Outer Olympus

Outer Olympus: Chapter 39

Viola was keenly aware of the risks she was taking as she walked down the streets of Maintenance Six. With the manhunt for her so escalated, simply showing her face wasn't something she could do without forethought anymore. If not for consideration of her own safety, for Sasille at least, who had been very understandably rattled by her experience with the bounty hunters in a way Viola felt guilty for not thinking about until it was pointed out to her. She had done her disguise work, wearing a pair of ill-fitting well-worn overalls she had liberated from Geode, dyed her hair a dirty blonde, applied foundation to mess up the shape of her face. Nobody would match her to the image of the girl on the news from Outpost Raven or the girl at the party.

Her route was also carefully planned. She stayed out of areas that were heavily populated as best she could, moving through scarcely travelled tunnels and the lower levels where someone looking to pass without notice wasn't unusual when she could. It helped that most of her destinations were shady enough that they avoided prying eyes. Her mission was simple; she had some stolen luxury goods, and she wanted to turn them into cash. Two watches and a pearl bracelet had, after some bargaining, negotiating, and manipulation on both ends of the deal, turned into about one hundred thousand credits. It was more money than she'd ever had, sitting in the pocket of her overalls. Just over half a year's wages for the average dockworker, enough to keep her and her friends going without future criminal activities for a long while. She had really underestimated how expensive luxury watches were; that hundred thousand was still only taking about fifteen percent of market value for them (which was a pretty good price for stolen goods). Credit to Taroh for knowing off hand that these types of things were worth enough to check prices on individual brands and models, that research had paid major dividends. On an ordinary day, she would have stopped by a shop to celebrate, get something good to eat maybe, but she was going by Geode rules today; risk minimization was key. She just had to get back to the safehouse as quickly and safely as possible, and keep the cash on hand for emergencies. No classic Viola hijinx today, she'd promised.

All this preparation meant that it was more frustration than anything else that ran through her mind when her body suddenly froze with the now familiar sensation of a biokinetic hold. Her mind raced, trying to figure out what was happening before the voice of the perpetrator gave it away.

"Viola Venice, right? Hardly recognized you without the diamonds." Hope's playful taunting lacked the acidity it had held when directed at Rune, but this didn't stop the situation from being just a little terrifying. Viola swallowed that fear, it wouldn't help her here.

"I think I look pretty good in overalls too." She replied instead. She could try to resist the psychic grip on her as Rune had taught her, but even if she succeeded, Hope was stronger and faster than her. Better to not let Hope know she could resist until doing so would present an actual opportunity.

"Bit big for you, but does seem a bit more your speed than high fashion," Hope responded, walking into Viola's view and smiling. Viola's eyes darting around. There were people around, but to anyone looking, this didn't look like a physical altercation, just two friends catching up. Would making a fuss and drawing attention help her, or just force Hope to get violent?

"Seems like you have your whole look figured out already, but I could give you more tips, if that's what you're dropping by for." Viola could only avoid the topic hiding behind their small talk for so long, she needed more actual information to make a plan.

"Sorry, but I am here on business." Hope's posture was genuinely apologetic; she was wielding the power she held over Viola, but didn't relish it. There was probably an angle Viola could use here.