Truck stopped near a line of dead trees. Beda and Nita kept looking around in case something to appear. But so far, nothing happened.
Beda - ... All i can say that you did a good job. And we coulde'v done better
Nita - Does it even matter right now? Once Nomomo and Kilmure return, we will be going back to the base, dont we? Besides, it could've get out of hand real fast if we were to take those supplies.
Beda - Caring about other people? You said that your previous grop were always in dire need of such things. You want to tell me that they never stole anything?
Nita - I...
For a long moment, Nita wanted to answer. Trying to remeber anything... But everything were in a messy state. She could barely even remember any face.
Nita - I don't know!
Beda - How come? Come on! It's a simple question. Yes or No, it can't be that hard.
Nita - I said! I don't KNOW! I don't remember!
Sudden outburst, grabbed Beda's attention, and with cautious look, Beda walked closer to Nita.
Beda - You don't remember?
Nita - Yes... It is something i am struggling... I don't even know how long. Probably ever since i was created... I don't even remember where! I don't know who created me! I don't remember where i came from! I cant even... I...
With sigh, Nita covered her face with both hands. Beda leaned closer and pated Nita on a back.
Beda - Don't worry. I don't judge.
Despite a huge frame, Nita suddenly gave off a feeling of someone small. Beda even felt uncomfortable with herself. After a few moments Nita lowered her hands, and stared in to the distance.
Beda - Makes me wonder, who are you exactly. Huge frame that can withstand three point blank shots from a shotgun, then a car crash getting only 5% damage. Uncompatable system to install any modules, or to even perform a diagnostics. You have a memory trouble, but at the top of all, you have someone who is looking out for you and you wan't to keep trying on hiding and running away from them. Just what exactly are you Nita?
Nita - Honestly? This is a question, i was asking myself for a long time... a very long time. I was promised to get all answers by Maria...
Beda - And where is that "Maria"?
Nita - I don't know. Someone says that she runned away. I have a memory how she begged me to kill her... And i don't know what is truth and what is not... It must be strange thing isn't it? I can't trust myself even a simple thing.
Beda - So that is why you were eager to join our group!
Nita - What?
Sudden statement from Beda made Nita jump slightly on a place.
Beda - I have seen pople, who were affected by E.L.I.D. disease. They were willing to trust anyone but themselfs... Never thought that there will be a doll with same trouble around here.
Nita - E.L.I.D. and me? That is a big stretch, don't you think?
Beda - No... Your case is much deeper. I get that. But let me give you piece of advise if you wan't to stay in our little group. "Try to care less about others. Place yourself and the team on a first place"
Nita - ... Ok
Both dolls stared in to the distance. Dusty wind grazed the surface of ruined plains. Old roads has decayed and break under preassure of time. For some time, it was the only sight that would accompany anyone, who would dare to wander in yellow zone.
Beda - That doll. Vepley was her name? What happened between you two?
Nita - Not much... We just talked. She said i looked sad, and then tried to light up the mood.
Beda - That is one strange doll. And just like that you became friends?
Nita - We had a long talk about... a lot of stuff. But yeah, i did come to like her. Hope she is doing well. Would be bad if she end up in trouble because of us.
Beda - Or if she snitch on you!
On such comment, Nita turned her attention at Beda, with tense look on her face.
Beda - No offence, but we have to keep things clean for ourselves. And it doesn't matter whether you like it or not. It's just the way it is!
Nita - Yeah, i get it. Just... Nevermind.
=== On a road ===
Car drives through rugged road on a plains, sending clounds of dust behind it. Two heavy armored cars were following just behind them. Nomomo behind the wheel, and Kilmure on a communication terminal.
Nomomo - I don't like this whole idea.
Kilmure - Me neither. But Duval trust this guy, so his request is a top priority, and we are the best team he can spare for things like this. So all we have to do, is to give away the truck and we can get out of here... after we done here, we have other things to deal with.
Nomomo - Still thinking about Max offer?
Kilmure - It's hard not to think about it. Suzev is a coward, willing to be anywhere to get his hands on money. Backstab anyone to become famous, or sell out anyone to save his skin. I still don't understand how people can be so blind to his lies. But then again. People that join his gang, are anything but good. As long as they are willing to kill and steal, his group is ready to accept them.
Nomomo - We both know why he has so many followers. Duval is not that much different.
Kilmure - Duval at least knows what he is doing. We don't pick fight with everyone and somehow got our hands inside many circles. At the very least, we are not robing people left and right.
Nomomo - We have Varjagers to thank for that.
Kilmure - Suzev is reckless, but smart man. I bet he makes deals with Varjagers... But he never makes irrational and dumb moves like Varjagers tends to. For example, how he and his gang quited down after that attack on a URNC convoy. It was in a news, on radio, on the internet... Everywhere! There was a crazy bounty on him and his man, but nobody could find him. And now, seven months later, he is trying to make another trick? If not for the fact that i know Max for a few years, i would have thought that he is trying to frame us.
Nomomo - You know Max for a long time, but he is still trying to pull rug on you? Initially he wanted to send us off with thirty percent on whole job, but i managed to pull it to sixty six.
Kilmure - Urgh-h... Just the way it is. All of them... I mean, all of those brokers are greedy. Not gonna blame them tho. Everybody has to make a living. One way or another.
Nomomo - Whatever you say... Whatever you say... Here they are!
At the distance, on a piece of road where forest line meets plains, stood a lonely truck and Beda nearby. Nomomo slowly turned a wheel, then slowly pushed brake pedal. Two armored trucks followed the suit and stoped nearby.
The first to walk out of a car was Kilmure. He quickly looked around.
Kilmure - Great... I could use this truck for a fun time around here. Where is Nita?
Beda - She is taking a patrol. Making sure we don't have anyone spying on us.
Kilmure - Fine. Let's deal with our stuff here and get over with it.
A group of mercenaries walked out of armored cars and came closer to look at the truck. Few man stayed near cars. One mercenary stood out, wearing a dark beret instead of balaclava.
Mercenary Leader - Is this the truck?
Kilmure - No, it's an icecream van... Yes! This is THE truck. And it is locked by DNA lock. So the cargo is probably still inside. Want to check it out first?
Mercenary Leader - If you don't mind.
Kilmure - Be my guest then.
With inviting gesture, Kilmure steped aside. Mercenary leader called two of his man, so they would open the truck. One of them pulled out a syringe filled with blood. The trio proceeded to work on opening the truck, while Kilmure walked to Beda and Nomomo.
Kilmure - How did it go? What do you two think of Nita?
Nomomo - So far... She is a good. Not much i can say about her.
Beda - Quick to adapt and to act. I like her, but there is something to her...
Kilmure - What do you mean?
Beda - She is hiding. From someone... But also trying to find someone to bury two meters deep... She also incompatible with most of software or hardware. Because of that, she can't make use of electronic warfare, can't use level 2 access. And she constantly has trouble to remember stuff. She barely can remember hew old group. And she forgot the whole road we made from CHE-02 to here. So overall... I say she is good, but a wild card.
Kilmure - Usual Beda... Quick to get on good side of anyone around here. But if you say that...
With caution, Kilmure looked around. The door were still locked. The trio kept working on dealing with a strange lock. By the way they cursed at eachother, it looked like they were doing well.
Beda - And one more thing... I think she is trying to hide from someone inside Mangi.
Kilmure - Are you sure?
Beda - She said that 'she could be on bad terms with our client' after she saw the truck.
Kilmure - Yeah... Good thing she is on a patrol then... After we are done here, i need to meet with Max and talk about his idea for getting through at Suzev. Duval would like this whole idea.
Nomomo - Bet he will... I will be waiting for you guys at the wheel!
With visible dissatisfaction, Nomomo turned around and headed to a car.
=== Long time ago ===
Nomomo - Mr.[redacted]! Mr.[redacted]! Where are you?!? Mr.[redacted]!
The whole street were engulfed in fire. At a crossroads somewhere in downtown, an car crushed at limousine, then a group of people and robots started shooting. Few guards that were in another car were quickly gunned down while Nomomo and Mr.[redacted] tried getting out of wrecks.
Mr.[redacted] - [deleted]! I am here! I am stuck!
A man wirh a shotgun, appeared in front of Nomomo. Without hesitation, Nomomo pulled out a pistol from her hip, and shot him in the head, before he even could pull the triger.
Nomomo - Mr.[redacted], I am here. Come on, get out of the car!
Mr.[redacted] - I can't! My leg is stuck!
With some effort, Nomomo pushed broken door aside. [redacted] were bleeding from his shoulder, and small scratch on a face were blending with his pained expression. It looked like, if she to try to pull him out by force, everything would only end up being worse.
The last of guards has fallen right behind Nomomo. A man was pushed to the wall by impact of bullets, and collapsed on a floor, leting a stream of warm blood spill on cold concrete.
Robots and armed men were coming closer, and time were running out. The only thing Nomomo were always good at, is shooting while under pressure of time.
Nomomo - Lay low Mr.[redacted].
And just with that. Nomomo grabbed a shotgun from a ground and jumped out of cover. It was a risk, but once out of options, Nomomo decided to act. But it was a eleven second long hell. On her way to another cover, Nomomo takes a shot at robot, staggering it to the side. Anothe shot made a man in front of her fly away, droping his rifle on a ground. Few robots and man tried to shoot at Nomomo, but she was way to fast for them, and she was already hiding behind another car from theit shots.
Secong by second, the cound fot enemies were going straight down. Then someone were coming way to close to a limousine. And Nomomo almost had no time to get back. And then she went on another risk. She runned up on a car and jumped forward. While mid-air she pulled out her pistol and made three shots. Two in to the chest of first man, and one more in head of another man. Nomomo was so ocupied by her aim, that she didn't took postion to land on her feet, so she hit the ground with her back.
Then another robot appeared in front of Nomomo, just as she was getting up. Thankfully, a loud and heavy sound of a shot, pierced the air and forced robot to shutdown. Finaly the shotout was over. Everyone were either laying on a floor in pain, incapacitated or dead. Nomomo hurried to limo. She didn't even cared that her leg were damaged, and each step made her leg worse.
Nomomo - Mr.[redacted]! Are you ok?
Mr.[redacted] - Uh... I think... uh...
Nomomo - Over here! We need help!
But instead of help. Nomomo was shot in a chest, forcing her to shutdown.
--- Few days Later ---
The news covered whole assault as group of "fired employees" were trying to take a hit on Mr.[redacted], but failed thanks to noble work of guards. Nomomo were standing in a living room, looking at the TV as news switched to talking about the weather.
Nomomo - And not a single word about your brother
Mr.[redacted] - Are you still worried about that case? Just drop it [deleted]
Nomomo - We both know that this is your brother's doing. And he gets away just like that? You nearly died Mr.[redacted]. And they skip whole thing to weather like if it was a usual occurrence for a gunfight in a downtown, in the middle of a street
Mr.[redacted] - You are so cute when you worry about me [deleted]
Sudden comment took Nomomo by surprise. She wanted to say something, but instead were just making incomplete sounds of half-letters. Mr.[redacted] were sitting behind his desk with the arm in a cast. Leftover after such an incident
Mr.[redacted] - I tell you what. You did a great job [deleted]. But how about a little upgrade to your hardware? I did liked how you were flying and shooting bad guys!
Nomomo - Mr.[redacted]! I am talking serious things here! Your safety is not a laughing matter!
Mr.[redacted] - And i am being serious! With you by my side, i feel my self a lot safer. So that is why... I think your frame could use some upgrades. If my mind is right, you didn't had any modifications ever since i hired you?
Nomomo - Never actualy... I never got any upgrades to my frame aside from usual repairs.
Mr.[redacted] - Then it's settled! I will call few companies to take a look at you.
Nomomo - But that is...
Mr.[redacted] - No need [deleted]. As you suggested. All this, is for the sake of my own safety.
=== Duval Hunter Group Base ===
Sam - Look who it is! Kilmure is finaly back!
Car with Nomomo, Beda, Nita, Max and Kilmure finaly returned to the base. The fist one to meet them, was a early-middle-aged man with gray hair. Kilmure was not happy to see him.
Kilmure - Why is it the first thing i have to see here, is your ungratefull face. Get lost!
Sam - No can do. I heard the whole idead of going out there and taking our hands at Suzev. And Duval... Invited me to a discussion of a plan to setteling our long lasting feud, even if just by a little bit.
Kilmure - Great... Just great... Fine. Let's go! Max! Get a move on! Let's get this over with.
Everybody barely got out of a car, But Kilmure grabed Max by a collar and pulled him to a main building. Sam, with a laugh, followed them. Then Nomomo followed behind everyone else.
Nita - Who was that?
Beda - Sam... Everyone dislikes him, but for some reason he is still hanging around. But have to admit. He known what he is doing... even nobody likes that.
Nita - Why? What is he doing?
Beda - Everything... He steals, he robs, he kills innocent just to tie up a loose ends. He once wiped out a whole settelment, just to cover his tracks... But enough about him. Let's see if Blaze walking around
Despite Beda's warning. Nita kept looking at Sam, as his figure dissapeared in a doorway. Just a year ago... Was she any different than him?