Derecho gave the customer a big, and forced, smile as she passed her tablet to them in my Royal Equestria Security Forces (RESF) dreamscape. At the same time, she repeated for what seemed like the hundredth time today the company's motto: “Thank you for choosing Trade Wind Courier Service! Where good service is never a flight of fancy! Could you please sign my tablet and confirm that you've received your package from me!”

The unicorn in a business suit levitated the tablet over and proceeded to make a sloppy impression of his signature with a finger. This also succeeded in getting some of the mayonnaise from his sandwich on it. He made a half-assed attempt to wipe it off with his napkin before levitating it back to the pegasus.

“Sorry about that,” he said with not really sounding like he was. With her work smile still pasted on her face Derecho abruptly turned and walked away it was only after she was in the hallway that she muttered.

“Asshole.”

As she waited for the elevator to arrive, she pulled an alcohol wipe from a pocket in her work portage vest and got the worst of the mess off the tablet, pitched the now soiled wipe it in a nearby trash receptacle, and then stowed her work tablet.

About this time the elevator arrived. Stepping in, she hit the button for the 22nd floor while removing the company visor from her head and clipping it to a loop on the front of her vest. She had the banana yellow visor which was the same color as the company portage vest that she was required to wear when on the clock for Trade Wind Courier Service.

It was stupid, but every time she made a delivery she had to put the damn visor when giving the parcel to the customer, only to take the stupid thing off again when she flew off because it would blow off your head. Putting on an elastic head band didn't really help because at speed the brim of visor generated some nasty lift that wanted to pull your head up and back. Just another thing the mare hated about this job.

Derecho really hated working for the company and the pay, even with tips, sucked. But it gave her a job and a source income she could report to the Crown so she could continue to qualify for the War Orphan Assistance Program. Also it allowed her to file something as income on her taxes. At least the hours were flexible.

This was not the only courier work that the mare did, however. She had a second delivery job that was under the table, but it paid wwwwaaayyy better than this job; often it was cash on the table. Yeah, most of the work was bit on the sketchy side, and some of the customers were a bit shady so you had to chose your jobs carefully. But except for a couple cases Derecho has had no real troubles, and besides, the young mare found it all kind of thrilling.

The elevator had just reached the 22nd floor when Derecho phone started chiming in her vest. Phone began play the song What have done for me lately. Derecho hated the song which is why she chose it. Because it made her answer phone faster. Glancing at the screen of her multi-function sport/smart watch she grinned as she recognized the phone number coming from one her best paying off the books customers. He went by the name of Jade Mane. Tapping the side of her wireless headset she took the call.

“Yo! Jade my stallion! How you doin'? You got work for me?” On the other end Derecho heard the very heavily accent voice of the stallion. It had taken her several months to really learn how to understand him, but his jobs always paid well, and usually they didn't have shitty customers.

“Ho ho! Yu seem tu be in a good mood tuday girl, Eh? Yu lukin' tu make sum bits tunight, girl? Eh? I gut wurk fur yu if yu wunt it! Wut du yu say girl?”

The turquoise green mare stepped out of the elevator and walked toward the glass doors that lead to the elevated, outdoor break area, and designated landing zone. Bright afternoon sun accentuating the highlights on her deep violet spandex shorts and her brilliant white cotton tank top. Fliers really appreciated being able to land and take off from these upper story landing zones; not having to worry about vehicular traffic in the streets, foot traffic on the sidewalks, along with trees, and power lines. Lots of things to bonk into.

Pushing the doors open, Derecho stepped out into the afternoon sun. Although somewhat sheltered from the worst of it, the wind up here still tussled her mane. She flipped her flight goggles down over her eyes. As the transition lens began to darken, she replied.

“Yeah I'm game Jade. When and where should meet you and how big is the job?”

“Da usual place girl. Yu knuw. Da roof parkin' area of da civic centur parkin' gurage. By the HVAC shed. Meet me there tunight at 9. It's not a big job, but da pay is good girl. 300 bits fer quick job, and da customer is cool. Yu wurked with dem befur.”

“9pm by the HVAC shed on the top parkin' floor of the civic center. I'll be there!” She heard the call end and she grinned.

Tonight she'd make some real bits! With that thought she launched herself into the afternoon sky and headed for what her and Hail Storm called home.

FYI. For folks who have been worried. I will be returning to my Equestria dreamscape in near future. Trust me we'll get to what Applebloom and Stone Mane are up to.

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