt to kill you, Monopoly, but don’t turn your back on me. I’ll find a way.”
“I’m sure.” You grumbled.
The three of you step onto the train, immediately taken aback by the fumes of coal and iron. The lighting is poor, but your glowing head illuminates the cab. The windows are all partially open, both doors are closed and locked with a chain, and the cab is full of people. The first across from the door is a girl who is too busy hiding inside her hoodie and listening to her earbuds to pay much attention to you. You assume she is the only normal human being here, as an extremely refined mechanical biped creature walks up to you and threateningly places a long, elaborate blade against your chest.
“Names and identification.” It blurted out, completely devoid of any verbal emotion, its eyes and elongated head glowing a bright yellow.
“Back off, threepio.” Cordax growled, opening his switchblade knife. “Cordax and Mister Monopoly, and we were invited.”
“Forced.” You commented, gently nudging the blade away from your ribcage.
“Whatever. So get your shiny hands offa him or I’m sticking this in your ankles.” He waved it about in a manner you could only assume was intended to be menacing. “You don’t wanna hear about the last machine didn’t listen to me. Cash register. Refused to give me my chains. So I stuck a CVS receipt in the cash slot and-”
“C’mon.” You pushed past the robot and dragged Cordax by the shoulder, throwing him into a chair before sinking into one next to him. Winger remained by the door. “I take it we’re the last ones before we head off?”
“Yeah, and you sure took your sweet time.” A fellow in a black mask jabbed, green lights glowing from his eyes and any other visible hole in the mask. “Who’s he?” He motioned with his head at Winger, who was beginning to act uncomfortable with the mechanical man glaring holes into him.
“He’s along for the ride. Don’t have a choice. Can I get names?”
“Krelikan.” The masked man snapped, causing the robot to relax and step back. “Mine’s Pakari. She’s Racie. You do know why Krelikan’s coming, right?”
“I don’t know why any of you are coming.” You huffed. “I could do this job alone.”
“Cool, we’ve got mister full-of-himself along for the ride.” Pakari groaned. “A squad was already sent with double this number. They haven’t come back or sent any message in a month. If there’s any sort of severe threat we need to be able to trust you to set that holier than thou attitude-”
“What?!” You nearly sprung out of your seat. “Those numbskulls waited a full MONTH to send another group out? Are they mad?!”
“Ugh, shut UP.” Racie groaned, shifting to face the other direction. “Power’s probably just out, we’ll be fine. We’ve got a train this time.”
You can feel Cordax tapping you on the leg. Was it a message that he needed to talk? Was he thinking you were taking this way too far? Or maybe he didn’t like the idea that this might come to blows. Regardless, in spite of it looking a lot like you were buckling to Racie’s statement, you relapsed back into your seat with a sigh. “So how do we proceed?”
“Get in, do a quick check to make sure it’s safe for demolition, rescue the first group, and leave. And if the rumors are true - if Ghid really is there after all this time - we perform an arrest.”
“A citizen’s arrest.” You corrected.
“A full arrest. The lead of the first party, Agent Bird, is a riot officer Type 12 with permafuse Stanford body armor. Well, shall we, Wild?”
To answer his question, a small glowing spark flew from outside the window into the cab. It moved slowly as if scanning the present party, before turning towards Pakari. “Okay chief, everyone buckle in.” Its voice was surprisingly deep for a glowing speck. “This is a high-flying express trip with no vomit bags, and if you aren’t buckled in that’s your own fault!”
Cordax whispered to you as he buckled in. “Who’s agent Bird? Is he a, um… Bird?”
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