Five men pulsed into existence, wearing jeans and leather jackets, as the hue from the holographic projector was green, I couldn’t decipher what colour their clothes were, but with the scarves and shades over their eyes, it didn’t matter. Behind them, I guessed were the words 'Justice' written in the background behind them.

“Colvolt Weitson…” A man said with a soothing voice. I couldn’t decipher who it was, but I assumed it was the one who stepped forward, the most central of the five.

“I trust this message has reached you safely.” Another said, stepping to the man’s right.

“We. Have. Your. Daughter.” The man on the far right said, stepping forward.

“You can have her back.” Another man said, on the far left, stepping forward.

“But only if you do as we say.” The man in the middle said.

“Stop all Automaton Productions.”

“…or transfer a One Trillion Epyhoni.”

“Epyhoni?” Rynord asked.

“It’s a cryptocurrency!” Naedon said.

“Either way.” The man in the middle said, raising his right hand. “You’ll figure it…or you won’t,” He said turning around.

The other four men followed suit, turning from the camera and making one step before the holographic projection fizzled out of existence. “Is that it?” Stelig asked, annoyed. “Yes,” Colvolt said.

“Who are they?” I asked, turning towards Colvolt. “Why ask me?” He answered gruffly.

“…because their voices aren’t masked. They wanted you to know who they were. So tell me, who are they?”

Colvolt’s lips drew a line whilst his jaw protruded from annoyance. A vein popped out to the side of his head and throbbed intensely as he eyed me as if I’d bitten him. The industry magnate continued his gaze, ignoring everyone in the room, but me.

“You’re not that intimidating Colvolt.” I said, “trust me.”

Mr Black slapped the table, filling the room with the sound of strained wood and rocked back in his chair, chuckling with his deep husky voice. “You really should tell us, who they are Colvolt…” Naedon chimed in. “We need to understand why your daughter was kidnapped.

“You don’t!” He snapped. “You have one job. get her back, THAT’S IT”

“Mr Weitson…” Stelyne said. “If it were up to me, you wouldn’t be on this mission with my team. But whatever it was you did get on this team. Doesn’t mean shit.”

Colvolt slammed his fist into his desk, breaking it into. The magnate stormed towards the holographic projector, flipping the data chip and playing the other side.

“I see you were smart enough to check this site.” The man in the middle said, pulsing into existence once more. This time though, he was alone. Weird, I thought. “If you want to see your lineage end here. Then you’ll accompany that army you plan to purchase to take back what it is yours..” He said.

The man fizzled out once more and Colvolt yanked the data chip from the holographic projector. Stelyne pulsed back into existence and shook her head. “You could’ve simply said that.”

“For what? You all think I’m here just for gallivanting sake. You all do even know what’s at stake here. I do so stop meandering and get me, my DAUGHTER!”

The room fell silent, leaving the uncomfortable sound of shifting chairs and adjusted tables. Stelyne allowed it to marinate for thirty seconds, then proceeded on. “Then, I’ll have to ask you to step out of the room Mr Weitson. My team will begin formulating a strategy on how to get your daughter back.”

The wood of Colvolt’s chair groaned out as if the violin was breaking in half when he pushed himself up. Colvolt didn’t speak but allowed his stomps to speak for him, leaving us to our machinations, not showing a smidgen of emotion as he left the room, like the rat bastard that he is.

“I hate that guy,” Stelig said.

“Likewise…” Tryzer added.

“Mr Solap,” Stelyne said, camera turning towards the warden. “Keep an eye on him….I don’t trust him.” The Warden pushed himself from his seat and exited the soundproof chattel house.

“You have something in mind for Rikor Haek? It’s clear he planned everything from The Broken Sphere and Belleview Port.”

“The problem is, Rikor Haek has months to plan to the defence of Devil’s Reach and because of it, we’re unsure of their defensive capability. Colvolt being here is a problem. We’re unsure of Devil’s Reach firepower. Too. Many. Variables.“

“…are we on the clock?” Stelig said.

“Yes,” Stelyne answered.

“…The kidnappers have no interest in Automaton production,” Stelig said.

“…but weren’t the riots a few months based on these Automatons?” Tryzer asked.

“Not the point, didn’t you hear they want Eponi or whatever that cryptocurrency is called,” Stelig said.

“… what’re the credits for?” Rynord asked

“Probably a guise, they want something from Colvolt, that’s why he’s here,” I answered.

I turned to Mr Black, who sat quietly feet lapped whilst he tapped his left hand against his desk. He rose his right hand to his face then blew it onto his nails. “Do you think the riots have any relation to this?” I asked.

Mr Black’s lips curled into a knowing smile, as he turned to me. “Why would you even ask me? I’m just a simple facilitator here.”

“I know you know something,” I said firmly.

“…my information comes at a price Stelyne, do you need it that badly?” Mr Black said, turning to the holographic projection.

“Give it, Black” Colonel Levisay pulsing into existence. “I have no time for your machinations and subtle moments of subterfuge here. Anything that would guarantee my men’s safety and increase the success ratio of the mission would surely suffice. Now spit it out.”

“Yes…this is truly related to the production of Automatons, but not in the way that you think. Colvolt Weitson recently won the bid for the contract for the Landfill Withdrawal Contingency Act Bill.”

“That bill hasn’t reached the floor yet.” Colonel Levisay said.

“Colonel Levisay, I’m disappointed, you believe a bill that’s worth billions over decades, hasn’t been decided on?” Mr Black said.

“That bill promises thousands of jobs throughout the entire Antillean Federation. Once passed, it’s expected to lower the unemployment rate from 20% to at least 9%.” Stelig said.

“That slimeball!” I snapped. “He intends to use his Automatons to do the work instead of the people.”

“Cypher…you are a charm.” Mr Black said smiling from ear to ear.

“What work?” Naedon asked.

“There’s been a growing concern with the increase in Landfills throughout the federation.”

“The concern being?”

“Possibility of the waste reaching the water supply.”

“Water supply?”

“Didn’t you learn anything in primary school? The federation’s cities are giant cisterns built around a reservoir to facilitate the cities needs.”

“I know that!”

“But what does that have to do with the Landfill act?”

“The act is being pushed to remove all trash and placing it within The Waste instead, once that’s completed a cleanup.”

“…and that rat bastard doesn’t want to give the people the work? That asshole.”

“…right.”

“…so this isn’t about the credits.”

“It is not…this is about work for generations.”

“Wow…” Stelig said.

I could see the amazement in his eyes and it only made me angry. Not at Stelig of course, but because of the situation. I understood why they’d kidnap Elhisia Weitson, but there was a rock in a hard place, with no way out.

“Let’s give them what they want,” Naedon said. “Halt Automaton production?”

“No. We can’t do anything about that, but we can get them that cryptocurrency.”

“How? We’re in the god damn WASTE” Tryzer roared.

“Mr Black, can you get that done??” Naedon asked.

“Colonel Levisay, my fee is looking pretty hefty right now.”

“Don’t be coy with me, Black. I know you have crypto on you, always.”

“I don’t have a billion Colonel.”

“We don’t need a billion, we just need crypto. It’s as you’ve proven. They don’t care about the money, it’s about the Automatons. We just need to establish some form of parley with them.” Naedon said.

“Humph…” Mr Black grunted.

“Who said—“ I tried to say, but Naedon interrupt me. “Cut the bullshit Cypher, I saw how you moved through the crowd back at The Broken Sphere. Mr Black called you an Operative.”

“I’ve done some Operative-level work…yes, but I’m no spy.”

“Cut the bullshit Cypher…Once a spy always a spy.”

I wanted to retort, but I had none, so I kept my mouth shut, and let this frustrating feeling ruminate within me for a few seconds.

“…wait a minute,” Tryzer said, “if they needed Colvolt to be here, then that means, they want his signature to take over the contract itself then.”

“…or kill him and his daughter, ensuring someone else could get the contract,” Naedon said.

“You’re right Captain, they mean to kill them both.”

Naedon stiffened his shoulders and sat up, turning to all of us. “Alright, everyone. listen up, I think I have a solution that could both fix this problem, without fault.”

“I’m game boss,” Stelig said.

“Always Cap,” Tryzer said.

“As long as I get to shoot someone, I’m game,” Rynord said.

“The floor is yours, Captain.” Colonel Levisay said.

“Cypher…”

“…yeah?

“…I’m gonna need you to kidnap Elhisia whilst we parley with Rikor Haek for the exchange.”

“That’s fucking suicide…on both accounts, mine and yours!” I snapped

“…but it’s the best option we have.

My head began to pound, feel as though I’d just tied a noose around my neck. This plan, kidnap Elhisia? Without knowing what surprises Devil’s Reach had, was bullshit, but what else choice did I have? I needed the credits for Hannah-Lee and she always came first…regardless of anything.

“…I’ll see what I can do.”