Chapter17: Thief
"… Hello you're here with me Japhael Magrin with the mid-morning news. The Rouge authorities have been gripped in panic today after there was a terrorist incident at the Rouge Heritage museum. The age old tomb of the legendary thunder dragoon Haschal has been opened illegally by what we can only imagine as some terrorist group. Enforcers stormed the museum after several explosions in what can only be described as a magic battle took place in the gardens of the museum. Hostages were taken and three were wounded severely and have since been magically healed"
"We'll go now to Mappiri Long who's at the scene now. Mappiri what's the situation down there?"
"Well Japh currently the enforcers are not letting us inside the museum, but what we have been told is that the statue of Haschal that has stood for so long has been toppled and wrecked split in half down the middle. It's not yet known whether it's possible to repair the statue. The tomb itself was buried under the debris which is still being cleared. The terrorists whoever they were, were attempting to set up a port inside the building presumably so that they could take out as much loot as possible…"
"So we're told, there was some kind of conflict, is that true Mappi?"
"They're not willing to tell us much. As you can see behind me enforcers are everywhere surveying the scene. The captain of the guard has told me that they've got just about every mech-platform in Rouge out here surveying the scene. There were certainly explosions sounding from within the complex but as to what was going on – in regards to a battle as you said we have really not much of an idea"
"Thankyou very much Mappiri – that was Mappiri Long at the Rouge Heritage Museum. Now as you may or not remember there's also been a similar break in to the black tower in Kazas. One of the scientists who was working on the strange rock has made an appeal today for the terrorist who stole it to return it for the sake of science…"
Megufu pulled out the price tag of the black coat and flung it on the floor. It was a wet rainy day and puddles were everywhere. He watched the image box from behind glass in the street. The shop was shut and had a closed sign on the entrance of the door. A magi-wheel screeched round the corner with a flash of blue sparks and splashed Megufu from head to toe driving away at high speed. Teenagers were waving their hands out the windows laughing at him as it sped off. He cursed silently under his breath.
Dripping wet he walked down the street passed an overturned dustbin and entered into an alleyway that was adjacent to the electronic shop. The shop was red brick and at the end of the alleyway was a large metal wire fence with a red square sign saying "Keep out". Looking up he noticed an open window on the wall of the shop. The walls weren't close enough to climb. He'd have to get in another way.
With a flash of purple dark light he shot up and grabbed hold of the ledge his head hitting the glass above in pain. Scrambling – the wings getting in the way he shoved himself in and rolled onto the floor in the room above. With another flash of light he was normal and rubbing his head.
The room was untidy with a bed and an open wardrobe – clothes were everywhere. Carefully Megufu searched the room for anything he could use. There was some jewelry hidden away in a draw next to the bed which he took. Under the bed there was a metal safe that he couldn't get into. He left it for the moment and searched the wardrobe briefly. An image box was turned off in the corner of the room. Rain drizzled down the windows.
He passed briefly through the door into the bathroom quietly. It seemed like nobody was home which was lucky for him. The owners of the shop had probably gone on holiday or something. There was a kid's room with a skull and cross bones on the door. He didn't enter it.
In the bathroom Megufu searched through the cupboards. He found several healing potions and a mind and body purifier. He took them all and shaved in the mirror. In the kitchen which was also on the upper floor he found a fridge with some food in it. There was a pack of chocolate éclairs and a half empty container of milk. There was some soup wrapped up in a bowl and a blue plastic box of mushrooms. Taking preference Megufu ate the éclairs and drank the milk. He found a pack of biscuits in a cupboard which he also ate.
Walking back to the bedroom he dragged the safe out from under the bed and put it on the floor. From his coat he took out the strange sword that had killed both Cain and Kongal. There was just the handle as he took it out but a moment later it burst into yellow flames the blade appearing by magic. It seemed to be activated somehow by the thought of attack. As soon as Megufu decided to strike the blade was there in flames.
"Lets see if this works," he said bringing it down. There was a clang and the safe door was cut clean off its hinges. Inside there was a large pile of notes wrapped up with an elastic band. Megufu took them all and stuffed them in his coat pockets. Leaving the room he walked down the stairs. In the shop he found some more money in the till which he also took. Image boxes and technological gadgets were everywhere. The ones in the windows were on but others were just on shelves turned off collecting dust. Batteries and gum were on sail just in front of the till. He left unlocking the front door from the inside he closed it behind him the image box still blaring away. As he left he just realized that they couldn't have gone on holiday if they'd left the box on. He'd been lucky. They'd probably just gone out for a meal somewhere. He walked away down the street feeling slightly but not completely guilty.
"… whoever he is and wherever he is and whoever he works for – he's a dangerous man. If anyone knows him or thinks they have seen him then please can they tell the authorities immediately. This rock whatever it is must be found. It could hold the key to self replenishing power sources. This man is dangerous and is certainly not working for just reasons. He must be stopped"
