Chapter 24
Lurkman
Guardian of Bad Opinions
- Location
- Slovakia
"A multitool…? I meant in your ha-... nevermind… just curious."
The point she was making eluded you. In your what? Perhaps you misinterpreted the question? No matter now, AA-12 dropped the subject and diverted her attention elsewhere. You were now free to finish fixing up your hair without the gaze of the shotgun on the back of your head. You tied it into a neat ponytail, the best you could do with office dress code etiquette back in Columba, though you were often required to change hair color and style for certain assignments. You were often told it suits you, but it was hard to tell an honest compliment from one of those random comments humans throw around, seemingly to fill the empty space within conversation. You liked it yourself though, it gives a professional look.
As for the multitool, another item that has been lost to the battlefield where you met your SF captors. It sure would've been useful for getting out of those restraints, but in the end you got out anyway. Thankfully you had no attachment to it, it was company issued, the Columba logo scratched out. You got new lockpicks periodically, even before they broke, which almost never happened. You were outfitted with all kinds of skills, some questionable for your profession, from an outsider's perspective at least. Who was it again that pushed your boss to get you all those upgrades? You can't seem to remember…
The crunching of paper brought you out of your thoughts. You turn around just as AA-12 feasts on yet another lollipop, hands full of empty candy wrappings, compressing it all into a ball of trash to be disposed of. Other than that, she looks ready as can be. You pick up your weapon, and so are you. You give her a nod, and both of you leave the dusty attic, you taking the lead as to keep up the act of human master to the shotgun T-doll.
The people downstairs didn't pay you much mind, only telling you that you're awaited outside. Some were cooking, you could smell the scent of meat and garlic in the air, some were washing clothes. Seems like this house was meant more for service than living in. You're just thankful this isn't the work they're making you do… would garlic even make a doll cry?
Outside, the street has become rather busy. People walking up and down, carrying things in boxes and bags, repairing old walls, armed men patrolling, the humans here certainly weren't idling. Many gave you odd looks, their trust is far from gained, but at least nobody is raising their weapons at you. You spot Gustav and Martha at the jeep you arrived in. It hasn't been moved yet, and they seem to be inspecting it. As you approach you hear them talk.
"They've been shot at, and those holes sure as hell don't look like normal bullet holes…"
"Sangvis shoots any poor thing that moves. Not surprising."
"Why'd they feel the need to pry the door open though? The lock's all busted now."
"Girl's too frail looking to have done that, she must've asked that bucket of bolts to open it and it got the wrong idea."
"Heh, for a doll the thing really didn't look very bright, did it? I mean, it had a lollipop… why was that thing munching on candy?"
"It almost looked scared when I mentioned how much T-doll parts sell for."
"Can those things even get scared?"
"Ask the little lady if you're so curious… or one second thought, don't, or you'll just ask something that'll get you slapped again."
"C'mon, I know you were curious too! How old do you think she could be? 16? 19?"
"Gustav I swear to god almighty…"
They both seemed utterly oblivious to your presence behind them, but they've stayed ignorant long enough and had long enough of a chance to notice you. Time to make the aware of your presence.
[ ] *Ahem*
[ ] "Good morning."
[X] "It is rude to talk behind one's back."
[ ] "Try again, Gustav."
"O-oh, Miss Heather! We were just discussing… um…"
Gustav stampered for a response, while Martha after covering a surprised gasp simply crossed her arms, looking down towards you.
"Well, didn't you take your sweet time getting up? Had a few too many shots yesterday?"
[X] "More like too few."
[ ] "Just short off too many."
[ ] "It was more than I would usually have, but I'm fine."
"I sure hope you're well rested, you'll be starting work straight away. As you can see, what you Griffin shmucks call Area S09 doesn't allow for much self-sustainment of groups like ours. We can't grow food in this cold, we can't hunt animals that aren't here… so our main source of supplies is scavenging and trade. We scour buildings, abandoned houses, workshops, cabins, whatever isn't infested with those Sangvis buggers. We gather what we can, and what we cannot use we sell."
"Yes… one of those places is an old apartment building east of here. We sent two of your people there. The older one, Ralph, got back just yesterday alone. Said Sangvis showed up out of nowhere and shot down Jan. He booked out of there and told as to mark the place as taboo. We may be armed, but we don't go on the offensive against those metal freaks, it'd be a death sentence. You on the other hand…"
"We've heard that one Griffin doll matches 5 Sangvis dolls. If that's true, clearing the place for us shouldn't be a problem for you, considering you own one." She said, shooting a look to the aforementioned Griffin doll. AA-12 had adorned a sour look from the earlier conversation you overheard, not even trying to hide it. T-dolls get offended too.
"You can take the jeep you traded to get there, but only there and back, no detours. Should take you an hour or two of driving, keep going until you see a billboard advertising Pepsi or whatever soft drink it was. You find Jan in there… give the kid the respect he deserves."
The two old village leaders give you a nod before making their leave. They didn't wait for a response from you, not that they needed one. It was evident how much you want to get to Area S06, so you weren't going to refuse.
The mission's risk rating is questionable though. As you and AA-12 inspect the jeep is ready to go, you run possible scenarios through your digimind. You're a two unit squad with the element of surprise against an unknown number of Sangvis Ferri hostiles. The likely number of hostiles may be low, as the building seemed to be mentioned as a lone structure, and it doesn't take many dolls with weapons to scare humans away. There's even a chance the building isn't occupied at all and the humans were just unfortunate enough to run into a patrol squad. However, the worst case scenario would be Sangvis setting up an outpost. Not only vastly increasing the possible number of hostiles but also endangering the whole area, including this very town.
Preparations were complete. The back of the jeep has already been stripped of whatever you traded save for one canister of fuel. They obviously didn't take the empty beer bottles. You notice they left the toolbox too. In a way, you never really offered it up to trade, so you could just tell them you're keeping. For now though, it'll do good to take it along for the ride. You hop onto the passenger seat and AA-12 takes the wheel. As soon as the engine starts rearing, so does the radio, playing another song from the same band as last time, called Чёрное знамя. The previous owner must've liked this band a lot.
You backed out of the town and headed into the direction specified. Thankfully a road seemed to lead there. They wouldn't tell you to take a vehicle now if a road didn't lead there. As you went, AA-12 was oddly quiet. You then remembered.
"..."
"... you can talk now."
"... fucking assholes."
She kept quiet for a moment after that comment, focusing on driving. She didn't drop the sour expression ever since you left the town. At this rate her face might get stuck that way. She sighs.
"Can't help but feel like we're getting the short end of the deal here… but a mission's a mission, I guess. Can't wait till we get out of here, all this snow is making me sick."
You noticed that a lot of people make her, quote on quote, sick. Right now she's just annoyed at worst, you saw her when she was sick, it was not a pretty sight. But as long as you've got candy, she should be fine. You can't keep good track of her supply, but she has been taking a lot lately, mainly due to the stress. The only way you can resupply on that specific resource is at Griffin outposts, the shotgun is permitted special requisition orders. So it's not only your delivery deadline and Sangvis on your back prompting you to hurry up. Hopefully it'll be all better once you're in area S06.
"So… how do you wanna approach this? We probably won't know how many there are until we're inside, and they could be waiting for someone to come back for the body… so, do we enter fast and loud, overwhelm them? Or do we go in quietly? Might I add, our weapons aren't quiet…"
[X] Go in quiet.
[ ] Go in loud.
[ ] Write-in
"Good idea. Who's taking point?"
[ ] Veresk.
[X] AA-12.
"Sure. Let's hope this goes smoothly, then."
With a general plan prepared, relative quiet and the radio's music prevail in the vehicle now. You prompt yourself up a little to better see through the windshield. The forest look more and more the same the more you travel through it. Just snow and trees everywhere. The best landmarks are human structures, everything natural is difficult to distinguish from the dozen others you pass by constantly. At least here you are relatively safe from Sangvis presence until you reach your destination. AA-12 looked at the back mirror, and hummed as if getting an idea.
"Hey, Heather, we still have that one canister of fuel there, right? And that old blanket? I can also hear bottles clinking back there… think you can crawl back there and maybe cook something up? … you know what I mean."
She didn't even mention your size, but she's right that you can simply crawl to the back of the jeep with more easy than she ever could. Not to mention, she's the one driving. It's a good suggestion, you get to make some preparations without having to stop along the way to your objective. With little difficulty you make your way to the trunk. There is the almost full fuel canister, three empty beer bottles, and the pink blanket, plus the toolbox but you likely won't be needing it right now. What AA-12 meant was to make some molotovs, but you can see a few other things you could make with what you have before you. An alternative would be to break the bottles and wrap a piece of cloth around the lower part of a shard to make a grip, effectively creating a makeshift shank, a silent weapon. Since it's glass it'd be sharp, but easy to break too, so best make several. Maybe something else can be done too, but you're not sure. You need intact bottles for molotovs, but you need broken bottles for shanks. Best to choose depending on your engagement plan.
[ ] Make 3 molotovs.
[X] Make some glass shanks.
[ ] Write-in
The point she was making eluded you. In your what? Perhaps you misinterpreted the question? No matter now, AA-12 dropped the subject and diverted her attention elsewhere. You were now free to finish fixing up your hair without the gaze of the shotgun on the back of your head. You tied it into a neat ponytail, the best you could do with office dress code etiquette back in Columba, though you were often required to change hair color and style for certain assignments. You were often told it suits you, but it was hard to tell an honest compliment from one of those random comments humans throw around, seemingly to fill the empty space within conversation. You liked it yourself though, it gives a professional look.
As for the multitool, another item that has been lost to the battlefield where you met your SF captors. It sure would've been useful for getting out of those restraints, but in the end you got out anyway. Thankfully you had no attachment to it, it was company issued, the Columba logo scratched out. You got new lockpicks periodically, even before they broke, which almost never happened. You were outfitted with all kinds of skills, some questionable for your profession, from an outsider's perspective at least. Who was it again that pushed your boss to get you all those upgrades? You can't seem to remember…
The crunching of paper brought you out of your thoughts. You turn around just as AA-12 feasts on yet another lollipop, hands full of empty candy wrappings, compressing it all into a ball of trash to be disposed of. Other than that, she looks ready as can be. You pick up your weapon, and so are you. You give her a nod, and both of you leave the dusty attic, you taking the lead as to keep up the act of human master to the shotgun T-doll.
The people downstairs didn't pay you much mind, only telling you that you're awaited outside. Some were cooking, you could smell the scent of meat and garlic in the air, some were washing clothes. Seems like this house was meant more for service than living in. You're just thankful this isn't the work they're making you do… would garlic even make a doll cry?
Outside, the street has become rather busy. People walking up and down, carrying things in boxes and bags, repairing old walls, armed men patrolling, the humans here certainly weren't idling. Many gave you odd looks, their trust is far from gained, but at least nobody is raising their weapons at you. You spot Gustav and Martha at the jeep you arrived in. It hasn't been moved yet, and they seem to be inspecting it. As you approach you hear them talk.
"They've been shot at, and those holes sure as hell don't look like normal bullet holes…"
"Sangvis shoots any poor thing that moves. Not surprising."
"Why'd they feel the need to pry the door open though? The lock's all busted now."
"Girl's too frail looking to have done that, she must've asked that bucket of bolts to open it and it got the wrong idea."
"Heh, for a doll the thing really didn't look very bright, did it? I mean, it had a lollipop… why was that thing munching on candy?"
"It almost looked scared when I mentioned how much T-doll parts sell for."
"Can those things even get scared?"
"Ask the little lady if you're so curious… or one second thought, don't, or you'll just ask something that'll get you slapped again."
"C'mon, I know you were curious too! How old do you think she could be? 16? 19?"
"Gustav I swear to god almighty…"
They both seemed utterly oblivious to your presence behind them, but they've stayed ignorant long enough and had long enough of a chance to notice you. Time to make the aware of your presence.
[ ] *Ahem*
[ ] "Good morning."
[X] "It is rude to talk behind one's back."
[ ] "Try again, Gustav."
"O-oh, Miss Heather! We were just discussing… um…"
Gustav stampered for a response, while Martha after covering a surprised gasp simply crossed her arms, looking down towards you.
"Well, didn't you take your sweet time getting up? Had a few too many shots yesterday?"
[X] "More like too few."
[ ] "Just short off too many."
[ ] "It was more than I would usually have, but I'm fine."
"I sure hope you're well rested, you'll be starting work straight away. As you can see, what you Griffin shmucks call Area S09 doesn't allow for much self-sustainment of groups like ours. We can't grow food in this cold, we can't hunt animals that aren't here… so our main source of supplies is scavenging and trade. We scour buildings, abandoned houses, workshops, cabins, whatever isn't infested with those Sangvis buggers. We gather what we can, and what we cannot use we sell."
"Yes… one of those places is an old apartment building east of here. We sent two of your people there. The older one, Ralph, got back just yesterday alone. Said Sangvis showed up out of nowhere and shot down Jan. He booked out of there and told as to mark the place as taboo. We may be armed, but we don't go on the offensive against those metal freaks, it'd be a death sentence. You on the other hand…"
"We've heard that one Griffin doll matches 5 Sangvis dolls. If that's true, clearing the place for us shouldn't be a problem for you, considering you own one." She said, shooting a look to the aforementioned Griffin doll. AA-12 had adorned a sour look from the earlier conversation you overheard, not even trying to hide it. T-dolls get offended too.
"You can take the jeep you traded to get there, but only there and back, no detours. Should take you an hour or two of driving, keep going until you see a billboard advertising Pepsi or whatever soft drink it was. You find Jan in there… give the kid the respect he deserves."
The two old village leaders give you a nod before making their leave. They didn't wait for a response from you, not that they needed one. It was evident how much you want to get to Area S06, so you weren't going to refuse.
The mission's risk rating is questionable though. As you and AA-12 inspect the jeep is ready to go, you run possible scenarios through your digimind. You're a two unit squad with the element of surprise against an unknown number of Sangvis Ferri hostiles. The likely number of hostiles may be low, as the building seemed to be mentioned as a lone structure, and it doesn't take many dolls with weapons to scare humans away. There's even a chance the building isn't occupied at all and the humans were just unfortunate enough to run into a patrol squad. However, the worst case scenario would be Sangvis setting up an outpost. Not only vastly increasing the possible number of hostiles but also endangering the whole area, including this very town.
Preparations were complete. The back of the jeep has already been stripped of whatever you traded save for one canister of fuel. They obviously didn't take the empty beer bottles. You notice they left the toolbox too. In a way, you never really offered it up to trade, so you could just tell them you're keeping. For now though, it'll do good to take it along for the ride. You hop onto the passenger seat and AA-12 takes the wheel. As soon as the engine starts rearing, so does the radio, playing another song from the same band as last time, called Чёрное знамя. The previous owner must've liked this band a lot.
You backed out of the town and headed into the direction specified. Thankfully a road seemed to lead there. They wouldn't tell you to take a vehicle now if a road didn't lead there. As you went, AA-12 was oddly quiet. You then remembered.
"..."
"... you can talk now."
"... fucking assholes."
She kept quiet for a moment after that comment, focusing on driving. She didn't drop the sour expression ever since you left the town. At this rate her face might get stuck that way. She sighs.
"Can't help but feel like we're getting the short end of the deal here… but a mission's a mission, I guess. Can't wait till we get out of here, all this snow is making me sick."
You noticed that a lot of people make her, quote on quote, sick. Right now she's just annoyed at worst, you saw her when she was sick, it was not a pretty sight. But as long as you've got candy, she should be fine. You can't keep good track of her supply, but she has been taking a lot lately, mainly due to the stress. The only way you can resupply on that specific resource is at Griffin outposts, the shotgun is permitted special requisition orders. So it's not only your delivery deadline and Sangvis on your back prompting you to hurry up. Hopefully it'll be all better once you're in area S06.
"So… how do you wanna approach this? We probably won't know how many there are until we're inside, and they could be waiting for someone to come back for the body… so, do we enter fast and loud, overwhelm them? Or do we go in quietly? Might I add, our weapons aren't quiet…"
[X] Go in quiet.
[ ] Go in loud.
[ ] Write-in
"Good idea. Who's taking point?"
[ ] Veresk.
[X] AA-12.
"Sure. Let's hope this goes smoothly, then."
With a general plan prepared, relative quiet and the radio's music prevail in the vehicle now. You prompt yourself up a little to better see through the windshield. The forest look more and more the same the more you travel through it. Just snow and trees everywhere. The best landmarks are human structures, everything natural is difficult to distinguish from the dozen others you pass by constantly. At least here you are relatively safe from Sangvis presence until you reach your destination. AA-12 looked at the back mirror, and hummed as if getting an idea.
"Hey, Heather, we still have that one canister of fuel there, right? And that old blanket? I can also hear bottles clinking back there… think you can crawl back there and maybe cook something up? … you know what I mean."
She didn't even mention your size, but she's right that you can simply crawl to the back of the jeep with more easy than she ever could. Not to mention, she's the one driving. It's a good suggestion, you get to make some preparations without having to stop along the way to your objective. With little difficulty you make your way to the trunk. There is the almost full fuel canister, three empty beer bottles, and the pink blanket, plus the toolbox but you likely won't be needing it right now. What AA-12 meant was to make some molotovs, but you can see a few other things you could make with what you have before you. An alternative would be to break the bottles and wrap a piece of cloth around the lower part of a shard to make a grip, effectively creating a makeshift shank, a silent weapon. Since it's glass it'd be sharp, but easy to break too, so best make several. Maybe something else can be done too, but you're not sure. You need intact bottles for molotovs, but you need broken bottles for shanks. Best to choose depending on your engagement plan.
[ ] Make 3 molotovs.
[X] Make some glass shanks.
[ ] Write-in
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