[center][h3]ACT II:
Groundwork[/h3][/center]
[hr][center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5vRaQeI_8M]CURRENT DATE -- 24/05/2047, ~3 AM[/url][/center][hr]
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[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5090987]Denver[/url] was a city of rings. With the rapid influx of inhabitants in recent years, the city had tended to grow upward, more than outward. Starting from the outside, the Mile-High city had the usual suburbs and flatlands one expected in an area of the country that was still habitable. Moving in, however, there was an explosion of height: single-story ranches transformed into minor office buildings, movie theaters, and "sensory experiences". Past that was the Downtown area, a thermonuclear burst of neon lights, holograms, manufacturing, and unchecked commerce. And then, there was the Steel Citadel at the center of it all.

That was the big draw of Denver over the other megacities appearing in the fracturing United States. Envoy didn't much care about what the people in her city did, as long as they didn't cross her or her friends. When a few super-tech powered building companies had moved into the area, joined by four of the Big Six, it was a match made in heaven. It had taken just eighteen years for the city to go from a big city to one of the biggest.

ET was shook awake by Dave the Car, just in time to see the city rise up in front of him. "Lord," he whispered. Flashing lights, dancing shadows, and behind it all, the Citadel. They were in Denver, all right.

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The Steel Citadel. Like something out of a twisted fantasy, perpendicular to the angular steel and glass structures surrounding it on all sides. There was an unspoken rule that no building in Denver could be higher than the Steel Citadel. This was not an issue: the fortress reached skyward like a mountain, constructed from materials sourced from three miles of ex-city. It lived. It breathed. It killed anything that got too close, screaming the entire time. Even the skyscrapers couldn't hide enormous structure behind them.

But that wasn't why they were here. ET kept silent while they drove in, but he instructed Dave to turn off the car-camo. It wouldn't do for them to get stopped on account of being invisible. He also instructed Dave to take them to the place where he figured they could start the search: TONDE. He'd found the place while on vacation. Admittedly, his idea of a vacation was a little different from most people's.

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They pulled up to the bar-slash-nightclub, which was still surprisingly active for 3 AM. [i]Gabbie, I need you to let me go now.[/i]

[color=7ea7d8][i]Sure thing, hot stuff. But I want you back inside of me the minute there's trouble, deal?[/i][/color] The supersuit around him folded back, wrapping around his seat and leaving him in a bodysuit.

ET rolled his eyes. "Sure," he muttered, surprising himself by speaking out loud. That was stupid. He steamrolled ahead to cover. "Okay, so here's my plan," ET said. "It looks like somewhere between then and now, that Shade lady disappeared. No harm, no foul, I guess. Anyway, this place is good for information. I found it on vacation. We're going to go in, ask a few unpointed questions, and see if anyone knows anyone who knows anyone useful. Questions?"

He didn't wait for a reply, getting out of the car and heading for the trunk. He pulled out a T-shirt and jeans. Maybe not the most stylish of choices, but he was from Midwest City. They were still going through the transformation old-timer flatland to supertech dystopia. It was fine to wear there, so it would be fine here. At least the Tower and Stardust were dressed somewhat casually. Nobody would have taken them seriously in super-gear, except Envoy. Top priority, avoid attracting the attention of Envoy.

The body bag caught his attention next. Strapped down to one side. Reynolds was in there. "Sorry," he whispered. He mentally promised her that they would bury her as soon as they could. A proper burial, too, not one of those shitty mass graves. No, a proper cremation. "I swear on my brother's grave, Reynolds."

He pushed his handgun into its concealed holster, banged the trunk shut, and headed up to the door of TONDE. He waved the other two toward him, motioning inside. Without the suit, he was just a guy. Better to let the walking tank and nuclear reactor go first, just in case.