Issue 1 Downtime

Amazon sat at the bar in her grungy body armor. The stool she sat one had obviously had the legs sawed off to accommodate her large frame at the bar. She pulled off her sunglasses and tucked them away, holding up two fingers. The bartender quickly rushed to get her her two beers before waiting on customers as far away from her as possible.

"Hello." Chthonia said, sitting down beside her.

Amazon glanced at the newcomer and then went back to her first beer. She made a small noise, acknowledging the greeting.

"Mind if I sit down?" Chthonia asked, as she did so.

"Does it matter if I do or not?" Amazon made no motion to stop her from sitting down though.

"Not really, no."

"You have thirty seconds to tell me why you're disturbing my drinking time." She drained the first beer and started on the second one.

"To offer you a job."

"You just bought yourself a little more time. What sort of job?"

"Getting me some information."

Amazon nearly choked from laughing, "I think... I think you must have the wrong person."

"I don't need the information from you, I need you to help me get it."

"I still have think you have the wrong person. I'm not really the information gathering type."

"Again, all you need to do is walk in, and throw something in the trash for me."

"I'm listening," Amazon drank some more of her beer.

"Thats it." Chthonia said.

"And what is this thing that needs to be thrown away?"

"This" Chtonia said setting a peach pit on the table.

Amazon raised an eyebrow, "This is odd. Payment's going to have to be in cash."

"Four thousand. Half up front, half when you drop off the item."

"You do realize I'm jeopardizing future employment just by talking to you, right? I could probably get more than that just for taking you in."

"I'm giving you a chance to be on the winning side." Chthonia said "I really hope that you'll take it."

Amazon's eyes narrowed and she took a moment to pull on her gloves. "My side is the only one that really matters. Not yours and not theirs. You're mistaken if you think I actually care about this little war that both sides have going on. What I care about is getting paid and when I say you're not offering me enough, I expect you to take me seriously. If you can't do that, then leave me alone before I'm forced to make an example of you on principle."

"Oh, you're just asking for more money."

"And people say I'm slow," Amazon said. "Yes, I'm asking for more money. What your asking has a lot of risk to it for me personally."

"Money is just such a" she waved her hand "prosaic motivator. But happily, its easy to arrange. How much?"

"Not all of us can be idealists. The world would starve. Considering the risk if they find out who I'm working for, 25 grand up front and another 25 grand on completion. Another 50 grand if I run into trouble and have to fight my way out. Call it a 'bridges burned' fee if you like."

"Ten and Ten and you've got a deal." Chthonia smiled "Some of us have to eat as well."

"10 grand now, 10 grand on completion, and if I'm forced to burn bridges, I come take it out of your hide. Sound fair?"

"Lets say twenty and a new job if it doesn't work out."

"Sounds good."

"I'll have the cash sent to you apartment." Chthonia said.

Amazon scooped the peach pit up and slipped it into a pocket, "Move quickly then." She finished her second beer and stood up.

"Its already there." Chthonia said "Let me know when the job is done."

"Right," she said, giving Chthonia the finger and walking out in an apparent huff.