The alleyways were quiet. Aradia thought this was a good thing. She had been hired to make them a bit noisier, after all.
The trail led here. Somebody had been smuggling robot parts in from all across the country, and Aradia knew only one person with both means and motive to get a job that big done.
The final train would be coming in today, and the buyer was bound to be there in person. The underground steam train. Best method of transporting black market goods cross country. Also the only method.
Which meant that if a person wanted to make sure that whatever illegally-acquired goods they had ordered got into their hands, they had to be there themselves, or have a regent. And Serket only had so many servants she could mind-control into doing the deed. Honestly, Aradia was shocked that her poor maid hadn't quit; surely all of the blackouts in her memory would have raised her suspicion.
Well, either way, it was Aradia's final chance to catch the woman in the act. Serket knew a mechanic who could provide very extensive documentation showing that she had gotten every bit of machinery through the legal channels. The only to prove she was behind the thefts was to catch her at the drop zone.
The underground was bustling as usual. Aradia recognized a few of the people - mostly ones she'd helped put behind bars. Hopefully dying her signature red mop and donning a fedora was an effective enough disguise to fool them.
Finally, Aradia spotted what she was looking for. A tall, stick-thin, one-armed person walking up to the train. She readied her cuffs, ready for a confrontation.
"Hey! Dick on the station!"
Too ready.
The figure snatched their package from the security bot, then ran with a speed that Aradia had to begrudgingly admit was pretty impressive. Meanwhile, every other customer on the station was reaching for their guns, but Aradia was close enough to the stairwell to make it out unscathed.
"Freeze, Serket!" she screamed at the figure. "I've got you red-handed!"
Those words had never stopped Serket before, and the odds weren't in Aradia's favor this time either. The chase lead the two through every alleyway Aradia could name and a half-dozen that she couldn't - she made a mental note to get a new street map after this.
But finally, Aradia's knowledge of the streets served her well. She had Serket cornered. Aradia pulled out her cuffs and grabbed Serket by the shoulder.
"Vriska Serket, you are under arrest for consorting in theft-" Aradia's voice cuts off in the middle of the usual spiel the minute she realizes that she's been chasing a bot in a hat, wig and coat. It's still holding the goods, though, so at least she can take care of those. Then the bot's torso disconnects and lifts off into the air, headed for its master. On a night cloudier than split-pea soup.
That night, a rich crime maven finally has a new arm installed, and a private detective goes off to the cafe to plan her next move.
FILL: TEAM JADE<3KANAYA<3ROSE
The trail led here. Somebody had been smuggling robot parts in from all across the country, and Aradia knew only one person with both means and motive to get a job that big done.
The final train would be coming in today, and the buyer was bound to be there in person. The underground steam train. Best method of transporting black market goods cross country. Also the only method.
Which meant that if a person wanted to make sure that whatever illegally-acquired goods they had ordered got into their hands, they had to be there themselves, or have a regent. And Serket only had so many servants she could mind-control into doing the deed. Honestly, Aradia was shocked that her poor maid hadn't quit; surely all of the blackouts in her memory would have raised her suspicion.
Well, either way, it was Aradia's final chance to catch the woman in the act. Serket knew a mechanic who could provide very extensive documentation showing that she had gotten every bit of machinery through the legal channels. The only to prove she was behind the thefts was to catch her at the drop zone.
The underground was bustling as usual. Aradia recognized a few of the people - mostly ones she'd helped put behind bars. Hopefully dying her signature red mop and donning a fedora was an effective enough disguise to fool them.
Finally, Aradia spotted what she was looking for. A tall, stick-thin, one-armed person walking up to the train. She readied her cuffs, ready for a confrontation.
"Hey! Dick on the station!"
Too ready.
The figure snatched their package from the security bot, then ran with a speed that Aradia had to begrudgingly admit was pretty impressive. Meanwhile, every other customer on the station was reaching for their guns, but Aradia was close enough to the stairwell to make it out unscathed.
"Freeze, Serket!" she screamed at the figure. "I've got you red-handed!"
Those words had never stopped Serket before, and the odds weren't in Aradia's favor this time either. The chase lead the two through every alleyway Aradia could name and a half-dozen that she couldn't - she made a mental note to get a new street map after this.
But finally, Aradia's knowledge of the streets served her well. She had Serket cornered. Aradia pulled out her cuffs and grabbed Serket by the shoulder.
"Vriska Serket, you are under arrest for consorting in theft-" Aradia's voice cuts off in the middle of the usual spiel the minute she realizes that she's been chasing a bot in a hat, wig and coat. It's still holding the goods, though, so at least she can take care of those. Then the bot's torso disconnects and lifts off into the air, headed for its master. On a night cloudier than split-pea soup.
That night, a rich crime maven finally has a new arm installed, and a private detective goes off to the cafe to plan her next move.