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Credits
Original Article: Gestatten, mein Name ist Ridter
Author:Einer von Rabe
I used my figure ‘Ms Mirabilis’ as well as with permission the GoI Raptor Tec. Industries
The use of all characters in this story must be discussed with me. However, it is not forbidden to use them.
The wind chimes on the shop door announced a new visitor with their quiet bling-bling.
The man in the mask looked up from his reading and seemed surprised. The giantess, who was sitting at a garden table with the masked man and enthusiastically eating her third raspberry tart, faltered.
The two of them kept their eyes fixed on the person until she reached the sales counter. Only now did she turn her head towards the observers.
"Can I speak to the owner?"
It was a calm and controlled, almost monotone, voice.
The man replied: "Mademoiselle will certainly come in"
As expected, the light step of a woman was heard. As the curtain jingled and was pushed aside, a friendly, smiling young woman appeared. Her smile slipped a little when she saw the "customer", but at the same time her eyes showed curiosity.
"How can I help?" the shopkeeper had a friendly and gentle voice.
The visitor turned round slowly. She pointed to the small badge in the shape of three letters in front of a red motif. "I'd better introduce myself: I am Elisa Theodora Ridter, an agent of Raptor Tec. Industries. Have you heard of us, Mrs…?"
"Ms Mirabilis. Yes." Ms Mirabilis said curtly, "In what way are you interested in us?"
"I'm curious about what you sell, as I've only just discovered this shop."
There was silence for a moment.
"Me and my friends make aids and gadgets. You really don't know anything about us?"
"No." Mrs Ridter replied honestly.
She was silent for a moment as she looked around the shop: "Would you be interested in working with us? We might be willing to take you and your entourage," Ms Ridter discreetly pointed to the two observers behind her, ’into our company."
Ms Mirabilis leaned over the counter. She hid her confusion that an employee from a technology-orientated company was showing an interest in esotericism and superstition. "Do you think we want that? Not to mention our various 'company policies'!"
Mrs Ridter didn't bat an eyelid. "I take it from your behaviour that you"re not interested."
"Yes, I'm not keen on your offer. I want to help people and I don't think your company shares this attitude. Rather the opposite. You are free to stay here, but I see no reason to."
Mrs Ridter seemed to think for a moment. "That's a pity. If you do change your mind, here's my card.’ As promised, she fished a small card out of her suit and slid it across the counter.
Ms Mirabilis accepted it out of politeness. She studied it for a moment.
"I will leave now, as you recommended."
Without haste, but briskly nonetheless, Ms Ridter crossed the shop.
Again there was a faint bling-bling before silence fell.
The two witnesses at the table hesitated.
"Étrange…" commented the masked man.
"What?" The giantess didn't understand what he meant.
"Seltsam, ‘strange’," he explained.
"I agree with Markus. Strange appearance," came from Ms Mirabilis.
The man, who apparently went by the name ‘Markus’, and the giantess stood up and hurried to the bar.
"Why is a Weapon Dealer interested in Ma'am?" Despite her laboured attempt, it was clear that German was a foreign language to her, which was made clear by the posh English she used to cover her broad American accent.
Markus shrugged his shoulders: "I don't 'ave an answer to this either, Candis." He looked at his boss and then nudged the huge Candy.
Ms Mirabilis was obviously completely absorbed in thinking about what had happened.
The RTI dinosaur skull stared at her malevolently.
Elisa Ridter walked energetically through the corridor. As on any other day, her face was expressionless. In her head, she was formulating the results of her trip to the small corner shop.
"Elisa! Hey, sister!"
The loud voice of a young man clamoured for her attention.
Without slowing down much, she turned her head.
"Hello, Thomas," her expression remained the same. Neither pleased nor dismissive.
Thomas Ignaz Ridter caught up with her and pulled up the corners of her mouth with two fingers.
"You always look so indifferent at the world. Why don't you smile?"
She pulled the fingers away like a sleepwalker.
"I never have a reason," she tried to put on a smile for the sake of her counterpart. It was shaky and looked tortured.
"Doesn't look so convincing. Come on, I'll show you how it's done"
Elisa went on. "Let's not keep Mrs Morozova waiting"
"You don't have to hurry any more. I'm already here,’ a tall woman greeted them in a deep voice with a strong Czech accent.
The two Ridter bowed, each in their own way, Elisa formally with one hand on her heart and Thomas affectedly and deeply.
The woman looked at them with her brown-red, human eye and her ‘R.T.I Argus’ eye augmentation. An e-cigar in the corner of her mouth.
"I have already received your reports. You are achieving a 95% success rate in your mission to recruit new trading partners. I'll be gracious today and allow for the fact that some have been difficult."
"Thank you," said Elisa and Thomas in unison.
"… unfortunately, I failed to recruit a group I discovered today. I'll have a full be…" Elisa wanted to add.
"That's not so bad. With the ‘Steel Falcon’, ‘Enthusiast of the Extraordinary’ and the ‘Mercenaries with Scruples’, we have three big fish. Your dismissed. Go to your routine examinations with Prof Veloce"
"As you command, Mrs Morosowa," the two bowed again in synchronisation.
The shots faded with the sound of the cartridge case hitting the ground.
"Excellent! You've improved a lot compared to last time"
Prof Veloce, who was behind armoured glass protected against R.T.I. bullets, switched off the training drones. He was slight and his skin was covered in scars. He came out of the security area with an imperceptible limp.
Elisa stroked the lower half of the arm she had just shot with.
"I'm sure you'll have further honed your skills by next week,’ Prof Velocee made a note in his childish-looking handwriting. Thomas, who had been standing on the sidelines, looked quietly at his partner. He noticed the slight change in her behaviour.
"You seem more passive than usual. What's on your mind?"
Prof Veloce looked up slightly. "Do you think so? Your stats are good, so it can't be anything major."
The researcher made a gesture signalling to the two of them that he was finished with the test.
Thomas waited until they had left the test site before taking Elisa aside.
"Tell me about it, sis. What's going on in your head?"
Elisa still didn't answer. Her gaze was wandering, down the straight corridor.
"What do you think our company is doing?" Her voice was emotionless, but something resonated. Something like … doubt?
Thomas looked at her, frowning, and asked: "What do you mean? Our job is to sell products. We don't care what the customer does with our drones and machines as long as it brings us more customers."
"So we do not help them?"
"What a strange question. Maybe yes, we help them achieve their goals. But as I said, nothing more. The one time we stopped supplying a customer was only because they wanted to impose their ideology on us. I think you just need some time alone."
Thomas tousled her short hair. Her arm shot up and grabbed his hand.
"Please don't do that. Have more respect for your older sister." Even now, her tone didn't change, although such behaviour was very unusual for her.
Thomas was startled for a moment before he put on his typical smile, still confused.
"I'm sorry, older sister."
Light-footed and waving to her, he scurried into a side corridor. The end of his jacket flapped behind him like the cloak of a scoundrel.
Feeling unobserved, Elisa pulled out the small card she had taken from the shop. She looked at the lettering, which served as a kind of logo, for a long time. She took out her mobile phone. As described on the card, the device dialled the number automatically.