Thomas watched Tessia Thorne devour the Nourishing Mutton Stew with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. He'd given her a ballistic vest, intending to bring her along to deal with the refugee raiders, but the chronically weakened Tessia had collapsed almost immediately under its weight. Now, revitalized by the stew, she seemed a different person.
Tessia, oblivious to the multiple buffs the stew had conferred (her Apocalypse Game interface being long gone), finished her meal with a satisfied sigh. When Thomas mentioned his plan for revenge, a cunning glint entered her eyes.
"I know a place that might be helpful," she said, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the stairwell. The stew's invigorating effects were evident; she practically bounded up the stairs, a stark contrast to her earlier frailty. Thomas, too, noticed the change, though his attention remained fixed on the virtual map tracking the refugees' movements.
They reached the eighth floor, stopping outside a door. The map showed dozens of refugees on the first basement level, with the majority still on the twentieth floor. Mad Dog's the same in every world, Thomas thought grimly. This, however, presented an opportunity.
"This was the raider leader's room," Tessia explained. "I saw him with a couple of blueprints. They should be hidden in here."
Thomas, who'd been focused on Tessia's condition earlier, hadn't paid much attention to potential loot. With the floor clear of hostiles, he drew his silenced pistol and fired two shots into the door lock.
As they entered, Thomas paused, noticing movement in the basement server room on his virtual map. "Hold on," he muttered, pulling out the detonator phone. Two seconds later, he pressed the button.
The virtual map showed a flash in the server room as the planted explosives detonated. The refugees inside were obliterated, their equipment vanishing along with them. The server racks were twisted wreckage. A small smile played on Thomas's lips.
Inside the room, guided by the virtual map, Thomas quickly located two blueprints hidden in the ceiling. Tessia stared, impressed. The idea clicked. The middle floors were deserted—a perfect opportunity for scavenging.
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As Tessia watched, incredulous, Thomas pulled two grenades, removed the pins, and tucked them into the ceiling cavity where the blueprints had been. "A little parting gift," he explained with a grin.
He took the lead, navigating to rooms marked with high-value loot on his map. The routine became a well-oiled machine: pistol shots to the door, swift looting, grenades planted in creative hiding spots.
Sensing Tessia's gaze, he offered, "It's just common courtesy. A little something in return for their hospitality."
Tessia, though bewildered by the concept of explosive hospitality, was clearly impressed. Thomas handed her two grenades. "When in Rome," he quipped. "Be careful, though. If the 'owners' come back early, the gift goes to waste. Very rude."
Tessia proved a quick study, mastering the art of grenade concealment with alarming speed. She even innovated, planting explosives in door frames, toilets, flowerpots, and even under the covers of beds. Thomas watched with a mixture of awe and apprehension. This is… eerily reminiscent of guerilla warfare, he thought.
They swept through the eighth, ninth, and tenth floors, amassing a surprising haul. Thomas found six more graphics cards, bringing his total to thirteen. Astonishing, he mused.
Deciding they'd pushed their luck far enough, Thomas led Tessia toward the basement parking garage. "Tessia," he asked, consulting the map, "do you know where the collapsed crane and the 'Itchy' Private Cinema are near the Trading Center?" He'd flown over the area during the first calamity, but the whiteout conditions had obscured any landmarks.
Tessia, now wearing a lightweight ballistic helmet, considered the question. "I don't know about the crane, but I know the Itchy Private Cinema. It's in an apartment building behind the Trading Center. The entire eighth floor is the cinema."
"You've been there?"
"Yes," Tessia's voice dropped, her mood darkening. "That's where the refugees captured me. I only survived by buying my way out with a valuable item I'd found—a Golden Rooster figurine."
Thomas didn't offer comfort. He needed a capable partner, not an emotional liability. He trusted Tessia to manage her feelings. The information about the evacuation point, however, was invaluable.
With the evacuation point located, Thomas's plan began to take shape. The Trading Center was his territory, and the parking garage was part of it. The refugees upgrading their gear is actually a boon, he realized. More loot for me to collect. The flea market will be a smashing success.
They reached the parking garage entrance. "Here we go," Thomas murmured, glancing back at Tessia. "Stay close. Once we settle the score, I'll get you out of here."
Tessia's gaze was firm. Thomas pushed open the fire door, noting on the virtual map that the color surrounding Tessia shifted from yellow to green. The most dangerous part of the night was about to begin.