Job Eight: 
Connections

     You are NOT jumping off this building Ahura Mazda Osiris!

    "Sorry Mister Egg, we have no time to discuss this. I don't like the idea of being shot, Do you?"

    Well... no, but we wouldn't have to go through this if you hadn't set off that... what was it called.

    "An alarm." Ahura said as he jumped off the ledge of a record tall skyscraper. The egg mentally screamed all the way to the bottom where Ahura neatly landed with the help of a convent standard thief grappling hook. It hurt his arm, but they were alive, and no one was about to catch them.

    You are the greatest thief aren't you?

    "Mmm," was all the thief could say, because he was finally out of breath from running.

    Then... are you "loosing your touch?"

    Ahura did not respond. Now was not the time or place for contemplation, he should be off hunting for another treasure, one that was actually attainable.

***

    The unsuspecting man drank his tea in a ignorant bliss while reading a week old newspaper. A small smirk crossed the assassins face as her victim's chest entered the crosshairs. With a simple pull of the trigger the man was dead in a pool of blood and fluffy chair stuffing.

    Maybe the gauge was just a little to high for the job.

    Anghiari slipped off with the greatest of ease, and not a soul noticed her presence. It was nice to know that she was not loosing her touch, and she was going to pay a huge some of money.

***

    Sindiri blinked a few extra times and Ahura Mazda produced several artifacts from his coat. All the items were easily high price items on the black market, and they could easily make enough money to retire to Hawaii in one shot.

    When did you get those?

    "When you weren't paying attention, Egg. I can't believe I'm bonded to a ninny."

    As soon as I get out of here I'm kicking your sorry butt.

    "I'd like to see that happen."

    "Would you two knock it off! Let me go to the computer and analyze this stuff. It looks genuine, but we can never be too sure about the museums here in America or anywhere for that matter." The Torienga made her way over to a rather ancient laptop parked in the unusable kitchen sink of the cruddy apartment.

     Why can't you trust anything from museums?

    "You can't trust much in today's living. Sometimes the museums create copies of things that were already stolen and never bother to tell the public or the new curators." The green haired man shrugged, "I've lived my whole life never trusting a thing."

    The egg remained silent in contemplation for the remained of the analysis. It just could not grasp why Ahura was so trustless. Maybe part of it was because Ahura's subconscious had erected a barrier that did not allow the egg to probe any further into his bondmate's mind.

    "They're all legitimate, and if they aren't they're amazing copies."

    "So, how much can they sell for?"

    "Nine hundred thousand each, standard currency and that's at the lowest price!"

    "Score!"

    That's a lot of money?

    "Yep, Mister Egg, that means I could buy a summer home if I really wanted to." Ahura Mazda skipped over to the couch and set the egg down carefully.

    As soon as he had made himself comfortable, Anghiari waltzed in humming some off key song he had never heard. For once she seemed beyond the point of happy.

    "What's with you Gi?"

    "I just killed the prime minister of Egypt!" She said in a sing song voice while she proceeded to pour herself a cup of tea.

    Why does she sound so happy over that?

    "I don't know, but I'm as freaked out as you are."

    Gi giggled. "You boys getting along well?" She gave a sip of her tea and walked over to her beanbag chair.

    Why is Ms. Assassin scaring me?

    "Why is she scaring me...."

    Sindiri rolled her eyes. "How much were you paid, Gi?"

    She danced in her seat. "One mil!"

    Jaws dropped, and someone gasped while Anghiari took a swig of her herbal gray tea.

    "That must have been one heck of a job if it was worth that much." Ahura said breathily.

    "To tell you the truth it was rather easy to shoot him. It was finding a place to shoot him from without being seen that was difficult task."

    "I think it's time to change the subject." Ahura said as he adjusted the egg, just to make sure it would not fall.

    "I did some research on the Bishen Egg." Sin offered as she typed something with a wing.

    "Oh?" Everyone said simultaneously.

    She nodded. "There isn't that much on the net, but I did manage to connect via satellite to a very strange site. I am almost positive that it's talking about the same clutch of dragons, but--"

    "Sindiri, cut to the chase." Ahura said tapping his foot impatiently.

    "Mister Egg can be a variety of colors ranging from Blue, Green, Red, that are common colors, to Black, Divine, Ice Shard, Moonstone, Mountain Haze, Sea Splash, Sunshine and White, those are the mutations. Lastly, the current clutch belongs to two male dragons. That was all the information I could find." The translator went back to typing.

    "Hold up, can you repeat the last part?" Ahura sat up in his sit. The egg giggled.

    "The clutch belongs to two male dragons."

    Ahura Mazda eyed the egg. "Did you know about this?"

    Yes... the dad bit.

    "Can you explain it?"

    ... No. Should I be able to?

    Now that Ahura thought on it, he realized he had asked a rather silly question. Maybe it was time to change the subject once again.

    "So, How much time do you think we have before the police search this apartment complex?" He looked to Anghiari who had yet to finish her tea.

    "I'd give it three hours."

***

    The night was as deep as pitch. Not even the bright city lights to pierce the pea soup fog that surrounded the area. It gave Ahura a slight discomfort--he never really liked moisture period--but he ignored it. His focus was on the "ruído branco," an amazing little device that was worth a fortune. It didn't matter if no one knew what it did, it was just what he was looking for.

    He slipped through the air duct with a cat like grace, and with a rather anticlimactic thunk, he hit the bottom of the duct. For a while he remained still and prayed to the forces that be that no one had heard him. Thankfully the museum curators were cocky, and never bother to check the automated systems or higher guards for that matter. The great King of Bandits knew this, but was not sure of the validity of the statement.

    Luckily her had heard the correct information.

    He slipped out of the duct and landed on the cold marble floors like a ninja ready to stalk its prey. With a quick glance he checked his watch--he only had five minutes to go, the job would have to be quick.

    The case stood about five feet tall, and was completely clear. Two objects were contained inside. A small satin pillow of a strange white-cream hue and a small gold and sliver object. 

    That golden object was a simple ball, and around it were four silver hoops that seemed to float around it. The "ruído branco" was one of the great universal mysteries.

    Ahura could not help but smirk as he slid the dagger under the glass plating. With a small pop the seal was broken, and the eager little thief removed the protective cover like wrapping paper. Happily he picked up the small object and placed it in the palm of his hand.

    "You," he whispered, "are going to sell for a fortune on the black market."

    The object clicked, and a feminine voice said "Connection made," before going completely silent. 

    It did not sit right with Ahura, but he could not deal with that now, it was time to leave.