Chapter5: Friends and co-workers
The training that Megufu began was far from easy. In regards to Magi-tech canisters his marksmanship was excellent. There was little to learn and little that Gambo had to teach on that matter. What Megufu had lost in his three months was as his trainer had expected: physical strength. He had not exercised at all in his retirement hoping never to work again, and he wouldn't have done if the paid sum for this job hadn't been so outrageously high. It had been unheard of for anyone in Virage ever to be paid so much for one sitting.
Various obstacle courses had been arranged in the warehouse including a fully operational illusion room where illusions of the interior of the building he had to assault were set out. The building was for a high sum, a high building. It was none other than the relic black tower in Kazas that had stood ever since it had been built some time before the second dragon campaign. It was and has always been since those ancient times the head of magical research in Serdio where all the main laboratories of magic were held.
In his training inventory that he had to work with was a parachute, a metal spanner that could be unfolded into a mini cross bow that fired metal nails of which he had a set of fifteen. It worked on air pressure and had to be pumped up before it could fire a nail. Tis could make things tricky as it meant he could only fire once before having to recharge. Along with this was a parachute that he would be using to get away from the building. To be used on the day was a plumber's pass seeing as the ancient sewage and waste system of the tower had to be continually regulated and was always going wrong. Along with this also was a fake identity card that he could use should he find the getaway car missing for some reason. Weather reports indicated a strong wind over Kazas on the planned night. This it was hoped would blow him away from the tower. There would of course be a pill he could use if he failed in his mission. He was to be paid on completion.
"I don't like Phleg," said Megufu punching a training bag, "He doesn't respect me"
"He's a paper weight what do you expect?" replied Gambo, "Hey! It's swinging again! Hit it dead center – 3 – 4!"
Megufu sighed and stopped the bag, "What do you get paid for doing this?"
"Peanuts compared to what you'll get I expect," laughed the trainer, "Now hit it"
Megufu did and tried half heartedly to hit the center of the bag. He didn't particularly care at the moment and was exhausted from previous sessions. If he encountered anyone on the mission in combat he'd be aiming for the head first and chest later.
"I don't like Phleg," said Megufu again and punched the bag hard, "I haven't liked him since the moment I met him"
"Why?" asked Gambo.
"Because he treats me like I don't know anything that's why!" replied Megufu with a growl and punched the bag so that it swung, "yesterday he said I was a novice because I didn't know what a Negative-Aplom was. He said my knowledge of magical weaponry was sub-standard. He's a bastard and I bet he wouldn't have known what that thing was unless he'd looked it up the week before!"
"What is it?"
"How should I know?" snapped Megufu, "Some kind of Earth elemental base material that's used in the creation of pellets"
"What's that got to do with your mission? A magical detector is the first thing you pass through to my knowledge. Any weaponry would be picked out straight away"
"Exactly," said Megufu holding the bag still for a second, "That's what I said. That's why I've got the spanner. Phleg thought there might be guards in the tower – but still I don't need to know how their weapons work… it's irrelevant and he knows it. He's wasting valuable time and my patience"
Megufu punched forward hard and dodged as the bag came swinging back at him.
"As long as you're ready in time," said Gambo, "That's all that matters. If I were you I'd cope with Phleg and get along with him. Think of the money"
"Yeah that's what I keep telling myself over and over again," said Megufu.
"Who are you?"
"My name's Turin Sanders"
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to inspect the pipes"
"Good," said Phleg looking at his watch. He sipped his coffee and ran his finger over a list tiredly
"Are we done yet?" asked Megufu
Phleg stared at him for a few moments, "No," he replied.
"Why? We've been over all the questions seven times at least"
"You have to tell me which question you answered incorrectly"
Megufu looked blankly, "I didn't answer any questions incorrectly…"
"Yes you did," replied Phleg quickly, "Which one was it?"
"How can I tell you if you didn't tell me when I answered that it was wrong?"
Phleg sighed and put down his mug of coffee, "Is it that difficult?"
"Yes"
Phleg sighed again. Taking up the list he ran his finger down it, "You said you wanted to see the second level pipes. What about the third level?"
Megufu put a hand to his head and looked at the floor, "Phleg that was once. I've answered that six times correctly already and in any case I could just wander up to the third level anyway"
"That's not good enough"
"God," thought Megufu, "get a life"
The day came. Rikki and Revian turned up outside in their limo and Phleg and Gambo were finally 'happy' to some degree with the progress that Megufu had made. His red hair was in tatters hardly presentable. Phleg commented on it and in a last minute ditch effort they got it sprayed black at a hair salon so that he wouldn't look so noticeable. Gambo had stayed behind and Megufu had hoped that Phleg would as well but for some reason it seemed that the 'paper weight' was traveling with him. This was something he hadn't known about.
They traveled back past Indels Castle along the busy roads until they came again to the port. It was of course possible to take the fast road and drive to Kazas but time was of the essence and they needed to port it. This was all paid for on the house by the boss of Virage. Again Rikki and Revian handed out tickets and Megufu had no choice but to follow on. He felt an uncomfortable feeling of loss of control. It made him feel very insecure that these people were making all the decisions that they already knew the answers to. He didn't know anything but he was tagging along. He didn't know anything about this rock he was supposed to be getting.
