CHAPTER 20

OCTOBER 22ND, 9:00 A.M.

--FRANK--

“Are you sure you don’t want to sit down?”

Frank glanced down at Laurel who sat on the train seat adjacent to where he stood. For the entirety of the trip, he stood in the aisle, not holding onto the above railing.

“No,” he answered adamantly. “Public transportation is filthy.”

“Didn’t take you for a germaphobe, Frankie,” Tommy remarked.

“I grew up homeless in Oakland,” he explained. “It created a habit of cleanliness.”

The light shining through the windows disappeared as the railway entered a tunnel, concealing them from the warmth of the sun. Lights automatically turned on to relight the cabin.

“Not the worst train I’ve seen this week,” Leo commented. The high-speed locomotive hummed as it passed through the tunnel. The group had been talked out after their long trip, leaving themselves to awkward silences in between small talk. There were only a few other strangers boarded with them; decently spaced and wearing headphones, ensuring no eavesdropping.

Leo and Laurel sat next to each other to Frank’s left, shoulder to shoulder. To his right was Tommy and Boone, who weren’t as interested in each other as the former. Tommy leaned his head back against the window behind him, staring at the ceiling, contrasting Boone, who’s head hung low. Something was gnawing at him. Frank identified his internal conflict from the beginning on the ride. Each of them carried a bag with them, packed with their gear and spare clothes just in case.

“Hey,” Frank said, tapping his shoulder. Boone looked up at him with tired eyes. “You have something on your mind.”

“No,” he dismissed. “I’m fine.”

“That wasn’t a question,” Frank clarified. “You have something on your mind.” Boone grinded his teeth together, averting eye contact with him. “Do you wish to speak about it?”

Boone didn’t respond, nor change his expression, but Franks proposal wasn’t unrecognized.

“I shall leave it alone for now,” Frank said. Blips of red light flashed through the train windows as they continued through the tunnel, passing by battery powered lights spaced through the interior. They were approaching their destination, and Frank felt underprepared.

“We are close,” he said to them. “Remember to stay vigilant. Rayshe is now aware of our actions.”

“Right,” Laurel agreed. “Fake names, cash only.”

“Leo, you’re meeting your buddy from the banquet, right?” Tommy asked him. “He’ll know who you are.”

“I know,” he replied. “I don’t think he will cause any issues.”

“Just a hunch?” Tommy questioned.

“We’re strapped for options here,” Leo said.

“This is correct,” Frank added. “Locating the next piece is the priority. We cannot be so over cautious to the degree that we miss our opportunity.”

“If this guy was in Rayshe’s pocket, then he wouldn’t be running an action for the piece in the first place,” Laurel said. “He thinks we’re buying. All we have to do is play along.”

“We can’t bluff the auction,” Tommy said. “We’re a few m’s too short for a seat.”

“That’s why we have to swipe it before then,” Leo clarified.

“You suggest a heist?” Frank asked.

“You have objections?” he asked.

“None at all,” Frank answered.

“Remember, we’re going to be in the PD bubble,” Laurel said. “We don’t have the luxury of powers anymore.”

As if on cue, a red wave passed through the train as they entered the bubble.

“You have now entered the PD bubble. Enjoy your safety,” said an automated voice over the speakers.

Frank’s skin felt like it tightened, constricting on himself. The air was swept from his lungs like he was plunged into freezing cold water. His head spun, his body ached, his skin felt like it was burning as his power left him. In one second, his livelihood was stripped, leaving him weak and breathless. In the next, the sensation was over. His pain remedied, but he still felt different. Weaker. An unfamiliar feeling, and one he didn’t wish to feel for much longer.

To his right, Boone wavered, on the verge of passing out. Frank put his hand on his shoulder, holding him up as he adjusted. Laurel held up her hand, curling her fingers upwards to conjure energy, but nothing appeared.

“That’s scary,” she said.

“Our enemies will be disadvantaged as we have,” Frank assured. “Proper planning prevents poor performance: we shall out-maneuver our opponents.”

“You have such a way with words, Frank,” Laurel joked.

“Maybe Tommy will learn something,” Leo joined in.

“You don’t give our friend enough credit,” Frank said, giving Tommy a playful hit on the back of his shoulder. “He is much smarter than-“ He was cutoff by the loud crash of Tommy face planting into the floor of the train. His forehead slammed the metal, creating a dent that his head now lay in. The random passengers glanced over at the disturbance.

“Tommy?” Laurel asked, trying to shake him awake.

“Did the PD bubble shut him off?” Leo questioned, turning Tommy’s head over to the side, revealing his eyes, absent of the blue glow they normally exude. Their investigation was intruded by beams of sunlight shooting into the train. The sudden change in brightness pained their eyes. Frank peered out the windows, letting his vision adjust and watching as the city scape revealed itself. The railway, positioned along a hillside had a perfect view of the NLV.

Marble, brick, and concrete molded together into a beautiful jungle. The white buildings were trimmed with gold, sparkling in the sunlight. Massive constructions spaced the city, each structure a unique design. Dancing through the sky and the air between the buildings were bright neon, holographic projections of advertisements, making sure no one couldn’t see the marketing of mega corporations that shaped this city. Lining the streets were rows of trees, creating a canopy over the sidewalks, shading pedestrians from the harsh sun. In the middle of the city was a massive, circular courtyard with a grandiose fountain in the middle, spewing water that somehow held its shape in the air, forming the shape of flower petals before it splashed back down into the pond.

“Hmm,” Frank mumbled to himself at the view before him.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Laurel said, standing just behind him.

“You have been here before?” Frank asked.

“A few years ago, yeah. Only once, but it’s not something you forget,” she replied.

Frank looked over at Boone, who was still sitting in his seat. He turned slightly, looking over his shoulder out the window, still seeming uninterested in everything.

“That’s great and all,” Leo said, “but what are we going to do with Tommy?” As he spoke, the train slowed to a stop, the doors opening to allow the passengers to depart.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Train departs in: one… minute,” said the automated voice.

“Grab an arm,” Frank said to him. They lifted up Tommys metallic arms, hoisted them up over their shoulders. Without their enhanced strength, Tommy’s weight was bearing down on them. The two of them strained as they began taking small steps out the train doors. The robot’s feet scraped the ground as they dragged him out, leaving scratch marks on the train. Frank stopped in the doorway, looking over at Boone. He was still seated, lost in his own world and unaware of his surroundings. Laurel, who was closely following behind the three of them, noticed as well.

“Boone?” she said to him. He snapped out of it, looking at them and realizing they were leaving. Without saying anything, he rose and caught up with them, waiting patiently behind as Frank and Leo slowly dragged Tommy’s unpowered carcass out the door. Once they cleared the threshold of the loading area, they dropped him, letting the machine drop limply to his knees. The group now stood underneath a metal canopy, surrounded by pedestrians waiting for their train. The outdoor train station overlooked the NLV, with a magnificent view of the whole city, inviting travelers to explore. On either side of the small station were winding walkways that smoothly declined down the hill, leading to the streets.

“What are we supposed to do now?” Leo asked, sticking his leg out, catching Tommy’s body as it began to fall forward, letting his weight lean against him.

“Tommy had the itinerary,” Laurel commented, walking around in front of them. “We have to wake him up somehow.”

“I am confused to why Tommy was deactivated here,” Frank said. “Are there no robots in the NLV?”

“There are,” Laurel replied. “Everywhere. Did they make a specific proxy just for him?”

“Don’t doubt it,” Leo joined in. “Uncle Sam is well aware of him. He’s their runaway gift horse.”

“But why bar him from traveling here?” Frank interjected.

“The NLV is supposed to be a neutral, international paradise destination,” Laurel started. “It’s a hub for the whole world to visit and enjoy, hence the bubble, for safety. But Tommy’s power isn’t like the rest of us. He’s technology. Which makes him an anomaly in the bubble.”

“Hence the specific adjustment,” Leo concluded.

“Right,” she agreed.

“There must be a way to bypass this,” Frank said.

“There should be,” Leo said, reaching around the robot’s back, unlatching a hidden compartment. “He’s going to hate it,” he said, yanking out a power cord, “but he has a backup battery.”

“We gotta plug him in?” Laurel snickered.

“Yep.”

“Are you two going to be able to carry him the whole way?” she asked.

“Unnecessary,” Frank answered, looking off to the side. “I see something we can use.”

///////////

“You guys just buy him from the store?” a hunched over, old man asked with a smile that was missing a few teeth.

Laurel politely laughed as they continued past each other. Tommy sat in a run-down shopping cart with his arms and legs dangling off the sides. His five hundred pounds of metal weighed down the cart, putting pressure on the wheels and making it difficult to push. They pilled their bags on top of him, burying him deep into the wire metal frame. Frank took the majority of the burden, pushing the cart by its handle while Leo and Boone stood in the front, pulling it behind them as they walked. Boone seemed to not be putting much effort, as the cart was pulling more towards Leo’s side. Laurel had to easy job, walking along with them.

The afternoon sun gleamed down on them. As they made their way down the incline, the height of the NLV grew, adding to its allure. Frank separated his physical struggles from his mind, peacefully observing the marvel of the city. The natural decorations along the street edges, as well as down the medians of streets added beautiful flavor to the cacophony of manmade walls. All surfaces, natural or unnatural, had the glow of blue light on them from the hologram lights. Despite the advertisements and the unapologetic displays of greed, the neon glow was a spectacle, in a way. Somehow still shining through the sunlight, it was a collage of colors that were magnificent to observe.

“Hey, Frank,” Laurel spoke quietly. He lost his focus on the NLV, meeting her gaze as she walked beside him.

“Yes?”

“What’s up with Boone? You see something too, right?”

“I do.”

“Maybe you should talk to him about it,” she said. “I don’t know if I’m the right person for it. You guys know him better than me. Don’t tell him this, but Leo told me about his wife. You think it has to do with that? He did disappear again right after we got back from Nepal.”

“I have tried to speak with him. He’s dismissive of me,” he said.

“You think she’s okay?”

“I do not intend to be grim, but no.”

“Oh, man,” Laurel said with pain in her voice.

“I intend to discuss it with him later.”

“Good,” she said. “I don’t want to be the callous type to say, ‘We can’t have distractions during the mission’, but… you know,” she paused. “It’s true.” They reached the end of the ramp, exiting the incline and walking onto the flat concrete. Passersby cleared as they avoided the overweight shopping cart that Frank pushed.

“I also do worry for him,” she added. They two of them looked on at him, watching his lackluster efforts in directing the cart. “I wish I knew how to help.”

“You’re a good person Laurel,” he commented. She looked up at him, her brown eyes reflecting the light of the glowing holograms above them.

“Thanks, Frank,” she said softly.

“Do not worry. I will speak to him,” he assured. “When the time is right.”

“You seem like you’d make a good therapist,” she joked. Frank looked her directly in the eyes.

“I am,” he said, cracking a small smile.

“Up here,” Leo said, pointing to a bench against a building. On the wall next to the bench, was an outlet low to the ground with a cover over it. They wheeled Tommy to the bench, removing their bags and tipping the cart over and letting him roll out onto the metal bench. They propped him up, letting his back lean on the arm rest while his legs stretched out along the bench seat.

“This might take a minute,” Leo said, pulling the cord out of his back and plugging it in. Frank took the opportunity to observe his surroundings. A tree was planted adjacent to the bench, providing convenient shade. To their right, he could see the heart of the NLV. The circular courtyard with a massive water fountain in the middle. Restaurants and shops made up the perimeter of the circle, packed with tourists. Just over top of a building, he could see the roof of the crown jewel of the NLV: The Palace. The massive glass doom roof glinted in the sunlight. Its gold-plated edges exuded royalty. Part of him wanted to walk away and get it clear look at it.

After a few more seconds, the lights in Tommys eyes returned finally.

“Where the fuck am I?”

Frank scoffed at his choice of words.

“Oh, sorry Frankie. Didn’t see you there,” he apologized. He spoke, but his body remained completely still, as he only had enough power to speak.

“The bubble shut you off,” Leo told him.

“Really?” he said. “I was hoping they wouldn’t be smart enough to do that.”

“Are you going to be immobile the whole time were here?” Laurel asked.

“Well, no,” Tommy answered. “Hopefully not, that is. I can charge my backup if I’m hooked up for a while.”

“The auctions tomorrow,” she rebutted. “We don’t have time for that.”

“Shit, you’re right. Excuse my language, Frank,” he said. “My head’s still fuzzy.”

“What are we supposed to do?” she asked.

“Same shit we were going to do. Excuse my language.”

“Steal the piece?” Leo said.

“Steal the piece, some Ocean’s 11 stuff,” Tommy said. Frank took a cautious look around, given that their conversation may perk the ears of strangers.

“We do not have a plan for this heist,” Frank said.

“That’s what today was supposed to be for: the prep phase.”

“Was being dead apart of your prep phase?” Leo asked.

“Fuck you. Excuse my language.”

“Seriously, Tommy,” Laurel stressed.

“I still have a plan. You guys are going to have to do what I can’t do. Which is everything.”

“What is it that we need?” Frank requested.

“Everything that we need is right here,” Tommy said. “It shouldn’t be too hard to get either. Logistic stuff. Recon. You know.”

“I still need to meet with my contact,” Leo said.

“That’s part of the prep,” he said. “You’re not completely useless.”

“Well, lay it all out,” Leo said.

“Fuck’s wrong with this guy? Why isn’t he talking?” he said about Boone.

“Tommy…” Laurel pleaded.

“Excuse my language.”

Boone looked unaffected by his comments, still wearing his depressed expression.

“Is he good?”

“Tommy,” Laurel said, trying to deflect his attention, knowing Boone’s situation. “Leave him alone.”

“We can’t have someone dragging behind.”

“He will be fine,” Frank stated.

“Are you his dad now or something?”

“I’ll be fine,” Boone said finally.

“Oh, he talks.”

“Tommy!” Laurel snapped at him.

“Alright, alright,” Tommy started. “Look, these types of events aren’t as airtight as you would think. There’s security, but The Palace is also just a resort at the end of the day. These guys are just contracted muscle. Meaning they’ll have a security briefing with routes and coverages. A script. We need to get our hands on that. That’s our magnum opus. Leo, that’s you. You meet with your contact, and he’ll take you right into The Palace. At that point, you’ll have to slip away and get behind the scenes. You following so far?”

“How am I supposed to ‘slip away’?” Leo questioned.

“With all the people there, they won’t suspect you,” he answered. “Like I said, this is contracted security. Not Rayshe’s guys. They don’t know you. Laurel will go with you. When you break off to look for the script, she’ll keep him busy.”

“What of the rest of us?” Frank asked.

“When it comes to burglary, more people sneaking around only makes it harder. So you and Boone work on Plan B. We have only a few hours to figure this out and one shot. And we don’t have room to fuck up. Excuse my language. Meaning, if Plan A goes south, we have to go no holds barred.”

“What does that mean?” Laurel asked.

“We drop the bubble and fuck shit up.”

“Tommy,” Frank said scoldingly.

“Excuse my language. I don’t have the juice to focus and not swear at the same time.”

“You want to break the PD bubble?” Leo questioned.

“Absolute, dire, desperation Plan B,” Tommy clarified. “We can’t do it before, either, because it would set off every alarm in the book. They’d fly the piece out of there immediately. We drop the bubble if we miss our shot to steal it ‘peacefully.’ If you realize the circumstances, there shouldn’t be any complainants. Is there? Complainants?”

“No,” Boone said.

“That’s the spirit,” Tommy commented. “You and Frank are sticking a probe into the bubble synthesizer. Much easier than it sounds, because it doesn’t have to go in it, just near it. You can thank yours truly for that. In my back, I have a remote jammer. The synth is in a building right next to The Palace. All you guys have to do is get in, and hide it in a bathroom, or a plant, or something. Figure it out.”

“What about you?” Leo asked.

“Me?” Tommy said. “Well, I can’t sit here the whole time, so you guys are gonna have to hide me somewhere.”

“That will not be a problem,” Frank said, walking towards Tommy’s plug.

“Wait, wait. Where are you taking me? Don’t put me in a fucking dumpster. Just toss me in a bush or something.”

“Do not worry, friend.”

“Wait, Frank! I’m sorry for swearing, just d-“