XX2: Customs

The breezing winds of a late evening Anagora day turned null. Noises filled Kazuki's mind as the winds were all but gone, replaced by the bustle of the terminal. A thousand monitors blinked on the ceilings, hanging as signs to show the various connections. Whilst up above, cruisers, cruises and transport vessels lugged over the skylights. 

"Did you mind snare them?" asked Kazuki, following Archius as Karl followed along, carrying all the cargo and luggage that came with the duo's movements. 

Cleaning drones whizzed by, eclipsed in the sunset. Yet despite the lateness of the day, the spaceport was no less lively. Archius shrugged. "Would you have preferred that instead?" asked Archius.

Kazuki grumbled, sighing for a moment. It wasn't the answer he was looking for. The trio lined up in one of the Fast-Lanes through customs, a line authorised only for 'Very Important Persons'. Kazuki was never on that list… "Pass?"

"Pass." replied Archius, grabbing three VIP passes from a drone that passed by discreetly to their side. He slid two of them behind him. Kazuki snatched them up. It was bright gold with white holo-text announcing who they were. His had: 

'VIP, Kazuki Geminorum-Ryzaku', with his family phoenicia-leviatha brooch beside it. Turning to Karl, he saw that both his hands were occupied.

"Pfft, just slide it into my mouth or something," said Karl, an individual much taller than both he and Archius. Years were visible on him, much like his parents.

Thinking for a moment, Kazuki decided to just follow suit. He can relax, can't he? He slid the VIP Pass into Karl's shirt pocket, ensuring that it was poking out just enough. 

"There."

Turning back to Archius, the line was quickly evaporating. Though it felt quite strange to be here. Most people in the line were politicians, diplomats and government agents. And here they were, three idiots wearing the least formal of wears. 

"Are you sure the passes will work?" asked Kazuki, as they were the next in line. Beside them were long rows of people going through customs. Anagora always had a heightened level of security, at least compared to other planets. It'd be inconvenient if the passes were expired. "Because—"

"—It'll work!" interjected Archius, slapping Kazuki on the arm. "I just had my eyes vet them, and my other eyes will just let us pass." He looked towards the person manning the booth in front of them. The other customs officers were drones, but the VIP route had an actual human being. Yet the only thing that kept them all similar were the contraband detectors attached to each booth, on a conveyor latching with drone operators.

"And if they don't?"

Rolling his eyes, Archius grabbed onto Kazuki as he threw him forward as the words 'NEXT' projected itself onto the floor in front of them. "Let's not keep her waiting, shall we?"

Turning back to Archius for a second, he grumbled as he clenched his fist. "Papers, please?" asked a voice. Kazuki turned back towards the man operating the customs booth. He looked tired, and exhausted. His immaculate red-white uniform bled professionalism into his husk of a body. 

"Ah, Francis," started Archius, stepping forward with Karl. He slid their passports over.

The officer nodded before grabbing them, skimming through them as he made sure all the information was right. He then closed them all, sliding them across the booth table. "Alright, you know how it is, conveyor."

Kazuki remained silent as Archius slid past him, placing the sigil of Republic Intelligence on the table. It had the letters 'CRIS' painted on them. "That won't be necessary."

He looked at the sigil, then wheeled his chair backwards. He glanced up at Archius, Kaz and Karl. He then nodded, turning off the metal detector for a moment as the contraband detectors went null. "It won't be necessary, welcome back to Anagora, Yousef."

"Long live the Republic," whispered Archius, grinning as he walked past the booth. He ushered Kazuki and Karl forward as he snatched back the sigil. The officer scratched their neck as he nodded at the three of them, as they entered into the civilian terminal proper.

Shops and stores were all over the place as they turned the corner, with a nearly endless amount of floors and escalators attached to the place. 

"Friend of yours?" asked Kazuki.

"CRIS informant, it's important to know which high ranking individuals are leaving and coming," commented Archius as he turned back to the two of them. 

"Still, all this for just a single gun?" Karl grumbled, still carrying all the stuff that Kaz and Archius brought with them. Most of it was non contraband, repair kits, tools and medical equipment. 

"Two guns," corrected Kazuki. "You're carrying the railgun."

Archius raised an eyebrow. "You still prefer standing in lines for half a day?"

Touché, Kazuki thought. He slid his hands into his coat interior, feeling the coldness of his backup pistol. He checked its chamber, feeling the hollow piercing bolts - and their freezing touch.