The air filled with the distant noise of bustling people and the stale smell of food continually being cooked.
" Welcome to the bunker" A man with a greasy face greeted, his uniform etched with the bold letters 'GUARD' on the front.
Joseph squeaked cringing behind me, hiding from the unknown guard. His earphones snug over his ears.
We had traveled through several tunnels snaking through the earth to get here.
Crude overhanging lamps lighting the way down.
The elevator that descended into the mountain was nothing but a plastic clear box hurling past thick rock.
Our guide leading the way ended up being the same person who gave us our instructions back in the quarantine room.
His face was stony with bored dull eyes, unhappy to see us again. He walked frustratingly fast ahead of us for most of the way, not bothering to even have a polite conversation.
" Here, these are both your id cards and your room key. Do not lose them, you only get a limited number of replacements" His gloved hand stretching out with 7 clear plastic cards impeded with tiny veins of metal.
Logan grabbed them all, swiftly tucking them in a hidden inner pocket in her shirt. (@minipurse)
The doors shut in our faces suddenly, abruptly cutting our interaction short.
Such a helpful wonderful guy.
We will have to figure out how to get back to our room somehow but most likely Logan and Skylar know what to do so I am not too worried.
" Stay close, do not wander. Keep to yourselves are we clear?" Logan's voice murmurs to us. We nodded in unison comprehending.
People stared as we made our way to the outer streets.
The streets looked dingy but clear of any large trash. At every corner that we passed we noticed that people lined up to throw stuff away into a row of different colored shoots.
Loud shouting was heard in some alley way before a person in a shiny black suit and helmet ran into the commotion.
" A shepherd" Logan grunted.
Nobody asked for any more information or wanted to because now is not the time.
Skylar nestled closer, gluing her form into logan's for comfort.
Logan steered us up several walkways and down alot of stairs, her grip over Joseph's hand firm as we moved along.
The buildings started to look smoother and in better repair traveling further from than the places we have been through already.
" We are getting nearer to the center, hold on" Logan spoke breathlessly after so long.
Air whirled around us and the people walking around hurriedly pushed past us. The main street bursting with activity as we came in from the smaller connected street.
Small speeding vehicles zipped on a lower platform than us. The sound of bells jingling rang high as the driving people below aggressively cut each other off, trying to hurry to wherever they were going.
Newer smells filled our nostrils. Logan waved with her free hand and we followed quickly behind her.
Shops with glass fronts displayed the goods sold inside.
People entered and left frequently.
Merchants voices could be heard at a distance, selling their wares.
We stuck together as much as possible. The number of people there bustling past us thicker than before.
Weaving around the crowd, it opened to a large plaza. Vendors parked around it selling all sort of novelty stuff.
We didn't stop there though and we made our way past them to the larger shops behind them.
Particularly into one that in large red letters above a busy shop that read 'General Exchange' .
The automatic door in front swished open over and over again tirelessly.
Logan loomed over most of the crowd as we entered. Many men's eyes widen in horror then jealousy as they watched our group pass through.
Logan growled as she shuffled us into a shorter line than the rest.
I noticed as I looked around and time passed, that most people ignored this line.
A few lined up after us but that was it.
" Logan, my old friend!" A man with a smooth accent greeted with immense joy as we got to the large counter.
Maybe with too much joy.
" Mimir! How's life treating ya!"
" Nothing much, I see you are much more busier this time" he chuckled with good humor.
" Yes. I have some negotiating to do today, friend."
" Oh, show me" he said with easy confidence.
Logan flicked the card the guide had given us and in it she pressed a small metal bump, which showed a small screen. She scrolled through, pressing something and then the card gave a small projection of a miniature machine I couldn't recognized.
The man's eyes glittered with interest." An model L-44, does it still function?"
" you know it! I worked on this one, rescueing it and repairing it. I will only let it go for a good price, friend"
The man rubbed his chin."This is my offer" his hand tapping on the counter, numbers lighting up and showing other similar looking models buying prices.
" These are junk compared to what I've got and they are older models with well documented faulty issues. You know I sell quality products." Logan grills the man.
His lip twitch just a smidgen, as a woman casually walks behind him. Her eyes lighting up when she sees young Joseph.
" Gabriella, our friend is driving a hard bargain" the man named Mimir grumbled to the lady with the beautiful green eyes staring at Joseph.
" you mean a good bargain!" Logan exclaims
" Give her the price she wants" kissing the man's cheek softly, gracefully disappearing again.
He puffs, looks hard at Logan before low balling the price then renegotiating as Logan stood firm on her price.
They finally stopped at a middle price they both seemed happy at and proceeded with another item.
We might have been there for over an hour listening to both of them verbally sparr. Before Logan pulls out another card and puts her own away finished selling.
" my protégé here wants to sell too"she winks as she looks at me.
I step forward, nervous and new to this kind of banter. I have traded before in many settlements but it had been for goods or services. Here it looked like they still used the old money system.
I look the man in the eye trying to not be intimidated.
" She's got heart!" he laughed slightly amused.
" OK, what do you have?" his face turning very business like.
I do the same thing that I had seen Logan do and scroll past a long menu, looking for an inventory tab.
Once I saw it my finger pressed it delicately. The list brought up the big items first and I choose that first one without much thought.
The card projected a half- armor suit.
The suit we found while scavenging outside an abandoned outpost. I had kept it for a long time before realizing it would never suit any of us.
It was already too short and wide for Junior, who I had hoped at first that he could use in the future. And it was just too bulky for even a full grown woman to try hulking that thing around. Even the last resort of gifting it to Joseph was a hard no because of the uncomfortable material.
His face got very pale and his eyes grew wide " What else do you have?"
Obliging I go down the list until he muttered " No more" his face was completely Blanched with no color by then. He looked as though he had seen something absolutely horrifying.
" Don't go anywhere" as he fled behind a door.
We stood there confused for several minutes looking at each other puzzled.
He came back out and he slowly slid a black card a number shining underneath it .
" I wish to buy the inventory you have shown me"
Logan stared at the number flabbergasted.
" is it a yes or a no, tell me now"
Logan muttered under her breath" it's a very good price Sage. Say yes" I nod slowly after that agreeing to the confusing numbers.
He swiped my card and handed it back to me. Logan grabbed both cards and hid them in a hidden pocket in the front.
As we walk away I heard the woman's voice.
" very unfortunate...."
I turn around to ask what they meant, but Logan grabbed my shoulder pulling me away.
She took out a card, I assumed her card, and it flashed a bright yellow color.
Lines form over her handsome forehead and her eyes flint over to me.
"Let's go for a meal, we will talk some more"
We hurried out of the busy shop traveling down past the plaza.
The stores gradually became restaurants and bars buzzing with life.
" Here" She said pulling us into a small pub door.
The layout was spacious and uncluttered, patrons filtering from corner to corner.
Music played from a small stage. The musician carefully playing an upbeat song, softening the crowds mood.
We seated our selves near a corner away from the others.
Logan tapped her fingers over the table, anxiously looking around.
" Look at this message, Mimir couldn't say it in front of others but there is a serious problem with the stuff you found..."
I sat silently, scared waiting on the bar stool.
Everyone stared at me intensely.
A waitress glided from out of no where situating herself in front of our tense table. " What can I get yall?" Her voice expectant.
**************
After hours, General exchange (Mimir and Gabriella)
The double doors squeaked as they were forced open steadily.
A shadowy figure slipped into the desolate store, no one aware of the unwelcome guest.
Light seeped from a half open door behind an empty counter..
The figure swathed stealthily across the floor, pressing close to the hinge of the lit door.
"What are we going to do?" A woman pressed a man sitting on a stool.
His face wrinkled with worry and disapproval.
" Nothing, I had already warned them. I told them not to go after Logan's group. They didn't listen to reason....they were foolish enough not to realize the pattern of vanishing crews that never returned, except for those in body bags if they were lucky to be found." The man sighed frustrated.
" The guild is not happy. They will want to investigate why this group seems to have the gift of vanishing who ever comes after them ...unless the gathered intel is correct... "
" The Auditor will make things especially difficult..something is happening on the outside..those aliens are not doing they're usual predator patterns" the woman muttered worriedly.
Aexom slithered swiftly from the sales floor to the outside again. Satisfied with the new information he was gathering.
His pale eyes illuminating the simulated night of the bunker environment.
The Auditor is not yet aware of the tiny life brewing in the womb of the only person known to him to carry a half human.
He had to manipulate several lines of medical data to keep them from knowing.
For now, at his insistence with the upper management the group won't be bothered.
His wrist beeps and a message flickered before his eyes..
They are looking for him again...for more scientific research and experimentation probing.... for the secret that his body holds.
He sighs aggravated and leaves the vicinity, walking at a leisurely pace down the sleepy street.
The underground bunker unaware of the changing fate on the outside world beginning.
***********
When we had scavenged the stuff we found, it was always scattered in the area we stopped at randomly. We didn't think anything about the bits that we've collected over the years.
And we were unaware of any of the people who might have had ownership over the items before us, logically they must've been long dead by then if only their items were found.
As abandoned as they were why was it our problem? Now someone wants to come to investigate after so long? (@minipurse)
Logan had ordered for us when the pub waitress came by.
After waiting several minutes whispering back and forth, the waitress jostled back noisily with our order......
We sat with a thick vegetable chowder in our bowls and seasoned meat piled onto our plate. The soft bread the waitress initially left in the middle of the table wafted into our nose, causing our stomachs to grumble in unison.
Slowly Skylar started to eat first, testing the silent atmosphere and when Logan said nothing, then one by one we started to eat.
The clacking and cluttering of several spoons and cups sounded around the table.
I said nothing as I looked into Logan's eyes. The message was clear.
We have 24 hours.
Get out, with or without the provisions we need because....
The Recovery and Scavenging Guild will be coming for us regardless of the Auditor's surveillance.
Logan who has been a long time supplier for the shop, was in good graces and the owner thoughtfully gave her a heads up but with a hefty price.
I would have to give him one third of the items that were sold to him for free in exchange for the information. We really had no choice and we accepted hurriedly.
The deduction was almost automatic, and the black card vibrated before giving a new number on its front.
Logan asked mean while through message for help finding the things we needed. It would be quicker to ask then search for ourselves.
Gabriella took it on herself to search and broker for the stuff we needed. But we would have to do the pick up ourselves when the deal stuck she said.
'What is going on?' I asked myself confused. Something is missing, a crucial piece of information.
I look around the table thoughtfully and saw that the only one still eating was myself as my spoon twirls around the thick chowder.
Accross from me Joseph's eyes sparkled as he watched a group of people in the distance with interest.
A dart cut through the air expertly plopping itself on a black flat ring on the wall.
Junior looks at the group next and grins."We will be going to get some money" standing up tall over the table not waiting for our responses.
Joseph hops off his stool unsteady at first onto his legs. Running after his older brother.
I can only exhale, speechless watching his shoulders march into the crowd with our youngest brother drifting behind him.
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