The street was vacant and from the windows were several bots and human guards. Jaune tapped a button for the light posts to flicker and turn off for several moments for them to cross with darkness. By first glance, none of the guards noticed the light, and by the time it returned the team made it across the lawn. From there Jaune looked at his partners, Neo nodded as Wolfe did a brief wave as he watched their flank. Here is where Neo will enter the building.
Alongside the main lobby was a restroom for the patrons but no door. But a chink in the armor was along the wall was a window to air out the bathroom. Neo was boosted up by Jaune and Wolfe. She reached inside seeing no one and continued to squeeze her way through. The windows were a tight fit, but Neo made her way through then gave the wall a single knock. The area inside was empty is on standby.
Wolfe then aimed his weapon up and with Jaune behind him; the two proceeded to walk around the building. On the far back, there is a ladder to get to the roof directly. Along the walls were three cameras, but they aimed at the fences ten yards away so being below them is a blind spot. After several seconds the two made it to the ladder. Sealed with a padlock and Wolfe fiddled with the lock, but before doing so, Jaune tapped his shoulder. He looked up as Jaune pointed to the corner, there was a beam of light approaching.
Seeing no more options, Jaune activated his ECM jammer then placed it on the ground to disrupt communication of the closest camera. The two quickly sprinted across the grass to bushes on the outline of the property. The two jumped and watched the guard walk pass. He checked the lock on the ladder and pulled out his pager. He spoke into it but didn't get an answer. Jaune was so focused on the guard he didn't notice that Wolfe wasn't beside him.
A figure approached the guard, and with one smack of the stock of his gun, the guard was knocked out, Wolfe waved Jaune over. By the time he got back, Wolfe had turned the jammer off.
"Hey, what's going on out there?" A voiced called from the guard's pager, Jaune and Wolfe's eyes widened.
"Come on, pick up the pager." The pager beckoned.
Wolfe looked at Jaune; Jaune looked at the pager then back to Wolfe. Wolfe shrugged as he didn't know what to do.
"Answer the pager; otherwise the gallery will go on lockdown." The pager gave an ultimatum. With a jolt of anxiety, Jaune grabbed the pager.
"It's all good here, and I had to take a piss on a bush." Jaune came up on the spot. Wolfe stood there face-palming his mask.
"God, these things suck on voices. Copy that, and I told you not to drink that soda. Well, the ladder is all clear, proceed with your patrol." The pager responded. Jaune and Wolfe sighed.
Jaune looked down at the body of the guard. Wolfe shrugged again then the two grabbed the body. Jaune carried the torso, and Wolfe had the legs. Using the jammer still for a moment, the two placed the man in a dumpster. After that matter was taken care of, the two made their way to the ladder. Jaune pulled out bolt cutters then ripped the padlock off the ladder. It opened, and the two went their way to the roof.
Jaune watched from above as several bots, guards and cameras shift around. Jaune nodded as it clear to move.
Wolfe pressed his finger against his ear. "We're in position." In response on the radio, there was a click of a gun. It was Neo saying she's ready. Jaune unlatched the top of the windows locks. Then above Jaune leaned in as the guards were still away, he then turned his body away from the opening. He guided his legs to fall in the opportunity, so then Jaune used his upper body strength to dangle above the fourteen-foot drop. Jaune released his grip and Wolfe did the same. This section of the gallery had a complete blind spot to the cameras. The middle was divided by four large walls, to hold more art. Unfortunately, the room happens to locate on the opposite side of the building and the security room.
"We're on the move," Jaune spoke softly.
Neo grinned as it was her time to move. From the ladies restroom, it stood on the opposite side of the front desk. One guard was kicking back reading an X-Ray and Vav comic book. Neo effortlessly snuck to his side. By the time the guard noticed her presence, Neo had decked the man.
Searching his security belt was a keycard. The security around here operated with the same keycard code. At the desk was a monitor linked to the outside cameras. The inside cameras belonged to the security room. With the key in hand, Neo walked to the entrance of where Jaune and Wolfe were. The lobby split in two different directions since the gallery was one large circle. At the corner, Neo peeked from cover. A bot stood in the corner. There was no way for Neo to move on. Jaune's forehead of the mask was barely visible. Neo flicked the card along the ground and skid to Jaune's glove.
From now on, Jaune thought that using sweat resistant latex gloves will help keep their identities hidden. Wolfe hated the idea, but he still wore the gloves. Jaune noticed the camera starting to shift in his direction.
"Move!" Jaune said leaning his head away from the corner.
Wolfe sat beside him. The two had the key, so they made their way to the first section, and then there were trip laser wires. Jaune had three ECM Jammers, and the first one was almost out of battery. Jaune pressed the button again. Wolfe crossed the beams then Jaune followed. To their right was a guard standing there admiring a painting. Jaune and Wolfe had the chance to move as they were about to, the camera shifted in their direction. Wolfe cursed silently. The guard was done watching as was about to turn around.
Jaune sprinted forward and tackled the guard. Before he could speak, Jaune punched the man two times to knock him out. But as he looked up a camera was staring right at him. Jaune sighed.
"Psst," Wolfe called.
Jaune looked at Wolfe, when he did, Wolfe pointed at the wall of the camera as an ECM jammer rolled over. Wolfe tossed a jammer when Jaune reacted. Heeding the warning, Jaune dragged the guard to a corner. It won't be long until someone discovers the unconscious body. The two crossed into the next section of the gallery. They were only one section away from the security room. Wolfe and Jaune spotted three droids in the room. Jaune and Wolfe hid behind a pillar. It would retake twenty seconds before the camera rotates to their location.
Jaune didn't know what to do, Wolfe clicked the safety off his weapon.
Then in a streak of light, a droid toppled over, and the torso separated from the legs. The umbrella fell to the helmet of the second droid then with two more strikes all their droids were put down.
Jaune and Wolfe used the last two jammers and positioned them to have the whole section seem like a blackout.
"Hey what's going on? I got a blind spot, and the control console says the droids are offline. Jaune readied his pager.
"Really? I'll check it out." He released the button. They were running out of time, and Jaune and Wolfe walked into the other section, and then Neo blazingly walked into the open. The boys realized then, Neo cut the feed of the cameras, and knocked out or dismantled the rest of the guards and droids. Jaune and Wolfe made their way to the security door. With a swipe, the door opened with a green light.
Wolfe was the first to enter. The guard there was a busy tinkering with the controls then felt a barrel to her back.
"Don't do anything stupid." Wolfe shoved the guard from the controls. The woman blinked and watched from the floor.
"Hey hey, don't look at them, look at me." Wolfe snarled.
"Oh shit! It's the Payday Gang. Please don't hurt me." She pleaded. She appeared to be a woman in her late teens the to early twenties. She looked to have been scared. Her pupils widened as Wolfe's mask stared directly at her.
"Just sit down and be quiet." Wolfe barked as he turned the guard around then used zip ties to constrict her arms.
"The guards are down. What about the cameras?" Jaune asked as Wolfe typed away.
"I can erase the data, be all forms of digital media can barely exist. So with our masks, we'll be fine. I'll still compile all the data erased." Wolfe began to type away.
Neo, please keep an eye on the prisoner, I'll securing the paintings." Jaune set his thermal drill down. His back arched slightly, carrying the thing is awkward. Jaune walked down alongside the paintings. The buyer wants four but what kind does he want?
"The guy we're working with, what does he want?" Wolfe asked as he typed away.
"… I honestly have no idea… I forgot to ask." Jaune admitted.
"Just grab what you think we need, then," Wolfe said as he monitored the cameras.
Jaune found a painting of a huntsman standing in a circle with Grimm approaching them. Jaune carefully tugged on the painting then everything lit up, and a siren blared.
"You done goofed." Wolfe snickered.
"It wasn't my fault! How was I supposed to know that an alarm will sound? Neo, get ready to fight off the droids!" Jaune shouted. He broke the spine of the paintings to remove the paper and roll it up. Then bagged six paintings. Jaune sprinted to the lobby. Then as he arrived, Neo was taking cover behind a piece of art. She looked outside and didn't know what to do because out were several police vans parking outside.
"Aw darn." Jaune slouched then sprinted back to the security room.
Wolfe stood at there and looked over at the security woman. "Did you know about this?"
"No, I was meant to monitor the cameras, but there was some new security added that separated from the main security. Please don't hurt me." The woman lowered her head. Wolfe scoffed as Jaune entered the room.
"Stop traumatizing her and get ready to move," Jaune ordered as he rushed into the room. Wolfe nodded then turned to the woman.
"But I wasn't, ah just forget it…" Wolfe finished talking then Neo entered the security room as well.
She pointed toward the monitors as a legion of machines and police started to stack up outside. As they were distracted, Neo walked to the girl then smacked her over the head with her Umbrella.
"Hey hey, I thought we decided for no brutality." Jaune turned to Neo.
She pointed at the eyes slits and then did a wave over the room. She told Jaune that the guard would have seen everything.
"… You're right; we go to the backup plan." Jaune turned to Wolfe.
"Alright." The team carried two paints each. Wolfe activated the glass security as steel fences came down leaving easy access to the building problematic.
The team sprinted the furthest wall on the opposite side of the building.
"Hey Richard, we got the goods, but it's time for plan B," Jaune asked as they reached the wall. "You said you packed explosives?"
"Yeah." Wolfe kneeled down then pulled his thermal drill out of his bag the placed it on the wall.
"That'll take too long-" Jaune pushed back then Wolfe jumped forward as Neo took several steps back. The wall was blown open and left a cloud of dust.
"The drills are also bombs?" Jaune coughed.
"Yeah, what did you think it cost so much?" Wolfe chuckled.
"You got a twisted sense of humor." Jaune got to his feet. The team reacted fast enough before the building was isolated. They sprinted across the grass as a fence shattered to make room for heisters to enter. Neo made it first then ran then watched as the rest of the team to enter. Jaune looked down and took a deep breath.
"I can't believe we made it." Jaune exhaled.
"Well, we did. Richard, let's go." Jaune suggested, and soon the van began to pull out before the police spotted them.
The van pulled out then sped off into the dark streets. Everyone remained silent until they could no longer hear the sirens. The team was almost there to the drop point.
"I was wondering why did you get a codename while we just have our names at risk?" Wolfe asked.
"What do you mean? I like the codename Crescent." Jaune smiled under his mask.
"Yeah that's cool, but Neo and Wolf are two simple names." Wolfe pointed out.
"That's true, but your names are so cool already, people will think your actual names are codenames. Neo thinks I'm right." Jaune pointed at Neo. She shook her head left and right.
"… I think it does." Jaune whispered.
"If you fuckfaces get codenames, I want one as well too. I never worked with an established group before. This is exciting." Richard laughed. Wolfe looked in Richard's direction.
"Who asked you?"
"Whatever, I was thinking of the name 'Twitch' you know, I think it works for the jobs we're gonna do."
"Sure thing Twitch," Jaune spoke loudly. Sure having a codename is cool but we need a driver more than anything. Make him feel attached, and then he'll provide us with an excellent service. Richard chuckled as he pulled up to the train yard. It was once the hub for when Vale tried to expand many years ago. The station served no purpose when it failed, now a ruin with no one wanting to do anything with the property.
"Please hurry this up alright?" Twitch spoke softly.
The team arrived at the designated location. The doors opened and Jaune was the first to exit since he wore the best armor. He wasn't shot, or they're waiting for the rest of the crew to get out. Jaune took several steps and found out the location to meet was a derailed train car. Jaune walked inside, and as he did, a scroll rang. The ID labeled as Unknown.
Jaune pressed the button to answer the call.
"Glad to know you made it. So yeah, either you go all the way or not at all. Get all the paintings to the train car and place them on the table at the end." The call ended before Jaune could say anything.
He turned around and waved at the van. Wolfe and Neo walked out, side by side. Wolfe passed the rest of the paintings as Neo stood outside and watched their surroundings. Her mask provided enough for her hidden eye movements.
As Jaune placed the last painting on the table, the scroll rung again.
"Two extra than agreed. We'll take it." The scroll call ended then footsteps thumped across the roof. Wolfe aimed his rifle at the ceiling. A hatch released and a figure stood above.
"Alright, just pass me the paintings, and you'll get paid." The figure spoke affirmatively.
Jaune went along with it as he tossed the first painting and after he did a bag of cash dropped into his arms. This repeated for the rest of the paintings. With six bags of money, all placed on the floor.
"The deal is final; I'll contact you again if let's get the job done." Then as he finished talking Neo noticed something odd in the distance. She punched Wolfe, and the two looked where she was staring. There was a glimmer. Narrowing her eyes, Neo spotted a droid take position to flank.
"Aw crap." Wolfe aimed.
"It looks like you happen to follow. This is where we part ways." The buyer then jumped off the train car and sprinted off into his escape. There wasn't any way for the gang to follow, so they prepared for a fight.
"Twitch, the cops followed us, get ready to move!" Jaune shouted as he picked up a bag. Soon bullets erupted from the direction of the droids. Jaune halted by the gunfire then took cover.
"We can't leave here! Let me drive to the other side and meet you there. This place is a fucking deathtrap!"
"Fine go!" Jaune ordered. It turns out 'Twitch' is a fitting name after all.
"What are we gonna do boss? There are tons of them out there!" Wolfe took a peek at the cover. "It looks like these droids are basic models, so whoever is attacking aren't police."
Jaune looked out and prepped his Knight's SR by checking the chamber. "We give them hell," Jaune ordered as he opened fire.
Wolfe smiled sadistically under his mask. The two began to open fire. Jaune fired in single shots and shot three droids. As that happened Neo was ready for real action as well. She blinked then kicked out a window then she jumped forward. He kept his head down as he pulled the bags of money closer.
Neo stood there as three droids with batons charged her. Neo lifted her Spas Umbrella to blast the armor away to the sparking inners of the first droid. Then Neo plunged the weapon into the machine's chest and lifted it up. The second droid aimed for her kneecap. She flicked her leg up to flip the droid, and when it landed, she speared that on too. The third droid was shot apart by Wolfe's weapon. Jaune covered Neo as he fired his Knight's SR at the droids on the balconies and rooftops.
A brick wall blasted apart as a bulky green droid fired its AA-12 shotgun.
"Oh crap, Bulldozer!" Jaune shouted. He aimed for the head AKA central processor. Neo lowered her captured droids then loaded an explosive shell into her SPAS. With a single blast, the two droids hurled at the Bulldozer. The dozer was crushed and blown up.
Wolfe smiled at the destruction, but then he realized that two black squares were approaching the train car from the right side. "We got two Shield Wielders!"
"Neo, Wolfe, secure the money!" Jaune stood up and slung his weapon to his back, and his sword shifted into full form, his shield as well.
"Roger Boss!" Wolfe moved an inch then a train door was pulled back. Neo stood there waiting for the money.
Jaune raised his shield to the bullets coming from the Shield droids. He plunged the sword into the black shield of the droid and destroyed the droid. Jaune realized these shield wielders were all show. Then he sliced the second droid in half.
"We got more company! Neo and I are in the warehouse!" Wolfe shouted into the comms.
"Jesus, you kids love to shout. Twitch here, and I'm coming in across the street of the warehouse. I'll be here until you arrive, and hurry up. The police scanner is echoing like crazy."
Jaune ran toward the warehouse to see Wolfe inside and taking pop-shots as Neo was nowhere to be seen. Above them was a second-floor railing with droids being blasted apart by Neo's Umbrella.
"She's got this, now move the bags." Jaune shouldered two bags as Wolfe carried two as well. Two more were left behind. They sprinted across the warehouse to find garage door, but it was on lockdown.
"Give me thirty seconds, and I can hack this." Wolfe put one money bag down and typed away at the locked. It was an automated system; a password is still inside, somewhere.
Jaune lifted his Knight's SR and blasted a head off a droid. He covered fire then in the corner of his eye; Jaune noticed two droids making off with their money. The door slammed open with a clean shot to the Van behind a chain-linked fence. Wolfe grabbed his bags and booked it.
"Neo, secure those bags," Jaune shouted again. Neo looked at her position to see the droids.
Wolfe made it across then his weapon shifted into gun form. Then without a hitch, the gate was wide enough for a person. Jaune guided a new magazine into his gun and ducked down. They tossed their bags into the van and turned around to see Neo gleefully holding her umbrella on her shoulder with the two bags at her feet.
"You're a life saver Neo." Jaune thought out loud. With the money in hand the piled in the van.
"Twitch, get us outta here!"
Twitch didn't say anything. The van zoomed off into the streams of lights of the city.
"Oh man, I can't believe we made it." Wolfe removed his mask to brush the sweat from his forehead.
"Indeed." Jaune panted. Neo twirled her umbrella. They drove for another fifteen minutes as the heisters bodies started to calm down from t excitement. Wolfe kept rubbing his face of sweat.
"We're here kiddies." The location was that of the outskirts of the city with two cars. Each of them walked out to stretch their backs. Jaune remained in the van.
"You guys kicked ass out there, any idea who the third party was?" Twitch asked.
"No idea, but I'm going to find out." Jaune tossed a wad of money at Twitch. He removed a rubber band, and his eyes widened.
"Ugh, hey kid but, I agreed for 6,000, not 24,000." Twitch began to wonder if he happens for a fool.
"You could have left us, but didn't. For that, I'm grateful." Jaune lifted his mask.
"Well thank you!" Twitch walked to his van. "If you guys need a driver, give me call. Oh, and kid."
"Yeah?"
"Do I get a mask?"
"Sure, why not." Jaune shrugged as he pulled out all the bags of money.
"Fuck yeah!" Twitch entered his van and drove off back into the city. Jaune pulled out more money and tossed it to Neo and Wolfe. Both of them paid 35,000 lien. They stared at Jaune.
"Both of you did the jobs well. I couldn't have done this without you." The job had earned the team 240,000 lien in the money bags. The cost of paying for help was 94,000 lien, then an extra 60,000 lien in their weapons, gear, and Wolfe's suit. Leaving 86,000 for Jaune to work with, and 50,000 lien goes to Cinder. All that is left is 36,000 lien for Jaune.
"Wow, I did get my Payday." All it took was risking my life and breaking the law. Jaune chuckled to himself to see Wolfe and Neo standing there.
"Alright, Neo, you drive the first car. It contains the 50,000 I owe to Cinder. Wolfe you drive the second car as it contains the payments for our debts. Just deliver it to the hideout, I'll handle it from there. I'll contact Cinder to let her know you're on your way, okay Neo?"
Neo nodded as she entered her car. "Wolfe, I'll ride with you until we get to two. I'll take public transportation back to the school." Wolfe smiled as the two entered the car.
Wolfe just sat there. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing… it's just, and you have no idea how much this will help me. Seriously Jaune, thank you." Wolfe made a fist. Jaune grinned as they fist-bumped Wolfe started the car for the journey back to the city.
In case people were wondering about the first driver who died is random, he's not Twitch. Richard in this is real Twitch. For the first guy, I borrowed some dialogue. Thank you for reading.
