[h3][color=ff0000]Part 3[/color][/h3] [@Awesomoman64][@spicykvnt][@Shift][@Shu]@Vampy Lauren narrowed her eyes at the woman as she put on the armor from the locker. Of course this lot wouldn't consider anyone else before themselves she thought, rolling her eyes. Though, she could barely blame her for it, it wasn't as if she cared for any of these people either. Her priority was finding Trey. The woman checked the magazine in the sub-machine gun she'd located in the room. Still plenty of ammo. It must've belonged to one of the guards, the gun had a few stickers associated with a well known BD celebrity. She cared little about this, however, it was a useful tool regardless of appearances. The lighter atmosphere of the room, if it could even be called that, vanished with the words that emanated from the radio. Everyone sobered and before long, the group nodded to each other and headed back to the hallway in the direction of the screams and gunfire behind the closed door ahead. Whatever their mysterious benefactor had come up with for a distraction, it seemed to be working well enough. What kinds of Militech experimentation would await them inside? Kade, the smooth talking Corpo, took the lead as before, and signalled to the group before opening the door carefully. As before, the Voice's instructions were trustworthy and the door opened without any resistance. The first thing Lauren noticed was a gurney, located a few feet directly ahead of the doorway, a young woman with pink hair lay strapped upon it unconscious. Likely, the demolitions expert they needed to rescue. Lights shown on her body as if she were prepped for some kind of surgery, beside the gurney was a small metal table with frighteningly sharp tools. Lauren found herself gripping the gun in her hands tighter. As her eyes scanned the room, it was clear the distraction was taking place in the other end of the room, just out of sight from where she stood behind the Corpo. All she could hear, other than the frantic shooting, were the chaotic cries of guards as they scrambled to get around what sounded like a massive creature, its yells a mixture of anguish and rage. [i]Strange...[/i] There was something familiar... Lauren drew herself closer to the door, no longer paying attention to the prisoners around her as they quickly worked out a plan to extract the woman on the gurney. The more of the room that came into view, the worse it became. Containment chambers lined the walls. Inside them, suspended in an unknown viscous liquid were innumerable human bodies in various states of suspension and with varying levels of external cyberware. Almost like a collection. But that wasn't what held Lauren frozen, jaw agape and heart pumping. Over a dozen guards aimed high caliber weapons at a massive man at the far corner of the room. Behind them was an elevator they seemed to be protecting and attempting to prevent the man from entering. He was larger than any man Lauren had ever seen. His body took the bullets as if they were raindrops. Thick arms, like metal tree trunks with countless barrels protruding from them returned a fiery volley of bullets back at the guards and easily swatted the men away like flies. In seconds four of the guards lay unmoving on the floor. But it wasn't this that made Lauren a human statue. No, it was the man's face. He had Trey's face, her brother's soft eyes and button nose, his raised cheekbones, and square jaw. [i]What have they done to you!?[/i] Lauren stood. To hell with the plan, with this disembodied Voice. To hell with all of these strangers, she was going in there and she would kill every single last one of those guards and she and Trey were walking out of here together. No one could change her mind, and no one would stop her-- unless they too wanted a bullet through the skull. – Kade’s eyes glanced around the room taking in every last detail as a plan started formulating in his head. He inhaled the last of his cigarette before dropping the smoldering butt to the ground and stopping it beneath his shoe. This room was a nightmare in every sense of the meaning, but they had no time to gawk and recoil at the horrors. Their ticket out of this place was currently strapped to a gurney and the last bit of resistance was distracted by some sort of hulking abomination of flesh and cyberware. They needed to act fast but not carelessly. If they could get the woman off the gurney or at least wheel it out without drawing any attention they would be able to slip back out no problem. That is, unless someone just waltzed right in and made a beeline to the guards ignoring the huge advantage they had! What the hell was Lauren thinking? Was she out for blood? Or maybe she just wanted to end things in a blaze of glory? Whatever her reason, she was about to reveal their presence! [color=148c80]“Hold on! You shouldn’t just-”[/color] Kade tried to explain as he reached for Lauren’s shoulder to pull her back. However, his hand met with Rodrigo’s who was attempting the same thing. Incidentally, they had also stepped with the same foot. With their arms and legs tangled, the two fell to the ground as Laruen simply continued towards her path of revenge. Kade blinked a few times as he processed what had just happened before slowly turning to look at Rodrigo. [color=148c80]“Well…I hope you don’t mind losing another one. Probably won't be able to patch her up after this."[/color] – Bea tried too, to halt the woman in her tracks. Not sure exactly how - [color=e803db][i]maybe hold that gun to her head?[/i][/color] she initially thought... But the margin for error was, well. A [b]margin[/b] indeed. [color=e803db]"Hey-"[/color] She hissed instead, her voice low. [color=e803db]"You'll get us all killed!"[/color] She continued through gritted teeth, trying to grab hold of the woman, but really, Lauren was too determined to stay. [color=e803db][i]Oh boy[/i][/color] Bea thought, bracing herself all of a sudden, however she could, for death. [color=e803db][i]Was never going to get that fucking EGOT anyway.[/i][/color] – Dejah’s arm came up again as before, fingers wound right around the grip of her pistol as she took aim right at Lauren’s back. [color=f0b824][i]The shooting across the way will cover it.[/i][/color] Dejah’s cold internal calculus was the only thought to cross her mind as she lined up her sights and pulled the trigger. A single bang and Lauren went tumbling down onto the floor in a heap, arms and legs sprawling out as she rolled over facedown. At first Dejah thought it had been a kill until Lauren weakly moved her hands and arms, fingers curling and flexing raggedly, Dejah could hear Lauren’s sharp whimpers of pain over the chaotic sounds of battle. Dejah sighed slightly aloud and took aim again, training her sights on the rounded shape of Lauren’s head where it lay as she prepared to fire a killing shot. No way did they need to slow themselves down hauling this brainless liability around with them. – Rodrigo audibly gasped, horrified, affronted, and genuinely disappointed. [color=598527][i]Dios...[/i][/color] Who were these people he got himself thrown in with? Still disentangling himself from the Suit, he'd been unable to prevent the first shot, but as Dejah took aim again, he found his footing and pulled her arm sharply down. [color=598527]"What do you think you're doing,"[/color] he hissed angrily, preventing any further action. Inside the room, Lauren moaned loudly as the shock from what had occurred wore off and the pain from the bullet wound in her back surged through her like a tidal wave. Unyielding reverberations of crippling agony burning through her entire body, emanating from a spot in her back. It took her a moment to understand what had happened, but it was amazing how much clarity she was able to attain despite the miserable aching she felt. One of the others had shot her to prevent her from reaching Trey. She wondered if they were involved with Militech all along and whether this was all some ploy against her and her family. [i]The bastards![/i] It didn't matter, she would get her revenge on all of them, but first, she needed to protect her brother. The woman pulled her arms and legs under her, finding the strength to crawl forward while maintaining her hold on the submachine gun. Pure adrenaline, an insane amount of will power, and the unconditional love of an older sister, fueled her forward. There was nothing she would not overcome to reach Trey, to bring her family together again. Her sight was laser focused and she heard nothing but the pounding of blood in her ears as she approached the skirmish ahead, leaving a small trail of blood in her wake. When she'd gotten closer, Lauren found the strength to lift herself, leaning her weight on one of the metal structural beams in the room, letting out an exasperated and painful yell as she succeeded. "You fuckers!" She lifted the gun and fired a few rounds at the guards, whose attention were now split between the man before them and the wounded woman. Her eyesight was darkening though, her strength failing, and the shots found no targets but the walls behind the men she aimed at. Trey turned toward her then. Their eyes met and Lauren's filled with tears. Her baby brother was still in there. "Trey," she sobbed. He took a few steps toward her, and she found herself sliding back down to the ground. She would leave the rest to him. She had done what she'd come to do, she'd found him. They were together again, and though he was different than when she'd last seen him, he was still her Trey. His new body would have no difficulty in lifting her, protecting her from the shower of bullets that continued unceasingly. They weren't as loud as they'd been before. Lauren lifted a hand toward her brother as he neared, everything else around him fading away. "Brother," she cried. The hand that had once fit in hers, that she'd held while he was feverish and sick, that she knew better than her own, was now the size of a garbage can lid. Trey reached out this hand, and a smile formed on Lauren's lips. The last she would ever share. The hand became a fist that crashed down on her as easily as it had the guards that were firing at him. What was left when he lifted it away was little more than puddle and mush. What had once been known as Trey was now nothing more than an agglomeration of flesh and cybernetic parts, strewn together in such abominable configurations that all he knew was anger and pain. Nothing human remained inside the cyberpsycho, and his attention returned to the guards. "Where did she come from!?" One yelled above the gunfire. "Who the fuck knows?" "Two of you, check it out, quick! Maxtac should be here soon, we just have to hold out a little longer!" Two guards pulled away from the others and followed the trail of blood. Distraught by the behemoth behind them, they weren't as careful as they might otherwise have been and did not see the group huddled near the hallway entrance. – Kade let out a soft sigh and shook his head after no one was able to get Lauren to return and Dejah had to put a bullet in her back. It’s not that he didn’t agree with such a method, sometimes you have to eliminate the liabilities even if they are “on your side”. But blatant betrayal in a group setting usually did not go over well. Not to mention, Lauren was still moving and making noise! The whole point of putting her down would be to keep their cover. Now all that had been accomplished was straining the team evident by Rico pulling himself off the ground and confronting Dejah. [color=148c80][i]Amatures.[/i][/color] Kade thought as he picked himself up and straightened his clothes. All the while watching as Lauren approached the abomination acting as though she knew it. [color=148c80][i]Oh lord that thing must have been a loved one.[/i][/color] Kade rolled his eyes at the scene in front of him. Maybe she would be able to distract them after all? As long as she kept that thing busy they could- [i][b]SMASH[/b][/i] Kade’s face scrunched in disgust as Lauren was pulverized by what she believed was her brother. He had seen a lot in his time; but that was something he never had nor ever wished to see again. [color=148c80]“That’s it. I’m done.”[/color] Kade tossed his hands in the air and began to walk towards the pink haired woman encased in the gurney. [color=148c80]“Let’s just get the person we came for and leave.”[/color] As grotesque as the scene further in the room was, Kade kept a watchful eye on it just in case the guard’s got curious as to where the interruption had come from. His intuition served him well as two guards disengaged the abomination and started heading their way. Kade narrowed his eyes which lit up once again. [color=148c80][i]Oh no you don’t.[/i][/color] Why the guard’s had weaker security than the lockers he’d never know, but the spy was able to bypass one of their systems with ease and use one of his most favorite tricks; uploading a virus that wiped their short term memory. And as an added bonus, since it was already past their firewalls, the virus jumped to the other guard and did the same to him. They would forget what they were doing, and their attention would no doubt be drawn back to the large cyberware monster nearby. Perfect. Now all that was left was to wake sleeping beauty and get out of there. – To say Bea was appalled was an understatement. Confused, tired, devastated, frightened, horrified - the whole bag. And then some. She'd had to turn away when Lauren crawled off, the sound of that shot ringing in her ears. She tuned into the woman's pain immediately. Even as she turned her back to it all she felt completely unsafe. She didn't want to look. She didn't want to be the next to be callously shot for being a liability to the group. She wanted to go home. The only thing stopping her from fainting this time was the rocketing fear that if she did, she'd wake up in one of those tanks. Or worse, just not at all. All Bea could picture was the forlorn expression of her dog sat by the door of her apartment, waiting forever. [color=e803db][i]Who the fuck are these people?[/i][/color] The only one she vaguely trusted was Rico. He seemed to be reading from the same page as her, he was the only thing gentle down here. [color=e803db][i]Oh, but think of the book deal when you do get out of here...[/i][/color] An intrusive thought, but not uninspiring. Determined to not be on the chopping block next, she set to looking around the room. [color=e803db][i]We have to keep going.[/i][/color] Kade had done his job in distracting the guards, but they needed to rescue the girl in the tube. She seemed to be locked in there, some kind of medical device no doubt to induce a heavy sleep. As she observed it further from her vantage point, she made sight of cables and wires in the floor, all the way up to a button. Way up on the wall. Now, Bea couldn't be sure but... What was driving her was the need to get out, and fast. [color=e803db][i]I can make that. Just like that number I did in Chicago...[/i][/color] [color=e803db]"Hey, hey Sugardoc,"[/color] she whispered, tugging at the sleeve of Rico's jacket. [color=e803db]"You're being my backup dancer tonight. Follow my lead,"[/color] she said quietly, letting a sparkle take hold of her eyes to inspire him. [color=e803db]"Oh and Cupcake,"[/color] she added, motioning to Kade, [color=e803db]"go make sure Arms is alright..."[/color] she glanced back behind them at JV, quirking a brow. They needed him too. [color=e803db]"I'm going to get Bombelina..."[/color] She moved as sneakily as she could towards the tube - walking on her toes so as not to make too much noise at all on the concrete floor. She was like a cat on the prowl, ducking to the shadows until she made it to the wall and began to climb - not taking too much time on any one shelf - she felt how unstable they were and yet, that was all too familiar. Stage sets were often cheaper, and less stable. As quick as she could, she scaled the wall - looking like a bejewelled spider in her silver costume, her long legs agile and able to reach every spot until - there it was. The button. She pressed it. [color=e803db][i]You better be down there Sugardoc[/i][/color] she thought, finding that actually, she had a lot of trust in the man because she flipped back from the wall, knowing he'd catch her. – Despair gripped him as the woman crawled toward what remained of her family, knowing that he would have acted no different. Rodrigo could not watch as the fist came down mercilessly upon her. Instead, he turned away and crossed himself, eyes closed. The callousness and inhumanity displayed by the woman who shot her gun tore at him as he wrestled with the guilt that he could have prevented it. Had he been more aware of his surroundings he and the Suit together would surely have been enough to stop the woman. Even if they hadn't, he would not have stumbled to the floor when he should have intercepted the murderer. Because that's what she was, he confirmed to himself, looking over his shoulder at the woman who watched the events unfold without so much as a reaction. [i]And what does that make you?[/i] The hair on the back of his neck stood as the thought echoed in his mind. Rodrigo wasn't sure if it had been his own or if the strange voice from his earlier vision had returned. Darkness seemed to surround him, isolated and alone in the depths of this unforgiving and hellish prison, the sinking feeling overtook him. Even with his tools in hand, what could he do-- what purpose did they serve when he failed to act, when those he considered companions were nothing but disguised dangers. A pull at his sleeve brought Rodrigo's presence back into his own body, returned his awareness to the room where gunfire and chaotic screams continued as if they were part of the very fabric of this infernal place. He looked up and met Bea's eyes which sparkled with the promise of hope, of confidence and surety of escape. In the light of her presence, the darkness waned and cowered behind him. He was uncertain why she led him to the far wall, but she asked him to follow, and he did. It took a few moments of her scaling the wall before he understood, all grace and lithe movements as toned limbs expertly found hold where he doubted anyone else could. More than once he averted his gaze as her short dress shifted and swayed with her movements, but his focus never left her. When she pushed off the wall after pressing the release button, Rodrigo caught her in his arms easily, holding her much as he had earlier. Their eyes met once more and his softened, the corners of his lips quirking upwards. [color=598527]"That's the second time you've fallen for me,"[/color] he said before gently placing her on the ground. Quietly, he wondered to himself whether she knew that despite his catching her, she had been the one to save him from a precipice. – Ember’s eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the harsh lighting of the room. [color=872187]“Oh, just five more minutes.”[/color] She groaned, stretching her arms above her head and releasing a dramatic yawn. Blinking away the grogginess, she took in her surroundings. First noticing that she wasn’t in her bed, instead an uncomfortable chamber-like pod. [color=872187][i]Where the fuck?[/i][/color] she mused to herself as she spotted the rows of tubes filled with bodies, all of the test and lab equipment and of course the giant cyberpsycho across the room. Shear confusion consumed her mind. The psycho was heavily distracted by a group of Militech soldiers who’s bullets were flying desperately at the beast. Despite the concerning surroundings, she couldn’t help but let out an almost delirious giggle. [color=872187]“Looks like they’re having fun.”[/color] With a surge of energy, she pushed herself up, feeling the cold metal beneath her fingers. Sitting up and jumping to her feet she braced herself against the gurney. That’s when she saw them. Right there next to her. On a beautiful shiny metal table. Ember practically skipped over to the table, her fingers eagerly wrapping around the familiar grips of her arsenal. With a playful giggle, she embraced her personal assortment of mayhem before swinging her rifle over her shoulder, hooking her knife to her belt, and slipping the various grenades in the inside pockets of her jacket where they belonged. Turning on her heel after retrieving her things, her eyes fell on two figures. A handsome man who was releasing a stunning woman from his embrace. [color=598527]"That's the second time you've fallen for me."[/color] The man said, a small smile appearing as their eyes met and the woman's feet met the ground. Ember couldn't contain her joy at the sight of new faces, especially ones that seemed so familiar with each other. [color=872187]"My turn! Catch me!"[/color] She called out, her voice a hushed exclamation, before sprinting towards the pair and leaping into the air. – Bea didn't have much time to respond to Rico's smooth talking before the other woman popped out of her pod like Christmas Day. All energy and excitement. [color=e803db][i]Down here, of all places?[/i][/color] she thought as she got back on the ground again - in time for the young woman to come barrelling over. She stepped to the side, a trailing whisper of "[color=e803db]she's all yours angelfish,"[/color] to Rico. He seemed to be forming a habit of catching them. Why not another? – Rodrigo blinked, surprised by the flurry of energy that sprang toward him. [color=598527][i]She’s like lightning freed from a bottle,[/i][/color] he thought, instinctively opening his arms to catch the small woman, thankful that nothing else needed to be dropped to do so. And goodness was she small, she fit in his arms almost like a child would. [color=598527]“Uh,”[/color] he began, unsure of how to continue the abrupt interaction. [color=598527]“Hello.”[/color] In a smooth motion as he had done with Bea, he placed her gently on the ground before him, lowering his voice in hopes she would do the same. [color=598527]“I think you’re meant to help us get out of here. You’re the demolitions expert? I’m Rodrigo,”[/color] he introduced himself. – Ember wasn’t shocked the man caught her already seeing his strength. She knew she could trust this random person she had never met! He placed her gently on the floor and in a quiet voice he introduced himself. Ember’s smile stretched from ear to ear, [color=872187][i]New choom acquired![/i][/color] She stared off for a moment, not answering his previous question. Thinking all about how much fun they would have together! [color=872187][i]Hey, hey focus,[/i][/color] She shook off the thoughts bouncing back to reality. [color=872187]“Demolition is what I do best! Just point me at what you’d like me to make [i]disappear.[/i]”[/color] Both her hands were up by her head opening dramatically as she mouthed the word boom. [color=872187][i]Your name, tell him your name..[/i][/color] [color=872187]“Oh right, my name is Ember, simple to remember… eh team member?”[/color] She said with a wink and nudged Rico with her elbow. – Strange how despite it all, he was still able to offer her a bemused smile. How could this woman be so positive when faced with such horrors? Rodrigo looked up to see Kade near Gorilla Arms, who still held the radio. They needed to know what wall to direct Ember to, or… he wouldn’t be surprised if she just took it upon herself to start blowing things up. – "Fuck." The Captain of the Militech squad swore. Fifteen men he had started this fight with, now he watched as another was caught in the grip of that [i]thing[/i] and torn in two. Nine remained and if that Maxtac backup didn't arrive soon, none of them would make it out. "This is team Delta requesting for back up again! Where the fuck is Maxtac?!" The man's cool was long lost. The corporation hadn't even told them what was down there, just that there was a code red and the scientists needed back up. Now the entrails of all the scientists were strewn about and they were all that was left. "Demolition is what I do best!" [i]What the fuck was that?[/i] He thought, looking up and over the desk he was in cover behind. Rows and rows of people in vats obscured his line of sight but he had definitely heard someone yelling. Maybe the woman who had been turned to paste earlier wasn't a scientist, maybe his men he'd sent searching had missed something. But what could it be? He knew they were under attack by an unknown netrunner who had locked down major parts of the facility. Not even their brightest runners had been able to crack through, so it couldn't be back up. Suddenly, realisation dawned on the guard like a 3 ton fist coming down and splattering a woman. "Leeman, French, Carter and Harold. Get your asses up and find out whatever the fuck is going on towards the barracks. I think we're being taken on a ride here boys." – [color=e803db][i]God she's loud.[/i][/color] Bea thought, tempted to roll her eyes, but truthfully, she couldn't blame the woman for being excitable. Who knew how long she'd been down here. If there wasn't an entire fire fight happening in this house of horrors, she'd have been more inclined to find it somewhat endearing. As it was, they were in a house of horrors. One of their allies was trigger happy, and they were surrounded wall to wall by people in tubes. Bea had witnessed more incomprehensible violence in this last hour than she ever thought she would have in her life. This Emma girl was their way out. She was just very loud. And as Bea glanced down the row of tubes, she noticed that the enthusiasm had alerted the guards. [color=e803db][i]Shit,[/i][/color] she thought clenching both fists in fear at her sides. [i]Wait,[/i] she thought, the fringe beading... Perhaps, a booby trap? [color=e803db][i]Well, fuck. It's not like you're going to be able to do anything else Doll,[/i][/color] she said to herself. She tore at the strands- a fistful of beads in each hand. With a graceful motion, she tossed them both down the rows and watched as they disappeared into the dark. [color=e803db][i]Worth a bloody shot,[/i][/color] she shrugged - eagerly grabbing Rico's sleeve again, moving to drag him along - and their pink-haired ticket out of there. [color=e803db]"Move!"[/color] She hissed quietly. [color=e803db][i]"Quickly!"[/i][/color] – Rodrigo placed his hand on Bea's, pulling his arm back gently. [color=598527]"One moment,"[/color] he whispered, indicating that the other two should continue ahead without him. Speed was surely of the essence, but he needed to make sure they wouldn't be followed first. Bea's quick thinking with the beads was incredibly ingenious, but he'd never known a stunt like that to work in real life and his need to confirm outweighed his need to run. Hunched slightly to minimize his height and visibility over the rows of containment chambers that stood between the three of them and the chaos on the other side of the room, Rodrigo approached cautiously to glance down the rows four Militech guards approached from. A smattering of beads rushed forward, the sound of their gentle strikes on the cement easily masked by the ricochet of bullets and discordant yells. The small spheres littered the floor directly before where the guards approached, unnoticed. For a moment, Rodrigo thought Bea's plan might just work, until the guard in front finally reached the small beads which were easily crushed under the man's heavy duty boots. He paused, lifting a hand for the others to follow suit and lifted his foot to rest on his opposite knee as if checking for dog feces. "What the fuck is this?" The other guards approached and shrugged or made non committal noises, one shined a light on the floor ahead to reveal the other land mines before them. "Where the hell did these come from?" While her efforts hadn't quite worked as she'd intended, their delay in examining the small objects gave Rodrigo an idea and enough time to execute it properly. Aiming at the nearest guard, he hacked through the man's ICE and struck him with a contagion quickhack that easily spread to the guard beside him. As the effects of the poison took hold, they began to sway and draw the attention of the other two. Before they knew what had happened, Rodrigo easily performed the same action again and the two remaining guards became equally as affected. By the time he turned to rush back to the women, the sounds of their toppling over themselves could be heard as their weapons and equipment struck the ground. [color=598527]"Good work with the beads,"[/color] he whispered to Bea with a wink as the trio rushed forward. – Kade stood back with Dejah and JV observing Bea and Rico as they went to work freeing the trapped demolitions expert. It was actually very impressive how they worked together despite meeting for the first time in this prison. Bea’s skill had especially surprised the spy who was finally happy to see her more than pull her weight in this operation. With any luck, they might just be able to grab the person in the tube in and leave without any one ever- [color=872187]"My turn! Catch me!"[/color] The smile on Kade’s face briefly vanished as the woman who emerged from the container proved to have no volume control. If he could hear her all the way over here, then it wouldn’t be long before the Militech guards caught on. Oh well. At least in her shouting he was able to catch that her name was Ember. Now he wouldn’t have to come up with yet another callsign on the fly. In addition, they were well aware of the attention they were drawing. Kade couldn’t quite make out what they were doing, but they had set up some sort of trap before taking off full speed down one of the rows of tubes. If they had thrown caution to the wind, then it meant they needed to move and now. [color=148c80]“I think it’s time to go!”[/color] Kade said to the others. He bolted out the door and made a sharp right turn, leading them down an adjacent line of tubes. Hopefully there was some form of plan in motion as cover would be limited once they met back up beyond these tubes. Ember followed quickly behind Rico and Bea after their impromptu diversion. Swiftly moving as fast as her feet could carry her, she didn't even notice the bodies suspended in the tubes around them. As they came around the end of the tubes, three new faces rounded the corner to meet them. Though Ember didn't know them, none of them opened fire on her or her new pals, which in her experience usually meant they were friendly. The very idea of which sent her heart racing with excitement. [color=872187]“No. Way.”[/color] Ember said in a giddy tone. [color=872187]“More new frie-”[/color] Kade flicked out his pointer finger and placed it over Ember's mouth, silencing her mid sentence. [color=148c80]“Yes yes we're all the best of chooms here. We'll have time to celebrate that later but right now we need you to make us a new door, one that leads to the sewers. Can you do that?”[/color] He asked. The corpo made sure he was able to finish everything he needed to say before removing his finger from Ember's lips. When the corpo lowered his finger, Ember kept quiet this time. Nodding in understanding. [color=872187][i]Sewers….sewers….[/i][/color] She thought to herself as she scanned the nearby floor and walls. There were cracks and signs of decay everywhere in this room, but not what she was looking for. [color=872187][i]Come on, there’s got to be some-[/i][/color] and there it was. Just ahead was an area of the wall with cracks running down the surface, but with stains and discoloration around it; telltale signs of prolonged exposure to and damage from water. [color=872187]“There you are!”[/color] She thought aloud. Without warning or hesitation, Ember raised her arm and pointed it towards the area. Her forearm opened up, exposing a small projectile launcher hidden within and firing a miniature rocket. It impacted against the wall blasting away the weakened concrete and revealing an opening. [color=872187]“One passageway to the sewer as ordered! Is there anything else I can blow up for you?... Please?”[/color] – "Leeman, French, Carter, Harold! Anybody come in!" The Captain's voice shook, haggard with hopelessness. The static reply over the radio told the man all he needed to know. In their absence, the beast had mowed down 3 more of his men, leaving only him and one other. "Arghhhh!!!" Crashing through the barrier, the cyberpsycho stepped on the leg of the final man. Though his wails of pain were short lived as the thing crushed his head in its hand. "Fuck." This was it, the Captain was the only one left standing among the guards. Coming out from behind his barrier, his shoulders slumped in defeat. "C'mon you fuckin thing! Do it! End it all!" Thumping across, the cyberpsycho slowly moved its way over to the guard. Raising its arm above its head, the beast readied itself for the final blow. Suddenly, the elevator dinged. The Captain's head snapped to the side as his eyes widened. Maxtac had arrived, everything was going to be... [i][b]Boom![/b][/i] An explosion sounding from behind the guard caused both him and the psycho to pivot around. Several figures from across the room poured through the hole in the wall, none of them daring to look back. [i]So, this was all for them.[/i] The guard thought to himself as mantis blades pierced into the back of the creature. Roaring in pain, the psycho spun around but the Maxtac soldier was already hooked into its back. Expertly, the other two soldiers activated their Sandevistans, dodging the beasts flying fists with ease. Together, they both fired off multiple rounds of high powered, single-shot rifles into the psychos head. Roars turned to groans, then finally gurgles as it fell to the floor. With a final spike through its head, the Maxtac soldier hopped off the creature's back standing among the other two. Looking over towards the guard, the one in the centre asked, "the threat has been neutralised. Next order?" – As the group crossed the threshold of rubble into the sewers, smoke rose in plumes before it fell down as rubble, landing on their clothing, in their hair, and powdering their faces. They had to keep moving. Bea ran as quickly as she could, surprisingly fast too. Surprising that her heels were holding on too, considering the abuse they’d gone through throughout the whole ordeal. Like hell would she be taking them off any time soon, certainly not in the sewer. [color=e803db][i]Fucking filth[/i][/color] she thought - but she was interrupted before she got to voice her disgust to the group. Something had happened behind them, and as the group kept speeding towards a dark nothing, Bea looked back at the hole in the wall. They weren’t out of the woods yet, were they? The sound of static reminded her of their mysterious [i]friend.[/i] She reached for the radio, it was with JV, and she snatched it away - her brow furrowed with deep concentration and her words came clear as crystal as she spoke into the receiver. [color=e803db]“You.”[/color] She began. [color=e803db]“We’ve done everything you asked,”[/color] she was moving slowly - eyes transfixed back at the room of horrors as the events continued to escalate. [color=e803db]“Something tells me we’re valuable to you, and if you want us to make it out of here alive to whatever the next part of your plan is... Please be a doll and put those skills of yours to good use.”[/color] Bea’s hand clenched the radio. [color=e803db]“If we’re followed down here, we’re going to die.”[/color] As she took her finger off the button, her breath trembled. In the space of light from where they had entered, she saw a chair materialise in the thin midair, then heard a chord… A guitar. Followed by some more notes that she recognised from a long time ago. A humming. [center] [i]“If you listen you can hear it call…. There is a river… Called the river of no return…”[/i][/center] [color=e803db]“Who the fuck is that?”[/color] Bea asked aloud, turning on her heel. [center] [i]“Swept on forever… To be swept in the stormy sea…”[/i][/center] [color=e803db]“You better stop singing that song!”[/color] Bea called out, glancing left and right. [center][i]“Lost my love on the river…. And forever my heart will yearn…. Gone forever… down the river….. Of no return.”[/i][/center] In the dimness, Bea's eyes widened - pupils dilated as she fixated on the eerie silhouette that was now perched in the distant chair, barely visible—an almost spectral presence. The tiny frame hunched over a guitar, its form barely more than a whisper against the deepening darkness. Strains of that familiar tune emanated, drifted hauntingly. The cadence reverberated through the desolate sewers, twisting and contorting the melody within the circular chamber, transforming into an otherworldly incantation. The child’s voice wailed around the walls. She shoved her hands on her ears, squeezed her eyes shut but she heard it still. [center][i]“Wail-a-ree Wail-a-ree. Was it all worth it?”[/i][/center] That wasn't part of the song - she knew that song. That wasn't part of it. But that alone was enough to break the spell of it, tear her away from the spectral hold. A horrible, awful clammy chill took hold of her - and now an earworm nestled itself in her mind too. She clenched a fist and drew herself away, back to the front of the group - shaken by what had happened, but only more determined to press on. [color=e803db]"[b]FILTH[/b] down here,"[/color] Bea cursed, emphasis on the disgust, [color=e803db]"and what now?"[/color] The radio stood silent. Perhaps the mysterious voice didn't take kindly to the woman's tone, or perhaps they had moved out of range of the transmitter. Bea's question lingered, the moment stretching out for what felt like an eternity. – Suddenly, a scream cut through the air, funnelling its way up from the facility. It was no ordinary scream, the tone was way off, as if a body with no soul had made the noise. Haunting. It wasn't long before another sounded, and then another. Quickly more and more joined until there was a symphony so loud it deafened the gunshots that followed. Without another word, the crew took off, running as fast as their feet would carry them. For miles and miles they ran until daylight eventually appeared on the horizon along with the stench of Night City's fresh air. Those who possessed real lungs would feel them burn as they finally broke through the other side. Standing on the edge of a round pipe, the group would find themselves on the border of Westbrook, looking over at the City Centre. They had found freedom. "There is a van parked above on the street." Well, partial freedom. The radio came to life as the voice delivered its final instructions. "Climb the ladders and get in. The driver will take you to where you need to go. Remember, I am the only one who can help you, follow the trail of breadcrumbs and you will be cured."