He’s usually around here at this time.

Jamie was walking toward one of the blocks she used to live on. She had woken up early in the morning and contacted him with her transmitter. He didn’t seem to be wary of her from when they talked. The news might not have gone out yet. She crossed a large street underneath a train track that made noise and screeched as the train above grinded against the metal tracks. Across the street from the train station was a small shopping center. All aligned together were clothing stores, fast food shops, a pizzeria, and on the very end of the corner there was a dingy donut shop. It wasn’t brand name, it wasn’t popular, but it made enough money to continue selling donuts there. The guy that she was coming to see worked here as a cashier. This was usually his break time. Sure enough, she spotted his red car in the large parking lot, parked outside the donut shop.

She smoothed out her hair, straightened out her new leather jacket and walked right up to it. She could hear muffled music and the pounding of the vibrations as she got closer and closer. She tapped at the driver’s window, making him jump a little at the sound.

“Hey,” she said, waving. She skipped her way around his car to the passenger side and plopped into the seat next to him. He turned down his music and faced her.

“You know, you’re making me nervous by coming to see me now after all this time,” He said. His name was Ivan, and he was Jamie’s go-to-guy for literally anything. When she first decided to leave her companions behind, he was the one that she originally went to live with. He was from a small moon called Kero and he didn’t have any special abilities or anything like that. The most he could do was extend his tongue a few feet. He wasn’t on Earth participating in Open Conquest, instead he was here to make a profit off of other species that were participating.

It wasn’t uncommon for some of the smaller species that didn’t have the resources to participate, to instead make money off of supplying or aiding the participating species. Ivan was essentially a jack-of-all-trades. She met him many years ago during another Open Conquest. He had been the one to supply her with weapons, living quarters, and many other things that were convenient. He made her laugh sometimes too. She ended up enjoying his company so much that she added him to her registry of contacts. Dark freckled skin and a curly mop of hair now replaced his original form of green and scaly skin.

“So what did you want to talk about? I’ve only got 15 more minutes,” he said.

“Well, I wanted to tell you that I’m back with my companions. Annnnd…I need a few things,” Jamie said. She made herself comfortable and eased back into the cushiony seat, putting her legs up on the dashboard.

“You’re back? From the way you sounded last time, it seemed like you wanted nothing to do with them.” Ivan pulled out an old wristwatch from his pocket and began snapping it back on his wrist.

“We had just gotten into a bit of a fight. But I’ve calmed down, and it’s all fine now.” Jamie flashed a big smile. Ivan searched her face, his eyebrows were furrowed a bit but he shrugged and relaxed back into his chair. He crossed his arms behind his head.

“Whatever, I don’t think I want to know anyway. So, what is it that you want now?” he asked.

“Well, I was wondering if you knew anyone who was selling weapons?” she asked. He cocked his head to the side.

“Weapons? Why do you need weapons now? Did something happen?” he asked.

“No, no, no. But umm…we just thought it would be good to be prepared if anything did happen.” Jamie said, continuing to smile. She was always smiling, if she got serious now, then he’d definitely be suspicious of her.

“Just in case…?” he asked in a skeptical tone.

“Yup.”

Ivan sighed and turned to face forward. “Why do I feel like you’re trying to get me in trouble?”

“What do you mean?” Jamie said. She punched his arm playfully. “I would never.”

“I’m just saying. Your behavior lately has been pretty weird. First you completely abandon your team, saying you don’t want to do Open Conquest anymore, you mope around the house with nothing to do, and then you go off with some girl you work with, I don’t hear from you in months. Now all of a sudden, you ask me for some Transport discs, and weapons? I’m not saying I don’t trust you, but it’s not easy getting this stuff on short notice you know?”

Well then stop making yourself so available then. It can’t be that hard if you’re able to get me my stuff in a matter of hours.

“Alright then, I wasn’t supposed to say anything, but you’re right. There needs to be transparency here.”

It wouldn’t be a lie necessarily. It’s true. Maybe.

Jamie scooted herself over closer to Ivan and pulled on his shoulder so that he leaned a bit closer to her. She whispered, “So basically, a lot of the lower species have been heard making alliances together. And we don’t know for sure yet, but it seems like they’re banding together to overtake the Noble Four and take Earth.” Ivan looked incredulously at her.

“Really? I haven't heard anything like that.”

Aw damn, guess I can’t inquire about that.

“Well, it’s troubling to say the least. Now, Warrior’s not too worried about it, but you know just to be safe, we’re trying to get some weapons and since it’s just for precaution, there’s no need to trouble Origin with this you get it?” She backed away a bit to gauge his expressions.

Ivan seemed to be thinking hard, but from his expression he seemed to be buying it.

“I mean, yeah it does make sense. So is Warrior asking for these weapons personally or…?”

“Well yes, they want them, but not too many of course. You know, being the best shot and all, most of the responsibility for culling any problems would most likely go to me.”

“I’m going to need a list of the models and ammunition you ne—“

“All right here!” Jamie said. She pulled out a crinkled piece of paper out of her jacket pocket. She smoothed it out over the dashboard and handed it to him. Ivan mulled over the list, clicking his tongue.

“This seems like a pretty small unit, huh?”

“Yeah, it’s only a group of the best and most willing.” Jamie said. “What’s the price going to be like?”

“Well, I’m guessing around maybe…1800 credits.”

Jesus. I know for a fact, that we don’t have that much.

“You’re joking right?” Jamie asked.

“Nope. The guy I’m going to be getting this from is going to want at least 1000 credits, and I need to make a living too.”

“But 800 credits? For talking to a guy?” Jamie asked. Ivan’s watch started beeping.

“That’s my cue to go back. See ya.” He turned off his radio and began putting the paper into his pocket.

“Wait! You have to give me a discount, please.”

“Why? This should be fine,” He said.

“But like you said, this is a small unit. And we’re not even sure if we’re even going to be putting these weapons to use! At least go down to 1200 credits.” Jamie said, tugging at his arm.

“There’s no way I’m going to do this for 200 credits, not even for you.”

“I’ll owe you three favors. Come on, I’ve always been good on favors, you know that.” Ivan paused for a bit. “Any three favors?”

“Anything.”

“I’m going to hold you to that.”

“Of course you are.”

Ivan thought for another few seconds and then said, “Fine.” He went to open his car door but Jamie tugged at his arm again.

“One more thing,”

“Ja—“

“I swear this is the last thing I’ll ever ask of you. But do you know anything about someone making Vial? Like, illegal producing and selling Vial?”

He’s the only person that I know who would know anything about the selling and producing of illegal products. It doesn’t hurt to ask.

She looked to judge his expressions but immediately dropped any playful attitude she had. His eyes went wide and he seemed to be searching her just as she was. He roughly pulled the collars of her jacket so that she got close enough to see the pores on his nose.

“Don’t ask me about that again.” He said quietly. He let go of her jacket and opened the car door. She had never seen him get that way before. It left her feeling a little shocked, and anxious. She opened her door and climbed out of the car, shutting it without a word.

“I’ll get these things for you, I’ll let you know when I have them,” he said, walking up to the curb. “Nice jacket by the way.”

Jamie put her hands in her pockets and said, “Thanks.”

What in the hell was that about?