Cheap Shots - You are a hitman. You need money. Do the math.

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Ch0 - Page 9b
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    • Romal enters the vents and you can only assume it is taking the carrot to God-knows-where. It'll be another week before you can coax it out of there, but you'd rather not deal with losing yet another vegetable (or your head). Your mind wanders for a moment if a carrot is a vegetable or a root. Your mind then stops wandering as it doesn't matter since you were probably not gonna eat it anyways. You take the time to look into your apartment.



    Same old same old. Nothing really new and nothing really changes, apart from a few souvenirs and updates on your corkboard and city map. You're quite content with your current setup. You then decide to wind back and do something to pass the time.
    [X] When you get on the computer, go to that one review you always like to read.
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    You get your computer beside the TV and sit at the corner, placing your groceries down for the time being. You go read that review that Pris introduced to you. It's a review article for an ancient-looking game. Probably from the last century or two. The article is full of wit, snark, and references of which some you do not understand. Ever since a few read throughs, it became something you liked to read over and over again. In fact, it's one of the few offline webpages you have saved. Internet connection is rarely disconnected, but when it does at least you still have something to do that isn't Extreme Speed Minesweeper.

    If it weren't for your current career choice, you would've pursued a career in writing. Even if you had though, you'd suck at it, because you're not really one of the most verbose or creative people on the planet, let alone the city. You do better making kill plans and executing them than creatively writing how a villain's face looks like the pelvis of a hit tv show of the past, or describe how phallic-looking a dustpan looks like.

    Of course however, with repetition comes boredom. You've stopped enjoying it and more of started studying its writing to (hopefully) one day kick off your writing career on the side. There is however one thing that always cracked you up.



    That shark.... it's so sad. You kinda feel bad snickering at it whenever you see its face, but it's just so much of a perfect ": (" that you can't help but snicker at it whenever you do. You'd bet some cash (a small amount though) that some sentient shark somewhere in the unknown universe just frowned because of your snickering. However, all that would do is make you snicker more, which would in turn make more sentient sharks frown. You now can't stop thinking about frowning sharks : ( :

    Your mind drifts to wondering if this cycle continues enough times if frowning sharks can be considered a currency somewhere.    ​
     
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    • Do we have a website or linkedin or something advertising our skills? Maybe we should update it.
    With frowning sharks.
     
    Find information about the "Pantheon" that your (now dead) target mentioned and check your inbox for messages.
     
    Ch0 - Page 10
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    • [X] Find information about the "Pantheon" that your (now dead) target mentioned and check your inbox for messages.
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    You're not that great with collecting information about underground organizations, nor are you with making a good conspiracy corkboard. However, your organization has been a great help. This "Pantheon" has apparently messed with more people than you thought prior to joining. About a quarter of the organization got messed up by them somehow. Quite fitting how these group of folks ended up being "Vigilantes".

    So far you only got the identities of 3 of their head honchos: An AAI that lives in a desktop PC somewhere that handles all of the Pantheon's tech, an AAI investor who handles all of their finances (according to your organization, they have a ton of dough at their disposal), and the famous musician/streamer/celebrity Hamilton "Here4Ever" Hash who's their eyes and ears and intermediate connection to the world. Of the three only Hamilton's whereabouts are known, but obviously organizing a hit on a celebrity is a one-way ticket for having the government shut you down.

    You don't know the rest and you get your information from the organization, and they're just in the dark as you are. So far that is. That being said you decide to check the chatroom.



    Your e-mail is just full of spam (and e-mails from college, but you already deal with them as soon as you see it). You check the chatroom for information. Seems like Liz and 38 just finished an assignment.

    [X] Do we have a website or linkedin or something advertising our skills? Maybe we should update it. With frowning sharks.
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    For security and legal purposes, Vigilantes aren't allowed to advertise any of their skills to employers (except for those screened through the organization). However, you can advertise your skills within the organization. Some of you may be hitmen but it's still a workplace of various skillsets. You've already advertised your skills yesterday however. Pris joined in as well. Eventually everyone just started spamming the frowning shark until Shi locked image uploading. You plan to upload it again once the lock expires though. Viva la frowning shark!​
     
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    • Sooo most vigilantes are goofballs, as one might expect.
    ...Thought: What does it take to become a vigilante? Ooor was that question covered already?
     
    Ah, I'm glad you liked reading the article! VGJunk may not update anymore, but his archives are still worth going through for laughs. Glad I could introduce someone to them.

    P.S. My personal favs are ALF, Dino Rex, Mansion of Hidden Souls, and his article on unofficial strategy guide cover art.
    As for my actual vote...
    [X] Take stock of the weapons you have and make sure they don't need maintenance, then get back to surfing the internet.
     
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    [X] Take stock of the weapons you have and make sure they don't need maintenance, then get back to surfing the internet.
     
    Doodles #4
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    • LIBRA is a part-time cop (and part-time tech-smith) who values justice and righteousness. When her father was killed, she vowed to one day take his killers down and bring justice to all of their victims. Thankfully, the Vigilante Initiative helps her with that.
    ​
    Zaealix said:
    Sooo most vigilantes are goofballs, as one might expect.
    ...Thought: What does it take to become a vigilante? Ooor was that question covered already?
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    Question wasn't answered yet, but there's a distinction between a vigilante and a Vigilante. The former is just anyone who tries to take the law into their own hands. The latter needs extensive identity verification, analysis and confirmation of abilities/skills, and should be able to execute (or aid) a non-conventional approach/task where normal police (or on a higher tier: normal military) would fail or be unable to do it.

    Also update Soon but no promises when cuz obviously, I'm not good at keeping a schedule lol​

    ​
     
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    • NZPIEFACE said:
    I hope she'll figure it out... though why exactly is a cop doing Vigilante work? Seems kinda backwards.
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    Well...
    TehAwesomestKit said:
    Question wasn't answered yet, but there's a distinction between a vigilante and a Vigilante. The former is just anyone who tries to take the law into their own hands. The latter needs extensive identity verification, analysis and confirmation of abilities/skills, and should be able to execute (or aid) a non-conventional approach/task where normal police (or on a higher tier: normal military) would fail or be unable to do it.
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    Because Vigilantes are highly vetted by the Initiative, who are... probably related to the government in some manner, maybe?

    The point is that they're basically the exact opposite of vigilantes and whoever made the terminology was either giggling like an idiot or just an idiot.
     
    Ch0 - Page 11
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    • [X] check your house for bugs (both surveillance kind and the creepy crawly kind)
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    Your apartment is clear of any creepy crawlies. However, there's this one pesky fly at your balcony that really wants to get in. You're starting to think it's no normal fly since it's been weeks. You're quite sure flies don't live that long.





    BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ



    Yeah you don't really open your balcony door anymore.

    [X] Play with R.O.M.A.L for a bit see if you could make him less hostile while your awake.
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    The benefit of having Romal (apart from being a killer vacuum cleaner) is that it's smart enough to know and hunt for surveillance objects. When it finds one, Romal smashes into it. If smashing doesn't work, Romal gets one and flushes it down the toilet. You're not quite sure where it got that idea or where it learnt it, but it's been effective so far. Both cops and anti-Vigilantes have no secret eyes on what's going on in this building, and it's all thanks to your carrot loving (hating?) robot.

    Currently you're unable to play with Romal. Once it's in the vents, it's like a stray cat: Gone and doing its own thing until it comes back and meows at you. In this case, it's not a meow, but rather an intent stare and the looming threat of a metallic projectile.

    [X] Take stock of the weapons you have and make sure they don't need maintenance, then get back to surfing the internet.
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    You have enough ammunition to support a squad, mainly SMG ammunition. The C-P90 is with Pris, which reminds you that you should visit the workshop soon. The Judge has 12 shots and you just reloaded it, you still have about 60 more bullets to spare lying around. You also have 6 frag grenades, 6 flashbangs, 2 flashboxes, The Executioner, an old revolver shotgun you looted off of a past target (with about 20 shells you looted off of the same guy), a composite bow with 4 explosive arrows, and your newly-looted Body Armor and Helmet courtesy of Trimpot's security.



    You go on the regular web and visit a creator's webpage. It went under maintenance some time recently and it's been down since. Just when you were starting to enjoy their webcomic about a Vigilante character. Sad.



    While you're on you visit the AAI's public network to check on your debt...

    Yup... still as big as ever. You're really hoping that the Initiative starts paying you more.


    The point is that they're basically the exact opposite of vigilantes and whoever made the terminology was either giggling like an idiot or just an idiot.
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    Either that or there's still info I omitted. Can't spoil too many things in out of context after all :3
     
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    • [X] Search the web for some new jobs.
    -[X] After that, come up with ideas of what you want to write once you retire from being an assassin.
     
    [X] Search the web for some new jobs.
    -[X] After that, come up with ideas of what you want to write once you retire from being an assassin.
     
    Ch0 - Page 12
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    • [X] Search the web for some new jobs.
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    All the available jobs nearby are all occupations you are - softly put - the complete worst at on this corner of the planet. While there are simple jobs such as being a security guard or a fastfood worker that have been screened, you've had a stained record for both fields of work. The last security guard job you took ended up with a night robbery gone wrong. For them. The robber got major lacerations but thankfully survived, you were fired later for "Excessive Use of Force" and narrowly avoided jail time thanks to the Initiative's lawyers. Meanwhile as a fastfood worker you flipped off a rude customer. Yeah people don't like an "unfriendly" service worker.

    You could always do art and become an artist, but the last time you drew or painted anything was for a primary school project. You would think that a big city would have more opportunities for literally everyone, but it seems there are no other job opportunities for one such as yourself except for busting the kneecaps in the name of self-made justice.

    [X] After that, come up with ideas of what you want to write once you retire from being an assassin.
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    You've had this idea you've been meaning to write for ages but due to your poor skill can only hope to daydream about:

    In a world where evil monsters roam the night and prey on the peaceful people of a secluded kingdom. A masked huntress coming from a line of hunters comes to protect the kingdom! Armed with her father's silver crossbow, she defends the people from bloodthirsty vampires, rabid werewolves, and mad cultists. She hunts during the night and leaves no trace except for her deeds before disappearing once again. You're not really sure how but you want it to have action, suspense, mystery, and an overarching question of who this mysterious huntress is and where she came from. You also want to add some romance but not that cheesy sappy kind. No. You want a rival hunter who takes the credit for her hunts. You want them to compete. You want them to fight and be bitter rivals. But where it matters most, you want them to be each other's better half. Then maybe kill him off so that she can lose herself and go on a rampage but that's as far as you can think about it.



    *TING RING RING TING*

    Before you continue daydreaming you are interrupted by your phone's ringtone. You shuffle for it and answer the call.



    It's from an unknown number.

    "Nine. The Pantheon has discovered your location. A squad is headed your way. I suggest you-"

    "Sorry. Wrong Number."



    You hang up. Your phone rings again.



    "YOU IDIOT! THIS IS NO TIME FOR GAMES. IF IT WERE NOT FOR OUR SHARED GOAL I WOULD HAVE LEFT YOU FOR DEAD ALREADY!"

    "Is that all?"

    "ONE OF THESE DAYS YOUR RUDENESS WILL BE THE LAST STRAW."

    "You said that the last five straws. So what's this about a squad?"

    "THE PANTHEON IS COMING FOR YOU ASSHOLE."

    The caller hangs up.



    Tough crowd.

    You should probably prepare to fight or vacate or something. You're quite sure you can take this 'squad' on, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Besides, you doubt that these folks are like Trimpot's security detail... or the Pantheon to be as stupid as Trimpot for that matter. How did they even get him anyways?, you wonder to yourself. You now pause to think on your next course of action.    ​
     
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