Even after having found the floor plans of the building, it took Crypto a good thirty minutes to navigate to the exit. Whoever designed these industrial complexes, he thought resentfully, must have had a childhood fondness for labyrinths.
Only once he was outside did it occur to him that he'd had no idea where, in the Outlands, this place was located. The drop ship that had transported himself and Revenant to this facility was automated, and used faster-than-light travel- he could use neither landmarks nor the time it took to make the journey as a point of reference. Outside the building, he found himself in a heavily wooded area with a wide dirt road running through it. He got out of the open and hid among the brush in case any guards - or worse, soldiers; the corporation did have a great deal of influence over the military - came looking for him. At the same time, he was careful not to stray too far from the road- out of line of sight, but close enough to follow its path.
The sooner he could get to Solace City, the better. He was still on Solace- right?
Any crowded, heavily populated area would do. Anywhere that he could blend in among a sea of faces, make it harder for the corporation to locate him…
He had to have been walking for hours. His feet ached- so did his knees, his back, his shoulders… Every time the hacker took a step, his leg felt like a heavy stone block that he had to pick up and drop on the ground in front of him. He felt weak after all the exertion he'd done today without food or water, but even if he had anything that he could eat, fear made his throat and stomach feel too tight.
Somehow, simultaneously, he felt more alone than he'd ever been, and he had an overwhelming sense that he was being watched. He found himself wishing that Revenant was still at his side- not a thought that Crypto ever expected to pass through his head, not even for a microsecond. The assassin was a volatile, unpredictable monster, and… well, an assassin. This network of corporations, however, was a much more versatile and terrifying enemy. Revenant just might protect the hacker, he hoped, if doing so would serve the simulacrum's own interest in bringing them down.
Anyway- he would have appreciated any company to distract him from the sense of dread that gripped him. His racing heartbeat echoed in his ears, his core felt uncomfortably hot while his skin was ice cold, and the skittering of various small creatures that lived in these woods sent adrenaline through his body in surges. He was so certain that he'd never forget how he felt right now, at this moment, it seemed as though death itself wouldn't be able to take the memory from him.
Crypto couldn't tell how long he'd been walking, but the sun was low, fading into the horizon when he finally stumbled upon a refueling station. As he approached, he took note of the vehicles at the front of it- military, but older, outdated models, missing their government decals; unmarked, heavy-duty trucks. A couple of run-down sports cars, which looked comparatively puny… This place was being used by independent militias and well-connected criminals. That was a good sign; it meant that he was likely still on Solace, and that he'd probably be safe from the corporation here. They tried not to overtly interfere in the workings of organized criminal enterprises- to do so would create unnecessary tensions between those empires, and the government. Solace was a lawless place, and whenever possible, the government and the major criminal networks preferred to stay out of each others' ways.
The hacker opened the door and stepped inside.
One side of the building's interior was a counter surrounded by inexpensive and low quality convenience items- exactly what one would expect of a refueling station. Further toward the back, however, was a dimly lit bar. Sturdy wooden tables and chairs provided a place for businesspersons to meet and discuss their projects. The contrast between the front door of the station and this odd little bar was so great, Crypto felt as though he was looking through one of Wraith's portals, into another dimension.
He took a seat at the corner of the bar, hunched over in a vaguely defensive posture as he glanced around the room. Most of the patrons were dressed in tactical uniforms, some solid colors, others with camouflage print. A select few sported more formal attire- dress shirts, ties, nice suits. All high-end, and designed not to restrict movement in case the wearer had to fight for their life. A couple of people, Crypto noticed, had cybernetics.
Someone working behind the counter placed a glass of water in front of him, which he drank gratefully- now that he was relatively safe from the Syndicate, he was suddenly very aware of just how dry and uncomfortable his throat felt.
A middle-aged man, wearing a bulletproof vest over a double-breasted blazer, slid into the seat beside the hacker. He couldn't have been more than five-and-a-half feet tall, and the expression on his face was angry and dead cold. His quiet, polite voice contrasted with his appearance.
"I know when I see a kid who needs help. What are you into?"
Head lowered, arms crossed over his chest, Crypto regarded the man. "Who are you?"
In answer, the militant slightly bowed his head. "Kimura Kenzo. I develop countermeasures to defend against machines of war- solutions to everything from UAVs to simulacrums. But, this does not interest you, does it… Tell me what you need, and what you can offer in exchange."
Straightforward regarding his self-interest… Crypto could appreciate that about this man. He'd spent a lot of time in the criminal underworld since the Syndicate had forced him to run and hide- honesty about one's intent was rare.
"I need to get to Solace City," said the hacker. Kimura responded with a single firm nod, after which he waited patiently for Crypto to answer the second part of his question.
"I was- I am a software engineer. Drones, and unmanned vehicles- I know their programming inside and out. I can help you write a virus to take over their functions."
That was easy enough. Crypto already had such a virus coded and ready to go; he planned to make a simpler, less versatile version for this man. He'd make the trade worth Kimura's time, but he wasn't about to offer up his best work to a stranger.
"I see."
Kimura gave an approving nod as he leaned back slightly in his chair, hands neatly folded in front of him. "What is your name?"
"Kim Hyeon." Crypto answered with the surname of his pseudonym preceding the given name, as the weapon developer had done.
"You have a deal, Kim Hyeon," replied the militant. "You will be guaranteed safe passage into Solace City beside my employees. Beginning from today's date, you'll have one month to deliver the virus to me."
The hacker nodded. "I'll get it done. No problem."
"Oh, I don't doubt you," said Kimura. "You seem to be of a high enough level of intelligence to predict what might happen to those who fail me. I know what you've done, Kim… Hyeon."
The expression on Crypto's face turned to one of shock. This man - resourceful criminal leader or not - couldn't really know who he was- could he…? Kimura smiled. It might have appeared a friendly gesture, if the look in his eyes didn't remain dead cold. He calmly finished the last of whatever he was drinking, and laid out some money on the counter for the bartender. The edges of the paper bills were meticulously aligned with the edge of the table.
It was merely an intimidation tactic, Crypto decided… Anyone who willingly entered a place like this, looking as he did - exhausted, dressed in filthy, tattered, blood-stained clothing - almost certainly had a false identity and some kind of criminal background. Kimura was only using statistical probability against him.
At least, that was what the hacker told himself.
A woman, dressed in solid black tactical gear, approached Kimura from behind. "We're ready to go," she said.
In response, the militant asked, "Did you get the drawings?"
With a firm nod, she held up a data card. Kimura took it from her and connected it to a mini-computer that he'd retrieved from his pocket, so he could preview the 3D models and schematics that it contained.
"Didn't let that Lieutenant Alister rip us off, either- he sold these to us for half what he was asking."
Kimura gave an approving nod. "Excellent."
He powered down his mini-computer and put it away. Then he rose from his chair and carefully tugged at the sleeves of his jacket to remove any wrinkles. Head lowered, Crypto watched his movements carefully.
"Ah, yes. This is my newest consultant, Kim Hyeon. We'll be giving him a ride back to Solace City with us." The militant gestured at Crypto. The woman glanced disdainfully at the hacker, but said nothing. She knew better than to question her boss.
Crypto jumped to his feet, and was immediately met with searing pain in his legs. It seemed that his body disliked being forced to resume activity after a brief rest even more than it had disliked being pushed relentlessly for hours. He lurched forward, and likely would have collapsed face-first onto the hardwood floor if Kimura hadn't reached out to steady him.
"Thanks," he muttered under his breath. Grateful as he was for the man's help, Kimura made him uneasy. The way the militant conducted himself radiated power- the way he spoke, his posture, that cold look in his eyes… The programmer had no doubt that Kimura was just as ruthless an adversary as he was a powerful ally.
They headed outside. Kimura led the way to a shiny black van- it was bulkier than similar vehicles that Crypto had seen; likely had some kind of armor plating under that sleek finish. This criminal leader took no chances. He was also quite compulsive about order and cleanliness- he held a handkerchief when he opened the door, so as not to leave fingerprint smudges on the paint.
Kimura stood aside and gestured for Crypto to get in. The interior was just as clean; not a speck of dirt or a single piece of clutter in sight. It smelled faintly of gunpowder and ozone- he'd learned to recognize the former scent while training for the Apex Games, and the latter from watching Wattson work on her various projects.
He slid as close to the opposite door as he could, and resumed his defensive posture: shoulders hunched, limbs folded in close to his body. Kimura, who sat beside him, displayed much more confidence in the way he carried himself: head high, shoulders pulled back, feet firmly on the floor. The woman who'd been with Kimura climbed into the front passenger's seat, and commanded the driver to get going.
The sun had fully vanished beyond the horizon now, giving way to the night sky. Crypto felt his body slowing, and his mind racing. He knew better than to fall asleep- he was still in danger, and needed to be ready for anything. His body, however, was drained, and refused to listen to reason. Though he was still on edge and guarded, he found himself drifting off- still aware of the vehicle around him, Kimura's steady, controlled breathing to his left, with the shapes and figures of dreams just starting to form as well.
They weren't pleasant. His subconscious thoughts were full of searing fire and toxic chemicals, gunfire, angry reptiles with sharp teeth and claws, Syndicate assassins, and the terrified face of his younger sister as she was taken away. He snapped out of it with a jolt and automatically reached for the R-301 that he'd carried in the arena- which had been lost when the guards had attacked him in the server room.
"You'll find your way," said Kimura as he polished his already shiny wristwatch. "I did."
"Look- I appreciate what you're doing for me, but I don't think you understand my situation," replied the hacker. His voice was quiet, though his tone had a slight edge to it. As soon as he spoke, he hoped that his words wouldn't anger the man.
"On the contrary, another lifetime ago I was Commander Kimura, Defense Force strategist," the militant replied. "I saw the destructive capacity of our government up close, and paid in blood for their decisions- and they thanked me for my service by refusing medical care to my son. I know how it is to be sent to hell and left there."
Crypto looked down, avoiding Kimura's eyes. They rode the rest of the way in silence.
The van entered Solace City, and shortly after, pulled into Halstrom District. The entire area had a cold, imposing feel to it- buildings were nearly identical, all simple and rectangular in shape, made of concrete or brick. The streets were smooth and clean. It was a stark difference from the chaotic, overcrowded downtown area where he normally hung out in his free time, among rebellious technological geniuses.
They pulled up to the sidewalk and came to a stop across the street from what was clearly Kimura's headquarters. It was a large, commanding, yet simple structure which took up an entire city block on its own. Across the front, block text labelled it: 14 00 Halstrom - Kimura Corp. More guards in black tactical uniforms stood watch at the front of the building.
Kimura reached behind his seat, slid the cover off a wooden crate, and retrieved a tactical uniform identical to the one his guards wore, still wrapped in plastic. He passed it to Crypto. "Here- you will find it preferable not to stand out around this district. Train station is that way."
The militant gestured over his shoulder.
"If you need protection from the Syndicate, you can find me here, and I will help you. But if you fail me-" Kimura paused with a raised eyebrow, allowing Crypto's imagination a moment to wander. "...well. I don't believe that will happen, as it is. You seem like a good kid."
He opened the door of the van and stepped out, into the cool night air. His associates followed, as did the hacker. Crypto quickly pulled on the uniform that Kimura had supplied him with- it was stiff, scratchy, and smelled like plastic. It was also baggy on his slender frame, though he didn't see that as a negative; it made it easier to pull on over the tattered clothes he was already wearing.
"One month from today to deliver the virus to me," Kimura reminded him calmly. The strategist bowed his head slightly, then turned and walked away. He and his guards disappeared inside their building.
Crypto glanced at it for a brief moment longer, taking careful mental note of the building's exact location and appearance for when he needed to come back here with the virus. Then he went the opposite way, where Kimura had indicated that he could find the train station. His end goal was to reach the populated sectors downtown- there, it would be nearly impossible for the corporation to find him among the crowd.
As he walked, he reached into his pocket to make sure the data card he'd made off with was still there. Thankfully, it was safe and sound.