Hollow Point Happiness

Contract 2: Cursed Kiss

Mana wore a traditional Chinese style dress as she walked the red-light district of one of Mar's larger cities. She didn't like this job, it had come via envelope which had seemed really weird in its own right, but the main thing is that it came through Simon's Banking, meaning that whoever had put out the hit didn't want it to be tracked back to them and was using the Bank's connections to stay anonymous. She was almost certain it was another contract from SCI though, seeing as it was for another high up in AutoSYNC. She reached the building which was an old and well-known strip club in the dead center of the district. She pushed her way through a crowd as she entered. A man almost immediately approached her are started talking,

"Hey sweet thang, haven't seen you before, you new here?"
"Ya, I'm a new hire, I have to go speak with my boss, so if you'll excuse me."
The man reached out and grabbed her shoulder, "Hey now, don't be like that."

She spun around kicking the man in the back of his head sending him crashing to his knees.

"No touching. That's what the signs say. Please read them."

She had drawn the attention of some people but no one said anything or move towards her as she made her way to the private rooms. As she walked into a dressing room a semi-naked woman caught her attention,

"Hi, I'm new here."
"Mhm, really, that's a shame. Names Dawn and if you don't want to get yelled at by Mr. Byder then you should start stripping down."
Mana gave a small bow, "Of course. My name is Pluto, I do hope we get along."
"Pluto? Like the planet?"
"Yes, like the planet."
Dawn's eyes seemed to glide up the ceiling, "You know, I've always wanted to visit Pluto," gesturing around the room, "I heard that this kind of stuff is banned there."
Mana offered a smile, "I'd love to go there as well one day, I guess we can both dream can't we."

Mana stripped down to her undergarments and walked out of the dressing room scanning the main floor looking for her target. She was early, she thought it would be a good idea just in case, but stand there now she realized that the longer she was there the great the odds someone noticed something was up. It was about 1 am when the target entered the building. Mana immediately did her best to make eye contact with him and draw him over. He seemed to notice and slowly stumbled his way over to stand at nearby bar. Mana noticed he was drunk which she knew would make her job easy. After a few minutes of casual glances and eye contact Mana decided to approach the man, her target,

"You seem like a nice guy, buff too, just my type." Offering him a smile.
Drunkenly slurring he replies, "Ye, I've bin noticin' ya looken' at meh."
Mana just smiled, "I couldn't help it, you just struck me."
He laughed, "I 'an do more than 'at baby!"

Mana laughed as well, and wrapped her arms around him, pressing up against his side.

"I'm sure you can. Why don't we go to one of the private rooms, just the two of us."
Caught in a burp, " 'ure thing babe."

Mana slowly guided him through the crowds into a small room with a bench and a curtain, she softly pushed him down on to the bench and drew the curtain closed.

Laughing to himself again the man spoke, "What 'id you 'ave in mind babe."
Mana just put a finger to her lips and moved to sit on one of the man's thighs, "I want you to close your eyes for me."

The man didn't at first and simply sat there until Mana started pretending to pout. Smiling, he slowly closed his eyes as Mana put her hand around his neck and pulled his face down towards hers.

Mana whispered quietly, "This will be a night you will never forget."
She pulled him in closer and kissed him softly before pulling back.
"Now why'd ya stop babe? We was only just st-" He tensed and froze up.

Mana stood up, her face was stone cold and emotionless. The man started to violently seizure and shake in the booth. She slipped out of the booth and once more closed the curtains as she made her way back to the dressing room through the crowded club. Slipping back into her dress she walked once more out onto the floor and she found Dawn.

"What the hell are you doing!?"
Mana pulled out a card and handed it to her, "Leaving, now take this."
"Leaving? What the hell. And what's this?"
"A gift from a dying old man that wanted you to see a new 'dawn' on Pluto."
Dawn laughed, "That's a terrible joke."
Mana smiled, "Ya, guess it is." turning away it faded instantly.

Mana left the club and walked into a nearby alley. Pulling out a small handkerchief she wiped her lips off and burned the rag. Her phone buzzed from her purse, a message again. "Transaction received: €75,000 To Account 'Mystic' From Account "Simon's Banking'" She started down the road. It was 1:34 am before she heard comms about police and an ambulance for the body. Not that it mattered, she was long gone and the target was long since dead. Her ship roared as it soared out of the biodome's airlock into orbit.