UNION
Hailey got up on her feet and walked up to Yvonne who just made her way out of a meeting. The dark-haired woman smiled as she caught sight of her.
"Miss Sun, have you been waiting here the whole time?" She probed.
Hailey smiled and shook her head. "Not really, I just finished with Ada's medicals and only got here."
"Still, you should have come in."
Hailey smiled even wider. "No, I don't work at UNION, that would be inappropriate."
"Nonsense, you work for UNEAD, and you are the head of Nator, we could have used your insight on the matter," Yvonne said. "Anyway, what is it you wanted to say?"
"It's about the…" Before she could complete her words, Starla's phone buzzed in her pocket.
"Sorry," the dark-haired woman took out the phone and answered.
[Yvonn--- … the mans--ion, Jesselyn ---- injur…]
"You're breaking up Ada, I can't hear you."
[It has to be… Yvon --- is here…] the call cuts and the light in the UNION building began to flicker.
"It's him."
"What?"
"After I finished with Ada, I did a checkup on Genesis J.M. The way they reacted, it was as if they'd broken out of the written code… I did a run with the original J.M. data you told me about. Ma'am, I really believe it's him, he's somehow controlling his other versions."
"It can't be," Yvonne cried.
"I'm scared ma'am."
.
.
.
Back in Madrid.
The auction continued for a couple more minutes but neither Chapta nor Eder placed a bid as Eder was waiting for the Powerball to be presented, while the former's voice was absent since the last item she purchased.
"And now for the item everyone has been waiting for," the auctioneer started. "Also created by the mad technician. This is an SS-rated weapon that can take down any device in a 700-meter radius."
"Now, since the Genesis K.D. ended its process at a hundred and thirty billion, this device, the Powerball, shall start at two hundred billion euros," he stated.
"Wow, now he's just reaching for the stars, at this point, even I won't be able to secure it," Eder muttered.
"Three hundred and fifty billion." The maroon-haired man's eyes widened in shock as the unmistakable voice of Chapta Faintpin McCarty said.
"How does she still have enough to bid on this?" The dark-haired man looked at Eder and chuckled.
"She must have a deal with the devil or something."
Eder pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "You know, there's no need to be worried," the dark-haired man chipped. "If you're sure that your agents will be able to get the Helltiga this time, you shouldn't be worried about the money."
Eder looked up and slowly nodded. "You're right, I don't know what I've been worried about. Six hundred billion euros," he countered.
"That's…" the former Storm agent sighed.
"Sold for six hundred billion!" The auctioneer yelled. "Thank you all, thank you for showing up, see you again next time." The joy could be heard in the man's voice as he spoke.
The crowd slowly began dispersing with some of the men and women throwing a glance at Eder's location before walking out of the auction room.
A man dressed in the same outfit as the auctioneer approached the duo. "Right this way sir."
He led them out of the auction room and up a few flights of stairs before stopping in front of a door. He pushed the door and held it open for the duo to enter. "There they are, please, make yourself comfortable." The auctioneer removed his mask and set it on a table next to the chair he was sitting on.
The room wasn't too big, but it spelt rich. The walls were adorned with sleek, modern artwork that added a touch of sophistication to the space. A large, polished round table dominated the center, surrounded by comfortable, ergonomic chairs. Natural light streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a picturesque view of the beautiful city below.
The man who was previously the auctioneer wiped his face with a handkerchief and sighed while a servant filled four glasses. He had dark yellow low shaved hair and a small horizontal cut just below his hairline.
"So Miss McCarthy couldn't make it?" He asked the fourth person in the room who sat besides Six.
"She has a tight schedule, so I'm here in her stead."
"Where is the Powerball?" Eder queried.
The man smiled and slid the cups to the three. "Slow down tiger, your item will be in your possession now."
"We actually have a plane to catch and need to leave now, hence the hurry," the dark-haired man stated.
The man called over the servant and they whispered to each other before he turned back to the trio. "I'll bring your items once the payment is done."
"I already made the payment," the man in Chapta's stead stated.
The auctioneer nod. "Of course, and your purchase will he here soon," he said before turning to Six. "I was actually speaking to the gentlemen here."
"We'll pay after we see the Powerball," the dark haired man said. "You didn't show the Powerball during the auction so how to know you even possess the item you claim you do."
The man was quiet for a couple of seconds before he stood up on his feet. "Very well then, I'll check to see what's delaying." As he pulled the door open, he got knocked back with a bash to the face.
Armed Ealien soldiers rushed into the room, aiming their guns at the auctioneer and his entourage. "Do not move even an inch," one of the soldiers ordered.
The auctioneer turned to look at Six with his hand over his bleeding nose. "You tricked me?"
"Come on Henry, you were the one who was about to make a run without meeting your end, if anything you're the trickster here."
"How do you know my name?"
Eder shrugged.
The soldiers placed a restraint on the auctioneer and his servant. "So, where's the Powerball?" Six queried.
"I do not know."
The maroon-haired man's face turned dark as he stared at the auctioneer. "I'll only ask one more time… Where -- is the Powerball?"
One of the soldiers raised his gun and inched closer to Henry who shook his head. "Hey, hey, I swear I'm telling the truth, the Powerball could be anywhere right now."
"What do you mean."
The man exhaled and slowly descended on an empty chair. "I only joined the Helltiga a few weeks ago, so they barely even let me hang out with the main crew."
"Are you trying to waste time?"
"No no, I'm getting somewhere, I promise," he stated. "They told me if I can make this auction successful, they'll fully accept me into the crew, but…" he hesitated. "… I did sneak into a meeting they were having with some guy, and since we were all wearing the mask, no one knew I was there."
"You have a gun pointing at your head and you're still beating around the bush? Seems to me like you do not value your life."
"Sorry. What I was trying to say was that the Powerball was sold off a week ago," he revealed. "This auction was just another… heist--- if I may call it."
Eder raised his head in shock. "You've already sold the Powerball?" It was the first time the former Storm agent had seen a depressed and furious expression on Eder's face.
"Yes. And he bought it for only quarter a billion, imagine how they'll feel when they see the amount I sold a fake copy, well, 'they would have'."
The maroon-haired man launched forward and grabbed Henry by his collar. "Do you know the name of the person who bought it?!"
"I-- I'm not sure, but I remember seeing Marksman as the surname, I swear that's all I know."
"Fuck!"
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