With a light gust of 'wind', those who inhabited the slums let out a communal shiver, the scent of toxic gasses and poverty nearly unbearable. Now 4:30 in the morning, the only sounds in the Wall market; remained the small sighs of the prostitutes, unable to find any jobs, and the incessant humming and buzzing of the bright neon lights that advertised the shops and inns in the area. The only people who lounged in the paths now were the men from the upper plates of the city being kicked out of the Local Honey Bee club, the last call having been announced. The light footsteps of the woman emerging from the shadows then called all attention away from the silence, the large bag of metal scraps and broken machinery clinking and clanging in her arms.
Strangely enough, she wasn't bothered by those lingering men, as she continued towards the northern sector of wall market. Hip checking her way into the weapon's shop, Kaylen didn't vocally announce her presence. Flicking on only one of the lights, she set the large brown bag on the counter. Wiping the perspiration from her brow, she was left with a large black streak along her face, the grease from one of the gears transferring to the back of her hand. Blissfully unaware of her appearance, she clicked on the light in the window, and after several moments of spazzing electricity, the neon sign flickered to life. Seated behind the counter, sorting through the various metals, it was obvious that Kaylen's insomnia was worse than usual. Removing the blob of fabric that settled over her torso, Kaylen tossed the poorly knitted sweater onto one of the chairs behind her. She helped out at the weapons shop in return for room and board from the owner and his wife. They were a portly little couple, and appreciated the extra help. The woman, Mirny had recently taken up knitting, and was none to good at it, but they were clothes, and they were warm.
But the shop wasn't doing as well as it could have been. They only used half the lights to save on electricity and mako, and Kaylen was the only other employee. But that was life in the slums. While those on the plates wined and dined their lives away, those not rich enough to pay the premiums Shin-Ra had set up lived down here…in sectors. Poverty wore thin on every person, and Kaylen was no exception. Tinkering away with the machines, she was only greeted by the sound of the door opening and closing. Standing up to see who it was, a small shiver ran along her spine. "Yes? Can I help you?" She asked, not entirely sure who would be shopping so late.
That earlier shiver multiplied as she viewed the Turk there, a small realization dawning on her as she wracked her mind for something she may have done. The Turk then gazed at the Kaylen's momentary fear and let a loud laughter escape the confines of his chest. "I'm here for gun maintenance." He then stated, letting the woman draw her own conclusion. The Turks were often associated with disappearances, kidnappings, general murder and rape, all in a days work. It was often joked, in hushed whispers that you would only see a Turk once in your life, because it would always end mysteriously afterwards.
A nervous laugh escaped the young woman, as she shoved the other metals out of the way to clear a spot for the man's pistol. "Should be relatively quick, just regular maintanince? Or is it clogged?" She began, flicking on one more light to afford her a closer look. As she went about her work with the standard issue gun, she attempted to make light conversation. "Out on business?" She asked, tinkering away and cleaning as she went. The turk provided her with short answers, intrigued at the slummer's skill with the gun. "Are you this skilled with all weapons?" He asked suddenly, his eyes glancing over the various blades, daggers, and guns that lined the walls. Kaylen looked up then, her brows furrowing slightly. "Well, yes…I've been trained by the shop keeper for the past 5 years…you have to know the product you service." A smug look emerged over the man's features, as he merely nodded and waited for the woman to finish. With the Wutain war on the brink of breaking out, Shin-Ra was in need of various recruits. Perhaps she could survive the life of a soldier.
As she finished up and wiped down the area, Kaylen looked back up at the suited man. "Lets see if you're any good with it." It was rather a command than a friendly question, and Kaylen rose slowly from her chair. "Can I ask why?" With a smirk dancing on his face the man merely shrugged and whispered. "No. Now follow me." Kaylen followed the man outside, quietly trembling. Taking an elastic off her wrist, she hurriedly gathered up a fistful of brown curls and put them out of her way. Following the suited man around the building into the back alley, he tossed the gun towards her nonchalantly. While she caught the pistol, he pointed at a lamp post several hundred feet away. "Shoot."
Nearly loosing her footing, Kaylen saw the distinct spirals of her breath. Small goosebumps rising along her skin, she forced the safety off the gun and gazed towards the Turk. In a moment she turned towards the target, and in a swift movement, and 5 calculated shots, she shot the first light bulb, then the second from a lamp post farther away. She continued this down the street, all five shots taking down a light. This earned a small chuckle from the man, as he simply made a waving movement towards her. His mind began whirling with possibilities. It was obvious that this woman was useless down here in the slums, where she could be of decent use to Shin-Ra. Soldier…not quite…perhaps an opening in the Turks would finally be filled. Reaching into his coat pocket, he took out a small business card and a pen. Scribbling down some information, he tossed it at her.
Watching the small card flutter through the air towards her, Kaylen made no movement to retrieve it. She looked up however as he spoke again. "Keep the pistol, and read the damn card. See you at work."
Kaylen's face momentarily faltered, as her brows rose. "Work? What? What in the fuck are you talking about? Hey! Wait! I want some answers" Dropping the gun she ran after the man all the while trying not to loose her footing in the dark. As the man turned a corner, she was greeted with the faint sound of growling. As the Guard Hound crawled out from under the garbage, Kaylen nearly fell backwards. A single flash of light became captured in its eyes and the nocturnal beast flew at her. The turk had already disappeared, as Kaylen was forced onto the ground by the ravenous beast. A small shriek trickled through her lips, as her hand searched along the ground for something to beat the creature off with. Her hands grasping around a thick pipe, she swung it at the beasts muzzle, already bitting into her side. Feeling her skin punctured by those sharp teeth Kaylen's eyes widened with immediate fear, dealing another blow with the pipe to the Guard Hound's head. As the beast shrank back momentarily, she was able to dash off the ground toward the Gun she had dropped only minutes ago. Searching the darkness for the weapon, the Guard Hound attacked a second time, his foaming mouth tearing into the skin on her forearm. With her other hand, Kaylen finally found the pistol, and point blank, fired several shots into the beasts body. When it finally stopped breathing, she used the butt of the pistol to break the beast's jaw, sliding the mutilated flesh from within it's serrated teeth.
Light headed, the woman rose then, the Turk's pistol in hand. Faintly in the shadows she distinguished the card lying on the asphalt. Picking it up, she merely forced the paper into her back pocket. Stumbling back around the building, the bleeding woman crept back into the shop, and through the back to the small room she called home. Tearing one of the sheets she gently dabbed the blood from her forearm, opening the dresser drawer to remove a potion. After soaking the sheet with the liquid she wrapped it around her arm and her torso, and eased herself into bed. Shutting off the small light, Kaylen lied awake in the dark for some time, before finally passing out.