Had some help from Ajer. Hope you enjoy this new story in the Big Six Universe!

CHICAGO

Earth - 5703

The city streets of Chicago illuminated with the warm glow of yellow street lamps, the sidewalk snow a glistening smooth orange. Lights of the city skyscrapers dotted the sky, replacing the stars. Over them came the soothing moans of the Orcrons, a giant flying whales that glowed in bioluminesce. They were being herded by the giant sky ships, powered by a blue crackling energy.

On the city streets, a black motorcycle revved down in a high speed, carrying atop two young adult passengers.

"Just keep going." Hunter told his baby sister while driving the motorcycle, with her holding onto him.

Taila rolled her eyes and said. "I already know, whenever something bad happens, we keep going and never turn back."

Hunter turned back and said. "Well it's true, like the bar incident."

Taila retorted. "That guy was touching me, in a place that shouldn't be touched." She growled.

Hunter, and Taila were a brother and sister duo. They've been out on their own since the age of 3. They're twins, with Taila being born a few minutes earlier. She's the responsible one to Hunter being the irresponsible one.

They consider themselves outcasts. They're nomads. They go wherever the road takes them.

They also have to put food on the table, even if it means getting lousy jobs, but hey that's the thing about bounty hunters, they do whatever they're paid for.

Taila asked. "You still got our "package in the bag?"

Hunter turn to the bag, as it was moving around. "Sadly, yes." He grumbled. He wasn't particularly happy with their latest bounty hunting gig.

Taila took notice and rolled her eyes. "Suck it up, you big baby. What we do, is what we're paid for. Be happy." She quickly lectured him.

Hunter grimaced and said. "I know that, but it's been a while since we had a good bounty hunting job worth our time."

Taila sighed as they soon stopped at a local bar. "This is what we do, regardless. And besides, you shouldn't wish for something dangerous little bro."

Hunter groan with the reminder of being the little brother. "You were only born minutes earlier. Don't rub it in." He said before walking to the door.

Taila rolled her eyes, smirking. "Let's just get a little drink, then we can get back on the road, and collect our payment."

Hunter sigh before opening the door. "Yeah, fine whatever."

Inside the bar, was rather small, with only a few people. But had the tune of christmas jingles in the background, and decorations around, as the bartender name Mac was humming the tune.

Hunter called out to the man. "Yo, Mac!"

The old man turn around and gave a smile. "Ay, my two favorite bounty twins, what can i get you?"

Taila smile and sat down. "Eh just a whisky, and some eggnog."

Hunter gave a look of disgust and asked. "You drank that shit? Gross." he muttered.

Taila lightly hit his shoulder playfully and said. "Oh hush, it's good..for me." She added.

Mac chuckled and asked while getting the drinks. "So, whatcha get this time?"

Hunter shrugged. "Little gremlin type." He muttered.

Mac sighed and said. "Hey, be happy you got food on the table, most don't have that."

Hunter muttered. "Taila said the same thing."

Taila counter back with a snarky reply. "Cuz it's true. Bro-Bro, we have to make ends meet, for food, housing, and also Christmas gifts."

Hunter raised an eyebrow at that. She was always a Christmas nut. Always on about singing carols, about making cookies, trying to get home for the holidays. "Sis, really? Too old for that don't you think?"

Taila gave him a pout and push him playfully. "Nobody is old for the holidays, now you don't want that new Playstation system?" She asked goading him with a grin.

Hunter turn to her and soon that innocent look that's rarely shown on the young trion appear. "You got me, the playstation 5?"

Taila grin. "Maaaybe?" She snickered before drinking her egg nog.

Hunter glare return, though a more soft hearted one, and sticks his tongue at her. "Bleh!"

Talia cackled in delight as she downed the rest of her eggnog, letting out a satisfied groan.

"Mac you're the best!" she said, to which Mac smiled brightly.

"Come on," she said as she slapped Hunter on the shoulder, "Time to get paid."

A few minutes later, the two found themselves in the office of the Bounty Hunter's Guild, a standard police station that also happened to contain wandering bounty hunters, of different species and genders, along with their bounties. Talia walked inside the office, telling Hunter that she should do the talking. Bounty Hunting is a tricky occupation, one with a lot of forms and tests in order to get paid in full. Hunter was never one to really care about procedures, so Talia decided to spare him by having him wait at the lobby, hopefully to snack on some nuts and read some magazines.

Once Talia filled the forms and verified the bounty, the bag was takento be locked up in an appropriate cell before getting transported then stood in line at the payout desk and after ten minutes of waited and presented her number. The bored receptionist, wearing beady glasses, took the number, typed some stuff on a keypad and a receipt printed out the payment slip. Talia took the slip and looked at it, her face dropping into confusion.

"Uh, excuse me?" Talia said with a friendly smile that masked frustration, "There seems to be a mistake here? This says 20,000 eddies." The receptionist didn't look up, just continued chewing her gum.

"That's your payment," she droned, "20,000."

"But the bounty was for 120,000," Talia said, the smile strained. The receptionist continued to drone.

"Minus fees for multiversal portal clearance…"

"Well-"

"…property damage…"

"Hey! We-"

"…memory wipes of any exposure to multiversal travel…"

"But-"

"…and any physical injury to a creature that is not the assigned bounty or affiliated with the assigned bounty."

At this point, Talia sighed defeated. There was no point in arguing further, especially considering that the last part was true. Talia lashed out in an unprofessional manner, and obviously it cost her. She took her slip and began to walk out. Now she just had to break the news to Hunter.

"Oof, sounds like that last job went south," a smooth, gruff sound said to Talia who stopped, stunned. Woah, he's here! Be cool Talia, don't embarrass yourself!

Talia turned to see a cowboy standing there, with a red poncho, a big cowboy cap hanging low above his face which had a scruffy brown beard. One of his arms was cybernetic, and it was used to hold a smoking cigar. He was one of the legendary bounty hunters of the guild, and also the most handsome.

"Cole Cassidy," Talia said, trying her best to sound cool, "What are you doing here? Cashing in a more expensive bounty?" Cole laughed as he took a drag from his cigar.

"Actually, I was just here to make a donation," he said, "The Toys For Tot drive is running, and Winston and Tracer just gave me a whole bag of toys to drop off."

"How noble," Talia said. Really Talia? That's the best you could say to that?

"Still though," Cole continued, "I couldn't help but overhear your chat with the receptionist. Sounded like your recent job didn't go that well."

"You could say that," Talia said, "Barely enough for fuel these days." Cole tilted his head and gave a warm smile.

"Tell you what? How a bit a little something for Christmas?" he said. He looked left and right and then leaned in closer, speaking in a lower volume.

"I hear there's a new bounty coming up," Cole said as he pulled out a blue shard, "Something about a monster rampaging in another dimension. Bounty hasn't been posted yet, but come tomorrow it should be ripe for the taking."

Talia took the shard from Cole and looked at him curiously. His face was pretty close and Talia could feel her cheek start to warm.

"And you're just giving this to me?" Talia asked. Cassidy smiled as he leaned back with his arms wide.

"Like I said, it's Christmas!" Cole then strutted out of the room, like the badass cowboy he is. As he walked out, he turned and gave a prompt salute.

"See you around Tali," he said. As soon as he officially left, Talia dropped her facade and let out a squee of delight. I just met Cole Cassidy! And he knows who I am! And he's so cute…"

Talia shook herself to calm down. Be professional. She turned to exit the building, shard in hand with a new bounty ready to go.

After exiting the office, and gently breaking the news of their loss to Hunter, Taila walked onto the motorcycle with Hunter, and asked. "Hey..you know i appreciate you being by my side.." She said with a tender tone in her voice.

Hunter closed his eyes and gave a smile. "Same here..despite being a thorn in my side." He chuckled joking.

Taila gave a teasing glare and hit his arm. "Come on, we gotta get on home, and onto our next mission first thing tomorrow, we heard that a monster is on the loose in another weird dimension.

Hunter chuckled. "Like our dimension isn't weird enough." He joked.

Taila shook her head in an amused manner. "Whatever, let's just go home, and get some shed-eye."

Hunter gave a thumbs up, as they drove off into the city. This was only the beginning for these duo, for they didn't realize that things were gonna lead to something bigger around this time of the year.

This is the story of the multiverse.