Undercover Blob

[Robin Stanton]

Some part of Robin is relieved that Ryan isn't the boss of this operation. It's a dumb, stupid part that still wants to believe she's not really that much of a criminal. Especially considering how big of an operation this seems to be gearing up to be.

"Ronnie. Good to meet ya, sir. Like he said, I got a... potential untapped market and some tips on dealing with that winged kitty-cat as a show of good fatih."

[Narrator]

Giancarlo looked Robin down critically, with a well-trained eye. "Ronnie, then, is it," he said, his voice betraying just the slightest clip of an Italian accent. "I do always appreciate initiative, at least when it is backed by something tangible.

Why do you think the market you claim to have remains untapped as of yet?"

[Robin Stanton]

"Cause you don't have anybody willing to risk the wrath of the machine. Or properly evade her." she says, repeating her camouflage trick.

[Narrator]

"We have plenty of people with more guts than brains. And we have people who are very elusive indeed," Giancarlo said, not nearly as easily-impressed as Orange Spike (Michael? I guess his name is Michael.)

"What is it you have that makes you feel you are special?"

The question was sharp, for sure, but it wasn't as demeaning as it could be. It wasn't 'what the hell do YOU think you're doing'. This was, in a way, a job interview, apparently?

[Robin Stanton]

"Cause I got all three. For instance I know that there aren't nearly as many cameras as people think and the ones that are there are hidden. I can fit through a 4 inch hole if I go full octopus. I could deliver Glooze straight to their dorms if I wanted to, but why risk it cause you know who goes in and out of the portal all the time? Randos delivering food, 'specially on the weekend. Slap an UberEats sticker on a thermo-bag, shove some curry and pizza in there and no one's even gonna want to remember your face."

[Narrator]

"There is a question of risk versus reward," Giancarlo said, in the same clipped tones he had been using. "Expanding our operations out to the university, a new district, with a more active and engaged security force, brings with it a great deal of risk. For that to be worth it to us, the reward would have to be commensurately large. We would need some sort of...guarantee."

[Robin Stanton]

"I mean, tough to prove the thing without getting to do the thing but I get it. And it's easy to get away with it when they're not on the lookout for it yet. Gimme a test? Lemme sneak into a place you got eyes on and grab something as proof."

[Narrator]

"I mean, tough to prove the thing without getting to do the thing but I get it. And it's easy to get away with it when they're not on the lookout for it yet. Gimme a test? Lemme sneak into a place you got eyes on and grab something as proof."

Orange-Spike (dang it, no, Michael, people had names), leaned into Giancarlo and whispered something to him, with the older man looking on, stone-faced.

"I was thinking more of a guarantee in terms of financial liability, but you do raise an interesting alternative. If you would be willing to retrieve...an item for us, perhaps we could work out a more formal, long-term association."

[Robin Stanton]

"Ain't exactly flush with money, got some but I was kinda hoping for a way to remedy that, catch? So yeah, whatcha need retrieved?"

[Narrator]

"You familiar with the Freezer?" Orange-Spike asked.

"The Limehouse Evidence Retention Facility," Giancarlo clarified. "A...mid-level police evidence building. They keep dangerous substances and evidence awaiting forensic analysis there. We would prefer if some things did not make it to analysis."

[Robin Stanton]

"Can't say that I am, but that shouldn't be a problem. Need some evidence disappeared?"

[Narrator]

"Can't say that I am, but that shouldn't be a problem. Need some evidence disappeared?"

Orange-Spike scoffed at that, with Giancarlo keeping his cool.

"A former associate of ours proved less than reliable. And, so, the local authorities have, in their possession, several vials of our latest variant, a ledger notebook, an encrypted USB drive, and a burner phone which should have been long since discarded. It would be best for all involved if they were removed within the next 48 hours."

"And no one gets into the Freezer. It's impenetrable."

[Robin Stanton]

"Vials, ledger, thumbdrive, phone. Got it. All from the same person, huh? Gimme a couple days, gotta make sure I find a good route in."

While she doesn't have her dad's patience to get herself filed as evidence or her mum's ability to absorb right through concrete and brick, this shouldn't be too hard, right? And sure, it's technically a crime but she'll figure out a way to get it back or get the police something even better, so it's fine.

[Narrator]

"You don't have a couple of days. You have less than 48 hours. And the Freezer is designed to be thief-proof. For normal incursions, at least.

All three entrances are protected and guarded. The intake hall is always staffed. The CCTV covers every inch of the interior. And the cold corridor is designed to keep anything unauthorized from entering or leaving. It is a challenge that our usual hands haven't figured out how to get past yet."

[Robin Stanton]

"Oof, okay, well then, 48 hours it is." she says, wondering if she's underestimating this time period's defenses against mutants. Still, she wouldn't be a Stanton if she backed down from something just because people call it impossible, right?

[Narrator]

"No killing. No alarms. Bring back the entire tote. No heroics if you're caught. If you need anything, you don't come here. You ring the bell at the back door of the gym Michael is at. Long long short, long short long. If this works out, we can discuss your future.

Do you have any other questions?"

[Robin Stanton]

"Yeah, you want a little bow on it?" she grins and makes fingerguns at him. "Uhm, that is, no, I gotcha."

[Narrator]

"In that case, my associate will escort you out of the building the same way you came in," Giancarlo said, returning to his papers.

[Robin Stanton]

"Another round of squid in a cup. Hurray." she deadpans.

[Narrator]

"There are less pleasant ways to leave this facility, if you'd prefer to find out about them," Giancarlo said, ice entering his tone.

[Robin Stanton]

"I'm good! The cup's just fine, thanks."

[Narrator]

"I look forward to hearing of your success. Do not disappoint me," Giancarlo said, returning to his paperwork, as Orange-Spike opened the door.