We Have A Job

With a little more than a month passing since joining Mirror, Marcus felt like he was adjusting to his new way of life. Taking small jobs delivering packages or information to people, Marcus was able to make a decent amount of money while observing how Mirror worked as mercenaries.

Watching from the control room, he saw how they worked together to complete a whole assortment of different tasks from simple bodyguard jobs for people to infiltrating places and heisting information for a client. On their off time, Marcus was trained in the gym how to fight, though he was beaten a few times by everyone he was able to secure a "win" by causing Eddie, a red-haired boy with light skin, to tap out after putting pressure on his injured arm with an armbar.

With Keith and Lena present, Marcus was finally able to overcome his initial issues of using guns. Also, with his arms being too weak for heavy weaponry Marcus was trained mostly on how to use pistols. Learning quickly, he surprised Lena by hitting the center area with all of the marks on the range after just a week of practice. Though he would never practice without Keith or Lena, after doing that, they said he could come and practice whenever he wanted.

As a part of his training and acclimation, Marcus bulked up nicely, turning his normal physique into a slightly toned one. He didn't have a six-pack yet but he was working on it while his arms had developed some muscle much to Vivi's liking as she often commented on it when he wore sleeveless tops in the control room.

Feeling he was near a hundred percent ready, and his heart and chest no longer hurt from strenuous situations, he informed Lena of wanting to finally join in on missions.

…

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"Ready for your gift birthday boy?" A cheerful voice asked as a group of people sat within a black crossover-type vehicle as the sun was setting.

"Sure, lay it on me," a young man with brown skin, a dark purple designed shirt, and black jeans said as he finished tying his black and purple sneakers.

"This is from all of us. It may not be what you're expecting but this is the gift you'll want more than anything else right now." A red-haired woman said as she turned around in the passenger's seat and handed the young man, Marcus, a gift-wrapped box.

Looking around at everyone in the car, Lena, Eddie, Joan, and Keith driving, he thanked them all as Vivi's voice sounded in his head, wishing him a happy birthday as well.

Feeling happy as his friendship with Vivi, Joan, and subsequently, Eddie, developed into a trusting and close-knit one, Marcus thanked Vivi as well before unwrapping the polished wooden box and opening it to reveal a pistol sitting inside with four loaded magazines inside a silencer underneath the barrel and a wrapped up and tucked in ammo belt for pistol magazines.

Placing his hand on the pistol, Marcus lifted it with his hand before inspecting it as Keith chided, "That is a Heckler and Koch P30L with a custom compensator for keeping on target between quick shots, it's reliable in most situations so keep it with you when you're out. The silencer is for any secretive or stealthy situations you might be in."

"I see.." Marcus said as he looked at the weapon in his hand. He was no longer going to be shooting paper targets in the range, now the targets would be real people that may or may not be trying to kill him. "Just act based on the situation, none of us expect you to be the first in the fight if something happens, use it whenever you feel you need to," Lena said calmly while patting his leg.

"Let's go," She said as everyone exited the vehicle, Marcus taking a few extra moments to load and store the pistol in the band of his jeans while placing the extra magazines into the custom-made ammo belt he had put on. Completing his look, Marcus covered his weapons with his shirt as the coldness of the pistol touching his back made him jumpy.

Looking around, Marcus noticed everyone waiting for him in a group as he walked over. Scanning the surroundings, a sizable apartment parking lot in the heart of Lacoa, surrounded by dozens of clubs, bars, restaurants, and other ventures, Lena began leading the group down the sidewalk to a less-than-popular bar.

Entering inside, Marcus caught a glimpse of the neon-colored interior with a floor plan similar to a small family-owned establishment, Lena continued to the bar as everyone else split off, spotting acquaintances and old friends to talk with or finding a place for themselves.

Marcus, taking in the smell of alcohol, smoke, and food wondered where to sit. Noticing Eddie immediately wandering off, talking to a group of young women at a table and Joan taking an open booth near the door, Marcus continued to stand around contemplating where he should go.

"You decide what you want to do, you're 18 now so nobody will stop you unless you get drunk off your ass," Keith said as he slapped Marcus on the back, causing him to nearly fall into an older couple enjoying their meal, before taking a walk to the bar and took a seat as Lena was escorted into a corridor leading to the back of the building.

…

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As he decided it wasn't worth doing too much with their night just starting, Marus eventually sat with Joan, who after having opened up to him more in the past month, was a great person to talk with.

As Eddie eventually joined them to talk about his partial success at getting a number from one of the young women at a table yonder, Lena returned and signaled to follow her as she walked out of the bar.

Exiting first, Marcus stepped outside onto the dark sidewalk as he looked at the night sky lit by thousands of stars. Taking a glance at the streets, now crowded with people walking to and from places all around, women and men alike sporting all kinds of cybernetics, Marcus realized the hidden beauty within this scene.

Unfortunately, he couldn't focus on it for too long as Lena led them back to the car while informing them of their job.

"So, we have a bit of a harder job than usual. Marie, our contractor, tasked us with finding out anything on the cybernetics boom happening within the black market right now, figuring out the main supplier, the locations of black docs who do the surgeries, and anyone benefitting from the trades." Lena said as she turned into the parking lot, continuing towards their awaiting vehicle.

"So we can expect this job to originate from some cop or news person huh? What's the pay?" Keith said with a sigh, his arms slouching through his sleeveless vest.

"It's quite good." Lena said as she unlocked the car as they reached it, everyone got in and Lena hopped in the driver's seat before continuing, "two-hundred grand."

"Really?" Marcus asked with surprise in his tone.

"That's normal for recovery jobs, usually stuff like this barely brakes seventy-five thousand. Seems like this job is really important to someone." Eddie said, his expression happy as he tapped his fingers in the air, seemingly doing something on his neuronet.

"While it may be information gathering, this can get worse if someone feels we're asking too many questions about the cybernetics," Lena spoke again while backing the car out of the parking spot.

"Is this supposed to be a single-night job?" Marcus asked again, to which Keith responded, "If we're lucky we'll finish in time for a job finish celebration with other crews."

"Other crews…" Marcus said in his head, wondering what kind of party would even be had in the few hours they'd probably have left before the sun rose.