Ray was in his small lab when the next message arrived from his employees. He quickly finished what he was doing and went to his ship. Sitting in the cockpit he listened the message.
Quote:Your first assignment is to receive a cardamine drop on Planet Los Angeles.
There will be orbital drops on five of the continents.
When the planetary alarm goes off, you will know we have done the drop.
Our fighters will distract the gunners on the Yukon while the transport makes the drop.
The cardamine is contained within stealth-technology shielded drop containers.
The codes to locating these containers is contained at the end of this transmission.
Contained in Warehouse A, Block C, Compartment #1982 on the Northern-most continent are the contact codes to our dealers for distribution.
Retrieve all of the cardamine and bring it to the dealers.
Remember what we said about skimming off the top.
You will be given your own cardamine for personal use once the job is complete.
Eh... Planet Los Angeles... Maybe I will even have some time to have a sunbath. Only I hate having sunbath... And I hate the warm places...
He started packing up the necessary things, swearing that he was chosen to go to one of the places he hated the most. He quickly checked a database, which said it is possible to have 45°C on the planet.
After having packed on his defender, he went back to the lab, just to check the process. It will take no more than eight days to be completed. He hoped to be back by that, because he didn't want to fritter away that many cardamine. Also he went to the storage part of the lab, and grabbed the necessary dose for his travel. He sealed the door, then he slid back the pieces of strip floor to hide the tunnel leading to the lab.
He get in his ship, and opened the big cargo door which led to the old factory building, which he converted to his home and garage in one. Starting up the engines he flew out into the night of Planet Manhattan.
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
There was no problem by getting through the security at planet Los Angeles, although Ray thought it wouldn't be wise to fly directly to the containers with a huge ship, so he decided to take other transports too.
The most insecure crate was the one, which landed on top of a skyscraper in the capital city.
It's only a hotel. It shouldn't be too risky. -thought Ray.
The hotel had a proper port, so he landed the guardian there. He rented the parking slot for a week, just to be sure. Grabbing the two huge suitcases he started walking towards the hotel.
Entering the big crystal doors he encountered himself at the huge hall of the hotel right in front of him with the reception desk. The man behind the desk looked at him weirdly. Ray didn't even reached the desk, when the man started speaking to him.
-If you want a place to sleep I suggest searching for a bridge.
Ray knew that he didn't look like a wealthy tourist and maybe the signs of a cardamine addict showed just the opposite, but he didn't expected such a treatment at one of the best hotels of the planet. He dropped his creditcard on the desk.
[color=#33CC00] -I want a double room near the top of the building. Name is Fredrick Hanson. And if anyone is looking for me let her in.
The receptionist checked the card, it was of a Fredrick Hanson. While he was searching for a free room, he quickly checked the identity of the person in the database. He found out that the man standing in front of him is he vice director of a trading company.
-Welcome to our hotel, mister Fredrick and I'm terribly sorry for the misunderstanding.
Ray nodded and picked up his card, as well the door card and went to the nearest lift. His room was on the 86th floor. 20 floors below the cargo pod. He quickly opened one of the suitcases and throwing away the clothes he opened the secret part. He grabbed the gcx01 handgun and put it under his vest.
He put the two suitcases under the bed, and left the room. He carefully positioned the door to a point where it couldn't be seen it's open, but the electronics didn't yet locked it. He put the "do not disturb" card on the door handle and went towards the staircase.
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
After a long trip when he finally arrived at the top of the building, he noticed a security camera looking towards the roof exit.
It may prove a problem. Let's see if...
He quickly checked the silencer on his weapon, aimed and shot. A second later the camera was flinging on a few wires. Ray knew that he don't have too much time, till someone comes to check out the device.
He kicked the door open and ran out. The roof wasn't too big, but it was completely empty. Taking out a PDA he entered the codes for the deactivation of the first crate.
Suddenly the cloaking device went off and a small metallic box appeared. It wasn't too big it could be easily picked up by hands, but it weighted at least 30 kilograms.
I hope the most of the weight is the cardamine, and not the fraking engine...
Ray just have grabbed the crate, when the door opened, stepping out a repairman in orange suit and a security person.
-This is a restricted area, you shouldn't be here! And what's that in your... -the repairman couldn't finish his sentence as a bullet went through his forehead.
Ray was already aiming at the other man, but his reflexes were fast enough to avoid the first shot by jumping back to the corridor. Ray ran towards the door, gun aiming at the door, but the security had his own weapon too. He simply held out the gun from the cover and shot two bullets unaimed. One bullet went right into the floor about two meters far from the door, the other went straight up to the skies. When the man tried to pull back his arm Ray quickly grabbed it and wring out the weapon. The security man cried out and tried to free his hand, but Ray held it steadily. Stepping in the door he faced the man. Fright of death could be seen on his face.
[color=#993399]-Please, let me go. I didn't see anyth...
-Unfortunately you did. -and Ray fired two bullets up through his chin. Both bullets ended up in the ceiling. The man collapsed with a death-rattle and Ray run back grabbing the crate. Running down on the staircase wasn't that time consuming as going up. Fortunately he encountered nobody on the corridors of the hotel.
Entering the room he quickly shut the door and opened the crate. He took out all the cardamine, and put it in the suitcase with the weapon. The crate landed in one of the big wardrobes with the cloaking device active.
With the first part of the job done, Ray sat on the bed with his PDA checking the position of the next crate.
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
After an hour or so Ray received a message through the internal comm system of the hotel. Someone asked for him at the reception.
First he thought of bringing his weapon, but he quickly scrapped the idea.
He went to the lift and pushed the button of the first floor. When the doors of the lift opened Ray saw at least a dozen policeman.
They don't have any proof and I was in my room all the time.
Reaching the reception desk he yawned a big and asked the man standing behind the desk.
-What is that so important thing that couldn't wait? I was sleeping, trying to unbend myself after a long travel.
[color=#CC0000] -Sorry to disturb you, mister... Fredrick Hanson, right? -turned one of the police towards him.
-Exactly, how can I help you?
-There was a double murder on the roof. May I ask where you were exactly two hours ago?
-Yes, I was in my room, sleeping as I have already mentioned.
-Can you check this? -the question was meant to the receptionist.
-Of course sir, just a second... His room was opened just after I gave him the card, at 11:40 am. And the second time was 5 minutes ago. He was in his room during the accident, I can assure that. The computer registers every time when the door opens.
-Wait a second. Someone has been murdered here? -asked Ray, trying with his best to simulate some surprise.
-Exactly, mister. Do you know something about it?
-No, but don't you have the whole place monitored with cameras?
-We had. The camera which monitored the accident's place has been deactivated.
-Anyway, I don't think it's my problem, so if you don't have anything to ask I would go back to my room.
-Sure, but it's possible, that we have to search every room, as we're sure that the murderer didn't left the hotel.
-I can understand that. I don't have anything to hide.
Ray went back to the lift a bit relieved. He hoped that they won't search his room, but he had to do something as precaution.
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
Entering the room, the first thing Ray did was to open the crate, and put the cardamine and his handgun into it. With the codes he received from his employees in theory he could restart the engines. He hoped that there was enough fuel. He opened the windowed and lifted the heavy crate to the sill. After activating the cloaking device and the engines he pushed the crate out of the window. Fortunately he got a room, which looked at the park, so there wasn't anyone there in this late hour.
The crates automatics tried to compensate the sudden gravitational change as it started to drop down. Ray hoped that it has arrived safely to the ground. He waited a few minutes, than went down to the hall of the hotel, where the police were still asking some of the residents.
As he went toward the exit, a policeman stopped him.
-I am sorry sir, but I have to search you for any kind of evidence.
[color=#33CC00] -I'm just going for a little walk. I can't sleep with this ado going on here.
Ray walked slowly to the park, and started searching for the crate. He didn't want to deactivate the cloaking device, but as there was nobody around he did that. It was a few meters away from the spot where he expected it to land. After getting out the stuff from it he grabbed the crate and slowly put it in the river, which went beneath the hotel. As he didn't closed it completely the water quickly drowned it.
The next stop was his ship. He put the cardamine and the handgun in the secret container behind the cockpit. He will be in a completely different system by the time when they might find the crate at the bottom of the river.
He went back to his room, waiting for his contact, who may help him with his job.
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
"... So I said," Lana said and wiggled her finger in front of a patron, "if you can do this I'll only punch you in the balls and let you live..."
"... But the poor guy couldn't, so I knocked him out and dumped him into a river," she finished telling her tale to the patron and took a sip from her shot glass.
The patron laughed uncontrollably, he was most likely a resident around this seedy area. The numerous scars and tattoos implied the man was not too far from a serial killer.
The tavern was filled with shouting, laughter and occasionally random yelps and screams. Being one of the only two women here, apart from the barmaid, Lana naturally kept her hand close to her hidden sidearm in case anyone wants to get lucky. But so far she had not seen the need for violence, as her cruel nature coupled with her smooth tongue was enough to attract attention of any man but keep them limp at the same time.
"Oh, look at the time," Lana looked at her holo-com and said, "I gotta get going and get going and get paid. Catch ya next time stud."
She got up and flicked her short, slick black hair. Then she put her hood on and squeezed through the crowd out to one of the run down districts of Planet L.A. The night was cold and moist with some mist. Lana was supposed to be the contact of an criminal courier and contact him to continue his job earlier this afternoon, but she was delayed by her visit to the local bar where she thoroughly enjoyed the company of fellow criminals.
'Pfft, it can't be that important,' Lana thought to herself as she patched an anonymous and com-link encrypted with a a generic key to the mysterious courier.
"Yeah, this is uh..." Lana spoke and searched her intoxicated mind for her codename in this operation.
"You must be Bonnie," a voice came through from the other end.
"Ah, right," Lana smacked herself on the head and said the secret phrase, "are the skies orange tonight?"
-Yes, it'll be raining in a few hours. -answered Ray, although the sky was long ago black, without any stars because of the city's lights. [color=#33CC00]-I was waiting for you. I expected you to be a little faster, but never mind. Let's meet at the dock near the that bar... What was the name... Oh yes, near the Black Myst bar in two hours. I hope we can rent a boat there.
He turned off the comm system and left the hotel via the back door. Fortunately the police has already left the place. He put up a bulletproof vest from his ship, and grabbed his beloved FN2000 submachine gun. He knew that although he worked a lot with Bonnie, he couldn't trust her a hundred percent. But actually it wasn't her, whom he was afraid now. The next crate landed on a restricted area. The police closed it, because of the increased pirate activity in the zone, so going in with a spaceship would be a little conspicouos.
The meeting point was about three kilometers from the hotel, so Ray went on foot. The capital of planet Los Angeles was a dangerous place in these late hours, but he haven't met anyone on the road.
He arrived there early. Bonnie wasn't there yet, so he searched for a shadowy corner and waited for her.
Finally she arrived, stepping out of the shadow Ray greeted her.
-We haven't seen each other for months. I'm happy that you accepted my offer, you know that I like working with you. So are you in some action?
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
"Yeah, whatever," Lana said to tough looking man, "you know I never had a thing for pleasantries, Ray. Let's just get the job done and get paid."
Lana took off her hood and opened up her long coat to reveal a tight bodysuit made of composite lycra with a few strips of strange metallic material lined with dotted lights, below which she wore utility belt packed full with gadgets. She caught Ray staring and instantly knew where his attention was, as he must be accustomed to her curvy yet athletic build throughout their previous operations.
"They call it electro-repulsive armour," Lana pointed at the glowing strips and introduced to Ray, "you must be still wearing those flimsy and heavy vests eh? I can get you a deal for one of these babies once we're done."
From her coat pocket, she took out a small chip and gave it to Ray - who seemed to know its contents - but she told him anyway.
"Identification data. There's a selection of real to non-existent people from all corners of the Sirius to choose from. If your holo-com is configured to do so, you can even use the algorithm steal real time data on the go."
Lastly, she a small pistol from the coat and holstered it around her ankle. Then walked to the nearby waste disposal container and tapped some controls. A hidden compartment slid open and revealed parts for assembling a large rifle type weapon. As a member of the largest crime syndicate on Planet Los Angeles, Lana has unrivaled privileges in the unlawful areas as well as unprecedented access to all of the organisation's technology and weapons scattered around the planet. Lana swiftly assembled the weapon, which appeared to be a compact sniper rifle. She then checked and calibrated its settings and energy cartridges thoroughly before folding it to carry on her back.
"I assume you have the hardware all sorted out, as always, then?" Lana asked Ray, without waiting for a reply she added, "then let's go, I know L.A. capital better than a man knows his endurance."
-You haven't changed at all. Okay, so the situation is the following. I need to secure four crates. You don't have to know what's inside, not your business, as always. -he smiled at the girl. -Now we have to "borrow" a fast ship, and get into the restricted area. I wouldn't suggest flying in, as the police keeps watching the radars. This is the place we have to go. -He showed the location on his holo-com.
-You know that's a very, very dangerous place. - Ray nodded at her, and she continued. -I like dangerous places.
-I expected that attitude from you. So which ship do you like? -He pointed behind him towards the dock. It must be a private and very expensive boat club, as it was full with the latest models of every kind of ships. - What do you think of that speed boat over there? The yellow one. It goes well with your eyes. Or the black one? That goes well with your soul. -he laughed.
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
Lana looked at the array of expensive boats and said, "anything that goes fast will do, it's not like we're gonna keep it when we're done."
Without waiting for Ray, she found a sleek looking speedster and hopped in. But instead getting onto the console and hacking its security systems and controls, she headed towards the engine compartment. Lana took a small device from her belt, peeled off a sheet from its bottom and stuck it onto the primary fuel tank. She then repeated with several other devices in various places containing volatile fluids. When she was all done, she tapped her holo-com a few times and the devices all beeped and began showing small blinking lights.
When Lana returned to the front, she found Ray had already hacked the boat's console and was preparing it for the journey.
"Not bad," Lana said to the man, "I see your hacking skills have improved."
Ray responded by throttling the racing boat, blasting forward and leaving its wake behind in the silent boat club jetty.
The boat continued towards the small island on which the package landed. It was mainly a minor research facility for civilian energy technology. However, the corporation which owns the island and facility had specifically employed additional private military and police support to prevent its research secrets from being stolen.
The two approached the island in their boat, Ray switched it to low cruise mode to cut out most of the noise. Between the waves, the boat half floated towards the back of the island where Ray and Lana thought would be a secure landing. When they closed the gap, the two got off onto the beach and checked their equipment.
Lana said to Ray,"I've got the plans to this facility and I've been here before, but you've got the tracking device. So just point out the general direction it's in and I'll get you in."
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