The Hellraiser moved forwards, leaving the smoking ruins of the New York Public Library behind them as Raven leaned back into her oversized chair, the seat warmer on beneath her. Alara settled into the driver's seat, her hand gripping the controls.
In the ruins of a nearby building, four figures emerged from the shadows. Dressed in dusty tactical gear and infrared goggles, as they watched the Hellraiser moved past them. One of the men raised a beat up satellite phone to his ear and said.
"This is retrieval, team five," the man said. "Target sighted: Raven Salvatore. Accompanied by an unidentified blond haired blue eyed female. The target has deployed technology capable of terrifying infected zombie hoards into fleeing an affected area and deflecting bullets without any visible body armor. We have confirmed she is in possession of a customized tank."
A voice replied through the phone. "Roger that, team leader. Return to Epsilon Base and await further orders. Do not engage the target at this time."
The man gave a short nod. "Understood we are returning to base now."
The team disappeared into the shadows. But even if Raven heard every word they said, she would not have cared in the least. No one from Epsilon Base posed any real threat to her or her plans.
Inside the Hellraiser, Raven twisted the top off a cold beer pulled from her system space and took a long drink from the cold beverage. She let out a satisfied breath, leaning her head back against the seat as she watched the shattered skyline drift past them through the windows of the tank.
"I think it's time we take a short break from the revenge circuit Alara," she said, turning toward's Alara. "We are not in a rush. We've got all the time in the world compared to everyone else."
Alara didn't look away from the road as she said. "Then let's go to the beach. And blow up some local wildlife. I've always wanted to try shark explosion fishing. I wonder if their Nucleus Cores taste like chicken?"
Raven snorted, nearly spitting her out her drink. "Alara you already know what chicken tastes like, you greedy girl." She paused, her tone warming with amusement. "But yeah. That sounds like the perfect excuse to try my hand at making some bikini armor."
Alara turned slightly, with a skeptical look on her face. "Raven you and your damn dress-up fetishes. Anime is rotting your brain."
Raven scoffed as she raised the bottle in a mock salute. "Anime can't rot what's already corrupted Alara. I'm legally insane in at least fifteen countries. I checked once. Any damage I cause is just artistic flair."
Alara rolled her eyes, then reached into the system space and pulled out a full bottle of red wine and a wine glass as she got herself something to drink.
"Oh yeah?" she said, lifting the wine glass towards Raven. "Then explain what you had me do the other night Raven. The whole cat girl outfit? The ears? The choker? Come on, that's some TV fetish shit right there. Just admit it Raven. You like dressing me up as much as I like being pampered like a princess."
Raven turned her head toward the window, feigning interest in a crumbling billboard. "I will never admit to something that might possibly be true."
Alara laughed softly. "Uh huh."
"Just get us to the beach," Raven said, draining the rest of her beer. "I've got some new bombs I've been dying to test. Then maybe we'll hit a few survivor bases, to see if anyone else has awakened yet."
Alara lowered the glass. "You mean like... awakened-awake?"
Raven nodded. "Exactly. From zombie Nucleus Cores."
Alara frowned. "How does that even work for humans? I just eat them. It does not feel complicated."
Raven tapped her fingers on the armrest in thought, saying. "It's more like one of those trashy cultivation novels you keep reading, Alara. You meditate and absorb the energy slowly. If someone eats a nucleus core raw... well, you don't get a human anymore. You get something else."
Alara lifted her head in thought. "Like a... zombie-mutant?"
"Or worse. A malformed abomination. Raw ingestion destabilizes the mind and body. You end up with power, but with no self-control left for how to use it."
Alara shivered faintly. "I'm glad to know I'm so special then."
"You're a goddamn enigma, Alara " Raven said. "But that's a topic for another day."
The Hellraiser rolled forward, treads flattening trash and rubble alike. In the distance, the reflection black and blue car paint caught Alara's attention. A rusted police cruiser sat beneath a fallen light pole. Inside, a zombie cop clawed weakly at the glass window, drawn by the sound of their tank.
Alara raised her wine glass in fear and said. "Oh no, Raven," Alara said with exaggerated concern. "There's a cop up ahead. Whatever shall we do?"
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