In The City [General Thread]

[Alexander Ludovico]

[I'm starting this as a general city thread, for those times when characters are between immediate storylines but have posting to do. Feel free to use this as needed, provided you're not jumping into the middle of someone's conversation, or the like. That is all! - Arson]

(Transferring from 'If This Is The Frontline' pg 174)

*I'm tired by the time I get to the walls; the day's unusually clear, and I had about a mile farther to go than I thought I did. One of the guards at the toll booth asks my business in the city and where I'm coming from, but I just hand him my identification card and scan the barcode on my inner left wrist. I wave at the security camera as I walk through onto the city street. Where to go... wiring, computer, welder. Apartment. Definitely the apartment first. It's already coming on evening; I'll get the supplies in the morning and call in sick. Or something. I don't know how long this will take, so I don't know what kind of excuse would be best. It might make more sense to officially register for a solo mission into the Zones.*

*I still haven't decided my plan of action, when I unlock my door and step into my apartment. I turn on the tv and flip channels until I find Fact News, and leave it on as background noise while I fix a cup of tea. I'll have to avoid the Tower if possible, that's for sure. Riley would only complicate matters, much as I hate to say it.*

[Alexander Ludovico]

*Dinner is leftover take-out and my evening prescription. I switch from Fact News to Mousecat when the news anchor starts a repeat of the headlines, but the simple slapstick gets wearisome after ten minutes or so. I pointedly ignore my radio all through the evening. I don't plan on turning in Aftermath or the others - at least, not any time soon - and for that reason a conversation with Riley would be a very bad idea, but part of me wishes he'd call in, demand to know where I've been and why I haven't reported back to the unit. I don't sleep well.*

*By the morning, however, there's still no word from anyone at the Tower, and I'm feeling much better. There's no need for me to get all worked up over this. It's a game, that's all, a game of find-the-killer, and I happen to have unusual players on my team. It's not a permanent alliance, I'm not helping them for their sake, and I'm certainly not betraying the company. I don't even need my morning mood-enhancer, and I'm whistling by the time I step out onto the sidewalk. Wiring, computer, welder. No problem.*

[Alexander Ludovico]

*The computer turns out to be the easiest part. The first electronic store I try has a number of inexpensive netbooks, made even less expensive when I give them my employee information and sign a form saying it's for a company assignment. The wiring isn't too bad either; Doctor When gave me enough scribbled specifications to know what I'm looking for.*

*I'm a bit dismayed when I stop in front of a row of welders in a hardware shop. The permit isn't a problem; every week or so I apply for a different type of permit, mostly just because I like coming up for reasons why I'd need them. Judging by the fact that my last two were accepted, I don't think the applications are being read very carefully. It's the cost and the size that make me hesitate. There's a cheap soldering set, but it's listed as a hobby kit and I doubt it's a viable alternative. Eventually I settle on the smallest case they have - handheld, unlike the wheeled behemoths farther down the line, and powered by hooking up to a car battery. It says "FOR EXPERIENCED WELDERS ONLY" in big red letters, but if Doctor When isn't experienced, he shouldn't have asked for one in the first place. It'll do.*

[Alexander Ludovico]

*It's only when I'm back outside on the sidewalk that I realize I'm not sure if I should take a car of my own. On the one hand, checking out a company vehicle would put my name on another form, and the vehicle itself could be tracked. But on the other hand, a lone BLI agent heading into the Zones on foot with equipment like this would be sure to raise suspicions, and I'll have to scan my ID as I leave either way.*

*Eventually I decide on the car. With more space at my disposal, I return to my apartment to pack a change of clothes - I'm still hoping this only takes a day or two - and I stop for some groceries on the way out. I'd rather delay having to eat potentially radioactive meat and stale beans. I can't help that the system will register me and my vehicle when I pass through the checkpoint, but I take the precaution of leaving through one of the north gates. It'll add time to my trip, but it's not the same gate Volume dropped me by, so I'm assuming it's not the closest to the old prison.*

[Alexander Ludovico]

*I put some distance between myself and the city, parking in a pullout at the side of the highway near the spot Volume dropped me off at and tuning the walkie-talkie to the channel Aftermath mentioned. The static's not too bad, but I wonder what kind of range it gets and what that means in terms of the safehouse's location.*

*rb* This is Vico, calling Volume and/or Afterdoo. Or maybe Doctor When if no one else is around. I'm not too picky. Anyone there?

[Alexander Ludovico]

*When I have my directions I pocket the walkie-talkie, start the car back up, and head west. It's not too far, but unless I want to go all the way north and back down again I have to leave the main highways and the roads aren't in great condition. But slow's not all that bad. At least I have air conditioning for now.*

[Alexander Ludovico]

(transferring to "If This is the Frontline" pg 176. And again, this thread is open to anyone who wants to use it)

[Angeline Pacis]

((Utilizing because I don't have any idea where else to go.))

*I wake up from another nap with a paperwork pillow. It's all filled out, but I must have gone straight into sleep mode after I was done. My calendar clock says it's 5 PM on Monday. I haven't left the office since Friday, and haven't had a proper night's sleep since...I can't really remember. It must have been a few missions ago. I rub at my eyes, write out a note to anyone who cares that I've gone home for the day and they'll need to sort out the papers themselves, and walk home. I can tell that I'm walking like a drunk person and probably have ink on my face, but I don't care about anything until I get home and my head hits a pillow.*

[Rachel Mahoney]

*I'm finally let out of the hospital wing after getting my stomach stitched up, and I was madder than hell at being out of commission for so long. I immediately head for the shooting range, determined not to let a target get away from me again.*

[Amy Grey]

*I was happily shooting fake Killjoy targets appearing out of buildings, from behind cars, and generaly out of nowhere until I run out of bullets. I set my gun down and turn to grab another magazine from my training bag behind me, while searching through said bag I quickly glance up and to my suprise I see Mahoney walking in.* Rachel. *I call out and wave her over.* Hey. *I say with a smile.* How are you feeling? You look Better, a lot Better. *I reach behind me and grab the gun as I stand up.* Ready to get back to keeping B.C safe? *I ask while slamming a new magazine into the empty slot of my rifle.*

[Rachel Mahoney]

I am more than ready. *I grab a magazine for my rifle and set up next to Grey.* Next time I see those killjoys, I'm not leaving until each one takes a bullet to the head, especially that kid who landed me in the hospital wing.

[Masta Destroya]

(yeah, im tired of waiting, and saw this, so here comes the boy wonder)

*drives into the city, parks my car in the garage*

Let's see if they're here.

*presses a pair of buttons on my goggles, on the lenses appears the words "GREY, MAHONEY-CURRENT LOCATION: TOWER BASE > SHOOTING RANGE", then the words disappear, then I disable the polarization on my goggles*

I just wanna know what happened.

*walks through the tower, to the shooting range, with my shoulder wrapped in bandages, a bloody stain down my back, and Airs' hatchets still on my belt loops, one with dried blood on it*

[Rachel Mahoney]

*After finishing off a clip, I spot Weldon in the corner of my vision and flick the safety back onto my gun before turning to him.* We were wondering what happened to you, what took you so long to get back?

[Masta Destroya]

Complications arose, Mahoney. *rubs shoulder for a second, then pops a painkiller* But, the desert rat is dead. That's all that matter. I'm here because I wanna know what happened after you left.

[Rachel Mahoney]

Primarily spent time recovering in the hospital wing. *I spit the words out bitterly.* That little brat killjoy did some damage when he threw his knife into my stomach. Any word from Bauman and her status?