scave

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This is the girl who smashed my window?

Hrm. If she was breaking and entering, then we should confiscate everything on her and throw her out to the wastes. Those are the rules of the community.

But all she stole was a piece of dried cheese from the storeroom. Hey, you, what was your name again?

Hamelin... How about this, Hamelin: I'll toss a coin to decide your fate.

If it's tails, you'll be banished. But if it's heads, I'll let you off.

Reporting in.

Day... seven.

More deceased got disposed of this morning. Likely extreme Originium particulate density in the building. Conditions for the Infected are turning south fast.

For the past 24 hours, haven't seen any workers in any area not covered by walls, let alone leaving the factory.

Comms pick up heavy interference when I get even slightly closer.

High-voltage network all around outside. No way to locate the control room for now.

Got the exterior patrol shifts and movement patterns down. Can't work out the guards inside yet.

I want to get this crap over with. If you give the go, I can take the most violent option.

Hmph... Fine, Rhodes Island does things its own way. Copy.

Plan B? The factory's waste transporter goes down to the basement every morning at three. They stop running the sewer pipes in the meantime.

Simple enough to get through, as long as I get a gas mask.

I'm only responsible for paralyzing the security systems here, anyway. Not my job to provide followup support or guidance, right?

...I know. I can do this less cleanly, if it comes to it. Figured that's why you called me for this in the first place.

End of report.

Insane how Rhodes Island actually wants to save Infected. What an employer.

That's the sound of the transporter starting up... It's go time.

Ugh—

Lights out, bozo.

Security system here seems almost as complex as a prison. Whatever, it practically is one anyway.

Need to find the control room before I tip anyone off—

Watch it!

Huh?

Any further and you'll trip the automated—

—What? You?

...Tulio.

'Scavenger'. Heh, didn't think you were still kicking.

What're you doing here? Guessing you've been dragging that weapon with you through the sewer pipes, huh, li'l rat?

—Hold on, lower your blade, let's talk this out. Else I'll sound the alarm.

The system's linked directly to police HQ. They're gonna read any signal from here as an Infected riot.

You a guard here too?

Yeah, but trust me, Scavenger—

Tch. Trust you?

I'm betting we're after the same thing. I saw you knock that guy out. You're looking for a way out, aren't you?

'Cause I want out too, or else I wouldn't have stopped you just now.

Hmph.

*Sigh* I'm serious, I turned a new leaf since all those years ago. Look, I'm Infected now too. I've been through hella shit, I... I understand you.

You've seen this factory up close. You know how things are here, right?

They call me a guard, but I'm still just as much a prisoner as anyone else. We're all just as damned here.

Okay, but you're their overseer.

You know the sweet lies this place cooks up to lure in the Infected... I don't like it either, but we've all gotta get our hands dirty to survive.

You don't get any sympathy from me, sorry.

Hold on, I haven't gotten to the important part. I know the systems here inside out. You can't get past them without my help.

There're two watchhound cores monitoring the whole factory at the same time. Throwing the master breaker to cut the surveillance won't get you anywhere either; they'll switch to emergency power, fast.

You need someone to work with you, and obviously I need someone to help me out. So no matter how much you distrust me, working together's still our best bet.

I never said I was escaping.

I know you're wary of me, but—

—I'm completing shutting down this place's security system.

What?

That's the job I took.

What kinda merc just comes out and spills the job they're on?

Cut the crap. The sooner I'm done, the better. Tell me where the surveillance cores are located.

Alright... so you're agreeing to work together, then? Is that what you mean?

I know what you're planning, Scavenger. I'm not gonna tell you every route straight away.

Follow me, and keep to the foot of the wall. I've figured out the blind spots.

Is the factory foreman in?

He's not. Why would he be? It's three in the morning.

He only shows up occasionally. What kinda healthy guy would wanna live in a place where the air's filled with Originium?

So everyone here's Infected?

Yeah. Not a problem for you, right? You're already Infected, what's a couple more rocks gonna do?

What about the rest of your crew? I figure they all got their protection on?

What're you guys after, anyway? There's nothing valuable here, and we don't exactly make high-precision Originium products. Seriously can't figure out why anyone'd rob this place.

...Don't feel like answering, huh? You weren't this hard to talk to back when we used to do business.

Although I guess you wouldn't have cut it as a merc if you were the same as before.

Don't waste your breath. Never wanted to work with a piece of shit like you, anyway.

Tch...

But we've got no choice for now. We have to split ways from here.

Surveillance core's right over there, through the workshop.

Then we each make our move in ten minutes. I'll find you after. Once we RDV, we head to the master control room and take out the whole system.

You better have turned that new goddamn leaf.

I actually knew which side that coin would land on, the moment it fell.

Here, give me your hand. I'll teach you the trick. Like this—

It's alright, Hamelin. You might be Infected now, but you don't have to stay that far from me.

That's right, you'll be even further after today... You're leaving tomorrow morning, right?

I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything about it.

We know you got infected so the community could survive, but they won't even let you off for it... I know, you had to take that risk so we could carry on. That's how it's always been.

Take this silver coin—as a memento.

No matter where you are, no matter what happens... I'm here, and I hope you live.

Base station signal screener's already off.

Next, high-voltage network... down. Electric doors... open. Pulling the master breaker.

Phew...

Done?—

Tch...! Knew it!

Asshole! Backstabbing me again?!

How the hell does this work out for you?

Heh. Always gotta try, y'know?

Think you can get away with this? A little shit like you's never gonna fool me twice!

What else am I supposed to do? Just sit back and wait for you to take me out?

Neither of us needs the other now. The factory doors are wide open. Of course I'm gonna make the first move instead of being the victim.

I never said I was gonna kill you.

Duh. Why would you? But in what bizarro universe does this end with you letting me the hell go?

I'm Infected too. Now I can understand how desperate you were back then... and also how much you must hate me.

True... never had that many clients I could put a face to.

Tch. Since when did Zalaks have this much strength?

I told you, you're not getting away with this.