[center][hr][img]https://i.imgur.com/oQlpYMx.png[/img][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/b3RmLjcyLmFhNzIxZC5WbTk1ZENCVWFHVWdSM1Z1YzJ4cGJtZGxjZywsLjEA/durango-western-eroded.regular.png[/img] [hr][/center][b][code]Gold City - Office Gardens[/code][/b] [hr] Jim Baxter sat and exhaled loudly, closing his eyes and listening to the birds chirp around him as he placed his lunch on the table. He'd been averse to some swanky rooftop garden on his building but had come to almost desperately require its presence. It centred him. As he slid out the foil wrapped packaging and began to unwrap it to eat, a new sound permeated his gardens that did not centre him whatsoever. [i][centre]Clack. Clack. Clack.[/centre][/i] Jim turned to face a man, most certainly not an employee, saunter to his domain as if he belonged here more than Baxter himself did. The individual was odd, wearing a dark brown cowboy hat, black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, navy blue jeans and dark brown cowboy boots, all with a black duffel bag slung around his shoulder. Baxter was trying hard enough to figure this intruder out that it didn't even further register to him as odd that the man sat right next to him until after a few seconds. He scanned the rest of the gardens with all of its empty chairs and tables before turning back to the man. "Plenty other places to sit, my friend" He stated with more than a hint of annoyance in his voice. [colour=Peru]"Antarctica, some odd months, ago you and your company got that sought after ol' contract to strip the conflict zone for all its useful salvage. Which, I imagine for a killer robot, is pretty substantial."[/colour] The man said in an even tone, interrupting Baxter and leaning back nonchalantly. "Wh- Are you insane, friend? Who the hell even are you?" Jim sputtered out, his voice raising in anger as he stood up prepared to call for security. Voyt turned to face Jim Baxter, putting his hat slightly further up so he could look the businessman in the eyes. [colour=Peru]"Lauren Baxter. On her second year at G.C.U. Studyin', I believe, biochemical engineerin'. Smart kid."[/colour] Voyt slowly stood up himself as Jim Baxter's face began to turn from anger to concern. [colour=Peru]"I say this. because."[/colour] Voyt, with inhuman speed, unholstered a revolver and pointed it at Jim Baxter's face. [colour=Peru]"If you don't answer my questions in a way I deem satisfactory. I'm gonna have to pay her a visit after I deal with you."[/colour] Voyt pulled back the hammer with a mechanical click that made Baxter involuntarily gulp. "Wh- what do y-you want to know?" Jim said, the gravity setting in as he held up both hands defensively. [colour=Peru]"From what I hear you an your boys stripped the place clean, part from one important piece of salvage. The power stone. Who's got it?"[/colour] Voyt asked. "I- I don't know? I-" [colour=Peru]"Wrong answer."[/colour] Voyt said, interrupting Baxter's explanation. He began advancing as Jim backed away in fear - the gun inches away from his nose. He stopped once he hit the end of the roof, the waist high wall doing nothing to hide the sheer drop from his building. [colour=Peru]"I've had enough 'conversations' with your higher ups to know its company policy to try and get its salvaged tech back into workin' condition then sell it for a higher mark up. Like say, some drones Oh-One was usin'. Even if ya can't get the drones themselves in workin' order you can still strip em for parts. For example, their records."[/colour] Voyt said. [colour=Peru]"As far as I've been told, only folk that would have clearance to go through those records. Would be whatever unmarked personnel you authorised. And you."[/colour] Baxter's breath became shaky as Voyt took another step forward, sending the CEO leaning even closer over the edge. He shut his eyes, centred himself, and opened them with a soft exhale. "We [i]did[/i] manage to recover some footage while the rider broad's camera was focused on the fight. It isn't anything concrete but we at least have them close to where the stone was kept and eked out some physical descriptions." Baxter managed to say, albeit in a slow and deliberate manner. [colour=Peru]"Enlighten me."[/colour] "Well, based on records from the rider lady, we [i]think[/i] the person who had the best chance to take the stone was-" Baxter was cut off as a wave of pure green energy slammed into the building behind him. The force of impact knocked Jim forward in a heap on the floor and caused Voyt to stumble backwards. He unholstered his other gun and pointed it in the direction of the blast before the huge screen adorning another adjacent building lit up with the unwelcome helmeted visage of Voyt's employer. [hr][centre][quote]"Citizens of Gold City," Abel stated, "You know who I am so I'll skip the pleasantries, it has come to the attention of MIRAGE that there is a Power Stone located here."[/quote][/centre][hr] Voyt narrowed his eyes. He then turned to see Jim Baxter all but throw himself into the elevator, then began pounding at the first floor button for at least several seconds before the doors slowly shut. Voyt simply stared in annoyance at Baxter's attempt to flee. [colour=Peru]"Hrn."[/colour] He turned back to the screen. [hr][centre][quote]"You have thirty minutes to place that Power Stone in my hand or I will burn this city to ash." At this point, every monitor displayed a red countdown from thirty minutes.[/quote][/centre][hr] Voyt's knuckles turned white as his fist tightened. [colour=Peru]"Abel you [i]moron[/i]."[/colour] He muttered to himself before looking down at the carnage below. If Abel wanted to do things the hard way then that was fine by Voyt, he had a lead, Jill had relatively few confidants that he knew of, least of all ones combat ready enough to go to Antartica with her. If one of them had the power stone, Voyt was going to find it. In spite of Abel and his tactless way of doing things. [center][hr][img]https://i.imgur.com/1u3YO13.png[/img][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjg4LjUwNjc3MS5RMkZwYmcsLC4wAAAA/mostly-ghostly.regular.png[/img] [hr][/center][b][code]Gold City - Alleyways[/code][/b] [hr] It had been a turbulent few months. The jubilation and sheer happiness that had arisen once Oh-One was soundly defeated was offset by the unrest that followed. For though the heroes had persevered and ultimately triumphed in the snow, the world had still come terrifyingly close to death. With many of the nomads either critically injured or elsewhere or merely in hiding after the fight, Cain had taken it upon himself to keep Gold City secure in the months that followed. Would be gangs and nomads who hoped to cash in on the city's fragile state were returned beaten to an inch of their life. Or dead. Citing only a raggedy looking man as being the cause. Cain had considered it something of a penance for not being in Antarctica where his presence could have prevented the injury or death of others. Prior to now he felt things were secure enough that he could continue his investigation, until the first volley of energy slammed into Gold City's streets. Cain stood above the opportunistic looter, watched him spasm at his feet before drifting painfully into unconsciousness. Cain turned his gaze at the frightened family the looter was preparing to alleviate of their supplies. [colour=LightSlateGray]"Find somewhere below ground. Don't lose track of one another and until you find somewhere to hide. Don't stop running."[/colour] Cain kept his face obscured from the family as they rushed past him out into the streets. A mother and her two children. He hoped for the best but right now was sure the worst hadn't even come yet. Cain's body broke apart as he drifted out onto the streets himself, next to an electronics store where the row of TVs behind a window lit up. Even though he remembered exactly how MIRAGE's Operatives looked and behaved he still took a moment to register the man before him. It had been far, far too long. [colour=LightSlateGray][i]'All this time I've been hunting you down, Abel. Yet here you are. Straight to me.'[/i][/colour] He couldnt hear Abel's spiel from the display TVs but every other screen in Gold City carried the armoured terrorists face and voice clear enough. Even still, Abel's words fell right off Cain as he looked to the sky and saw that abomination of a helicarrier. Cain did not even feel himself moving or his hands sharpen into claws as he walked towards the helicarrier off in the distance.