Robbing Banks is the Bees Knees
Summer 2021, Week 2
Tuesday morning
Wellington, The Grove
Barnaby Swaxx
It's a morning toward the end of spring. The sun's warmth is just starting to sting enough for well-to-do citizens to start beading at the forehead in their suits on their way to work. the bustle of the morning commute, however, is only a dull roar in the ears of Barnaby Swaxx, who has been breathing fast, shallow breaths in an alleyway next to the bank. Even through his filtered mask, he can taste the frantic emotions from the bank workers through a cracked window. It's been long enough, right? He didn't spot any cameras outside, but you could never be too sure. That's why he'd been in this alley for over an hour; so that the police couldn't place him near the robbery. Not because he was having second thoughts. Totally. Come on! For once in your life, DO something! Finish what you started! No wonder you're such a failure. Walk in, get the cash, leave. He takes one last deep breath before removing his face mask and hurriedly slipping on his suit.Swarm
"Let's do this." The doors of the small branch office swing open. There is a second of silence, in which people look at him and he hesitates, before yelling "NOBODY MOVE!" His voice sounds nasal and fuzzy through his breathing tube, like a buzz. The people at the bank seem to not respond. The man doesn't even have a gun. Swarm points at the guard, who is looking side to side with his hand on his holster, confused. Suddenly, hundreds of bees spill out of the overhead vents and head straight for the guard. They don't sting him, but they bring him to the ground, squirming and swatting.[Basic, -0EP]
Swarm approaches the closest teller. He's very nervous but manages to place his hand on the desk without it shaking too much. "Now, if you haven't pressed the silent alarm already - and I hope for his sake you haven't - I suggest you steer clear of the button." He almost stammers his way through the sentence. "See, the thing with bees is, stinging isn't the only way they can kill you." Talking about insects makes his tone much calmer and steady. Insects, he knows. "That man over there is at a temperature of 114 degrees Fahrenheit. He doesn't know it yet, which is why he's still flailing around, increasing his temperature further with body movements. In a matter of minutes, he will suffer heatstroke. If I'm out and happy by then, there should be no issue. The bees go where I go. However, if I'm still here, can you guess where the bees will be?" He looks pointedly at the teller through his compound, insect-like goggles. The teller's hand slowly moves away from the table and up in the air. She looks scared. She slowly stammers out a "H-Here?" "Yes!" Swarm slams his palm on the table, eliciting a sudden quake out of the teller, as well as the other patrons in the bank. Behind Swarm, the guard's movements are becoming duller. In the rare spots without bees, one can distinguish patches of sweat soaking his office blue uniform. "So, then, take this bag," He hands her a duffel bag that used to have a laboratory logo on it. It is now painted over in yellow, "And fill it with bills. Small ones. I'm an on-the-go kinda insect." The teller begins to pile in stacks of ones, twenties and fifties in the bag from a safe behind her. "I suggest you get a move on," Swarm is looking back and forth between her and the guard-shaped mass of bees, which hasn't moved in a minute, "Our good guard seems to be having some issues with staying conscious." After a couple more minutes, the bag is brimming with more money than Barnaby has seen together in one place. As the teller hands it back, he hesitates for a second before taking it. He has to resist the urge to gulp, or yell excitedly, or pee his pants. With the bag held firmly in his hands. "Thank you for your deposit into the bank of Swarm." He says, half-confident. He had workshopped that line at home. And yet you screwed it up anyway, you incompetent idiot. He makes his way to the door of the bank. As he walks past the unmoving guard, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a water bottle with the label ripped out of it. He sets it down next to the still mass of swirling bee stripes. Then, he reaches into his face and twists the safety on his breathing apparatus, letting the pheromones he has been building up inside release all at once. The bees read the signal and flock away from the guard, who is awash with sweat and breathing shallowly. They stay swirling around him, drowning out all other sound in the building until he opens the door, at which point they storm out and disperse into the skies, looking for their way back home. Before leaving, he turns to the people inside and points to the guard with a nod of his head. "Make sure he drinks enough and call an ambulance." He walks out, drawing gazes from the people stuck outside. As the police sirens begin to sound, he turns a corner and disappears into another alleyway.The Red Door, Downtown
Dallas Lock
The man took a slow sip of his old fashion and looked down at it with a frown. Too much lemon. Plucking out one of the peels he let the drink hang in his hand as his head swiveled to listen to the singer slowly work her way through her own rendition of a classic tune.* He always enjoyed this bar. It was on the higher end, which naturally curbed the amount of ransoms who came in, and they typically left you alone unless you called them over. In which case they served you quickly and efficiently. Another sip of his drink told him it was perfect now. The frown disappearing, the man waited for his guest to arrive.Barnaby Swaxx
Barnaby felt terribly out of place walking into this bar. He was wearing his nicest shirt and the only jeans that still somewhat complimented his figure, but it seemed as though everyone here wore suits that cost more than his college degree. That made his blood boil. If only they knew what I've got with me right here... He couldn't help but smirk as he tightens his grip on the old leather suitcase he was carrying with him. He went up to the bar and pretended to be interested in ordering something. What if this is a trap? His imagination began to run wild, After all, it's not normal for plans like these to change all willy-nilly, is it? Is it? He shifted around in discomfort. While most of the people here didn't pay much attention to him, he would stick out terribly to anyone with a keen eye.Dallas Lock
Facing the door, the man saw his contact, Dr. Barnaby Swaxx, walk in looking…very outside the dress code. Seeing staff quickly making their way towards him, no doubt to kick him out, he snapped his fingers to get the attention of a passing staff member. “Have Dr. Swaxx over there join me. Promptly, please, before you insult my guest.” Tucking a $100 in the man’s pocket, the staff member sprinted in the direction of the new join to escort him back to the table. Reaching the man just as other staff did to interject that Dr. Swaxx should follow him.Barnaby Swaxx
Barnaby jolted as a staff member tapped him on the shoulder. As he was readying up an explanation, another similarly uniformed individual interrupted, asking him to follow to a nearby table. So that's him, then? Barnaby was impressed by the substitute. He was far more sharp-looking than he expected. He brought out a tissue and wiped his brow. He'd left his mask at home to be less suspicious, but that only made him feel suffocated, as the ocean of pheromones from every club-goer assaulted him: Sex, Sex, Money, Follow Me, Let's Get Out Of Here, Money, Sex. The signal for money was very similar to the chemical indicating 'food' in insects. Seems like maybe the bugs have their priorities straight. He sat down and eyed the man, trying to look as tough as he could. "Why the change of plans?"Dallas Lock
Watching as his company took a seat, the man took a sip of his drink and gave a small smile. “Dr. Swaxx, is that how you always start a conversation?” His words carried a slight west coast accent, and a tone of friendliness that his smile may have conveyed but his eyes did not. “Tell this man what you want to drink, it’s on me.” Setting his drink down and lowering his crossed leg and addressed the question. “You’re moving up in the world, that’s why. That and the amount of money owed is large enough to warrant a bit more supervision. I’m sure you can understand that. We’ve invested a fair amount in you, and we’re eager to make sure it pays off.” Or that someone would pay, either with money or something else.Barnaby Swaxx
Barnaby sent the server away to fetch him some water. When it came, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a tab of water-soluble aspirin and set it in. While it bubbled, he looked at the man and tried to feel what emotions came from him, picking them apart from the myriad of sweaty mating calls that drowned the room (feel free to give me what you want here). "There's no need to worry from me, I've got the money here. Most of it, anyway." He clutched the handle of the briefcase even harder, as if he was afraid it might dissipate into the thick air. "I came across a sudden windfall, you could say." He brought it up on the table and slid it across to him before reaching for his glass with hands that he hoped didn't look as shaky as they felt. God, my throat is dry. Why are you getting nervous? It's just a talk. Plus, you have the money.Dallas Lock
Content. Alert. Eyes tracked the bag as it slides across the table and flicked to the staff member nearby who smartly spun on his heel to keep this back to them while also keeping an eye out. Pulling the case closer he spun it around and popped it open. A quick glance inside told him all he needed to know after years of experience. Slight satisfaction. Interest. “Well done, Dr. Swaxx. Well done indeed. This obviously isn’t all of it. But as a first payment it’s impressive. Though I’m sure you get that compliment a lot with the work you’ve done. It’s just reassuring to see the stories live up in person.” The man was smooth in his compliments, the emotional state never seeming to waiver. He took out two stacks of $10,000 and slide them back. “Here, I’ll cover this much. Get yourself some clothes and other things you deserve for such a performance. We will need to meet here again and it’s best to blend in, you understand?” Closing the briefcase and setting it by his side, the man got the attention of the staff and asked for another drink “with less lemon” before turning back to the other man. “Business done, tell me. How did it feel, taking control?”Barnaby Swaxx
He uneasily slid the stacks into his pockets. He nervously nodded, keeping an eye over both his shoulders. This was more money than he'd ever carried at once, barring the case he just relinquished. The man seemed earnest enough, if his emotions were anything to go by. What you see is what you get. For now, a voice nagged at him. In any case, the man had praised him. No, he'd praised his work. Despite himself, he could feel his chest swelling with pride. It was about time someone recognized my work. About time someone saw me. "Good," he admitted. "Seeing them there, quiet, paralyzed. Knowing that it was me who had done that - put a wrench in their plans for the day, I mean, - it felt so good it felt bad. I think I threw up about four times on the way home. But now, looking back, I feel taller than I felt this time last night. Those people won't forget me soon." He pointed to the news broadcast, which was doing a repeat announcement featuring newly revealed bank CCTV footage. There he was, in his suit, in front of a dozen kneeling civilians. "The city won't forget me soon."Dallas Lock
Succe--Content. Turning over to look at the news broadcast, he saw the grainy footage of the camera showing Dr. Swaxx, or Swarm rather, standing tall over the kneeling normals. "The first time is always the hardest because they make it that way. Our entire lives, the human side of us is taught that society is king and that we must obey, fall in line, march in step. We curb our--no, your genius because its outside the status quo and what’s accepted. Those that rise above are pulled down by the majority grounded." Swirling his drink handed to him by the staff member, Dallas slips another $100 to the man who gives a bow and turns around to stand sentry. "And the other side, your other side, is told to hate who you are. You're told you're a monster, abnormal, wrong." A shrug of his shoulders and a point towards the TV screen, "It seems to me that your reaction was more caused by the anger at yourself for buying their lies. That man right there, he doesn't look wrong to me. He doesn't strike me as a man who falls into line. That's a man who--as you said--will never be forgotten." The red dress shirt shifted as the man leaned forward onto the table, "If you do it right, Dr. Swaxx. A bank robber, in a city like this, you'll be remembered for a week. But you, a man of your talents, I want to see your visage etched into the minds of every person not just in this city, but the country. So, consider me a fan, here to cheer you on, and offer my talents or advice should you ever need them." Content.Barnaby Swaxx
Barnaby was tempted. Clearly. He'd never been praised so openly. He's only doing this because he wants something out of you. That thought gave him pause for a second, before he dismissed it. So what. Other people had done that before, and none had been kind about it. He was just like everyone else, except no one else had wanted him for his talent like that. He swirled a spoon in his aspirin water, pretending to be in thought. He focused on the action, to try to remove the clutter of thoughts -some his, some from the other people in the room- that was bogging him down. "What's next, then? I get the rest, I pay off your boss, and then what? Is there anything after that?"Dallas Lock
"If you choose it, nothing." Taking a sip of his drink the man appeared to frown at that thought. "If you choose differently, well that depends, do you want there to be something after that?" the man asked with interest, appearing to lean in and lock eyes with his guest. "Someone like you, with your mastery over knowledge and with your abilities?" The man seemed in shock at the utter idea that someone wouldn't have already recruited him. Interest. "Doctor, if you choose it, there's quite a lot of potential for lucrative business or partnerships. But if you wanted to take a step beyond just business, that door could be open as well."Barnaby Swaxx
"...No. That's alright." He took the glass in both hands and downed it in one go, like it was some sort of alcohol rather than a mild headache remedy. "I'll get you the rest, then... I'm out." That's a lie. You don't want to be. Admit it. it was fun. He swatted at the air, as if trying to get rid of the pesky thoughts. He got up and awkwardly checked to make sure the stacks of bills were still in his pocket, and that they didn't poke out. He produced a bizarre-looking face mask. It seemed to be made of cloth, yet rigid. He slid it over his face and immediately looked to relax, as the extra filtering shut out most of the pheromones in the room. "...I'm nothing like you guys." That's true. I'm a coward. I can't choose one side or the other. With that, he squeezed his way through the crowd and disappeared out the front door.Dallas Lock
Watching the Doctor stand and leave, he slowly downed the rest of his drink and savored the flavor. Content. He raised a hand to the man's back, more for appearances than anything else. As the door closed on him, the mask fell a bit. Cracking his neck, he dropped a few hundreds on the table and without any flash or flavor, vanished from the seat. Appearing outside, next to his car parked in the alleyway, he unlocked it with a click of his keys and slipped in. As it started with a beautiful hum of power, Dallas Lock couldn't help but smirk. We'll see how long that lasts, Dr. Swaxx.
Type
Record, Historical
Medium
Digital Recording, Text
Authoring Date
June 29, 2021
Authors
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