I've had my share of better or worse mornings, being woken up by Dante's tongue against my cheek wasn't the worst I've been through. I've thrown the dog off me and scratched the mongrel for a moment, trying to recall what I was dreaming about this time. I have vague feeling it was Harfeld and Monika again, just like all previous times since her death...
But there was a silver lining in my memory, a literal glint of silver or a...chrome?
With a grunt, I reach for my clothes and discover somebody was endlessly kind and cleaned my blood-stained jacket and pants. Made me wonder who. Probably Amsel got it for cleaning or something, caring father figure he is. Can't really picture anyone else in here willing to do such things.
Still yawning and shaking off sleep, I crawl out of my sleeping corner, pushing away thick blanket serving as doors.
"Rai!" Amsel calls to me, approaching briskly. I gesture to him and then to the kitchenette where coffee was, making old german stop a bit and form an understanding expression on his face.
"Okay, now I'm awake enough to hear anything." I begin after taking down one of five coffee cups I've filled with sludge that came from pot filled with green powder I got from Cafe Cezve earlier. I was almost disappointed they were nearly identical, instead of Dietrich's being shaped like a dragon, Eiger's having KSK motif or Glory's being stainless steel and shiny. Even Blitz was slurping from average, black porcelain.
Ugh, so disappointed...
"I have news for you, Rai."
"Is it good news? Like there's a dragon-killing plague sweeping across the world?" I try to quip, thinking that after all those years in England and America I should be used to both coffee and tea while in fact, I detested both.
"Can't say that'll happen in my lifetime." Amsel shakes his head. "I've been tracing all the laundered money that could be connected to Feuerschwinge and it's safe to say...There's a lot of money going through Harfeld one way or the other. Whatever the dragon is planning, it's massive and very well-funded."
"That's not a cheery thought at all, Paul. I doubt you're saying this because of the end of money stream that ends in Harfeld...We're looking at the other end of the line, right?"
"Exactly. I'm making my way to it. Tommorrow I should get a deaddrop about it. For now, stick to running as most lucrative jobs you can to get money for Alice."
"Got it. I'll check up on the guys and then we'll see what came up on the queue."
"One more thing, Mallit got another one of Winters' DVDs repaired. Just one as it takes a long time to make these damaged storages work again but we'll get there."
I nod in thanks to Paul, watching him leave, when I sense presence behind me.
"How's it goin' D?" I ask when I smelled peat aroma of digested booze and hear rustle of leather jacket.
"Just wanted to thank you for all you've done for me and Alex...Anything you need, just call and I'll come runnin'. You got my word on that, boss." Dietrich speaks deeply, his leathery face not hiding emotions one bit.
I feel touched enough to pull the guy into one armed hug.
"This is what mates are for, D. I always look after my people." I promise him.
"You do. And Dragonslayer looks after all of us in thanks for what we've done in that pit of swines..." Dietrich grins and his eyes suddenly lose pupils. He points at the floor and immaterial webs of energy spread onto it, forming a lay line on the go. "See that boss? That's open highway of aether between me and Dragonslayer. I put this out, stand on it and...You remember last time I got ahold of a lay line, no?"
"Sure I do. Roasting humanis like nazi barbecue." I recall the carnage Dietrich made back there. I was never specifically happy about making people suffer but damn if that wasn't impressive and useful thing at our disposal. "Keep working on it, D. We're going out tonight for another job and I want this bad boy ready to unleash."
Shaman offered me a bloodthirsty grin and moved away to try out spell in peace.
"Fearless leader returns from his nap." Eiger welcomes me as I move through the safehouse.
"Eiger..." I begin but then decide to change tactics "Care to tell me a bit about your time in KSK? You know a bit about my service already."
"I'm not in a habit of sharing war stories with people who never served in the thick of it."
"I could tell you otherwise, but then I'd have to kill you." I twitch my eyebrows, earning a frown from the troll.
"Alright... You win." Eiger sighs and leans back, dropping away parts of the gun he was field-stripping. "I owe everything I have or am to KSK so go ahead, ask away. I may even answer."
"Alright, I'll bite...How did you got your street name?"
"During basic, a fellow recruit made a joke about me, that I'm like northern face of Eiger, in Bernese Alps. 'Huge and beautiful, but too dangerous to climb'. THere was only one type of 'climbing' in anyone's mind in there...Dunno if he was offering something to me or trying to be a jerk. Anyway, I've broken three of his ribs and he wasn't in the mood for more jokes but the name stuck.
"Serves him right." I reply truthfully.
"You may just meant that. Or you're trying to get on my good side with more brains than he did."
"Or simply anyone who throws lines like that needs to be taught a lesson." I retort. Aesthetics aside and my personal tastes and Eiger fitting into them or not, shitty pick up lines for quick romp were ticking me off. "I've stomped down two guys and one girl in my team for being oh so saucy around others. I don't get into people's bed business but some degree of respect and class is the bottom line for me."
"For once, we're in complete agreement. But there was more than that to my altercation. The name 'Eiger' was stuck to me one way or another, only difference was, whether it'll be on his terms or on mine. If I haven't curbed the little horndog, name Eiger would have meant 'difficult sexual conquest', and that all I'd be to barrack full of recruits, no matter what I'd accomplish. Because of what I've done to the guy, Eiger begun to mean 'troll that takes no shit from anyone' instead. It's a name I wear with pride, poethics be damned."
"Huh, I agree it was a good way out of the sticky mess. My drill sargeant gave me shit in bootcamp because I've had tats. Old guard was sure I was sent from a prison as last-chance guy, not a volunteer. Though of me as nothing until I've suplexed him so hard, I've nearly broken his spine."
"Did you?"
"Ay. I've broken bones of every cunt trying to stand over me, shown I have bigger bollocks than top dogs with generations of service in their blood. Before I knew it, I was a squad leader and they're all were loyal bulldogs to me."
"...I begin to see that's possible, Rai." Eiger's voice softens suddenly. "In all seriousness, I shouldn't have put you under the wall when Monika died. I acknowledge that."
"And I acknowledge you don't say such things often." I reply and blonde twitches her ears shortly. "You act like a team leader...Care to tell me about your guys? I'll tell you about mine if you want in return."
"Eight people, two squads put into one unit. Schmidts and Lange were deckers, Wolff was great rigger and engineer turning scrap into anything we needed. Fischer could make a bomb out of teabag and matches. Braun was able to stitch you even after taking a landmine to the gut...Metzger, Kruger and me were the main guns, weapon experts with specializations. Had an extraterritorial mission...technically illegal but justified to risk it. Had to went across the border, into Poland. Russian mafia had set up a cottage industry in human trafficking all along the Odre-Neisse line and we were tasked with disrupting it."
"That's a police task not military operation. Why would GSG not handle it themselves?"
"Nothing's that easy...We were a good team, experienced and trusting each other. In some ways, we did some good. Your turn."
"Tick, Bunny and Cross were my mates that survived all of the grinder we were sent into. Other lads...They weren't so lucky. It came to a point of us being black sheeps with bad aura around, quickly isolated and put to work in urban areas, just the four of us. I was only one with the deck, any other skills we've shared."
"Explains why you work around corners so good, favour shorter rifles and carry flashbangs." Eiger comments. "Do you have a gas mask on you too?"
I grin to her in response, the truth too obvious with satchel strapped to the back of my belt even around safehouse.
"That's not Royal Army."
"Technically, it is. Wouldn't want cunts from Tir na nÓg get suspicious, eh?" I shrug. "So how was it leading your glamorous team across Poland? Heard the sights are nice in spring."
"I wasn't the leader. Metzger was...Best point man I've worked with." Eiger replies and clouds form above her head. "He went down with the rest of the team, all of them beside me."
"What happened whole KSK unit couldn't take on?"
"Something I'm not going to tell." Eiger's voice hardens and she shakes her head, long hair covering her face for a moment. "They're all dead, I won't wake the ghosts."
"Alright, no is a no. Thanks for sharing, Eiger."
"Likewise..." She mutter under breath but I hear it anyway. Moving forward, I stride towards another heavy talk but one I am anxious to have...
"Glory." I call to brunette staring into the wall as always. She turns to me and-No, I must be seeing things...Did she brighten up a tiny bit?
"Rai, a pleasure as always." She speaks to me and it the human undertones in there made my heart flutter. "Need anything from me?"
"Just seeing how are you doing."
"Golden as always. No problem here." She replies still not going full mechanical.
"If I wouldn't know better, I'd say you're warming up to me a pinch."
"...I suppose you might be right." She says after long minute. "I don't talk to many people, Rai. It usually doesn't seem worth the effort. I don't...I don't really feel much anymore. Not since...This." She ends up caressing chrome limb.
"If that's so, how are we still talking, love?"
"I suppose it's because you've shown interest and because you're tenacious enough to not get yourself pushed away when I tried." Glory's eye suddenly turn blank and dead as usually. "Don't want to mislead you, Rai. I still don't feel and friendship or warmth...not even trust. I appreciate what you're doing though, it's new to me."
"Trust is earned, Glory. If we'll get there at some point, then we'll get there. Speaking of which...Feeling like telling me the rest of the story? Didn't wanted to push you when you've stopped on turning fourteen."
"I'd rather not. It...It's difficult."
"I can see that. But bottling it all up is a festering wound inside. Talking could make it hurt a little less."
"No it won't but...I suppose better to feel uncomfortable than not feel anything at all." Glory surprises me with her statement. "Here's the deal - I'll tell you as much as I'd want to. When I'm done, I'm done. Not a word more."
"Deal."
"Right..." Glory gets a thousand-yard stare again, the PTSD of these memories must've been massive. "So few days after my fourteenth birthday I've begun to express...magically."
"You're magically active?" I ask, recalling this vague 'aura' around her that maybe was some kind of magical thing afterall. These things follow people like curses.
"I was. Not anymore with all this." She shrugs metal arms. "Anyway, I was playing around with some tiny spirit I've found under pile of garbage or something...The next few days after my parents seen that are a blur. My father learned his girl is a 'Hexe' a witch. He beaten me. With fists, belt...claw hammer from his toolbox. My mom tried to stop him, got a few licks of that hammer herself."
"It's a miracle you've survived that."
"Luck, I guess." Glory deadpanned. "When father was done giving me tune up with a hammer...I've had broken ribs, busted arm, I couldn't see out of my left eye and all rest of me was one big bruise. I've bled so much to color whole carpet." Glory taken a deep breath and I was little scared of what came next. "He called me 'des Teufels Hure', the Devil's whore...Then he kicked me out of the house. He told me that if he'll ever see me again, he and his brothers from kreuzritters will cleanse me in the name of God, and trust me what was done to my by dear father was nothing but a headpat in comparison to them."
"Jesus, Glory..." I find myelf at loss of words. And for a cynical bastard like me, that's a new one. "At least tell me you've went to the hospital."
"I did but after hitching ride out of Stuttgart. OTherwise there would be questions and even if my dad would get locked up, Ritters would have found me...I'd end up skinned alive and thrown into Neckar." Glory continues, putting lock of hair behind her ear. "I went to Tubing, not too far from home but it had large student community and magical university. I thought I could blend in."
"Did they fixed you up in there?"
"More or less. Told them I got mugged so nobody bothered me more than little...Next few years are nothing important, I've just scraped by to survive till next day. I'll leave detail to your imagination."
"Of course, Glory. I only need to hear what you're comfortable talking about...Nothing more."
"...Thanks." She utters after another long pause. "It all went unchanged until I was nearly seventeen. I've met Marta and everything changed." The moment she spoken her name, more life struck in Glory's eyes and I've felt a hand clenching my insides. "She was a sweet girl. Little ratty and unkempt like a street kid same as me, but she was well fed and happy. Two things I haven't even remembered anymore. We hung out together and before I knew it...I was in love."
Can't say I was surprised anymore. But still...Bollocks.
"There was a lot of affection between us. Honest one. She...She cared about me, first person to do that in years." Glory continued and I've listened, unable to stop my imagination. "I loved her for that."
"...Go on." I nudge her when long pause breaks out.
"She told me there's a place for me, where she's hang out. Feuerstelle, the 'Fire Place' was some sort of commune for dispossessed youth. A lot of street kids I recognized from digging through same trash bins, have moved in there already. I remember being angry on them for not telling me about a safe haven like that..."
"But you've found it at last, no?"
"Marta calmed me down, she always did...Guy who ran the whole joint, Harrow, set up the farm in Schonbuch forest just outside Tubingen. Oficially a nature park but with so many para-normal animals in it, nobody went in there. Feuerstelle gave us home, sense of community we wanted after being kicked around worse than dogs. We loved Harrow, he was...like a father-figure to us."
I wait for some time for Glory to continue, she looks like she tries but then she just shakes her head in silent decline.
"It's alright love, no more than you're alright with." I speak to her softly. "We have all the time you need to put it right."
"...Thanks." She says finally and looks up at me with dead stare.
"You know, for all the bad things past or present, I like talking to you. You make german sound less like a sandpaper." I finish with a chuckle and earn tiniest smile from Glory. "Take care, love."
"You too, Rai." She bids me farewell before turning back to cracked concrete.
Leaving Glory alone, I can't shake off the egocentrical revelation that my rising hopes were just flushed since apparently our chrome beauty liked other girls. Well, not like I was starting this whole memory trip to get under that vest of hers anyway...Maybe it's better this way, women in my life had the tendency to die in horrible ways and Glory suffered enough already.
Maybe if she doesn't know about her current whereabouts, I'd be able to find that Marta girl and get her to talk to Glory? Maybe that'll calm her down?
Mired in thinking about things I shouldn't be, I plop onto the seat and log into shadowland. First thing to do, rip the profits from selling minor intel I've snagged from Humanis. Posting it on sale yesterday was good move, somebody paid me solid quid just because it'll hurt nazis.
I'm starting to like some of these people.
Then I depose as much as I can, that is fifteen grand, into account meant to go to Alice. That puts me in total 25 grands now, which means we're halfway done. For that kind of money, this digitalized lady better come through and get me something really solid. Or I will find something on her that'll stink.
Alright, since I'm done with preventing new-era holocaust on Krezubasar, I can take on usual job assigned to Shadowrunners...Morally ambigious clean up. Herr Fuchs wants us to get into area full of hostiles and erase remnants of the team they've sent earlier but screwed up.
Corporate thinking, corporate job, corporate pay. All three distasteful but that's the way world is today I suppose. Click, job accepted and 15 thousand nuyen is hanging in front of me like a carrot. Fine...I'll be the mule again.
"Listen up people!" I yell loud enough to be heard in every corner whether they like it or not. "We got a job! Heavy assault with shooting our way in and out! Two hours to prepare, so get to it, chop chop!" I finish tyrade and make my way towards the exit, aiming to buy more ammo and grenades. I'm pretty sure I'll need it.
Going outside, I've bumped into Blitz working on something.
"Oi, Blitz! What are you up to?" I chat up, making decker stop his tinkering and get back on his feet off dusty floor.
"Heya chief. Been working on a little somthin'. You know, to pull my weight better around here but without getting my ass shot off?" He offers nervous grin and presents his project.
"A drone?" I recognize a bit older but sturdy autonomous contraption on solid tracks.
"Yup. Told ya I'm more than just a decker. This baby will get us another rifle on the runs, and it's easier to fix dent in the chasis than stitch up a bullet wound, right?"
"True enough...Let me know if you'll come up with any ways to make it better, we're taking your toy on the next run if it's ready."
"Oh it is...While on the subject, any job coming up? I'm strapped for cash."
"How? We may not be rolling in nuyens but like hell we're running dry. I've paid equal share to all of you yesterday." I narrow my eyes at nervous Blitz. "It's not drugs or debt to a bookie, is it?"
"...This is really personal area chief. But no, it's nothing like that. No hookers, drugs or gambling." Blitz assures me. "It's some of my old contacts, they need to be paid on time and with fat money, otherwise I may burn bridges that are vital to me."
"Contacts?"
"I was in a thight spot, made a lot of IOUs and it takes time to pay all of these off okay?" Blitz sighs and runs fingers through large mohawk on his head. "And it all involves a girl. So unless you get off on people sobbing about exes..."
"Alright, You've said enough for me get you off the hook, but do tell me about a girl who managed to get you interested. Not something common, I take it."
"Emilie and I met in Drogenkippe. First person who was more important to me. More so, she cold out do me in every way - decking, rigging...I was crazy about her already and learning her tricks was just another kicker."
"Woof. Sounds like a fun girl to be around."
"She made everything right...Then she sudennly disappeared." Blitz grimaced at the flashback. "She taken all of my decking gear and left a handwritten note 'Leave me alone'. And that was it, after couple of years together she just went off grid."
"...Is that where your money went? Looking for Emilie?"
"Yeah. I just...I need to know why she did it. Was it me? Was it somebody else?"
"Alright, I get it all now." I put hand on decker's shoulder, making his face light up a bit. "You keep looking for that girl and tell me if anything would come up, okay? And don't worry about the cash, we're having our hands full of jobs, so don't go off partying tonight."
"Yeah...Yeah, man. I'm ready and able."
I make my way to Mettbach's stall full of weapons. Ah, guns galore is my favourite...
Spending quite a lot on grenades and clips, I let go of drooling over more exotic and ridicolously expensive weapons. Trotting back, I catch a commotion by the sewer entrance and before I knew it, I was talking to the maintenance worker.
"Hey man...Sorry to bother you but I really could use a help here." Guy spoken the moment he saw me and unknowingly he casted the spell pushing my buttons, turning my godforsaken altruism on.
"Sure. What's up?"
"Me and my buddy Viktor got called over here from another kiez, you see something's wrong with the sewer system in here. Your local 'specialists' are good for shit, when we've tried to get any maintenance schedule from them, all they did is telling us 'the machinery fixes itself'. My best guess is that the pumps have been shut down, it happens if you don't care about them at all. With pumps off, waste starts pilin' up and that causes overflow downstream."
"I try to understand it man but I'm not the one to talk about fixing pipes, you know? I'm more knowledgable about busting those than fixing."
"No shit. Problem is, Viktor went down here while I was taking tools from the truck. When I was near the ladder, I've heard screaming. Lots of screaming...I'm just a guy who does plumbing okay? I'm not risking my life to fix somebody's shitter. To tell you the truth, unless you want shit and even worse things to burst from every stormdrain in your kiez, you better get down there yourself or send somebody to see if it's safe to go. Because for now, I've lost buddy and I'm not risking myself."
"You know that charity is a misnomer these days?"
"I can live without money more than without head so if you'll get down there and fix the problem? You'll get whole pay I was given for this job. That's the only deal I got."
"Fine. Don't wanna wake up swimming in shite." I've grimaced, eyeing up the ladder underground "This better not be a stick up, mate. Sewers make me trigger happy." I finish and get ahold of the rusted rails, sliding down quickly.
Christ on a crutch and dancing macarena, what a fucking smell! Ugh, I thought I got it hard in Humanis compound but this is whole new level...Right after landing onto metal grating covered in inch-thick layer of something I don't even want to know about, I fish out my gasmask and put it on. First few breaths are hard but quickly I get used to it, filters neutralize tear gas so stentch of sewers has nothing on that.
Fuckin' hell...Let's do this. Rifle to the shoulder, finger on the trigger and small steps forward. In shitty lighting like that, the glass oculars of mask even worsen my sight so I rely on ears, trying to attune myself to other sounds beyond churning waters in the distance.
I got unused to jobs like that. After third stumble in ten steps, I've turned the flashlight on.
Moving up, I manage to reach pump consoles, but my gut and eyes tell me I wasn't seeing things and more than once, my flashlight caught something human-sized moving just outside the light. Taking one glance behind me, I position myself to have at least one side covered by the wall, before powering up the consoles.
Not good, both pumps aren't working. One is just shut down while the other is clogged...Ugh, just when I got my clothes cleaned by some good soul.
Moving further, alongside the pipes and conduits likely connecting consoles to the pumps, I stumble upon a pack of bones. Not that old ones and licked clean. I don't like the sound of that so my finger pushes fire mode on my rifle into auto. This better be just rats...
Rats don't eviscerate people. And guy I've stumbled upon, was eviscerated, putting it mildly. Arm missing, gut ripped open and *eaten* out. Blueish jumpsuit told me this had to be the buddy of the scared maintenance worker above. Guy knew when to say 'fuck it' and don't risk his life.
There was a notebook on the body. I briefly flipping through diagrams and schematics, but I got little information that'd be useful.
Finally found my way into the control room of one of the pumps, and nearly sighed with relief, when my body acted out on reflex and I've lunged to the side, narrowly dodging humanoid trying to shred me! Hitting the dirty floor with my back, I've turned light onto the enemy and felt lightheaded.
I was staring at a ghoul. A fucking zombie that's fast, hungry and doesn't feel any pain. As the creature was still covering it's large eyes from the light, it emitted shriek I've heard for many night onwards, waking up in cold sweat.
Ripping off a burst, I've shredded the unarmoured ghoul. My hopes it was only one in here were shattered when another howl erupted right next to me. Against common sense, I've swung with my rifle and hit the oncoming ghoul right in the mouth, making it recoil a bit.
Firing point blank was stupid idea as my gasmask got smothered in guts and blood, blinding me nearly completely. Trying to wipe the oculars, I got blindsided.
Luck is a ficle mistress, kicking me out through the window but leaving matress to catch me. The claws dugged into bag on my back, stopping on plastic magazines and ordnance but making me stumble forward, then turn around and empty the clip of my rifle in blind fire.
When another hit torn the mask off my face and made me see another ghoul standing inches from me, I knew I've missed. With empty gun and no backup, I did what old Tick taught me - when cornered, you attack. And so I did, using my rifle like a lance, I've poked the large eye with barrel of my rifle and, as disgusting as it is, I've managed to make it burst.
The ghoul lost it and started to stumble around, howling from pain. Okay, it's time to put into use good ol' 'murica and it's rotten upbringing. Turning the gun around, I've swung it like a bat, cracking the skull of the monster, making it fall.
Adrenaline is a thing that makes you do the worst things in your life, and mine was hitting the ghoul until I was sure it won't get up ever again. With numb arms and out of breath, I've realized Murphy's Law just in time to catch a glimpse of claws flying at me.
Glory my spiritual witness, I've seen all the stars in the sky when I've caught that hit to the temple. Adrenaline surge shot later, I was laying on the floor again and trying to fend off the ghoul from ripping me apart, but I was losing. Finally the ghoul grabbed ahold of my gun and pulled on it, taking it off my hands. I've let him, and added two feet kick with it, sending the creature into the dark.
Discombobulated and alone in barely lit sewer, without a gun, I had to think quick which was hard with mind more clogged than dump I was in. One of my pockets held three emergency flares and my hands worked on popping one out before I could finish that thought.
God! Damned!
That is fucking bright! Few thousand candelas of red light blinded me a bit, but to the light-sensitive ghoul was like propane torch. Oh, sorry...
To ghouls. I was getting surrounded and suddenly regretted knowing this. But this it, impossible situation and standing against all odds. This is when the magic happens.
Time slown down and my senses sharpened, my eyes catching glint of metal reflecting the light. It wasn't rusty and was made out of metal so even if it was a loose pipe, I could use it to defend myself. Making required dash before the confusion worn off, I reach down into the pile and grabbed the thing that was...
Oh-ho-ho-hello beautiful!
Melees were never my thing but I wasn't going to complain about a heavy combat axe.
"Alright ya cunts! Time for a bloody dance!" I slip into english without knowing it. Doesn't matter to them or me, as I've thrown another flare right next to me and gripped the slimey handle of the axe firmly, it was like throwing a guantlet for a duel.
They sure picked it up, attacking me from three sides at once.
One foot forward and twist, ducking under the claws as I moved my whole body, gaining swing needed to hack off entire arm off one of the ghouls. Straighten up and balance, switch hands on the weapon and do a broad chop from above, slashing chest open and making guts from ripped stomach to fall out. Let the blade lead with inertia, moving like clock's pendulum as I turn around and hit like I was rich corporate bastard playing golf, plunging the spike of the axe right under chin of the ghoul that was behind me.
It snarls at me, dying inches from my face. And I feel good with the knowledge I'm the surviving side in this onslaught.
Yanking the blade free, I take all the time in the world to get my breathing back. With nothing disturbing me for a good moment, I reach for secondary flashlight, attaching it to a hoop on my jacket. Little shaky but better than last flare I'd rather save for worst times.
In the sparse lighting amplified by my torch, I inspect my Semopal or what is left of it. The buttstock and rear of the chamber if just smashed, cheap production wasn't deisgned to be used as a bat to cave in skulls.
Bollocks, I need to start carrying a pistol on me again.
Still holding axe at the ready, I finally approach the control panel and see black on white, or rather green on dark green, that I won't be able to remotely restart the pumps. Let's go then, the faster the better...
Crossing dark and stinky corridor and even worse catwalks, I've managed to reach turbine controls. Could try decking but without any protection, I'd probably end up headless, just like corpse of some bastard who got here before me; shotgun didn't helped him one bit as the almost-skeleton still held it-
Hold the fuck up! Somebody said shotgun?!
Reaching out and pulling free the weapon, I inspect it and see it's a nice, shortened version of standard shotgun used in UCAS by cops, even the corporate ones. Perforated barrel, solid pistol handle and rock-solid pump action that didn't even choked on all the sludge stuck to it. I reach to my bag for shotshells I've bought for Eiger, and see that I've had some luck when ghoul attacked me from behind earlier - the bag still held and I have not lost all of the expensive ammo and grenades.
Thank you Fate, I'm sure you'll make me pay for it anyway.
Loading up the gun, I feel much better now. Armed and calmed down, I approach the turbine controls again and after staring at ten-digit codelock, I just flip through the notebook found on the dead plumber and input the password scribbled there. Huh, it did worked...
Engine sprang into life, but so did the shadows around me. First ghoul that lunged at me must've been really shocked when most of it's head was turned into a mist.
"That's right, fuckers! I have a shotgun now!" I've screamed gleefully, cocking the gun and sending into ghoulish hell another rotting mutant. And another one.
Damn, I've forgotten how good it was to have a streetsweeper like that in my hands!
Hearing snarl behind me I turn around and whip the sneaky bastard across the face while holding the Remington in one hand. This time I've remembered to turn my face away as I've pulled the trigger...
Last one came straight onto me and I've pulled the trigger on him in most fashionable way, only to hear a dry click of empty chamber. Oh bollocks.
Ghoul swung onto my shotgun, making it fly away as I've let it go, reaching for the axe as I've taken one step back. Just enough to get space for a chop!
This one was smarter and jumped back. Alright you dipper, let's see what you got...
Scream and stomp I've made was enough to provoke an attack, ghoul coming onto me again but I was prepared this time. Blunt front of the blade hit it in the jaw, disorienting enough for me to heel-kick the bastard and finish it off on the ground.
Can't say I'm proud of fighting like that but it's survival of the fittest and I was not ready to be somebody's dinner yet. Picking up my shotgun back and seeing it wasn't even dented, I conclude I've found a keeper.
I backtrack to the console and restart both pumps. Oh look, it did worked on it's own. What a relief-
I've nearly shat myself when doors next to me opened and another ghoul jumped out but this one looked much more human and even worn some clothes!
"Please don't shoot! We're not like others!" It croakes to me and raises hands. Okay, that put me on hold, ghouls are feral so if this thing talks, it won't attack me purely out of instinct.
"I don't want to kill anyone more in here, but fellows like you nearly shredded me. I'm keeping my gun up, but let's talk what is going on in here." I speak slowly and clearly. Luckily, when hearing german, I used the proper language to reply outright.
"T-Thank you...Given our condition...It's hard to communicate with anyone else." Ghoul replies. "We've given up hope."
"Okay, I'm still here and we're both alive so I'm listening what is going on in here."
"I speak for the Krezubasar's ghoul population. The Krieger strain may've ravaged my body...But my mind I have retained." Ghoul introduces itself. Wait what? Population?! Just how many ghouls there under Kreuzbasar then?
"What's a Krieger strain?"
"A virus, strain of HMHW. It has twisted me...us...into thing you see." Ghoul points at it's grey flash hanging from the bones. "We are not monsters nor undead...Closest would be lepers as there is no cure so far but we linger unwilling to just accept death."
"Alright, I'm getting the picture here..." I lower my gun to emphasize it. "Go on."
"We have lived here, under Kreuzbasar, for years. It provided refuge from the world above. We've laboured in here in exchange for nourshiment for us and our feral brethren...But the food supply have been cut off, hunger driving mad the ferals who do not hesitate to attack even us."
I've tried but couldn't feel bad for killing the creatures that nearly evicerated me, but these guys? Nah, so far my finger didn't itched for trigger.
"So you've worked here, on these pumps and sewers..For food? Who was feeding you?"
"The Doctor, a topsider from Krezubasar. We had a deal and he fed us. The pumps were working and sewage flew, in return we got medical waste to feed on. Rationed, we got by. A decker monitored the arrangement from both sides but with her death, Doctor broken the contract."
Oh no, no no no...
"That decker...It was a topsider, right? Blonde hair, cute smile and always chewin on a matchstick?" I ask, already knowing the answer.
"Yes! The one who spoken to us as equals! Never shunned us for our condition...You knew her" The ghoul moves remnants of it's nose and snifs loudly. "You have her scent."
"I have more than that. My name is Rai and if Monika trusted you, so will I take the risk...I'll try to fix that, get you back on the 'food' as long as you'll keep tending to the sewers."
"We hold our end of the deal nevertheless. We love it, makes us feel more human." Ghoul replies with grin of mouth missing lips. "But at the same time...the strain requires us to feed on human flesh, or else we'd die. Remnants from the clinic above was enough to keep us in check, but without it..."
"You've hunted some fresh meat."
"We had no choice...Even so, we ventured looking for bodies. For dying already. It was the ferals who unleashed on the man who came in here before you..."
"Alright, here's the deal - I'll go topside and have a word this Doctor. You stay put and make sure nobody else gets hurt. I'll get you straightened out." I promise and frankly, never thougt I'd enjoy seeing rotting face twisting in a smile.
Once again I'm picking up slack after you, Moni. Secrets, secrets, secrets...How many more of them you've had, my little devil?
I found myself less notalgic and increasingly aggravated, hearing Monika had fingers in every pie in the kiez. That doesn't sounded so innocent like idealistic anarchist I knew.
"You can call on to the doctor over the commlink...Monika...have set up for us." Ghoul points at the far end of the section turned into living quarters. Bedrolls and piles of old rags, some personal items. A handful of scared, rotting faces looking at me in terror of people scared for their little lives. Eyes don't lie, no matter the faces, these were just normal people trying to survive the day.
Having no better option than running around again, I walked up to it and see it was Monika's handiwork - little messy, little artistic liberties here and there, but everything solid and made out of high-end parts.
It takes a moment for doctor to pick up the proverbial phone but when it happens...
"If you're calling me again to beg-" Irritated, silky smooth voice of an elf rangs from the other side.
"Let me cut you off right now, laddie. I'm no ghoul, more so I'm a go-to man you may already heard about. I'm Rai."
"...Herr Rai, what are you doing down there and calling over...?" Now really nervous elf asks back.
"Just had a wonderful chat with your long-term customers."
"I don't know what these things told you Rai, but these are not my customers. They've never paid me anything for my services-"
"They're keeping vital part of Kreuzbasar up and running, sunshine. How one of my friends once said...It's part of your civic responsibilities to chip in, to keep our little neighbourhood spinning. Not like you weren't giving out anything more than wastes anyway, didn't you?"
"And what *I* have from that exchange?"
"Roof under your head? Clean and working shitter? How about a little dignity and pride of making Krezubasar a bit better place?" My voice unknowingly hardens and starts to get growly "Money isn't everything in life, even for an immortal asshole like you as age may not get to you but my gun or my newest friends' teeth can end you permanently if you'll keep that attitude!"
"...I do not feel like discussing this matter anymore with neither you, nor them." Elf huffs and switches off.
Huh, he wants to do it the hard way then.
"Give me a few minutes, looks like I have an appointment with the good doctor and I'll have to axe him a few questions..." I speak to the ghoul leader and break into a run, hoping to catch the bird before he'll get any bright ideas of fleeing. Ghoul stops me and points at another corridor, signaling shortcut to the clinic.
That's convenient.
Doors to the clinic aren't locked down and lights are on. Seems I was fast enough.
"Who the hell-AH!" Elf doctor squeals when I stomp inside, still covered in foulest shit and innards from the sewers.
"You weren't very agreable over the commlink so I've been thinking maybe personal visit would make you more...charitable?" I ask and block the way out with my axe. "Nuh-uh-uh. Let's talk, sunshine."
"What-This is-" Doctor, crisp and looking like teenage cutie pie with earrings, nearly stained his white outfit, babbling while backtracking until he fallen against own table. "It's your sainted friend Monika! She started it all, left me no choice! But now she's dead-"
"And she was a dear friend of mine...So watch your fucking tone." I snarl, putting bloodied axe under chin of the doctor. "You think with her death you're getting scot free? You're not. I'm just like her, only I like to play rough with fuckheads like you...So I'm going to ask only once...Are you going to give the waste you're throwing out anyway to the ghouls as you are supposed to, or do you want anyone in Krezubasar to know about your little arrangement?"
"...Mettbachs will storm the sewers and burn them all into ashes." Elf tried to play tough.
"Maybe, maybe not if I'll tip them off first. Either way, they'll be out of the picture but you sweetheart...You'll still be here and when people will hear you've fed ghouls right under their feet...It doesn't matter what race you are, they'll flay you alive and hang by the bollocks. If they'll find any that is." I grin and lean oh so uncomfortably close to the doctor "So whats it gonna be? Because I'm getting tired and that makes me twitchy."
"Y-yes. Fine! I will give the bio-material to those...things!" Elf spits out and I let him free immediately.
"Whey! That's a communal spirit!" I commend him. "I'll spread the word that we need more people like you, Doctor. Those willing to help others in need and help in a really good way...You're gonna see some business coming your way, I'll make sure of that. Business that will fill your greedy pocket. Did I sweetened the deal enough for ya?"
"...Just go and don't let a single word about it get out." Doctor waves at me.
"Word about what? Toodles." I wink at him and leave, chased out by an angry huff.
"I've spoken to the good doctor, he promised to start feeding you again." I welcome ghoul awaiting me impatiently by the ladder below.
"We thank you, topsider! Thank to that we can stay here, do our work and survive."
"Happy to help, you are a part of Kreuzbasar afterall." I shrug. "Every part must work so we can all enjoy bit of living. Take care...Oh and if the doctor will try anything again, here." I type in frequency of my comm. "In case of emergency, call me and I'll deal with it."
"Thank you...Rai." Leader escorts me near the ladder I got in here initially. "We will not forget that."
"Good." I wave back and climb up.
"Where the fuck have you been?! What in the-Mein Gott! You stink like a sewer!" Eiger closes her nose with fingers.
"You don't say." I grunt, throwing nuyen I got from the plumber onto the table, then move to the bathroom to shed all of the dirty gear and clothes.
"Where were you? We've been waiting for you." Glory speaks up, making me glance at her. Seemed like she shakened off her storytelling and was back to usual self.
"Had a hot date in the sewers...Long story, lots of stench and sewage." I reply courtly, maybe a bit colder than wanted. "Lost my rifle after beating someone to death with it...If you're not disgusted by it, my bag is full of ammo for you guys, get all you can carry, we still have a job to run."
"We're not postponing it? You're wounded." Glory points out and grabs me by the face when I've taken off my shirt , forcing to look at her porcelain features. Her dark eyes scanning and inspecting the wound as metal fingers prodded around, causing me a mild headache.
"Taken a claw to the head, no big deal. Leave it, it's gonna be a nice scar from it." I shrug her off, making her recoil.
"Scar?" She repeats and suddenly I'm aware I'm shirtless, and Glory's eyes are running up and down my torso marked by a few combat scars and generous amount of tattoos. "You have a lot of them."
"A few." I reply and turn back to her, only to feel cold metal gently running along my spine, tracing nasty mark I've had in there.
"It looks...lethal." Glory exclaims.
"Shrapnel from a grenade. Piece was shaped and it went just around the column. Anywhere off by milimiter and I'll be dead or disabled." I explain, "It was that or Monika losing her face."
"You loved her that much?" Her question shocked me, but also hurt like a blade, my ego lashing out because of her story earlier.
"More." I lock my stare on Glory. "She made me believe in something while I've just lost my sister. I've had only her...And now I don't." I finish, turning my back again and theatrically loud unbuckling pants to give her a strong enough message.
"We've all lost our lives at least once..." Glory speaks and takes her leave but my words stop her in the doorway.
"Monika taught me to never forget what we've lost but to never give up on getting new things if we can't bring the old back." I've said and looked at Glory from above shoulder. "I intend to do that. Do you?"
She left wordlessly, prompting me to switch the valve open and take my sweet time to wipe as much stench off me as possible, which will do little probably since I'll put on dirty clothes but fuck it. At least it'll cool my head a bit...