Chapter Two

The tunnels were more of a maze than a reliable road network. Panam was quiet the rest of the ride through the tunnels. Lara thought about how quickly she had come to trust Panam, they were driving in these narrow tunnels where one bad turn could mean slamming into a rock wall. The tunnels slowly became filled with more light from outside. Panam finally broke the silence.

"We're almost there, Night city here we come!"

As Panam finished speaking she saw two Arasaka Drones waiting at the end of the tunnel, she mashed the brakes.

"Arasaka drones, are you fucking kidding me right now!"

Panam looked franticly threw the gear stick into reverse, she looked at Lara.

"Lara, grab my sniper rifle from the back and fucking shoot 'em".

Lara undid her belt and wrestled her way into the back, Panam looked at Lara in the rear-view as she climbed into the back seat.

"Nice ass by the way".

Lara saw the sniper rifle laying on the back seat, she grabbed it and moved back to the front. She looked at Panam smiling to herself as she climbed back into her front seat.

"You're not funny you know, making comments about my ass while Arasaka drones could blow up this truck at any moment".

Panam turned to Lara and started reversing while poking her tongue out at Lara.

"Exactly it's perfect timing, if they do blow up the truck, I wouldn't have got a chance to say it."

Lara rolled her window down, offering one last statement to Panam before she rested the sniper rifle on the side mirror.

"Fucking smartass".

Panam laughed as Lara aimed at the first drone, they were reversing slowly, and the drones still haven't fired or moved at all. It was strange. Lara didn't have much field practice with sniper rifles, but she would have to just improvise, something she was quickly learning she would need to get used too. She lined up the leftmost drone and fired, the shot missed, bouncing off the roof of the tunnel. Panam shifted into neutral.

"Fuck Lara you need marksman training yesterday".

Panam grabbed the sniper rifle from Lara and set it up like Lara on the side mirror except she undid her racing harness and kneeled on her seat and twisted herself out the window. She looked down sights. Lara looked at Panam's position on the seat and decided to get payback for before.

"Hey Panam, nice ass by the way".

Panam laughed as she fired destroying the rightmost drone in a fiery mess of mechanical parts.

"Oh, now she's funny as well".

The playful banter between the two of them stopped immediately when they both realized the remaining drone was now moving towards them, fast. Panam focused quickly and shifted the sniper rifle into a four five-degree angle on the side mirror in the direction of the drone. The shot hit; the drone exploded mid-air, but the drone mechanical body bounced off the bonnet of the truck. Panam pulled the rifle back inside and looked at Lara.

"Fuck that was close".

Lara laughed as Panam put the sniper rifle in the backseat. The few moments of peace between them became interrupted by the drone sparking in front of them. Lara jumped out of the truck. The drone was mostly destroyed but Lara knew what she was looking for, a tracking chip. She carefully moved melted steel armour plates away to reveal the chip slots. She was right, the tracking chip was still intact. Lara quickly kicked the drone to the side of the tunnel and swung the truck open jumping in, breathlessly explaining the situation to Panam.

"Arasaka drone had a tracking chip, we've got to move".

Panam didn't wait for any further explanation and shifted into first gear and then into second driving directly towards Night City. As they left the tunnel Lara scanned the horizon for any signs of Arasaka. The dusty plains were clear, she turned to Panam.

"How did Arasaka know about that exit?"

Panam punched the steering wheel.

"I bet there's some fucking mole in the Aldecaldos camp".

Lara checked the horizon again, still nothing, maybe she managed to stop the tracker in time. Panam was still staring out at the edge of the Badlands just ahead of them. She poked Lara in the shoulder.

"Not long now, Night City will come into view soon".

Lara looked ahead, the dust from the Badlands was obscuring her from seeing much. Panam seemed confident they were close. Slowly the dust started to clear away, Panam checked the rear-view mirror and smiled. The first glimpse of Night City was skyscraper towers raised over the city skyline. As the truck rolled over the final hill in the Badlands, Night City was in full view. The city was one great big melting pot of different styles and the painfully obvious, economical situations. Night City was so full of hope and hopelessness at the same time. Panam rolled her window down, breathing a heavy breath.

"Night City, the one and only".

The two of them took in the view for a few moments before Panam drove the truck onto the first bit of paved road either of them had seen in a while. Panam smiled and nodded at Lara.

"So, Lara which part of Night City did you grow up in?"

Fuck, Lara started rattling her mind for a good answer. She was drawing a blank every time, she would just have to improvise.

"Everywhere and nowhere".

Lara laughed shallowly, Panam just frowned at her.

"Mystery girl, okay that's no problem".

Lara bit her lip, she wanted to tell Panam, but she needed to wait for the right time.

"It was the kind of upbringing people would judge you for, so I'm usually vague when I talk about it".

Panam smiled and laughed, poking Lara on the shoulder again.

"Chill Choom, just curious about you".

Lara smiled at Panam and then looked back onto Night City. Everyone in this city is so closely connected, yet so often so deeply distant from each other. Maybe exploring Night City was exactly what Lara needed to escape her Corpo upbringing. The day was coming to a close, off in the distance orange hues covered the sky around Night City. Lara thought back to the drones, wouldn't Arasaka have an easier time finding once they were in Night City. Lara started lightly bouncing her leg on the spot, she turned to Panam.

"Isn't Arasaka going have an easier time finding us here".

Panam had one hand on the wheel while she rested her head on the other hand that she had her arm on the window beside her.

"Nope, Corpo types don't want attention in the city, the most they'll do is watch us".

Panam eyes looked like she was getting dark rings around them. It had been a long day. Panam yawned and kept talking.

"That's if they do see us, the city is messy and the streets are complex, they'll be kicking themselves for not taking us out in the Badlands".

It was true the city streets were just a blur to Lara, the Corpo section of Night City she had grown up in was organized and mainlined. Anywhere else in Night City seemed to be a maze of roads going up or down, curving around blind corners or abruptly hitting dead ends. At least the mess of roads gave Lara some comfort about their situation. Panam kept weaving in and out of side streets, it was time for Lara to get more information where they were going.

"Hey Panam, what's is Afterlife like?"

Panam laughed and turned to Lara and frowned at her when she realised Lara was serious.

"Really? Have you lived under a rock your whole life?"

Lara just smiled and laughed as well, she needed to be careful what she said next. Corpos aren't exactly popular with Nomads.

"Well, you met me digging through scrap heaps, living under a rock sounds nice compared to that".

Panam turned into a carpark, the cars that were already parked were of notable quality and value. Panam pulled into a parking space

"Well, we are here, so you'll see for yourself".

Panam shifted the truck into neutral, turned it off and stepped out the truck. Lara followed suit, further down the rabbit hole she thought. The neon sign saying Afterlife hung over a dark entrance way that led to a stairwell with stairs going up and down. Panam took the lead, she had obviously been here a few times. Panam turned to Lara and smiled before heading down the stairs

"Just stick with me, we have to get past the grumpy bouncer first".

Lara kept following Panam, first set of stairs down turned into an entrance way with two swinging doors. The air had become musky and still, it felt like no one had opened a window in twenty years. As Panam opened the swinging doors a second set of doors that looked automated came into sight. In front those doors the large frame of the bouncer stood blocking the way. Lara looked at the bouncer, he had some serious chrome on his face and his upper body seemed unusually large. It was no doubt that Afterlife wasn't just another nightclub. Panam walked straight up to the bouncer, he slightly widens his stance, properly more out of habit more than it been necessary.

"Here to see Rogue, got info she's gotta what to hear".

The bouncer's expression remained still; he had black glasses over his eyes which didn't help with getting a read on him. His head shifted towards Lara and then back to Panam.

"Who's that?"

Panam turned almost acting surprised by Lara standing behind her, clearly Panam was doing a routine to try and throw off the guard.

"Oh, she's just my witness to back me up".

The bouncer shook his head and frowned at Panam.

"Fuck Panam, you're a headache".

The bouncer stepped aside and the doors to Afterlife opened.

"Rogue has got a busy schedule, five minutes in and then straight back out".

Panam smiled at the bouncer then walked into Afterlife and Lara followed behind, the bouncer locked eyes with Lara as she pasted him.

"No starting shit, one fuck up and you're out for good".

Lara held the lump in her throat and nodded, then she stepped into Afterlife. The bar covered in neon lights drew Lara's attention first, it was a long bar setup that sat in the centre of the room. Panam had been yelled at by some patrons as soon as they entered, she waved at them and walked past the bar to the left side of Afterlife. The bartender was woman with dark brown hair in a ponytail, she watched Panam as she walked past her and then saw Lara and flashed her a smile. Just down from the bar Lara watched as a group of men gathered around raised glass pedestal. Inside a hologram of woman danced. The group of men transfixed on the dancer, ogling her holographic tits. Vaporous hedonism at its best. Panam kept walking towards a booth on the far end of the room, outside of the booth another large man who looked just like the bouncer before stood guard. Panam turned to Lara as they got close to the booth.

"Just follow my lead, Rouge might try to rattle you, just ignore it".

Lara smiled and nodded. Panam walked up to the guard.

"Here to see Rouge, important biz".

The guard glanced at Panam and laughed.

"No shit must be really important".

The guard made a decrypted call, Lara guessed it was a direct line to Rouge.

"Rouge, Panam here and she's got some really important biz to discuss with you".

There were a few moments silence, Panam tensed her hands, watching the guard. He hung up the holocall and looked at Panam.

"Boss is ready for you both".

Panam smiled and relaxed her hands, the guard stepped aside. Panam stepped into the booth and Lara followed, the guard mumbled as Lara walked past him.

"Fucking amateurs".

Panam stood by the seat across from Rogue. Rogue had long greying hair that swept over her head to one side. She had cyberware on her face and sat twisted towards Panam and Lara. She held a glass full of alcohol in her hand. She looked quickly at both Panam and Lara.

"Sit now, both of you".

Rogue gaze burned upon Lara; she shifted slightly forward.

"Panam, who's your friend?"

Panam was getting comfortable in her seat.

"Lara Croft, just a Night City girl".

Rogue raised her eyebrows, rolling the alcohol in her drink around.

"Just a Night City Girl".

Rogue gestured at the bar for someone to come over and as she did a man who looked like a voodoo boys netrunner came up to Rogue and whispered in her ear. Lara felt her stomach turning in on itself. Something felt off. Rogue nodded and the netrunner returned to wherever he had come from. Rogue stared directly into Lara's eyes, Lara quickly glanced at Panam, she was frowning at her. Rogue took a slip from her glass and then placed it on the table.

"Lara you're from Night City, but you're no ordinary Night City girl".

Lara knew her bluff was most likely completely in vain, but at this stage it was her only play.

"My family does well for themselves, but I'm still just an ordinary Night City girl".

Rogue smiled and kept her eyes fixed on Lara.

"Girl, any Corpo in Night City is always more than ordinary".

Fuck. Lara didn't know how Rouge had found out who she really was. Lara tried to hide her surprise. She was failing. She glanced in Panam's direction and saw she was partly frowning while her eyes looked watery. Lara knew she had to recover Panam somehow. She looked at Rouge. She was smiling out the corner of her mouth. Lara had to push back and risk this entire meeting.

"Fuck you, you might know my background, but you don't know me".

Panam stopped frowning and how looked at Lara her eyes wide open with her eyebrows raised. Maybe Lara had got Panam back on board with her. The real threat was Rogue. She was still smiling; she picked her glass back up and took another sip. She looked at both Panam and Lara.

"You both probably need to talk, I don't really fucking care either way".

Rouge paused and then skulled the rest of her drink and placed the empty glass on the table.

"Lara passed my test and Panam, you apparently got important biz for me".

Inside the booth neither Panam or Lara knew how to respond. Lara looked at Panam, she had crossed her arms and was looking off into empty space. Lara took charge and fixed eyes with Rogue.

"Do you want information about what Arasaka's been up too or do just want to bring up my past?"

Rogue eyes briefly lit up when Lara mentioned Arasaka, that however was short lived as her icy demeanour had returned and she stared back at Lara.

"Go then, I'll humour you".

Panam was now watching the discussion between Rogue and Lara, she appeared to be back to normal for now. She looked towards Rouge.

"Listen Rogue, we could've died in the Badlands, and this is your fucking reaction?"

While Panam was speaking Rogue had got a cigarette from her pocket and had started smoking it. She looked across at Panam, she was smiling slightly.

"Anyone one of us could die at any moment, so you shouldn't be asking why I reacted the way I did".

She took a long drag from her cigarette, taking her time blowing the smoke out of her mouth.

"But asking why I should give a fuck in the first place".

The back and forth between the three of them was wearing on Lara's nerves. She leaned in sightly towards Rogue.

'Fine we get it, we want to do an information exchange".

Rogue eyes narrowed and she took another long drag of her smoke.

"Finally, tell me what you know".

For the first time since Rouge dropped the bomb that she knew Lara was from a Corpo background, Panan and Lara looked at each other. Lara felt like she could feel Panam's confusion from just looking at her eyes. Panam smiled at Lara for a quick moment before turning to face Rogue.

"Rogue, I'm sure this is going to news to someone even like you".

Panam began telling Rouge about their trip to the Badlands, the crashed Arasaka ship and the Tiger Claw that was killed right in front of them. Their close call to death and their narrow escape. Rouge listened, how Rouge always listened, with shallow interest and short attention span. Several times throughout Panam's telling of the story, she gestured for Panam to hurry up. Now Panam had finished, it was Rouge's turn to talk.

"Interesting, sounds like a shitshow I don't want to be part of".

Panam clenched her hands and screwed up her face and looked Rogue square in the eyes.

"What the fuck you mean no part of this, there must be something that interested you about this".

Rogue smirked and looked at Lara, her eyes were intense but lacked any real emotion. Lara felt a cold chill just from her stare.

"I have some pointers I could give, but that depends entirely on Lara".

Lara felt like Rouge was just enjoying toiling with them, the so-called five-minute meeting had passed a while ago. Whatever Rouge was really after this was the best chance to get the lead they so needed so badly. Lara looked intently at Rouge.

"I'm listening, what do you want?"

Rouge lingered on her smoking, taking her time before replying to Lara.

"I want you to access your Corpo contacts, when I need it".

Rouge was right, Lara still had contacts in the Corpo world. However, she could call upon Lara at any time and for anything. But what choice did she really have.

"Fine, but you better have good information for us".

Rouge had finished her smoke and she flicked it into the ashtray on the table. She locked eyes with Lara.

"You're so painfully obvious an outsider, I am fucking Rouge the Queen of the Afterlife, the only information I know is good".

Rouge looked at both Panam and Lara and then continued.

"Taki Kazo, a Tiger Claw Boss, has running interests in Arasaka".

Rouge controlled the conversation now as Lara and Panam listened intently.

"Of course, you can't just get a meeting with a Tiger Claw boss easily, lucky for you both I know a fixer in Japantown that can help you get one".

Panam shifted in her seat, this meeting was dragging on. She looked at Lara to wrap up the meeting.

"I'll honour my part of the deal, if you give us the deets of this fixer".

Rouge tapped the chip on the side of her head and looked at Panam.

"I've sent you the deets, happy hunting".

Panam and Lara both quietly walked out the booth, as they left Rouge called out.

"Lara, remember our deal, I'll call you when I need you".

Lara followed Panam out of Afterlife and back up to the parking lot. They both got into the truck, not a word had been spoken between them since they left Rouge's booth. They both sat for a few moments still, Panam had her hands on the wheel. Panam breathed deeply and looked at Lara besides her.

"I wish you had told me you were from a Corpo family".

Lara wasn't expecting such a soft response from Panam, she felt that surely if she ever found out about her been a Corpo it would have been a death sentence. Now she knew and she still haven't abandoned or lose her temper about it. Lara looked back at Panam.

"I wish I had as well, it's a habit to hide it from people I meet".

Panam looked away from Lara. More silence followed, Panam kept her hands firmly on the wheel. She bit her bottom lip slightly and looked in Lara's direction, her voice was a bit raspy.

"I understand, but no more secrets".

Lara swallowed the lump in her throat before she spoke.

"deal".

Panam smiled and let go of the wheel, she seemed back to her normal self now.

"Right, let's call this fixer".

Lara smiled back at her and Panam began calling the fixer. The response was almost immediate, a bad sign Lara thought. The voice of the fixer bled out of the holocall.

"Hey, Totemo kashikoi here, how can I help today?"

Panam paused for a moment, she clearly hasn't thought of what she would say.

"Rouge told us you can set up a meeting with Taki Kazo."

The line when silence, it dragged on for a few seconds longer than what would be considered comfortable.

"Yea, sure, since it's from Rouge I guess I have no choice".

"So, when can I expect to hear back from you".

"Give me a few hours".

"Fine".

The holocall ended and Panam sat back in her seat. She looked at Lara.

"How much of that did you hear?"

Lara smiled at Panam; she noticed that the events of the day was finally taking toll on her, her body slumped in her seat and her eyes looked dark.

"Enough, should we find somewhere to rest?"

Panam nodded, starting the truck with a quick of the keys in the ignition.

"Any recommendations?"

Lara thought about the small apartment she had in the city centre, Panam found out about her Corpo background and haven't turned and ran. It was time to trust someone else.

"I have an apartment in the city centre we can crash at".

Panam smiled and started backing out the carpark.

"Shit, you're already inviting me back to your place, this is moving fast".

Lara laughed and looked out the truck window.

"Oh, shut up and just drive".

Panam smiled and laughed and drove out of the Afterlife carpark.

It was quickly becoming early morning as they drove towards the city centre. Although Night City never really got completely quiet, this time of the day was the quietest it ever got. However today the quiet was interrupted by the sound of drones. Flying quickly towards their target.

Panam was barely awake, Lara had stopped trying to maintain a conversation a few miles back and now they were just slowly driving towards her place. Panam trusted Lara, mostly because she was so untainted by the bullshit of the world. There was something attractive about her uncorrupted view of the world. Panam felt her jacket getting franticly tugged on. She quickly returned from her thoughts and looked at Lara, her eyes were wide.

"Arasaka have found us".

Panam looked in the rear-view mirror and saw two Arasaka drones behind them, closing in on their position quickly. Panam checked for road signs, a sign came up ahead saying one mile to the city centre. Lara saw her checking the signs.

"What are you looking for?"

Panam pushed as hard as she could on the accelerator.

"If we reach the city centre Arasaka will be forced to back off, unless they want a Corpo clusterfuck".

Panam looked back again, that was of course if the Arasaka drones didn't manage to kill them before that. The gap between the drones and Panam's truck was been maintained only by Panam speeding towards the city centre. The fact that Panam had realised the loophole of the Corpo occupied district would mean that the drones probably were aware of that as well. Another sign came up just ahead, half a mile to go. Panam heard something sounding like an engine revving up.

"Duck Lara!".

As Lara and Panam ducked behind their seats, the glass of the back window scattered into a thousand pieces as the Arasaka drones fired mini galling gun rounds at the truck. Panam tired her best to hold the wheel steady. Panam saw Lara was trembling slightly ducked down on her seat, this was the first time they were properly in the shit. Panam had to ask the Lara something she really didn't want to ask her to do.

"Lara, grab the Lexington from the glove box and shoot back".

Lara and Panam fixed eyes, Lara's eyes were glassy looking and wide open, her lips trembled.

"Are you fucking serious?"

Panam put her hand on the side of Lara's face and gently brushed her thumb against her cheek.

"Yes, I am"

Lara and Panam stayed like that for a few moments before Lara nodded and Panam removed her hand and tighten her grip on the steering wheel. Lara opened the glove box and held the Lexington in her hands. Another round of fire came from the drones ripping into the boot of the truck, luckily not penetrating the back seat.

"Lara, you need to shoot now".

The sign ahead said a quarter mile to go. Lara gingerly looked back at the drones and pointed the Lexington and fired. Every shot missed, but the drones started moving side to side hindering their aim. Panam focused on the road ahead, there would be an automated speed trap just as they enter the City Centre. Panam would need to slow down in time for that, while also keeping distance from the drones. It was impossible. She checked the rear-view mirror. The drones were close, just close enough for what she had to do.

"Lara fucking strap in and start praying".

Lara quickly placed the Lexington back in the box glove and pulled her belt tight. She looked at Panam and flashed a slight smile and nodded at her.

"Ready".

Panam braked, she kicked her brake pedal like she was trying to kick it straight out of the truck. Drones typically take a few seconds to evaluate a situation. The drones didn't get these few seconds. The drones flew directly towards the truck, they didn't slow down at all as they hit the top edge of the now broken back window. The jagged edges were perfect for slicing the drone horizontally down the middle. The top part that would contain the tracking chip flew over the truck and landed in front of the truck; the rest scattered in the boot of the truck. Lara started giggling uncontrollably.

"Wow, that so crazy, great thinking Panam."

Panam looked at Lara, her nerves were shot to hell, they both needed rest desperately.

"Yea, it sure was let's keep heading to your place".

Lara stopped giggling and held her hand over her mouth for a moment before breathing deeply, she removed her hand and looked at Panam.

"Yeah, we need to get some rest before we need to face the Tiger Claws boss".

Panam swerved around the drone wreckage and stuck to the speed limit. The last thing they needed now was more attention. Entering the city centre traffic had just started to pick up and Panam was using every ounce of focus just to follow the road rules. Panam stopped for a red light and looked over at Lara. She was asleep in her seat; her eyes were so heavy it looked like they were glued shut. Panam watched her chest slowly expand and as her breath escaped from her slightly parted lips. Her lips looked dry, Panam thought they should have ordered a drink at Afterlife before they met with Rouge. The sound of the horn behind Panam woke up Lara and Panam realised the light had turned green, she waved her hand out of the window to the car behind and drove ahead. Lara stretched in her seat and yawned loudly. Panam briefly looked at her.

"You have a good sleep?"

Lara cracked her neck slightly as she slowly woke up.

"I won't lie It was pretty shit; your seats aren't exactly very comfortable".

Panam laughed and watched her speed closely.

"Sorry, this beauty built for functionality, not to be comfortable".

Lara looked ahead and massaged her neck. Panam thought now at least she didn't have to wake up Lara for directions.

"How far till your place?"

Lara kept rubbing her neck.

"Not far it's on Union Street".

"Okay, just tell me when we are close".

The remaining trip was filled with comfortable silence, Panam thought it was mostly because of how tired they were that nothing else was spoken. However, it was just as likely that they were just getting so comfortable in each other company that nothing needed to be said. Panam turned the truck down Union Street. It was only a few minutes of driving before Lara spoke up.

"Just up on the left here".

Ahead was a plain five story concrete apartment block, the first rays of the morning sun were just hitting the front of the apartment block as Panam pulled towards the curb. Lara pointed towards the building.

"There's parking under the building, it might be best considering the truck has been marked by Arasaka".

"Good thinking".

Panam thought she should have realised that first, but she felt the last bit of effort draining from her body fast. She pulled into a descending ramp that led to the parking spaces under the building. The parking lot was poorly lit, which served them well. Panam found an empty car park to the far end of the parking lot and pulled the truck into it and turned the key. Both Lara and Panam sat there for a few moments before either of them made it any kind of movement. Lara opened her door and undid her seatbelt.

"Ready to head in?"

Panam could only nod and followed suit and got out the truck locking it behind them. In the centre of the parking lot was an electric elevator. The kind of elevator that had the cage that opened side to side. Lara and Panam shuffled slowly into the elevator. Lara pushed Level five. Panam mustered her strength to make a comment on it.

"Penthouse for you, eh?"

Lara rolled her eyes and lent against the elevator wall beside Panam.

"I didn't want anything special, but my parents paid for the best, so I won't ruin the Croft name by living in some normal apartment".

Panam smiled and put her head on Lara's shoulder.

"You're an outcast of your family too?"

Lara laughed to herself.

"Yeah, but at least I have a nice apartment for us to hide out at?"

Panam smiled softly, she felt her head melting into Lara's shoulder.

"Yea, that's true".

The floor reached level five and elevator doors opened. Panam slowly lifted her head off Lara's shoulder. Lara looked at her and smiled.

"Follow me".

Lara stepped out the elevator and Panam followed. Once again, the lights in the hallway were dimly lit and it was also a generic hallway. Panam wasn't playing an attention to any details around her as Lara opened the door to new apartment. It was dark inside aside from the single streak of light coming into from a window on the far wall. Lara looked at Panam and smiled.

"Welcome to my home".

Panam smiled back at her and looked around for a couch to crash on. She saw nothing.

"Thanks, do you have a couch somewhere I can sleep on?"

Lara shakes her head.

"No sorry, I only got beanbags for seats and a double bed to sleep on".

Panam heard the mention of a bed and started looking around for it.

"Where are you going to sleep?"

Lara moved towards an open frame in the middle of the far wall.

"I guess we'll just have to share the double bed".

Lara disappeared into the dark frame and Panam could hear her hit the mattress in the next room. Panam followed her into the dark room.

"Should I sleep on the left or the right?"

"Right side".

Panam felt around the room for the bed base with her feet and found it and then moved to the right side. She sat on the bed; it was much softer than she was used too. She slid off her boots and laid down on the bed besides Lara. She could hear Lara's slow breathing; she felt the waves of exhaustion hitting her. She spoke into the darkness.

"Sleep well Lara".

Silence was the only thing Panam heard back, Lara was already asleep. Panam closed her eyes and quickly drifted off to sleep.