The cargo truck eventually slowed to within the speed limit the closer it got to the city. Eventually making its way downtown, the cargo truck turned into a parking garage. At the entrance was a manned security gate.
Knowing the driver, the security guard waved him in before lazily returning his attention to the screen.
Overlooking the parking garage from the roof of the adjacent building, Yar noted the address and other surrounding buildings. He scanned his outfit noticing a strange noise was occasionally being emitted by the data core every half a minute.
"Tch, fucking ay."
He melded into the shadows among the city lights swiftly charging towards a different location. Ending below a bridge, he pulled out a barrel beneath the water surface using a rope tied to a rock nearby.
Yar undressed out of his old outfit before switching into a new one that he pulled out of the barrel. A metal box was also pulled out of the barrel. He placed the data core, strange stone, and badge of the earlier assailant all inside.
Then he closed the barrel and lowered it back into the water. He wielded his hand like a blade and slashed the rope tossing that end back into the water. Then he proceeded away with the metal container.
Several minutes later, people in dark attire arrived under the bridge. One noticed a short piece of rope tied to a heavy rock had been cut. Others investigated the surroundings with one diving into the water only to come up inconclusive. A tracking device shows the trail ended several tens of feet below their position. They soon exchanged words and scattered.—
Elsewhere, Yar returned to one of The Shrine's designated hideouts. He quickly undressed tossing all items on the bathroom countertop before showering.
After finishing, he sat on the bed in a cross legged position. It's has been a while since he last circulated the body's core. Ample progress from the past was accumulated by Ray. Some unfamiliarity remained as a result but soon that disappeared after several rotations around the core along with idle energy training exercises.
Everything else aside from the mission and items obtained will be dealt with by Ray later.
"I'll focus on energy training until Ray returns."
Sensing the awakening of the main conscious, Yar closes his eyes and prepares to feed the memories of the past several hours. Otherwise if he did not do this, it would affect Ray's training as the memories returned randomly.
Ray opened his eyes.
"What happened? How did I get here?"
Disbelief and confusion showed on his face. Should he not be dead?
The last moment he recalled was the last ditch effort putting his all into one blow only for it to be dodged. He even sacrificed his body getting stabbed through the right chest.
"Huh? My wounds from the encounter are still there. I'm rather lucky to have survived."
Encountering an evolved human on his first solo mission was not out of the question. But engaging them was. Especially considering the difference in combat experience since their realms were the same.
Taking the fight was not a wise choice.
All of a sudden, memories of the past several hours hit Ray like an anvil. Having past experience with this made it a lot easier but the pain was still quick. Memories appeared in a random manner and took him a while to piece together the events.
Among the memory dump, Ray focused on three events. The killing of the evolved man. The data core and stone looted from his possession. And the parking garage whose entrance has a manned gatehouse. Nothing about the guard screamed damgerous.
But what lies inside, is it worth it? Further evidence would necessitate the need to explore the parking garage. It remains a low priority for now.
Ray compiled a summary of the past day. Unperturbed from blacking out per se, he doubts this will be the last time.
"Outskirts of Le Claude city, meeting place of evolved human from Thorne's Criminal Investigative Unit was discovered. Eliminated evolved human and took data core plus a strange stone. Local gang found body and hurriedly left. I followed them to an isolated parking garage in Le Claude city.
Yar sat quietly in the mindspace. Ray seemed the least suspicious of how the two events played out. As long as progress was made on the mission and he survived, nothing else mattered.
However, the suspicion still remains.
Yar shook his head in boredom.
He sat there thinking before noticing Ray respond to a notification on his brace.
"ETA 7:30 hours, will talk soon" read the message from Ray's superior.
For her to leave Planet Thorne's capital for these items makes it all the more important.
Soon, Ray washed up and lightly rested until alarm set off.
Half an hour later waiting on the living room couch, the front door unlocks.
Sharp taps resounded across the apartment as the sound of heels grew louder before reaching the dining table. Something light was placed on the table as a chair was pulled out.
"Don't be afraid. You can turn around now," spoke a feminine, melodious voice.
Ray however continued facing forward as if his attention was on the tv screen.
"Suit yourself," she continued. "You are amazing. That Thorne official was a peak evolver that got beheaded."
The sharp taps of heels repeated growing ever louder before pausing right behind Ray. Both shoulders were softly grabbed before the small, pale hands slowly roamed his chest before turning into an embrace.
Her scent was light but unique. Her touch was warm and inviting. It felt like two clouds were pressed against his back. She leaned her head into him and sniffed Rays's scent.
"Uhmm," she softly moaned." Moses was supposed to keep me company but too important of a discovery here. A very precious metal and actual intel to boot."
"You are also a mid stage evolved" she softly whispered. Her sensing capabilities showing merit at first notice.
"Give me 15 minutes."
Soon, the curtains closed and the bathroom shower turned on. The door was never closed.
Bloodshot eyes still on the television screen and a bulge about ready to burst through the pant seams. Ray was anything but fine.
But he had to endure and not indulge because of one reason.
Moses.