It was nearly 10:00 PM; the sky was dark and cloudy as I took my position behind a dumpster near the bridge that connected the Star Fox board to the lone isle where NSider Industries was located. While it was a good idea to position the massive industrial zone of NSider away from the main community to avoid pollution, it was rather inconvenient for criminals, rogues, assassins, and – for that matter – anyone who didn’t have a vehicle. There were tall, rocky cliffs around the perimeter of the island, so the bridge was the only viable option in my situation since I’ve never been one for swimming. It was a long distance between the two landmasses and sidewalks or any sort of walking lane was noticeably absent, but the one-minute time limit I had to race from one side to the other didn’t pose the slightest problem. With the speed of an assassin such as myself, it was definitely manageable, albeit somewhat tricky.
I reached into the pocket of my robes and pulled out the mysterious red cube. I gently pressed a blinking green light on the side of it and it opened rather dramatically to reveal a small blue pill with a white exclamation mark on the center of it. It didn’t look particularly appetizing, but I had no choice but to ingest it. After some slight hesitation, I reluctantly swallowed the oval shaped pill with no difficulty and noticed instantly that I couldn’t see my post-cranial self. I could feel my arms moving but they had turned invisible. My robes, tools, and even my weapons had also become see-through. Following this brief instant of shock at this technological marvel, I readied myself and started to run across the bridge. It was then that I realized that this wouldn’t be much of a challenge for me to make it across in sixty seconds. After about ten seconds, I was already about a third of the way there. There was no sidewalk, so I was forced to run down the center of the enormous suspension bridge, weaving in and out of cars when necessary. However, this was not very difficult, as traffic was mostly going back towards the mainland of NSider and not out towards the lone island at this time of night.
I dove into a bush on the island right next to the end of the bridge, one of the lone signs of vegetation on this desolate industrial land, and decided it would be a good time to scope out the landscape and pinpoint the most probable meeting place for these two rogues. It would be unwise to rush into a situation without familiarizing oneself with the surroundings, as my dad always told me. Even though the gargantuan factory closed at 9:30 PM, a half-hour before I arrived, there were always stragglers that took a while to leave. Additionally, there were still some guards present on the graveyard shift that had immediate access to NSider’s police force with the push of a button or a simple phone call. I wanted to make sure only a few people were around so I could explore freely without the risk of annoying encounters with employees. After all, NSider Industries is an enormous factory that is the primary site of industrial activity in NSider. Being situated on an island, it helps keep pollution away from the mainland and isolates the rusty buildings from some of the more glamorous structures of the forum. There are three bridges that connect this barren island to the mainland: one that can be accessed from the Star Fox board (the one that I crossed), one that conjoins the island with the NSider Courthouse and another that connects it to Port NSider, which is in close proximity to the Registration Building.
As with all things in this new technological age, NSider Industries is equipped with the latest machinery, resulting in highly efficient and effective operation. It is also highly secure, equipped with a state-of-the-art security system that is almost impossible to penetrate. However, as new factories were being built, the obsolete factories and warehouses remained on the outskirts of the industrial colossus and now serve as eyesores to the general population. As one might expect, they also currently serve as hotspots for thieves; I, myself, have made a few shady deals in the confines of these warehouses. One could say that security is virtually nonexistent on those parts of the island, though it has been a few months since my last visit. To be safe, I decided it would be best to scope out the area in case there were any lone guards roaming the premises.
I snuck past the skyscraper that serves as the main building for NSider Industries and made my way towards some of the antiqued warehouses, making sure to stay out of the range of the security cameras perched on every angle and crevice of the main edifice. Stepping into the outskirts of this island gave the illusion of being in a war zone. Buildings were dilapidated, all forms of vegetation were dried up, and graffiti covered any structures still standing. It was difficult to step anywhere without hearing the crunch of broken glass or feeling dry sand beneath the soles of one’s feet. There was a chilling wind in the air that caused one rusted iron door to continuously open and slam shut and spider webs glimmered and glistened in the moonlight. It was a shame that this once aesthetically pleasing island was transformed into this industrial wasteland, but these sights and others were common to me. The alleyways of NSider aren’t the most visually appealing places to be, either, so the thought didn’t bother me.
I made my way from building to building, trying to make an educated guess on where the criminals would rendezvous. The once bright moon started to cover up with clouds and I could begin to feel the pitter-patter of raindrops on my long black robes. I finally stepped into one last building to escape the rain before I realized the search was futile. There were too many ideal spots for thieves to meet up and it would be impossible for me to simply wait at one spot for my targets. I decided to constantly circulate around these industrial ruins, hoping that I would see one of the rogues or, at least, a sign of where they might meet up. Before I left, though, I caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye. Outside one of the murky windows, a mysterious figure was moving slowly and seemed to be constantly checking if anyone was outside. I ran over to the window, peered outside and, sure enough, there was a user cautiously walking away from me towards a small shed-like structure. I heard that pesky iron door slam shut again and the user’s pace quickened. Once the anonymous user entered the small shed, I stealthily followed, figuring that it was one of the users I was looking for.
When I arrived at the building, it seemed as if the only entrance was the way the user went through. Not wanting to risk an encounter with an adversary of great skill, it would be foolish of me to simply walk through the front door. However, after scanning the structure for another way in, I noticed a hole in the ceiling of the shed and a stack of boxes right next to the right wall that I could easily climb up. “Finally, a stroke of luck.” I thought as I climbed the boxes and quietly fell through the hole. It was only a slight drop until I landed quietly on top of a stack of steel crates. I leapt down to the ground, landing inaudibly, and looked around, trying to find this mysterious user. This building was much bigger on the inside than it seemed, perhaps due to the angle at which I initially viewed it. I maneuvered my way around the room slowly and carefully, as I didn’t know where the user would be hidden. Luckily, it was only a matter of seconds before I located the user standing in a corner of the shed, leaning against the wall. It was then I realized why this was the ideal and smart meeting spot. A light from NSider Industries angled perfectly through a broken glass window to provide a dim source of illumination to the room. The shed was large enough so that a group of rogues could fit inside, but small enough so that no one would suspect that anything was going on here. I remained in the back of the room, crouched behind a pile of boxes stacked up to the ceiling and continued to observe the user.
I could tell it was a guy slightly taller than myself, garbed in a dark red shirt lined with silver buttons, wearing brown suspenders that supported faded blue pants. He had boots and gloves that matched his shirt. His spiky brown hair moved slightly in the cold breeze and his brown eyes occasionally shifted around, making sure no one was nearby. Unlike before when I could only see his silhouette, he had an appearance of confidence and poise and it looked like he was patiently waiting for someone else to arrive. I also noticed twin swords resting in brown holsters tied around his waist. I surmised that he was either a highly skilled warrior or a foolish thief who only selected cool-looking weapons. Either way, I couldn’t attack yet, not before I saw who else was involved in this mysterious exchange. The small gold item that Doctor Peppy mentioned also perplexed me, as it could be a multitude of things. Unsure of what the item could be, I nervously glanced at my PM watch to check the time. It read 11:47 PM and both the user and I began to grow more and more anxious for very different reasons. For now, though, waiting was all that we could do. Little did this user know that an expert assassin was only a few feet away and was planning to put an end to his schemes.
After some time, the rain outside suddenly became heavier and the user started to pace in small circles around the room. I glanced down at my watch again, which read 11:59 PM… one minute more of this tense waiting game. At exactly 12:00 midnight, something finally happened. A purple vortex that emanated a bright light appeared in the middle of the room and another user stepped out of the portal, which closed up upon him emerging completely. He was small in stature, but had a frightening aura about him. He wore a purple cape with matching boots and a white mask, behind which the only thing visible was a pair of ominous red eyes. Both of his hands were covered with white gloves and one of which was grasping a strange glowing sword. His weapon seemed too large to be the item Doctor Peppy was mentioning, so I continued to lie in wait.
He glanced around to make sure no one was in the room. After confirming his incorrect assumption, he turned to the other user with a flick of his cape. “Sir,” the user leaned against the wall exclaimed, “I have obtained what you have requested.” “Very good,” the second user replied in a deep voice, “I am very impressed.” “Thank you, sir!” the user garbed in red replied, happy to have appeased the other’s desire. “Now… let’s see that little treasure…” The user reached into the pockets of his faded blue pants and pulled out a golden triangle attached to a silver chain. At first, the triangle appeared dull, but when he held it up in the air, a faint light and strange aura radiated from it. The golden triangle had some sort of inscription on it but I could not read it from my current location. It was obviously an item of high value since this whole fiasco would not be planned out for a petty little exchange. The more I stared at the item, the more I could tell that this meeting was for something serious; not anything to do with money, but something of far greater value to these users.
Wiping some sweat from my forehead with the sleeve of my robe, I slowly inched my way closer and closer to the two users, making sure to remain hidden behind the piles of boxes. “Excellent…” the stout user said menacingly, “Our plan is progressing quite well…” Interrupting the maniacal thoughts of the user with the purple cape, the other user spoke out with an inquiry. “Sir, I mean no disrespect when I ask this, but why this elaborate plan of meeting here? It is just a small little item that could have easily been…” The user instantly stopped talking when met by the piercing red eyes of the other user. “Surely, you do not know the value of this item,” he said with a stern tone, “this is our key to the future.” “I am glad to have been of service,” the user in red replied, showing great respect towards the other user who, from what I could surmise, appeared to be his superior.
I continued to creep closer and closer to the two users, readying myself to make my move when I took one fatal step. My foot rested upon an old plank of wood, which emanated a loud creaking noise that echoed throughout the area. I alarmingly looked up and realized the two users heard the noise as well. After a brief moment of silence and deep concentration by the user who had appeared from the portal moments ago, he spoke out with a deep voice, “It appears that this location is no longer safe. I will meet you back at our headquarters. We will discuss further plans there. Now we have a great thing on our side…” “What do you mean?” the user in red asked, puzzled by the other user’s vague hints. “…A bargaining chip…” With that, the short yet creepy user snatched the golden triangle, twirled his cape and instantly disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.
However, the other user was not about to leave without figuring out the source of that noise. He drew his twin blades from the holsters and assumed a fighter’s stance, from which I could tell that he was a competent swordsman. He then shouted into the darkness, “Oh ye of little honor, I will grant you one chance to reveal yourself to me before I search for you. Will you comply?” I don’t know what made me step out into the light and make myself fully visible to this user, but I reluctantly obliged. Perhaps it was that running would be futile since he knew someone was hiding or that the thought of a challenging battle was exhilarating to me. It could have also been because I was frustrated with myself for getting caught but, either way, I stepped forward into the light and found myself face-to-face with this user as I positioned my hands towards the hilts of my daggers so I could grab them quickly if need be.
“Ah!” he exclaimed upon laying eyes upon my appearance, “another petty thief pillaging NSider Industries for something of minimal material worth. Were you listening in on our conversation?” I sensed that this was a rhetorical question, so I remained silent. “No answer?” He said, slowly shifting towards a tone of voice that hinted towards an unfound sense of superiority, “Well it seems as if you’ve stumbled into quite a tough spot, my friend.” I asserted, hoping to quell the insults, “Do not judge me by my appearance alone.” He paused for a moment and then replied with, “Do you know who you are getting involved with?” I shook my head in disgust and he chuckled, “Well then perhaps, in this case, ignorance is bliss. Regardless, I find that I must kill you, as the information you overheard is top secret. It’s nothing personal really…it’s just that the confidentiality of this mission cannot be compromised, regardless of who the user is.” “That might be more difficult than you think,” I replied back with a hint of confidence in my voice, hoping that he would recognize that I wasn’t about to back down from the challenge. “Well then…” he said, “I am a man of my word… I hope you are too. Prepare yourself!”
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