Edgar got out of her car with Zeta. They were in front of an abandoned-looking garage. It had a few empty parking spots out front with old and scrapped cars in the back. Fenced off to the right were abandoned buildings, some of which were so far gone that they were crumbling in visible spots.
The left side was a little better, a grass field, and an endless road, with trees, and what Zeta was hopping was not a coyote. This made sense; this is the edge of Circuit City, after all.
Edgar: Is this the place?
Logic: Yes, according to the seller, it's an asset acquired by the police after a bust in the 1960s. They had to sell it due to the police being defunded cause an officer was found encouraging minors to rob corner stores with model guns, then kill them on the spot.
Edgar rubbed her chin.
Edgar: Oh yeah, I've heard of this one.
While they were talking, a guy in a security outfit walked up. He looked the two up and down and gave a serious expression.
Security guard: Excuse me, ma'am, you and your child should leave. My employer has told me not to let people enter, and there are weapons that kill intruders.
Logic: password is .....
Zeta: How many dead?
The guard's eyes widened, then he straightened up into a salute. With a serious expression, he said.
Guard: 16 dead.
Zeta's eyes saddened at those words.
Zeta: Please send flowers to the family without a note, and text me the receipt so I can reimburse you.
The guard nodded at the instructions.
Guard: Since you're here, I'm no longer needed.
He asked in worry.
Logic: From the security cameras, it appears he is living inside the guard station.
Edgar: Yes, the two of us will be coming in and out of here starting now, and may even have deliveries.
They then walked towards the office door to the garage.
Zeta: Do we really need these deadly weapons for security?
Logic: I understand how you feel, but we can't have Motor City compromise our last line of defense. I've checked the crime rate for theft, and it's 64%. The total cost of these items here exceeds $986,554,040. A standard security system would call the police. Motor City has plants in the police and black market; those items end up on the market or in evidence, and we will be compromised.
Edgar agreed with Logic's stance. It's cruel, but necessary for preventing their enemies from gaining an advantage.
At the front door of the office, a security code panel with a peculiar-looking slot was located.
Logic: today's code is 5611.
Zeta entered the code, and the camera above the keypad swiveled between Edgar and Zeta, making clicking noises. Then the weird slot below the keypad spat out security badges, each with one of their faces on it.
Edgar: Visitor passes. What, no employee?
Logic: I already told the drones were coming. If you can find one, they'll upgrade the badge for you.
Edgar reached for the switch to turn on the lights. But there was no response.
Edgar: No electricity, then how is the security system working?
Logic: apparently something's wrong with the generator. I tried to get the drones to fix it, but it's too rusty and old.
Edgar had a knowing smile.
Edgar: Come with me. I believe we found a temporary solution to our problem.
Meanwhile, back at the apartments, I know it sounds awkward at Marin's door.
He stumbled out of bed to answer. His expression Was Half awake, having had a nightmare about paperwork to do the night before.
At the door was an extremely familiar-looking tall woman. With an impatient expression on her face, he opens the door.
Marin: Zeta, since when did you get that tall?
Valerie: Think again, idiot.
Marin blinked his eyes a few times.
Marin: Valerie? When are you here?
Valerie shook her head in disbelief.
Valerie: I'm here to check on my daughter's living arrangements.
Marin: Since when do you have a daughter?
Valerie started to get annoyed at his cluelessness.
Valerie: Think really hard about this one and try again. Also, wake up already.
Marin thought for a minute, really hard, then her mind went to a piece of paper he had seen recently with the words' female donor' above it came to mind.
Marin: Oh yeah, Zeta, wait. Why do you care how she's living?
Valerie said nothing, looked down the hall. Marin sleepily followed her gaze and spotted a very, very hostile-looking older woman standing there. Arms crossed as if holding back on years' worth of fury.
Marin: Is that?
Valerie: My mom, yes.
Marin: Does she?
Valerie: Know about Zeta, yes.
Marin said we felt like he was waking up from a splash of cold water.
Marin: I just remembered I need to get into my office. I have an appointment.
Valerie grabbed him by the shoulders.
Valerie: Nice try, but I checked with your secretary, and you called off today and rescheduled all your appointments.
Marin clicked his tongue.
Valerie: You and Nathan's little stunt not only ruined my reputation but also got this woman on my case. I've already met the kids, so I'm okay with covering for her and willing to play along, but that means you have to help me get that woman off my case.
She growled at him like the living incarnation of a devil.
Marin nodded, not having anything to say.
Then he went back into his room and grabbed the spare key that the Lillian lady had left with him in case of danger.
Marin: Why didn't you ask the landlady to let you in?
Valerie: I tried, but the woman insisted that I get permission from you since you're the guardian.
Marin snorted at the inconvenience. Thinking to himself, that's a former social worker for you.
Marion got ready to open Zeta's room while he felt the burning gaze of the angry woman behind him.
As soon as he opened the door, the woman pushed him aside and walked in. She hadn't looked around the area. It was not a very noteworthy room. Bad was against the wind. Now facing the door, a wooden wardrobe stands against the wall on the right side, and a small desk with a purple laptop sits nearby. Some tools, like the screwdriver, wrenches, and riding utensils, lay strewn on the desk, as well as a stack of models, kits of guns, and a couple of how-to books. Neatly placed sandwiched between a coffee mug, pencils, and pens, and a figurine of some character from a series he didn't recognize.
Valerie's mom: This is a 16-year-old girl's room. I'd almost mistake it for all of the teenage boys' rooms.
She then opened the wardrobe. An assortment of random girls' clothes and a leather jacket hanging up neatly inside and on the door. She hung her school uniform on the other door; her gym uniform was on the floor, and her backpack was in the wardrobe.
Valerie's mom: almost anyway, but she seems to have her mother's taste.
Valerie glared at the woman for that comment.
Valerie: Was that supposed to mean you, walking pile of leather?
Her mom snorted, shrugging off.
Valerie's mom: It means there's an apparent defect in our family's gene pool, and I'm ashamed. I'm the one who had to pull that lot.
Valerie: There's nothing wrong with me or my kid.
Valerie's mom: It's funny how you say that, considering you haven't been around your kid for 16 whole years.
Valerie: I told you I had to leave her with Nathan because my work requires I complete all the sign projects before I get a year's rest.
Valerie's mom: Just like you to blame everything. In some circumstances, even bad parenting, from what I gathered, that Nathan kid at least did my grandchildren right? I was hoping to meet her and get a feel for her personality. Where is the kid anyway?
The two looked at Marin. Whose eyes? Widen, and how bad it would look if, as our guardian, she doesn't even know where she is.
Marin: If I remember correctly, every fourth Friday at the school, they give students a day off to participate in free studies to help them find their desired career.
He pulls out his phone and notices a text. It's from Zeta, says the found. Dr. Edgarwase is currently cleaning up a shot that we will be working out of. Also, let the landlord know she plans to move into the apartments. She's currently living out of a hotel.
Marin: She apparently found herself an apprenticeship with an engineer, and they're currently cleaning up the shop for a new product they're about to do.
He lied.
Valerie's mom: She plans to be an engineer?
Marin smiled awkwardly.
Marin: Yeahh, she's pretty fond of her father. Youseeee, he used to be an engineer. He would often travel the world, building machines and performing tasks in different countries, and he would usually take her with him to teach her various things.
Valerie's mom: interested. She wanted to get her career off to a good start with her father. Sounds like quite the daddy's girl.