The special delivery return – Tales of the Courier
Across the sky, traces of the fading day linger. The moon is rising, and the night will quickly follow. 1courier has been on the road all day. It feels like only seconds. He grins. The road is the place to be. Likewise, the horizon is the object of the chase. However, at this moment, he is at the drop-off location. The area is heavily wooded and isolated. Additionally it is not in a known zone. This area is a ghost zone, and all communications are down.
All communications are down. 1courier would be concerned, except a break from the grid might be nice. Especially considering this is a special delivery. With this in mind, he prepares the cargo for the drop-off. Since the beginning of this delivery he has been anxious to offload this cargo. It is high priority cargo and a signature confirming the delivery must be obtained. This isn’t a typical drop-off.
It isn’t a typical drop-off. A meeting will have to take place. Furthermore, a signed release must be obtained before the cargo can be handed over. 1courier grins at his lament. What was he complaining about? The drop-off had to do all the heavy lifting of proving and signing. All 1courier had to do was stand there and smile and look pretty. Well, smile, at least.
The Special Delivery Return
A smile at least. Twenty minutes later there is still no answer at the door. 1courier has contacted HQ. He has also fulfilled all other methods for contacting his drop-off contact. Therefore, HQ has ordered him to begin the return process. 1courier is sure he just rolled his eyes. Furthermore, he is positive he doesn’t have any interest in a special delivery return either. He jabs at the notice button again. Maybe the delivery recipient fell asleep. Then he jabs the button six more times.
Six more times. Another few minutes pass, in which 1courier tries to look normal standing in front of a stranger’s empty home. Then the m-com link chimes. 1courier has been cleared to begin the return process. There is some relief in his stride as he turns to return to the ride. At least he isn’t standing alone in the dark on a stranger’s front porch. As he reaches the ride, he turns to look back. There is no ghost chasing him. (It isn’t that close to Halloween yet) However, the drop-off location is still vacant looking, and dark.
It was vacant looking and dark. Although he is loathe to do so, he reloads the cargo. Then he checks the m-com link for further instructions. He is surprised at the strange request that greets him. It is from HQ, and they have really gone bonkers on this one. He is to scan the cargo. And then flip it, and scan it again. 1courier double checks the instructions. They are actually in the m-com link. Damn. So much for cargo integrity.
Tales of the Courier
Ten minutes, and one blown delivery shift later, the special delivery return is underway. Additionally HQ has confirmed 1courier’s destination. He is to return the cargo to the merchant. Therefore, the delivery isn’t a complete loss. Once the cargo is marked returned, he will be free to accept the next delivery offer. Lightning flashes across the night sky, as rain begins to pepper the windshield of the ride.
There are storms ahead. 1courier holds the ride steady, as the winds howl and lash the rain against the ride. Moments later, and the lightning and thunder are near constant. In the flashing brilliance of the arc lightning, 1courier sees several dark funnels dropping from the sky. He has just enough time to grin, before all hell breaks loose.
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