Veni, Vidi, Vici

She leaned against the wall and stared at the gravel surface. Facing the helicopter landing pad in between the two buildings, she knew she was taking a risk. Technically she was in the open with very little cover to run to, short of the landing pad itself, several yards away. But she was also thirty stories up on one of the tallest buildings in Crey’s Folly. Still, this massive building was captured by the Rikti during the First Invasion, and they still occupied several areas in this city zone.

Scarlet chewed on her lip. It had been 5 minutes and her contact was never … ever … late. “Go se.” Her Chinese was getting rusty.

Gravel churned ahead of her at the other end of the landing pad. She looked up without moving and saw him. He wore a one-piece suit, colored dark blue and black. Various armored plates were attached at tactical locations. A helmet and visor covered his head. Her relief was muted by the large case strapped to his back.

He stepped around the landing pad never looking away from her. She pushed away and sauntered toward him, her stiletto books stabbing into the gravel. “Is that a picnic basket on your back? I didn’t know you were such a romantic. Did I ever tell you I’m a fan of red wine?”

“You flatter yourself, Scarlet Scorpion.” His voice was modulated.

“And you must be a single man, Paladin.” She smirked and lifted her head slightly as she stopped and leaned on one leg. Her opposite arm bent at the elbow to rest a hand on her hip. She was ready.

The man’s helmet nodded at the touché then hissed as pressurized locks released. Paladin removed the helmet; his hair was wet with sweat. “This is an impressive piece of hardware. I’m surprised you let me play with it.”

“I’m impressed you even asked. Now then, let’s finish business. I have a date.”

“Ah, yes. About that, no offense Scarlet, but I need one more favor.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You always do Paladin. I came here for a simple trade. Quid pro quo.”

He nodded again and removed the case. Placing it on the floor, he unlocked it and revealed its contents. “You want information, it’ll cost you more than a joy-ride in Dawn Patrol’s new toy.”

Scarlet looked at the item then to Paladin. “You do realize I have the kill switch? That suit will crush you into tomato sauce.”

“Then you’d be a murderer.”

“I’d be one with that thing!” She pointed at the particle projection cannon in the case.

“I see you don’t think of all the possibilities. It’s murder if you kill a human, but it’s not murder if it’s Rikti.”

Her eyebrows rose again. She looked to the sinister weapon then back to Paladain as he dismounted from the combat suit. “What I need is not worth the effort, unless the target is in this building.” She countered on a hunch she was safe.

“It’s your lucky day then.” Paladin smiled.

Scarlet frowned.

"He’s alone, on the tenth floor, looking for the same info you need.” He pulled out a data-pen and handed it to Scarlet. “That’s the map to the files’ precise location, and to where that alien is going.”

“Can’t get your hands dirty on this yourself?”

Paladin raised both hands as if he were under arrest. “I’m not the one snooping in Crey’s dirty laundry. Proust and his Korps are busy at the Crash Site. That pop-gun will disintegrate the Rikti's existence, that's why your powers will not be used.”

Lifting the rifle, she frowned again. “To hell with you and Longbow. Proust has no idea how much of a prick you are. After this we are done.”

He pulled out a pair of sunglasses, placed them on his face and ‘shot’ Scarlet with one hand. “Yes, he does, dear Scarlet.”