Jackie, conflicted, went back to her mansion. Her mansion is an opulent residence that exudes wealth and sophistication. The exterior boasts grand architecture with towering columns and intricately designed facades. The sprawling grounds are adorned with well manicured gardens and fountains, creating an air of elegance.
Inside, the mansion features lavish decor, including ornate chandeliers, intricate moldings, and luxurious furnishings. Expansive rooms are filled with fine art, antique furniture, and decadent details. In the kitchen, she found her niece, Constance.
She has blossomed into a young adult woman, carrying an air of mystery and independence. Her vibrant spirit is encapsulated by her striking features expressive eyes that hold a mix of determination and curiosity, framed by a cascade of dark, untamed locks that fall gracefully around her face.
She is wearing, fitted jeans. A loose fitting, neutral colored blouse for a relaxed and casual look. Sneakers suitable for urban exploration. She smiled at Jackie, “Hey, aunt, welcome home.”
“Constance, we need to talk.”
Her smile turned grim, whenever her aunt spoke like that, with that tone, something bad was about to come out of her mouth. “Yes?”
“I know you are a thief by the name Innana.”
Constance gulped, “How did you find out?”
“I have known for many years, my dear.”
Constance started scratching her nose and took on an awkward position, “Well, my name is Innana, I am one of the best thieves there is. Thomas knows, he does help me on some heists, I love him a lot.”
Jackie sighed, “I know that too, I need your skills.”
Constance chuckled awkwardly, this was strange, she thought she was about to get berated. “What, why do you need my skills?”
Jackie fiddled with her fingers, “Since I know your secret, it might be best if you know my secret first, I am one of the four Voodoopunk leaders.”
Constance started to laugh, “That is a good joke, Jackie, a very good joke. I heard the Voodoopunk leaders have fought on the frontline many times, and killed countless people with strange voodoo blades.”
Jackie, knowing she needed to convince her, started to mumble a ritual, voodoo powers gathered in her right hand and a voodoo blade made of mystic energy appeared. “I have killed, many people. I need your help, your thieving skills.”
Constance stared at the voodoo blade, “No, no, no, my dad disappeared and died in the war, he is gone too. I cannot lose you too, don’t fight anymore, stay here with me, please, don’t ask me to get involved.”
Jackie shed a tear, “I have no other choice, the military has a secret weapon, and our weapon is stored safely. We can’t get it without attracting his attention.”
Constance leaned on the counter and sighed a few times, “Just, kill the dude.”
Jackie looked away, “Byron, tried.”
Constance looked up, she knew that name, “Byron? The one who is married to Charlotte? The Voodoopunk leader that survived the riots, I saw him talking to you in the beginning when I was just a teenager. It is said he killed an army of fifty soldiers on his own.”
Jackie chuckled, remembering how wounded Byron crashed into the meeting area, “He did, and he pulled off many more insane feats. Yet, he stands no chance against this new weapon, my good friend almost died doing that. We need your help, to steal our weapon. You are going to become a rebel and join our fight.”
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Constance shook her head, “No, I am not, I am a thief to avoid conflict and danger, I try to help the poor people, the people affected by this war.”
Jackie slammed her voodoo blade on the counter, “Goddammit Constance, listen to me for once, if you do this heist, then the civil war will end!”
Constance stared into her aunts eyes, she could see she was not lying. After a deep sigh, she groaned, “Is it true, you executed soldiers?”
Jackie looked away, “Those were not my finest moments, but you have to understand, the people I executed, they captured rebels and committed horrible science things. We don’t even know what, except that tried to create a super soldier. None survived, I captured the ones who came up with the idea and killed them in front of the military. Is that you want to hear? That the war turned me into a killer?”
Constance shed a tear, “No, this war is, horrible. New Albion is being torn apart. What do you need me to steal?”
Jackie let out a grim smile, “I need you to steal the MCG, it will be showcased in a soirée tonight. You can steal the entrance pass from Charlotte, she will be hanging around the building.” She slid a paper over the counter, “This is where Mark will be holding his soirée.”
Constance grunted, “I am going to ask Thomas to help me, this is a big heist.”
He walked into the room, “Hey, I am sorry,” he looked at the voodoo blade, “Damn, I should not have made you angry. So, a heist?”
Jackie moaned, “Damn, Byron, you better know what you are doing.”
Constance shook her head, “I cannot believe this, why are you siding with the man who killed my mother?”
Jackie looked at her shocked and shouted in anger, “What are you talking about? The only one who killed your mom was the fucking military, they fucking dropped those goddamn bombs on us, and Byron was the one who decided to fucking save almost everyone.”
Constance backed off, “Woah, sorry, I did not mean to piss you off. It is just, daddy whispered to me before he left, he thought I was asleep, he said he was going to get Byron for killing my mother.”
Jackie slammed the counter again, and it cracked, “Goddammit, those are lies, if Byron had not appeared then and there, your dad, your mother, they would have been shot point-blank by the military. Byron is fighting for a free New Albion, he lost his daughter and he still helped the man who killed her. Does that sound like a bad a person to you?”
Thomas let out a deep sigh, “Perhaps, I should leave?”
Constance grabbed his arm, “No, we are going to help the Voodoopunks to win this war. We are going on a heist, you will help me steal the MCG.”
Jackie let out a deep sigh, “I am sorry, I did not mean to get this angry.” She used voodoo to make the crack vanish. “It is just, Dorothy was taken by the military, your father, your mom. I also lost many other good friends, and loved ones.”
Constance nodded, “This plan, is going to take place tomorrow?”
Thomas smiled, “That sounds good, I’ll make some preparations, I will look up information on the building, exits and all that.”
Constance smiled at him, “Thank you for that, if we can, we will steal some other loot to share with the poor.”
Jackie smiled at Thomas, “Thank you for helping her, just remember, if you guys pull this off, then we can defeat the super soldier and win this war. We will take back district one. I don’t want to be the last ten years of fighting I did, to be for nothing.”
He waved and left the room with haste. Constance looked at her aunt, “So, Byron is a good friend of yours?”
“Yeah, he is a smart and intelligent man, he continually tries to do the best for everyone he cares about. He has reached great heights with his voodoo power, no one is as strong as he is. You should see his scars from the last ten years. You also have to realize he survived the riots.”
Constance sighed, “in The riots, people tried to kill the Voodoopunks, since they wanted a doll to be mayor. Byron knew, didn’t he?”
“What did he know?”
“That the military was waiting for a reason to take over New Albion?”
“Yes, he told me, that Edgar was holding the military back with his wealth and power. Jasper could have given us all freedom, then people went nuts, they started to burn everything. Byron and Charlotte saved my life.” Jackie shook her head, “I’d rather not talk more about this, it is too painful. Please, Constance, I want this war to be over.”
Constance took her hand, “I will do my best to get this strange device for you, what will it even do?”
“We are going to take the broadcast tower on Crier’s boulevard, then we will broadcast our enchanting ritual to all the soldiers. It is not just this theft, I need your help for.”
Constance sighed, “Do I need to pick a gun or a sword?”
Jackie stared at her for minutes, “Do you know how to use those?”
“Yes, aunt, I know how to do that, but I never took a life.”
Jackie shed a tear, “Yes, we need your help to further our plan, I will let you know after the heist what is next.”
Thomas had eavesdropped and heard everything, he needed to warn the military, he had just gotten the best information, the location of the Voodoopunk’s secret weapon.