Zed - Bloody briliant! Do we really have to go out on such a short notice?
Duval - Didn't you said that you wanted to leave so soon?
Zed - That was half a month ago!
While Kilmure and Nita were gathering their things in another room, Duval was all set and ready to move out. His small bag, that was bought just a few hours ago, was already waiting silently besides him. And while Zed were gatherign her things in her bag, Duval was drinking tea.
Duval - And where the hell do dolls like you even come from?
Zed - Secret.Duval - Even if I pay?Zed - Only in advance!Duval - Wow *heh* bold one.
With one hand, Duval reached out into his pocket and pulled out few credits chips and placed them on a little table near the entrance door. Seeing that, Zed hurryed to gather her things.
Zed - Truth is, I don't know much about myself. My neural data was wiped, and as far as I know, it happened twice. If I were to belive others, there was a woman that had ownership over me. She was cruel woman, but successful. She had a business of manufacturing medicine and amunition. And I was among one of her hundreds of personal dolls...
Duval - I think I know who you are talking about... That was a fine woman indeed.
Zed - You know about her?Duval - I think I do. Let me guess... She was killed on airplane accident?
Zed - Yes... So this is a truth *huh* funny. Wait... Killed? You said killed?
Duval - I don't have a proof, but I am more than sure that someone created that accident just to kill her. And the rest of a plane was just a collateral casualty. But enough of that, what's next?
Zed - *sigh* After that, most of her property, which included me, was transpered to one of her company warehouse, where I was wiped for the first time, before being sold off somewhere. Then eight years go by, and I don't even know what happened to me, but somehow I ended up on doll arena and failed expectation of arena owner. For some reason I managed to get attention of a man named Leon. He bought me from Arena owner and just like that, I had my seccond data wipe and was handed over to Leon as his first and only assisstant.
Duval - Wait... Leon... That's a name I didn't hear for a long time! Are you talking about Leon Richter by any chance? He was an hired man almost like you are.
Zed - Yes... Leon Richter bought me and taught me everything he ever could a doll like me.
Duval - Damn... That old man is probobly at his eighties. How is he doing?
Zed - He is dead.Duval - Oh. | Zed - I killed him.Duval - Oh...Zed - Because he talked.
That moment, Duval lost any words he could have said. But then found some new ones.
Duval - Well... As far as I am concerned. I think you did good back there. Loyalty to your cause over loyalty to your emotions is a great thing. But then again, you are a doll. What else is there to expect?
Thinking over what Duval said, a wild line of code crossed through her neural cloud, "It was him who insisted that I would stay loyal to a cause". Zed's hands stopped for a moment.
Kilmure - Alright! My bag is ready to go. Sam and Harry are ready for a last step of a scam plan and will be moving out the team with the others. I guess I'l see you at the train raid?
With a light step, Kilmure walked out of a bedroom with a bag in hand. He quickly turned around, to see if Nita still gathering essentials and then turned to face Duval.
Duval - Sure. Let's get to it then. Zed, I will be waiting for you at the car.Zed - Yes...
Once Duval walked out, Zed put last few bottles of strange powder into her bag and finaly was ready to move out, but as she stood up and turned to leave, Kilmure was standing in front of her.
Kilmure - Be carefull with him, okay? Duval has a great skill of talking anyone into anything, and sometimes he does unimaginable without warning anyone.
Zed - Yeah. I totaly get, what kind of a man he is. Surprised he is still alive.
Kilmure - Many thought of him the same way! Anyway, good luck out there.
Zed - Thank you, appreciate that.
Not knowing what else to say, Kilmure returend to check on Nita. Meanwhile, Zed took her bag and walked outside, and didn't forger to take a small pile of credit token from a table.
== DHG camp ==
Nick - Andre! Lerman is back!Andre - What?
Sudden intrusion into the office by Nick, made him jump up a little. Andre was a little confused when he heard the name. It was somewhar familiar, but didn't remembered exactly who that was.
Nick - Anyway, maybe you should check in on him? | Andre - Yeah... Yeah, I visit him shortly.
Once Andre gave out his response, exited Nick runned downstairs. Meanwhile, just outside a workshop, a group of man surrounded another man. A late-middle aged man with dark hair was in contrast with everione else, as he was walking around in thick leather coat, but underneath that leather coat, was dark-green uniform without any name or rank signs.
Lerman - I know, I know! But I don't have any more news for you guys at this point in time! I came here personaly for a reason. We will hang out some other time.
Workshop crew member - Ah, come one! You barely appear over here!
Lerman - And that is for a reason! Once I will be on a vacation, then we can hangout!
Nick - Victor! He is comming!Lerman - Alright, time's up. We weill talk again latter friends.
Small crowd walked away slowly, as Lerman walked out and closer to Nick, who were waiting near a metal door of main building. Nick already pulled out a cigarette and offered another to Lerman. And Lerman without hesitation took the offer.
Nick - So, how is it going? Why the hell are you even here? I thought your position at Ministry of Internal Affairs holds you so tight, that it's impossible for you to even dissapear.
While Nick were lighting up cigarettes, he dropped a casual question.
Lerman - It's not like I am a captain or something. My work and supervision is kinda limited, but long story short. Your camp is in trouble. I am here to tell you that.
Nick - Ah, hell... Don't tell me that they are on to us...Lerman - That's why I asked for Duval.
Bothe man puffed out a smoke cloud, and finaly had a relaxed moment. But only a moment, as Andre walked out from main building and after short lookaround, he noticed two man smoking and approached Nick and Lerman. Nick quickly pulled out another cigarette and offered to Andre, and he took it.
Andre - So, what's the meaning of this. You are Lerman, right? I kinda remember you...
Nick - He is our inside man in at Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Andre - How the hell do you know that? Something like that must be secret even in our camp!
Lerman - He is my brother!Andre - Oh... Well, that's explains it a little.
Finaly, Nick pulled out a lighter and lighted cigarette in Andre's hands. Andre made one quick puff of smoke, looked around and returned his attention to Lerman and Nick.
Nick - Just so you know. Others think that he is low rank officer in a military.
Lerman - Okay, that's enough with introduction. Where the hell is Duval?
Andre - I am replacing him for now. He is busy with some sort of scam plan for two greedy rivals CEO and train heist that should be going somewhere at the end of this month. *Puff* Which means somewhere three of five days from now on, he didn't shared exact details of this heist.
Lerman - Well, devil be damned. Then I have to trust you with this one.
With one hand still holding cigarette, Lerman reached out to inner pocket of his coat and handed over a thin file with papers. In confusion, Andre took the file and saw multiple "approved" seals on it.
Andre - The hell is this? Directive "Eighty One Dash FiveA" ... The result of search parties... Scout teams reports... Who the hell is commander?... That map... Are they looking for us?
Nick - Never stoped!Lerman - Thouse people at a high table are persistent.
With a free hand, Lerman taped on date of this document. It dated four years ago.
Andre - Four years ago? Why are you showing this to me right now?
Lerman - Because the last seal of approval placed just two weeks ago. I couldn't contact you without raising suspicions, so I had to hold on to it.
Andre - So the fact that you are here, doesn't raises your suspicion?
Nick - Yeah, are you sure they won't find out?
Lerman - No, don't worry about me. Everyone think that I am investigating some things on NOMFA. If things go out well, I can use them as a distraction, and that would win you some time to act. For some reason all sights are pointed at some girl named Kalina. Perfect scapegoat I would say... But once again, that's besides the point. Tell others if possible, to not highlite themselves. And if possible, relocate. I will try to win you as much time as possible.
Andre - Thank's for your work, I guess...Nick - You probobly should hurry back.
Lerman - You right. I have to go back. Can you give me a ride?
Nick - You don't have a car? How the hell did you ended up here?
Lerman - Just to be sure, I tend to swap cars at any occasion that I have. Ever since that incident with a helicopter. *Puff* Better safe than sorry and stuff like that.
Nick - Okay... Andre, is there anything burning with attention?
Andre - No, nothing we can't manage. Besides, we still have most of a camp here just fine.
Nick - But almost no firepower. Just workshop and medical crew... And a bunch of robots.
Lerman - And a doll.Nick - Oh yeah, Lerman brought a doll for us...
Andre - The hell? | Nick - The doll is in a workshop right now.
Lerman - But if my theory stands... All the doll would endup in Kilmure's team anyway.
Andre - You know what? *heh* Nick, take your brother and get him out of here.
Nick - *Humh* Yeah, come one. Let's get you back.
Lerman - I mean. I'm not wrong... It's just that every single doll you have ended up in Kilmure's team
While Nick were pushing Lerman to a car near the gates. Both man kept joking around. Meanwhile Andre lowere his gaze at the file in his hands. He felt like there is going to be a hard few weeks or maybe even months in front of him.
== Yellow zone ==
Two groups meet up in a plains. JayJay were walking back and forth, while his people were getting treated by a mobile Mangie med personal... Which consisted of just a two doctors. Over a single day, he lost one third of his man due to injuries or death. And right now, his team and Mangie were forced to work together. And on top of it all?
JayJay - A bloody doll that I should have left to die back at there!
A few minutes passess by, when a man in captain uniform approached him. But right beside him, the 'bloody doll' in question. Beda was not pleased to see JayJay too.
Shafir - Mister Carlos I presume?
JayJay (Carlos) - Yes. That's me! Your team missed all the fun. We had a big fight at the ruins, just south-east of here. I guess that doll behind you told everything you need to know?
Shafir - First things firts. I am Shafir. Captain of specialised quick responce unit that people used to call 'thunder'. I am here to complete a high-threat assigment and get out. And the way I see it, we can go three ways. First, we complete the assugment while you and your team backs off. As much as I would like to claim all rewards to myself, it's a risk. And I hate unnecessary risks.
JayJay (Carlos) - Sounds right to me, but I don't want to go back with nothing but casualties.
Shafir - Glad to hear that bounty hunter. Because the next one... Seeing that your people failed to hold off some third grade traitor, I would use your firepower, robots and cars to seek and destroy the target, and pay you out only at your losses and usefullnes as the feint side command.
JayJay (Carlos) - Are you for real right now? We are so deep into this, and get compensation and nothing else? We are the reason why you even HAVE a lead on a target in a first place.
Shafir - And that's where that doll behind me comes in. Unfortunatly for you... I am not placed as the one in command of this operation, and she calls the shots here.
In a full blown confusion, JayJay slowly turns to face Beda, while Shafir looks at her in annoyance. The gasmasks on both JayJay and Shafir hides their face, but even without seeing their faces, Beda knew what kind of emotions they resorted to.
Beda - As a means of taking down priority traget and taking over the high-value cargo, we are going through an improvisation and offering the unique kind of partnership. The cut of course won't be in your favor, but it might endup being the right apportunity to create yourself a reputation to uphold.
JayJay (Carlos) - Is this some kind of a joke? To hell with...Beda - MR. CARLOS!
It took JayJay and Shafir by surprise when Beda raised her voice.
Beda - I would have to remind you. There is always something bigger than you are, something bigger than this partnership and something bigger than me for sure. But it all depends only on a mission and it's results. Should we fail, there will be consequences for everyone! And if we talking about the risks, this is the best course of actions to complete this mission.
Both man went silent, not because the didn't had anything to say, but rather at the fact that the doll brough up an argument against them. JayJay was the first to speak again.
JayJay (Carlos) - Watch your words doll. I am not going to run around under your command.
Shafir - So what is it then? Both my offers still stands. Get out or hand your power out.
JayJay (Carlos) - Damn it... Fine. We would go with your cooperation shtick!
Beda - Great... Terms and condictions were already sent to your terminal. Meanwhile we would like to full list of available people, weapon and bots that we can use.
JayJay (Carlos) - I'l send it over in a few minutes, after I take a look at thouse terms.
With that being said, JayJay turned around and walked away to his team side of a camp.
For a short while, Beda and Shafir stood there motionless. Mangie soldiers were started walking left and right, carrying out their duties of setting out a temporary camp.
Shafir - What kind of a doll is even are you? | Beda - Excuse me?
Shafir - You have someone high-ranking backing you up. Can talk down an bouty hunter and even somewhat please request of both sides in a conflict. All of that in pusuit of compleeting the mission... I am watching you little doll. You might have impressed me, but you look like a biggest threat over here... After, the mission is over that is...
Done with this part of a confrontation, Shafir walked back to his mobile command center. Beda felt a reliefe. At least for now, she had it handled. Then she looked around and saw Blaze... Smiling sinisterly and looking right at her.