The Pens of Niverton

[ryeguy146]

// Posting as Diana with permission from Rodent since he's busy //

The radio crackled nearby, "Diana? Diana, I need you to get your sweet ass moving. Din' bring ya on this job for your looks." But Diana was already on the move. She had seen the same pictures of the house as Clif, and realized that they'd need transportation to move these people to the Stupid Singularity for evac. Even if Mr. Thurston was too stupid to realize it. "And who am I to correct the big Underboss?" Diana quietly laughed to herself. She had her eye on a van, big enough to move a whole crew, and discreet. She had left the radio and slunk towards the vehicle with her dress swishing as if to emphasize each step.

Hunkering down next to the van, she removed a nail file and hair pick from her personal effects and smiled at the mechanical lock. "How quaint," she purred, and the lock clicked open agreeably. Hot wiring the ride wasn't much more difficult, and the engine turned over without a fuss. Diana shifted the van into reverse and backed the vehicle up towards the mansion. With the lights off, this was no mean feat, and the van's progress halted suddenly with a sickening crunch. "Shi- I'll never hear the end of this, I can hear them all now... 'women can't drive...'" She continued her frustrated mutterings and almost slammed the door before remembering stealth.

The bumper had wrapped its self around one of the columns in front of the house, but the van was otherwise unharmed. The radio in the nearby bushes in which she had left it crackled to life, "DIANA! What the hell was that?"

She stepped out to retrieve it.

"That?" she repeated sweetly, "That is our getaway. It's in position. You're welcome."

"Getawa- Fine. I still need you to clear the basement. Expect a few, just stay sharp."

"I'm always sharp," She snorted back before turning off the radio. Diana sauntered to the front door and gingerly opened it, almost expecting an alarm, but none sounded. "At least he managed that much." The door opened into a considerably expansive entryway. A stairway flanked either side and expensive looking paintings lined the hall leading to what appeared to be the kitchen. She couldn't tell because of the darkness, and wasn't overly concerned, her job was down the left stairwell.

A black silk dress was comfortable and flattering, but it was hell on stairs. She reached down to pull up the hem and descended into the darkness of the basement. It took only seconds for her eyes to become accustomed to the almost pitch black of it. She found herself in another small hallway with several doors crowding either side of it. She paused at each in turn, pressing her ear carefully against it. Only one revealed any form of noise, snoring, and after checking the rest, she returned and slowly eased it open.

Immediately, her sinuses filled with the stench of unwashed bodies. It took her several seconds in the dark to fully realize what she was looking at. The room appeared to be a storage closet, but housed three large men and two women. Slaves already, they'd never even notice the difference between their crowded closet and Malta's cardamine fields. It was hard to be surprised at finding slaves in such a house with all she had seen of Liberty's corruption. And she knew precisely how to deal with these.

"Alright. Listen up. You've been purchased and I want your worthless asses to follow me. Immediately." She brandished one of the sticks that she had brought with her and did her best to appear authoritative. Each jumped to their feet and gathered their things with a minimum of complaint. Aside from one: a short fat man. He groaned over the orders and began to voice his dissent until Diana's stick snapped loudly against his shin. Blood erupted from the gash and the man doubled over in pain.

"I didn't ask for your opinions. You'd do best to remember that and do as I say." She hauled them up in an orderly line and filed them into the back of the van before locking them in the rear of it. She reached into the blouse of her dress for the radio, but before she could report success...

A scream pierced the silence of the night.