One hundred and thirty levels high. Numerous visible structural failures. The Mega-Block had seen better days. An older model, run down, and left for dead like much of the city. The ground leading up to the block entrance was littered with garbage. The structure was covered in derogatory graffiti art. The prejudice against the mutant Mega-Block was far more than what Anderson expected. Grime and other unmentionable articles along the walls. The doors and windows were filthy, clouded in the grime, hiding what awaited the two approaching Judges.
"What do you know about Golden Groves?" Dredd asked.
"It's the only Mega-Block with occupancy consisting of only mutants. As a result, maintainers takes a secondary protocol within the sector. It houses nearly twenty three thousands residence. It could be our primary crime scene." she answered. She paused her steps when she noticed a large sign painted on the windows. NO NORMIES! "And not a welcome place."
"We won't find much help then." Dredd replied. He marked through the doors into the atrium.
The difference between the exterior and the atrium were not spectacular as they crossed the threshold into the atrium. The floor, walls, stairs, all in disarray and disrepair. There were massive holes in the floor, prompting them to alter their course through the atrium courtyard. The interior lights were in shambles. Numerous sections were offline, if not broken entirely. The main source of light entered through the atrium overhead and the holes in the levels. What struck Anderson, was the number of levels that looked blocked off entirely. At least half of the levels were sealed, each quadrant. She couldn't see into them, not even a glimpse of movement. All voices ceased as they entered the atrium. Mutants were scattered about the level. Some in groups, taking up occupancy on the decrepit floor, others huddled together. Each one baring the physical resemblance of their status. Numerous citizens were of alternate coloring. other's bore physical alterations; horns, eyes, fangs, tail, ect. Sporadic waves of every kind of emotions washed over Anderson, without her focus. They seemed stronger than others she had ever read. Perhaps it was their shared status, or perhaps they were projected more than others. Either way, Anderson nearly faltered in her footing by the strong emotions. The occupants watched the Judges for a moment. Then they slowly filed out of the atrium. Hot waves of hatred and anger washed over Anderson, nearly knocking the very breath from her lungs in the process. In a manner of minutes, the entire atrium was vacant of everyone but them.
"This may complicate things." Dredd muttered. He began walking up the atrium courtyard.
"How do you wanna work this?" she asked. She followed in sync with Dredd's steps.
Dredd sighed heavily. "Find control and see if any occupants hold any...excessive grudges against humans."
"Can I offer advice on the subject?"
"Depends." he answered.
"I wouldn't refer to them as if they were second class citizens." Anderson replied. "They're an overwhelming sense of animosity just by our presence alone. You call one of them anything degrading them further, and we'll have the whole block trying to kill us."
"Like that hasn't happened before." Dredd stated.
"With guns." Anderson reminded. "If I had a choice, I would take a bullet than having my throat ripped out."
Dredd nodded. "Point taken."
They continued to the upper atrium level. Each shop, that remained intact, was closed. The stands were sealed. Everywhere around them showed no sign of occupancy.
"This won't be a problem for you, will it?" Dredd asked.
Anderson glanced in Dredd's direction. She knew what he was referring to without trying to read him. "Are you asking because of my status, or to know whether I am a liability to the mission?"
"The mission." he answered shortly.
Anderson snorted. Of course it would be the mission. Dredd was...Dredd. He was cold, calculative, precise. He was a Judge first and foremost. They may have shared in a case since her graduation to Street Judge, but nothing more. Why would her status make any difference? "Since the Justice Department took me, all I was ever able to since from my superiors, ones who were aware of my status, was hate, disgust, and resentment. They looked at me as if I was nothing to them. I was only a waste of cadet enrollment. There's no difference between the Judges Council, the Chief, or you, Dredd. What I feel here, is no different than what I feel on the streets. These people hate me only for my role as a Judge, not for what I am. They shouldn't be judged by their status." She snorted bitterly and walked ahead. "I guess something's can't be erased by bombs."
Dredd watched Anderson furiously walk from him. Her outburst was...unexpected. He followed behind her slowly, surveying the abandoned atrium. From the corner of his left eyes, Dredd caught a fast motion ducking behind the upper atrium guardrail. He turned quickly, reaching for his Lawgiver. But as he turned, whatever he'd caught a glimpse of was gone. Cautiously, Dredd moved toward the site. "Anderson."
Anderson stopped walking and turned back toward Dredd. His diverted attention was all that she saw. She drew her Lawgiver from her hip and slowly moved toward the location. Dredd took the other post, closing in on whomever had shot past his line of sight. She sensed something faint near them. Her helmet clouded her full abilities, but there was something between them. Something small...and afraid.
The Judges came around both sides of the guardrail, cutting off immediate escape of whatever was there. Their weapons were drawn, locked onto their target. Anderson gasped quietly as her eyes fell upon the source. A little girl, no older than four years old, was sitting on the ground wearing ripped and bloodied clothes. Her legs were drawn up to her chest, her arms trembling around her legs. Her pale face was hidden beneath the hood of her shirt. Blood covered nearly every inch of the girl, even arterial spray across her face. Her big, terror filled, silver eyes shifted between Dredd and Anderson. Anderson lowered her gun and placed it into her holster.
"What are you-?"
"She's scared." Anderson replied. She lifted her hands slowly to her helmet and eased it off her head. She set the helmet on the ground beside her. She felt the fear from the girl increase with its removal, but decrease as the girl looked at her. "Hey. We're not going to hurt you."
The girl watched Anderson closely. Anderson took a small step toward the little girl. The girl did nothing, but watch her approach. Anderson reached the girl.
"She injured?" Dredd asked.
Anderson shook her head. "I don't see any wounds on her.
Dredd looked down at the girl. "You got a name?"
The girl looked up at Dredd but said nothing.
"Her names Caitlyn, sir." Anderson replied. The girls mind flashed to the medical facility. She was strapped down to the table, fighting against restraints. She was screaming, crying, begging to be freed. One of the medics approached her, injecting her. The next memory flashed to her waking in the halls, her neck bandaged tightly. "Her larynx has been severed."
"Her parents?"
"Dead." Anderson answered. "She's been living in the halls, stealing what she can."
"So where'd the blood come from?" Dredd asked.
The girls mind opened again. Anderson saw the victim running in a sealed corridor. She watched as Caitlyn followed the man from a distance. She felt the fear radiating through the memory. A feral scream echoed through her mind as something slammed into the victim, pinning him to the floor. The moment the man was on the ground, the mutant ripped into him. The man screamed in agony as he was ripped apart. The blood from the massacre sprayed Caitlyn, soaking her within seconds.
Anderson broke contact, gasping. "Oh my god."
"What did you see?" Dredd asked.
Caitlyn sprinted down the hall.
"Shit!" Anderson sprinted after the girl.
"Anderson!" Dredd yelled. He ran after his partner.
Anderson followed the girl down the south quadrant. The girl was fast for her age, turning down the nearest hall faster than Anderson had expected. Anderson followed the girl around the corner and paused. The hall was a maze of turns with blind spots at each one. She drew her Lawgiver and started down the halls. She could hear Dredd coming up behind her. She moved through the hall, securing the hall as she moved. The hall was in a similar disarray as the block itself. Violent images were painted on the walls. Warnings and threats were painted at every turn. Anderson followed the walls, hoping to catch a glimpse of the girl again, but she'd lost her. The hall opened to a barred off room, a dead end.
Anderson sighed in defeat. The room was empty. "Shit!" She turned toward the hall as Dredd finally regrouped with her.
"What the hell were you thinking Anderson?" he demanded.
"She saw it." Anderson replied. "She was there when the man was murdered. She's a witness."
"A witness who can't talk." Dredd remarked.
"A witness who's in danger if she stays here." she said.
"It's a dead end, Anderson." Dredd said.
Anderson shook her head and looked around the room. "If it was a dead end, we should intercepted her on her way back through the hall. She has to be some-aaahhh!"
"Anderson!"
Blinding pain erupted within her skull. Anderson dropped to her knees, completely disabled as the pain surged through her mind. Her Lawgiver fell to the floor at her side. Her hands trembled as they clutched her head. It was as if something was digging through her mind, ripping it to pieces, just as they had done physically to their victim. She could feel the cold, bloody claws ripping, scraping, grasping through her mind. Anderson fought. She pushed at the claws, trying to push them out of her mind. She could sense someone behind them, guiding them through her mind. They beat back her defenses and crippled her. Anderson screamed in agony.
"Anderson!" Dredd dropped to her side.
A heavy door dropped from above, sealing them inside the room. They were trapped, Anderson was disabled. Whoever was responsible would come for them soon, and they had no way to defend themselves beyond a direct assault.
"It's...it's...a trap." Anderson managed.
Dredd raised his Lawgiver toward the door. "High Ex."
Suddenly an electrical current coursed through the floor. The high voltage surged through the floor and into the two Judges. It disrupted the signals from the brain to the body, tensing and relaxing the body muscles at its will. Dredd cried out in pain. His Lawgiver fell from his hand and clattered onto the floor. Dredd dropped to his knees as the voltage surged through him. Anderson collapsed beside him, unable to fight off both mental and psychological assaults. The voltage cut off a few seconds later, leaving an after effect of a slight hum in the air. Dredd exhaled painfully. His chest ached like he'd suffered several broken ribs. His hand trembled uncontrollably against the floor. He reached for his weapon just ahead of him. His grasp was weak against the weapon. He aimed the barrel toward the barricade door.
Another surge of electricity coursed through the floor. Dredd cried out in agony. He collapsed onto the floor beside Anderson. His grip on his weapon grew slack as he passed out.
dun dun duuuuuuuuuuunnnnn! this is where things start to get good
