As a light flickered, a dim light fell on a paved road. Dark car parked on a side alley of an abandoned restaurant, on a top of a restaurant were a, sign still holding up, still calling this place a "road tavern". Zed walked out of a driver seat and headed to a trunk, where a muffled scream were barely audible. Inside, was a tied up woman with a tape over his mouth.
Zed - Missed me little thief?
With her iron grip, Zed pulled out a woman by a collar of her shirt, pulling her through an alley and behind the restaurant. There, she threw thief on a pile of trash bags, long forgoten by everyone.
Zed - This is your last chance! You are not be getting out of here alive. But someone else might live, if you answer my questions, and if i like what you will say.
A wallet with a photo of a happy family dropped to a ground, two girls and a dad and a mother, just beneth Zed's feet. Then, Zed removed the tape from the mouth of a woman.
Woman - No, please! They have nothing to do with this! I...
As a woman starter pleading, Zed pushed one finger against her lips.
Zed - Shhh! All you need to say, is where the money is. Once we are done here, if i don't have any reasons to visit the, i won't! But i have to make sure to cover up all of my tail before leaving again.
Woman - Okay, okay! Jakob had it! Jakob took all of it!
A swift punch to a face, made woman scream for a moment, then she went back to just crying.
Zed - I played that game for way to long, it's just getting boring at this point. Jakob is dead, just like you will be in a few moments. Lary said you traded money for a drugs. Jakob sings the same story. Where are the drugs then? Who you trade it with? Nobody in their right mind would trade that much money for a drugs.
Woman - But that's the truth! There was a guy... Jakob said he knew that guy. Name Taker or something... He set us up for a score. I swear. I don't know anything about that.
Zed - So do your friends... Too bad.
Slowly, Zed walked to a trash dumpster nearby, and picked up a lead pipe. It was heavy... Heavy enough. A slight smirk appeared on Zed's face.
Zed - Do you like hurting other people? Because i do!
As the woman kept wheeping and crying, Zed kept bashing her with a pipe. A stream of blood spilled on a ground. Untill there was nothing left to bleed.
Once the deed was done. Zed made a few steps back to admire the work. A slight smile on her face changed to a indifferent one. Now that the pipe was of no use, she threw it on a same pile of trash as the dead body was.
Zed - Ok... So mister Takker is my only lead in this whole deal?
As Zed were walking back to a car, she pulled out a terminal and looked at a small list of calls. Over ten attempts to call this mysterious "Takker", and all ended up being unanswered.
Zed - And nobody knows who this Takker guy is... This is getting ridiculous.
Then Zed looked at her clothes and noticed some blood on her pants.
Zed - Alright... Now... First things first, burn some clothes, change some clothes, then i can continue chasing that Takker guy... And nobody from the club knows this guy. Maybe he is not from around here?
The doll kept thinking out loud, while walking around the car and reaching for a bag in a trunk, where a set of clean clothes were waiting.
=== Day before the raid ===
Blaze - Why the hell did we not took Nita with us?
As a man, kicked ELIDs corpse into a pit, Blaze threw another corpse of ELID into a pit.
Team of four dolls and two man were carying corpses of ELIDs around and throwing them into a pit. Another five man and a dozen of robots were waiting around. Not an usual sight for a yellow zone, but something that can happen in case of an ambush, especially if it's an ambush on an ambush action.
Kilmure - She is a support for a Martin and his little mission. So that's that.
With a terminal in hand, Kilmure were sitting on a stone, waiting for a signal.
Nomomo - Nita is toughest doll i have ever knew. But i think it's too early for her to go on a raid. And considering everything. Martin would not be a good choice either. What else can i say though?
Another corpse were dropped by Nomomo as she was passing by. She didn't waited around for an respons, and went back to carrying ELIDs corpses.
Blaze - I am not asking about Martin. I know he is an idiot that can get shot like it's raining on sunny day. But Nita would really get usefull here. She could use some raid experience.
Kilmure - Well, she ain't here and you are as hell is! So why don't you get your explosives ready before anything or anyone come here. We will deal with the rest of a corpses!
Blaze - Yes SIR!
Once the command were given, Blaze dropped another corpse into a pit, then rushed to a car, took a briefcase, and runned away. All of that with a smile.
Kilmure - Ah... Give her something to do with explosives, and she get's all happy and shining.
Andre - I thought we didn't had enough explosives?
Concerned and confused Andre appeared behind Kilmure.
Kilmure - What?
Andre - Few days ago, i asked the everyone for explosives. And everyone said that the last box of high-explosive material were taken by Harry a few weeks ago. When i said that to a Blaze, she was sad. Did whe got a new supply of explosives?
Beda - She made her own explosives.
Sudden claim, attracted Kilmure and Andre attention, as their turned their gaze on her, who were sitting on top of a boulder and looking around through her scope.
Beda - What? She has a great chemestry knowledge. Given right materials, she mades a big surprise. Just like that job with URNC. She crafted explosives on a spot!
Both man turned their attention back at each other.
Kilmure - Yeah... She is one hell of a doll. By the way, i never really got a whole picture of what the hell happened with that URNC job. What happened back there?
Andre - A lot happened. Turns out there was two platoons of seventh survey or something like that. The first platoon were chasing down a high profile Varjager group, and found their hideout on a powerplant. They raided the powerplant and were happy for a while. Then they found out that most of Varjager group has decided to ride out to raid someone, so they set up a trap, disguised themselfs as Varjager and started waiting. Then another platoon of URNC stumbled upon that Varjager team. After a fierce fight that slowly became a siedge on a settlement, they managed to find some time to rest, but lost communication, so asked settlement residents to help. And they called upon us... When we arrived, i presented myself as a bounty hunter, and they asked me to attack the powerplant. I dropped everything on dolls, while i was managing our small business in a settelment. In the mean time, dolls were having fun by attracting ELIDs on a powerplant, and then they found out that it's not Varjagers on a powerplant, but rather URNC. And so they joined the fight and helped them fend off ELIDs...
Kilmure - Wait, wait... How the hell did they baited ELIDs on power plant?
Andre - Eh... Something about a magnifying glass trick? I belive. I don't know, Blaze explained the gist of it, i still didn't get it. Something about a collapse crystal.
Kilmure - Alright, nevermind. What did URNC said about this whole thing?
Andre - They were pissed, they were angry. But that lad, Captain Ryazov! He called commended on our whole assistance, but since we did screwd up their plan with another platoon. He decided to place a mark on my bounty hunter liscence and told us off. Mostly thanks to Nomomo. But yeah, URNC went out and made blue on blue. Welcome to a yellow zone bastards.
Kilmure - Yeah... Poor bastards.
Both Kilmure and Andre attention was caughed by a man approaching the duo.
Sam - How are you holding up gentelmens? I recon, both of you should be going away in a hour or so and make a scene something else, to clear off your name? And you don't need to worry about other deals here, since i am here, everything will go just fine.
Kilmure - I don't worry that you will fail, i am worried that you will kill off your team again. Just hope your new robots are doing good, and don't drag my team in this mess ever again.
Sam - Oh, look at our old grandpa, still worried about them dolls? And i would say that you are grown soft with age. At least you still holding up, unlike your friendo overhere!
Andre - Can you shut up and do your own thing?
Sam - *Ho-Ho* Still all bark and no bite? Once i am done here, we'll see who is stuck up high.
Kilmure - That's enough. Get lost before i shoot you right here!
Once fluid and quick motion of a wrist was enough for Kilmure to draw a pistol from his holster, and point it on Sam. Seeing a gun, Sam laughed a little, but backed away.
Sam - That's what i like to see. A proper man with propper instinct. Don't lose it Kilmure. I expect nothing else form you. We will see each other!
Slowly walking backwards, Sam turned around and walked away. After Sam was far enough, Kilmure gave out a sigh, before puting his gun back in a holster.
Andre - I still don't understand why Duval keeps him around. The only things that's good about him, is that he is effective. Other then that, he is...
Kilmure - Forget about him and lets deal with our things. Did you found something.
Andre - Oh yeah. I found a perfect cover for us. There are a few missions that are far away from here, just a half a day ride. We can take on all of them when the raid starts, and we should be out of concern.
Kilmure - What are these missions?
Terminal started glowing as Kilmure started swiping through a screen, untill he got to a missions advised by Andre.
Kilmure - Clear out Elid's... Help transporting supplies, defending a construction of a new purification tower... What the hell is this? NOMFA request?
Andre - Yeah... I was taken by surprise too. But should be easy. It's just meet a team of agents, escort them for a day while they would do whatever they want. Maybe they...
Kilmure - I don't care what they want. We are not taking this one.
Andre - Yeah, i figured!
Kilmure - Besides! Maybe they don't really know my face, but i don't want to be even in a slightest of records. The way i think about this. The less we to have a deals with NOMFA, URNC or anyone else, the less we have tails on our back.
Andre - Yeah, yeah, I got the idea. So... We have to move out in a few minutes.
Kilmure - *sigh* Welp, at hope they could do the rest. I will get the girls!
With terminal in hand, Kilmure walked away from a stone he was stitting. And Andre turned to face the road that other teams were to ambush. A narrow road with a few cliffs. Ambushing the ambushers sounded ridiculous.
=== Somewhere in Yellow Zone ===
Martin - Are you sure this is the right way?
Nita - I don't know! I don't have a map of yellow zone loaded in me. That's why i am using terminal, but this map sometimes is... questionable at best. And i can't get the map to update!
A car stopped somewhere on a crossroads. The signs were faded and broken down many times over. Nita were standing in front of a car, wawing her terminal in the air, when Martin walked out and decided to ask if something is up.
Martin - If it's the map you need, then take this!
A piece of paper appeared in Martin's hand. He walked to the front and placed the map on a hood of a car. Nita finaly gave up on terminal and walked closer. Martin were trying to look around, his finger were sliding across the paper untill it's stopped on a similar looking crossroad.
Martin - Here. If we turn left here, drive a few kilometers and turn right from highway, we should come to a clear long road, and be over with this trip for today.
Nita - Thanks.
Without any futher questions, Nita hurried to a driving seat. Martin wanted to say something, but after seeing Nita geting back inside the car. He folded paper map few times and went back too.
Once the car were moving again, he took of his gasmask and took a full breath. He looked at Nita who were once again in a driver seat.
Martin - Tell me, how the hell are you a doll? I heard that from other dolls. You can't update your software, can't update information, can't even use level two. And apparently can't update a map on your own. What is wrong with you?
Nita - Sometime I wonder about it myself.
Martin - I mean... You are a doll, right? No, don't answer this. That was a dumb question. But like... How the hell are you even a thing?
Nita - As I said... I wonder about this myself.
Martin - I am not getting far with this am i?
Nita - I wish would knew.
Martin - No, come on! Like, what the hell? Are you trying to be a all mysterious or what?
Nita - I am not! It's just that something IS wrong with me. My data sometimes get's corrupted, and then restores it's self back. And by sometimes, I mean constantly. I don't know if there is a way to fight it. I tried a few times to fix this... I don't know what happened in other cases, but there was one attempt. And people died because of this. Don't even know how... Just know they did.
Martin - Well, that not making my or your life easier isn't it?
Nita - Is it supposed to?
Martin - I don't know. But as far as i know, and i have to admit. My knowledge lenght is not as big as my arm. But even that is enough that you are one of the strangest dolls out there. And i am saying that in the most respectable way i can.
Nita - Thanks... I guess.
Martin - Argh... and how am i supposed to talk with you, when even you are not sure in what you are saying? Is there anythins you a sure about other than your name and your rifle?
Nita - Wait... What was my name?
Martin - Funny... Really funny.
Nita - *hah* yeah, I know. Sorry.
Martin - Like... Come on. How and where did they found you?
Nita - I think you know this story way beter than i am. You were there.
Martin - Oh. Yeah... That time you scare the hell out of me. Good thing i am not the one driving right now. At least i can get some rest before the deal. Wake me up when we will be getting close.
Nita - Yeah... Ok...
Trying to relax, Martin pulled out a beany hat and pulled it over his face. Nita just kept driving.
=== Kyiv ===
Green park. It is a lively downtown, people already started working. Someone still hanging out outside. Someone is having a date, someone is just sightseeing. And Zed was just waiting on a bench near a black car.
At some point, a man sat down on a same bench. The didn't even made an eye contact.
Zed - I guess the news are still the same?
Man - There are new news. A DJ named Stillmouse is hosting a rave party tonight. It was hard to find a name, but Takker is one of invited guests. A VIP if to be more honest.
Zed - *sigh* devil be damned. I don't like where this is going.
Man - I got the news. Now...Zed - I know, i know. Here, you can take this.
Few credits tokens appeared on Zed's hand. And she placed it on a bench before leaving to a car. Shortly after that, Man grabbed tokens and hurried away. Once inside the car, Zed started checking on Stillmouse rave party news through terminal.
Zed - Why the hell the tickets cost so high? Damn it...
With some hesitation, but Zed pressed 'purchase' button. And in a few moments, she had a way inside a rave party... And she lost a quarter of her savings.
Zed - I will list this on your name Richard... Once the job is done!
With nothing to do. Zed drived away.