《Quantum Thief》Ch. 1
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Our budding villain made his way through the countryside teleporting through backyards, wooded areas, and alongside open road, finally making his way to what passes for a town around these parts. I lament the fact that ever since the Super Villain Gaia unleashed his powers on the world most rural areas have been expanded from 40-85%. Though this area was in the sticks anyways, it's a special feeling to be 5 hours away from any type of non-pioneering cities. I could try to start my life as a villain in a start-up city, but I'd be more likely to be mugged or press-ganged than find a reliable buyer for contraband. Those places are also much to close to law-abiding lands to be safe for a thief to relax. One wrong theft and I get either capes or an S.W.A.T. team on my tail. Much better to stick close to the more organized side of crime. I'd hate for my father to get wind of my actions either; the old man was an A-rank Hero before he retired. I would have to flee the continent to escape his grasp, as traveling deep into Villain controlled territory is much to dangerous for my tastes.
Getting out of my head, I enter the pawn shop of the little town I'm in to sell my console. Since it doesn't have the [stolen] status on it, I don't have to worry about getting outed as a thief just yet. At least this state is against forced appraisals and has the Villain Rights Laws in effect, so I won't be dragged to jail for having Villain on my status. Still, it's best to be hush-hush about these things. I get $120 for my console and buy an old pair of binoculars ($5) while I case the joint. When I see that the clothes section is not in view of the camera and the clerk, I thank him and leave the store. Turning into an alley, I teleport when I am sure no one can see me. I quickly steal a ski-mask, gloves, and a pair of sun-glasses. Seeing nothing else of value while staying out of sight I pop back in the alley and continue through it. Coming onto a street I remember I silently walk the streets until I see the library. Sitting down in the courtyard I check to see if I am in Wi-Fi range. Seeing as I am I boot up my fairly new laptop and check to see that it's 6pm, if it wasn't the summer than it would be dark out. I see when the buses run and see that the closest bus stop is at a gas station on the edge of town.
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I get out the jerky and snack cakes and eat while I do some online sleuthing to make a plan. 20 minutes later I finish my plan and my meal. Down a bag of jerky and half a box of cakes I walk to the edge of town while washing my food down with some water. I get to my destination at 7:30 and consider my options. Heroes and Villains don't just fight each other for control, if they did that then the government would have beaten them all down before the system even initialized. You see, across the entire world, there are system generated Heroes and Villains Guilds. These Guilds employ people to either uphold justice or to commit misdeeds. They give our guests that either make it easier to obtain skills or give out system coins. These system coins can be traded for various skills, weapons, armors, tools, and very rarely, even powers! These Guilds are positioned in various buildings across the world, even in a few caves. They are usually locked up when one pops up in an area controlled by an opposing faction. Which is why I need to go to villain controlled country ASAP. Las Vegas is one of the few villain controlled cities that make enough money from gambling and tourism that it still maintains law on the streets and peace between gangs. All villain controlled city fencers, which are basically criminal pawn shops. If I steal from pioneer cities and sell in Vegas, then I should be safe enough.
As I was musing over my life, time passes. As darkness falls I pop up to the roof of the gas station. After an hour of waiting I see the bus that I was waiting for. I let the people exit, and as new people are boarding I teleport into the back of the bus, no one saw me do it and I don't see any cameras at all on the bus. When people see me on the bus they assume I am one of the few people on the bus that stayed on, waiting to get off at another stop. As the bus departs I get ready to sleep as I ponder where I can find a gun on the road, as there is no way in hell that I'm going into villain territory without a piece.
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Loot List:
$172.78
Binoculars
Clothes
Food
Knife
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