Story Time with Saffire, Part 4

"Wait wait wait, go back," Flashfire requests. "How did they know you were all coming?"

"Apparently it was a sting. The people Rabsy heard talking were undercover officers who came up with a false story, and we fell for it. That's why Rabsy now keeps files in both paper and electronic form. No matter what, he can double check any intel or rumor that he hears, no more trusting a stranger's word.

"My guess was that the authorities had worked out ways to counter us all, but needed to set up a sure encounter instead of bringing their gear to every little crime that happened."

"So where did you and Rabsy go after that?" Blackfire asks.

"Well, after stealing a small ship big enough for both of us," you say, "Rabsy flew the two of us to Infomis, planet of news and data.

"This is where Rabsy started collecting information for that large database he has in his current Rhytmis home. He would earn a decent wage shuffling and storing their files, all the while sneaking tiny bits of their interplanetary databases away inside a tiny little flash drive. He'd use this information to create a list of likely allies and enemies that I'd glance at whenever I did our real job of stealing and swindling.

"Before ever knowing who The Sinful Ones were, or meeting Blackfire, a pair of criminals Rabsy told me to watch out for were Smoke and Violence.

"Their names were rather self-explanatory, Smoke being able to turn himself into his namesake, allowing himself to slip out of tight spots and situations, while Violence maimed and slaughtered anyone who tried to apprehend him."

"Did you ever run into either of them?" Flashfire asks.

"Only Violence," you answer. "He was the one that I fought when I made that building collapse on Planet Tranquilitus."

"Tell us about that job," Blackfire asks. "I've wanted to know how exactly you made it collapse, and what you two were after so much that you'd fight someone to that point."

"Me, too!" Flashfire exclaims. "I gotta know!"

"Alright, alright," you say, calming your sister. "Rabsy found out from co-workers that Tranquilitus, as perfect and pristine as it was, needed more funds to keep themselves that way. Therefore, an auction to sell rare items was to be held, the proceeds going to their treasury.

"It was Rabsy's idea to have me to steal either a couple items, or a part of the proceeds. I flew to Tranquilitus and found where the auction was being held. I had snuck inside to find that many valuables were still waiting to be put up for auction.

"I got into the storage room and had grabbed up a couple small, shiny ones. However, when I turned around to leave, a tall, rippling male stood in the doorway, deep scars visible on his arms and upper body, and a stitched-together mask wrapped tight to his face. I found myself face to face with Violence in person."