[Episode] Boy Meets Girl

NEO, THE AVID REPORTER

■ 270/5000 WORDS ■ "I'm still getting paid, right?" ■

"Wow, this really is a massive piece of shit. How you managed to get it here without sinking should be studied!"

Neo couldn't help but stare at the docked ship for a bit longer than he needed to. It was from an adventure, from a deal, from friends. To turn it in meant that he could collect the fee, but it also meant that at least, one less person was after them. Was it wrong to feel bad for pirates? Some weren't so bad. Everyone needed to pay their bills. Some took from everyone and acted with this sense of entitlement to the world. Others took what needed to be taken. Some simply were just caught up in the mess, forever trapped in the cycle. With Minks discharged and dismissed from the military so suddenly, he wondered how long would it take before he too had a bounty on his head.

"Yeah yeah, so I can just pick up my payment the next time I get to base right?" He asked again, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and placing it between his lips. He could have argued to get paid then and there, but to have the money in someone else's vault, namely the World Government's hands, was far safer than in his own pocket. He'd lose track so fast and blow it all on a whim.

The man nodded and carefully stepped into the boat before waving Neo off. Money was money. He had a bit of downtime before trying to hitch a ride on a boat again. Though maybe it was time to finally get his own?