Multi-Dimensional Merchant System

Oliver skillfully piloted the drone to sweep the area surrounding the abandoned self storage business. The place looked much like any other of its kind: a dozen long blocks of gray concrete, faded and cracked with age. Each was divided into numerous storage units, a few of which were missing their rolling doors and yawned open like dark caves. Wide strips of gravel, overgrown with weeds and grass, ran between the buildings.

The luxury sedan idling in the central lane, and the trio of men wearing suits that waited nearby, stood out from the rundown surroundings.

He scoffed in disbelief when his reconnaissance turned up nothing else. Four men, as the driver had stayed in the car, had shown up... To meet a dangerous mercenary. At night. In an isolated location.

They were either too arrogant to think they could possibly be in danger, or too stupid to see it.

'Or a combination of the two.' Oliver thought to himself.

Quickly putting away the drone, he pulled his balaclava down over his head as he made his way towards the lot. Skirting the few small shops in the area, all of which were already closed at this hour, Oliver ran through his approach in his head.

On of the men standing outside the car was likely to be Eve's employer. That meant the other two were either lackeys or bodyguards. He hadn't seen any weapons on each of them, but it was definitely possible they had guns concealed under their suit jackets. And, considering two of the men were significantly larger than the third, he had a good idea of their roles.

But his first target was probably the driver, or at least the car. He didn't want any of them getting away.

Pausing near the first storage building, a thought occurred to him and Oliver spoke in the softest whisper he could manage. “Lita, please cover as much of me as you can, just in case. But not my eyes, ears, nostrils or mouth. And probably not my hands. Not sure if that would get in the way or not.”

After a moment, Oliver felt the bio-engineered armor that he wore like an undershirt start to shift. The sensation was slightly disconcerting, as the armor literally oozed across his skin. Slowly it spread up his neck, slithering under the balaclava to hug his head all around- though, as he requested, several places were left uncover.

The slime like feeling dripping down his pants until it covered his legs and feet was much more awkward, but Oliver chose to ignore it as best he could.

Feeling at least slightly more protected, while also kicking himself for not remembering the armor when he faced Eve, he continued forward. Sticking close to the buildings where the gravel was thinner to avoid it crunching and clattering with each step, he was careful to check each lane when he reached a corner in case he missed someone with his initial sweeps.

Peeking around the corner once he reached the center lane, he watched the trio for a moment. While the boss appeared to be waiting patiently, the guards were talking to each other. Though he couldn't make out what they were saying over the low rumble of the car's engine, their body language hinted that the conversation was casual. Relaxed.

The pair, either confident in their own abilities or secure in the belief that nothing would happen, didn't expect any problems. And they weren't looking for them either.

'Perfect.' Oliver thought, a wolfish grin stretched across his face.

Oliver prowled down the lane, his steps slow and measured. He knew rushing would just make more noise and alert them, and he was happy to prey on their inattentive confidence. He ducked into one of the units that was missing its door and paused to watch them again. Seeing no change from the group, he pulled his trusty FAL out of the warehouse and slipped the sling over his head. Settling his grip on the gun, he flipped the safety off.

With the same slow and cautious steps, he drew closer and closer, his targets still blissfully unaware. He was momentarily surprised, and almost laughed aloud, when he realized the driver was sitting there with his window down. He had expected the car to be a problem; anyone dragging around guards like that while riding in a luxury car likely had bullet proof glass windows.

But what was the point in all that protection if you didn't use it?

Watching the trio out of the corner of his eye, Oliver slid up next to the driver's door, gun pointed straight at the man's head. It took the man a few seconds to notice that a dark figure had snuck up on him, and he jumped in surprise. As his mouth opened, Oliver softly tapped the side of the gun and shook his head.

Getting the point, the man quickly closed his mouth without making a sound.

Motioning the man out of the vehicle, Oliver backed away slightly, not wanting to be close enough for the man to try something and ruin his surprise. Pointing vaguely towards the front of the car, he whispered softly. “Face down, hands on your head. Or you're dead.”

As soon as the man's back was turned, Oliver plucked the keys from the ignition and tossed them into the warehouse- but he left the headlights on. A few seconds passed before the lack of noise from the engine registered on the group, and Oliver already had his gun braced on the top of the car. Their eyes all turned first to the man who was just then laying down and lacing his hands together on top of his head.

And Oliver growled at them in his most menacing tone, the edge of violence lingering on every word. “I suggest you all drop your weapons and lay down-”

Before he could even finish, one of the bodyguards reached into his jacket. Oliver didn't hesitate, immediately double-tapping the man in the chest. The others flinched at the deafening crack of the rifle, and the man that was clearly the boss actually fell to the ground in shock.

He raised his voice so they could still hear him over the ringing in their ears. “The next shot goes through his head. Not like I can miss at this distance.” Hearing the man he shot groan, he chuckled softly to himself. “Just be thankful he wasn't a complete idiot. That vest just saved his life.”

Another gunshot rang out, this one a bit quieter, and Oliver hissed as a line of pain was drawn across his arm. The asshole clearly didn't learn his lesson by being shot and actually tried to shoot back. Without needing to adjust his aim, as he had kept his gun trained on the man's head despite the pain, Oliver pulled the trigger again.

Blood and brain matter sprayed across the gravel and concrete, and the man's gun clattered to the ground.

Growling now in pain as well as anger, Oliver barked at the remaining men as he shifted his aim to the other bodyguard. “Last fucking warning! Drop your weapons and get down! Or you can join your friend in hell.”

Slowly, the guard opened his jacket wide to show the gun in a shoulder holster. Using just two fingers, he carefully pulled it out and set it on the ground before backing away several feet and laying down on the ground.

Oliver ignored the boss who still sat trembling on the ground. Turning his attention to the driver, he nudged the man's foot slightly. “You armed too?”

“N-no. I'm just the driver.”

Pulling a couple pairs of zip tie cuffs from the warehouse, he dropped them near the driver. “Here's what you're going to do. First, cuff the bodyguard. With his hands behind his back, obviously. Then use another pair for his feet. And he damn well better be secure. Oh, and don't try anything stupid. Two bodies aren't much harder to dispose of than one. Understand?”

The driver nodded quickly and, gathering up the cuffs, scrambling over to the guard- and keeping a healthy distance from the guns, out of fear of a misunderstanding. Oliver chuckled darkly when the man apologized for tightening them too much and eliciting a grunt of pain from the guard.

As soon as the guards hands and feet were secure, the man glance his way and Oliver spoke. “The other pairs are for your boss their. Same deal. Once you're done with him, lay back down like you were.”

As soon as the driver did as he was told, Oliver gathered up the pistols dropped by both guards and stored them away. Then he approached where the driver was laying. “Now, I'm going to cuff you just like them. You may think to yourself 'He'll need his hands to do it, so this is my chance'. Well, it is your chance. Just not in the way you think. Because, if you try anything, I won't shoot you. But I will still kill you.”

“Slowly. And painfully.”

“Understand?”

Oliver grimaced as the man pissed his pants while he frantically agreed. Quickly slipping the cuffs over the man's hands, he tightened them down and repeated the process for his ankles.

Stepping away from the unpleasant smell of urine, he approached the boss with unhurried steps. Crouching down next to the man that was quivering in fear, Oliver gave him a predatory smile. “Now, this part is simple. You answer a few questions for me-and remember, honesty is important. If you do, I won't have to torture the information out of you.”

“Actually, I think we need a change of scenery first. After all, I just murdered one of your men and I really don't want the police interrupting my fun. You don't mind, do you?”

Ignoring whatever response the man gave, Oliver grabbed the keys to the sedan and opened the truck. As an afterthought, he pulled a roll of duct tape from the warehouse as well.

“I can't have you fellows screaming for help, now can I?”