Shafir - Is tha a some kind of a joke? A doll taking a charge of MY group? Are fucking kidding me?
Infuriated man walked through a street. His angered steps resonated with tiny streets and sounds of heavy engine. He walked among the lines of armored men and robots, untill he walked right to a bench where a single doll were sitting and waiting, but at the sight of the angry man, she stood up.
Shafir - You think this is funny? Think you can just outsmart everyone?
Beda - Sir! I don't understand...
In front of beda, was a middle-aged man with shaved hair and short dark beard. His face were giving away the feeling of tiredness. But right now, he was more angry then anything else. He even pulled down his gas mask just to vent out his frustration.
Shafir - How did you do it? Who did you call to get that far *huh*?
Beda - Sir, I don't understand. What happened?
Shafir - I just got the order to follow you as if you were an in charge of MY team! How did you do it?
Beda - I can't know that sir.
Angered man were looked directly at Beda's face, his breathing finaly started slowing down. He took a step back and took a closer look at Beda from top to bottom, before returning his attention back to her face. All this while, Beda looked confused.
Soldiers that were standing around, tensed up a little, reaching for their weapons, but not touching them yet. Some of them looked at each other, as if to confirm, wheather or not they would be shooting this doll right here and now.
Shafir - I will say you that, doll... If I find you lacking... Or if you start risking my people for the sake of your damned mission... I don't care that you were given a privilege to commant my team. You will quickly find yourself being... Missing in action. Did I made myself clear?
Beda - Y... Yes sir. | Shafir - Damned dolls!
With a slight dissatisfaction, Shafir looked at nearvy soldiers. Finaly, he gave out a heavy sigh, pulled up his gasmask, then turned around to leave. But stopped for a moment.
Shafir - Listen up boys... And a girl!
He specifiacly leaned to a side, to tell a the last part to a soldier, who were wearing heavy armor. So it was impossible to tell if it was boy or a girl at first glance. Then Shafir returned attention to a everyone else in front of him.
Shafir - For some unthinkable reason. We are having a doll in charge of this whole request, because the original group of mercenaries are incompetent idiots that were almost eliminated.
After saying this piece, Shafir turned around and looked right into Beda's eyes.
Shafir - Or maybe it was the fault of this little doll...
For a moment, Beda wanted to reply, but holded back. Shafir was still filled with anger, but at least his gasmask were hiding that his angered face. After a brief moment of staring, he turned around and walked away. Some of the soldiers that were following him, threw a side glance at Beda, and walked away after their captain, and Beda kept staring at leaving motion of this sudden hurricane.
Finaly, Beda managed to snap out and turned her attention to soldiers around her. Every single one of them were wearing uniform and armor with Mangie emblems, and every single one of them kept staring at a strange doll, that now were made their superiour. Beda looke around in confusion.
Beda - Okay... Does that mean I can finaly see my companions?
==== Odesa ====
On a bench in front of a Security Station. Nita were looking around. Some security personal were occasionally glancing at her. With her unusual size, she stood out even while sitting on a bench. For some reason, it felt weird for her. Her neural cloud were filled with diffrent ideas of why she was called to wait here. Once of such ideas were "Maybe they decided to give me away to the police? Is it because thouse people at the plant died? Do they think that I am a monster?"
The door of a security station in front of her opened, just like it did hundreds times before, while she was waiting on this bench for a few hours. But this time, Duval walked out of the security station. Nita didn't noticed Duval at first, untill he came close enough. At the sight of Duval, she stood right up, which surprised Duval for a second.
Duval - Oh wow! I was told that you are a tall doll. But I think this is the first time I get to expirience it for myself. How tall are you? Is that a hundred ninty five or what?
Nita - My frame is Two hundred and eight centimeters tall sir.
Duval - Yeah... Let's take a walk while we are at it. | Nita - Yes... Uncle...
Slight smirk appeared on Duval face as he began to strolling through a streets. Nita was confused for a moment, looked around, and then hurryed to catchup with Duval
Nita - Uncle. You said that you needed me for something. | Duval - Yes I did.
Nita - It would be much more convenient if I were to know what I have to do.Duval - No you don't.
That answer caught Nita in confusion, she slowed down for a moment, and hastened her step once again to match up with Duval. And Duval kept slowly walking, as if he had not a single care in a world. As his eyes were wandering around, an like if he were enjoying the view. To Nita that was unsettling cue, that she did something wrong... and she didn't knew what exactly. The only thing that came to mind is that Duval was still angry at her for using his contact list.
Nita - Uncle... I know that I have messed up. I am sorry... | Duval - Sorry for what?
Nita - Sorry that I used your list. I won't ever do that again!
Duval - Oh... Nita, that matter was settled a long time ago. I am not mad or anything, and you can use it again if you want. Just tell me or your big brother that you need to use it. Information is a valuable thing in our time. And people that can find information? What do you think?
Nita - I... They are... Valuable? | Duval - Well... *Hmf* Yes. That's one way to say it.
Nita - Then what are we doing here?Duval - What are we doing? What do you think we are doing?
Nita - I... I don't know.
Duval - Well. That doesn't surprises me. But I have to ask you one little thing. What do you think about your big brother? Do you pleased with his... guidance?
Nita - Big brother?
Trying to come up with an answer. Nita went silent, and just walked near Duval for a minute, maybe two or three. Meanwhile, Duval didn't even looked at her. He kept walking through a early morning streets of Odesa. Not many people were around. And thouse who were, took a slight glance at an enormous doll, before hurrying their to go their own way. But essentially, they were walking through almost empty streets.
Nita - Big brother is a good man... and... I don't know...
Duval - Good man? *heh* Really? You think that we are all good people? | Nita - ...
Understanding that Nita wasn't able to give any answer back to him, Duval chuckled.
Duval - No need to play coy with me Nita. I know who I am and who we are. And I know that I am not a good man, as well as that I am leading not a good people with me.
Nita - There are people far worse than that!
Duval - Well of course there are always a bigger fish in a sea. But just because there is, doesn't change the fact that we are who we are. But then again. Why am I say all that to a doll?
Nita - Many people say that when talking to me...
Unexpected answer surprised Duval for a moment. He stopped for a second to look at Nita, who were walking nearby. This sudden act, scared Nita and she already started regretting the fact that she said that. But then Duval started walking once again and looking around as if searching for something. So far, nothing of interest caught his eye.
Duval - Yes... There is defenetly something strange about you... Then again, every single doll that your big brother has around. They never were ordinary. Each and every one of them has that something about them. And for some reason dolls seems to like him... and he likes them dolls too. Never understood that. But seeing how you are so free roaming around, without any precaution. You and Blaze are alike much more than you think.
Nita - Blaze? What is she has to do with everything?
Duval - Well. There are a lot of things she did for a last few days. For example... She took on a request from a friend of mine. Few hours ago, I had a pleasure of finding out that they are in a tough spot. Like if my own plans wasn't enough of a gameble anyway.
Nita - Are they in trouble?
Duval - Yes. Yes they are. Otherwise, why would I pull out a stunt like that?
Suddenly, Duval stopped walking. Despite the fact that just a ten minutes before, they were at a security station, they have walked their way through a long road. And that's where Duval spoted a furniture store, it's doors just opened. So in a way, it was the only store on the entire street that were open at 08:00 in a morning.
Duval - I think I found a perfect place! This should be interesting.
Seeing that Duval were walking straight to a furniture store, Nita slowed down for a moment. "He called me to carry around some furniture?" a question started pending in Nita's neural cloud.
Meanwhile Duval walked inside. It was a rather huge store house, remade to be more appealing for a custumer eye. Hundreds of thousands tables, chairs, refrigirators and beds were scattered around in an appealing way. Categorized and sorted perfectly to move between different areas. Each are contained different furniture in same style. Old-fashioned bed near old-fashioned set of chairs, exotic wardrobe near another exotic table.
Store Assistant - Hello and welcome. Can I assist you in anything?
Duval - No need. I am just browsing around untill somethins catches my eye... But since you are here. Can you please tell me, does insurance covers this store from anything?
Store Assistant - You mean our items? Well of course, we can guarantee that all and any item that would be bought from our store would serve it's purpose for at least a five years.
Duval - That's not what I meant, but thank you for your answer. I will call you If anything catches my attention or something would be to my liking.
Store Assistant - Sure thing. You can call me at any time, we can offer you a transportation services as well, but it's looks like you already have that part covered.
Assistant looked at Nita with a slight smile, then noded to Duval and walked back to a front desk. Duval looked at Nita and once again started slowly walking around the store.
Nita - What are we even doing here Uncle? Are we here to buy some furniture?
Duval - Now that I am here. I want to buys something. Especially... Look at that chair! I had something like this in my old home. Back at the school house we were using as a hideout. Somewhere right here, in Odesa. Damn, that was so long time ago...
Nita - Alright *sigh* Just tell me what I should pick up.
Duval - While I am gratefull. That's not a reason why I called you here Nita. You have your own job to do. And your job should come somewhere about... in a minute or two.
With a flich of his wrist, Duval looked at his wrist watch. Then he looked at the entrance, where a group of people just walked inside. Each were wearing long dark coats.
Duval - My mistake. Your time is now Nita.
The group of people pulled out guns. Mostly pistols, and one of them shot both assistant and a cashier. Duval shruged in annoyance, as if expecting such result, but hoping it would not come to that. With a sigh, Duval stepped aside and leaned against the refrigerator.
Duval - Do your work Nita.
With a cigarette in hand, Duval said to Nita amd pulled out the lighter. Group of unknown gunman runned futher into a store. Nita were slow on reaction, but rushed out to take on the group of first few bandits. Everyone started shoting at a doll, who bursted out through a line of chairs and tables, sending them flying. With one of such chairs, Nita hit the closest bandit in front of her. That chair broke into many pieces the moment it hit the bandit, and that bandit was sent tumbling into little hill of furniture, where tables and chairs formes his own little prison.
Bandit - Stot that damn doll!
One of the bandits shouted and next moment, a burst of automatic fire rang out through a furniture store. Bullets hit Nita all over her frame, errors notification of recived damage were appearing about everything from her knees to her head. Within a few moments, Nita fell to the ground. For a moment, gun fire stopped, everyone started reloading.
Duval - Really now? And you said that you would trust her your life Kilmure?
When the sound of reload came to an end, silence came over the store. Nobody even made a single step, only sound of glass door slowly breaking down and some random wooden chair fell down at the back of a store. After a moment of silence, Nita springed to life once again, jump-dashing at a nearby bandit.
Bullet storm began once again. This time, Nita grabbed a bandit and used him as a meat shield while taking a pistol out of his hands. The bandits didn't stopped shooting, turning their own friend into a swiss cheese within a few moments. And Nita started shooting back, after half of a minute, most of the bandits were dead, and the last one were taking cover behind a counter. Shooting at Nita, who charged at him and grabbed him by his neck.
As the bandit realized that his gun was of no usem he pulled out a pair of safety pins from beneath of his coat. Once again, Nita was slow to react. She stared at a safety pins in his hand.
Bandit - Surprise stupid doll!
When Nita realized what it was, it was already too late. An explosion sent the roof and the walls flying, and then crumbling down on a floor. Duval, who was taking cover behind the biggest refrigerator, closed his ears for a moment and was shaken a little, but quickly got his composure back. It looked like the end of a fight, so he walked out from his cover.
Sound of sirens could be heard in a distance. Fire burning in few small spots here and there, and fire sprinklers were contesting over wooden debris.
Duval - Thouse cockroaches had some teeth on them huh? Kilmure would be sad to hear that one of his dolls is gone. How am I going to explain that one?
All of a sudden, some pieces of wreckage started moving. Duval was puzzled at first, as he saw that, even reached for his gun on a belt. And as he saw Nita pushing herself throuh debis, he finaly relaxed a little. Her whole body and clothes had signs of heavy damage, but he didn't saw any actual damage on her frame, as she stood in front of him.
Nita - Is that to your satisfaction?
Finaly, Nita said to Duval's face, as she managed to walk over to Duval. And Duval didn't even flinched, he just silently made one more puff from his cigarette, and threw it on a ground, before stepping on it... As if fire safety weren't already breached.
Duval - No... You can do better.