𝚒‎ ‎ ‎ 𝚊𝚖 ‎ ‎ ‎‎ 𝚖𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎

𝚗𝚘𝚠‎ ‎ 𝚘𝚛‎ ‎ 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛

Axis gazed out of the windshield of the vehicle, watching as Roman went to work on a padlock on a massive chain-link fence that bordered the airfield. Ariel observed out of the dark tinted windows of the passenger seat, gazing out into the direction of the setting sun as dusk was fast approaching. Roman grunted out softly as he repeatedly squeezed on the handles of the bolt cutters, doing his best to snap the metal of the padlock. After a moment, the lock finally snaps and falls to the pavement. Roman lets out a sigh of relief as he sets the bolt cutters down and reaches for the chain and unwraps it from the links of the fence. He then tosses the chain onto the ground and proceeds to open up the gate. Axis watched as Roman pushed the gate open before looking back to Ariel. 

"How are you feeling?" He then asked. 

"Still a bit nervous..." She replied, turning her attention away from her window and towards Axis. 

"Just stick to the plan and we will all be on our way." Axis then said as he glanced to the anthro. 

"I will." She said, giving him a quick nod. 

Axis then turns his attention back around in his seat and watches as Roman jogs over to the vehicle with bolt cutters in hand. He races back to the trunk of the vehicle and tosses the bolt cutters into the trunk and slams it shut before racing towards the driver door of his car. He swings open the door and jumps into the driver seat. 

"Goddamn, that lock was a bitch." Roman said, letting out a deep sigh as he reached his hand to the gear shifter, taking it out of park and into drive before rolling past the gates of the airfield. Axis stared ahead as they drove through, seeing the massive open fields and runways of the decommissioned airfield. In the distance were the abandoned terminals of a once proud and busy airport. Roman continued to drive deeper and deeper into the airfield before eventually coming to a stop in what he believed to be the exact midpoint of all the runways of the airport. 

"I don't like how open it is, but at least no one will be able to get the drop on us and we'll be able to see if anyone tries to box us in." Roman said, turning off the engine to the car and reaches into his trench coat pocket, taking out his nicotine module. 

"Now we simply wait for Alabaster to bring the ransom." Axis said, looking over to Roman. 

"He better not keep us waiting." Roman said, taking in a hit of his module and bellows out a small cloud of vapor. "The sooner we get the cash and get out of here, the better." 

The three waited in silence for about fifteen minutes or so, the sun having now fully set behind the horizon and the sky turning from twilight to dusk. As Roman sat in his seat with his head in the palm of his hand and his arm placed along the windowsill of his door, he suddenly spots the headlights of a car appearing from an end of the airfield. 

"Looks like the councilman has finally decided to show up." Roman then said, adjusting himself in his seat. 

Axis watched as the headlights of the vehicle made their way across the airfield and grew bigger as it sped towards their location. 

"Alright, it's showtime." Roman then said before turning around in his seat and shoots a glance towards Ariel. "And this time, no foul ups." He said coldly. 

Ariel pinned her ears back before looking over to Axis, the android giving a soft nod to her. She then turns her attention back to Roman before giving a nod to him as well and begins to exit the car. Axis and Roman do the same, slamming their doors shut as an all-white luxury car stopped on the pavement of the airfield about forty or so yards in front of them. Ariel stayed behind Axis as he stepped up to Roman's side. 

"Keep your eyes peeled." Roman quietly said out the side of his mouth to Axis. 

Suddenly, the doors to the luxury car swing open as Alabaster and a bodyguard once again step out of it.