Owen

I walked until I reached the address they sent me. It was a small house made to look like it was the red brick they used to make houses from centuries ago. I went up to the front door and knocked. The door opened and a human man with a brown beard and bald head opened the door.

"Hello there, friend," I said. "I'm Owen. I was generously invited to . . ."

He motioned me inside with a tilt of his head and ignored my attempt at conversation. I walked passed him and turned so I could see all around me. I saw an older man sitting at a table in a room off to the side. He motioned for me to take a seat.

The seat was large, but most were. My feet dangled off the floor. I clasped my hands together and placed them on the table in front of me. There was a metallic box on a chair next to the man. I didn't see the first man who had opened the door for me.

"I don't have much time, friend," I said to the gentleman at the table.

"I know," he said in a deep voice. "Your shuttle leaves for the G.E.V. Shadow soon."

I nodded as if it was expected he knew that instead of the goosebumps that suddenly formed on my arms.

"Right. You've obviously heard of the great things I can accomplish or you wouldn't have contacted me. So what can I do for you?"

"It's a small thing really," the man said. He picked up the metallic box and placed it on the table in front of him. He opened it. I rose as tall as I could in my seat to see what was inside. When he opened it, there was a smaller box. I sat back down and sighed out my disappointment. I was expecting something more.

He smiled and held the smaller box carefully in his hands. "What we need from you is a simple thing really. We just need you to smuggle this on board the G.E.V. Shadow. Inside this box," he patted the metallic box, "it will be immune to scans. The case will appear empty."

Interesting. I looked at the bigger metallic box. It had a handle on it so it could be used as a large briefcase or suitcase. Something like that would make smuggling anything a lot easier, including the chocolates I planned to get after this. I wouldn't have to use my usual diversions and make my dad suspicious of me. My parents never told on me when they suspected I was smuggling something on board. They loved me too much to get me into trouble with the authority.

"So you need something from me, friend, but I don't really need anything from you," I said. "I think I'll just go catch my shuttle." I slid off the chair and onto my feet. I was very careful not to look at that larger metallic box. My movements were slow enough to give the man time to make me an offer, but fast enough that it didn't look like that's what I was doing.

"Wait," the man cried out. He grabbed onto my wrist. I looked down at his large hand and he immediately retracted it. "What do you want?"

I purposely looked at the larger metallic box.

"You can, of course, keep this," the man said and pushed it towards me. "You can use it for whatever you want."

I sat in the chair and let my legs dangle off the ground.

"What's special about this little box?" I took it from him. I tried to open it, but it was locked. He reached out desperately for it and I let him take it back.

"Nothing special about it," he said and cradled it to his chest.

"Then you don't really need me to smuggle it on board."

I started to rise again, but he grabbed my wrist. "What else do you want?"

"What do you want me to do with that box?"

"You just need to take it on board the G.E.V. Shadow and place it in the museum behind the Aether Field Prototype exhibit at 20:55 on Monday. You're going on board anyway and with your reputation, I'm sure you're planning on smuggling something. It's a small thing for you, really."

"And you're offering me a measly box that I don't need. I've proven I can smuggle items onto the G.E. ships without getting caught. I don't know if what is in your box is illegal or not. I mean, why would you ask me to smuggle it on board if it was legal?"

The old man nodded. "I wouldn't expect this smuggling box to be enough for you and of course I've heard of your reputation."

I nodded. Of course he had. My greatness had to be renowned by now. I was glad he finally realized it.

"How about the box and two hundred credits."

"No," I said and started to rise. It sounded good to me. It was a small thing they were asking, but they were desperate and I could get more.

"Three hundred credits," the man said and he stood with me.

I placed my hand on the table and drummed my fingers a few times. "Six hundred credits," I said.

"That's a bit too mu . . .," the man started.

I started towards the door.

"Okay," the man said as he stepped in after me. "Six hundred credits and the box." He pointed to the metallic box on the table.

"Okay," I said. "Transfer the credits to me now."

The man grumbled under his breath, but tapped onto his okulus to do it. I opened the metallic box and carefully put the smaller box in it.

"It's done," the man said.

I checked my okulus to make sure the six hundred credits had been transferred. I nodded satisfied with the day's proceedings. "Nice doing business with you, friend." I stuck out my hand and he shook it. "Call on me again when I get back if you need something else."

The smile that crossed the man's face caused goosebumps on my arms again, but I didn't know why. Nothing dangerous seemed to be involved and I wouldn't be back for at least a year anyway.

"Will do," the man said.