I can not thank you enough for the support you show to my little story. You guys are awesome.
Hopefully you will like this chapter, I'm actually quite content with it. Please forgive me if there are more spelling errors than usual, I'm going on a week-long vacation in about an hour and don't have all that much time for editing.
Anyways, have fun reading.
Disclaimer: Dredd 3D belongs to Lionsgate, 2000 AD belongs to Rebellion Development
Need
With a content huff Anderson closed the door to her apartment, feet taking her straight to the bathroom. She put down her shield, stripped her uniform and stepped into the shower, letting out another sigh as hot water washed over her body. She leaned against the cold tiles and let herself sink to the floor, watching the water flow through the drain, brown-red at first, clearing out slowly. After a while she poured shampoo in her hair, her body protesting against every movement. She rubbed out the lumps of blood and dust and rinsed, once she was content.
Wrapped in a towel, Andeson walked over to her bedroom and put on a pair of knickers and an oversized t-shirt. From her nightstand she retrieved a bottle of painkillers and took two pills. Now at least halfway dressed she went to the kitchen, turning on the TV in the process and switching it to music channel. She made herself instant noodles, humming off-key to whatever newest pop-song they played. Done eating, she got her shield and weapon and went to bed, the painkillers already kicking in. She set her alarm and burrowed into the sheets.
She wasn't woken up by the alarm as expected, but a sharp banging on her door. She jumped, her fingers tightening around her Lawgiver and tumbled out of the bed. The banging continued, getting louder, the visitor clearly getting impatient. She reached with her mind and felt familiar anger. Suppressing a yawn she opened her door and let Dredd in.
„Do I have time to eat?" she asked, not bothering to inquire what was the emergency just yet.
„Make it quick."
She nodded sharply and jogged into the kitchen, turning on the jug kettle. While the water boiled she collected her shield, gun, shoes, painkillers and a spare uniform and threw it all on the couch. She fixed herself a cup or coffee and another bowl of instant noodles. She bent down to place the steaming cups on the coffee table.
A strangled noise was heard, something between a cough and a gulp. She turned around and saw Dredd almost startled and looking as uncomfortable as possible.
„What is?" she asked, her brows furrowing with confusion.
„Anderson..." he uttered, his voice hoarse. „What the fuck are you wearing?"
Understanding what he implied, she looked at her exposed legs. „As you can clearly see, not much." she said calmly, collected her gear and scurried to the bathroom.
Slamming the door behind her, she doubled up, shaking with inaudible laughter. She slipped into her gear and stepped out, trying her best to look calm and composed. Dredd was standing by the door, looking as uncomfortable as before.
She threw him a smile. „Sorry about that."
He just nodded. „Hurry."
She practically inhaled her food and drink, burning her tongue in the process. Once she was finished, she tied her shoes, holstered her weapon and absent-mindedly reached after her shield.
„Leave it. You may need mobility." Dredd spoke.
She nodded and pulled back her hand. „Then I'm ready. Let's go."
Not until they reached the garage did she ask him where they were actually going.
„74. An entertainment complex, we have a lead on the gang."
She cursed silently as she rode her bike. She hated entertainment complexes. Due to the high unemployment rate of Mega City, the citizens found various ways to kill their time, one of which were the complexes. They, naturally, claimed they only housed legal forms of entertainment like cinemas, café, dancing areas, but the exact opposite was the truth. Drug dens, brothels, casinos, everything was available for the right person with the right king of payment. But her main problem lay with using of her powers in such areas. These places were so crowded with perps, her mind often became suffocated with their crimes, making it impossible to discern her targets.
They parked in front of the complex, Dredd walking right in, Anderson trailing behind him. A quick scan with her mind revealed that the complex was half-empty, less than 700 people mercifully. It was no surprise, 8a.m. was usually the time people left such establishments.
„Be alert. Look for any gang members." Dredd growled.
She nodded and extended her consciousness. The joy of the victorious and despair of the defeated, greed, anger, the self-loathing of whores and lust of their customers, all vicious and concentrated came crashing down on her. Clenching her teeth she skimmed through the emotions in her search for the Unbound members. Among so many others it seemed like a pointless endeavour to do it this way.
Fortunately, Dredd seemed to know, where he was going. Swiftly he walked the through the main hall, oblivious to the terrified and hateful stares directed his way, and led them to a service elevator. They stepped out a the second floor underground, Dredd confidently leading them through a labyrinth of dimly lit corridors and barred doors.
After a while they started picking up sounds of cheers and swearing. Anderson swiftly found the corresponding minds. She followed their thoughts to look through their own eyes on the source of the amusement.
A pit gaped in front of her. It was maybe four meters in diameter and just as deep, the ground covered in blood. A child was standing just before her eyes, visibly a mutant, with small underdeveloped head and almost no nose. It clutched a large jagged knife in its strangely shaped hands and pressed itself to one concrete wall, trying to protect its back, holding the knife in front of its tiny, underfed body.
A pack of four dogs was standing in front of the child. They were medium size, clearly bred only for this purpose, with degenerated tails and ears, thick legs and a broad muscular chests. Currently they ignored the child, instead gorging themselves on something Anderson couldn't see. One of the dogs raised its ugly head and looked at the child, red foam covering its chest, strands of curly blonde hair hanging from its jaws. The dog stepped closer to the mutant, its steps slow and self-assured.
The child trembled and muttered something, the words muffled by the roar of the audience. It threw a glance around the arena, looking perhaps for a help, but found none. Suddenly it uttered a heart wrenching scream and slit its own throat. Bright red arterial blood fell onto the concrete. And the crowd cheered.
Anderson fell to the ground, clutching her head in her hands. Her body shook and she couldn't suppress a small scream.
Strong hand gripped her shoulder. „Anderson, are you all right?"
She opened her mouth but didn't find her voice, only sound that escaped her was a muffled sob. She pressed her mind to Dredd's and ruthlessly smashed his defenses. She projected the image into his mind.
„Fuck." he breathed, whether it was the reaction against the image or her attack on his mind Anderson didn't know.
„Find the organizer. Show him to me." he ordered.
She reluctantly nodded and looked into their heads again. They were currently watching the dogs tear each other to pieces, now that their prey was dead. Swiftly she found the leader, a middle-aged, suspiciously average looking man, and pressed his face into Dredd's mind, much more gently this time.
He stood up. „Apprehend and interrogate the organizer. Everybody else kill on sight." he said, a sharp edge in his voice. „Rapid fire."
She adjusted her firing mode as well and stood beside him. Shoulder by shoulder they ran the remaining distance and burst into the arena. Their guns roared and found their first victims.
Panic broke out, the perps gripping their knives and guns and shooting blindly into their comrades, not sure of who actually started. Several of them fell into the pit, the dogs tearing at their necks almost immediately. Anderson located the organizer in the back of the arena and started to make her way towards him, shooting whoever came to her sight.
The organizer spotted her and his eyes widened with realization. He held some kind of remote control in his hands and now he pressed it. A low metallic whine tore the air and the floor on the pit began rising, the dogs lunging themselves at the walls, eager to fall upon their audience. The organizer turned to leave, shoving away those in his path.
She rammed her elbow into a panicked perp and followed her target into another maze of corridors. He was running now and had the advantage of familiar terrain, but she was faster and thanks to her abilities was able to follow him easily. She sent a shot after him but missed and it ricocheted between the walls. With clenched teeth, she caught up to him and tackled him to the floor. His reflexes were faster than she expected and as soon as they hit the floor, he rolled on his back and punched her. The hit slammed her head against the wall and Anderson could feel blood in her mouth.
The perp rose to his feet but instead of running he turned his attention to Anderson. A hobnailed boot hit her abdomen repeatedly, drawing the breath out of her. She anticipated his next kick and grabbed his ankle. Using it as a lever she kicked against the perp's knee with both her feet. It broke with a satisfying crack and the perp toppled to the floor with a scream. She pinned him down, pressing her forearm against his wind-pipe.
His mind flared out with panic now. His hand desperately reached into a pocket and clutched a small oval capsule. She grabbed his wrist and twisted it. He uttered another scream but didn't drop the pill. She lifted her Lawgiver and shot his hand, turning his fingers into a mess of flesh and bone-splinters.
The denial of swift death or the loss of his hand broke the man. He started sobbing and brought the mutilated stump to his face, cradling it like a mother would her child.
Anderson didn't care. She pressed her palms on his face, stabbing her conscience into his. Now that a panic attack effectively crippled him, his mind was an open book to her. She learned about just how many similar fight rings there were, apparently the Unbound were the ones supplying them with mutants. She didn't find any names, they were not stupid enough to leave them, but she found faces, locations, practices...
She rose to her feet and looked at the pathetic piece of filth lying at her feet. „For your numerous crimes, the sentence is death." she spat and placed a shot in his head.
She turned back into the arena. The floor was strewn with corpses, the stench of blood and emptied bowels permeating the air.
„Anderson..." Dredd's voice came from behind. She whipped around and saw him standing few meters from her, battered and breathing heavily. His uniform was torn in several places, crimson blood dripping on the floor. A jagged bite wound gaped just above his right knee.
„Y-You got bit." she breathed.
„Yes."
„You got bit. You got... oh fuck, you need to see a medic immediately." she stammered.
„Not necessary, Anderson. I'm fine."
„What? No, you don't understand. I'll call the medics."
„Un-"
„If you say unnecessary, I swear, I will fucking stab you in your lungs and make it necessary." her tone was low and menacing.
The scowl on his face deepened, a notion Anderson thought impossible at this point. „You are threatening your superior officer."
„Well my superior officer is being a fucking uncooperative dick after being bitten by a rabid dog." she growled, her words coming in sharp, angry syllables.
Dredds expression fell. „Rabid dogs."
„Exactly. I hope you don't think a medic is still unnecessary."
He didn't bother answering and together they walked out of the complex, now attracting significantly more stares. They stopped by their Lawmasters and Anderson used her com to call the medic and meatwagon.
„They will be here shortly." she informed Dredd.
He didn't acknowledge her words, a strange expression on his face.
She mounted her bike and was about to put on the helmet.
„Anderson..." he started but didn't continue.
She tilted her head. „Yes?"
„Is it that... easy to get into my head?" he asked, his expression unreadable.
She gave him a long look. „Yes." she said finally.
He nodded slowly. „But you don't do it normally."
„No." she gave him a small smile.
„Why?"
She frowned at him, taken aback a little. „Why would I? I respect you and..." she didn't finish.
„And?"
„And my powers don't really make people like me, or not hate me for that matter. And I guess I really don't need you to hate me as well." she shrugged.
His expression stayed the same, whether he wanted to say something she didn't know. A medical vehicle came into sight.
„I'll go now. I have a lot of information to process. I'll let you know, should I find something urgent. And you let me know if you have something. I'll go now... I already said that. I'll just go."