If V hadn't been able to see for herself, she would have thought the Biotechnica vehicle wasn't moving at all. The smooth curves of its interior barely vibrated as it skimmed across the desert, the harsh whites of the panelling and seating an odd contrast to its obsidian outer shell. Directly in front of her was a partition with a blank monitor that separated her and Judy from the two bots that were also in the vehicle. When she'd entered the car, she had expected a single, large space, but it had obviously been designed to separate different kinds of passengers. Probably corporate executives and their assistants, she guessed.
Although they were completely black from the outside, V could see the arid landscape through a tinted window that seemed to run the length of the car and stretched upwards into its roof. She was glad for the view, as sitting next to a still rather ticked off Judy with only a blank screen to occupy them during the journey would have made for an even more awkward scenario. As it was, they had sat in relative silence for the last hour, both lost to their own thoughts. It was probably for the best, she realised. Kulkarni was no doubt listening in.
Apprehension simmered at the back of her mind over what might await them in Alpha, but she was equally as concerned about what she'd left behind. She'd told the two Aldecaldos who had been tasked with watching over the Biotechnica vehicle to inform Panam that she was heading to Alpha, that they should leave in the morning whilst V bought them time. The two men had looked nervous but hadn't tried to stop her. They had probably known just as well as she did how upset Panam would be.
V sighed and leaned her head against the plush headrest behind her, closing her eyes as the dull thrum behind them increased. She only hoped that Panam would continue with her plan to head north with her people, and not come chasing after them. A soft pressure against her thigh forced her eyes open again and she looked to her left. Judy had shifted her leg closer to V and was peering at her, her expression unreadable.
"You doin' okay?" V asked, still very aware that they needed to be careful with what they said.
Judy quirked an eyebrow at her as if asking her that was the most ridiculous notion in the world, but she eventually nodded. "How is—" she stopped herself and glanced around the interior of the car. "What about you?"
V forced a small smile. "I've been worse."
Judy eyed her for a few moments before slumping back against the seat, her eyes returning to the window and her knee bobbing up and down occasionally against V's leg. V found the contact oddly comforting. She would probably feel more at ease if she had her gear with her. When they'd approached the car back in town, the robots had emerged and scanned the both of them. They had made it explicitly clear that no weapons were to be brought inside the vehicle. She couldn't blame Kulkarni, of course, but it made her nervous. Still, she had her mantis blades and a few quickhacks to fall back on if it came down to it.
V let her gaze drift to Judy then and she watched how her eyes flitted across the passing rock monoliths and the endless desert, light just beginning to break upon the horizon. She wondered what was going through her mind. V knew she was still angry about her trying to leave for Alpha on her own and she suspected that would linger for a while. That was entirely understandable, though. V had yet again not fully engaged her brain before jumping to a decision and had come off looking like an utter jerk. Despite her best intentions.
A frown tugged at V's lips as she considered her history with Judy. She somehow always ended up upsetting her in one form or another, even if she wasn't always directly responsible. The chip and her health were clearly a source of fear and turmoil within Judy, something she was deeply struggling with. If luck was on their side, that was something she could hopefully remedy. But V also had the tendency to say or do things that angered Judy and she had the feeling that was grounded in her innate recklessness, her desire to act based on her instincts, on what she felt was right. Perhaps that was something she could work on, once all of this was over—if it ever was over. And if Judy could put up with her gonk ways long enough.
She suppressed a sigh as she tore her gaze away from the other woman. Judy deserved better than this, than her. Even if they were able to fix the mess in her head, would she be able to give up the mercenary life? Would she be able to resist the call of death and glory?
A flicker of light from the panel in front of V snapped her out of her musing and Kulkarni's face appeared on the monitor. No longer in his holographic form, V could see that his skin was dark and the greying streaks that swept back from his temples stood out against his neatly combed black hair. His expression was neutral, but his dark eyes shifted quickly between V and Judy.
"Good morning, V," he said cheerfully. "I'm glad you decided to accept our offer. I was not expecting you to have… company, though."
V's gaze flashed to Judy momentarily, who was peering at Kulkarni with barely restrained suspicion. "That won't be a problem, will it?" V said, her voice dropping in warning.
A tight smile pulled at Kulkarni's mouth. "Of course not." He cleared his throat and glanced off-screen. "You should arrive at Alpha shortly."
Leaning toward the window, V peered in the direction the vehicle was moving. Through the haze of the desert morning, she could just make out a formation on the horizon. At first, she thought it was another broad rock jutting up from the ground, but as the car sped towards it, she saw that it was too smooth, too perfect to be natural.
She was vaguely aware of Kulkarni speaking about their arrival, but she couldn't focus on his words. Ahead of them, a monumental dome, growing ever larger, spanned for miles. It looked white against the shimmer of the day's first heat but as the minutes stretched on, she could just make out the shadows of forms beyond the curve of the dome.
"V?" came Judy's uncertain voice.
Blinking back the wonder, V tore her gaze away from what could only be Alpha and looked back at Kulkarni. "Sorry, what?"
Kulkarni seemed a little put out by having to repeat himself. "Once you reach the city, you'll be met by a medical team. Please do not be alarmed – this is standard procedure. We merely have to check whether you will be bringing anything hazardous into Alpha. We have a delicate biome here."
V eyed him sceptically for several long moments, but she couldn't tell if he was being honest or if this was some sort of ruse. His eyes darted off-screen once more, and he grew uncomfortable under V's scrutiny.
"What's the plan after that?" Judy asked then and leaned forward in her seat.
Despite Kulkarni's apparent cheeriness towards V, his demeanour shifted subtly when he addressed Judy. His eyes narrowed and the forced smile faltered. "We will fill you in on all the details once you arrive."
Judy looked at V, her brow creasing. V merely shook her head, knowing full well that Kulkarni wouldn't give them any more information than was absolutely necessary. She just hoped that they weren't walking right into a trap.
"Enjoy the remainder of the journey," Kulkarni said crisply, and the monitor returned to its prior blank state with a click.
"What a prick," Judy muttered under her breath.
V couldn't hold back the small smirk and she really hoped Kulkarni wasn't listening in on them. Her attention was drawn to the window again as the car turned slightly, bringing the dome into full view. It was colossal, blotting out the horizon and looming over them.
"Jesus…" Judy breathed and moved towards V's window, leaning over her to get a better look.
The opaque shell almost seemed to glimmer in the morning sun, and V could just see that there were thick supports that rose up inside, a five-pronged claw that kept the dome above the city. The sand around Alpha gave way to a dense ring of dark metal at the base of the dome, although V wasn't sure what it was for. Whoever had built this place must have been extremely wealthy and its architects had achieved a marvel in engineering.
As Judy leaned in closer to the window, her eyes wide and her lips parted, V found herself suddenly more interested in the sight before her. Pink wisps of hair occasionally brushed against the tip of V's nose as Judy shifted to take in the view of Alpha, and V caught hints of Judy's scent in the air. She found herself wishing they were back in their hovel of a new home so she could just reach out and touch her.
"How long d'ya think that took to build?" Judy asked as her voice lilted upwards in excitement, her eyes rooted to Alpha.
V smiled at her curiosity and let out a soft chuckle. "You'd probably have a better idea than me."
Judy glanced at her with a quirked eyebrow. "I tinker with tech and software, V, not buildings."
"I'm sure you'd be able to master anything," V murmured, distracted by their proximity.
Her brow creasing with bemusement, Judy turned her head to properly look at V. Her breath gently tickled V's skin as her eyes roamed over the other woman's face. V was sure Judy would be able see the desire in her expression. She felt embarrassment claw up her neck and tingle under her skin at the inappropriateness of that feeling in that moment.
Disbelief flickered across Judy's face, before her eyelids dropped to half cover dark eyes. V felt a palm press against her thigh, its warmth seeping through her jeans and setting the nerves under her skin alight. Judy shifted slowly, her lips passing tantalisingly close to V's, causing her stomach to flutter, but she didn't linger. She settled back into her seat beside a now flustered V and withdrew her hand, leaving a chill of disappointment behind.
V lifted a hand to rub the back of her neck as Judy shot her a withering look, but she couldn't conceal the teasing glint in her eyes or the slight flush in her cheeks. V moistened her lips to speak, but her attention flicked suddenly to the window as the view of Alpha faded to black. Despite the piercing white of the car's interior, she felt as though they had been plunged into a tunnel. The same had happened on the other side of the car – the window was completely indistinguishable from the rest of the chassis.
"What's goin' on?" Judy asked, her tone uncertain and her eyes darting from one side of the car to the other.
V pressed her lips together momentarily. "I'm guessin' there's somethin' they don't want us to see."
Judy edged forward on the seat and rubbed her palms against her knees, a frown tugging at the corners of her mouth. V hoped that Kulkarni was just being cautious about the entry points into the city. The uncertainty of that sat uncomfortably in her chest.
She sat tensely in her seat and crossed one leg over the other, her senses straining to catch the slightest hint of what was going on outside the vehicle. It still seemed to be speeding along smoothly and she couldn't tell if they'd changed direction or not. But as the minutes stretched on, she was sure she could feel the inertia of the car shift.
When the vehicle jolted suddenly, she slid forward on the seat, her muscles feeling tight. Judy looked at her, the tension evident in her neck and jaw. V attempted to give her a reassuring nod, but she could feel the nervousness bubbling within her too.
The atmosphere within the car thickened the longer they sat in silence, and V's stomach lurched as an automated voice filled the cabin.
"Decontamination procedures commencing. Estimated time until completion: thirty minutes."
Judy's brow creased as she mouthed the question "decontamination" to V. She could only shrug in reply.
...
The thirty minutes had passed by agonisingly slowly and Judy had felt increasingly antsy. She felt trapped within the black shell and the longer they waited, the more she felt like it would be their tomb. Finally, the door beside V had hissed and swung open, spilling a clinical white light into the vehicle that had blinded her.
V now stepped out the car, casting a glance back at Judy. Following V's lead, Judy scooted along the row of seats and pulled herself out, glad to be able to stretch to her full height. They found themselves standing in an expansive, hangar-like room, smooth pale tiles completely covering the floor, only interrupted by thick pillars that reached up to a high, plain ceiling.
Set into one wall was a pair of double doors, metallic and exceptionally sturdy looking. When she glanced over her shoulder, she could see another, much wider door at the top of a ramp. She guessed that's where the car had entered the hangar.
Her eyes snapped back to the double doors when they slid open with a low wheeze. V stiffened to her right as a group of three stepped into the room, two robotic figures and one human. Judy immediately recognised Kulkarni between the two hulking bots, his pristine lab coat fluttering around his legs as he marched towards them. Judy wondered where the two tin cans who had been in the car with them had gotten to. And where the medical team Kulkarni had mentioned was.
Kulkarni smiled crisply when he neared them, his footfalls echoing loudly around the hangar. He stopped several feet away from V. From this distance, he looked shorter than her. For some reason, Judy had expected him to be taller.
"Welcome to Alpha," he said brusquely, looking only briefly at Judy.
V's gaze slid around the room and between the figures in front of her. "Didn't realise Alpha was underground," she said, her tone guarded.
Kulkarni's expression didn't even flicker. "As I alluded to earlier, we require that you go through a period of quarantine to protect the integrity of the city."
Judy's eyes narrowed. "Didn't hear no mention of a quarantine."
Kulkarni peered down his nose at her, which was quite the feat considering their heights were similar. "It is a matter of procedure. Either you submit to this process, or you will be required to leave."
Judy clenched her jaw, wanting nothing more than to cut this man and his arrogance down to size, but that would not help V. She knew that she had to let V take the lead here – it was her world. When she glanced at V, though, she could tell she was just as unsure about this situation.
V squared her shoulders then and lifted her chin. "Let's get this over with."
Kulkarni nodded and swept a hand towards the bot on his left. "My… assistants will accompany you to the medical facility, where we will run a few tests. I will talk to you there when you are properly situated."
He turned and made his way back to the double doors. The two bots mirrored his movements a few moments later and V traipsed after them, hanging back a little. Judy fell into step beside her, eyeing her with concern. V's brow shadowed her eyes, which watched their escort closely, and she held her arms stiffly at her sides.
When they passed through the large doors, they entered another tiled area, this time a long corridor lined with smaller entrances. Kulkarni was nowhere in sight and Judy wondered how large this facility was. It could stretch on for miles, for all she knew. As they were led onwards, Judy peered down yet more corridors that branched off from the main one, but they all looked similar. She hoped that they wouldn't have to make a run for their lives in this labyrinth – they may never find their way out. In keeping with the white theme, long strips of lighting ran the length of each corridor and a headache threatened behind Judy's eyes from the subtle pulse of power within them. This place felt so sterile to her; so dead.
Their metallic guards stopped suddenly in front of one of the identical metal doors and turned to face V and Judy. The door hissed open, revealing a surprisingly small room with one bed and a chair that resembled Judy's BD set-up in its centre. V took a deep breath and stepped inside, but Judy hesitated. Her instincts bristled, telling her to flee, that going inside was a terrible mistake. She pushed them down and followed V.
The door closed behind her with an ominous thud. She flinched and a shudder slid down her spine. This room felt much duller than the corridors, and a large window, shadowed with a dark tint, filled the entirety of one wall. Judy eyed it as she walked to the centre of the room, where V stood beside the bed. Opposite the window was a row of counters and cabinets, but they lay empty.
Judy placed a palm against the bed and leaned in close to V. "Are you sure about this?" What a gonk question.
V puffed out a breath through her nose. "Fuck, no."
"Guess it's too late to back out now," Judy said under her breath.
V peered at Judy silently for several long moments and a resolve settled in her eyes. "If they try anythin', they're gonna wish they hadn't invited me here."
Judy wasn't sure whether V truly believed that or if she was wearing her bravado as a shield, but she felt a swell of relief at hearing her say it. V had always had the ability to make her feel safe even when the odds seemed stacked against them.
Judy jolted backwards when she heard the door open behind her again and she spun around to see someone enter alone. It took her a few moments to discern that it was a man, but it was not Kulkarni. He was wearing a yellow, full body medical suit, something she had only seen in holovids about contagions and disease. In his gloved hands he held a tray of what Judy assumed were medical instruments – an injection gun, possibly for administering drugs, several smaller devices, and at least one cybernetics scanner.
"Thank you for your patience," he said, his voice muffled by the helmet. His skin was perhaps as dark as Kulkarni's but his features were much younger and Judy guessed that he could be no older than twenty-five.
V moved around Judy and stared down at the tray, eyeing it with suspicion. The man set it down on the bed and rearranged the items until they were perfectly placed and aligned. He smoothed down the front of his suit, even though it was completely unnecessary, and turned to them.
"Where's Kulkarni?" V demanded.
The young man's gaze flicked between V and the window. His mouth twitched as he scrambled for an answer, but before he could find his words, a voice filled the room over the crackle of an intercom.
"I am in the next room," came Kulkarni's smooth tone. "My assistant, Adhar, will administer the tests. This will be minimally invasive, but we will need to take some blood samples for analysis," he explained.
Judy took a step away from Adhar at the thought of that.
"Is that really required?" V's voice had dropped to a low growl. Even behind the visor of Adhar's helmet, Judy could see the nervousness in his eyes.
"Yes, I'm afraid so. As I've explained, the biome here is delicate and we do not get many visitors from outside the city. We just need to ensure that you're not bringing anything with you that will threaten the balance," Kulkarni explained.
V sighed and slipped her jacket off, laying it over the bed beside the tray. She offered her hand to the assistant. "Get on with it then."
As Adhar picked up a small, rectangular device, Judy edged closer to V, her eyes honing in on his every move. When he gripped V's hand and pulled it towards him, Judy grit her teeth. Pressing down on one end of the device, Adhar opened it like a clip and clamped it down on V's thumb. Judy heard her intake of breath. And then he was done, leaving behind a small droplet of blood in the middle of V's thumb.
Adhar placed the device aside and picked up an identical one, turning to look at Judy expectantly. She felt a sudden fear coil within her chest and squeeze, causing each of her muscles to tense. V didn't move out of his way. Adhar looked between the two of them, and Judy inwardly chastised herself at how ridiculous she was being. V had just let him do it. She would be fine.
She took a steadying breath and moved past V, hesitantly holding out her hand. Adhar repeated the same procedure and Judy felt a single, sharp stab of pain, but it was soon gone. He nodded at that with an odd combination of satisfaction and relief before returning the blood sampler to the tray.
As he set about scanning them with a variety of tools, waving them almost comically around them, she leaned back against the side of the bed, propping herself up on her elbows. She wondered if Kulkarni's aim was really to detect any harmful bacteria or the like, or if he had some other motive. There was something about him that made him inherently distrustful. Perhaps his arrogance, she mused. That kind of demeanour had always rubbed her the wrong way, especially when worn by a man.
Eventually, Adhar finished staring at his instruments and looked at them. "Everything seems clear here." His eyes swept over Judy then, making her skin crawl. "You suffered an injury recently?"
Judy instinctively wrapped her arms around her torso. "That's not your fuckin' business."
V shifted closer to her and Adhar seemed taken aback at her retort. He cleared his throat and moved back to the tray. "I just need to administer a mild anti-bacterial agent and then we will almost be done." He picked up the injector as he spoke, his voice surprisingly high and Judy only now realised it was lined with an accent she didn't recognise.
"Whoa, we don't know what's in that," V said sharply.
Adhar's eyebrows rose as he spoke. "I just said that it was an anti-bac—"
"Yeah, I know what you said. Doesn't mean I believe you." V crossed her arms over her chest and stared the man down.
Through the condensation on the inside of his visor, Judy could just see his eyes dart to the window. "Uh, here, you may scan it," he said and held out the injector.
V stared at it for several moments before finally relenting. "Fine."
Adhar pressed the nozzle of the injector against V's upper arm and it let out a muted hiss. He then did the same with Judy. She was surprised when there was only a quick pinch and then a cold sensation spreading across her skin. She didn't feel any adverse side-effects immediately. Perhaps it was only an anti-bacterial.
Placing the injector carefully on the tray once more, Adhar smoothed down his suit and backpedalled towards the door. Kulkarni's voice buzzed over the intercom again.
"Now, V. There is the matter of the chip." V quirked an eyebrow at the window, daring him to go on. "Obviously we cannot remove it from you just yet, but we would like to get a detailed scan of it, to get a better idea of what we're dealing with."
"What kinda gonk d'ya take me for?" V said, her tone scathing. "You're not gettin' a peek at this until you show me exactly what you plan to do."
Judy watched as V glared at the window, and she imagined Kulkarni glaring right back through his protective glass, but she had absolutely no doubt that V would win the stand-off. She didn't think there was anyone as stubborn as her output. As predicted, when he replied, Kulkarni's voice had lost its forceful edge.
"Unfortunately, you will need to quarantine at least until we've analysed your blood. We cannot allow you access to the city proper or the rest of our labs until then."
"You expect us to just hang out here until then?" Judy cut in then, fixing the window with an accusatory scowl.
"Of course not. We have guest quarters for such an occasion. Adhar will show you to the elevator that connects directly to them. The analysis will not take very long, but I imagine you could use some time to rest, to eat, and to…" There was a pause. "…shower."
Adhar moved to the door then and it opened to reveal the two bots, standing like statues, their backs facing the three of them.
"Please do not try to leave your quarters," Kulkarni droned, but Judy's eyes narrowed at his words. "You will not be able to call the elevator. As a precaution, you understand. I will contact you again by this evening."
Adhar disappeared through the door then and static hissed over the intercom before it fell silent. V shot an annoyed look over her shoulder at Judy, who could only shake her head in reply.
...
V leaned against the wall of the cylindrical elevator, the hum of energy the only sign that it was actually moving. Alpha's original inhabitants, or perhaps Biotechnica, had been obsessed with the perceived absence of motion. Judy paced around the small area like a caged animal, her hands clenching and relaxing repeatedly. Kulkarni's young assistant had left them at the entrance to the elevator, and the capsule had moved of its own accord, no doubt controlled by Kulkarni himself or another of his underlings.
If there were any others. That was something that had struck V as they had been led through the underground facility. Where were all the people? Surely a place of that size would require a huge staff, for maintenance let alone research. But until Adhar had appeared, it had felt eerily abandoned. Were they really so scared that V and Judy would bring in a contagion?
A soft jolt notified V that they had reached their destination and a veil of apprehension fell over her as she stared at the elevator's double doors. They opened with a quiet swish and her eyebrows shot up at the opulent room they revealed. Judy hesitantly stepped out onto a polished marble floor, her first footsteps echoing around the large, expensively furnished space.
V quickly joined her, her eyes sweeping across the red, plush sofa that stretched across one wall and the large screen that sat in front of it. A bar with a stone counter stood on the opposite side of the room, a fully stocked kitchenette partially hidden behind it. V's lips parted in surprise as her gaze fell upon the yawning windows that completely filled one wall and she found herself drawn to the sight beyond them.
The guest quarters were apparently situated high above Alpha and afforded them a spectacular view of the city. V's breath caught in her throat as she took in the sheer amount of green. In the centre of the city proudly stood a white tower twisting up towards the opaque dome that sheltered it. The curve of its architecture tapered into a point at its very top. Far below, white arms swept out from its base, segmenting the surrounding areas into viridescent oases filled with life. Tall trees effortlessly spread their canopies over perfectly shaped fields teeming with plants and crops that V was incapable of identifying, even if she had been closer. Thin streams of water travelled between the border of each of the sections and at their outer edges sat wide roads that circled the tower and split towards the city's limits. Organised into rings beyond the tower and its adjacent green band were rows of buildings, both tall and short, also elegant in their construction.
"You gotta be shittin' me…" Judy breathed beside her, and V reluctantly tore her gaze away from the view to see the other woman's wide eyes and open expression.
"No wonder they're so protective of this place," V muttered as her attention was pulled back to the city.
The hefty supports that she'd seen from outside the dome were even more imposing from inside and she could only imagine the destruction one would cause if it ever fell upon the city. She had no idea what the dome itself had been constructed from. Glass would have been far too fragile and, despite the unusual shimmer across its surface, it seemed solid to her, so she doubted it was an energy field of some kind.
In her peripheral vision, she saw Judy press her palms against the window and slowly shake her head. "All this… just sittin' here."
V nodded absent-mindedly, squinting to try and get a better look at the structures below them. Everything seemed so clean, so artificial, so disturbingly perfect. Looking down at the city from this height gave her the impression that she was studying a model, as though it had been put on display for her benefit. That uncanny feeling she'd had when walking the halls beneath the city returned. She realised, then, that there was no movement. There were no cars on the streets, no sign of people. Even the trees were still.
"Where is everyone?" she murmured to herself.
She had first thought that this paradise before her could be a perfect monument to scientific achievement, to humanity's stubbornness in the face of adversity, but as the elation of the discovery faded, she realised instead that it was merely a memorial.
"You noticed it too?" Judy said, her voice distant. She shook her head, her mouth twitching into a frown. "Ain't no one here 'cept those corpo eggheads and their machines."
V felt a trickle of dread slither down her spine. "Can see so much life down there, but it still feels so… dead."
Judy nodded slowly, her eyes still surveying Alpha. "Those fuckin' pricks have all this and they're just keepin' it to themselves." She looked at V, her eyes burning with anger. "Think of all the people this could feed. How many lives would be better off here."
V tore herself away from the window, the view having lost some of it appeal now. "What the hell are Biotechnica doin' here?"
"I think it's real fuckin' clear," Judy seethed and stalked over to the sofa. "They're creatin' a perfect home for themselves and screw the rest of the world." She slumped down onto the red cushions and lounged back, spreading herself out.
As V moved to join her, the large monitor opposite the sofa flickered to life, causing both of them to stare at it in surprise. On the display was a familiar face, one she had only seen in a grainy, old photograph before.
"Valerie. So glad you could make it," Adriana purred.
She was sitting in a black, high-backed chair behind a wide and intricately carved wooden desk. V had to blink a few times to clear the confusion from her mind. Adriana looked no older than that picture she'd seen in the file. But that was impossible. Gone, though, was the youthful innocence and the curiosity she had seen in that Adriana. The woman before her wore her confidence well, only accentuated by her dark business suit, and there was a sharpness in her eyes that told V to be wary.
"Who the fuck are you?" Judy spat. She had shifted forward on the sofa, her legs still parted, but she now rested one forearm on her thigh as she leaned towards the screen, her eyes narrowed.
Adriana's eyes slid to Judy and her expression told V she was far less happy about the other woman's presence. She smiled as she shifted her attention back to V, but there was something unsettling about the way her mouth curved.
"Adriana?" V asked, still unsure if it was indeed her.
"I trust the director was not too troublesome?" Adriana asked, her tone pleasant.
V glanced around the room, not missing Judy's irritated scowl. "Is it safe to talk?"
Adriana shifted in her seat, an amused smirk pulling at her lips. "Even he would not be so brazen as to spy on his guests. Not with cameras and microphones, at least. Worry not, Valerie. I have spoofed their sensors. They will not know what it is that you do in your lovely little suite."
"V," Judy snapped, pointedly. When V looked at her, she was standing with her arms crossed, glaring at her.
V shot her an apologetic look. "This is Adriana. She's the one who's been sendin' me those messages."
Judy's gaze flickered to Adriana and V saw the anger flare in those dark eyes. "I suppose she's why we're here?"
V nodded. "Yeah, she told me—"
"You can explain this to your little pet later, Valerie," Adriana cut in, and V heard Judy let out a seething breath. "We have more important matters to discuss."
Perhaps it was the darkness in Adriana's eyes, but Judy bit back her retort. V wasn't about to let it pass, though. "Show her some fuckin' respect. She's the only damn reason I'm even goin' through with this crazy scheme."
Adriana's features twisted momentarily before settling into neutrality, causing the hairs of the back of V's neck to rise. V glanced uncertainly at Judy, who was staring back at her with an expression she couldn't read, the anger gone now.
"I see," was all Adriana said in response. There was a pause before she continued. "I understand that the director is running some tests."
V placed a hand on one hip, determined not to let Adriana get under her skin. "Yeah, somethin' about checkin' that we don't introduce anythin' harmful to the city."
"He was being honest with regard to that. Although, I suspect that he did not tell you the whole truth."
V sighed. More games. "And what would that be?"
That odd smile was back. "While the plants are susceptible to outside influence, they are very well protected. It is not them that has the director concerned. It's his experiments."
"Experiments?" Judy asked before V could respond.
Adriana's brow knotted momentarily. Her eyes didn't leave V. "He tries to replicate my father's research. Poorly, might I add."
Is that really what he was up to? What Biotechnica were dabbling in? "He's trying to make clones?"
"Are you fuckin' serious?" Judy's tone was strained but incredulous.
"Not trying. He has succeeded after a fashion. But they are neither viable in the long-term nor what one would exactly call human." Adriana seemed to be enjoying imparting this information, particularly Judy's reaction to it.
V shuddered at the thought of inhuman husks beneath the city. "And that's what he wants the chip for?"
Adriana tapped her chin with a forefinger. "It would appear so."
"Jesus…" Judy breathed.
V's brow creased then. "Do you know how he plans to help me?"
Adriana tilted her head a little, continuing to tap at her chin slowly. "That is a rather good question. With his current progress, not to mention his technical capabilities, I do not see how he could possibly succeed."
Running a hand through her hair roughly, V let out a frustrated breath. Not that she could trust much of what Adriana was saying, but it really did seem like Kulkarni was taking her for a ride. And she had no idea if that was also the case for Adriana. The more important question, now, was: Which one would shiv her in the back first?
"And you can?" Judy asked suddenly, her voice holding a warning, but V could also hear the plea in it.
Adriana sighed, as if the question were bothersome. "Yes."
Judy moved towards the screen and stabbed a finger in its direction. "And we just gotta take your word for it?"
Adriana seemed unaffected by the display of emotion, but she was studying Judy closely now. "Yes."
V placed a hand on the other woman's shoulder, but it was jerked away from her and Judy paced towards the bar. Adriana quirked an eyebrow at V.
"If you're tryin' to fuck me over, I'll make sure this place burns," V said firmly.
A second eyebrow joined the first as Adriana's lips parted in surprise, but she quickly concealed it with a smirk. "Of course." The display distorted then, momentarily warping Adriana's face. When it settled, her smirk was gone. "Let us finalise matters, then."
Judy rummaged around behind the bar, irritably slamming cupboard doors, but V had a feeling she was still listening. "What's your plan?"
Adriana leaned forward, threading her perfectly manicured fingers together on the desk in front of her. "When the director offers to show you around his menagerie this evening, and he will, you will go with him. He will likely spout some pseudo-science to convince you to submit to his requests, but that is unimportant. When you are down there, I need you to retrieve something for me."
Now V was curious. "What?"
"I will send you an image and a map detailing where the item is most likely located. The director is a man of habit, so I doubt he has moved it since the last time I was in his system."
"You didn't answer my question," V said, her eyes narrowing.
"Biological material. That is all you need to know right now." Adriana was growing visibly more impatient as V kept prodding for information.
Judy had stilled by the bar and leaned over it, both forearms resting on its stone surface, a bottle of tequila between her hands. "You said since you were last in their system. That mean we're goin' in blind?"
Adriana didn't answer immediately. In fact, she didn't move at all and V thought that perhaps the feed had frozen. "Not blind. As I said, the director is habitual. Not much will have changed. Unfortunately, they have tightened their security recently," she said, finally.
Security. "And what if we run into trouble?"
Adriana dipped her head in thought. "A subtle approach would be preferable." She paused, a smile pulling at her mouth. "Perhaps your pet may be helpful, after all."
Judy scoffed from behind the bar and unscrewed the cap on the tequila, quickly taking a swig. "Her name's Judy," V warned.
Adriana waved a dismissive hand. "She has some technical ability. That may help us."
V would have asked how she knew that, but she suspected that Adriana had done her research on Judy just as she had with her.
"Some," Judy sneered and took another swig of tequila.
Either Adriana didn't notice the anger in Judy's voice or she didn't care as she continued on regardless. "If you are able to access their systems locally, and patch me in, then I can provide direct assistance. I should be able to disable their security completely."
V made eye contact with Judy and she put the bottle down, moving back towards V to join her in front of the screen. "Yeah, I can do that."
"So, say we can pull this off, get your package. Then what?" V asked, unease sparking in her chest at the thought of Judy being put in danger.
"We should focus on one task at a time. The director can wait. Once you have the item, bring it to me. I will mark the viable exits on the map. When you leave the facility, head to the tower at the centre of Alpha."
V's gaze shifted to the window and to that ivory spire. So that's where she was.
"Allow me some time to prepare the information. I suggest, for now, that you rest until the director calls for you," Adriana said, although there was nothing in her tone that suggested she cared about their wellbeing.
V didn't like that they had so few details to go on, but she had to trust that the information that Adriana would provide would be sufficient to see them through this safely. There was also the chance that she was lying and that Kulkarni could actually help her. She would just have to see how this played out.
"Alright. Don't stay silent for too long," V said warily.
Adriana nodded and the screen went blank.
Judy let out a slow breath and wandered back to the bar. "There's absolutely no way this is goin' to bite us in the ass."
V joined her, taking the bottle of tequila when it was offered to her. She took a large gulp, relishing the burn as it slipped down her throat. "Welcome to merc life."
Pulling the bottle out of V's hand, Judy eyed her before taking another sip. "She damn well better follow through on her end."
V huffed out an amused breath. "If she's smart, she will. Wouldn't want to be the focus of a pissed off Judy."
Judy's left eyebrow perked up and she placed the bottle on the bar. "You'd know that better than most, huh?"
Swallowing awkwardly, V forced a smile, unsure whether she was being serious or not. Judy walked around her then and patted her on the arm.
"I'm gonna go see what their shower's like," she said, her tone neutral.
V watched her disappear through a door set into the wall beside the kitchenette. She sighed and rolled her shoulders to ease out some of the tension there. Judy could be so expressive sometimes, from her little smirks to the intensity in her eyes, but other times, V found it so difficult to tell what was going on in her mind. She was probably trying to process some of the bombs Adriana had dropped. At least V had had a little advance warning before getting here.
She also knew that Judy hated just sitting around, waiting, thinking. And now they had hours before Kulkarni would contact them. V didn't exactly like the idea of mulling over every little thing that could possibly go wrong either.
Coming to a decision, she turned and headed towards the same door. On the other side was a large bedroom, welcomingly dim and sporting a massive double bed. A thin, beige blanket covered the mattress and four luxurious pillows were propped up at the headboard. Just to the left of the door was another entrance, likely to the bathroom.
V stood in front of it but couldn't hear any water running. Her brow creased as she wondered if she should just enter. She took in a breath and pressed her lips together as she turned the handle. When she slipped inside, she found Judy standing in front of a large sink and mirror, stripped down to her underwear, staring at her reflection. Beyond the sink was a large shower cubicle, still dry.
Judy watched V's reflection as she approached, her expression giving nothing away. V stood behind Judy, watching her face carefully, and lifted her hands to rest them on the other woman's shoulders. Judy's eyelids fluttered briefly as V's fingers brushed her skin.
V pressed a light kiss to the curve of Judy's neck and breathed in her scent. "You just standin' here thinkin'?" she asked, her lips ghosting against Judy's skin.
"Got a lot to think about," Judy murmured and leaned back against V slightly.
V slid her hands slowly across the curve of Judy's shoulders and ran her fingers, feather-light down her arms. She felt Judy shiver and her eyelids dropped to half-cover her eyes as she continued to watch V in the mirror. "Maybe better not to think too much right now."
Judy's lips parted momentarily as the tip of her tongue darted out to moisten them. "Easier said than done," she murmured, her voice dropping slightly.
V pressed her lips more firmly to the skin of Judy's shoulder, hiding a small smirk. "Could distract you."
Judy's nostrils flared briefly as she quirked an eyebrow at V's reflection. "You can be pretty distractin'."
Letting her hands drop to Judy's waist, V caressed the warm flesh there and nudged her hips forwards, gently pressing Judy against the sink. Judy leaned forwards, placing her palms against the ceramic unit, her eyes darkening but never leaving the mirror. V moved with her and brushed her lips against the sensitive skin of her neck, her tongue occasionally flicking across it.
When Judy's breaths faltered, V slipped one of her hands up and over the peak of a breast, her smirk widening at the sudden intake of air. She held Judy's gaze as her other hand slowly inched downwards, pausing at the hem of her shorts. Her own desire swelled in the pit of her stomach at the flush that crept across Judy's skin and her increasingly shallow pants. She dipped her fingers under the band, pressing into the flesh there as she travelled down. Judy's lips parted as her eyelids dropped further, anticipation tensing the muscles under V's fingertips.
V's gaze fell to those full lips and she yearned to kiss them, to feel them move against her own, to push her tongue past them. Impatience burned within her and she quickly pulled back, turning Judy so she could trap her body against the sink again. She gripped Judy's face in her hands and captured her lips with her own. The kiss was firm but slow, savouring. She felt fingers slip around the back of her neck and into her hair, nails grazing across her scalp.
A whimper crept up the back of her throat as Judy ran her tongue across V's bottom lip. A haze of longing fell over her and she found herself caught up in Judy's intoxicating scent, her taste, the feel of her skin sliding against her own. The kiss deepened as V's hands resumed roaming Judy's body, mapping every curve and peak. Worshipping her.
A tightness formed in her gut as her need grew and she pulled back from the kiss, taking in hurried breaths to clear her head a little. It would be so easy to rush this, but that's not what she wanted. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the yearning in Judy's eyes, her lips still parted as she too tried to calm herself. V reached up and pressed her palm to Judy's cheek, overwhelmed by a sudden surge of emotion.
Judy slipped her hand over V's and let her eyes fall shut. When she opened them again, they were clearer and she pulled V's hand away to press a lingering kiss to the centre of her palm.
"We really shouldn't do this here, y'know," Judy rasped, the regret of having to say that evident in her eyes.
Disappointment plummeted into V's stomach, but she couldn't disagree. "I know."
A wry smile pulled at Judy's lips. "Don't think I'd be able to fully enjoy it with…" She glanced around the bathroom, a small crease of concern appearing between her eyebrows as her voice trailed off.
Now that thought—or any thought, for that matter—had been put into her head, V couldn't help the shudder at the idea that someone could be watching. Even if Adriana had assured them otherwise. V gave Judy an apologetic smile and received a reassuring squeeze of her hand in return.
"We should probably try to sleep a little, though," Judy suggested. The deep purr of her voice said otherwise, though.
V huffed out her frustration and pulled back from Judy, her body instantly cooling at the lack of contact. "Doubt I'll be doin' much sleepin'."
Judy continued to clasp V's hand and backed towards the shower, tugging her along with her. "Cold shower first then?" she said with a wink.