Zed - What do I have to do with anything of these? I'm not even your hire to begin with!
Kilmure - Why do I have to deal with somethin like this again?
Martin - Because money!Kilmure - Then I have to ask for a raise!
The unfortunate trio were sitting in a hotel room, or rather, Martin and Kilmure were sitting at a kitchen table, while Zed were wearing a servant uniform and cooking a breakfast. It wasn't a fancy place, but it had few moments. Two big bedrooms and a big kitchen plus a bathroom. And furniture looked very old, but actually in perfect and polished state. Everything and anything you could ask for a cheap price. At least it was cheap for them, others usualy would pay three times more then they did.
Zed - And I am stuck here with you lot, because certain SOMEONE couldn't do their job right!
Martin - Yeah, yeah! Whatever... Where is Nita by the way?
Kilmure - With Duval. He asked her to follow him around. Crazy how things get twisted when you have to work at three fronts and then you get a wrench in you plan with that train heist.
Martin - And who is that dude anyway? I heard that you were the one who approached Duval to give him that invitation. You must have worked for him before, right?
Zed - I don't talk about my clients!
With displeasure, Zed place two plates of cooked eggs and salad on a table, then walked her way to a fridge, where she took a tin of cold coffee. Meanwhile, Martin and Kilmure picked up forks and knifes. Kilmure were the first to tike a bite of such good looking dish.
Kilmure - Finaly! Some proper damn food.Zed - You serious right now?
Martin - I would prefer some steak, like we had at the resaurant before.
Kilmure - While yes... I prefer when my food is made right in front of me.
Zed - And also you are a doll lover!
Sudden remark made Marin laugh with fork still in his mouth. Kilmure slowed down on chewing, before taking a glass of water, to hasten a process of freeing his mouth from food.
Kilmure - Why...Zed - Everyone told me that about you. Even your boss, Duval, said that I could use it as leverage against you. Well see if it's just an act or a real thing. As of now, I can't really tell.
At that point, Martin started hitting himself in a chest, to calm down on laughter, as he tried to not choke on any bits of food. Kilmure leaned back on his chair, with hands still gripping fork and knife.
Martin - Sorry Kilmure... But you kinda walked in on this one.
Kilmure - Yeah... What else did he told you about me? | Zed - Sorry... I'm not talking about my clients.
A slight playfull smile appeared on Zed's face. As she leaned agains the fridge and took a sip of cold coffee. Martin was finaly slowly calming down and Kilmure resumed on eating the cooked eggs. But Kilmure had an expression as if he was confused by somethin...
Kilmure - Your clients?... Did Duval hired you for something?
Zed - Wanna guess what I am about to say?
Kilmure - Yeah, yeah! I'l ask him when I get the chance.
Martin - Hey! Can you get me some of that sauce? It's real good thing!
Pointing his fork at a little bottle on a kitchen shelf, Martin kept chewing. Zed followed with her eyes from the end of a fork to a shelf and saw multiple bottles on a shelf. Not caring even a bit, Zed took one with a picture of a pepper on it and handed over to Martin.
Martin - Hey, It's hot sauce, there should be mustard sauce somewhere.
Zed - Then take it yourself! I'm not your house maid.
A hint of annoyance appeared on Zed's face as she walked away from the kitchen into a bedroom.
Martin - HEY! What the hell? Aren't you a doll?
Kilmure - Leave it be Martin.Martin - But...Kilmure - I said. Leave it be!
With a sigh, Martin resumed eatin his breakfast without so much desired mustard sauce. Kilmure took another bite, and looked over the shouled at Zed. This doll was willing to take off her usual uniform for a much more official, in order to ger herself a beter background cover. And as she was making the bed after Kilmure and Martin. He heard her say something. It was a silent and angry voice, but it also was desperate voice. He didn't hear the words. But what he heard was enough. Kilmure turned to face his breakfast and took another bite.
=== Yellow Zone ===
Beda - Doing good out here?Nomomo - Better than Blaze, that's for sure!
Inside a truck, two Mangie soldiers and a doll were surrounded with equipment. Mostly gear to repair and fix dolls and robots. One of the soldiers were tampering with a consol of small generator.
Mangie mechanic - We were charging her for a five hours straight, and only nine minutes ago, reached sixty percent power level. That's one hell of a power storage over there.
Nomomo - Trust me when I say that all this power could be spent in matter of an hour of non-stop fight. So over all, it's nothing impressive.
The mechanic only shruged at Nomomo's remark.
Nomomo - So what's the news?Beda - Not much. It seems like they are venturing futher down the red zone. I like their play, but it's kind of a bad for us... Or rather me... While I would gladly keep on chasing after them, there is a great risk in that. And I don't think the Mangie leader would be happy to go along with my plan.
Nomomo - Yeah, I get that. And I don't think we would be able to handle everything by ourselves.
Bowh dolls sigh. Not a lot of things they could do, and whole situation is somewhat grim.
Mangie mechanic - You are somewhat desperate for a doll.
The mechanic closed his tool box, as now there isn't much he can do. It's only a matter of time untill Nomomo would be able to charge up to a full power.
Beda - If only Blaze were able to give us some guidence.
Nomomo - Yeah, but she is totaled. Doubt we would be able to talk with her any time soon.
Mangie mechanic - If you are talking about that other doll, then yeah. She is so busted, most of a componetns are in need of replacement. Strangly, her data storage is fully intact, so she is just trapped down there somewhere. Just need to replace the components, and she will be back as if nothing happened. Every single memory will be intact.
For a moment, Beda shruged, but then realised something. Beda rasied her gaze and met with Nomomo's. Nomomo saw Beda's face that were silently saying "I'v got an idea" and then both Beda and Nomomo slowly turned their heads to a mechanic.
Mangie mechanic - What? | Beda - You said that all her data storage is intact?
Mangie mechanic - Yes... Why? | Nomomo - I can run on double core output for a while.
Mangie mechanic - You have only one core...Nomomo - This core can do a miracle.
With a sigh, Mechanic looked at his partner, who shruged and then both returned their attention back at the dolls. The mechanic that still didn't said a word, got up and opened a storage box behind him. A broken frame of Blaze were still there. He carefully placed her at the bench inside the truck, and then looked for a toolbox which were right under his feet.
After a moment, silent mechanic started going deeped and deeper under Blaze's components.
The other Mangie mechanic - Okay. I don't know about you, but while this data storage is operational, the data it self could be a bit finicky, so If you want to get your friend talking, you'l have to find here through data clusters and then transfer here on your frame. If I had proper tools here, I would have said that you have about two and a half of an hour for everything, but with what I have... I don't know... Fifteen or twenty minutes at best...
Mangie mechanic - Since when are you the expert at dolls?
The other Mangie mechanic - I worked on them for seven years straight... Know how to fix them better than a car. If only we didn't lost the last doll team. Anyway, If you want to go along with this plan, I need to prepare everything.
Both dolls were sceptical with whole explanation, Beda wanted to say no to entire idea, if only...
Nomomo - Fine! I can roll with it.Beda - What? Are you sure about this?
Nomomo - I mean... What's the worst that can happen?
The other Mangie mechanic - An overload of your core with information, whitch would cause a discharge and a shorcircuit of your whole system. Not so dangerous, but you will lose all of your battery power... And we would have to recharge you all over again! And that would be another five hours before we could get you running again.
Nomomo - See... Nothing so serious.
The other mechanic started pulling out tools from a tool box. But soon he realised that he needed some more tools. So he walked to the far end of and started rummaging through boxes. The other mechanic silently got up, an walked over to him.
Beda - I have to remind you, that if you fail, then I have to go through all this alone! And if we wan't to maintain reputation, we have to complete this mission!
Nomomo - Just a little bit of trust, okay! I can do this.
Beda - For what? Just to ask Blaze some advice? Do you even understand how stupid all this sounds? I need you here, up and running. Not battery dead on a ground.
Nomomo - Then do you have a plan?
Beda - I'l figure somethin out! Trust can go both ways. So please, have some trust in me too.
At that moment a pair of mechanics returned to dolls with instruments and cables in hands. Both mechanics were puzzled, waiting for a response.
Nomomo - Okay. Fine! I won't do that. Then you have to come up with some sort of an idea soon.
The other Mangie mechanic - Okay... If you change your mind. You know what where we are.
Mangie mechanic - These dolls... Man. We can't catch a break lately.
As both mechanics started pulling back Blaze into a storage unit. An Idea came through Beda's neural cloud. Just as a matter of trust and repairs. They won't be able to go through a red zone without a proper plan. And if they would ever had one it would involve...
Beda - Maybe I just did... That fella, Derryl. He was a former Griffin and whatever officer, right? What kind of cargo did he saw? He wouldn't be just running around and throwing down his own reputation and aborting a missions without a good reason, right?
Thinking harder on everything, Nomomo became somewhat confused. There isn't much known about Derryl, and they are way too deep into yellow zone to get any fast fact check.
Nomomo - I don't get it... If you wan't to find out what was that cargo, we won't know untill we see it. Whoever made this request specifically said that 'we must not expose any information on a cargo' othet then that it is a pile of metal boxes with each having an number code on it. As for what inside... What are you trying to hint at Beda? I'm not in a mood to puzzle through this.
Beda - We don't need to know what's inside these boxes, Nomomo. We need to know where he is taking all that cargo. And to be more specific, to who! Where is a background profile file on him?
Nomomo - Somewhere in Blaze's backpack!
Both Nomomo and Beda switched their attention on a pair of mechanics as they just closed off the storage unit with Blaze inside it. But then they turned around and saw two dolls staring at them.
Mangie mechanic - What is it now?
Nomomo - We need to take a look inside the backpack of our companion.
Both mechanics looked eachoether in the eyes and sighed.
Mangie mechanic - Can't catch a break f'real. | The other Mangie mechanic - Shut up...
=== Odesa streets ===
Detective - So your saying, is that you were just looking for a new fridge. But then these guys bursted right through a main doors of a store and started shooting?
Duval (James) - That's what I am saying detetive. Thankfully, my doll was nearby. Otherwise it could have ended up badly! Have you seen that? Now my rare day off is ruined, my doll is damaged, and I wasn't even able to buy a gift for my sister!
In front of a furniture store. Duval was sitting down on a bench, while an old man wearing bulletproof vest were asking him questions. Some distance away, Nita stood near a police car, and another police doll were inspecting her and recording damages.
Police officer - Detective! Dispatch is calling you! Answer the call!
An police officer stepped out of a car and yelled loudly, so that the detective could hear.
Detective - So far so good mister James. Wait here for a few moments please. I have a few more questions and then you will be free to go.
Duval (James) - Sure thing detective!
Old detective turned around and walked his way to a car, where a terminal were waiting for someone to answer the call. Meanwhile, Nita was done with inspection and was free to roam around. So she walked over to Duval, while he took out a pack of smokes.
Nita - Not a healty habit.Duval - Said a doll who eats bullets for breakfast.
For a short while, Duval was trying to get some fire from his lighter. It took ten or so attempts, but a small flame tongue finaly appeared, letting him take so much desired puff of smoke.
Duval - What do you want doll? If you have something to say, say it!
Nita - You knew that they would appear?
Duval - Ever since I set my foot in Odesa. It wasn't a question of 'if?', but rather 'when?'. I know who sent them even before they took that damned deal at attempting to kill me.
Nita - It looks like I missed that part of a story.Duval - If you want yourself some story...
With a one move of an arm, Duval made another puff of cigarette. A small cloud of white smike that dissapeared in a gentle breeze. And them Duval took a deep breath for a deeped sigh.
Duval - It's a long story. And not the type of story that you would understand. This thing goes much more deeper than you could ever understand. For a doll like you, it would be better to not pry any deeper than that. Trust me, I know what I am saying.
Nita - Does that mean that there will be more to come?
It took a moment for Duval to think about this. But before giving any answer, he made another puff of smoke and though how to phrase it.
Duval - Yeah. As long as there is someone who would come with you. There will always be someone who would come for you. But enough of that, look!
With a slight gesture of a head, Duval pointed at an old detective who were comming closer.
Detective - Alright, mister James. It seems like I have no more questions for you right now. You are free to go, but please, remember to appeare in court as a withness. As about the date, we will contact you when the date would be decided.
Duval (James) - Oh. It is such an honor to help such veteran of a duty like yourself. And I will do my best to appear in court, should a notice arrive to me.
Both man noded to eachother. Detective walked back to a crime scene, while Duval and Nita walked away from the scene. And while walking away, Nita pulled out a pen and notebook, adding new entry on a new page.
"As long as there is someone who would come with you.
There will always be someone who would come for you"