Two rights and a wrong

‘Is he conscious? Or should we force him awake?'

Mirage's voice echoed through the Tachy's speakers as Xion's imposing stature loomed over their guest.

The Rider adjusted the straps holding down their sojourner, ensuring they were not too tight.

‘I think he's coming to on his own.'

Indeed, the stocky man was waking, struggling to knife upright.

‘Welcome to your new reality for the conceivable future,' Xion rasped as he looked down at the man wriggling under the constraints. ‘Your freedom depends on what you share with me,' he continued, his words hanging in the air with a chilling promise.

As the restrained man tried to move, he realised his limbs were bound to a chair.

He writhed against his bindings, his eyes startled with panic, still not quite focusing.

‘Who are you? What do you want?' he demanded, his hoarse whisper filled with fear and confusion.

Xion leaned in close, his sardonic smile so effective the man in his gaze shivered. ‘Like I said when we met, I'm just a humble seeker of truth and justice,' he drawled. ‘I hate to repeat myself, Hanias, but you're the man with the answers I want.'

The captive's eyes widened in realisation as he recognised Xion from the bar earlier. ‘You!' he gasped, his utterance trembling with fear. ‘I'm not saying anything.'

‘Hanias Tukan,' came Mirage's smooth vocalisation. ‘Of 3489c Crescent Avenue, Apartment 56709, Enia East District A. You will share what you know if you don't want your extracurricular activities revealed. Your wife might be interested in who you've been pleasuring behind her back.'

‘What the fokk?' the security man gurgled.

Xion smirked. ‘Just my consigliere. Mirage is exceptionally thorough.'

Hanias' face paled, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he realised he wasn't playing with amateurs. ‘You can't do this,' he stammered. ‘I won't tell you anything.'

Xion's eyes gleamed as he leaned back, crossing his hands over his chest. ‘Oh, I think you will,' he murmured but with an underlying threat. ‘Because if you don't, let's just say your comfortable little life is about to unravel.'

Mirage's holographic form flickered to life on the bridge, their jade eyes glittering and sotto voice echoing with omen. ‘You see, Hanias, we know all about your little side deals, your affair, your shakedown operation of guests you blackmail and your shady connections to the local mob enforcers. Your secrets are not so secret anymore.'

‘You see, Mr Tukan, you've been a naughty boy, and someone has to hold you accountable for your actions,' Xion added.

Hanias trembled in his restraints, his facade of confidence crumbling under the weight of his fear.

Xion circled him like a predator playing with its prey. ‘I want to know about the dark-haired Iccythrian woman you were talking to earlier. Who is she? What's her play at The Grande Hotel?'

The man scoffed. ‘Bella Blaise? The society heiress? She's -'

‘Not Bella Blaise,' Xion countered with a sad smile laced with fake disappointment. ‘It hurts me you think we're so naive, and she's no society belle either. What is she doing here, on the eve of one of Rhesia's most famous jewellery and art auctions?'

The man's eyes widened as he caught on to the fact Xion was way ahead of him. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he vacillated, debating how much to reveal.

‘She goes by the name of Bella Blaise, but in truth, she is Katya D'Landra,' he finally admitted, his voice shaky. ‘She's a shadow broker, dealing in secrets and high-stakes information. Rumour has it she's here to pick a treasure of massive value.'

Xion's eyes gleamed with interest as he absorbed the new facts. ‘I assume this picking up business is more like stealing it. At the art gala? Nada?'

The man hesitated, his fear palpable. ‘I've heard whispers,' he stammered, ‘that Katya is after a priceless artefact, the Serpent's Iris, to be showcased and auctioned at the event. It's expensive, not just because it's a jewel, but because it is said to hold immense power and is sought after by many, including some highly dangerous individuals. Her patron is one of them.'

‘She's desperate for it,' the security man whispered. ‘She hired me to map out The Grande for her, saying she'll stop at nothing to get her hands on it. Not for herself but whoever is paying her.'

‘Who is her sponsor?'

‘Fokk if I know,' Hanias whined.

‘Where is this Serpent's Iris now?' Xion pushed, his gaze intense as he locked eyes with the trembling man.

Hanias hesitated, weighing his options before speaking in a hushed tone, ‘It's in a secured store room hidden in a maze underneath the hotel. Only a select few know its location and its security is top-notch. I'm meant to be leading her to it tomorrow at the Gala.'

‘Sante, Mr. Tukan,' the Rider said with a dangerous smile. ‘Your cooperation is noted and appreciated. Mirage, make sure to erase any trace of our little rendezvous here. Goodbye.'

The consigliere sent Hanias back into stasis with a tiny metanoid-infused injection. ‘When he wakes, he'll have no memory of ever meeting us,' Mirage commented as Xion bundled the man down the stairs of the Tachy and into his waiting flyer.

Shutting the back door on the slumbering security man, Xion loped back to the bridge and turned to Mirage. ‘Appreciate the support. I'm going to crash Katya's little party at The Grande Hotel. Not that we're going to stop her from her nefarious activities. But I'm going to follow her until I find who's behind her, who her sponsor is and what unruly shit they're stirring.'

‘How fun,' the Sable consigliere replied with a smug smile.

Xion jerked his chin, his eyes glinting. ‘Now, please fly Hanias back home and have a droid bot on hand to bundle him to bed.'

The following day, Xion set out early.

He was clad in a nondescript outfit that comprised a cap, a jacket, drab trousers, and shoes, all infused with metanoids, which allowed them to change shape and colour at his command.

He started with a to-go cup of kahawa and a pastry, accompanied by a holo newspaper.

He sat on a bench in the park across from the prestigious hotel.

He didn't have long to wait.

She emerged from the shimmering glass doors of the luxurious accommodation, her high heels clicking, hips swaying.

With each step, a stunning, flowing designer coat of the finest materials flowed behind her. She was dressed to the nines, her hair styled, her makeup flawless, and her shoes impeccable, all of which exuded sophistication.

Yet it was her armour as if she were preparing for battle.

Against whom exactly, Xion had no clue.

Her guards, the trio of Iccythrian kinais she'd seen with her the day before, were missing in action.

So, whatever she planned for today was a solo mission, and he was there for it.

With a smirk, Xion rose from his seat, tucked away his holo newspaper and tagged after her.

He followed her through the streets as she flitted from one high-end retail outlet to the next.

A subtle yet alluring perfume wafted behind her as she dashed in and out each time, lingering in the air long after she passed.

He breathed it in as they made their way through the busy avenues.

Whenever she darted into a store, he lingered across the street, within the shadows of awnings or obscured by columns, narrowing his meta vision to study her.

She was a master at her game, weaving in and out of stores and charming every sales clerk she encountered.

Soon, her modus operandi became clear.

First, she'd mesmerise and confuse with flattery and charm, disarming the salespeople. Then, she'd request to see multiple items, trying them on at a dizzying pace while moving around the jewellery, bags, or even high-end shoes too fast for the shopkeeper to keep track.

Sometimes, she'd distract the salesperson and hide the piece, only to ‘discover' it when its disappearance was noted.

The salespeople, relieved to retrieve the ‘lost' item, dropped their guard, believing that Katya was just another wealthy customer who had misplaced an item and was trustworthy enough to return it.

With the next distraction, she'd grab the real object of her desire and then leave.

He trailed behind her, careful not to lose sight of her in the busy high street and not rouse her suspicions.

He had to admit he was impressed by her speed and skills.

Katya was like a chameleon, standing out like a centrepiece yet blending in with her surroundings. Her appeal was undeniable.

Despite knowing that she was a felon and dangerous, he found himself once more thrumming with raw lust for her.

At one point, he ghosted within a few metres of her, wanting to reach for her.

She turned and almost bumped into him, but his metanoids whisked him away in seconds.

He'd come so close to stroking her skin, which set off a series of fantasies in his head.

His mind churned at the sight of her soft, pliant lips, perfect for sucking on anything. As he followed her, he was consumed with thoughts of making her scream and beg for mercy.

He imagined her calling out his name as he drove into her until she was lost in pleasure.

It took all his ever-loving control to rein in and focus on surveillance.

As time passed, Xion detected a pattern in the stores that Katya targeted.

A search of Sys-Net revealed that the boutiques were all operated by shady Ccyth Houses or Pegasi criminal entities that used the gem and high-fashion shops as fronts for laundering their cash.

He relayed this information to Mirage, who was keeping an eye on the day's proceedings from a safe distance on his stealthed ship.

She conducted a few quantum searches to learn more about the felons who owned the establishments.

After some digging, she reported back. ‘I've found a common thread – all the retailers have ties to a sinister and dangerous Ccyth and Falasian crime syndicate called Black Claw operating on Rhesia. A deep dive into Dark Net has disclosed that BlackClaw have grasped onto Enia's underbelly, with their talons in everything from cargo pirating to kidnappings and extortion, leaving a trail of fear and destruction in their wake.'

‘So she's stealing from her own. An ingenious form of heist justice, huh?' he huffed, amused.

‘Be careful, khan. The Black Claw kinais can't be counted as some of Pegasi's top-notch and outstanding citizens. I'd advise that you stay on task but keep a distance from her. You can't underestimate Katya's involvement with them or what retaliation they might have planned for her if they find out she's filching from them.'

But the revelation Katya was the most alluring heroic outlaw he'd ever met added to Xion's fascination with her.

He wanted to know more about her and why she was stealing from her own. He longed to draw closer to her and unravel her mystery, even though it was risky as all hell.

‘She's good, almost too good,' he quipped to Mirage.

Right beneath the nose of yet another salesperson who'd stepped out to retrieve a case for her much lesser purchase, she pinched a stunning emerald-cut diamond ring.

With such bare-faced brazenness that he whistled under his breath.

No one in the shop realised, even after she waltzed out with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

He sensed a roiling fury in her eyes before she sashayed away with an elegant flourish.

‘It would appear so. She's also the queen of multiple IDs. Through the years, Katya has used a myriad of aliases and multiple different Sys-IDs.'

‘I bet you she's unapologetic, and if I put her under the scope, she'll insist her elaborate ruses and crimes are justified for some reason. The question is, underneath her cool and catlike grace lies a thread of anger in how she's operating. It's like she's enraged, and that energy is powering her. It's as if she's attempting to fix a miscarriage of justice, y'know, the adage of two wrongs make a right? I mean, what else would justify such boldness?'

Her hackles rose.

She scanned the bustling street, her senses on high alert. Despite her poised exterior, the hairs on her neck stood up as a chill ran down her spine. She adjusted her pace, trying to blend in with the crowd while keeping an eye out for any suspicious figures.

But no matter how hard she tried to shake off the feeling of being followed, it persisted like a shadow creeping at the edge of her vision.

Katya knew better than to underestimate her gut instinct. It had saved her bacon and her ass many times in the past.

She slowed her roll, given her haul this time was impressive, whether due to the multitudes of shoppers and the distractions they provided or security being lax for some reason.

Her loot was a significant bump to her bank, giving her the cushion she needed when this shit storm was over.

Calling it a day, she headed back to her hotel.

The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the city streets as she weaved through the bustling crowds with practised ease.

Despite the adrenaline pumping through her veins from the successful heists, a sense of unease lingered in the pit of her stomach.

Her heart pounded as she glanced at store windows, searching for the reflection of a tail. No one stood out.

Still, she strained her ears for any sign of pursuit and drew her purse near, thankful for the laser firearm strapped to her thigh.

When the bright crystal lights of The Grande were in close view, she sighed in relief. Still, as Katya approached the hotel entrance, she scanned her immediate surroundings for signs of suspicious activity, eyes darting.

There was nothing amiss. For now.

‘Miss Blaise?'

Katya's breath caught in her throat, almost whipping her fingers around the weapon concealed against her leg.

A figure stepped into the dim light, revealing the bellman.

‘Oh, it's you, thank the gods,' she breathed.

The man gave her a puzzled look.

She shot him a dazzling smile to whisk away his concern.

It worked when he beamed a grin at her. ‘Welcome back. Are you dining with us this evening?'

‘I think that's a good idea,' she confirmed and strode into the lobby, back straight, head held high.

Katya made her way through the opulent foyer, her steps quick as she headed towards the hotel restaurant.

Inside, the rich aroma of gourmet food filled the air, mingling with the soft notes of classical music playing in the background.

She wandered the bar and ordered a fine wine, hoping to calm her nerves and gather her thoughts.

She brought it to a corner table and sat, trying to shake off the unease that had settled over her like a dark cloud.

Her eyes scanned the room with discretion, noting the other diners and the waitstaff moving between tables.

After just a few sips of the ambrosia, she was engulfed with raw loneliness and an aching vulnerability.

She aimed her eyes at the bright radiance of the metropolis she knew so well and assessed her life so far.

Enia was where she'd fled after her rift with her kinfolk, in particular, an argument with her father, who had tried to force her to continue the family business.

Using collateral from past heists to pay her way, The Grande had become her new home in the city of lights.

Utilising the Sys-ID of Bella Blaise, a purported heiress daughter of a famous mineral magnate, she always ensured she showed up with a polished demeanour.

She was well-received by the hotel staff, who all adored her. This was because she acknowledged them and paid them a pretty schill for their discretion.

In time, and after some scouting, she realised that the wealthy establishments of Enia City's northern districts were the perfect mark.

Many of them were owned by the same criminals who did business with her family. So, in the spirit of fairness, she put her years of burgling experience to work, bringing about some equity.

She'd engaged in heists that bagged her art and gems worth millions of schills, which she'd then sold to secretive collectors and jewellery re-fitters in Galicia.

Katya always booked a room in a resort or near the venue she was robbing.

She bought a new wardrobe of designer threads and face-altering software before each job to blend in with the latest trendsetters.

Looking the part, she'd waltz incognito into gem shops, casinos, betting salons, exclusive parties and hotel lobbies across the city of lights.

From where she pinched jewels, furs and artworks.

As a card shark for hire, she'd slip into restricted homes and gambling premises from where she'd enact her side hustle.

Once, during a private poker game at a black hat hacker's home, she stole a 40 million schill necklace from his lover, an exiled Falasian princess with a genocide charge. The scandal was lauded as the foremost significant jewellery theft in Pegasi history but remained out of the news.

She'd also been involved in the anonymous heist of a rare painting. Plus, the larceny of a couple of artefacts from a secret museum belonging to an eccentric but debauched entrepreneur.

Her profits were ploughed into her cause of choice, a small one run by her mother doing saintly work in LeCythi.

She kept her missions low-key and under the radar to keep her charity recipients and mother clothed and fed.

None of the burglaries were ever reported to the authorities.

Most often, the valuables were acquired to launder money due to bad deals or even as reparation for unpaid debts or sins.

Which was why she rarely gave a fokk about her actions.

Until now.

With this heist, there was little pleasure to be found.

Tears pricked her eyes as she thought of why she was doing this, putting herself through this torture.

She slugged back the wine, surprising the barman.

‘Another one,' she breathed to him, blinking fast and swallowing the sob that threatened to unleash itself.

Straightening her spine, she took an anxious inhale, waiting for the inevitable high to kick in enough to dull her pain.