I looked out of the dusty window at the mansion that sat in front of me. It looked severely out of place in the wasteland with nothing nearby, not even ruins of the neighborhood that once likely was here. The outside of the mansion was worn, just like everything else out here, but somehow it looked out of another time, a time before all of it, an old-world remnant. I looked over at the rusted gates as I drove past them. I couldn’t help but to wonder what this place was like once upon a time. Lush green grass, I could only imagine. I drove up in front of the house before turning the engine off. “You going to be okay in here, Wes?” I petted his head, getting a tail wag and a lick in response. “I won't be too long. Hopefully.” I leaned over to roll down his window fully, before rolling mine down as well.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCC4ljicN93
I looked around once more, before opening the car’s door. I placed my hand on my hip unnecessarily checking if I still had my pistol on me, before looking up to see the mansion’s front door open.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9hq09pfHO
“Miss Crockett?” A man in a suit stood in the doorway. I couldn’t help but to raise an eye at his attire. It seemed almost as if he was playing dress-up.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NJozLTp7m
“Just Nev.” I shook my head, walking up the front steps. Two statues of an animal I didn’t know sat on either side of the door. “I was requested here. I got a letter.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2j8ZavA6RQ
He bowed his head slightly. “Right this way. He is waiting for you.” He motioned for me to follow him inside the house. I slowly walked inside of the door, as the man closed it behind us.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSqXLyWqYY
In the entrance, electric lamps lit up the old building. An ornate rug lined the floor, while tacky wallpaper covered the walls along with paintings. A few couches were placed along the walls. After walking a few more yards we made it into the main room. Aged marble steps led up to the second floor and a large chandler basked in the sunlight flooding in from the large windows. A tall, lean man walked down one of the sets of stairs, wearing a tailored suit. Unnecessary and pointlessly flashy, just like the rest of the house. His hand slid along the railing as he walked down towards us.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0vST7ZKHO
“Miss Crockett, nice to see you made it.” He bowed his head slightly, stepping off the final step.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr27Q6ESQFr
“I prefer Nev. Or Nevada. Or even just Crockett. But no ‘miss’.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSjKMPl7P2
“My apologies.” He smiled calmly, an almost dreamy look on his face. “I'm glad that you made it here in one piece, Nevada.” He added emphasis to my name. “Your reputation precedes you, Miss Crockett.” He immediately changed back to addressing me formally.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrfoTWhseu
“And yours fails to.” I crossed my arms. “Considering I don’t know who you are. I often like to know the name of my employer before I accept a job.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLO4hnq5ALz
“You may call me Sidonis.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9uzC4Ef4T
“Sidonis?” I raised an eyebrow. “Odd name.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3tEdYE7Mi
He chuckled. “Says the girl named after one of the states that fell long ago.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYMDKfNqpY
“What can I say? My mom was a romantic.” I shrugged. “In any case, I would like to skip the formalities and go straight to business.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqntVD38nZ
Sidonis smiled again, a strange peacefulness all too present. “Then let us go to my study. We'll discuss the job there. Woodrow.” He looked over at the older man. “Get Miss Cockett something to drink.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ392522mFhc
“Of course, sir.” He bowed slightly. “What may I get you?” He turned to face me.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQNfpnZcoF
“You seem like a girl who'd like whiskey.” Sidonis smirked at me.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡox3olWy3AH
“If you have whiskey, I would happily take some.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukxb5jPvFy
“Actually, get her the good stuff.” Sidonis smiled.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcz6Xy0KQt0
“As you wish.” Woodrow bowed once more before walking off.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbbRzd8lKA
“Come.” Sidonis turned around and began walking. We walked down a hallway, past a handful of doors, before making our way into an office. The walls were lined with bookshelves and books. On the far side of the room, under a large window that exposed the already aging books to sunlight, was a wooden desk.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbolK4g5OB
Sidonis walked around the desk before sitting down in the plush leather chair. “You can sit.” He motioned towards the two chairs in front of his desk.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAZ7ZZVvwH
I sat down in one of the chairs. “Tell me about the job.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqISRjyUqbG
Sidonis laughed. “Are you a busy woman, Nevada? Too busy for a bit of conversation?”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrsWeFJSYc
“I have a dog out in my car. If we talk for too long he’ll bake. Not to mention I'm not really one for conversation.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUALxaVQTI0
He smiled and leaned forward. “I need you to do something for me.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsvzpJuyJe
“That's why you brought me here. What do you need me to do?”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTOY0QoQUV
“Let me show you something.” He leaned down and opened one of the drawers, before pulling something out and setting it on the desk. It was a glass case with a metal object floating in it. The metal object was slowly turning.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zLEz5Vbkn
“What...is that?” I leaned forward slightly.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhK9hiI5KbC
He smiled, placing his hand on the top of the glass. “This is the future. This little shard here is just as powerful as a power plant. And the thing is, this is only a fraction of its full potential. I have been able to track down twenty-five of these shards in the country. I hypothesize that together, all of these shards would make a whole. Together, they would be more powerful than all the nuclear power plants combined.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0O2ekMKue
“So,” I leaned back, trying to keep my fascination contained, “you know where they all and all you need me to do is get them? Is that correct?”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDTZkZb7V2
He nodded. “I just needed someone skilled to retrieve them all for me.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvh88QDNqs
“Then let’s talk payment. As well as everything else.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1K6rbRnjc
“Let’s.” He leaned back in his chair.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5x1r4I0P2
“I-”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAsk5AUhUY
“Ma’am.” Woodrow cut me off, walking into the study. He held a silver platter, which on top sat a glass bottle filled with the amber liquid.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFN0AsH4wU
“That’s Louis XIIIright there. Worth more than the best car out there and even worth more than a truck full of fuel.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRESpumNZP
“I think you overestimate how much people need fancy liquor.” I took the glass from Woodrow, who held it out towards me.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWhNRdmKYV
“Take a drink and tell me differently. I assure you that you’ll be able to tell the difference between that and the dishwater they serve at bars.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEQ1gkd111
I took a sip of the cognac. My eyes widened slightly. I pulled the glass away from my lips. “Alright. You were right.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFXFCOTotj
A smile grew on Sidonis’ face. “A girl with some class. A rare trait out here.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQOGraxUv2
“Still I don’t think I’d give up my car for a bottle of it. Maybe after a bottle, I would, but not by choice.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4O1krRNfc
He chuckled. “Back to business.” Woodrow exited the room, leaving us alone once more. “This power source, once it is complete, would be the thing that could change this world. It is more valuable than anything else. But, it is also going to be hard for you to retrieve fully. Being in so many pieces in so many different locations, of which I will give you a list of, this is not an easy task. And I fully intend to compensate you for your work. I will give you two options of payment, the choice is yours, and I will not make you choose now, but once you have already finished. Not saying I won’t pay you in advance though. You first option: you bring me all twenty five shards and I will give you as much gas as you would ever need in your lifetime. We both know how important gas is and how important it is to someone like you. Or,” he leaned forwards once more, “I give you a life of stability, by my side.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBtxjXKNJs
“Are you proposing marriage?” I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzN62Nw8d9u
He chuckled. “I could be, but I’m not. I am proposing that you be my second in command. Once I get those shards, things are going to change. This whole wasteland is going to change. And I’m going to be the leader of this new world.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUrWozDLNy
“You’re telling me, I get the choice to either give you the shards and walk away or give you the shards and become the prince to the ‘new world’?”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQdnHalNWS
He smiled. “That is exactly what I’m telling you, though, we could always come back to that marriage offer down the road.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24QqC50iNj
I rolled my eyes. “And I don’t have to answer you until I’m done?”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1br0JpXLo
“Exactly. It’ll take you time to retrieve all the items, so you will have more than enough time to decide which one you want, though we both know which one is the better choice.” He smirked.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6JaF3T2vy
“You mean the one where I leave?” I cocked an eyebrow.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDLL8DwI2P
He chuckled. “The other one.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MN0qH1TXC
“Do you have a list of all the locations?”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRxStvLJyZ
He nodded. “Mostly. And for the ones that I don’t, I have men working on finding them. There are only a few I do not know the location of.” He rolled his chair back slightly so he could open the top drawer of his desk, taking out a folder. “In here is everything you need. Locations, maps, how to properly take care of the shards.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyVTzwE8zX
“Is there anything else I need?” I stood up from the chair.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXipB2vwo4
“Yes. I have a special case for them.” He also stood up from the desk, before walking over to a chest. He opened it and pulled out a large briefcase. “The code is 1023 and we will train it to your fingerprint.” He unlocked the case and opened it. Inside were twenty three slots. “I already have two shards, one of which is powering this house, but you must find the others. The case will make the shards untraceable and...controlled, like a lead-lined case.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4n5FBsCQor
“Alright.” I picked the folder up before reaching for the case.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uHirdy7Ea
“Sir.” Woodrow walked back into the room. “There is a sandstorm approaching.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwy4sI37QK
A smile crept on Sidonis’ face, as he looked over to me. “Seems that you’ll have to stay the night here. You can’t drive in a sandstorm.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjx0ptkGm8K
I sighed, walking over to the window. He wasn’t lying. There was a large sandstorm approaching. “Are you sure you didn’t somehow plan this out?” I glance back at Sidonis.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3X8rfP4Ntn
“I wish I had that kind of skill.” He laughed. “We should get your car under cover.” He started to walk out of the study.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9klRu8SE8
“So, the mutt.” Sidonis walked into the kitchen. Wesson and I sat at the kitchen island, him by my side watching every bite I took.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjnEAtQSsp
“I found him out in the wastes a while back. He actually bit me.” I rolled my sleeve up to show the scar. “But sometime after that, I found some raiders hunting him. I killed them and fixed the dog’s wounds best I could. I had to carry him the rest of the way back to get my car. And he's stuck with me since. Not that I didn't try to get him to run off though. I think he stays since I feed him.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaELsUcVR2t
“Probably.” He laughed, sitting down next to me. “Did Woodrow show you the room you’ll sleep in?”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3SoLToJPq
“He didn’t. He offered me and Wes some food. Figured that took priority.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ewFb7j2hi
“I’ll show you when you are done in that case.” He smirked, looking me up and down. “Or I could just show you mine.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUGhkTNwrZ
“I don’t sleep with my bosses.” I shook my head. “But on that note, I want to know, why hire me rather than a group of mercenaries? A large organization would be able to send a few groups out. They’d be able to get it done a hell of a lot faster than I ever could on my own. Or even the militia, they’ve got more firepower than me.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA071NcdacB
“The more people working for me, the more people I’d have to pay. Not to mention, I wanted you. I’ve been following your work for sometime and I liked what I saw.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpmKcyAalg
“I’m good at what I do, sure, but I find it hard to believe you just heard of me.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhGHc6EdW4
“You are welcome to.” The smile never left his face.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJpU9lk0Ad
“How do you know how many shards you’re missing if you only have two of them?” I set my spoon down on the counter and took the bowl and set it on the floor, allowing the Wes to eat the remainder.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxJa7G8eNG
“I am a brilliant man, Miss Crockett.” Sidonis smirked at me, very clearly not planning to actually answer my question.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAIx1Kqwnv
I took a deep breath, knowing damn well he wasn’t going to give me any information outside of what I already had. “Show me the way to the bedroom.” I stood up, motioning for him to take me.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQR3rkcTqp2
“With pleasure.” I followed Sidonis up the large staircase and down a few hallways until we ended up in front of a pair of double doors. He pulled the doors open and walked in. The room was giant and the bed, just as huge. I don’t think I had ever stayed somewhere so nice, even when staying at the Duke’s. I stepped inside, watching as Wesson jumped on the bed, marking his place for the night.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHeywHJp8l
“I’m down the hall if you need anything, Miss Crockett.” Sidonis smiled at me, before turning to walk to the door.
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6Bp8vjGN6
I smiled back at him until he closed the door behind him, letting out a sigh accompanied by an eye roll. “Men.”
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkAxln9g1f
105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcuz6CEr0V
