Always on Time

Nic inhaled the smoke from his cigarette, let the pixie dust burn in his lungs, and then released it back into the open air. He was standing on top of a building in Absalom Station, staring down at the little people as they went buy. Little hovercars came to take them from here to there, and their little comm units told them where to walk. They stuffed their faces with little food, and spent way too much fucking money on those little coffees.
Don't even get him started on how they spent their little time.
A phone rang, the sound muffled, as if it were trapped in a box. A guess like that wouldn't be far off. Nic reached into one of the bulkier pockets in his trench coat, and pulled out an ancient red phone, which physicially vibrated on its handle. It belonged in a museum -- behind glass, in a dusty room visited about once per week -- but it was right at home with Nic. He liked to keep it old school. He picked up the receiver, cradling in his neck, and took the opportunity for another hit of his cigarette.
Nicholas Carter: "This is Carter."
Valentina Terris: "We're making progress?"
Nicholas Carter: "Well sheesh, Val. I'm doing swell."
Valentina Terris: "Apologies, Nicky. But I'm in a bit of a rush."
Nicholas Carter: "Shit. I thought I was talking to Valentina Terris, the modern Baba Yaga, master of chronomancy and evocation magic. Who is this?"
Valentina Terris: "Nicholas."
She was still mad at him for shooting Lockette in the head. Well, not the shooting -- specifically the part where he didn't ask her first. As if he'd had the time. The aftermath of that particular argument was still a sore spot.
Nicholas Carter: "The Anassanoi are doing great after your little care package. Most of the Dream Team assets are frozen, but with your legal work they're still making money."
Valentina Terris: "Chess?"
Nicholas Carter: "Headed to the Ikal Expanse in about two weeks. Meryl is gonna rendevous with the Aga Jain. Caesura went off on a bender, so getting Mist out is a dead end."
Valentina Terris: "Fine. They'll have to get him after. What about Chamas?"
Nicholas Carter: "Similar time frame. I'm picking him up. He should be at Ezorod with Tesin about a day after she busts it open... What about that shit on Jedarat?"
Valentina Terris: "Not sure. But Marcus is all over it. I'll be on that after this... So is there anything else?"
Nic thought about it, and thought about it some more. There were a lot of things he could have said, but he left them unspoken. He threw his cigarette at the little people, and watched it disappear.
Nicholas Carter: "All clear. Stay chipper."
There was a light grunt, and the line disconnected. Nic reached into another pocket, popped out a cigarette, and lit it with a murmur. The inital smoke was heavy, and burned a corona inside his chest. When the burn passed, he placed the receiver back on the handle, and used his other hand to dial a number, cigarette trailing between his teeth. A little light above the dial lit up as the call connected, and Nic picked up the phone.
Nicholas Carter: "Hey, Absy. It's Nic. Patch me to House Medusa..."