Sophia took a seat in a small, cushy leather chair across from a gigantic mahogany desk. In the larger chair behind the desk sat a tall, middle-aged, blue-haired woman. "So, you're looking to buy out Capsule Corp's aerospace tech division?" Sophia nodded confidently, feeling rather safe with Elliot at her side.
"I am. I'm willing to offer you seventy-five percent of it's gross worth up front, and five percent of the annual profit margin for the next ten years." Bulma chuckled.
"What do you take me for? Capsule Corp's aerospace division doesn't have enough assets for that payment to come in full for a hundred years." Sophia raised an eyebrow.
"Not yet. Pardon me for saying this, ma'am, but you aren't me." A small fit of anger flew across Bulma's face.
"And just what do you mean by that?" Sophia chuckled confidently.
"I mean that you simply don't have the...how should I put this? You lack the youthful grace that keeps a corporation running." Bulma took a deep breath, then looked over her shoulder at the incredibly well-muscled man behind her.
"How about you show this...lady how much youth we have left in us?" Vegeta smirked, throwing a fist into the wall on his right. The metal crumpled around it, and as he tore his arm back from the wall, a chunk of solid steel came with it. Sophia's eyes bulged with fear, but a quick breath got her back on track.
"While your husband certainly seems more than capable, I assure you, muscle doesn't fix corporations. Minds do, and I have one of the best minds in the business. Really, Mrs. Briefs, I'm offering you a massive sum for this division, but if you're not interested in huge amounts of money, I'll see my own way out." She rose from the chair, turning and moving toward the door.
"Wait a minute. Ten percent and you have a deal." Sophia turned around, one eyebrow raised.
"Seven percent." Bulma smirked.
"Nine."
"Seven and a half." A brief silence.
"Deal. Meet me tomorrow for the contracts, and make sure all your goons leave with you." As Sophia walked out, a voice rang in her ear.
"Yo, Sophie. I've got the main access codes to the safe, but...well, get back to the hotel." She took a deep breath. Somehow, hearing that tone from Hardison was even scarier than a man who could punch through steel.
The pair walked through the door to their hotel room, greeted by a very buzzed Hardison. "Alright, so I'd just like to point out that this is not my fault. No hitting the geek." Elliot cracked his knuckles.
"That depends on what news you give us." Hardison took a few deep breaths and a few steps away.
"Ok, so it turns out that Bulma's got a better security system than I thought. The main vault works on a two part code. The first part is static, a five letter, four number code. I can hack past that easy. The second part is a unique digital tumbler that changes codes every half a second. Personally, I didn't even know this stuff existed, and the only way to bypass it is to get ahold of a microdrive that I'm willing to guess Bulma keeps on her." Nate turned his hands up.
"No huge setback. Parker can lift something like that easily enough." Sophia shook her head.
"Not with this lady, she can't. Too risky." Parker raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Sorry, Parker, but I just watched her husband punch through solid steel. If he caught you, you wouldn't even have enough time to leave the room." Nate stroked his chin.
"Well, we could always bypass the door." Hardison turned to him.
"Have you not been listening?"
"Not that kind of bypass. Parker, did you see any-"
"You bet. I'd give it five minutes from entry. All you have to do is keep them inside." Hardison and Sophia both turned to her.
"Did I miss something?" Elliot took a seat on the little wooden chair in the corner of the room.
"We're going in through the roof. Hardison and I will keep you company with the signing, Parker goes to pick up the balls, and Nate keeps surveillance. Like Parker said, all we have to do is keep the group away from the vault for five minutes." Hardison turned to Nate inquisitively.
"Out of curiosity, what letter plan are you on?" Nate said nothing, but simply took a sip of his coffee.
Ok, so I know this chapter is a day late and a page short, but I've been dealing with a deadly combination of writer's block and work lately, so I hope you'll all forgive me. Another quick note for the future, until chapter 4, they're all going to be about this length. Stick it out, though, and you're in for a treat.