Heist

While unguarded, the treasury of Atlantis still had its defences in the form of its solid metal walls, double metal doors and a large lock bolting said doors shut. The plants pried jealously at the minute gaps in the metal, like they were furious to be denied entrance to any part of their domain. Every inch of Atlantis was covered in their mutant plant life, crawling into every kind of habitat that the dome supported. Still, for who knows how many years, the vault stood strong against floral foes and remained unbreached. The steel had to have been treated with something as even in the heavy humid air of the dome it had yet to rust, not a single blemish on its smooth surface. All in all, it was looking like an impossible nut to crack.

“…” 

Hazard wasn’t one for plans or thoughts for that matter. She was an impulsive creature especially without the guidance of Cassidy. Luckily rather than barging straight into the sturdy doors she was waiting for directions. As she inspected the vault for a weak point she was unable to find one. There was surely some kind of mechanism which was needed to open and close the mighty steel plates. 

Hazard looked to her side where Cassidy stood. “What do we do boss?” She asked in a low tone as not to alert anyone of their position. Despite her larger size it was clear the smaller Utah held the control, and a sharper mind. A familiar blankness floated in the Cryo's eyes, something that Cassidy had come to recognize as some type of disassociation, a way that Hazard could stay dormant while she waited for a task. 

“…”

With Hazard in her mini hibernation mode, Cassidy knew she had plenty of time to think. She had already circled the vault and used Hazard to look high up at the full extent of the doors. The hinges had been her first guess, she had picked away at them before on the surface to break into hidden caches of goodies. These hinges looked just as sturdy as the rest of the doors instead of being a glaring weak point. The lock might be her best bet, if she could pick it. She could pick simple locks but this looked anything but simple, and despite its enormous size she probably couldn’t fit a claw into the keyhole to even try. She would have to innovate, returning to the jungle and searching for anything to use.

A thick woody stem from a plant with garish red leaves seemed to be her best bet. She snapped it and stood back, watching the fluid inside drip out and land on the grass. She didn’t want to just grab it directly, fearing what bullshit the plants down here were capable of but when the grass didn’t sizzle she took the chance and retrieved the stick. When she got back to the door she began to whittle it with her claw until it reached a sharp point that could fit inside the lock. 

“Hazard, can you lift me up to reach this lock? If you can get me level with it I can probably pick it.”

“...”

Hazard snapped from her daze in an instant, like a sleeper agent she was ready for action. “Sure boss.” She said as she crouched down in front of the door allowing the petit theropod to climb up on her back. She stood with a slight bend in her legs, this lined Cassidy up beautifully with the key hole. As Cassidy worked the lock Hazard fought the burning in her legs from her partial squat. This was not a pose she was used to holding and she could feel all her muscles burn and begin to cramp the longer she held her muscles engaged. 

It was taking Cassidy a reasonable amount of time to defeat the lock and Hazard gritted her teeth. Her thighs were cramping and starting to spasm but she would not let Cassidy down. Her breathing was shaky as her Dino glutes got the best work out of her life; it was evident to Cassidy she was struggling. After 5 minutes which felt like hours to Hazard her body was ready to give up. Surely the lock would give up first Hazard thought. 

“…”

Aware of the weight she was exerting on her Cryo comrade, Cassidy did her best to hurry through the lock. She tried her usual configurations first but the lock refused to yield. Huffing through her nose she gripped the stick tighter in her teeth and began to approach it from multiple different angles. She thought at one point the lock shuddered under the treatment but upon further inspection it was Hazard beginning to tremble with the combined effort of holding her and squatting down to keep her level with the lock. Knowing she was short on time, Cassidy pried one of her claws into the keyhole and held down the mechanism she felt there as she twisted the stick once again.

Click.

Having put her full body weight against the lock, Cassidy was sent tumbling down to the ground, the lock still trapped on her finger. She landed on her back and lay there winded for a moment, staring at the artificial sky above her. Trying hard to catch her breath, she could only be glad that Piper wasn’t here to see it. Hazard straightened herself out with a considerable effort and put her forehead to the door, looking down quickly with a grin when she felt it move.

“You did it, boss!” she exclaimed, giddy like a kid opening a gift.

“We did it,” Cassidy corrected, freeing her claw from the keyhole and leaving a good portion of it behind. “Now, let’s reap our rewards.” She made a short ‘hup’ sound and got to her feet, joining Hazard in pushing the door open. A wave of warm air rushed past them as it opened and she flinched against the musty smell that came with it.

“…”

Inside the vault were untold treasures, things that Hazard couldn’t understand. So many glittering golden artifacts and colourful gemstones gleamed back at her yellow eyes. Hearing Cassidy let out a soft sound of awe, she thought for a moment. She herself was a little underwhelmed with the treasures. She scanned the pile until her gaze settled on a particularly jagged shape, a hoop with thorny looking protrusions, bright red rubies glinted around its rim. 

Despite never seeing a crown before Hazard knew in her heart how it should be worn she slipped it onto her arm like a bracelet and showed Cassidy excitedly. Cassidy stifled a laugh, “that’s not quite right, Hazard.” She said as she slipped the crown from the Cryos arm. Delicately she climbed atop a pile of treasure beside Hazard which gave her the height to place it lopsidedly over Hazard’s crest. Sliding down the pile she grabbed a particularly reflective shield which she held for the Cryo to inspect her new accessory.

Hazard smiled broadly, clearly pleased with the headwear. “Thanks boss.” She said through her smile. With that the pair set about the robbery, Cassidy found some sacks which she secured to Hazards side, together they filled both. Successfully bundling up a good portion of the loot the pair darted off into the jungle, Hazard still wearing her crown, rattling as she ran through the foliage.