First Day on the Job {Open}

[Deleted]

Tori was still relevantly new to the city as she explored the Uptown of the city. A client had came to them wanting help on busting a crime spree of a new drug that was so dangerous it killed on contact. Tori was dressed in her usual green tank top with red leather jacket, red janes, and red shoes asking around about the drug, but so far nobody knew anything. She knew however that if she turned over enough stones someone were going to come out of the woodwork wanting answers.

Tori walked down the pavement with her hands in her pockets. Her Socom pistol was concealed in her leather jacket. She had to keep the FA-MAS and PSG-1 at the base because she had no way to conceal it all in her clothing, and it didn't look good to be packing that much heat when you wanted to make a peaceful first impression. Tori continued to look around the city wondering where to stop to next until she came to a street light and pressed it waiting for the walking light to flash so she knew she could cross the street safely.

While she was waiting she got a text on her cellphone and picked it up. On the screen was a message from someone simply titled 'The Genius' which said, "Good afternoon, Miss Jacobs."

Tori replied, "Who is this and how did you get this number?"

Which the Genius replied, "Information is my specialty."

Tori was so lost in the conversation that she didn't even notice the person next to her.

[Ophelia Courtney]

Ophelia liked to keep an eye on the city. She wasn't a huge player, she knew the size of her pond and exactly what size of fish to be in it, but she still considered Astaria to be her city to a degree. And she took any significant threat to her city seriously. Well, as seriously as the size of her pond allowed.

She especially kept an eye on the drug scene. It was where a decent chunk of her income came from, and there was something more she was looking for in it. A drug called Ambrosia, said to give powers to the powerless and enhance the powers of the powerful. That sort of thing could be very good for her other business endeavors. But what had got her attention today wasn't anything leading to that, unfortunately. There was a hot new cocktail in town, a blend of several drugs that was going by the name One Way. It had got that name for a very specific reason; You take the dose, you get the greatest high of your life...

Then you die. One way ticket to whatever lies beyond this mortal coil.

Ophelia found that repulsive. That was just killing off customers, potential income streams. You couldn't get people hooked on a drug that killed you after one use.

But apparently, this generation had a thing for not wanting to be alive, and wanting to feel something, anything before they left, so it had gained some popularity. And Ophelia knew that someone was looking into it. She'd done her own investigating and found some information, but couldn't act on it. This could be just what she needed.

She'd been watching this woman for a while, keeping a fair distance, waiting for the right moment to approach. Ophelia sidled up next to her at a crossing, dressed casually, jeans and a t-shirt with some simple, sensible shoes. Nothing to stand out.

Her phone seemed to be distracting her. Perfect time. Ophelia pulled a scrap of paper out of her pocket, scribbled "I know things about One Way. Meet me in ten minutes in the next alleyway" on it, folded it in half, then scribbled "Open Me" on the top.

"Excuse me, miss. Excuse me. I think you dropped this."

@tori

[Deleted]

Tori disliked surprises. Whoever this Genius was he was bold enough to talk to her somewhat directly on her phone, yet cautious enough not to show his face. Tori's attention was taken away from the cellphone for a minute when she saw a stranger give her a piece of paper.

"I didn't..."

Before Tori could say anything more she saw the writing on the note and opened it. More suspicion filled up her mind. Was this another message by the Genius? Tori didn't like it, but she also needed to find out whatever she could on One Way before it killed anymore innocent people. Tori folded the paper again and put it in her pocket before walking over to where the next alleyway was and coming inside of it. Looking around for any signs of someone who might be there.

"You couldn't have picked a nice coffee shop to meet instead?"

Sarcasm dripped in her voice, but she was mostly talking to herself right now. Until whoever wrote that note made their presence known.

Ophelia Courtney

[Ophelia Courtney]

As soon as the paper was in the woman's hand, Ophelia had left and made her way to the alleyway first, found a good spot in the shadows, and covered her face with a cloth mask that she kept on her for emergencies, situations just like this where she didn't want her civilian identity to be implicated.

"Because, dearie, coffee shops are dreadfully cliché. And the security is atrocious, unless you take measures to make it sufficient. But that's a lot of money and time I don't have right now, and I imagine you're more concerned with the people making One Way than whether or not your barista will sell you out."

She stepped out of the shadows partially, keeping herself still somewhat obscured. She had her make-do mask, sure, a piece of fabric that covered the top half of her face, but still. Better safe than sorry. "In the circles that matter for this conversation, I'm known as Catalyst. And it's good business to keep an eye on... lets say the competition. And normally, competition is good. It gives the quality products opportunities to show their quality. But this One Way stuff... there's no repeat customers."

She leaned against one of the buildings that made up the alleyway, crossing her arms and gesturing with one hand as she spoke. "I would like to propose a mutually beneficial arrangement. I'm privy to certain information about what is being made where and who is dealing what. However, it would be dreadfully poor manners for me to do anything about it. I have a reputation to maintain, after all, and I'd like to keep these information lines open. And when people start getting hit by my people after they told me what they're up to, they tend to clam up. But you, darling, you're not my people. You're someone who's looking to hit these people anyway. I pass you information, you take care of our little... mutual problem. Everyone goes home happy, and people stop dying over one good trip. What do you say?"

@tori

[Deleted]

"Yes, because standing in the shadows is totally not cliché."

Tori looked around at her surroundings. If this woman was connected to the Genius Tori had a feeling she would've said so by now. She was likely separate, but the mystery of the Genius could be solved another day. Right now it was about One Way and stopping a dangerous drug from being on the street. Tori didn't like the idea of working with someone who was in this field of work, but for right now it was a necessity. This woman, Catalyst, wanted One Way off the street too, and right now that all that mattered.

"Sure, but double cross me and I'll break your legs. Now tell me what you know."

Tori still didn't trust this woman fully, but right now only so much trust was needed. Time would tell if the information this woman had would be good or not. At least Tori would give her a chance to prove her worth.

Ophelia Courtney

[Ophelia Courtney]

Ophelia smirked. She liked this woman's attitude.

"So violent. You might need that, darling."

She moved and reached to set a hand on the woman's shoulder. Always good to try to find out if the person she was working with had powers and what they could go.

"Now of course, you didn't hear this from me or anyone connected to me, but there's supposed to be a transfer at the warehouse that's been producing this fatal hit in less than a week. Next Tuesday night, as a matter of fact, around 11. I wonder what would happen if someone interfered. Distributors and producers all in one place on one night... it would be a shame if a decent force came and crashed the party at warehouse 94 on the docks."

She moved back toward the shadows in the back of the alley, preparing to climb and make her way up onto the rooftops to make her exit. "Do put the word out into the underworld of the city if you have any people with powers that might like a little boost going into this little dance. I'm sure we could make a mutually beneficial deal. No drugs involved in that."

@tori