Sector 10

Chapter 10

The next time I met up with Jon was completely an utter coincidence. I was on a mission with a few other colleagues; a magnate had requested Sean to steal a particular mineral that originated from another Sector. All I knew was that I had to ensure the safety of those entering the museum to retrieve it – that was all I needed.

I had set up on the top of a building to the right of the museum where I could see Sabre and Cole enter. Cyber was on another providing information on the whereabouts of the item to the two entering. Through an earpiece, I listened to the muttering of Sabre and Cole as I loaded my gun, leaning against the covering of an exhaust fan. These bullets were heavier, narrower, and sharper than my usual; they were created to be able to go through multiple walls before piercing its target. I lifted my sniper and rested it on the raised edge of the roof.

The museum was about half the height of the structures around it with a contemporary design. One side – the side we were breaking in through – was higher than the other, gradually descending as it reached the other half of the building. It was mainly made out of pale navy bricks, but I suspected they were made with a material other than clay. Otherwise, the walls were coated with glass. The light-up letters that displayed the name of the museum were off. The museum was closed, like always.

Through my scope, I watched Sabre and Cole slice the window with a small device whilst they bickered in my ear. "Our operations would be a lot smoother if it weren't for you two," I grumbled.

Sabre and Cole droned on as if I said nothing. They stepped through the window as I inserted a circular lens into a chamber in my scope. Looking through the scope, almost everything was a purple-blue. The figures of Cole and Sabre were orange and red except for the few gadgets on them that remained blue.

I could see the steel skeleton of the museum. Within them, few guards manning the area. There was one guard not many halls away, slowly pacing back and forth. I hovered over him for a second before pulling the trigger. The sniper recoiled and I pulled the bolt back as the casing fell out with a ping. The silhouette fell to the ground and the orange colour faltered, the blue seeping into it.

I scanned the area surrounding Cole and Sabre and continued this process. Two. Three. Four and five. The bullet casings rolled around on the floor beside me.

"Item acquired," Sabre's voice was naturally stern and cold when it wasn't being used to argue with Cole.

"About time," Cyber mumbled. He was more on the timid side.

I scoured the route back for the two agents, but it was rid of any other guards.

"You're clear," I reported.

I removed the thermal-x-ray lens from my sniper. Attaching it to my back, I leaned against the roof's rampart and waited for Sabre and Cole to exit the museum. If the museum was closed, this area of the sector was normally deserted. But in my peripheral I caught a flicker of movement.

Positioned on the side of a walkway was Jon, of all people. With him, two children: one boy around ten years old and a girl around thirteen. Judging by their soiled clothing, they were from the ghetto. Jon was squatted down in conversation with the cheery boy whilst the girl was swiftly looting his pockets, examining them before hiding them away. Jon hadn't realised at all.

"Deliver the loot without me, I have something I need to do," I told the group.

"What could you possibly-" Cyber started before I took the earpiece out.

I left my post and vaulted over crevasses in between buildings towards Jon and the children. By the time I was almost above them, the girl was standing in front of Jon, displaying an innocent smile. I swooped in with the grapple while gripping on to my hood, arriving at Jon's side in a matter of seconds. The girl dropped her smile and immediately flicked her eyes towards me, inching in front of her brother cautiously. She had matted, flaming red hair and the boy's hair was a strawberry blonde. I saw myself in that austere face. I rummaged around a pocket in my pants and pulled out ten silver coins. I pulled my hood off my head as a sign of friendliness.

"Trade."

The girl looked at me incredulously, so I pulled out three more.

"Give me what you took from him and I'll give you these," I urged.

The girl sighed in attempt to hide her glee. She reached into the pocket of her pale blue zip-up jumper and gave me a muesli bar, a pen, and a watch. No, the watch.

She was staring at my sniper when I handed her the coins (and the muesli bar, much to Jon's dismay). As soon as I did, she took her brother's hand and they ran off together. Their excited chattering steadily grew distant. I turned to face Jon and handed him his belongings. He passively took them.

"Fancy seeing you here," I said as he tucked his returned possessions away.

"I don't understand..." he began. I was puzzled. I guess it's pretty coincidental that we met up unexpectedly again. "They were just kids. Why would they try to-?"

Oh.

"Let me show you."