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Jisung twirls the ring around in his fingers, he’d swiped it from an enforcer looking guy. He didn’t recognize him from the local enforcers and he knew all of their faces so he could avoid them but this guy had a gun and dressed like they did. Just no badge. Jisung ducks down an alley off of the street.
He weaves through the trash and the druggies hopped up on Jack. He took another turn and lifted up the grate into the sewers. He jumped down and the sewer water sloshed at his calves. He was down here enough that it didn’t phase him, and it wasn’t like his clothes were nice enough that he cared about the gross water dirtying them.
He ran down the sewer line and pulled himself up through another grate that would be near the fences he always sold his steals. He walked down the alley toward the street peaking conspicuously to the left and right before coming out casually.
Normally the people he pickpocketed only had Joy or sometimes IDs or credentials he could sell. The people in this area were too poor for jewelry and electronics. But the guy he’d swiped from today had a few rings so hopefully he’d make some good returns on it. If the merchant says it’s worth anything he’ll find that guy again and snatch the rest.
He nods to the merchant from the corner across the street and turns down another alley. They never spoke in the open, Jisung had never been caught but in case he did they didn’t want to be connected. Jisung also suspected the merchant just didn’t like his appearance and didn’t want him ruining his reputation.
Not that it matters considering the merchants only customers were the government officials and random Jack addicts trying to make some Joy to score their next hit.
“What’ve you got today, boy?”
Jisung handed over the ring, “What do you think it’s worth? I can get three more similar ones.”
The merchant inspected the ring, “50 Joy. You get the other three and I’ll give you 300 Joy for the lot.”
“300 Joy?!” Jisung exclaimed. He made 100 Joy on a good day, 200 more would put him closer to catching a freighter off the planet.
The merchant nodded and handed the ring back to him, “I know you’re good at this but that’s a nice ring so whoever you stole it from will know it’s missing. I think you’ll have a hard time getting the others.” He walked out of the alley and Jisung held the ring up in awe.
This tiny piece of metal was worth almost as much as his food budget for the week. He stuffed it into the pouch he hid inside his pants.
Jisung walked out of the alley and down the street for a little bit, slipping his hand into pockets as he passed. The guy was probably already gone from where Jisung saw him last and if he was an enforcer like he thought, he might be back at their headquarters but he didn’t really want to go round there.
He paused near the ship landing bay. The planet was mostly used as a fuel or pitstop for a lot of travelers or merchants. They didn’t stay much more than a day and rarely left their ships. Jisung sometimes dreamt about sneaking onto an empty ship and flying it away, leaving this dying planet and finding somewhere better.
But he couldn’t fly a ship so even if he did manage to sneak aboard he wouldn’t even be able to get it off the ground.
It was getting dark so he walked off towards the building he rented a room in. He pushed through the door and was immediately greeted with yelling and a baby wailing. This wasn’t unusual, the building was barely still standing and noise seemed to leak through the building's cracks just as much as the rain.
He went up the flights of stairs to the small room he lived in, it had a mattress and a table with a chair. They’d been in the room when he first started renting it. It cost him 50 Joy a week and he wouldn’t be in it much longer. Hopefully.
Jisung plopped down on the mattress and pulled off his old boots then awkwardly tugged his pants off from his sitting position. He emptied his jacket pockets then shook his pants and shoes out onto the bed.
He rounded up today's loot, about 100 Joy as usual plus a few workers IDs and a couple PDs. The PDs were pretty outdated so they wouldn’t sell for much but he could take them apart for the pieces. The workers IDs could sell for 20 Joy each, people were always looking for them so they could get a job.
Jisung held the pouch, squishing it in his fingers feeling the shape of the ring. He only used this pouch for really valuable things he didn’t want to lose or someone else might steal from him. He’d lost a day's worth of work from being jumped in an alley before.
He gathered everything up, stuffing it into his jacket then spreading the jacket out on the mattress and laying back. He never kept any of it in the room, it’s too easy to break in, and he always slept on the jacket so it couldn’t be stolen without waking him up. In the morning he’d go stash it with the rest of his savings.
・゜-: ✧ :- -: ✧ :-゜・．
Jisung had seen the guy he stole the ring from around for another couple days. He’d even managed to swipe another ring.
“Oh, sorry man.” The guy said, putting his hands on Jisung’s shoulders to stabilize him after they’d knocked into each other, not that it had been an accident. “Hey, I think I’ve seen you around.”
Jisung slid the ring onto his thumb, “Yeah, I run errands in the area.” This was his standard line when he was recognized.
“So you see a lot of people then?”
Jisung nodded.
“I’m Chan, I’m a Reclamation Agent. I work for the Rack.” Chan put his hand out and Jisung shook it, sliding another ring off and onto his ring finger. It was a little loose, he’d need to put the ring into his pocket soon so he didn’t drop it.
“Jisung. I’ve never heard of the Rack.”
“It’s the Reclamation and Apprehension Coalition. Basically, us Reclamation Agents find and bring back whatever the client asks.”
“Right,” Jisung nodded. He didn’t like how that sounded for him. “So, do you need something?”
“Yeah, someone’s been stealing the worker IDs in this area and it’s creating a big mix up with officials.” Jisung did his best to look appropriately surprised, which was easy since he didn’t realize he’d caused such a problem, and keeping the guilt off his face. “That’s not what I’m here for though. My client thinks this troublemaker stole his PD and he wants me to bring it back.”
Jisung had no idea about that. He rarely looked through the PDs, he didn’t have any interest in other people’s business. “What are you asking? I’ll help as much as I can but I don’t talk to the officials really.”
“That’s fine,” Chan smiled, “I was just wondering if you could tell me where the troublemakers hang out.”
“Everywhere really, pretty much everyone in this area is either hooked or making trouble. Nobody has workers IDs so they don’t have anywhere to be.”
Chan sighed and rubbed the back of his head “This one is giving me a hard time,” he mutters seemingly to himself.
As soon as he finished this conversation with Chan he was going to meet up with the merchant and sell off the rings. He might be able to strike a bargain with one of the freight workers and get cheap passage.
“Sorry I couldn’t be much help.”
“No, that’s okay. If you think of something just find me, I’ll probably be around for a while longer.”
“Sure, I’ll see you around.” Jisung walked off and stuffed his hands into his pockets pushing the rings off.
He discreetly looked behind him to see if Chan was still looking and when he saw he wasn’t he took off down the next alley. Racing through and dodging collapsed addicts blocking his path. He reached the corner where he signaled the merchant, he leaned against the wall catching his breath.
“What’s the rush? Someone chasing you?” the man spoke gruffly.
Jisung shook his head, “It’s nothing.” He reached into his pockets and pulled out the four rings, “Here I got that set for you. 300 Joy, right?”
The merchant reached into his inner coat pocket and pulled out the Joy and handed it over. “300 as promised.” They exchanged the rings and Joy. As the merchant started to leave Jisung called out,
“By the way, I’d hold off selling IDs. Officials’ve noticed the mix ups.” Then he took off.
He needed to get to his stash. He ran down a few alleys and reached a grate. It looked like all the other sewer grates but it was really an old electrical outlet that had been abandoned. He lifted the grate then popped up the metal lid of the powerbox. He’d hollowed it out, taking away all the wires and conductors so now it just contained a duffle bag.
He pulled out the bag, quickly checking its contents were still there, and put it over his shoulder. He left calmly so he wouldn’t attract too much attention. When he walked into the building he was greeted with its familiar noise but it felt so much louder. His heart was pounding in his chest with fear of his only escape being stolen and potentially getting caught for theft and having to work hard labor for years.
He pushed open his door and rushed to his table. The PDs he’d stolen, a few dismantled, and the random other electronics he’d acquired were spread out on the table. He wasn’t sure which one was the one Chan was looking for so he’d have to get rid of them all. He’d dump them into one of the sewers on his way to the landing bay tomorrow.
He shoved them into one of the bag pockets. Then he went to the mattress and pulled some of the clothing he’d stuffed into pillowcases out and into the bag.
“Are you going somewhere?”
Jisung whips his head toward the voice. Chan stood in the now open doorway.
“What’re you doing here?”
Chan lifted his hand and waved his fingers, “I noticed my rings were missing after our little chat. So I followed you.” He shrugs.
Jisung curses under his breath. Chan couldn’t have followed him all the way to his room, he’d taken so many turns. “I don’t know where your rings are, there are a lot of thieves around here, anyone you talked to could’ve stolen them.” He shrugs, “And you’re right, I am going somewhere. I have work off-planet starting tomorrow.”
Jisung zips up the bag and slings it over his shoulder. He knocks against Chan as he walks past. Chan grabs his shoulder and Jisung whirls around, pointing the gun he’d slipped from Chan’s holster at him.
Chan backs away hands up, “Wow, I didn’t even feel you grab that.”
“Listen, I’m not doing hard labor and I’m not going to prison so you’re going to let me leave right now or I’ll shoot you.”
“I’m not here to arrest you, I don’t care about the worker IDs. My warrant is just for the PD, I don’t have to turn in who stole it.”
“What?”
“If you have the PD, we can give it back to my client. We don’t have to tell anyone you stole it or anything else you’ve stolen. That’s all I’m here for.”
“Why should I trust you? You could turn me in as soon as I hand it over.”
“I said we. Become a Reclamation Agent, I’ll sponsor you. I’ll tell my client and the Rack you helped me complete the Warrant.” Chan puts his hands down and takes a step forward. “You want to leave right? I can help you.”
Honestly, Jisung’s just bluffing; he’s never used a gun. He doesn’t know how it works and he’s pretty sure the safety is on.
Chan takes another step forward. “You can keep the gun if it makes you feel better. And if you don’t want to become a Reclamation Agent I’ll still give you a ride off world. But I need to complete my Warrant so please give me the PD.”
“Fine,” Jisung lowers the gun, “I’ll give it to you but first we get on your ship. I stay there while you meet your client.”
Chan smiles and nods, “Let’s go.”
・゜-: ✧ :- -: ✧ :-゜・．
Chan had let him shower and sleep in one of the bunkers, letting him keep his duffle bag and Chan’s gun close by. In the morning they ate in the ship's small kitchen then they’d gone through the PDs he’d stolen to find Chan’s client’s. Now, Jisung sat with his chin propped up on his knees in the pilot chair waiting for Chan to come back from his meeting.
He heard the door to the control room slide open. Chan walked in with a smile and took the chair next to Jisung. He held his hand out to Jisung who took it then looked in his palm. It was 500 Joy.
“Your cut,” Chan said, “Now where do you want to go?”
Jisung stared at the Joy, more than his entire rent and food expenses for months, then back to Chan. “Can I stay? Not on this planet, I’d rather be anywhere else, but with you. Can I stay with you?”
Chan smiled and nodded, “Of course.”