Rainy clouds swarmed the evening sky, just as SUV arrived to the camp. And just as Nita was about to leave the car. Small rain droplets appeared on windscreen. It didn't looked like another collapse storm, easy breeze was acompanied by a light rain... Atleast for now.
Nikolai were waiting ner the entrance to the bulding. While playing tricks with his credit token, his gaze followed Nita for a while, but resumed his guard shift and an token.
Boris - ... And tomorrow morning we will move out! As far as i am aware. We should use this apportunity, while the roads are clear.
Three pairs of eyes surrounded the table and were staring at the map.
Boris looked exhaused and tired, but probobly he is always exhausted.
Injured Danila, but rightnow he looks much better, but one of his arms is still heavily bandaged.
And Olya, skinny, girl in a jumpsuit covered in dirt and oil.
And Chess piece, a pawn if you will, were placed at point where the camp is setteled.
Just as Nita entered the room,
Nita - Road is clear! 51 confirmed elimination of ELID units. May i be an assisstance in any other task? Or should i return to the usual route?
Boris - Yes... You can go now.
Just as Boris said, Nita went to the other side of the room and through the door.
Danila - Well... I guess we can try to move out by tomorrow morning! Just need to make sure that the truck and SUV are good to go. Fuel them up and other maintanance check would not hurt!
Olya - Let me guess! I will be the one who will be forced to pull a whole night shift of maintenance?
Danila - As you can see, i am in not a best shape to do all that...
Olya - *Sigh* Yeah, Yeah! Guess i will start right now! See you in the morning!
Olya grabed rug from the table, and threw it over her shoulder, then followed in the same direction as Nita did, dissapearing behind the double doors.
Boris - So... What do you think?
Danila - I think we are in the some deep shit... At least we can dig it...
Boris - Yeah... Varyag's from the south, and red zone at the north... Risk to go and risk to stay.
In another room, on the other side of the plant. Few people were already sleeping, and some gathered around an furnace to warm up a little. Blazing furnace made everyone faces red from the warmth. Few bottles of water were laying around or still in the hands of few.
Roman - ... and so, he comes up to bartender and said "Bartender, we need a place for four man!". The bar is near full, the only free seat is a stool near the counter. So bartender thought for a few moments, and then silently turned that stool upside-down!
A crowd of peolple startet giggling, or just put up a smile on their faces.
Irina - That is an old one, but a classic! I got another one for you...
Nita came closer to the crowd. Everyone went silent for a moment
Nita - Roman, can i have a word with you?
Roman - Yeah... Sure! I will come in a moment.
Nita went to the other side of the room. Roman talked for a few moments, and then followed Nita. Once he was far enough from the funace, he felt a little cold.
Roman - So... What is the problem today? Something about your memory?
Nita - How do you know?
Roman - Uh... That was a blind guess? Ok...? So, what happened?
Nita - Just... Can you tell me, Maria died after all this business with "Magni corp". What happened after that? How did it all started?
Roman - Magni corp?
With a confused face, Roman started thinking, it took him half a minute to come up with an answer.
Roman - Look, i did heard some folk talking about problems with "Magni Corp". But that was long before i joined the group... And Maria died... Did she? Everyone thought she just runed away?
Nita - What?
Now it was Nita who was confused. Something didn't add up.
Roman - I mean. I can ask around about that, but you said that she runned away? Then Sergei and you had a long talk, and then Sergei confirmed that Maria left our group.
Even more confused Nita, or bewildered and puzzled with time line of events. Just what happened back then? What is she missing? Why is there such a mess in her neural data? She barely remember anything. Maria? Sergei? What did they knew? What is the cause of all this?
Nita - Tell me, how long are you in this group?
Roman - Half a year, i guess? Why?
Nita - When did Maria runned away?
Roman - Four or five months ago? Nita... What is going on?
Nita - It is just... I think i lost much more then i thought...
Roman - Okay... Can i help somehow?
Nita - No. I need to process all this. I should go on an patroll!
Nita rushed to the door labeled as exit. And quickly dissapeared in the halls of the ruins. Roman wanted to say something, but didn't find a right word, and once he found them, Nita already was long gone. Only loud footsteps resonated through the half-empty rooms.
=== Twenty three killometers away ===
Varyag's car and few man were waiting among the ruins. An schoolhouse, were remade in to the camp. Tense mood were going around, everyone were gripping their rifles. Everyone was waiting for a news from the radio. But insted, an heavy armored car came closer to the group.
Varyag A - What the hell?
Varyag B - The client... Be ready in case something will go wrong.
Few soldiers in heavy armor suits exited the armored car and then man in fancy protection suit. All of them made their way to the schoolhouse. One of Varyag's said something in the radio. And then recived an answer.
Varyag A - Boss is waiting!
Soldiers and "client" silently entered a building. Few moments later, it was a rather a "cold" meeting
Varyag Boss - I already lost most of my man. Just what exactly is that you after?
Client - This is something that are not of your concern! All you need to do is to follow my instructions! And your work will be rewarded. You have my word on that. Didn't we rewarded you with heavy weaponry once you did the other job?
Varyag Boss - Yes you did! But what comes to that? Killing a single woman is nothing to compare with all you asking rightnow! We found your "Sergei" he was dead from the get-go.
Client - I did specified that you will recive a bonus if you get him to me alive and well, he knew too much to be missed on. But that is rather... Unrequired task for now, since you did a good job with providing a propper information. And your hard work WILL be accounted for.
Varyag Boss - Well bloody thanks you. But i am rather low on manpower! What else do you want? Another hellish task? Go one, you never made a visit in person, there must be a bloody good reason for that. Or is it a grand finale and we are getting that green zone ticket?
Client - No need to be so harsh. But this will be the last milestone to your dream. All you need to do, is to capture a special someone to me.
Varyag Boss - Special someone? Who is it this time? A girl? The old man?
Varyag Boss pulled out the photoes that their scouts managed to make. Picture of up to 29 people in total. Most of the faces were crossed out.
Client - Well... Let's say these faces, are not worth of my attention. But rather, i would require someone who is missing from the list you presenting right now.
Client pulled out a photo, with a bunch of people sitting around camp fire.
Varyag Boss - Who is missing? We saw them before!
Client - Them!
*Client pointed finger at two dolls who were having a talk behind everyones back. Nita and Kikima*