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+--- Thread: The Shark That Saved The City [Story] (/showthread.php?tid=8207)
The Shark That Saved The City [Story] - Verad - 09-07-2014
The previous night had proven to be a triumph in the little-researched and less-often-attempted field of moving a giant shark through the streets of Ul'dah. A great meeting of some of Ul'dah's finest minds - plus Verad - put together one of the few, the only plans for transporting one Leanne Delphium's freshly caught pair of Megalodons into the Quicksand, that she might successfully display her trophy. Using a combination of a pudding flesh for grease and an egi of Titan for leverage, Leanne Delphium was able to be carried, proudly, riding upon her trophy, into the Quicksand for all to see, prior to its being rendered into food for the refugees of Ul'dah.
The experiment did not go without its share of failures, however, as the egi, in its initial enthusiasm, did not so much carry one of the Megalodons as throw it. There was much screaming and panic amongst the citzenry as it flew overhead in the Ul'dahn night, illuminated from underneath by lamplight on the glistening grease used to give the egi its initial hold. Reports of a crash somewhere were confirmed, but no body was found, nor did there appear to be any sign of the vast quantities of gore that might otherwise indicate the crash of such a massive creature.
Soon, whether there had been a flying shark, and where it had landed, became one of the least-discussed mysteries of Ul'dah . . .
---
R'hoshi squinted at the end of the tunnel, looking up at where the ladder ended and the ceiling turned to rock. He knew, knew in his gut, that not a few yalms of stone above sat the Third Bank of Ul'dah, the First and Second Banks being far too secure. Enough gil to fulfill all the crew's wildest dreams was right over their heads.
After affixing the firesand charges where Fofolan had indicated they would be best placed for an outward explosion, he clambered down the ladder with the easy grace and agility typical to Seekers, hopping down the last few steps to meet the assembled crew with a grin and a tilt of his head.
They were a rag-tag bunch, certainly, but over the course of this job he felt they had come together - Fofolan had gone off the rolanberry wine, likely for good. Behind him, he was sure that Ansabryda would use the proceeds to fund her new vessel and impress her mate. And Reynfred? The Highlander had been at R'hoshi's throat since the moment he'd been brought into the plan - at first. Now he would die for the Tia, and R'hoshi likewise. They were a crew now, a proper gang.
"Okay," he said, leaning forward as if they were children and he was to provide them with a present. "You all know what to do here. This is it. Soon as Fofolan hits the charges - " The Dunesfolk gave a thumbs up, his grin bright underneath all the dirt. "As soon as that happens, the floor goes sky-high. Reynfred and Ansa handle any security, Fofo and I crack the vault, we empty out as much as we can, and we're gone again."
He knelt down over the demolition charge, reverent. Never had so much potential been present in one little lever. With his share, he could train, challenge the Nunh, and win R'noggya's heart. It was a shame about the people whose money would be taken, of course, about the economic chaos that would follow, but sacrifices had to be made. Pausing to wipe away a tear from his eye, he realized this was no time to get sentimental.
"Okay, Fofo. Push it." The blaster they'd chosen was a bit large, and Fofo struggled to bring it down. Soon, all four had placed their hands on the lever - together. As it should have been thought R'hoshi.
The rumbling and explosion above left a ringing in their ears, but the tunnel ahead did not fill with rubble. That was the only possible flaw in the plan, and now? Now there was no flaw at all. Once they'd gotten the noise out of their ears, R'hoshi gestured up the ladder, clambering back up to lead the way. The others affixed goggles to keep dust out of their eyes and followed suit.
From his position, R'hoshi could see the success of his plan in front of him. The hole they'd opened was larger than anticipated, but ahead of him he could see the skylight of the Third Bank and the stars and moon glittering above. A few more rungs now, and they would be rich.
He paused, however. There was a shadow in the air. Something large. The rest of the crew noticed the hold up. "What's up?" said Reynfred, sounding concerned - R'hoshi would be the first to suffer if the guard had arrived early. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, I think," said R'hoshi, squinting as the shadow blotted out the stars and the light of the moon. "I don't know - what is that thing - "
The skylight shattered.
---
The next day, the Third Bank of Ul'dah reported that there had been an unsuccessful robbery attempt in the form of a fairly elaborate heist. The security chief, normally very forthcoming with details regarding crimes against Syndicate property, seemed strangely reticent to provide further information. He was quoted as saying only, "It's dealt with. Trust us. You don't want to know."
On an apparently unrelated note, the bank floor was closed for renovations the same day. Customers of the Third Bank were directed towards the other two for several months to follow. While there was some grumbling, life otherwise proceeded as normal.