Chapter 13
"When we say street-gang we think of criminals and psychotic killers. And yes many of them are like that. But others are just communities that just happen to live on the less legal side of things. But let us pray for all these lost souls." - Unknown Preacher
-2034
Moving quickly across the alleyway to walk along the wall that holds the door where the voices came from, each step silent as my ears moved a bit to keep listening to what was being said inside.
“How was I suppose to know that today there was going to be an attack like this and that it would actually reach this part of the undercity?” Someone asked from within the building. “I.. I guess that is fair. But still we should have brought more people anyways. They said so themselves last time we went that we could always bring more people if not to carry things back for us”. The first voice said. “That.. I forgot about it okay?” The second voice answered again.
My ears flicking a bit as I move towards the door. Slowly reaching up and knocking on it twice. Hearing the sound of three people moving around inside I take a small step to the side. “More of them! I thought we got away from them?!” The first voice asked then I could hear a small thud from inside. “No you moron! They wouldn't knock on the door” A third voice said. “Who's there?” Asked the second voice a bit louder. Tilting my head as I decide how to answer that one “Oh just your local Samurai I, guess.” I responded and there was silence from the other side before the door unlocked and slowly opened up. “Come in quickly before some of those weeds spot you!” the third voice said.
I quickly moved up the two short steps and in to what looked to be a one room home. Something similar to a kitchen in one corner a desk by the boarded up window and along the back wall a mattress for a bed. Up above a single working light-bulb was giving the room some light. I also found three people within. One woman and two men wearing tattered outfits with the symbol of a small three-eyed rat attached to the shoulders of each of their shirts. All three of them stared at me as if they had just seen a ghost. I slowly tilt my head to the right. “Is something wrong other then.. The plants outside I mean” The woman slowly shook her head as the man on the right nodded.
“Well.. You sure that you are well here? I can see the door through you after all” Said the third one and I looked down. 'Oh right the cloak' I thought before deactivating it becoming fully visible my tail moving a bit happily at having almost scared someone the traitorous thing that it was. “I'm sorry about that. I forgot I had it on for a moment.” I said and reached up to pull my mask down. “So you three where headed for the Den?” I asked.
The first one nodded before he spoke. “Aye, We tried to get there to sell some of our usual stuff and see if we could buy some of their manufactured things. They are of the best quality unless you manage to get new things from up above at least. The Rattlesnakes are quite friendly too so that helps.” He said I moved to lean a bit against the wall beside me to take them in as he spoke. The First one that I guessed was Will, had short black hair, blue eyes and simple face with nothing that really stood out to me. Wearing clothes that had clearly seen better days. At his side he carried what looked like an iron rod. The second one the woman was a bit taller then the one I guessed was Will. She had a similar look to Will just longer hair and on the feminine side. 'Siblings' I wondered to myself she too was wearing ragged clothes but carried what looked like two different sized metal pipes with simple handles attached to them. Then the last one a red-head with green eyes shoulder length hair and nose that clearly had met a wall or two. But he would have had a kind smile if he wasn't frowning. Wearing slightly nicer clothes in that they had less holes in them and he carried a proper weapon a single barrel shotgun that was cut-down.
“I see, well I have to agree they are quite friendly. And you did pick a really bad day for going for that trip.” I said and the woman nodded and gave this Will a look as it saying 'I told you so'. Shaking my head a bit I spoke. “Name's Rafaela. What can I call the three of you and where are you headed now? Staying here won't be all that safe and all” I asked looking between them slowly.
The first one spoke up “Oh Name's Will the one next to me is Sarah then the red head is Johann.” The other two nodded as their names were spoken then Johann spoke up, “We don't plan on staying here its just too dangerous for us to move on. But I think that we will be able to handle it in a bit” He said giving me a bit of suspicious look. Will looked over at him and spoke. “Hey no need to be like that we could use the help could we not and you saw the tech and look at the ears and tail. Its clear that she's a Samurai after all” He said. And Sarah shook her head a bit. “No.. I think it could be a corpo trick. Just having the ears and such and tech does not really prove anything” She said looking at me with some suspicion. Looking between the three as a slow friendly yet almost evil grin grew on my face. “I can prove it to you three then.” I said and crossing my arms in front of myself. “Hey Fen.. These three look like they haven't eaten for a few hours give them something will you.”
Oh that is evil of you! I like it. Three simple sandwiches coming up with juice boxes.
New purchase:
3 x simple meal kits – 6 points
new total: 67 points
The three looked at me as If I was insane slowly reaching for their weapons as out of nowhere three paper bags appeared. Their looks going from suspicion to surprise and a bit of shock. “There you go some proof and some quite good food. At least taste wise not sure if its all that good for oneself.” I said before shivering as it felt for a moment as if someone tugged at my ear.
Heey all my meals are the best for you. Even the junk food and candy I can make will be good for you! So no need to sound like that! Oh and that reminds me! We really need to talk about your eating habits and training habits later.
Moving a hand up to rub at my ear as I opened up a messaging tool on my augs. 'Whats wrong with my eating and training habits Fen?' The three in the room casually grabbed the bags and looked inside. Will was the first to unwrap the sandwich and sniff it, before taking a small nibble. His eyes going wide before he stuffed the thing in to his mouth eating quickly. “Yehm this ish great!” He exclaimed with food in his mouth. He then went for the juice box as the other two then started eating eyes just as wide.
From what I can notice in your body you haven't been eating properly for a few weeks and you seem to not train enough to keep up your strength and that we need to change.
Smiling and shaking my head “So you three still think I'm some corpo plant or something.” I think on what I just said and chuckled a bit. Johann shook his head “I guess that is what we have heard about Samurai.. Things appearing out of nowhere around them. But not sure we can truly trust you just because of that. You live down here?” He asked and I nodded in return. “I do at least for the last two weeks. I joined with the Rattlesnakes when I got down here.” I said and his eyes went wide again before muttering “That means the snakes now got themselves a Samurai..” He then looked to his two friends they all shared a look for a moment clearly sending messages to each other. After a few moments they stopped and Sarah spoke “Well as you clearly are a sam.. And Might be connected to the rattlesnakes. We have a safe house within the area controlled by the Rattlesnakes.. They shouldn't know about it.” She said as she moved her feet a bit in a nervous manner. “its a bit hidden and should be quite secure. We did plan to go there you see. But got cut off.” I raise an eyebrow at this. “I could take you to it. But quite sure Hal will be a bit upset about you not telling them about it.” I said.
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Pushing away from the wall I took one last look at them “Done eating, and I will have to tell them about your hide out. But lets do it like this. I will inform them and that you will be showing them where it is so we can use it as well in cases such as this. Quite sure we can leave some extra supplies in there too.” I said they looked at each other again before Will nodded “We can work with that. I think it sounds fair enough.. And I will have to talk to Hal about it. Or King.” He said as I nodded.
“One of you will have to take the lead though. I don't know the way after all” I said as I activated the cloak again quickly allowing the area behind me to become visible right through me. My left ear flicking softly as the Will to the lead and headed for the door. Quickly following him outside to have a look around seeing no antithesis I motioned for them to start moving, as I looked back towards them they where looking towards me with squinted eyes.
I really hate to bring bad news to you. But they can barely see you when its this dark.. At most they see an outline and a pair of glowing eyes.
I blink slowly a few times at Fen's words before turning off the cloak. “Sorry about that.. Forgot how dark it is out here.” I said before motioning them to move. “Please lead the way.” They nodded and started to move. “That thing made you really hard to see you know. And quite sure I would have turned and run if I saw two glows like that in a dark alley way normally..” Sarah said as she put a shotgun shell in to one of the pipes she was carrying one end had a stop and it had two handles attached to it one on each pipe. I then pulled my mask back on as we got closer to the corner.
My ears moved a bit as they picked up some movement to the right of the street we were going towards. I raises my rifle aiming at that corner then moved around it as we stepped in to the street. A bit further down we could see three model 3's and a model 5. One of the model 3's were ripping in to a trash bag the others were moving around. The model 5 spotted us and started pulling quills. I was just about to shoot when I hear Johann fire his shotgun once. The model 5 flinches back a bit but is still up. I fire shooting two shots at the Model 5 one hitting its side the other catching its chest killing it. The model 3's had all turned and sprinted towards us. One of them heading for Johann the other two for me. I quickly moved my rifle to aim at two coming at me. Waiting until they were a bit closer before pulling the trigger twice for both killing one and wounding the other. The wounded one kept coming as Sarah stepped out and fired her very makeshift gun killing it at the same time Johann fired again killing the one that was charging at him. “We need to move a bit quicker. Quite sure that others heard that” I said and Will nodded before starting to jog down the street.
As we got around the next corner I could see where the bridge had been slowly looking at the buildings on this side of it winced a bit. The right one that was a bit closer to the bridge had cracks clearly going up the side of the walls and a large amount of rubble on the ground next to it. And the holes that I had seen from the sky bridge weren't as small as they seemed. I was quite sure I could walk through some of them. The building on the other side was a bit better in that it didn't have the same amount of cracks going up its side. But still a few of the holes in the side of it large enough for an admittedly short person to walk though.
We started crossing the road as Sarah spoke up. “Oh someone did a number on that bridge. I almost get the feeling someone above must have noticed that one.” She said then Johann laughed a bit.”I doubt anyone up there would notice it unless it was an actual threat to them” He responded I just shook my head. “I really don't want to be the one that has to pay for that. Hope the three of you weren't to close to when..” I paused for a moment as my ears moved picking up sounds behind us.” I blew it up. And we need to hurry got more of the things coming in behind us.” I said as we headed in to an alleyway. I then opened up a messaging app and sent a message to Jack.
Rafaela: Ran in to some Street-Rats they have a hide out on our side of the wall. Didn't tell us might have made a deal that they will talk to Hal about sharing this one for things like this. And their weapons are even worse then some of our guys. Is it safe to arm them or will they just turn and shoot me as soon as I do?
Jack: The Street-Rats. That is a hard one I will inform Hal though. As for arming them, you could they aren't the shoot those that help us kind of gang. More smuggle drugs up above and sell them but avoid using them kind. Mostly made up of former street rats so to say.. They didn't get creative with the name.
Rafaela: I see I will arm them with at least some proper weapons then before we get over run or something.
Jack: Stay safe out there and don't get yourself in to too much trouble.
Kevin PoV
Ten minutes after Rafaela and the Street-Rats crossed the street.
“I don't know Star's. That video could have been old or fake.” I said as I turned my combat hover bike downwards after crossing the raised city walls. Looking over to the right I could see one the artificial hill that had been made to allow ground vehicles access to this side of the city. “You know as well as I do that our AI wouldn't make that kind of mistake. And even less with my specialization or are you questioning my ability to gather data now Ranger boy” The annoyed gentle voice of my friend and colleague said. “No you are the best in the city at that. But a video of someone creating dark spires and ghosts starting to fly around. It seems a bit much don't you think?” I asked as the missing gate came in to view.
“It does but I saw it. Even if its quality was questionable. And the location tag and the person taking it said it was the old square outside of that pretender gangs casino” She said and I sighed before turning in to enter through the gate flying fast. I saw this rather small part of the undercity stretch out before me. The road below leading down to a square with a road the forked one heading deeper in to the underground district the other heading up and around. Something did catch my eyes in the square a series of short black pillars and in the middle a much larger one. And the base of the large one was shrouded in mist as small balls of glowing lights were flying about within it. Darting back and forth as if dancing around. “Well that isn't something you see every day” I said and I could hear Star's agreement from the other side of the call.
That is just a Class I tool from a Battlefield cleanup catalog. It can be found in almost all of them actually so it is a bit hard to pick out which one that comes from. But they are most definitely Vanguard tech.
T?v said and I nodded. “It does seem that someone has been here or more likely that someone new is around down here somewhere.” I said then angled down towards the square to give it a closer look “That sure does look a bit spooky..” I said as I went past. I then spotted an area that should have had a bridge but now there was nothing but some twisted steel beams and the edges of a blast crater. The houses I could see quite were quite damaged. “That explains why the streets are empty I think.” Star said as I then turned to head back and up the other road. “I will head down the other road too.” I said as I headed over the old buildings I glanced upwards and saw the hanging walkways and machinery of the city plate above. Zooming in I could see the different floors of the structure and walkways cranes and all. Every now and then spot lights did shine down to give some light to the ground and what little remained of the old city below. “To think they actually did rip out most of the old historic buildings and relocated them up above.” I looked back down to see that the road ended at a gate. And on top of the wall I could see turrets attached to it.
Jack PoV
Leaning against the top of the wall chewing on some quite rare synth jerky as I think on what had happened earlier in the day. And with a sigh I pushed back a bit as Ginette came up to me. “You know.. That now we aren't really working so! That gun let me see it” She said making grabby hands towards my new rifle. I Sighed a bit and was just about to hand it over as the turrets reacted and locked on to something. She groaned and pulled a handgun from her waist. “I'm going to be the first ones to shoot the fuckers for getting in the way of my fun.” She exclaimed. I glanced over towards the turret to see where it was pointing, and looked up to see a flying bike that had what looked like missiles strapped to its side and a gun turret to the front of it. “I think shooting this one would be a mistake.” I said to Ginette and she followed my gaze and sighed. “For now at least..” She huffed.
I watched as the stranger landed his bike and got off. He was wearing some kind of long thick duster, that had thick shoulder-pads up to a almost futuristic yet old school looking helmet as he turned around I saw he was wearing a featureless face-plate that showed nothing other then the soft chrome surface and some kind of mix between a raygun and revolver on his hip in a leather holster. He stopped not too far from the wall and looked up at us. “Howdy! I happened to notice the ghost show in town and then' those fancy turrets of yours!” He said before he kept going “Oh where are mah manners, Name's Kevin but please do call me The Arizona Ranger. Ye don't happen to be the baby sam that owns them would you?” He asked and motioned to my gun. I couldn't help but sigh. “No that's not me. She's currently out there said something about just having a look around and checking out a place we lost contact with” As I spoke he nodded tilted his head as if he was listening to something.
“Ye wouldn't be able to tell me where that place is? I might need to have a word with our newest friend at least I hope she will be need everyone we can get around these parts..” He said and I did consider that for a moment. Then nodded. “She was heading to check out the other side of the bridge. Then to check out a safe house that we lost contact with up close to the North gate.” I said and the man moved as if to tip a hat. “Much obliged" He replied then turned to head back to his bike as I shook my head and looked to Ginette and she shrugged a bit. As we watched the man get back on to his bike and fly off. The turrets tracking him for a bit longer before going back to scanning the road. "That does not sound like trouble at alll" Ginette said before once again reaching for my gun. "Now let me see that thing."
