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Star Traveler
Chapter: 2 - Job

Chapter: 2 - Job

Space Colony Destiny

Sector 27 Slums

…….      

“Hey Natsume, the church is giving out rations you coming?”

“No time, old man Steve called I have a job.”

“A job huh, seems like the old man is keeping you busy.”

Akira nods, “Yeah, but I don’t mind I need the credits.” Not speaking anymore Akira gets up from his porch and walks away.

Suddenly from behind him, he could hear Tamaki shouting: “HEY BECARFUL OUT THERE, THE GUARD MEAN BUSINESS NOWADAYS!”

“Yeah I noticed that to,” Akira says leaving from view his voice was loud enough for Tamaki to hear.

Tamaki with a quick nod turns walking in the opposite direction heading directly for the church.

………                            

ANNOUNCER: [Attention Residents today marks the 12 of March of the celestial calendar. In 3 minutes time, the artificial raining season will begin. All residents please prepare for the changing of seasons. Thank you for your corporation.]

It was then three minutes after the colony-wide announcement the rainy season begins. The upper-level citizens wear their raincoats and hold their umbrellas going about their day without a care in the world. But down below in the lower levels, the poorest people were running about in a hurry quickly gathering their things before the floods came.

“Hurry we need to hurry.”

“Mommy I forgot my toys”

“Don’t worry dear I’m sure the church has some.”

It was comments like these that could be heard on almost every street of the slums, families ran for their lives in order to just survive.

The lowest level of the Colony is where the poorest of the poor reside; these people are the ones that the U.E.A didn’t care about. Ever since the Technological boom Era more than 76 colonies have been built. And out of those Seventy-Six colonies, all Seventy-six have slums. 

There was once a saying from a man called William Henry Harrison, this man was once one of the president’s of country that used to be called the United States. In 1840 President Harrison delivered a speech, his most remembered line was a phrase most used throughout the late 21st century: “When the poorer gets poorer the richer gets richer.”

As such a saying can even be applied even to the 23rd century. Where even still those in power take from the lower class leaving them with nothing but scrapes.

In such an unfair society Akira wanted out. He wanted to live a good life not a life of poverty. So he strives, even if he must become a murderer and take up assassination jobs to get where he wants to be the 17-year-old youth would even make a deal with the devil.

……

Freddy’s Bar

Sector 24

As the rains fell Akira walked through the streets getting himself soaked with rain, his expression calm and steady as he came upon a sign Freddy’s Bar. Turning to his left he enters the bar to the chime of the door bell ringing.

There before his eyes stands a black man behind the bar with his arms folded turning his head from the weather report on the TV he looks to Akira where he nods taking out a glass. Raising it he says to Akira in a deep voice. “So how’s the weather.”

 “Very Funny,” Akira says grinning; as he begins taking off his soaked jacket.

The black man upon seeing this suddenly digs beneath the counter pulling out a wine bottle. “How about a drink”

Tossing his jacket on the racket Akira walking over to the bar and sits. “I’ll take it if it’s free.”

The man laughs as he begins pouring some wine into two glass cups.

“It looks like it’s going to flood this season.” He says as he stops pouring.

Akira looks to the man who was drinking his wine the man’s face might have been unchanging but in his eyes, a hint of restlessness could be seen.

Akira sighs, closing his eyes he takes a sip, speaking frankly he say aloud just enough for Freddy to hear: “It floods every season it’s just a matter of how many of are going to die this time.”

Freddy didn’t speak instead he raises the entire bottle and started to drink, at that time Akira reaches over to his left and grabs a bottle of whiskey. After pouring some into his cup he starts drinking again.

“Yo Akira-” Freddy says, suddenly calling out to him his breath smelling heavy of alcohol. “Did you hear about what happened in Sector 22?”

“Yeah, I heard that the guard went to work slaughtering everyone fucking bullshit.” As Akira spoke, all Freddy could do was shake his head in disgust.  “The Guard, the E.U.A. all of it the entire fucking system is rigged.”

While they continue on with their conversation for about thirty minutes suddenly the door bell chimes, turning their head to see who it was. There entering was a beautiful woman dressed in all black wearing sunglasses and closing her umbrella.

“It’s been awhile Lisa, did the old man ask you to come here as well.”

“No.” She replies waving her beautiful hand dismissing the comment. “I just stopped by; the rain caught me by surprise.”

“It got you as well huh; it seems that Akira’s not the only one that met with misfortune today.” Akira chuckles to that comment as he glances over at her soaked dress and her long silky black hair that was hanging over her right shoulder. As he takes a better look he sees the outline of her bra showing through her dress.

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“Seems like you won’t be having any clientele today,” Akira says holding his drink in his hand.

She turns her gaze to him her eyes flashing with a hint of playfulness suddenly walking up to him seductively placing her on his shoulder saying, “then why don’t you play with me, I’m sure you know that I won’t bite. Right, Akira.”

Akira smiles then suddenly with two big gulps he downs all the whiskey in his glass, where he then again holds his glass out signaling Freddy to pour him another.

Freddy pours Akira A shot of whiskey, while pouring himself one as well. (“I wonder how he’s going to respond this time.”) Freddy says patiently waiting for Akira’s response.

Upon receiving the refill, Akira with his left-hand holds the glass over his shoulder saying. “What kind of fool would I be to get in bed with a snake, here come and drink, there’s nothing like drinking a glass of whiskey on a rainy day.”

 Lisa looks at the glass of whiskey in Akira’s hand where on her face a slight smile appears.

Taking the glass she could feel that he was annoyed by her standing at his back. So she moved to the seat to next to him.

“Thank you.”

“No Problem.”

Freddy just stood there watching the two with their surprisingly quick responses he thought they were going to get into an argument like always. Sighing Freddy pulls up his seat where he begins talking to the both of them.

Time flies as they all sit in the bar chatting.

With Three hours now gone by and Akira was now lying on his back on a sofa in another room. All the while Lisa who was a happy drunk could be heard laughing from the bar it would seem that Lisa and Freddy were joking about something that happened on her last assignment. (“Loud so loud why are they so loud…Ugh...? I shouldn’t have drunk so much.”)

Covering his head with a pillow Akira steadies his breathing. Since his head was hurting he believed meditation would calm his headache.

(“Good, good steady Akira.”) He said reminding himself to remain calm.

It was annoying to him, Akira had been to the surface before on a job and what he learned was that the people on the surface don’t get sick, they don’t even get headaches. They even lived longer. The highest age known him that someone had lived was 600 years. But it wasn’t so for him are those people that live in the slums. Their lifespan was that of the standard 87 and if they were lucky they might even be able to get to 102.

 The room was silent all that could be heard was the air conditioner and Akira’s heart beating in his ears. Everything else especially Lisa’s loud voice he blocked out.

-Chime-

Suddenly out in front, the door opens and in comes an elder man wearing tuxedo holding a Cain. Standing just outside the door were two men in black raincoats holding in their arms A-45 plasma rifles.

Freddy and Lisa both went quiet when that man entered into the bar. This elder was Steven Richards the boss of the slums on Colony 421-76; A ruthless dictator where even kids had to pay him whenever he went to collect for a shakedown.

“Where’s Natsume the Japanese kid, I have a job for him.” He didn’t call Akira by his by his first name in truth because he believed it to be beneath him to even

He didn’t call Akira by his by his first name in truth it was because he believed it to be beneath him to even say Akira’s or any other person’s name for that matter.

Lisa Hurries from her seat walking to the side room she opens the door saying in a low mannered voice: “Akira, the boss is here, hurry and get up.”

 He yawns rising from the sofa he stretches. Looking at Lisa he could see the anxiety in her face, (“So the old man finally is here.”)

Getting up he walks past her and pats her on the shoulder. After he leaves the Room Lisa stands there where she raises her hand touching where Akira’s hand had touched.

(It’s warm.) She says her emotions complicated.

……

“Yo old man you’re late,” Akira says stretching out his arms. Where he yawns once more.

 Steve sneers, “Boy that mouth of yours is going to get you killed one day.”

“I’m not that that easy to kill you should know this by now old man.”

Akira wasn’t one to put on airs if he didn’t like someone he would make it clear that he didn’t like it that person, his words were ones to never be sugar coated.

“Enough, enough… Steve says not wanted to push even further. “I’m not here to get into an argument with you today.  listen boy I have a job for you.”

“I’m listening.”

“Good… here’s your mission. Steve takes out a photo and a map of the area.

“Defense minister Edward James will be arriving for a meeting with the Executives of Ford Motors. You will only be given a window of 20 seconds. to the time he exits the car to the time he enters the building that’s your window.”

(“20 seconds. That’s not much time, but…yeah, it can be done.”) Seeing that Akira was in deep thought Steve frowns. “Is there a problem”

“No. it not a problem. I’m off” Akira raises his head looking Steve directly into his eyes.

“Good then you should get going there’s 40 minutes before he arrives.”

Akira Walks past Steve where he gets his raincoat and exits the pub putting the hood over his head he steps out into the rain one of the men standing outside holds out a black long case.

(My pulse rifle) Akira takes the bag into his arms where he tosses it over his shoulder and walks off into the rainy night.

…….

Sector 1

Upper Level

On the North East side of the Insurance Company on the 45 floor, Akira was waiting patiently for the arrival of his target. His pulse sniper rifle positioned directly at the ford building’s entrance. The man’s photo sitting on the desk behind him.

Controlling his breathing he waits patiently, the wind and the rain not a problem for him, he had done many assassination jobs before and this one wouldn’t be any different.

Soon after forty minutes go by and escort of flying cars arrive Akira gets into position removing the safety from the rifle he focuses.

As they all make their way towards the entrance Akira’s every muscle in his body relaxes, his breathing goes down to that of which it would seem that he was holding his breath.

Slowly he straightens out his index finger waiting that right moment to take the right shot.

There now was no sound there was just an eerie silence, his eyes focused directly on what was before him, not even the heavy rain could disrupt his concentration. Suddenly, As the cars come to a complete stop the bodyguards in their suits get out of their cars. All of them positioned around one vehicle. Akira now places his index finger on the trigger.

And as soon as he does a female bodyguard goes to open the back seat car door where middle-aged Hispanic Man exits out of the vehicle His gray suit matching what the client told old man Steve. As he confirms his target he pulls the trigger.

“BANG”

The proud looking Hispanic man takes a deep breath smelling the night time rain when suddenly his body jerks for the three second that he had he looks at the woman standing at his side with blood and brains on her face. Her body trembling from fright.

He didn’t even know he had the upper right side of his skull blown out. soon after those three seconds pass he falls to the ground dying some eight seconds later.

Akira rises from his knee disassembles his rifle and puts it back into his bag. With no fucks given, he walks from the office room over to a lift leaving the building.

……

Elsewhere off on another high-rise building A Japanese man a Black man and a white man were all watching as the assassination unfolded the Japanese man takes his cigar out of his mouth turning to his counterparts he says. “So what do you say, the kids got skill right.”

The black man scratches his nose, “Yea, the kids got skill. So I guess he’s the one that president will be giving the job too.”

“Seems like it.” The white man with his umbrella out nods with a smile on his face he says, “Contact Steve him tell him we’ll use the boy.”

“You know stealing from The U.E.A will mean certain death if caught, is the president sure about this.”

Glancing at his Japanese counterpart the black man shrugs his shoulders. “The president knows what he’s doing; it isn’t much to cover our tracks if the kids caught.”

The three then turn looking back at the chaotic scene. “If he fails all we have to do is kill the brat and his boss, no one will look into the deaths of those from the slums.”

…….

One hour later Akira returns to the Bar only to see Steve waiting for him. “The job is done I’ll be expecting my credits tomorrow, see ya.”

Finished speaking Akira turns to leave Suddenly Steve shouts “I got another job for you and it’s a big one.”

“How much.” He asks suddenly stopping in his tracks.

“What?”

“I said How much will this big job be paying.” 

Steve smiles. “One Billion Credits”

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