Avalon

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Moments Like This

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As far as the job went Nate had nothing to stress about. He managed to get it all done and so far it seemed like gone all the right ways with his intensive prep. Hopeful that it was all done he got back to city to another job.

It might be even more to prep for. At least as far as he imagined it to be.

To complete this one there may be needed more than just careful planning.

Laz, as Nate was introduced, had an intricate job right at the door. It happened in parts and for his part Nate was instructed to be especially careful. The Feds had been true sneak part in the game and Laz warned they might strike again. So Nate would be transporting business deal. He was just told to prep the routes and transport and, if needed, emergency escapes including the central piece.

It was a small roll of painting worth billions and it was from Earth.

For all Nathan cared it could be a piece of poop, he just went for his part. Unlike partners before he wasn't known to be nosy. It cost too much and in this job trust meant a lot. Or enough to pay for it and be alive until next time.

The dark haired man walked the street and cast long glances. He deserved a holiday or two. The job would take time and some parts were already on the move. As far as he cared his part was the last before final and he'd be paid only about couple weeks after. Prepping would take roughly a week before.

There was a hook though. He will have to attend the Gala. As good as it sounded the possible guest list made it pretty impossible to even slightly enjoy it.

For one thing there will be all the high ends and metropolitan socialites he had no intent to meet. He might know some. Then there will be strong possibility of Feds undercover just as well as half the planets law enforcement officials and their other halves. There will most definitely be military present which was even worse. The science part and education elite was no less worry.

Nathaniel was known in these and he was a walking target. Laz warned of his situation and even gave a week of thought process time. However Nate knew he mostly was out of options. The season was close to end and he'll have to move after that. There was unsaid rule on this planet about such stints going on for seasons. It basically meant for certain amount of time there was a window for action. Then it was closed and all the action took place elsewhere. Usually it took rounds from district to district. Because thieves were only so much. And people did a lot more than it was comfortable to protect what was theirs. And this kind of events didn't happen all at once.

Art that was brought from Earth-that-was meant more than just money and everyone wanted a piece of it.

Forgeries, for example, was a prime job. True masters were rarity since the particular pieces were possible to forge only among folks from Earth. Which meant basically whole Fed's list of suspects. And that Wanted list was longer than Nate's rap-sheet by thousand miles.

Also one that knew the job had to be ready to run and move to another galaxy if they ever hit one particular list. It was weird and at the same time complicated system that eventually got them.

Nothing he ever wanted to experience. Punishment variated from jail to death or in most cases science experiments. Not one thing he wanted. Better be dead and gone- that was Nate's promise to Samara.

The day she died they made promise to each other that in case of entrapment they die.

None got as lucky as she did. Even that wasn't fully true if one asked to Nate. To this day the man believed she was just wrong and it was merely an accident.

Try to tell that to Narcho, e thought with a snort. That guy never took things for granted. So he just fell off the building and didn't die.

That was one whole thing Nate nailed to mystery tab and tried to forget. Well, it kept coming back.

To his own defense, Nate wasn't that innocent either. After all he was a Shadow Walker and it didn't happen to everyone. Maybe he misjudged himself and Noel. Because whoever Noel was he didn't happen just because somebody was bored.

Noel showed all kinds of weird things about him and so far stayed mysterious. Doctors did nearly drop to their knees in awe of the fallen guy being alive. Just that the whole time Nate couldn't figure out how. After all a fall from over thirty stories wasn't exactly the same as falling from attic stairs.

Nathan sighed deeply and walked over to the kitchen. He rummaged through several cupboards before sitting down at the table and banging a fist against the smooth surface. He was out of his medication. Sooner than he planned.

Damn.

Another part of crime life he found terribly annoying. He was out of meds but until next dose he had to wait much longer than he had. Besides it could ruin his stint too. If he was not on his meds there existed an entirely large possibility of fiasco bigger than Manhattan island. And consequences may rise to Bermuda Triangle danger level.

Yeah, he was doomed.

And only person capable of helping him was one he decided to leave months ago.

Yet he may be in more danger if he kept going without the meds.

If he did he was pure danger and risk to everyone and everything.

See, one that could walk shadows and speak techs wasn't often seen in public. They did exist and had their little underground communities. They were called Savages and sometimes held in secret government bases for research needs.

Old people called then Mutants.

Genetic errors among humanity. They were supposed to be under control from government and hidden secrets from society.

Because what would happen if elite find out or military decided them fabulous weapons. Naturally it would lead to super soldier projects all around universe. And then what?

Alliance had been friendly and kind so far. Their politics were strict enough to respect. They held power and money and army. Military was supervised through microscope and tight rules.

Because losing control meant chaos. And chaos meant war.

Civil war.

It's obviously happened once. Among independent unions and far outer regions.

And once between Alliance and Federation.

Neither had been pretty. Or so it was told.

Rebels or Independents were small part of liberals out there. They fought for freedom and fair trade. They mostly were leftover civilians and militia from Federation that happened to get trapped within Alliance territories. Too far to be reached but close enough to be aware.

Federation stated their scepticism against Earth humanity turning for sanctuary plead to Alliance issuing an order to keep anyone changing their mind safe on their grounds.

Currently situation was weird and mostly creepy. However Nate trusted Rebels more than any of the big guns.

He had to stay though.

He didn't trust Federation being nice towards mutants. Anyone having weird abilities got captured and researched in both camps. None could be trusted.

He did however stay. This galaxy held Noel in tight leash and once the truth will be out neither would survive. Nate was sure about that just as the three moons never stopped circling the planet.

He liked those moons.