As light show were making flashes throughout a great hall, a crown were dancing to a dark techno mix. Someone were making solid moves, someone were half-naked, someone were just watching at a podium, where professional dancers were doing seductive stunts with a pole.
This is a grand building, a mansion, an art museum, remade into a house of music and human riot against the world around them. Music was loud enough to make everyone feel it's vibe, but not loud enough to blow the ears out, and people were clearly enjoying it, while Zed kept walking through a crowd. Despite knowing the name Takker, she didn't knew how he looked, where he can be or even if the person named "Takker" was a man or a woman. Untill she reached VIP area.
Zed - Right... he did mention that Takker would be an VIP here. Damn the devil.
Another roadblock forced Zed to stop and find a better spot to look around. There was two ways to VIP area, both a stairs were leading to the second floor. And the guards. Every corner and corridor in this building has guards and guarding robots. While Zed was walking around, she counted at least thirty two.
Zed - All i need to do, is to get upstairs then.
Ideas were flowing through, but none had solid ground to execute. She started wandering around once again. Great hall were crowded, big dance floor were like a main arena for an unusual fight. Neverthe less, Zed's eyes kept wandering around, as if there has to be something else besides half-naked drunk and dancing people. DJ booth sounded nice way to go up, just way to noticeable. Try to steal an VIP pass? What VIP would hangout in non-VIP area? Employee only door? Now that's something. But she did't saw any employ that would be a human. Only civilian dolls walking around in bunny suits, giving out glasses of all kinds of beverage.
Maybe she can just hack it? Zed kept looking for a better way, despite running out of ideas. That is when she decided to try it out. Small push of one guest, made him fall and grag at passing by doll, who spilled all the drinks. A small distraction all she was needed.
Meanwhile, on a second floor. A groupe of three people were sitting around a table. Despite being nearly above the main dance floor, music was not as loud as in the rest of a building. A couple of guards wearing black suits, were standing nearby.
Man A - Listen here Takker. If you don't have the chips, i have no intrest in your services either.
Takker - I got few people take care about that. They could call me any moment now. All i am asking is for a bit more time, and you will have your chips.
Man B - We are waisting our time here.
Man A - Call your contact now! Tick-Tock say's the clock. If won't see my chips in an hour, you are dead man. You hear me?
Takker - Fine, fine! I got this!
Man B - I will take my leave first. We got other clients to do our busines.
As Takker pulled up his phone and started calling a number, one of the two man stood up and left the table. Leaving his partner and nervious Takker. On his way out, he tapped on a shouled on of his guards and whispered to his ear.
Man B - This man is walking dead. Make sure of that. Tell the others to look out for anything suspicious.
Guard - Yes boss.
While the Boss were walking away, Takker started looked at his phone, and found out it was out of power. As he saw that, panic instantly overwhelmed him, and drops of sweat appeared on his forhead. Not knowing what to do, he looked around and then at a man in front of him.
Takker - My phone is out of power, can i take yours?
Man A - Seriously? Damn you delitants. Here!
Man pulled out a phone from his inner vest pocket and handed it over to Takker.
Takker - Thank you.
Quickly, Takker started typing numbers to give a call. The ringing sound started comming from Zed's pocket as she was passing by an elevator. The call took her by surprise, even more that it was comming not from her terminal... And then she realised that it is the one she took from one of the victims... what was his name? She already deleted the name! Zed stepped inside an elevator and answere the call.
Zed - ... | Takker - Larry, is that you? Did you get the chips?
Zed - Larry can't answer. He sent me to deliver them, but didn't said where.
Takker - Who are you? What happened to Larry?
Zed - I am friend of Larry. Right now Larry is in the hospital. He was caught in a car crash.
Takker - Alright, alright. You said you have the chips? I need you to deliver them to an adress i just sent you. Can you do that really quick? It is kind of a matter of life and death!
Zed - Oh... I am nearby. Will be in a five minutes.
As she said that, Zed walked out from employee area and was already standing on a second floor, looking around. Trying to find if anyone was talking through a terminal or a phone. And noticed few tables where people were using phones. One of such tables had a hard guard.
Takker - Thanks. I will be in VIP area. Just say that you are here to deliver a bag.
Zed - Sure thing.
Call ended, and Zed's gaze fixated on a single table. Where two man were surrouned by guards, a man just lowered his hand and handed over a phone to another man. A smile appeared on Zed's face, as she approached that table.
Guard - Wrong table doll.
Zed - No, this is the perfect table for me... And the right guests.
Man A - Who are you?
Bald man in the suit, turned his attention from Takker to Zed. Another man had brown hair and was wearing oversized clothes, presumably that was a Takker.
Zed - We just talked on a phone.
Takker - Oh. You are the courier?
Zed - I am no courier. I came here for Takker. He own me a bag full of money.
After taking a closer look at Zed, bald man gestured to let her through. And Zed sat down near Takker. And Takker was terrified.
Man A - Ah... I belive you are Zed. Heard quite alot about you.
Zed - And i never knew who you are.
Man A - James. My people just call me mister J.
Zed - Will remeber if we ever get to work together. But right now this is not of my concerns. I am here after the money mister Takker and his friends own to me.
Mister J - Oh... And we are expecting a bag full of chips from him as well.
Takker - *ha-ha* I am sure there is some kind of...Mister J and Zed - Shut up!
Both Zed and James turned their attention on Takker. Who instantly turned away. It was then, when Zed noticed a bag near Takker. The same where the money was...
Mister J - Then we are stuck in a conondrum. I want my chips. You want your money. And all he has is the drugs with him.
Zed - You got the drugs? From the money you took?
Takker - Yeah... I was going to trade it with an dealer outside, get a tripple of what i has spent.
Zed - Then what is that whole chips deal?
Mister J - Few months back, he took a loan through our people. Never gave it back. Then he took another one, promising that he will make more. Never gave it back again. The way i see it. He is a dead man twice.
Zed - All i need is my share. If he really is making deal within an yellow zone for a tripple, i say i can take my cut.
Mister J - And i am not. He proved to be more trouble than we thought. His bag and his head are ours. You should back away Zed.
Zed - I am not going back empty handed.
Mister J - That is not for you to decide. And seeing that i am not gonna see my chips. I suggest you to leave Zed. You can stay here for the music and the drink if you want. Take it as a sorry token.
Taking a better look at Takker and Zed. James stood up, fixed his suit.
Mister J - Take that piece of disgrace out and kill him.
He said before walking away.
Guards noded, and tried to grab Takker, but Zed stopped them.
Zed - He is my prey.
Guard - That's not for you to decide.
Zed - No, that's exactly for me to decide.
Nobody even noticed that Zed was already holding Lupara in her hands. Not untill it's cold barrel were pressed against the ribcage. Everyone went silent. Few more guards appeared nearby, and robots. Music were getting silent for a moment.
Guard - Last chance doll. Drop your weapon.
Zed - I'l take my chances.
As the drop hit it's high, a music blasted through the building, just like a shotgun blast went through a two people at once. A gun fight went lose on a second floor. Nobody who was on a first floor noticed anything. Music was loud and went with a flow of a gunfire sounds. Beats dropped with a shotgun blasts, acompanied by a pistol and rifle shots.
Zed - Get down you IDIOT!
Slow to react Takker, tried to run, only to be stopped and pulled down by Zed's hand.
Takker - Oh my god, oh my god! OH MY GOD! | Zed - Shut up and follow me!
With lupara in one hand, and Takker neck in the other, Zed pushing herself from cover to cover, making shots and reloads somewhere in between. Five dead bodies and one robot destroyied latter, she pushes through to an employee area. Corridors and kitchen were already cleared from any staff that were there just a few moments ago. Instead more guards and robots greeted her with shots.
Seeing that new encounter were to come. Zed pushed Takker into a corned.
Zed - Wait here!Takker - Okay, Okay! Yes! Okay!
It was obvious that the poor guy were in state of panic through and through. And shotgun blasts continued through the kitchen. Spoons, ladels and all kinds of kitchen ware were flying across the room. Bullets were flying just as much.
Five more robots and two guards, almost managed to pin down Zed with fire. If Zed were to take a peek, she would endup being shot at. Quick thinking came to an oldest trick, old bottle of champagne went flying and silled it's content on someone's eyes. Enough to make a room for another shot. And once again, room was cleared, but there was no time to waste.
Zed - Come on. We got to move! | Takker - Wait, wait. You have a car?
Zed - Of corse i do! Why?Takker - There is a straight way to a parking lot! We can go through a main hall, and right to the parking lot entrance... | Zed - How the hell do you know that?
Takker - I am not the first time here. And this entrance is reserved by VIP key card!
Despite being in a state of pure panic, Takker pulled out a key card from his pocket. Zed took a key card, and thought a little about the plan. Original plan were to go through a back entrance... But it is way to far from publick parking lot, and the fron entrance is way to dangerous.
Zed - Fine, don't fall behind.
And Takker followed Zed, trying to be as close as he can. This time Zed used the stairs, where only one robot were waiting for her. Thanks to quick reaction, a double barel blast quickly dealt with him.
Then it was a main hall, the first floor. Nobody knew anything about an active gunfight going around. Music were playing at it's peak. Crowd were cheering and dancing. Zed grabbed Takker by his hand, and walked inside the crowd. All she had to do, is get to the other side of this hall. But at least not to the entrance.
A guard appeared in front of Zed, she quick hit him in a face with a handle of her Lupara. Then pushed him down and stomped on his face. The guard weren't dead, but it will be a long time before he would get up. A crowd kept dancing, as if nothing happened. Somebody were thinking that it is just someone elses fight, not theirs. Somebody runned away, but just enough to just not see it.
Another guard appeared from behind, and then a robot guard at the front. A fight broke out, robot grabbed Zed's wrist. The human guard raised a electrified baton to hit at Zed. Takker pushed the guard, while Zed spun to make a spinning kick at a robot. It was enough for robot to let her go. Guard punched a Takker and he fell to the ground, a moment later Zed grabed his hand, that was holding a baton, and kicked his leg, throwing him right at the robot.
Both robot and the guard went tumbling down by a short stairs to a dance floor, while Zed had a baton in her hand, so she decided to hide Lupara in her frame.
Taking Takker by hand once again, they moved forward to an exit. And lastly, two more guards were standing on her way to the exit. But both of them fell down quickly, just a two hits from stun baton was enough to send both guards face the floor in convulsions.
Zed - Damn, i already like that baton.
Finaly, they reached the VIP door to a parking lot. Key card opened the door, and Both Zed and Takker stepped outside, leaving the house of music behind them.
=== Yellow Zone ===
Kilmure - Okay... So far so good.
Andre - I mean... They are completing requests way too fast.
Under the starry sky, in another of poor provided settelments. Andre and Kilmure standing around the hood of their car and looking at the same terminal. Anyone else probably would have been happy with a result. Out of four jobs, two were already done... In a span of a single day. The third one is defending a construction of purification tower. But a construction crew is not here yet. So it leaves only a strange request.
Kilmure - I don't wan't to take that NOMFA request.
Andre - You know, I was thinking here. How much requests did NOMFA ever placed through a BRIEF platform? This it the first time i see NOMFA request ever. Like, come on... There must me something serious about this.
Kilmure - Whatever there is, i am not buying it.
Andre - Escort their agents? Like come on... It is so... Obscure...
Kilmure - Can you look around for any new requests? I don't want to be nearby when NOMFA comes here. Prefereably, we should move somewhere east... or north-east.
Andre - If we to move east, we will end up at green zone after half a day ride.
Kilmure - *sigh* damn it. But what do you think?
Andre - I already looked through requests. There is something solid! Just a bit long for our taste.
Kilmure - What is it?
Annoyed and bored Kilmure took of his gasmask and decided to have a smoke, while Andre started scrowling through a terminal untill he found needed request.
Andre - Here it is! Repair a signal tower HL-646. Problem is... It is north-west. Middle of yellow zone.
Kilmure - Well have to take some of workshop crew to do that one. I can make simple repairs, but doubt they can be any use of that in there. And i doubt that our dolls can make repairs either.
Andre - So... Are we taking it?
Kilmure - Yeah, take it. And send a mesage, so they would send someone from workshop to repair that thing. Damn, i hate when i have to stay low.
Andre - You would prefer to go on a raid?
Kilmure - Yeah... Better than thouse, repair this, kill that or escort thouse. Raids but i prefer when we take a high value requests from someone like... like Corter or Herman! They pay big! BRIEF? We can make a hundred of requests, and the pay is still would be lower.
Andre - I get where that comes from. But then what? What is Duval planning to do with all that money? We were stuck at that base for over a year already.
Kilmure - Duval is making names and trying to win us a best deal possible.
Andre - Deal for what?
Kilmure - I already don't know for what. At first, plan was to buy out somekind of a business to free ourselfs from need to ever work again. Then, plan was to buy a land for ourselfes, make it a our city or whatever, and then live there in peace. Now it's to buy a land, buy busines, buy ourselfes clear names, buy people that would work for us and so on... I think Duval just making new nonsence just to keep that gang running. He doesn't want to live in peace. Honestly? Me neither!
Andre - Why? I thought you were waiting for such opportunity?
Kilmure - Listen Andre. I am a fourty nine years old idiot, that was in love twice and both times i was used as a fool. I am a disapointment in the eyes of both my father and my little brother. And honestly, i just don't know anything else, other then our life.
Andre - Damn... Well, that's a big bummer to go through.
Kilmure - Yeah... I hope you won't endup like me!
Flick of a fingers, and a cigarette dropped under Kilmure feet. He stomped on it. Before putting the gas mask back on.
=== Hill Roads ===
A car drived through empty streets. Nobody were welcoming them. Terminal were saying that tis was a right place. Something was off, even Nita understood that, and she pushed Martin few times to wake him up.
Martin - *U-u-ugh* are we there?
Nita - It seems we are. Where is anyone?
Not really sure about everything. Martin took terminal in his hands and checked location. Yes, they are in the right place. Maybe because it's a night time?
Martin - We should look around, see what we can find.
While Martin was putting on a gas mask, Nita walked out. A small vilage, with concrete buldings. Just like everything in a yellow zone, they were in various state of decay. But something did stood out. Fresh spray paint art on walls here and there. Same symbol were repeated over and over, on many sides of buildings.
Martin - Hello! Anybody? We are here!
Before putting on a gas mask, Martin screamed into a streen silence few times. And since no reply came, he finaly put gasmask over his face.
Martin - Nita, look around. See if you can find anything.
Nita - Yes sir...
And she didn't need to walk really far. After just a few steps... something metalic made a sound under Nita's feet. A bullet shell, a pretty big one... And not just one, a few dozen of them. Nita crouched to take a better look.
It wasn't just a bullet. Muddy traces of heavy machinery were faded, but clearly visible.
Nita - I think i found something.
Uneasy, Nita stood up and called for Martin. But Martin didn't answered. Nita noticed that Martin was standing near a pit, looking down. So she hurried to come closer.
In the pit, was filled with burnt corpses, bags and other things. A barely visible dark smoke still was comming from that pit.
Martin - I think we are too late Nita... Someone got them... I shold make a call.
Without any other words. Martin walked back to a car. Nita on the other hand kept staring into the pit. The more she watched, the more different things she were noticing. Untill her gaze didn't stop on audioplayer. This one burnt to a crisp...
Nita - The other one was fine... What was there? Building a wall?
It took some effort for Nita to finaly snap out of it. She shook her head and hurried back to a car.