The scrapyard was a vast field of rusted cars, broken machinery, and piles of metal. It stretched for acres on the edge of the Outer District, a graveyard of the old world. The moon was full, casting a silvery glow over the debris, turning the rusted metal into something almost beautiful. Kalen walked slowly, his boots crunching on the gravel, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of danger.
Rico was waiting for him near a rusted tractor, leaning against the metal frame, his arms crossed. He smiled when he saw Kalen. "You made it. Good. I was worried Tyson might have caught you."
"Jake covered for me," Kalen said. "Where's your guy?"
Rico nodded toward a shadowy figure leaning against a pile of scrap metal. "Over there. Name's Marco. Used to be Tyson's right-hand man. Got fired for asking too many questions about the fake meds. Now he's a drunk, but he still knows things."
Kalen walked toward Marco, his hand outstretched. "I'm Kalen. Rico says you can help me."
Marco looked up, his eyes bloodshot. He was in his forties, with a beer belly and a scar across his cheek. He held a bottle of homemade whiskey in his hand, his fingers trembling. "Help you with what? I don't help Blackstone pigs."
"I'm not a Blackstone pig," Kalen said. "I'm here to take down Victor Kim. I'm here to stop the fake meds. I'm here to find the North Star Outpost."
Marco's eyes widened. He took a long drink of whiskey, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "The North Star Outpost. Your mother was Elara Voss, wasn't she? UN medic. Died saving scavengers from radiation wolves."
Kalen nodded, surprised. "You knew her?"
"I worked with her," Marco said. "Before the Catastrophe. I was a paramedic. We were stationed in the same camp. She was a good woman. Too good for this world. She talked about the North Star Outpost all the time—said it was a cache of untainted meds, a place where people could be healed. But the UG didn't like it. They thought it was a waste of resources. They wanted to destroy it."
Kalen's heart raced. This was the first time he'd met someone who'd known his mother. "Do you know where it is? Do you know how to find it?"
Marco shook his head. "No. But I know who does. Victor Kim. He was the one who was supposed to destroy it. But he didn't. He wanted the meds for himself. He's been searching for it for years."
Kalen's jaw tightened. Victor was looking for the North Star Outpost too. He had to find it first. "What about the fake meds? Who's supplying the chemicals?"
"Some scavenger named Masoud," Marco said. "Iranian guy. Runs a smuggling ring out of the Wastes. He's got a beef with Victor—Victor stole his shipment last month. Might talk to you if you can get him his stuff back. He's at Three Canyons Outpost. Two days' walk from here."
Kalen nodded. "How do I find him?"
"Ask for the red tent," Marco said. "He'll know who you are. Tell him Marco sent you. He owes me a favor."
Kalen pulled out a handful of credits—his entire paycheck. "Thanks for the info."
Marco grabbed the credits, shoving them into his pocket. "One more thing. Victor's meeting the UG administrator tomorrow. Allen Cole. At the Administration Building. They're gonna talk about expanding the fake meds operation to the Inner District. They want to sell it to the rich folks there. Charge 'em a fortune."
Kalen's blood ran cold. The Inner District—where the UG officials, Blackstone executives, and wealthy survivors lived. Victor was going to sell poison to them too? Or was he just going to use the Inner District as a front, to make the fake meds seem legitimate?
He thanked Marco and walked back to Rico. "We need to find Masoud. He's our link to Victor's supply chain. And we need to stop Victor and Allen Cole's meeting tomorrow."
Rico nodded. "I can get us a truck. Leave tomorrow at dawn. But we need to be back in two days—Miguel's meds are running out. He won't survive much longer."
Kalen agreed. They'd find Masoud, get the proof they needed, and take down Victor. For Jake's sister. For Rico's brother. For Marco. For his mother. For all the scavengers dying from fake pills.
As they walked back to the Outer District, Kalen thought of his mother's emblem. She'd dedicated her life to healing. He was going to finish her work. Even if it killed him.
He looked up at the sky, where the red sun was rising, casting a warm glow over the Safe Zone. It was a new day. A day of hope. A day of action.
Kalen smiled. He was ready.