-Athena: Welcome to Seattle, USA-
It was another rainy night in Seattle. It was 3 AM as I sat on the roof across the building my target was located in.
I love nights like these. Dark so no one can see me. Locked in a building where I will make sure I get my kill. Along with my payment. Perfect.
Bray: BJ, you ready to get this money?
"You know it. Lets get this done. I got a flight to catch."
Bray, my communication guide, my eyes and ears got off as he spies my main targets, using their cameras.
I put on my night vision goggles on and aim my harpoon gun at the other building. A guard walk by where I left a card at. I shot the harpoon and hit him. I ride the zip line across and made it on the roof.
This job was going to be easy.
Radio: Echo roof team, How does it look on the south side.
Bray: All clear, sir.
Radio: Okay, good. Don't want any problems tonight.
Too late for that. I look around to make sure I wasn't spotted and entered the building through the door.
Office
Mr. Drumm and Mr. Devlin, the accountants for their boss of Diamondhead Corporation join their accomplice, long term cilent, Mr. Stan
Mr. Drumm: Welcome, Mr. Stan. Sorry we called you here so late. We wanted to make sure we are safe here. I believe we're being watched.
Mr. Stan sat down on a chair, timid and a little shaken.
Mr. Stan: T-thank you, Mr. Drumm, Mr. Devlin.
Mr. Devlin: Stan, don't worry. We're are secured here. Now, what have you found out at the bosses office?
--
I finish knocking out the last guy that was on the upper level above the factory floor. I look down to see a group of guards circle around two of them arm wrestling.
Looks like I get to use combat skills.
I threw a playing card down to the table, causing the group to look up at the ceiling.
Guard #1: Intru-
My card explode into smoke, covering the area. I fell down in the mist, pulling out my eskrima sticks.
"Kill the lights."
Bray: Lights off.
The lights went off in the factory. Putting my night vision back on, I start laying waste to the guards.
I bash them in the head, electrify some, breaking limbs. How I enjoy this job is sometimes scary.
After what felt like the 50th guard down, the lights went back on and all the guards were down, groaning in pain or unconscience.
-Office-
Mr. Stan sat in the chair, his hand shaking on its own. He finished telling his partners about the conbination of the vault.
Mr. Devlin pour three glasses of bourbon, handing them to his comrades. Mr. Drumm smile the scent of his drink, loving it.
Mr. Drumm: You always know my favorite bourbon is. Men, cheers to our successful mission ahead of us.
Drumm and Devlin their glasses before going for Mr. Stan. But they didn't as they were shot in the head by the intruder behind. Mr. Stan looked at the intruder who took the glass of bourbon.
Mr. Stan: Took you long enough.
"You're welcome."
Mr. Stan smiled as he took off the face mask, revealing himself as the boss of Diamondhead Co., Mr. Diamond.
Mr. Diamond: Bourbon are for idiots. Whiskey is for men with brains.
"Well, they've been taken cared of now. Where's my money?"
Mr. Diamond transfers the money to my bill. Bray confirms that the money came through. The boss and I shake hands and I leave the factory.
I walk back into the rain, adjusting my fedora with my lucky cards and enter my car.
Bray: Your plane awaits you, BJ. You don't have any appointments for tomorrow and I know you don't like talking about it. But I'm still here if you want to talk.
"Thanks Bray. Enjoy your day off."
I drove to the airport, gather my suitcase, guitar, and flowers and enter the jet. My stewardess was on the top of the steps.
Stewardess: Welcome back, Mr. Blackjack. May I take your things?
"Yes please. I'm going to go change."
Stewardess: Okay sir.
I walked into the bathroom and change out of my work clothes and put on something causal and relaxing. Jeans and a t-shirt that says "I Need Healing."
I look at myself in the mirror. What a year of coming back to the mess I left, only to come back to it. In a perfect world, I would still be retired.
I took off my mask that only covered my mouth and put on a new one.
I walked out, sat in the chair, taking a sip of whiskey as the plane takes off.
My name is Blackjack. It's my bounty hunter name. This is my tale of how my life has been to this moment. From being an underground fighter to an bounty hunter to retire and a husband. Only to come back to the hunting world.
I was never like this as a kid. But as you grow up, you start to see how screwed up the world is. It all starts after The Omnic Crisis.