\+/ Tales From Night City \+/ Chapter 31 - Headquarters
The sirens of Night City whale off in the distance as rising smoke from sewer grates whoffs into the air. The size and density of Night City offers alot of deadzones... areas that were once or even never inhabited. Its no wonder that so many in society whether vagrants, criminals or runaways call this place home. A cityscape where opportunity and dismay dance together hand in hand in a whirlwind of chaos and uncertainty. Whether its dorph heads skezzed out of their minds wandering the streets like zombies or blue collar workers snarfing scop dogs on the street corner before double shift, its home to them all.
Amidst the feint sounds of the empty, isolated streets, you see 3 people turn a corner off the main street down an alley. The darkness of the alley engulfs the 3 as they make their way down its long stretch. The 3 get to the end of the alley and hop a short chainlink fence before turning a final corner. They walk another 30 yards down after turning the alleyway corner and stop in front of a door. Audrey waves her hand over the locking mechanism of the door causing a dim green light to appear illuminating a small feint area of the alleyway. Audrey then places the palm of her hand over the green light causing the door to beep subtly before sliding open.
Brian, Zaunya and Audrey make their way into the hideout still pitch black before the door slides closed behind them. Audrey turns on the lights in the hideout giving you a clear view of the area. The pristine nature of the living space is in direct contrast to the surrounding neighborhood. It was almost as if stepping into a portal to a more high-end part of the city. Although no opulence was on display, it was well put together...things were organized and had their own place..it was small with 2 bedrooms and a small living room connected to the kitchen area.
"You guys can stay here for the time being... Its not much, but definitely safe from prying eyes."
Audrey says as she watches Brian and Zaunya slowly walk through the place checking it out. She continues. "CCTV is setup to watch the mainstreet and this back alley."
"Interesting location for a get-away vacation home." Brian says looking around the layout of the place.
"Well, if you're trying to 'get-away' for vacation or because a multibillion eddie mega-corp is hunting you down, i'd say you've been brought to the right place. There's several spots you can use as shooting nests up along the fire escape and the buildings been retro-fitted for small arms and explosive, concussive impacts."
Brian looks over at Audrey with confused skepticism. She continues.
"And if all else fails.. come here." Audrey says as Brian and Zaunya gather to follow her. Audrey walks into the kitchen area behind the bar counter and opens a couple of cupboard cabinets under it. You see a ladder leading down into a dark hole. "You can use this to get down into to the sewer systems... Hopefully... you won't have to ever bother going down there."
"Thanks Audrey... I don't know how to even repay you I-" Zaunya says before being cut off.
"Don't mention it... just bring me that eye and we should be square." Audrey says as she closes up the cupboard.
"I gotta ask..." Brian says in the corner of the apartment with a slight grin on his face and his head down, causing Zaunya and Audrey to look over at him.
"The location... this place. A lot of work went into it..a lot of thinking. I don't know... It just screams disstrust to me. Me and her aren't the only ones on the run here are we..?" Zaunya looks at Audrey who focuses in on Brian.
Audrey pauses for a second focusing in on Brian. She checks him with a serious tone he's never heard before.
"...When you're in service to a mega-corp.. doing work off the books. You don't get deetes..you get orders. Sure, they pay well but it comes at a cost." Audrey says while she slowly walks up to Brian. She continues while getting closer.
"I'm a tool. She's a weapon." She says in Brian's face while gesturing back toward Zaunya who looks down and away with her arms crossed saying nothing.
"Tools and weapons... They don't get a break. They don't get to retire. They don't get a say. An opinion. A heart...a conscience. They're simply used until they are no longer OF use. To then be disposed of and replaced...forgotten." Audrey says before looking down and taking a step back. She continues. "This is just in place for that inevitability.."
"So you're still tied to em huh." Brian says.
"More like chained.." Audrey replies looking deep into Brian's eyes before a brief pause. "More like chained." She says again before turning around and making her way to the couch.
"So what? Do they not track you or..?"
"Contract work honey. Technically i'm not theirs...Plausible deniability with no liability whatsoever and all that. Don't ever let them hear that claim though... I'm sure they'd say otherwise."
"Hm.. not much different than the merc fixer relationship i guess huh."
Audrey shrugs in reply saying nothing.
"Thanks for this Audrey. Really." Brian says sincerely.
"Don't thank me yet. We still have biz."
Brian and Zaunya exchange a look with each other briefly as all 3 of them converge on the living room space. Brian grabs a cigarette from his box before throwing the box on the coffee table and lighting his smoke. Zaunya drags a chair from the kitchen area to the coffee table to sit on.
"Ready?" Audrey asks glancing at the pair of them.