Liquid Bank - Chapter 7
A Megacosm Novelette
Chapter 2 - Economically Viable
Chapter 6 - The Communication Room
Chapter 7– Conversation
“Knock knock,” Broden said with a laugh as he leaned in and spoke into the microphone on Simon’s desk. “C’mon now, don’ be a tadger. I know you can ‘ere me.”
Intruder sat on the other side of the desk, programs from the laptop screen in front of him reflecting in his glasses as he typed away.
“Broden,” a voice said on a radio clipped to his side. Looking down, Broden unclipped the device and depressed a button on the side. “Connor, Shaw, report your progress.”
The sounds of heavy waves breaking in the background filled the radio as Connor spoke over the crash, “Everything is on schedule. We got down to the proper depth, and it’s exactly where you said it was.”
Glancing up, Intruder gave him a quick smile.
“Great to er’, how long till you’re done?”
“Give us about two hours,” Shaw shouted, “how are you getting along with the vault?”
“Still closed,” Broden said, with a laugh that made Intruder giggle.
“Still? Thought you had the gift of gab friend?”
Broden laughed again, “If you ‘ave a way to bypass their pressure mats or reveal their invisible lasers that don’t set off the secondary alarms from the aerosol, I’m all ‘ears. Shoulda tol me before we started this caper.”
There was a pause on the radio before Connor said, “Understood. Will reach back in an hour with our progress.”
Massaging the bridge of his nose, Broden returned the radio to his belt.
“I heard every word of that,” The microphone in Broden’s hand crackled to life. The cackling of the keyboard ceased as Intruder paused to look up. “I don’t know what you’re planning, but the authorities are on their way. You’ve lost,” Simon’s voice said.
“Are they now?” Broden replied grabbing the microphone as he collapsed back in Simon’s chair, knocking a family photo to the ground as he kicked his feet atop the desk. “Guess I better huff and puff and let myself in.”
“Good luck,” Simon said, and Broden could imagine the smirk on his face. “This is Savoy tech. You somehow seem to know what security we have, which I will get to the bottom of when this is over. But there is no way in here unless I let you in and that is not going to happen.”
Wheeling the chair a foot over, Broden leaned over and looked down the bland hallway that led to the anti-room outside the vault that the bank manager had locked himself in.
“I’ve got hostages,” Broden said into the mic, mouth frowning as he shrugged at Intruder, but there was only static in reply. “I guess that doesn’t matter to you. Human l’ives never does to you people.”
“What do you want?” Simon asked.
“We want your money,” Broden replied.
“That’s it?”
“Thas it,” Broden grinned.
“You speak about people like me. People like you usually say you want to make a point. Stealing from those that do because you can’t,” Simon replied. “I won’t let you steal from the producers that keep this world going.”
“Ya wound me chief, I appen to have excellent credit,” Broden said, leaning forward. “Ya may ‘ave a point there though. I’ve only been good at one thing and that’s thievin’. Who am I to deny God’s great gift ta me?”
“Excellent credit?” Simon replied, “you’re a parasite then.”
“Maybe so,” Broden said, leaning back again, “and I plan on bleedin this bank dry whether you decide to help or not. But in the end, I believe you will let me in.”
Novelette
“Writing a novelette allows the writer to create all that supporting information to back up a short story. Whether a short story is meant as a scene in a larger story, or simply as a story by itself, it will always be taking part in a larger world.” -ThisIsWriting
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Plot:
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