Two bodies lay upon each other. One had no legs. The other's head had become part of the cave. These were Falco's old teammates.
He was now back at the end of the tunnel, where Charles had once fallen and almost died.
This wasn't about exacting revenge. It was about erasing them.
Thin pools of acid dripped from the carcasses of the "Spitters".
He had almost finished his task. Falco watched as the face of Charles slowly slipped under the green sludge secreted by the very monsters he killed. Iris was no different; she too fell under the same pool Charles now slept in. He stood there as he listened to their flesh sizzling into the darkness of the cave. He held his head gently as he thought back.
I saved that bastard! Just for him to shoot me in the back? Shut up! That's why you're dead now, dumbass!
Taking his hand away from his eyes, he kicked Iris' leg after he noticed it slightly resting on solid stone. It splashed in with a wet, acidic thud.
He then left frustrated. Technically, Falco had no worries. The drone's damage was covered for, and so were the blood splatters. However, he still let out a sigh. How did he let it get to this point?
He was too paranoid to let himself be tricked like that. Using a grenade as a crutch? What happened... Did he actually expect things to go smoothly?
From one side to the other, Falco didn't dare waste time. He had plans after all.
"First, ZEF. Then, birthday present."
He didn't smile. Stress, people and anger made him worry. Would he be able to act "rationally" after?
He had nearly reached the blast doors before he thought of ZEF. What would happen if he were caught?
Darkness enveloped him. Should he really continue? Was getting caught by the government worse than... No, it's impossible that it's them, they fell long ago.
But what if it were really them? What then?
Must he truly abandon the little he had?
It was then that he rested both hands on the metallic wall; taking a small breather.
He screamed.
No!
With a swiftness almost unseen, Falco then hit his head on the door.
Today is Mia's birthday! Man up!
It hurt like hell, but that was the "crutch" he needed this time. If he really wanted to, he could rot away in the cave thinking of all that could go wrong. But his time was limited. Time was a comfort he didn't have. ZEF and his sister took priority. The consequences could wait.
He resolved himself not to break—not today.
The path revealed itself right after a quick tap of the terminal. The sterile room was as it once was. Barren, with no life. Falco entered and got rid of his gear. He followed the red-embedded nubs and reached the elevator.
It was now warmer. He didn't need to run or work like the others to stay warm. Looking around, he saw the boss talking to one of the workers. Usually, he would report that the job was finished and then go to ZEF, but not today. Falco didn't have any reason to talk to him, especially because he was no longer obligated to work. Also, what if the boss had betrayed him?
They didn't have a badge, so probably not.
Nonetheless, he left without saying goodbye to anybody. Not that he could.
He didn't need a map to traverse the area this time. He knew where to go.
The streets he walked on were crowded—mostly by deathly pale children. He truly felt bad. It was as if he was a lifeguard in a stormy sea surrounded by drowning people, but what can a lifeguard do in an ocean? He knew their pain; lived it even. That's why he pushed forward, to not be his old self. He didn't dare stop at the other stores; they probably had nothing of value.
Exiting the crowded streets and arriving near the edge of the city, Falco was greeted by the sight of a tall, imposing building—his destination. The area around it was a stark contrast to the muck he had just left. Countless vehicles, many equipped with heavy weaponry designed to subjugate the mutated monsters of the zones, were parked nearby.
Finally reaching the entrance, Falco was met with the sight of a large terminal and a dozen individuals clad in lavish equipment and weaponry. The terminal, manned by ten busy receptionists, was surrounded by rows of people waiting their turn. He felt out of place in his dirty cloak and worn gloves, but he had no choice. This building belonged to the Zonal Expanse Federation, a government subsidiary planted in the slums.
Shunned and given the cold shoulder, Falco moved up towards the line. The people around him were much taller and fiercer than him, yet no one dared to cause a commotion. One would be near impossible to touch while in the HQ. Cameras and guns were secretly stashed in places none would expect—deterring any potential terrorists. It was the only reason why Falco felt safe enough to come here in plain daylight.
Reaching the front of the line, Falco was met with the sight of a stunning receptionist. Her beauty felt manufactured, maintained by resources no one outside the High World could afford. Falco straightened his posture, pushing down any hint of nervousness. He couldn't afford to stutter or appear unprofessional—not here, not now. With a steadying breath, he began the conversation.
"Good day to you, madam."
The receptionist barely glanced up, her tone flat and disinterested. "Hello, sir. How can we help you today at ZEF?"
"I'm here to submit a mission report for mine number 43. It should be under the name Falco Hatov."
The receptionist's fingers resumed their dance across the holographic keyboard, her expression unreadable. Information flickered across the screen, and after a moment, she spoke without looking up. "I see... was the mission successful? You were alone after all."
Alone? So, they really weren't supposed to be there... How did they descend alive?
"Yes, it went by without any problems; the nest was taken care of, and so were the eggs. There won't be any more of them there. "
Even more uninterested, she wrote down his response on the computer. There was no tapping to her keyboard; it was as if she was manipulating a marionette midair, all without the strings.
"Your reward will soon be cashed in."
After that, she opened the case and took out the reward; seven times Falco's weekly paycheck.
"Here you go, sir Hovat, 220.5 Kreds."
Perfect!
This completely made his troubles worth it.
"Is there anything else I can do for you?"
He ready to leave and find something for Mia, but an ingenious idea took place inside his mind. He was going to find some help.
"Could you please tell me if there are any existent jewelry stores nearby?"
Holding back a laugh, she covered her mouth with her hands, eyes gleaming with mockery. When she finally composed herself, she fixed Falco with a cold and disdainful glare. ''You?'' she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ''I don't think you're rich enough for jewelry. Go buy some rusted piece of metal or something..."
Falco stared at her with disbelief etched across his face.
"Uh, just get the information request done and I'll be the one to decide what I can or can't do."
She was amused.
"If that's the case, then I'll check for you, one second."
Her rhythmic typing resumed. The holographic blue was one-way; Falco had no way to see anything.
After a while, she stood still while she waited. The printer next to her lit up and a paper was soon spit out.
"It will cost you about 5 Kreds, do you want it?"
She waved the printed paper at him—taunting him.
Through gritted teeth, he gave his answer.
"Absolutely."
It was for his sister; there was no compromise.
He took out 5 Kreds of his large pile and gave it to the receptionist. With that, the deal was finalized.
He had his information. ZEF had his money.
The murky blue sky that shone from the windows was quickly passed by the moving Falco. The automatic doors led him out. Looking around, he found a bench. He needed to rest. Deciding on taking a short rest, Falco then curiously took out the paper and tried finding the street the shop was at.
There wasn't even a picture, only a name was given. "Gold Street."
Pretty ironic.
He took the map from his backpack and laid it on the outside floor. It was time to find the elusive "Gold Street."
People came and went; some were annoyed by Falco's presence, but it was of no consequence.
After a few minutes of searching, he finally found it. It was in the middle of the commercial center.
With his target found, he packed up his belongings.
Just before Falco was about to run, he felt the ground quake. Rubble was falling from the abandoned buildings in front of him. Falco began to panic as he foresaw the building plummeting below. He had taken cover to protect himself from the tremor, but the hunters around him didn't—opting to cheer instead. He held a puzzled face as he looked for answers, but none came to him.
As one of the buildings fell, he finally found his answers. The culprit behind the wreckage was a huge exploration vehicle, almost two times the size of Falco. As the car became visible, the loud cheering became deafening—the star of the show had finally shown itself. From what he could see, the car bore a red insignia on its entrance.
Hm, I guess that's their faction.
He no longer feared the car. Having long understood the situation, he followed the path of the map.
Paved roads to dirty and muddy pathways, Falco hurried along with the crowd which became more abundant the closer he grew to the heart of the market. Observing his surroundings as he walked, he dodged several pickpockets. He wasn't physically dodging, but more like evading.
This time, he ignored the stores around him. He had a plan after all.
Turning his last corner, he finally laid his eyes on the store—he had finally arrived.
The store looked rugged and simplistic. It wasn't half destroyed, but you couldn't call it a "nice" establishment.
Entering the shop, he saw an old man standing by the counter with some customers roaming the store. Walking slowly, he went towards the man, nodding his head in respect. Leading the conversation, Falco first asked the clerk, "Do you by chance sell necklaces?".
Unbothered, "Sure we do, what kind are you looking for?"
After making sure no one was around to listen, "I am looking to buy a golden necklace, not fake gold but the real stuff."
"Are you kidding me, what kind of fool do you take me for? Are you trying to rob me or something, you think I'm stupid kid?" He forcibly hit the table; trying to gauge if Falco was truly looking for his valuables. His loud screaming and tantrum attracted the attention of his other customers. It put the spotlight on Falco.
"I'm not joking." With those words, Falco then opened his jacket slightly and flashed him his 215 Kreds.
The vendor's anger subsided substantially.
"You should've have started like that!"
With proof of being able to buy the jewelry, he picked up a box from behind the counter and put it in front of Falco. Inside the box, he could see rings and necklaces alike, all made of gold.
Taking out all the jewelry from the box, the man began showing off to Falco. On the tabletop were 3 necklaces, all in pristine condition, showing the skills of the craftsmen.
"How much do they cost?" Falco asked in a speculative tone.
"Alone, 150 Kreds."
Taking his time to decide, Falco observed each necklace up close. With time, he finally found the one; the perfect gift.
"I'll take this one then." Falco had picked up a small yet elegant necklace, he thought it would be the perfect gift for his sibling. He hoped that it would make the smile of his sister shine brighter, like it had once done far in the past.
"Great then that will cost you 150 Kreds."
"Absolutely not."
It was now time for negotiations.
"You know, you—" he then secretly pointed to his other customers "—almost made them call the protectors on us because of your loud screaming, I am not buying this for 150. 100 and that's it."
"There's no way I can do that! T—that right there can feed a family for months if sold!"
"You can't expect me to buy this at that price; you probably haven't even opened that box in a year. C'mon old man, stop being stubborn, you almost cost me a visit with the Regime.
"110! That's the lowest I can go! But that face of yours, I never want to see it after today—got it!"
"Deal!" Falco said with a bright smile on his face, his negotiations working.
Taking out the 110 Kreds he owed the man; he placed the amount on the counter, waiting to be counted.
Taking his time counting, he verified that Falco had truly given him the right amount. Now, on the limits of his patience, he tossed the necklace to him and shooed Falco away.
Finally leaving the store, Falco was on high alert. He had a small fortune on him, ready to be stolen. The golden necklace felt heavy in his pocket, not just in weight but also in significance. It was more than a gift; it was a promise—a reminder that even in a world as lifeless as his, he could still bring a smile to his sister's face. As he navigated the crowded streets, his hand instinctively brushed against the hidden knife in his coat. The slums were unforgiving, but Falco had learned to survive. For Mia, he would do more than survive. He would thrive.
Walking to the other side of the street, Falco made a mental note to never enter his store again, not for the shopkeeper's sake but for his. Through the window of the store, he could see his customers staring at him like vultures, but they made no attempt to follow him. The cold grip of his knife coiled around his hand—like a serpent around its prey, silent yet ready to strike. That thought alone placated him.
He had finished everything for today. Work, ZEF, the present; they were all finished.
Should I go to her work?
It would probably just annoy her.
While he thought, many vendors beckoned him, yet he stood firm.
Even a young boy screamed at him.
"Newspapers! Newspapers! Selling newspapers for half a Kred!"
This time, he stopped. He had the money; it was only half a Kred.
Tossing him the coin, he took the paper and continued his journey, all without even staring at him—it would only hurt him.
Falco didn't really want to read it, but being the sole owner of this newspaper, he gave it a shot.
He found a lonesome alleyway and took refuge within it; he then opened the paper and got to work.
Most of it was random, incoherent propaganda, but there was one thing that really caught his eye.
An unprecedented amount of Zone Hunters have been called near Rosehold. What will they do? Why are they here?
Well this is interesting... Probably just a new site discovered.
He didn't give it much thought.
Other than that, there wasn't any valuable information. He tossed the paper in the alleyway and got back on track.
His travels took a lot of time today. From his spelunking to his gift shopping, the day had already practically finished. All that was left was the birthday party. The golden hue of the sky accentuated his predicament. He wouldn't want to get home at nightfall.
The roads he walked weren't as filled as before, the nightlife slowly filling out the blanks of the society he lived in. At this hour most stores were closed but some remained open, making it feel like a skeleton of its former self.
The golden color of the sky was about to be replaced by the cool, silver embrace of the moon, its pale light illuminating the treacherous path he would need to follow to make it back home.
As he jogged through the uneven terrain, Falco felt another, much more fierce, tremor.
He paused and waited for it to pass, but it didn't; it only grew.
Suddenly, the brick wall in front of him crumbled violently.
Throwing himself into another alleyway, he peeked over the wall and finally found the perpetrator.
The entrance of the vehicle bore an intricate symbol. If that didn't say it, nothing else would.
It was the same car as before!
Heavy machine gun fire could be heard as subsequent gunshots—from other people—rained down on the people around him. Screams and violent cries could be heard as Falco ran.
He had to get home! He had to make sure Mia was safe!