Chapter 6: Goodnight Mr. Bahir

Okay - first thing on my list. Find a spot on the roof and contact the GRE before finding people that need help. Go.

With that in mind, I made my way up the staircase and back out into a case of warm fresh air. Looks there's nobody here, head around the right side just to be safe. Once I did so and checked to see if I was in the clear, I switched my radio on.

"Crane here,"

"Report." My Boss spoke through the other end.

"The Tower's Boss is named Brecken, and he's definitely not your man." I began explaining. "The other likely suspect is this warlord, basically. Local guy, calls himself Rais. He's hoarding Antizin and then gouging the hell out of anybody who wants to buy some. I'll be on a mission to get Antizin from the airdrops tonight and if I don't succeed, then they'll have to come up with something else."

"Acknowledged." The woman responded. "Good job Crane, you're doing well. Stay on task and we'll be in touch. Be sure to call us immediately if and when you get that Antizin."

"Crane out." I finished, switching my radio off. W-Why does she want me to call, exactly? I don't remember this happening befo—

Okay, you know what? Forget it. Back to assisting people.

Once I entered the Tower again, the first floor I decided to check was 20. Curiosity also killed the cat, since I never went up there before. And just as I turned a right and entered a hallway fancier than 18 and 19 combined, I ran straight into trouble.

Well well well, what do we have here?

"What's wrong guys?" I asked a group of men crowded around a single door presumably leading into someone's room.

"Oh good, someone's here!" A Caucasian guy clad in a brown cap, matching t shirt, darker pants and combat boots, exclaimed frantically. "Listen - our friend, Bahir's locked himself in his apartment and we could hear him screaming!"

"We think he may have turned," An African-American dude clad in a red and white football jersey, brown pants and boots added - just as a scream of agony errupted from the door's other side. Oh sh*t b*lls!

"You hear that?!" The Caucasian dude yelled anxiously.

"Okay, okay, calm down guys," I reassured them. "Let me try getting in."

Hearing this, the group backed away to let me through and the African-American handed me the key he was using earlier. After I flashed an appreciative grin, I bent down to the lock's level and began fishing around to unlock Bahir's room. You better not turn once I get in there, you poor son of a b*tch. Thanks to my training with the GRE, it didn't take very long for me to pry the damn thing open and once it clicked, I pulled myself up to my feet and busted my way through.

"Bahir?" I called out calmly. Please tell me you're fine! "If you can hear me, don't be alarmed, alright? We're gonna get you some help."

"I-I'm i-in here!" A dude's pained voice spluttered out from the left side of the apartment. Okay, he hasn't turned. Thank f*ck for that!

I followed the source and found a Caucasian guy with messy dark hair and brown eyes who was clad in a black short-sleeved jacket, white t-shirt, blue shorts and brown shoes, leaning against a bed and clutching his stomach in agony.

"Okay, tell me what's wrong, buddy." I instructed.

"I-I-I can't move! My stomach feels like it's going to explode!" Bahir yelled out.

"Can you tell me what caused it?" I questioned with concern.

"Some Antizin I took! It's on the floor next to me!" The poor guy responded, prompting me to pick it up and upon close inspection, discover that it wasn't actually real. Where the hell did this cr*p even come from?!

"Bahir," I sighed with annoyance. "What you took is junk."

"What?!"

"This isn't Antizin," I repeated. "Where did you get this?"

My new acquaintance decided to avoid giving me a straight answer by shouting: "Please! I need a doctor!"

"And I'll get one for you, once you tell me where you got this from," I said, keeping my patience in check.

"I can't tell you!" Bahir yelled angrily. "I promised I wouldn't! He's very useful because he brings me things from the outside!"

"Like phony antizin, perhaps?" I snapped. Don't lose your patience, Crane. Don't lose your patience. "Kids could be getting this junk, would you want them to go through the same sh*t you're going through right now?"

"No!"

"Then tell me who sold it to you," I pressed. "Let us help you."

Hearing this, Bahir ultimately gave in. "Yusuf. He's one of the Scouts and he lives on the roof!"

"Thanks, buddy." I replied appreciatively. "I'll get someone up here for you."

With that, I exited the apartment back out onto Floor 20 where the Caucasian and African-American guys both bombarded me with frantic questions.

"What happened?!"

"Did you kill him?!"

"What?! No!" I glowered at the two. "Bahir's still in one piece, but he needs a doctor urgently. Where's the Sickbay at?"

Hearing this, they both reacted with relief before the African-American answered: "It's on Floor 18, you'll see it once you're there."

"Thanks, man." I said, before ordering him and the others to keep an eye on Bahir and jogging off downstairs.

(Floor 18 - Sickbay, 8:15am...)

Seconds after coming across a single door with the word SICKBAY painted at the top, I entered the Tower's medical ward. This area had a wide space with the walls painted in blue and the floor in a light brown. Multiple hospital beds were set up with accompanying monitors and numerous doctors were busy helping their patients.

But Libby, where the f*ck are you?! You're the only person here who I'm on good terms with!

"Crane?"

"Hi," I greeted a concerned Lena. Damn it, where the hell's my friend?! ... Fine, this will have to do. "Good you're here, Doctor."

"What's the matter?" The woman asked me.

"You need to take a look at this," I said, handing her the phony Antizin.

She took a matter of seconds in inspecting it and once the realisation struck, a look of horror painted her face. "The lot number's wrong. Is this a fake?"

"Yes. Someone on Floor 20 took it and now, he can't even move," I informed her. "His name's Bahir."

Hearing this, Lena frantically shouted to someone: "Aman, get up to 20 now!" and addressed me again with: "Where did he get it from?" as the doctor in question followed her orders.

"Yusuf." I answered. "Bahir told me that he's one of the Scouts."

"Well, he can't be producing the fake Antizin here." Lena revealed worriedly. "Someone must be supplying him, then."

"Why don't I have a talk with Yusuf?" I suggested. "See if I can pry any information out of him?"

I'm happy to use brute force if necessary.

"The sooner, the better." The woman agreed. "Just don't hurt him, okay? Talk to him."

Ugh, fine. I'll hold back ... but if I lose my patienc—

"Got it." I responded, interrupting my thoughts and preparing to leave. "I'll keep you posted."

Back up to the roof we go.

(The Tower's Roof - 8:16am...)

"Hey, newb!"

"Hey yourself," I icily greeted the older kid once I arrived back out into the warm fresh air.

"Everything alright?" Rahim asked with concern, pulling himself up from a seat not too far from the door I just emerged from and jogging over. Here we go...

"Well, that depends," I shot back, under the belief that he was planning to behave like a d*ck again. "Are you here to shove more insults down my throat? Because if you are, I don't have time for them, okay!"

Hearing this, the kid's eyes widened with shock. "What?! No! I noticed that you look like you're about to p*ss yourself with anxiety, so I wanted to see what's wrong." Cue a suspicious glare from me and the kid pressed further. "I'm serious, Crane. Tell me what's up,"

Arrrrgggghhhh! F*ck my life.

"Okay, okay, you got me." I began, giving in. "You know Yusuf?"

"Yeah, he's one of the Scouts. Why?"

"I found one of his customers in absolute agony and I learned that he sold him phony Antizin." I explained. "Fake, essentially."

"What the f*ck?!" The older boy glowered with horror. "God, just... What a sh*tty thing to do!"

"Tell me about it, kid," I agreed, secretly feeling surprised. Rahim being genuine instead of an *ss? This is... This is gonna take a while to get used to. "I was also told that he sells his sh*t up here. You wouldn't happen to know where abouts, would you?"

"He's just around the corner behind me." Rahim answered. Jackpot! "Is there anything else I can do to help?"

Hearing this, an idea suddenly flashed and I allowed a sly smirk to paint my face. "You know what? I could use some extra brawn if Yusuf tries anything stupid. You have any skills in that?"

"Jade didn't shove kickboxing lessons at Libby and I for nothing." The kid responded with a grin.

"In that case, you're hired." Man, this is gonna be fun! That's if I'm able to keep my patience in check and if Yusuf doesn't pull anything dumb.

With that, the older kid led me to the left side of the roof and it didn't take very long for the two of us to find our guy.

"Hey, Yusuf," Rahim greeted a Caucasian scrawny brown-eyed dude clad in a grey cap, brown short-sleeved jacket, white t-shirt, dark shorts and brown shoes. So, this is is the infamous f*cker who nearly killed one of his customers, huh?

"Hey, Rahim." Yusuf greeted in return. Huh, seems nice enough. Maybe we won't have to beat the sh*t out of him? "Who's your friend?"

"Crane." I introduced myself, politely offering my hand which he shook.

"Always nice to meet a new customer," Yusuf commented with a grin, gesturing to the custom stall behind him as he continued. "So, what do you both need from my stack of merchandise?"

Merchandise? Woooow.

"Actually, we wanted to have a chat with you about something." Rahim revealed politely, prompting our guy to respond: "Okay sure, what's up?"

"Alright, here it is," The kid began explaining. "Crane told me that he helped one of your customers, Bahir, earlier because he's dealing with a lot of pain due to some Antizin you've given him - which is fake."

Hearing this, Yusuf glowered at the two of us in shock. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Don't play games with us, Yusuf." I butted in a warning. "Because we're going to give you a chance to tell us where you got that counterfelt junk from. Bahir could have died, you know?"

"Junk?! Are you sure?!" The Scout fired back more anxiously, rising to his feet in a flash. He knows he's been caught, doesn't he? "I bought ten vials from those guys yesterday, they pay me good money too!"

"Which guys?" Rahim questioned.

Just like Bahir initially, Yusuf avoided giving a straight answer by stuttering: "Well, that's kind of a sensitive issue."

For f*ck's sake, man!

"Which guys, Yusuf?" I snapped impatiently, prompting him to flinch. "Don't make us do something we'll regret!"

Hearing this, the scout finally gave in. "Okayokayokay! There's a building next to the drug store and some survivors live there! I've never been inside, so I don't know how many there are! They have medicines as well - some of them are real and others have been cooked up! The guy I deal with is Bento, please don't hurt me!"

"Thanks," I replied, satisfied to see that he was now a cowering wreck. "And you're going to burn the rest of those vials."

"But they cost me a lot of money!" Yusuf shouted.

"And it will cost you a lot more if we find you peddling that sh*t again!" Rahim threatened, grabbing the p*ssy's collar as a final warning which influenced him to yell with terror. Okay, I think we broke him.

"Rahim, let him off the hook. We're done here." I instructed the kid, who shoved the frightened Yusuf away with a scowl and followed me back to where we met up before.

"That was satisfying," My acquaintance smirked, the latter fading as he continued. "Though honestly, I could have put on more of a show."

"You did great, kid." I reassured him. "Don't put yourself down about it."

"Cheers," Rahim replied appreciatively. "You're heading over to Bento's hideout, aren't you?"

"Well, I can't just sit on my *ss and do nothing,"

"Same here. For me, it feels like that all the time," The kid agreed sadly, continuing before I could throw some reassuring words at him. "Anyway, Bento isn't far from here. Just go ahead and take a right when you leave the Tower, you can't miss it."

"Thanks, kid." I responded, turning to leave. "I'll see you later, alright?"

(Bento's Hideout in The Slums, Harran, Turkey, The Middle East - 8:42am...)

After I left the Tower and began the trek across the roofs to my destination, I couldn't help but allow my thoughts to take over. I was willing to admit that Rahim was now beginning to grow on me, due to the genuine side he revealed whilst we both interrogated the sh*t out of Yusuf. Yes, he was an *sshole but at the same time, he was a good kid who cared for his sister and his best friend. Jade was making progress too, because of the small smiles and intrigued look she gave me during our conversation with Brecken - that I didn't expect at all.

Thinking about it now, I wish Libby was present to see the fleeting moments. The little monkey probably would have teased me to death if she had, heh heh! Speaking of - I wasn't ready to admit it, but I was strangely worried about my friend as I hadn't seen her since the day before. It wasn't like me to experience whatever the hell was happening, and yet my brain was shouting: Find her and see how she's doing!

I had no idea what the hell was wrong with me.

"Crane? It's Lena, can you hear me?" Lena suddenly spoke through the other end of my radio.

"Go ahead," I responded, nearing a set of stores barricaded by a metal fence, one of which was marked with a red billboard consisting of a white medicial sign. This must be it.

"We've just found two more vials of that fake Antizin," The doctor gravely informed me. Yusuf, you piece of sh*t! "Brecken knows what happened, and he is boiling mad."

"Yeah, I'll bet he is," I agreed. I can't blame the poor guy. "How's Bahir holding up?"

"He's in safe hands with us." Lena answered with relief. Good to hear. "We're lucky that you got him before his time ran out. This stuff is lethal, Crane. Putting them out of business is your number one priority."

"Understood," I affirmed. "I'm at Bento's now, expect an update soon."

"Good luck in there."

"Thanks, Doctor," I replied, switching my radio off and steeling myself with my table leg in hand. Okay Crane, use brute force if necessary and get these f*ckers out of town. The sooner, the better.

With that in mind, I ascended a white van in front of me and jumped across onto the lower roof of a set of houses. Once I took a right, I froze at the area that lay out before me. Sh*t, this is a fight just waiting to happen! At least three thugs clad in brown clothes were scattered across, sharping their machetes by either a red van or multiple boxes of supplies. I descended the roof I stood upon and seconds after I landed on concrete, they lifted their heads to stare me down... almost like they knew I was coming.

"Morning fellas," I casually greeted. Yusuf tipped them off, didn't they?!

"What can I do for you, friend?" A polite yet maliced voice spoke right behind me, prompting to whril round and find myself face to face with a big guy wearing glasses who was clad in a brown t-shirt with a white collared long-sleeved shirt underneath, brown pants and a pair of combat boots, also wielding a pipe. Tell me this isn't who I think it is.

"Hi, you're Bento, right?" I asked him.

"It's always a pleasure to meet a new costumer," Bento confirmed my suspicions. F*cking called it.

"I'll bet," I responded, keeping my anger in check. "I hear you're selling Antizin,"

"Who told you that?" Bento snarkily probed. "A little bird?"

"Actually, yes," I shot back calmly. "The same person who told me you've been cooking up garbage and putting it in fake vials."

"Garbage?!" My soon-to-be enemy demanded. "My formula is fifty times better than the cr*p they drop in boxes! Not only does it keep you healthy, it also gives you super strength! Incredible speed, and laser eyes! I could burn you with one look if I wanted to!"

Woooow, j-just- I- What the f*ck is wrong with you?!

"Bento, I'm gonna give you and your boys a chance to pack up shop and get outta here. This doesn't have to end in violence," I explained patiently. And please don't make me take your lives, I don't want to do that.

Hearing this, Bento laughed. "And why would I do that, when Yusuf said you'd try and cause trouble?!"

I f*cking knew he tipped them off!

"Yeah well, Yusuf was right," I angrily scoffed. "I'm shutting you down, Bento."

"And you're f*cking dead!" He screamed with rage, lunging forward and delievering a hard blow to the head that sent me falling to the ground in pain and frantically pulling myself up.

The next thirty to eighty seconds were a blur, so much so that I barely remember most of it now. I remember Bento yelling at his goons to use their 'super powers' whilst they tried delivering agonising blows to send me back down and I also remember yanking a machete away from one thug - which is where the odds eventually entered my favour. After that, I did what I had to do to survive.

A moment of slicing limbs off and bashing heads in later, and I came out on top.

"L-Lena?!" I grunted in agony as I switched on my radio.

"Crane, are you alright?" A concerned Lena spoke through the other end.

"N-No, I got a blow to the head - so I'm basically a discount Brecken now." I struggled to respond. F*cking hell, it hurts! "On the bright side though, Bento's out of business. But, Yusuf tipped them off that I was coming."

"I was afraid of that." Lena revealed with worry. "Get back to the Tower and rest, okay? You've done enough for now."

W-Wait, what?!

"What about showing everyone here that I can be trusted?!" I demanded with shock. I can't give that up! "I feel like I need to redeem myself because of what happened to Amir too!"

"As far as I'm concerned, you already have." The Doctor reassured me. Oh... "You deserve to have a rest, but stop by first and we'll get you checked out."

"Okay, thank you." I spoke appreciatively, grimacing in pain before I switched my radio off and began returning to the Tower. "I'll see you shortly, then."

Back we go, once more. I swear, I'm gonna be running round in circles like a lunatic soon.