Chapter 54

Conflict of Interest

Egad's Castle...

Two Hours Later...

7:00 PM...

Mick walked back into the Citadel Room with Xen and Codec after everyone had eaten dinner. Xen had revealed to everyone over dinner that before they left Tarion III that he had made a quick stop back at Mick's beach house and grabbed all the data drives from the computers he kept in his office, totaling up to twenty data disk drives with forty terabyte capacity for each drive. Three of these drives contained encrypted files, access codes, and passwords to access an underground website server on the galactic internet that was used as a hiring hub for Transporters that clients with access could look up. Each transporter was represented by a random-generated serial number, with contact info and anonymous reviews for each, as well as the locales they operated in. Mick's number was M-4527.

After Codec had taken basic precautions and having all the drives scanned for viruses and malicious programs in a sandboxed system, finding none afterwards, he allowed Xen to plug the drives into empty drive slots in one of the supercomputers. Also, Codec had four new computer chairs installed in the Citadel room for Jet, Mick, Egad, and Himself before the Elite Gallery returned with Master. These chairs were connected to a gravity diffuser system that covered the entire room, allowing the new chairs to hover throughout the Citadel Room. Also, these chairs had built-in keyboards and touch-screen mice, as well as several holoscreens that could display data from the supercomputers.

Jet took one of the new hoverchairs while Xen settled into the stationary one in front of the main terminal, Codec and Mick standing behind him at his shoulders. After they had the new drives setup, ready and online, Xen signed into the transporter hub server, updating their operating area info.

"Well, that's done." Xen said. "Jet, Codec, Thanks for the help."

"Anytime." Jet said, hovering slightly above Xen in his hoverchair. The terminal then beeped a notification.

"Well, it appears that Mick already has a local transporter request." Codec said, pointing out the message as he brought it up. "That was rather quick..."

"Transportation is always in high demand." Mick said. "Where do they want to meet up?"

Codec opened the message, bringing it up on the screen with mere thought, using the uplink from his new body. "They want to meet up in Mel'Andrea, at Uniko's old bar establishment in one hour. They say it is urgent..."

Mick shrugged. "Very well." He got the keys to his Audi out of his pocket. "Codec, please inform my dad and Uncle Egad about this unexpected job that popped up, and that I will be back by 9:00 PM at the latest to join everyone else in the bath house to clean up."

Codec nodded. "Will do."

# # # #

Uniko's Delights...

Mel'Andrea...

7:00 PM...

Mick met in Uniko's old bar with the team of men in casual clothes that appeared like hired private security, sitting next to the leader at an isolated booth in the bar, the leader being a rottweiler. Silva told him that one of his friends bought the establishment and was now running it the same way Uniko did.

Mick, unlike his client and company, wasn't drinking any alcohol due to what he was going to need to do. Not that it was a problem, since the tavern didn't usually serve alcoholic drinks. It didn't mean that it could serve other things that could get you buzzed, though.

"How many packages?" Mick asked, his phone in his hand.

"Two packages, stored in one large bag, which we have on site right now." The rottweiler said.

"Dimensions?" Mick asked. The rottweiler made a few motions with his hands, showing the rough equivalent of the size.

Mick sighed in annoyance. "Be specific, please."

"One and one-eight meters by three-quarters of a meter." One of the rottweiler's buddies, an iguana said.

"Weight?"

"Two-hundred fifteen kilos, not more."

"Live or Dead Packages?"

"Live."

"Destination?"

"138 Lotusfield lane in the neighboring town of Lohan, delivery is to-"

Mick held up his hand, stopping the speaker mid-sentence. "Rule # 2: No names. Delivery Pickup Time?"

"Immediately." The rottweiler answered.

Mick finished jotting the info down with his phone stylus. "Two combined live packages, One and one-eighth meters by three-quarter meters, two-hundred fifteen kilos... Delivery is to 138 Lotusfield lane in Lohan... Driving distance is one-hundred-twenty kilometers, one stop for refreshments... Estimated arrival time, traveling at the speed limit of 80 kph is one hour and forty-five minutes taking the stop for refreshments into consideration. Total price of this job: 160,000 credits. Half now, half on delivery. If no one is present to pick up the package when I arrive, it is not my responsibly: I will leave the package. Once the deal has been made, the terms of that deal cannot be changed or renegotiated under any circumstances, try to change or renegotiate and the deal is void on the spot."

"Another rule, I assume?" The rottweiler asked.

"It's rule # 1." Mick answered. "Do we have a deal?"

"Yes." The rottweiler got out a small, thin cardboard box from a satchel bag, and opened it, revealing a thick stack of paper credit slips held together with an elastic before closing it. "80,000 credits. Already counted."

Mick nodded, running the notes through DataNuke, shutting off his phone and taking the box, putting it into a small pack he brought and stood up. "Very well. The deal has been made."

"As a compliment, you are very precise." The rottweiler said, getting up from the table with everyone else.

"Transportation is a precise business." Mick said simply, leaving a payment for his drink as they walked outside to the parking area in the back. The rottweiler then got out a large duffel bag from the back of a station wagon, hauling it over to Mick's Audi with two other men. Mick popped the trunk, and they set the bag inside. Then, Mick bid them farewell, got in the Audi, and drove off.

# # # #

Thirty Minutes Later...

Anthony opened his eyes, feeling groggy. His memory quickly came back: After Cailus had chastised him and Alak for their assault, he had security strip them of their clothes, leaving only their underwear. Then, security tied them up with rope, with their hands behind their backs, and their feet held together at the ankles. Cailus even took it a step further, having them tied together tightly, back-to-back with rope around their chests, thighs, and ankles! After that, Cailus hit them both with a chloroform-covered rag, both him and Alak blacking out.

Now, as Anthony opened his eyes, he realized he and Alak were stuffed into a large duffel bag, barely able to see in front of them with their mouths taped shut! Not only that, but it felt like they were moving! They also felt occasional bumps that bounced them around slightly. Anthony put two-and-two together: they were in a car's trunk!

Anthony quickly realized that Alak's tail fin was next to his face, as Cailus had it tied down next to Anthony's shoulder. Alak quickly started struggling, Anthony hearing him make muffled grunts and feeling him thrash about. Despite their situation, Anthony couldn't help but feel aroused by this as he felt the friction of his lover's body against his. Focusing on the situation, Anthony quickly reached a hand around Alak's and squeezed, reassuring his friend. Alak stopped thrashing and held still. Then, Anthony rubbed his face against the tip of Alak's fin, snagging the tape onto it! Anthony then slowly turned his head, pulling the tape off! With his mouth now free, Anthony started screaming in rage!

"CAILUS FOXMOORE, YOU FUCKING, TYRANNICAL ASSHOLE!! ONCE I AM OUT OF THESE ROPES, I AM GOING TO HUNT YOU DOWN AND KICK YOUR ASS FROM HERE TO HELL!!! DO YOU HEAR ME?!! FROM HERE TO HELL!!!!"

The car's driver suddenly hit the brakes after those words left Anthony's mouth. Anthony and Alak were thrown towards the deep end of the trunk as they heard the squeal of the synthetic nano-weave rubber tires as they slid through gravel, coming to a stop! After the car stopped, they both heard the engine shut off. Then, after hearing a car door open, footsteps coming towards them, he heard the trunk pop open. Then, the duffel bag was roughly pulled towards the opening, and the top unzipped in a swift fashion, revealing a bright-orange fox with baby-blue eyes standing over them in the dimly-lit dusk, dressed in snug black leggings, a mesh shirt, and a leather jacket. Clearly not Cailus!

"...Did you say the name 'Cailus Foxmoore' just now?" The fox asked with a shocked expression.

"No shit, Sherlock!" Anthony snapped. "Who are you?! His new personal delivery boy?!"

The fox bent down to Anthony's face, his expression showing irritation. "Actually, no. I'm just a transporter that he apparently hired and didn't know that it was him I was doing this job for due to the rules I have both me and my clients abide by. If I had known, I would have told Cailus to shove his credits he paid me with up his ass and around the corner. After all, he is one of my enemies..."

Anthony felt a shiver of sudden fear go down his spine as the fox lifted the bag he and Alak were in out of the trunk and set it onto the ground. He then knelt and looked at Anthony and Alak, who was taking a side glance at the fox from his position. "I now have a few questions: I ask, you answer. Now, who are you two?"

Anthony got his bearings back after a few seconds. "...I am Anthony Foxmoore, the shark is my lover, Alak'ai Fisher, but he goes by Alak, and just to clarify, I am nothing like my father! In fact, after our latest tit-for-tat, I hate the fucker with a passion! I also meant what I said earlier if you heard."

"Luckily, I did." The fox said. "So, why is he having me transport you two?"

"After I hit him a bunch of times today, dad decided to have me and Alak brought to his asshole friend, Chad. Said something about domestic conditioning, whatever the hell that is." Anthony answered, slightly calmer but still angry. "Dad, being the fucking bastard he is, even took our clothes, with the exception of our under garments a form of humiliation."

The fox nodded after a few seconds, showing a reassuring grin. "In that case, I am no longer going to take you to this 'Chad' guy. In fact, I am now going to take you and Alak to a safe place Anthony, so you can meet your Father's brother: Ryan Foxmoore, who is my godfather and ally, as well as one of your father's foes. He will help sort this out and keep you both safe. Now, I am going to take out my pocketknife, so don't scream. It is to cut you both free. After I cut you both free, I want you both to get into the passenger seats of the car. Anthony, you will sit up front, while Alak takes any place in the back seat. Understand?"

Anthony paused for a few moments, taking all this in. "...Very well." Anthony nodded, now calmer. Mick then unzipped the bag fully, flipped out his pocketknife, and cut their ropes, freeing them. Anthony stood up in his sheer boxer-briefs, with only the crotch being solid cloth. Alak tore the tape off his mouth, stood up, and joined Anthony at his side, the shark wearing his athletic supporter jockstrap.

Mick then walked over to the driver's side door, motioning for them to get in. Anthony and Alak waked over to the passenger side, Alak opening the front door for Anthony. Anthony got in, and Alak shut the door, getting into the back seat afterwards.

"...Thank you. I didn't catch your name." Anthony said as he and Alak buckled in.

"Name's Mick." The fox said simply, starting the car and whipping it back onto the road, driving in the opposite direction, now going twice the speed limit. "Nice to meet you both, though I wish it were under better circumstances."

"If I may ask, Mick... What are these rules that you mentioned? The ones you and your clients abide by?" Alak asked.

Mick grinned. "The rules are as follows. 1: Never change the deal, 2: No names, and 3: Never tell me what is in, nor open the package. All of which I have broken today as of this moment. However, now that I know what I know now, I am going to overlook that fact in this case."

Anthony and Alak couldn't help but giggle. "I trust this doesn't happen often?" Anthony asked.

"Thankfully, nope." Mick then hit the phone call button on the dashboard touchscreen, selecting a number under the name 'Xen.' The phone dialed and was picked up a few seconds later.

"Problems on the job, Mick?" A voice answered.

"Just an unexpected turn of events, Xen." Mick answered. "One of the packages, who I found out both are enemies of Cailus, told me that he is the actual client, after he started shouting in the trunk. Call the client's proxy back when I am off the phone and tell them that the deal is off, make up a story of me getting attacked and ending up in the hospital or something if they want an explanation. I'm on my way back to the castle with two new allies in my godfather's crusade against his brother, and they most likely have a lot of inside info. Also, let Uncle Ryan know that they will need some clothes, because Cailus left them in nothing but underwear..."