By some miracle, or more likely, a result of Blaze having driven like a mad man for some two hours straight, they arrived in Old Dalears with time to spare and no further confrontations, the courier mission completed, Azure was notified of where his reward could be claimed, and to Belladonna's pleasant surprise, he promptly gave her a generous cut of the payout, as soon as he had returned to the now smoking car outside a rundown looking storefront that looked almost as abandoned as any she could recall having seen, save the lack of rampant overgrowth and wildlife. She peeled off a hand full of large denominations to hand back to him, to compensate for the clothes he had purchased for her at their one stop on the way in, but he politely refused.
"Keep it," he explained as they walked towards what she figured to be some kind of a public transit station nearby, the damaged car seemingly forgotten, "bank it, use it to buy yourself stuff you're gonna be needing, you carry yourself well so finding work shouldn't be hard."
Blake shrugged and pocketed the funds, the snug fitting pants, long button-down shirt and fitted leather vest was surprisingly closer to familiar than she could dare have hoped, even if the new, well fitted body armor underneath it all rubbed her curves awkwardly and felt borderline stifling in the withering heat of the sunset. It was nowhere near as comfortable as going without might have been, but given how much she had been shot at in such a short amount of time, she felt it was a good idea to keep it on for now.
"I know I was a fighter before, but my memories are… still adjusting." She rubbed her chin lightly as a boxy and brightly colored bus rolled up and hissed loudly, doors opening on the sides; "Still, despite the crazy levels of aggression I've seen so far, I'd almost say this place could be relaxing, but it's also kind of lonely feeling." She peered at a distant group of tall buildings that shone with perfectly fitted glass, and not a hint of the decay she had seen otherwise, or felt she should still be seeing. It was almost surreal, yet she knew that this life was going to be as each life was, it's own adventure, even if she was foundationally the same person, her story was again different.
Azure chuckled as they sat down near a door and started moving. His gaze was towards her, but more out of the window behind her as they trundled down the road towards what she guessed was the airport, and his aircraft.
"I used to stress about my previous lives, even went so far as to try and find myself in the records and history books, but it got… complicated. And I couldn't stand the perpetual and circular grind my life had descended into, and the constant tension of never being sure who you where?" he made a face as if to spit, but instead grunted in frustration; "I have zero time for that now, all I want to do is explore, take on a job, do it, and get paid. Simple, direct, honest. Makes life easier that way I think."
Blake didn't reply, because she had a similar opinion that was growing as the day went on, and what little she could recall of her other life's did not inspire her to pine away for some lost chance, or forgotten result.
Shaking her head clear of the fragmented memories, Belladonna looked back at her inadvertent Good Samaritan, and once more puzzled over him. If he had been on such a high risk job by himself, then he surely was either that desperate or that powerful, or maybe both? And in either event, was it by choice as he had implied? Or maybe, like her, he had been forced into it by hazard of his most recent respawn for some reason? He was clearly skilled, and had ample points and power to use such skills, and that spoke of a higher than average level, such as that might be. That was just how things worked, you started out someplace, a bright new life, and you went about, learning, growing, and leveling until you wiped out and had to respawn, and then you got careful, because once you had your first respawn, it was only a matter of time before you had another, and then you either made it work, or got dumped back into the void again and again until you found a place you could survive in.
Or some had, or possibly would theorized, you Zeroed Out for good, whatever that truly meant. Life held many mysteries, and the nature of one's existence was one such that had more guesses than hard and solid answers. Everyone knew about SPECALTY stats because, how could you not? They dictated what you could and could not do, in so far as what you had a capacity for, how you went about doing it, was of course your own choice but the numbers set hard limits, boundaries one had to operate within.
"We're here." He said, snapping her out of her philosophical reprieve as he stood and walked out of the opening door. Following him out, they walked towards a set of high and wide buildings, tall chain linked fences surrounding long expanses of concrete, a variety of craft lined the back side of the main building, which they bypassed via a side gate. Walking up to another warehouse like building with an arched roof, Azure punched in a code, that opened another door, the darkness inside giving way to light as large fixtures above hummed to life. A small twin engine winged craft stood in the middle of the expansive and tidy, if dusty space.
"Climb in, and buckle up, we'll be in the air shortly." He gestured to the side as he threw a large heavy switch by the large main door, its mechanical groaning drowning out any reply she might have had. Clambering up onto the wing, she pulled on the door and sat herself into the comfortable seat, almost foreign looking controls before her, worn and sturdy looking under her critical gaze.
He joined her shortly afterwards, his fingers deftly flipping switches and turning knobs, brought the two engines to live, the harsh rasp evening out into a not quite pleasing thrum as smoke billowed about and they moved forward, and onto the tarmac, turned sharply, then lurched forward, the noise and speed increasing until suddenly they were airborne, mechanical sounds filling the cabin until a steady hum was all she could hear. He then handed her a headset, which she put on, and the noise levels dimmed to a much more pleasant level, his voice coming over in a slightly altered tone; "We'll be in Central City after sundown, from there you can link to either the Junction in Liberty City or fly with me all the way to Los Santos." He explained as they climbed ever higher, the ground a dizzying distance below now, Old Dalears slowly moving behind them, open water ahead, the faintest hint of land, and logically, another piece of the map little more than a smudge on the horizon.
"I hope I've made my thanks to you clear enough." Belladonna said after nodding out the window, her amber eyes glancing over the gauges, which meant little to her, before looking to his face, seeing his gaze intent out of the front window. "I have no idea how long it would have taken me to find my way to civilization otherwise."
Blaze smirked and nodded once as he replied; "A lot longer than you would think or like I'm sure, Americo is a big place, lots of empty land and water between the major states and even cities, which are also some of the most populated places in the world outside of Euroasiah. Still plenty of trouble to get into if you're alone or unprepared."
The plane shuddered slightly in the late day turbulence, but it was thankfully mild, and she was not prone to motion sickness. "I can only imagine, given what little I've seen here." She saw a large ship covered in lights down below, moving much slower than they were, but the flashing of colors spoke of something vibrant and she could only watch as they passed it by.
"What was that ship?" she asked when she saw him take note of her interest, the faintest hint of warmth rising up her cheeks at her own ignorance.
"A cruise ship bound for the port in Central City, sometimes people want to take the long way between the states, have a party and relax. Hundreds of people at a time will pull their money together and buy one for the trip. Its like a small town almost, or more like a hotel, casino and investment all rolled into one."
A roving party that took you between states? The concept was rather much out of step from what she was used to, but then what the hell was she actually used to anyways? Her memories were fragmented at best, and there was little linear narrative she could follow other than, she had been born, grown up, died, respawned, died again, and finally fraged only to res someplace else where she would do it all over again, and again…
But such was life. Azure surely knew this, hence his comment. Which struck Blake as strangely kind, given that Blaze was for all practical reasoning, a mercenary, someone well paid to do a dangerous job that was clearly high risk, and he was good at it, yet he seemed a polite and kind sort? The true mercenaries she could vaguely recall as having encountered, where far less generous and while she could only just picture such memories, it was like grabbing at smoke, the thing itself impossible to feel, yet the scent of it clung to her as if part of her essence.
Maybe there was something to that?
-a few hours later-
The flight had been uneventful, Blake too wound up from fighting and unfamiliar with both flying, and Blaze to sleep as he had suggested, she had instead occupied herself with learning as much as she could from him as he patiently explained the plane, a Cubano 650, whatever that meant, and its gauges, and controls, she even worked up the courage to take said control and guide the craft around an island Azure had identified as Cayo Perico, a tiny privately owned state owned by some "drug lord turned party animal" according to Blaze, who had been a calm and even tempered teacher that instilled a level of trust and confidence Blake found both endearing, and once more odd given his otherwise vaguely rough and cavalier bearing.
Things however became a bit more exciting as they neared the island state of Los Santos, where the air traffic was vastly denser than she had yet seen. Massive passenger planes came and went, flying high above countless smaller planes, and helicopters, that roamed the skyline at speed, and the lights of the city…
"I don't remember seeing anything like it." Belladonna commented as they circled out over the ocean, awaiting clearance to land from the control tower, the runways lit, and the flashing navigation lights of a dozen planes on the tarmac looking like some magical dance in the darkness below.
"Yeah… its pretty spectacular, I guess I see it so much I just kinda have been dulled to how impressive it is." Azure replied as he banked around again, the towering glass and steel skyscrapers beyond the airport glittering with every color. Even with that, the radio was constantly buzzing with chatter, aircraft taking off and landing, instructions and banter blending together with the drone of the engines was almost hypnotic, and with the fatigue Blake felt, she was sorely tempted to doze off at last. But then the radio call came out, and Azure replied, turned once more, and then nosed the plane down at the main runway, and rapidly she felt her stomach flutter as they descended to a not uncomfortable touchdown, before he turned off and guided the smaller craft to a stop in front of a hanger. A van then approached and at his behest, she followed him into it, and quickly they were driven around to a set of gates with a guard, and were taken into the city.
"I have a place you can stay for the night, quiet, safe and reasonably comfortable if I do say so myself." Blaze said as they were navigated north from the airport into the western side of downtown; "I have a small suite in my main offices, across the street from my apartment, which as nice as it is, doesn't have a guest room, and I'm not feeling forward enough to suggest you stay the night with me anyways." He said the last part with a blush inducing smirk, even as he worked his thumbs over his phone, the soft tapping sound intermittent as he checked messages.
"Oh! Ha, I was just thinking I would get a hotel for the night, then go looking for some work first thing in the morning." Blake said, averting her gaze out the window as her cheeks simmered lightly.
But Azure would have none of it; "Listen, you made some money by helping me, but let me set you straight, shit is expensive in Los Santos, especially in downtown, best you could manage is a tiny room out near La Mesa, and that's not always the nicest or safest part of town, unless you get a room in one of the tourist trap or dive motels, which will bankrupt you, or you wanna hop out near the beach and turn tricks, which I'm going to guess isn't your first or tenth choice."
The heat in Blake's cheeks went from a slightly pleased but embarrassed simmer to an outraged broil so fast she felt lightheaded.
"I- I would! What?! Never!" she forced herself not to glare at him, but it was a near thing, especially after his smirk turned into a full on shit eating grin that made the corners of his eyes crinkle, and the steely blue of his irises almost shine in the dim interior of the van, as he silently laughed then shook his head.
"Like I said, not your style. Look I'm not just being charitable," he said, still smiling, but now with not a hint of mirth; "fact of the matter's, I'm hurting for people that are competent, I have a lot of business' I either own outright, or am deeply invested in, and I am currently at a lack of manpower, and I'm just one guy with a gun and a lead foot, so if you take me up on my offer, I'll give you work, and pay in full, and you can make a life for yourself here, or maybe someplace else. Otherwise, I can get you to Central City by the end of tomorrow like I originally suggested." He pocketed his phone and stretched his arms as the van slowed to a stop outside of an impressive looking business building with a large sculptured sign that read "Maze Bank Building" in bold red letters.
Blaze unbuckled his seatbelt, opened his door and exited, provoking her to do the same, then follow him right up to the door, and into an elevator, which went almost to the top and opened into a sleek and well appointed lobby outside a heavy glass door, which he unlocked and pushed open.
The receptionist desk was empty, and the lights low, the logo was bold and backlit, spelling out "Omega INC." across dark wood paneling.
Following him past it, she entered a large office that was neat and luxurious, with a large desk, a sitting area, mini bar and beyond that, a large board room. Blaze then opened a side door and showed her the space. A large bed dominated the small hidden space, with a closet, and compact open bathroom.
"Either way, the choice is yours, I would just suggest you make it after a full nights sleep."
-The next day-
"… Seeking reparations for the cost in lost or damaged hardware, lost funds for contractors and the revival costs for multiple personnel killed during the exchange, coming to the sub total of one-hundred and fifty thousand dollars, with added fees for legal consul and processing of course, it will be closer to two-hundred and fifty thousand grand total."
It didn't matter what the context was, there was a certain… aura, to be polite, that all lawyers had, and it was oppressive, slimy, smelt of spoiled meat and was cold and prickly. It also seemed to almost audibly scream to be punched in the throat, shot in the genitals and set on fire, and not necessarily in that exact order.
Lifting the tumbler of whiskey to his lips, he tilted his head slightly then shrugged; "No." a long sip followed, the chink of ice cubes showed that he was dragging out the fullness of the drink longer than needed, all to prove a point.
"Mister Blaze, I must point out that per the rules my employers are fully justified in making their claims, you abdicating only hastens the claims process and brings this matter to a quick closure for both sides, and reduces possibly long term costs to—"
The tumbler crashed to the meeting table, the rich, lacquered wood surface scuffing slightly, the glass cracking under the force of the gesture, as Azure Blaze locked his eyes onto the now silent legal messenger, his offhand still holding the damaged glass as his dominant hand withdrew a large and ornate revolver and placed it on the table top with only slightly less force as he hummed lowly in displeasure.
"Let me, articulate this in detail then, no, hell no, fuck no, not now, not ever, it was all in self defense, and per my contract with my employer, any damages you're client might have incurred during any interdiction attempt should be taken up with them, and not me. Ignoring the fact that we all know that Mors Mutual has already covered the replacement vehicles and the deductable was already charged to my account long before this meeting, which is as I noted at the start, pointless."
The lawyer shifted in uncomfortable silence, eyes still on the gun on the table top as the faint music of the lobby filled the space in conjunction with the sounds of another police chase outside in the streets below.
Another long pause hung heavy in the room before Blaze gestured with his empty hand, indicated permission to speak, causing the lawyer to cough before replying: "Then why, may I ask did you agree to the meeting in the first place?"
Azure smiled faintly before leaning back in his padded chair, drawing both hands together in front of his chest, where he made a show of cracking his knuckles before speaking with dead set finality, "To prove a point, and to ensure that a message is passed back." He withdrew an envelope from his suit jacket, and slid it across the long table to the lawyer, who picked it up, then frowned.
"It's coded, so until Cody or Takana open it and transcribe it, no one else can read it, but the jist of it is this: Courier's, all courier's, are now off limits across the state, and namely and most vehemently in LS proper, I'm ready to devote the full weight of my organization, and every alliance and favor I have against anyone who refuses to accept this, and they know who I'm friends with, and what I can personally do to them, never mind my whole organization. Tell your boss' that Red Band is now on notice. Tell 'em Azure Blaze said as much."
"I… see. Very well then, I will not take up any more of your time." The lawyer stood up and tucked the letter into his bag before nodding and leaving the room.
"Damn homie, you layin that shit on kinda thick don't chu' think?" an early middle aged, dark-skinned male in a smart black suit sauntered into the room from the office space on the other side of the darkened glass door, a drink in each hand, one instantly offered to Blaze as he stood and re-holstered his gun.
"Franklin, you know how thin my ranks are right now, and all of the favors and business deals in the state don't mean shit if anyone thinks I might back down for any reason."
"Heh, yeah I also know I owe you most of your favors, and I'm just one guy with kinda deep pockets, a booming business, an addiction to things that run fast on gasoline and a family to care for."
"Join the club Frank, I still haven't gotten behind the wheel of my new Coquette D10, and I dropped a cool two mill on it and every upgrade in the catalogue, but it's been sitting in my storage here for almost two whole months."
"Shit man, you been that busy?" Clinton asked as he swirled his drink a bit, mixing the ice with the fine blended malt whiskey.
Blaze barked out a laugh into his own drink, which he downed in a single big swallow before answering; "Been that broke, so I'm running every big legal contract that comes in, while I got the few crew members I have left doing everything else."
"A lot of chump change can add up fast if you can run them all."
"Don't have the manpower to do that, as you just pointed out, and I still have to pay people for that grunt work either way. And the big jobs keep getting griefed by Red Band and upstarts with something to prove."
"Cost of doin' business I guess." Franklin shrugged as he lit a smoke.
"Or in most cases not." Azure took an offered smoke and lit it, clapping his lighter closed with a slight flourish; "I thought you retired from all this shit?" Blaze asked as he breathed out a chest full of smoke.
"Yeah, me too, but Red Band has been fucking with all the street races in San An. It's been cutting into untaxed my revenue something awful."
Azure laughed around his smoke as he walked through the door and over to the small bar by his desk, and poured himself another drink, "Franklin, ain't no one ever made money racing cars, either on the track or on the street, not consistently and not long term. You know the old saying, speed costs, and to buy enough to win 'em all, costs more than you could ever get even if you did, and no one wins them all."
Franklin laughed right back; "Shiiiit, never stopped me from tryin, or you for that matter, least before you started running jobs again."
Azure shook his head once more as he sipped at his drink, then took another long pull from his smoke, his eyes looking distantly out of the large windows overlooking the massive luxury apartment building across the street, and the coast beyond; "The issue I face is that since my old crew broke up, I find myself trying to run no less than seven businesses and a nightclub all by myself, and as such while they are all staying afloat, not any one of them is excelling enough to make me any real money."
"Man, you never did tell me what when down between you guys, I mean time was you four were set to be one of the pillars of the city, hell the whole state even." He spread his arms wide as he looked to his friend inquisitively, "So what happened?"
Blaze downed the last of his drink, then set the tumbler aside, before he moved to his desk and sat down, leaning back in the chair and puffing on the last of his smoke; "I got too ambitious, and focused on the next big score, ruined it for the others, left them in the lurch one too many times, so they cashed out, sold everything they didn't want or need, dumped their shares of the businesses on me, and left for other opportunities in other states ." He inhaled the last of his cigarette then stubbed the remains of it into a glass ashtray before folding his hands in his lap, "Can't say that I blame them, it's what I would have done in their place."
"Damn. You still talking to them at all? I know you and Vi were getting kinda heavy there before they left."
"Ehh, we message every now and again, honestly I still keep in touch with Leo mostly, and I pulled something high end for Robin a week ago, but I owed her for a tip she gave me right after they left. And no, it was not cheap, cross country currency rates being what they are."
Franklin nodded, then inclined his head; "But not Violet?"
Azure shrugged; "Last we communicated, she asked me to check up on her old place in El Burro Heights."
"When was that?"
"Month ago I think, but busy as I've been it could have been last week or a year ago."
"Who was the dusky chick you sent to the garage before slime in a suit showed up? New side piece?"
Azure rolled his eyes and laughed; "Not at all, stray I picked up on that job, hard respawn in the middle of the desert west of New Austin, think she'll be some new blood for the crew."
Clinton hummed before downing the last of his drink, then setting the tumbler down and pointing at Blaze chastisingly; "You and your strays man… Look, take it from me, don't let things go cold or unsaid or you'll regret it, 'aight?" He nodded to the other males nonverbal acknowledgement, then signed off; "I gotta bounce man, the agency has some new clients lined up and the big boss has to be seen, and on top of that, Hao has a new car he wants me to see before he pimps it out for the SA street special this weekend. Peace out homes."
"Peace out brother, call me if you need me, 'kay?"
"We'll see!"
Stepping off of the elevator, Azure looked around the A level of the garage, across the collection of rare and not so rare cars, a line of various Bravado Gauntlets and Vapid Dominators wrapping around the curved wall, and the vehicle elevator that took up most of the space. From the rare and expensive classics, to the more common, modern versions, each was clean and well cared for by the staff of mechanics he employed.
"Blake? You in here?" he called out, walking towards the stairs.
"I'm up here, on C level!" came the shouted reply.
C Level was where the Coquettes were kept. Hmm…
Blaze walked quickly up the stairs the two levels to find Blake, leaning into the open window of the still brand new D10, her positioning giving him a fair view of her attractive backside, the snug fitting dark slacks contrasting against the bright metallic red paint just so.
She slid back, extracting herself delicately, careful not to touch the glossy shimmering paint, her agile form balanced with a single leg angled back slightly, her hands held behind her and resting at the small of her back.
"You know when I said you could pick our ride for today, I was implying that you could, oh maybe sit in it and wait for a bit?"
"I was waiting, but as I don't have the keys, I couldn't open the door."
"So you were going to climb through the window?"
"No I was looking for the button for the door lock."
"Ahh… that model doesn't have one, its all automatic so long as you have the fob."
They stood there looking at one another for a few moments before she broke the not yet awkward silence; "And the fob is where?"
"In the lock box behind the fire extinguisher." He replied, as he walked over to said location, swung the lock box out from behind, and picked up the correct fob.
"I'm not going to mention that you didn't tell me that, but I am going to ask why this is literally the only one that's locked, yet the windows are down."
Blaze smiled and shrugged; "Because it's the only brand new car in this garage, and I have literally not driven it ever."
"How many cars do you have?" Blake asked as she crossed her arms over her chest and eyed him up and down once.
"Lost count after a hundred." Azure replied as he keyed the doors open, the passenger door swinging out and barely missing her hip.
Narrowing her eyes at first the door, then him, Belladonna arched an eyebrow, then moved to get in as he did.
"So what now?" she asked him as they each shut their doors, and he at last started the throaty V8 sitting right behind them.
"Now… we get you squared away with some more clothes, a bit of gear, and I show you how I make money, and you figure out where and how you can best help me, help you."
"I haven't made my final decision yet, so why are you doing this?" Belladonna asked as they pulled forward onto the large vehicle elevator and started to descend.
For his part, Blaze only hummed, staying quiet until they at last left the elevator and drove through the general underground parking and at last exited out onto the street, waiting for a few pedestrians to get out of the way before he tapped the throttle, causing the tires to chirp as he turned onto the street, driving past the high-rise apartment building and down a narrow alley in a lazy U-turn.
"You're asking me, why you should trust me? Well, if you can answer that, then I will do the same." Blaze replied as they then darted across four lanes of traffic into the parking lot of a small shopping center, most of which was closed, save for a small grocery and a gun store.
The car stopped in a parking space right in front of the door, but the engine merely idled as Azure looked over to Blake, waiting for her answer.
Blake pursed her lips in thought, before looking over at him, "You've been… Generous, almost suspiciously so, you've asked for my help, and compensated me more than fairly for it, all without asking anything of me untoward or personal, although part of me is just waiting for that to finally happen." She leaned back slightly in the seat, her hand coming to rest on the belt release, but not pushing it as she continued; "You've also been pointedly vague in giving me any information aside from what I've asked for, yet you also freely offer random information without me asking. I can't say as to why, other than I think you've been burned in the past, but you also can't help but take the chance on me."
Azure gave a half-smile, and shrugged, "I've been where you are now, only it was some time before I found anyone willing to help me. Now I'm attempting to make up for how I treated that person, now that they've left me. I'm a grinder, and I too easily focus on things rather than people. I'm trying to work on that."
"So I'm just some second chance for you to be a hero?" Belladonna scoffed, her finger at last pressing on the belt release.
"Ha, no," Blaze countered, looking back out of the windshield and dropping his hands from the steering wheel; "I'm no hero, and this wouldn't be anyplace close to a second chance for me. I'm still about the grind, and seeking thrills, but maybe I can figure out how to not run people off while I do what I do best."
Blake frowned lightly at that, then shook her head as she opened her door, "If I do this, go to work for you, there are three rules." She climbed out of the car, and waited for him to do the same, her arms crossing over her chest as he once more stood across from her and gave her a knowing grin; "First rule, I'm not some special project for you, if I need help or information I'll ask, otherwise, let me figure things out on my own, and I will earn my place, secondly, outside of personal things, I don't want there to be any secrets, if I can't trust you, then I can't and won't work for you, and last, I'm not going to debase myself for you, or anyone else, no matter what kind of payout there might be."
Blaze nodded in agreement, then pointed to the door; "Agreed, now let's get you some actual firepower, believe me when I say, you're gonna need it."
AN: Don't call it a comeback, I've been around here for years... Although, I AM BACK...