S2, 23 Collector of the Collective (FB) (February 15, 2016)

Corresponding text underneath each picture.

**4th April 2094**

**Iapra...**

I was awoken by the sound of talking and clattering around, which was unusual. Frowning, I looked over my shoulder and found several men in the cave.

I quickly sat up and was about to shout at them when Jarred strolled into view, picking his jetpack up from the table. He was in the middle of a conversation with one of them which caused my frown to deepen. But after a few seconds I realised that they must be setting off on their raid.

One of the men noticed me and nodded. Jarred saw and turned to look at me. He said something to the man and then wandered over to me.

Jarred: “Sorry, I was trying to be quiet.”

Tank: “Why are you doing this?” I asked, ignoring his comment.

Jarred: “We need the money, Tank.” He replied.

Tank: “No we don’t. Look what we’ve managed without money!” I insisted, gesturing to the room at large. “We have food, water, clothes, the droid I’ve been working on isn’t far from being finished now either!”

Jarred: “That thing? Tank, it’ll never work!”

Tank: “It will!” I replied defensively.

One of the men called to Jarred.

Jarred: “Look, I’m sorry. I’ve got to go, okay?”

Tank: “When will you be back?”

Jarred: “I have no idea, pal.” He smiled apologetically as he backed away and then, patting one of his comrades on the back, he pushed open the door and they headed out into the sunlight. The last man out extinguished the lantern on the workbench that they’d been using as light. Outside, I could see more men waiting for them, Ghartic included, and just before the door closed, I saw Jarred glance back inside at me.

The door closed and I was plunged into darkness.

**4th November 2095: Present Day**

**Qoter...**

It was like it had been made to fit!

Well, I supposed it had, really.

The little, twisted sliver of metal fit perfectly into the sensor module of the door control panel. I worked it around and in just a few seconds, I heard the release mechanism open with a satisfying click.

I smiled to myself, pleased that I still had skills! I’d not had much call for any sort of mechanical work recently, the most I’d done was some tinkering with Tracks, so I’d been a little worried that I’d be out of practice, but clearly not.

I pushed the door open and found myself looking into a rather stylish apartment. This was the home of a Mr. John Goodyoung, the official whom the Gov… I mean, Judas, had asked me to investigate. I still hadn’t got used to calling him by his name rather than his title. It was a little odd, really, but I’m sure I’d get used to it!

I glanced around the hallway, checking for any visible safety measures, but couldn’t see any, so I moved inside and closed the door behind me.

I was looking for anything that seemed out of place. Anything stupidly expensive that Mr. Goodyoung surely shouldn’t be able to afford. Although, Judas seemed to have overlooked the idea that Mr. Goodyoung could have simply ‘saved up’ for the expensive items.

Although, as I looked around his living room, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was going to find anything at all, because at the moment, I had things in my own flat that were more expensive than the things here!

I mean, sure, it was modern and it was stylish, but nothing stood out as being high-tech or OTT costly.

I pursed my lips and continued wandering around, looking for the evidence that Judas sought. Might it simply be that Mr. Goodyoung simply liked a little extra in his account? Or was he paying the bills of an ill relative in care somewhere?

I smirked at my own thoughts. Imagining him stealing money to pay for a three-legged dog in a care home on Toliv or something as equally daft.

As I checked room after room, these amusing thoughts grew ever more elaborate and daft, seems how I couldn’t find a single trace of anything out of the ordinary.

Maybe he was secretly a terrorist or something and he was siphoning money off to buy parts for a bomb! Although if he was, I couldn’t find any trace of any parts anywhere. Maybe he had a separate holding facility somewhere? A lockup of some description.

I left the room I was in and found myself back in the corridor joining the entrance.
Tank: “Hmm…” I wondered aloud, looking around. I really hadn’t found anything strange and so had just decided to report back to Judas that all seemed normal and he must be sending the money elsewhere, when something caught my eye.

It was only something little, but just enough to make me pause. There seemed to be a little red light blinking underneath one of the side tables in the corridor, so I knelt down beside it to take a closer look.

It was exactly what it seemed – just a single, red, flashing light. But what was it for? I looked around the immediate area but couldn’t find anything. The table had a drawer in it so I removed that, however the contents of said drawer were rather dull and inconclusive so I returned it.

I stood with my hands on my hips, pondering what it could possibly be. Surely it must be for something! A wooden table wouldn’t have a flashing light on the underside for no reason!

On a whim, I took the drawer out again, except this time, I ran my hands around the inside of the table, in the hole the drawer slides into.

My fingers ran over something and I couldn’t help but grin. A secret button! A pressed it and with a gentle *pop* a door appeared in what had, moments before, seemed to be a solid wall.

A secret door! I had to contain my excitement as I pushed the ‘wall/door’ open and stepped inside. As I did so, automatic lights pinged on all over the ceiling and I looked around as the door slid shut again behind me. But as I did, my excitement soon vanished.

It was a single room filled with display cases of various shapes and sizes, all filled with different objects. A trophy room of sorts.

And all of a sudden it was immediately clear where all of the money was going. Because all of the items in the room were Collective artefacts.

From Collective staffs to drone guns, to tattered bits of robe and armour, everything here belonged to The Collective and were remnants of the recent war. It was all, of course, highly illegal. After the war, as part of the arrangements for helping The Collective fit into society, it was made illegal for anybody to possess wrongfully obtained Collective artifacts. So, the spoils of war certainly came under that category!

My earlier thoughts of ill pets and distant relatives had long vanished and instead, a slow hatred of this man had begun to grow. This feeling was trebled when I stood looking at a statue of a Collective mage. At first I thought it was just what it appeared to be; a statue. However, upon reading the display plaque underneath, I discovered it was much more.

The plaque read:
“Collective Mage Tristhop Maddon.
Age at death: 124.
Preserved in: Arksalt stone.”

It wasn’t just a statue. It actually *was* a dead Collective mage. Preserved in a stone casing forever. Forever to be displayed and gawped at. I understood that a lot of people still harbored hatred for The Collective for everything that they have done, however, personally knowing their good side, knowing Eris, this made me feel sick.

Suddenly, I heard a noise from out in the corridor and I froze. I heard muttering and a door closing. Goodyoung was home early!

Tank: “Scrim!” I whispered to myself, desperately trying to think of what to do. I’d have to wait until I was sure he was out of the way and then just get out as quickly as I could!

However, that plan was not to be as I heard him stop right outside the hidden door!

Goodyoung: “Hmm.. Don’t remember leaving the drawer out.” I heard him mutter.

Silently I cursed myself for not being more careful but then my heart jolted again as I heard the soft *pop* of the door being released.

I dashed for cover and quickly hid behind one of the cabinets as the door opened and Goodyoung stepped inside.

There he paused for a moment.

Goodyoung: “Ah…” he sighed. “Hello my beauties.” He commented, looking around at his collection.
Where I was hidden, I pulled a face that basically said, 'Seriously?!' and shook my head slightly.

Goodyoung moved further into the room and I knew that now was my only chance. I glanced around the side of the pedestal I was hidden behind and saw that he’d left the door open. His back was to both me and the door, as he stood, admiring and muttering aloud to the statue of the dead War Mage.

I took my chance and, as quietly as I could, slipped out from behind the display. Keeping crouched down, I slowly made my way over to the door.

So far, so good. I just hoped he didn’t hear anything. But, he was far too engrossed, actually, in love, it seemed more like, with his statue to notice anything else going on and I easily managed to slip back out into the corridor. There, I picked up the pace slightly, silently opened the front door and then I was gone.

**6th November 2095: Present Day**

Judas: “Hey! Come on in! Come on in!”

Tank: “Thanks.” I replied and followed the Governor into his office.

Judas: “Sorry for not being able to meet you sooner. Official business and all that.” He apologised as he indicated to a chair by his desk.

Tank: “No, no worries.”

Judas: “So, how is everything? How is your apartment?”

Tank: “It’s amazing. Thank you. In fact, the reason I’m here is about a different apartment. Or rather, some interesting items I found in another apartment.” I hinted, keeping cryptic. Judas clearly understood though as a smile spread across his face.

Judas: “Yes! Yes, you said so in your message when you asked to meet again. I was hoping you could elaborate.”

Tank: “Well, the good news is that he is definitely stealing government money.” I started. “Actually, I’m not sure how that’s good…. But never mind, moving on. But he isn’t spending it on TV’s and a lavish lifestyle.”

Judas frowned.

Judas: “So what’s he doing with it?”

I took a deep breath, trying not to bring to mind the artifacts I’d seen in that room.

Tank: “He’s buying Collective artifacts. He’s got a hidden room in his apartment filled with them. Guns, staffs, bits of clothing, you name it, it’s there. He’s even got a dead War Mage preserved in Arksalt.”

Judas: “My God…” he muttered, looking horrified. “I had no idea!”

Tank: “He seems to be quite the collector.” I commented dryly. “There’s a button inside the side table in the hallway that opens a secret door.” I explained and he nodded in understanding as he made a couple of notes on a datapad.

Judas: “I’ll get the cops round there straight away.” He said, seeming distracted. “Thank you, Tank.” He added, looking back up from his screen. “Once again, you have gone above and beyond for me.”

I smiled.

Tank: “Just doing my job.”

Judas: “A job which you are clearly very good at. Thank you.” He repeated.

Tank: “No problem.”

Judas: “If I need anything else doing… uh, discreetly, I know who to ask.” He smirked and I couldn’t help but smile back.

Tank: “Sure. Is there anything else?”

Judas: “No, thank you. This has been most helpful.” He replied and I nodded in understanding as I stood up and got ready to leave.

Judas: “Actually!” he started, just as I was about to leave. “Would you care to join me for dinner tonight? I’m going to ‘Al Phanios’. One of the finest in Regentis, but to be perfectly honest, I don’t much care to eat alone.”

Tank: “Um, sure. Why not.” I smiled my thanks.

Judas: “Excellent. I’ll have Riley make the arrangements. I’ll see you this evening then, Tank.”

I nodded, turned and left.

**BONUS PICTURES**

The set for Goodyoung's apartment was built in sections and I just moved the walls around to fit each picture.

The set for the hidden room of artifacts.

As my series is going to be jumping around though time, I will include a date on each episode and add it to the timeline at the end of each episode so that you can follow it.

TIMELINE