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City of Vale

York

Walking through the streets, Agent York looked around the city. Delta adding a couple comments here and there, like. "Interesting, these lamp posts are holographic."

"Agent York." Delta spoke as the freelancer rounded a corner. "I have noticed a slight problem…"

York sighed. "Go ahead, D."

"I know we have funds, but it seems this world has a different monetary system, called lien."

York hummed. "Perhaps we should go classic double-life style. I'll take a job somewhere, so we can get the necessary type of money we need."

"But, what shall you call yourself? An alias, or your true name?" the AI asked.

"An alias for now. What can you come up with?"

"I'll come up with a list for you to decide. Perhaps you should start looking for a job." Delta told him.

York nodded. "I'll get right on that, but first, I should probably change out of this thing…"

"And just where do you plan on getting clothes?"

"I have my ways." York stated, looking to a closed clothing store with only a simple lock on the door. As York approached, he drew out his lock picking kit from his pocket, then stepped up to the door, working quickly. "Delta, make sure no one is alerted. And make sure there isn't an alarm or anything."

"Scanning for onlookers. There is not any security system installed, as far as I can tell."

York hummed to himself as he worked, then, with a final resounding click, he opened the door with a sweep of his hand.

"Voila" York spoke, then stepped inside and quickly shut the door. "We'll change out of the armor as soon as I can find a place to put it."

"I've been working on a schematic to remove the armor into a more compact form. It'll be at the expense of some of the armor's components, but with the weapon blueprints I've already scanned, I can make the final touches." Delta said, a few files of York's armor popping up on his visor.

"Okay, D. I'll leave you to it. I'll grab some clothes and we'll head out."

"Affirmative, Agent York."

After a few seconds, York's eyes widened. "Uh, D?"

"Yes, Agent York?" The AI asked.

York rubbed his hands together, then pulled off his helmet before scratching his head. "This may seem a bit strange, but it's been so long since I've been out of the suit."

"What is it, Agent York?"

"Do you know what my size is?"

0oooooooooooooooooooo0

York stepped out into the alley through the back door of the shop, still clad in his armor, clothes stored in a large black-and-grey backpack. After re-locking the door, he began whistling a tune as he walked out, satisfied he had the right kind of clothes.

"Agent York, I do not mean to be persistent but I recall your words on turning over a new leaf and-"

"Of course, you'd remember that, D. You're an AI." York remarked. "Yeah, yeah, I know, I just committed a felony. Once we get some funds, we can go back and I'll- "

"Warning, I've detected an altercation nearby." Delta cut him off. York clapped his mouth shut and was instantly on alert. "Sensors are picking up four life forms, and readings indicate levels of aggression, stress, and fear. Placing waypoint."

York looked to the adjacent alley and spotted the problem; a teenage girl being harassed by three young men. The girl had hair that was one half colored pink with a splash of white, the other was a more natural brown. Her clothes seemed to match her hairstyle, including a white jacket with a pink interior, brown pants, and gray boots with very high heels. Under her jacket was a black corset, and in her hand was a parasol, tip against the ground as if she were using it for a walking stick.

"Anything else you can tell me?"

"X-ray's show one man has a knife, two have small pistols."

York sighed and began his walk over to the group, "What do the guns turn into?"

"As far as I can tell, nothing." Delta answered. "They are a simple revolver and a semi-auto."

As he neared, York's hearing sensors picked up their conversation.

"Listen, pretty, all were asking is that you let us show you a good time." One thug's voice said smoothly.

The girl simply shook her head with a smirk, which seemed to infuriate the possibly intoxicated males. York crossed the street quickly, then hugged the corner of the alley, out of sight for now.

"I don't think you understand, girlie. You don't have much of a choice." One informed her.

"He's currently brandishing his weapon." Delta stated. "I suggest moving in now."

York took a breath, then stepped around the corner. "I think the lady doesn't want to go with you nice boys. How about you scram?"

"Who the heck are you, her boyfriend?"

York held up his hands. "In fact, I've never seen her before in my life. However, I've seen people in the same position as you four before. Figured I'd step in."

The girl gave him a droll stare as the apparent leader smirked and stepped towards. "I don't know who you are, but I bet you think you're so high and mighty in that armor of yours. Bet we could take you." He looked to the other two men. "Let's get him, boys."

York shrugged. "Suit yourself."

In a flash, he sent a right hook into the approaching man's jaw, sending him to the ground, then deflected the next goon's punch and head-butted him.

"York, bullet, dodge to the left." Delta advised. York followed the advice, barely and literally dodging a bullet, then looked to the leader, the one who had fired, and scissor-kicked the revolver out of the man's hand, then turning to send a jab into the knife-wielding thug's kidney as the man attempted to rise to his knees. The man fell back onto the ground with a cry, and York sent a kick backwards, connecting with the leader's stomach, sending the thug into the air.

After regaining his footing, York stepped over to the fallen leader and kicked his face, breaking the man's nose and knocking him unconscious.

A shot rang out and York saw his energy shields flare, and he turned to see the girl knocked out the final crony with a strike to the head with her parasol.

York looked to the three incapacitated thugs and smiled. "That was quite the warm-up."

The girl smirked, and York noticed her eyes, one brown and one pink, then she blinked and they switched colors. "You okay?" York asked the girl. She nodded, then pointed a finger at him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. So, what's your name?"

The petite female held her throat, then zipped her lips. Then, she began to draw in the air.

"She seems to be mute." Delta said, not speaking through the exterior speakers so only York could hear. The Freelancer's visor highlighted where she drew, spelling the name. "Neo?" York asked.

The girl nodded with a smile, then curtsied.

"Quick, D, what's my name?" York said quietly, though Neo picked up on it and rose an eyebrow."

"I haven't completed the list yet, but here-."

York quickly scanned the list and decided on a name. "Names Cole Vance. Friends call me York."

Delta sighed. "What's the point of creating an alias if you are just going to use your regular nickname?"

"Just roll with it." York hissed after deactivating his speakers. He switched them back on to speak with Neo once more. "Hey, I'm new in town, looking for a job, know any places that are hiring?"

Neo scratched her head, regarding the man before her and the unconscious bodies around her. She then signaled with a finger aimed at him, then two fingers suggesting walking, then a thumb aimed at her.

"You want me to follow you?" York asked. The colorful character nodded, then started walking. York waited for a second, then shrugged. "Why not?"

York trailed Neo while examining his surroundings. He noticed the moon up above, shattered in multiple pieces on one side. "That seems odd." York commented to himself.

"It must effect the tides and gravity significantly." Delta mentioned. "You may not have noticed, but vertical movement seems exaggerated. You may recall that when fighting those Grimm a grenade sent multiple contacts an average of fifteen feet into the air."

Neo was looking back; a questioning look made from her features. "Nothing important." York told her, and the girl shrugged and turned to look ahead. The duo turned down a dark street, and they approached what York recognized instantly, with its wall-shaking beats.

"A club?" York asked, then looked at the empty space where a line of clubbers would usually be. "Is it not open or something?"

Neo shook her head, then pretended to hammer the air. "Oh, remodeling." York guessed, to which the young girl nodded. "Apparently their sound system works."

Three guards in full black suits with red ties wearing red sunglasses waited at a steel door, each armed.

"Hey, Neo. Been awhile." One said. "What's with the robot?"

"It's armor." York corrected.

"Whatever." Another spoke. "Is he with you?"

Neo nodded, and the doorman pulled open the door to admit them. Another two men sat at a booth next to a tinted glass door, darkening what was occurring inside. "Hey Neo." One said, then pressed a button, letting the inner doors open enough for them to enter single file.

Neo continued her stroll, giving the man a small comedic salute before passing through the opening. York followed her, and his eyes widened. The inside looked as if a bull elephant with a suicide bomber vest had previously been inside.

"Alright, I think that's enough. Sounds working great!" a large man in a white dress shirt and black vest called up to the DJ, who wore a teddy bear head.

Neo stepped up to the vested man and taped his shoulder with her umbrella, since her height restricted her from doing it any other way.

"Eh?" The man turned, revealing his black hair and goatee, then, after seeing no one, he looked down and spotted the small figure and grinned. "Hey, Neo! Glad to see you back. Where ya been?"

Neo signed something that York couldn't see for a few minutes, and then the man looked straight at him. "You took out some thugs for Neo?"

York nodded. "She looked like she could use a hand."

He burst out laughing, and Neo followed, looking at him and laughing silently. "Oh, trust me, she didn't need help. But she appreciates it nonetheless."

After they recovered, the finely dressed man extended a hand. "Call me Junior. Neo mentioned you're looking for work?"

York nodded, then shrugged off his backpack before taking off his helmet.

"Dude, what happened to your eye?" A man on the side asked, a security guard, he guessed.

"Accident with a grenade, it's my bad eye. Name's Cole Vance, but my friends call me York."

"Why?"

York sighed. "It's a long story. Maybe another time."

"Alright, I got a few positions open, what are you looking for?"

"I can work a bar pretty well, though I don't know all the local lingo and favorites…" York said honestly. "Though I'm pretty sure I can get the hang of it. I could also work with the DJ, I've got some hit tunes that aren't really well-known here in Vale."

Juniors nodded while he scratched his goatee. "Seems good. How much are you looking to make?"

York shrugged. "What's you offer?"

"You said you were new in town? I'll give you 550 lien an hour, 'cause you'll be working the first shift, which is the hardest shift of the night."

This is a good deal, York. We can accommodate well with those kinds of funds. Delta stated, having moved to the neural implant at the base of York's neck. Take it.

"Okay, I'll take it."

Junior smiled. "We'll get you trained up and fitted for a uniform. You officially start next week when the club reopens. I'll be working with you to check your skills. That work for you?"

York held out his hand. "It's a deal."

Junior took it and gave it a firm shake before leaning against the bar.

"So, Junior, you know any places that rent for real cheap. Lookin for something kinda private but has all the necessities."

Junior stroked his chin in thought after "There's a small warehouse close to here, been out of service for a couple years. I think it's still on the grid and water system, too."

"Sounds good, can you give me the address?"

Junior nodded. "273 Ironrose Street, next one over."

"I'll check it out. I uh… you have a phone?" It's Scroll, York. Same idea. "Sorry, Scroll."

"Yeah."

"Ok, well mine broke but I can get your number and plug it in when I replace it. Or I'll just come by tomorrow."

Junior jotted down his number. "Try to get that taken care of as soon as possible. We'll need to get you in soon for that fitting."

York nodded then turned to leave before stopping and looking back. "By the way, what happened here?" He gestured to the club.

"Some blonde brawler, wrecked the place because I didn't have some info. Things… got out of hand." Junior told him.

"Damn, talk about overkill." York blinked, then slid on his helmet. "Goodbye, Neo. See you around?" He asked the mute.

The colorful girl smiled and gave a thumbs up, then placed both hands on the umbrella, which she was still using as a cane. York smiled and turned to leave in search of a new home.

0ooooooooooooooo0

"Well, I guess this is home, sweet home for now…" York said as he looked at the warehouse. It seemed about the size of two football fields, side by side. All that stopped him from his new home was a simple chain and lock, a closure notice on the door.

"Oh, come on, it was like it was meant for us, D!" The armored man stated, gesturing to the lock, then deftly dealt with the security measure, undid the chain, and opened the door.

The inside was very bare, with stairs on the left side leading up to the second level, which ran along the outer wall of the building and left the center open. There was an office in the right far corner with a restroom inside, and a door next to it that was bolted shut.

York approached the door and quickly slid back the bolt. As he opened the door, his helmet lights flickered on to reveal a staircase down to a lower level. He stepped down this staircase to reach a level, and immediately spotted the electrical box. "Aha, here we go." He said, opening the box to reveal multiple breakers.

On his visor, Delta highlighted the switches he wanted to turn on, which York completed. Lights popped on in the lower levels, revealing a storage room that contained odd bits of scraps and machinery, the odd piece of furniture, and tons of tools.

"Looks like we're in business." York grinned. "New name, new job, and a new place."

"So it would seem, Agent York."

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