"Time. Time is the one resource we cannot reproduce. It is a commodity so precious, men and women will kill for it. It is a resource that is priceless, simply because we have so little of it."
'Time and again in life, there will be moments where you will be forced to make a decision that can either grant you additional time or cost you everything. This is the bitter sweet reality that most cannot comprehend. There are those in society who believe they can defy time, go against natural laws to extend their own life...this is an error of the highest order.
'Humanity's Hubris leads us to believe we are the masters of our world, our domain. We are not. We are most certainly not. We have much to learn before we can even begin to attempt to claim such you do things in life, any thing worth doing...every second counts. No one has the power to give it...only take it.'
It was this thought that crossed my mind as 5 AM came and went. I had been sitting in this High-rise tower, stationary, rifle aimed squarely at the main doors of a small office building...for 5 hours...and I was tired. But I had a contract to fill and bills to pay. So there I waited. And waited. Random thoughts crossed my mind as I waited for my target to appear. Food and women mainly. But those were always a constant thought when boredom kicked in.
My client had been...vague on the details. She'd been damn near cryptic. A glaring red flag that I missed. "You can't miss her. The target is known to wear bright clothing more often than not." Yeah okay...that rubbed me the wrong way. But the money made me take the job. 1.2 mil to drop some rich prick's wife? 'Pfft, why not?' I would later come to hate missing said red flag that day.
As the sun rose and 8 AM neared, it was getting close to show time. Something was off, though. I'd not seen much foot traffic this morning, which normally it wouldn't bother me. But given the...evasiveness of my client when I had asked about the mark, I was on edge. paranoid. 'It's almost as if-' a flash of sudden movement shut down that train of thought. Two guys in suits and shades had left the building with a woman in tow. 'She certainly LOOKS like the mark, but where is...ah there it is.' she was carrying the very same briefcase I'd seen in the photo. Neither the guards nor their charge seemed to notice me as far as I knew. 'she's moving oddly...almost as if-' and then it hit me. 'No foot traffic, erratic movement, in and out of sight...SHIT THEY KNOW!' Ice water ran through my veins. I'd been setup. right around the time this thought crossed my mind...the lady pulls chest armor and an goddamn rifle out the case. very familiar gear.
'Atlas Special Forces. I'll be damned. they must really want to catch me.' that thought went out the window real quick though. Having rounds hit the wall inches from your head tends to clear things up fast. Snow white shouting at me helped in that regard. "Barker Azure! This is The Atlas Special Forces! you are surrounded! surrender and you will not be harmed!" 'Pfft. fat chance.' I leaned over the edge, giving Miss SF my cheekiest grin. "No can do, Your highness. I don't do bondage." THAT got her full attention. and a cherry red blush. "WHAT?! I- YOU-" I could hear her guys hooting with laughter. I knew me getting away was a very real option now. as I packed up my gear to leave, I gave her a sardonic salute and a parting shot. "Though if you'd like to climb my tower and rescue the damsel, be my guest."
Metallic clatters and loud guffaws told me I'd laid out her squad. and the LOOK on her face? ah...priceless. although I don't think she liked my quips, given the banshee shriek I heard next. "HOW DARE YOU! I AM THE ELDEST DAUGHTER OF JACQUES AND WILLOW SCHNEE! RIGHT HAND TO GENERAL IRONWOOD! I DEMAND SOME RESPECT!" 'pfft. "Right hand to ironwood- wait...hue hue hue' a malicious grin crossed my face as I leaned over the roof to say my final shot and leave. "Right hand eh? you must get used alot!" You'd think someone had set monkeys and a crowd of High-school kids loose, what with all the hooting and "ouuuu!" I heard. meh. not my problem. I'm out of here. 'now where is that zip-line...there it is.' I clipped up, got settled in, and away we went. (little did I know just how bad my wisecracks would come to haunt me later.)