Post by Maxine on Nov 23, 2020 23:41:53 GMT -8
A hit of Duchie craft vodka, and half a dose of sakura liqueur.
Another half-jigger of white peach liqueur.
A shot of ginger syrup,
And fresh lemon juice, to round out the flavour.
Ice, a mixing shaker, and the usual ritual.
A subtle peach-coloured cocktail, presented with a cigar to match.
Ah, and a cherry on the rim, of course.
”Only the best, you see. A professional’s work isn’t done until all parties are satisfied…”
”Kind of a girly style, isn’t it? Whatever – you don’t get a drink after most jobs. At least not before you’ve even changed. Yeah, cheers, rat.”
They weren’t at a club, or even at home yet – but the dull thudding of the Millenium Royal’s blades took the place of any dance track’s bassline. While perhaps it was louder than a hovercar’s dull hum, the luxury helicopter was made of much sturdier stuff and recent developments had made it a lot more reliable than the newer style of aeronautics. Admittedly, it couldn’t compare to the speed of a tiltrotor, but it was more subtle and far easier to land.
Speaking of stable – her job wasn’t done just yet. She had some more ulterior motives for having such a stable craft, aside from her side hustles. Well, no, it was more like – for her side hustles.
Tonight had been a messy job, for a different master. The Shinobu were involved, of course, but this was work for the Azure Dragoons’ enigmatic superiors instead… Maxine had yet to meet any of them, nor even had a full name for them; but she was confident in their intentions. And, though this job hadn’t been a quiet one, it was still routine. With her suit exchanged for a sweater, balaclava and BDU trousers, the android was looking even more serious than usual. Thankfully, her companion had done most of the work… the samurai didn’t know it, but she was a perfect patsy for this business.
While Hatsuka enjoyed her cocktail and clocked mere seconds after getting back aboard, she watched Maxine continue her work – in this case, pulling her signature assault rifle out of its metal case and start putting new parts on it. If you didn’t look too closely, you could be fooled by the interior into thinking the helicopter was a luxury vehicle… but, while on a job like this, it was treated more like an aerial operations centre than just a limousine with a rotor. Right now, though, it was a little hard to tell which role exactly it was in – Hatsuka had a cocktail in hand and was enjoying one of the leather seats, while Maxine knelt by her feet resighting a scope.
”So, working for secret societies is like this, huh? You think it’ll pay off for the Shinobu? Or are you just looking for excuses to play with fancier guns?” mused the taller lady – while the helicopter was large enough to let the 5’ android stand comfortably, she had to crouch… or lounge in a seat like this. ”I don’t really care. This was just another job to me. But, you know I don’t give a shit about business, so long as someone’s paying. Hm, well, don’t get me wrong, Shinobu come first – but, I’m not picky past that.”
”Regardless of this job, I feel similarly. I’m just looking into the future. The Duchies can’t rely on the World Government, and Capsule Corp will inevitably be our rivals. We have to secure alternatives – particularly those which are… befitting of our own ambitions.” Maxine paused as she finished fitting together her rifle, glancing up at Hatsuka. She was quite tolerable like this… aside from the blood stains all over her jeans. Tonight’s job had inevitably gotten messy, thanks to Miss Samurai… but, Maxine had been expecting it. She wouldn’t have asked for her rival if that hadn’t been the case. ”It’d be foolish to put our faith in them – but, they also can’t be blamed for feeling us out. When the competition is Saiyan warbands and people who spend their lives worshipping old weapons and stories, though… I think they are the right choice.”
The android twitched as her company moved – but thankfully, Hatsuka did not decide to use Maxine as a footrest while she was loading her gun. ”Right. I’m guessing that’s all I’ll get out of you, so I’ll leave you to your pet project. If it goes tits-up, though, I’m never going to let you live it down. You’re Shinobu now, not some puppy the chairman adopted.”
”Of course. Professionals have standards. You don’t let me live down the Valentines’ situation as it is. But, things are looking optimistic. Little news from this source, but the Azure Dragoons have had a good relationship with us so far. They may not fit in at our parties, but they know how to talk business and have exceptional R&D.”
Unlocking the helicopter’s side door, Maxine then tugged the heavy door across rather than relying on the automatic openers – it’d be far too obvious if she waited for that. She wasn’t under any threat, thankfully, and the sight of yet another helicopter in this clear night sky wasn’t going to be reported on; but she didn’t want to make a scene all the same. Particularly as she brought her rifle to bear, carefully setting up the bipod and kneeling down. Stability was key when firing from a platform like this…
”No big fancy sniper gun? C’mon. Isn’t that your schtick?”
”I do have a rifle like that, but this is a lot more comfortable at this distance. To be honest – I could never compare to a fully trained sniper. So, modifying my Mk 27 is much more convenient. Think of it like me… a jack of all trades. Folded stock, compact sight, angled sight and LAM for close-quarters, maybe with a masterkey if I can get away with it; then for mid-range –”
”Not listening… nerd.”
Maxine was glad she cut her off – work came first, as much as she’d like to talk gun technicalities. No moving targets tonight, but the cool breeze still had to be accounted for. A laser was supposed to be perfectly accurate, but refraction took the place of wind. The Duchies were nice and cold, so it wasn’t a major issue, but in the deserts it could be miserable.
Still, nothing else to worry about. Her Data of Previous Engagement internal records for STROBELITE were exceptional, and these were standard conditions. This battery was getting dry, and her rifle was a little roughed up; so the capacitor was cool and the parts dirty – good for long range results. She’d zeroed it again just a day ago, with a five-for-five consecutive hits. A harsh standard, and time-consuming, but satisfying. Thankfully, as an android, she didn’t need to think about inputting her contextual data into a ballistics kestrel – it could all be done in her ‘head’, so to speak, though it was more like a software plugin or application in truth. But, an advantage all the same.
”Wanna place a bet, Max? I think –”
A hiss, and a distant crack.
”…tch.”
It was easy, really. A straight shot at a stationary target. Shame, though. She would’ve won that bet with ease if she’d waited an extra second. But, those lights had to be shut off with force, as per the request of her handlers – better to finish early than late.
A second shot – another hit. It was a little lopsided, but still successful. Taking out lights like this was so brusque… but, no doubt they had some plan in mind. Maybe it was even just a signal, or a test.
Hatsuka stared over her shoulder with utmost disinterest. She’d finished the little cocktail glass, and was now drinking straight from the bottle of vodka. The android hid her disdain… that was for mixing, not drinking! ”So, rat. What do you think of that World Tourney business? The Shinobu higher-ups have been chatting about it a lot. The Duchies, too, I hear.” mused the lady, even going so far as to kneel down beside her compatriot – something of an awkward position, given their significant different in size and physique. Maxine’s shoulders were slimmer than Hatsuka’s thighs. ”I couldn’t care less! I think it’s a big waste of time. Being a celebrity must be nice, but I’d rather be known for something more useful than being some washed up martial artist…”
”That’s uncharacteristic of you. I thought being a washed up thug was part of your charm.” A snide remark, and to Maxine’s surprise she got away with it; being met with a snort rather than a whack on her head. ”I think the Duchies care because they’d like to be seen as modern samurai again. The Shinobu, though… I think they’d just like the PR. Nowadays, it truly is more of a marketing stunt than an event. A real warrior is out shedding blood on the battlefield, not being filmed on a made-up stage.”
”See? Of all people to get that, I didn’t think it’d be you. I don’t want to be some prim-and-proper loser who sits in nice cars between cage matches. That’s not the life for a killer. The Shinobu have class, of course; but we’re still knee-deep in the blood.”
”Yes, we practice violence as a means to an end, not as a matter of pleasure or ideology. Such things should be below the Duchies by now, but traditions die hard. The World Martial Arts Tournament is a waste.”
”Now now, don’t sulk. I know you wouldn’t be allowed your gun on stage, but there’s no need to huff and whine, Maxine.”
Finally, a third hiss, and a third crack. All the lights were down, for what few people crawled around this corner of Oolong’s outskirts to see – particularly in the dead of night. But then, Maxine had to recalibrate her aim… now was the hard part. Hopefully Hatsuka would continue to sit still, or this might become a bother…
Her new target was a lot smaller. Just a faint LED in the dark… she wasn’t sure of what to expect, either. The mission brief did not get that far. But, orders were orders. She lined up the shot slowly, carefully – just fifth of a mil, and that’d –
Hiss.
Crack.
Boom.
The pair watched in silence – not stunned silence, nor awe; but merely attention – as the apartment erupted in blue flames. Yet, the blast didn’t buffet their position; Maxine’s aim did not move even a centimetre… and, her target wasn’t scarred with a single scorch mark. ‘Cleaning solution’, they’d called it… this was quite impressive. An anti-organic formula, perhaps? But, with an ignition like that, it’d surely have led to some damage. Hm! She was more impressed by the moment. She really wanted to investigate herself –
”Pretty. Whatever – mission complete, rat. Get packed up and moving. No more staring. I wanna crash at home.”
– but unfortunately, Hatsuka was right.
She couldn’t waste any more time. Bipod folded up, gun pulled in, and door thrown shut – <Two, take us back the headquarters. Take a long route, just in case.> ordered Maxine, glad that the surrogate AI could handle the flying for her. Hopefully she wasn’t sulking over Spark Liner not getting any use tonight. <Yeah, roger! Glad you didn’t get carried away flirting!>
Ugh. Maxine glanced at Hatsuka, who thankfully couldn’t listen in on the android’s internal discussions – assuming she could even keep up with the speed of a processor. Judging by that bottle of expensive vodka she had just emptied, she might have trouble keeping up with the speed of a normal conversation soon. Shaking her head to herself, the android just focused on disassembling and packing her rifle… pah, flirting. S-Sure, Hatsuka was undeniably attractive, but she’d r-really rather not think about it too hard…
Honestly – she’d been well behaved lately. Maybe she had to give her more credit. ”Thank you for you work tonight, Hatsuka. You have been –“
”C’mere, rat.”
A-Ah. Hatsuka’s lap… was not so bad. Not like she had a choice. But, she still had work -
”Your sweater feels a lot nicer than your suit… so, be a good girl and sit with me. Show me your maid skills, huh? Ufufu… otherwise, I’ll leave a bad review. And then some…”
She could only blush and frown. All play and no work made Hatsuka a pest…
…but, the Duchies weren’t known for their exceptional co-workers. At least few other samurai were as comfy…
[2114/2000]
Starting PL: 18,390
Another half-jigger of white peach liqueur.
A shot of ginger syrup,
And fresh lemon juice, to round out the flavour.
Ice, a mixing shaker, and the usual ritual.
A subtle peach-coloured cocktail, presented with a cigar to match.
Ah, and a cherry on the rim, of course.
”Only the best, you see. A professional’s work isn’t done until all parties are satisfied…”
”Kind of a girly style, isn’t it? Whatever – you don’t get a drink after most jobs. At least not before you’ve even changed. Yeah, cheers, rat.”
They weren’t at a club, or even at home yet – but the dull thudding of the Millenium Royal’s blades took the place of any dance track’s bassline. While perhaps it was louder than a hovercar’s dull hum, the luxury helicopter was made of much sturdier stuff and recent developments had made it a lot more reliable than the newer style of aeronautics. Admittedly, it couldn’t compare to the speed of a tiltrotor, but it was more subtle and far easier to land.
Speaking of stable – her job wasn’t done just yet. She had some more ulterior motives for having such a stable craft, aside from her side hustles. Well, no, it was more like – for her side hustles.
Tonight had been a messy job, for a different master. The Shinobu were involved, of course, but this was work for the Azure Dragoons’ enigmatic superiors instead… Maxine had yet to meet any of them, nor even had a full name for them; but she was confident in their intentions. And, though this job hadn’t been a quiet one, it was still routine. With her suit exchanged for a sweater, balaclava and BDU trousers, the android was looking even more serious than usual. Thankfully, her companion had done most of the work… the samurai didn’t know it, but she was a perfect patsy for this business.
While Hatsuka enjoyed her cocktail and clocked mere seconds after getting back aboard, she watched Maxine continue her work – in this case, pulling her signature assault rifle out of its metal case and start putting new parts on it. If you didn’t look too closely, you could be fooled by the interior into thinking the helicopter was a luxury vehicle… but, while on a job like this, it was treated more like an aerial operations centre than just a limousine with a rotor. Right now, though, it was a little hard to tell which role exactly it was in – Hatsuka had a cocktail in hand and was enjoying one of the leather seats, while Maxine knelt by her feet resighting a scope.
”So, working for secret societies is like this, huh? You think it’ll pay off for the Shinobu? Or are you just looking for excuses to play with fancier guns?” mused the taller lady – while the helicopter was large enough to let the 5’ android stand comfortably, she had to crouch… or lounge in a seat like this. ”I don’t really care. This was just another job to me. But, you know I don’t give a shit about business, so long as someone’s paying. Hm, well, don’t get me wrong, Shinobu come first – but, I’m not picky past that.”
”Regardless of this job, I feel similarly. I’m just looking into the future. The Duchies can’t rely on the World Government, and Capsule Corp will inevitably be our rivals. We have to secure alternatives – particularly those which are… befitting of our own ambitions.” Maxine paused as she finished fitting together her rifle, glancing up at Hatsuka. She was quite tolerable like this… aside from the blood stains all over her jeans. Tonight’s job had inevitably gotten messy, thanks to Miss Samurai… but, Maxine had been expecting it. She wouldn’t have asked for her rival if that hadn’t been the case. ”It’d be foolish to put our faith in them – but, they also can’t be blamed for feeling us out. When the competition is Saiyan warbands and people who spend their lives worshipping old weapons and stories, though… I think they are the right choice.”
The android twitched as her company moved – but thankfully, Hatsuka did not decide to use Maxine as a footrest while she was loading her gun. ”Right. I’m guessing that’s all I’ll get out of you, so I’ll leave you to your pet project. If it goes tits-up, though, I’m never going to let you live it down. You’re Shinobu now, not some puppy the chairman adopted.”
”Of course. Professionals have standards. You don’t let me live down the Valentines’ situation as it is. But, things are looking optimistic. Little news from this source, but the Azure Dragoons have had a good relationship with us so far. They may not fit in at our parties, but they know how to talk business and have exceptional R&D.”
Unlocking the helicopter’s side door, Maxine then tugged the heavy door across rather than relying on the automatic openers – it’d be far too obvious if she waited for that. She wasn’t under any threat, thankfully, and the sight of yet another helicopter in this clear night sky wasn’t going to be reported on; but she didn’t want to make a scene all the same. Particularly as she brought her rifle to bear, carefully setting up the bipod and kneeling down. Stability was key when firing from a platform like this…
”No big fancy sniper gun? C’mon. Isn’t that your schtick?”
”I do have a rifle like that, but this is a lot more comfortable at this distance. To be honest – I could never compare to a fully trained sniper. So, modifying my Mk 27 is much more convenient. Think of it like me… a jack of all trades. Folded stock, compact sight, angled sight and LAM for close-quarters, maybe with a masterkey if I can get away with it; then for mid-range –”
”Not listening… nerd.”
Maxine was glad she cut her off – work came first, as much as she’d like to talk gun technicalities. No moving targets tonight, but the cool breeze still had to be accounted for. A laser was supposed to be perfectly accurate, but refraction took the place of wind. The Duchies were nice and cold, so it wasn’t a major issue, but in the deserts it could be miserable.
Still, nothing else to worry about. Her Data of Previous Engagement internal records for STROBELITE were exceptional, and these were standard conditions. This battery was getting dry, and her rifle was a little roughed up; so the capacitor was cool and the parts dirty – good for long range results. She’d zeroed it again just a day ago, with a five-for-five consecutive hits. A harsh standard, and time-consuming, but satisfying. Thankfully, as an android, she didn’t need to think about inputting her contextual data into a ballistics kestrel – it could all be done in her ‘head’, so to speak, though it was more like a software plugin or application in truth. But, an advantage all the same.
”Wanna place a bet, Max? I think –”
A hiss, and a distant crack.
”…tch.”
It was easy, really. A straight shot at a stationary target. Shame, though. She would’ve won that bet with ease if she’d waited an extra second. But, those lights had to be shut off with force, as per the request of her handlers – better to finish early than late.
A second shot – another hit. It was a little lopsided, but still successful. Taking out lights like this was so brusque… but, no doubt they had some plan in mind. Maybe it was even just a signal, or a test.
Hatsuka stared over her shoulder with utmost disinterest. She’d finished the little cocktail glass, and was now drinking straight from the bottle of vodka. The android hid her disdain… that was for mixing, not drinking! ”So, rat. What do you think of that World Tourney business? The Shinobu higher-ups have been chatting about it a lot. The Duchies, too, I hear.” mused the lady, even going so far as to kneel down beside her compatriot – something of an awkward position, given their significant different in size and physique. Maxine’s shoulders were slimmer than Hatsuka’s thighs. ”I couldn’t care less! I think it’s a big waste of time. Being a celebrity must be nice, but I’d rather be known for something more useful than being some washed up martial artist…”
”That’s uncharacteristic of you. I thought being a washed up thug was part of your charm.” A snide remark, and to Maxine’s surprise she got away with it; being met with a snort rather than a whack on her head. ”I think the Duchies care because they’d like to be seen as modern samurai again. The Shinobu, though… I think they’d just like the PR. Nowadays, it truly is more of a marketing stunt than an event. A real warrior is out shedding blood on the battlefield, not being filmed on a made-up stage.”
”See? Of all people to get that, I didn’t think it’d be you. I don’t want to be some prim-and-proper loser who sits in nice cars between cage matches. That’s not the life for a killer. The Shinobu have class, of course; but we’re still knee-deep in the blood.”
”Yes, we practice violence as a means to an end, not as a matter of pleasure or ideology. Such things should be below the Duchies by now, but traditions die hard. The World Martial Arts Tournament is a waste.”
”Now now, don’t sulk. I know you wouldn’t be allowed your gun on stage, but there’s no need to huff and whine, Maxine.”
Finally, a third hiss, and a third crack. All the lights were down, for what few people crawled around this corner of Oolong’s outskirts to see – particularly in the dead of night. But then, Maxine had to recalibrate her aim… now was the hard part. Hopefully Hatsuka would continue to sit still, or this might become a bother…
Her new target was a lot smaller. Just a faint LED in the dark… she wasn’t sure of what to expect, either. The mission brief did not get that far. But, orders were orders. She lined up the shot slowly, carefully – just fifth of a mil, and that’d –
Hiss.
Crack.
Boom.
The pair watched in silence – not stunned silence, nor awe; but merely attention – as the apartment erupted in blue flames. Yet, the blast didn’t buffet their position; Maxine’s aim did not move even a centimetre… and, her target wasn’t scarred with a single scorch mark. ‘Cleaning solution’, they’d called it… this was quite impressive. An anti-organic formula, perhaps? But, with an ignition like that, it’d surely have led to some damage. Hm! She was more impressed by the moment. She really wanted to investigate herself –
”Pretty. Whatever – mission complete, rat. Get packed up and moving. No more staring. I wanna crash at home.”
– but unfortunately, Hatsuka was right.
She couldn’t waste any more time. Bipod folded up, gun pulled in, and door thrown shut – <Two, take us back the headquarters. Take a long route, just in case.> ordered Maxine, glad that the surrogate AI could handle the flying for her. Hopefully she wasn’t sulking over Spark Liner not getting any use tonight. <Yeah, roger! Glad you didn’t get carried away flirting!>
Ugh. Maxine glanced at Hatsuka, who thankfully couldn’t listen in on the android’s internal discussions – assuming she could even keep up with the speed of a processor. Judging by that bottle of expensive vodka she had just emptied, she might have trouble keeping up with the speed of a normal conversation soon. Shaking her head to herself, the android just focused on disassembling and packing her rifle… pah, flirting. S-Sure, Hatsuka was undeniably attractive, but she’d r-really rather not think about it too hard…
Honestly – she’d been well behaved lately. Maybe she had to give her more credit. ”Thank you for you work tonight, Hatsuka. You have been –“
”C’mere, rat.”
A-Ah. Hatsuka’s lap… was not so bad. Not like she had a choice. But, she still had work -
”Your sweater feels a lot nicer than your suit… so, be a good girl and sit with me. Show me your maid skills, huh? Ufufu… otherwise, I’ll leave a bad review. And then some…”
She could only blush and frown. All play and no work made Hatsuka a pest…
…but, the Duchies weren’t known for their exceptional co-workers. At least few other samurai were as comfy…
[2114/2000]
Starting PL: 18,390