Chapter I: A Historical Thief

Bullets grazed the ground, barely missing her feet after she respawned. She is still trying to collect herself after the 12 minutes of travel she made from the present times. She ran as fast as she could to the bush nearby. She needs to get out of the crossfire now.

She leaned on a sturdy oak tree. The cold beads of sweat rush into her pale white face. She peeked in. The familiar red flag marked with blue 'X' with white stars on it is visible from her position as it waves over hundreds of Confederate soldiers marching toward the Union camp.

This might be it, she thought. To close the mission, Maya Johnson needed to get a confederate pistol. She slowly moved up and saw the two camps firing at each other. Soldiers from the two camps fall one by one as the gap closes.

Maya, who has just turned 26 last month, has lost count on the missions she completed. With her height of 5'11, with her blue eyes and charming face, she was often mistaken to be a flight attendant or a corporate woman rather than an auctioneer.

Then the clash snapped. Smokes covered the scene as federals and confederates assaulted each other. In a wild, hot afternoon, bullets flying all over. The squirts of blood bathed the green meadow. Men with no more shots draw swords, slashing flesh out of their enemy. The roar of the canons behind each infantry is deafening. Bodies are sent flying whenever they hit, and the cry of pain among the injured makes the Battle of Cheat Mountain horrible.

But this was the timing Maya has been waiting. For a minute, she scanned the war zone. Then she saw her target.

An officer was riding a horse. He has what she needs.

An 1851 Colt Navy revolver. A high-ranking officer held the standard pistol during the Civil War in the United States.

She checked herself for the last time: stretched her back, knees and knuckles and ran fast. The confusion among the mob hides her presence, as they are busy killing each other. Her heart pounded like a bass drum.

Maya is now 50 meters behind the rider. As she tried to get near, she dodges bullets after bullets. Her red bulletproof vest and Kevlar helmet cannot guarantee her safety. She must be careful, or else these ancient bullets can lacerate her slender built.

The men who are brawling stand between her and her target. As a policy, their company is prohibiting them from hurting anyone from the past.

Especially historical figures.

She took a deep breath. She can't afford to waste another minute, or she'll be locked up in this timeline.

They were dead, anyway!

She reached into her back and drew a small metal handle. She pressed the button in the center, and an electric luminance came out. She hurriedly hit the two tangled men in their neck. They danced erratically and slept in an instant.

The officer on the horse saw what she did. He can't believe it. Instantly, he categorized Maya as a threat. Then he was about to draw his pistol but its too late.

Maya ducked over the line of fire and hit him with the baton. Fifty thousand volts traveled within the officer's body and fell loudly on the ground. His horse gallops away, thrusting towards the assaulting soldiers, and disappears in the smokes.

Immediately, Maya got his pistol. She smiled as she unpinned the emblem on the officer's chest. She was about to leave when she noticed a familiar rifle. It is an Enfield Pattern rifled musket.

Sweet bonus.

She grabbed something on her chest and pressed a small blue button. An elliptical portal of light flashed in her front like a tunnel. This is her way home, back to the present.

Just another day in the office, she said to herself.

___________________________________________________

"Going once, going twice… SOLD! To you, sir, in the white jacket, you are now the proud owner of this rare glass inlay of Nefertiti for $350,000!

The man in his early fifties stood up and waved at the crowd. Then he returned to his seat, clapping his hands with the lady in a red cocktail dress in her mid-20's. He kissed her on the forehead, showing the jealous men behind them the lucky charm he brought in the auction.

Up in the hotel, the steamy hot water splashes into Maya's curve. After the time-traveling, her body's aching for more caress. The soap traversed on her breasts, to her torso, down to her legs, and in between them. She was aroused for a minute, but the gavel's continuous sound from the auction below the hotel's lobby urging her to get out.

What number might it be now? She thought.

She looked at her naked image in the large vanity mirror hanging opposite the bathtub. At her age of 26, she never thought she'd accomplished so much out of the company's wing. Her hand twirls her short brunette hair. It used to be long, but in this kind of work, short hairs are required due to the actions it demands.

She raised her legs as her mind recalls the timeline she's been through just for this week. The little scar in her right ankle reminded her to be always careful in every mission.

It was so close to death.

When she was a greenhorn in the company, a glitch in the timeline caught her foot, almost amputating it. She still feels that two minutes of agonizing pain as auctioneers on the other end try to reopen the portal. It was a lesson learned not to get amazed at the timeline she travels.

A painful lesson she will remember throughout her career as a historical thief. Well, that's not their job description. At least that's Kroeger Brent, another asshole agent like her, labeled their job one day they're having their lunch in the cafeteria.

"That's a nice description to add up on our resume. But it ain't helping us to get the normal corporate job out there", Kroeger said.

"You plan to quit?" She asked.

Kroeger shook his head.

"You never can tell what the future holds for us."

What does the future hold?

Three angry banged on the door cut short her daydream. Kroeger shouting his black lungs out, calling her name.

"Hey, you drown yo'self in the shower? Your stuff is next!"

She realized her phone is buzzing for a long time now. The screen light goes on and off frantically. She stood up and ignored it since she knows already who's bitching her to come down to the event. She walks back to the room and immediately covered herself with a thick white towel. She opened her big Channel traveler's bag and took a good 10 minutes to choose what to wear. She quickly decided to wear a grey long sleeves blouse with a wide hanging collar. She paired it with a Jag fitted black slack, showcasing her long legs and rounded butt. Of course, she knows how everyone's taking a peek at them whenever she walks the street. Even Kroeger is not shying away and frankly told her that they are rivals to Kim Kardashian's.

"You might need to put on the hazard lights on them when you walk backward!" Kroeger jokingly said.

She puts on the silver doll shoes that often put her into trouble with The Company's policies. Auctioneers are expected to look professionals, as the list says. But she never cared. Fines don't matter to her as long as she wears what she wants.

A quick hair and make-up, and she is ready for the day. She took one good look at her stunning simplicity yet head-turner image and slowly steps towards the room's door. She quickly headed to the elevator, although it's just the second floor of the five-star hotel. Her legs have so much of walking today.

She saw someone is already standing patiently in front of the lift. She took little interest but was intrigued by the long-rolled papers the man carried in his armpit, similar to engineers'.

The six-foot-tall Spanish-American guy was having trouble sipping his coffee. His glasses fogged up as he saw Maya was standing beside him, waiting.

"Hi," he said.

Maya threw a cold smile. She discreetly scanned the man who is way taller than her. Maybe 6'2 or so in height, she guessed. The black beard he's sporting stands out from his fair complexion. What made Maya laugh was the man's checkered red jacket was the opposite of what she wears. She has seen this kind of figures during their college. The glasses. The papers. The rugged jeans.

A typical nerd. The bullied-sort-of college student.

"You're here for the auction?" the man asked her.

Her lips didn't part even an inch. Maya doesn't want to push any conversation to anyone.

The elevator's door opened. Maya went through and placed herself in the corner after pressing the number one button. She stared blankly at the weird stranger who froze for a sec.

Damn it, you riding or what? She wanted to curse him for the delay.

The man felt awkward, too. He thought he committed a crime and was ashamed of breaking the ice with the beautiful stranger. He comes through and accidentally dropped some of the papers as the elevator descends. As he bows to gather them, he saw the silver light doll shoes Maya wears. He smiled, which made Maya mad.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked the man. Maya felt the man is making fun of his unmatched get-up.

He was quick to apologize.

"Oh, no! Nothing! I … find them cute," he answered. "My name's Edward, by the way." He extended his hand.

The elevator opens. Maya shoves his hand away from the exit. She rushes out and take quick steps towards the crowd, and disappeared. She left Edwards baffled about what he did wrong.

Goddamn it, Edwards! What are you doing!

Maya was about five minutes late as the emcee introduced the next item. Her shoulders paved the way to get in front of the auction among the hundreds of attendants.

"Where have you been. I've been calling you!" a sharp voice condescendingly murmured. It was Lindsay Jones, The Company's right hand. Her superior.

"I'm sorry, I ran into a little trouble," Maya replied. She reached for her pockets and slid a piece of paper into Lindsay's trembling old hand. The lady hurriedly gave the form to the emcee who read it aloud.

"Item number 172 is a Civil War pistol. This is an 1851 Colt Navy that belonged to a Confederate General Robert Edward Lee," the emcee read.

The crowd wowed in unison. Many are in disbelief and started to murmur. Agents with their cellphones are busy repeating the information to their remote clients, describing every detail of the pistol they see on the overhead projectors. The emblem even made the crowd restless, as it bore the famous officer's initials who is best known as the Confederate States Army commander.

Maya managed to slip a smile as the wealthy collectors show great interest in her loot. She discreetly repeats in her mind the full description of the revolver that she wrote at the back of the hotel's meal stub.

The 13-inch pistol will surely do in the market at $50,000. However, the story behind the gun will even spike up the price Maya can harvest. Robert E. Lee was a general with numerous feathers to brag on his name. He was instrumental to many battles during the Civil War, including the Battle of Gettysburg. He was honored by the United States for his feat against Mexican armies, which led to its massive land gains.

Maya knows that Lee's story alone will be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars; that's why she picked the insignia of the famous general off his chest. Not to mentioned the rifle she found at the last minute. All of these will add to the pile of a hefty payday.

"For all these items, we are willing to let go for a starting bid of $100,000. So, let's begin!"

"$100,000!" a woman raised her number.

Others started to counter-bid.

"150,000!" called by a man in a black suit while keeping his phone in his ear.

$200,000.

$375,000.

$400,000.

Bidders locked in total mayhem of shouting game. A minute and a half passed, the emcee added fuel to the fire as the numbers he called kept growing. Meanwhile, Maya's smile is starting to become more prominent, and it irritates Lindsay. She looked at her and slightly tilted her face to the right. She smiled even more immense.

Insulting bitch.

Lindsay wanted to punch Maya's face. But she has to admit that this Prima Dona always brings them the good stuff bidders dying to get. She compensates for her tardiness, fines, and violations by looting the best item there is.

Or, more appropriate, WAS.

"Going once, going twice… SOLD! General Lee's revolver is to you sir for $855,000!" the emcee hit the gavel's hard that surrounded the hotel's lobby.

The man in the white suit won again, and many were watching him clap as she kissed her companion on the lips. He has hogged the whole auctions, and other bidders headed to the exit disappointedly.

Lindsay knows it's the right time to turn the table. She straightly goes to Maya with a poker face.

"Not the million you're looking for," she said.

Maya is about to reply, but Lindsay's waved quick finger sealed her small, red lips.

"The next time you keep me waiting like this, I'll make sure the board of The Company will know this. Now go on and make the paper works", she finally said and turned around. She walked to the winner of the last bid and compassionately hugs and congratulates him.

Maya left with a scornful face. She clenched her fists in anger as she looked at Lindsay.

The bitch will have her day, she thought.