Training took place under Yi's supervision. No unnecessary discussion will be allowed during this session. Mia and the White Tiger intervention group. United under Mr.Yi's firm hand. Hand-to-hand combat, shooting practice, first aid - the morning was an intensive training session on the basics of their job.
Protecting a VIP, what to do if caught out, treating a minor injury, eliminating a threat. This and many other scenarios, both theorized in the classroom and practiced in Keng Tao's underground premises. When the morning finally ended...
-Assemble.
Yi gathered her entire team, well-oiled machine that she was, and everyone found their place, arranged by size in clear order.
-End of the morning. Rendezvous in 2 hours in the team briefing room for our future mission. Enjoy your meal.
Without further ado, the group dispersed immediately and the discussions began as Yi turned on his heel, leaving them to their own devices. Before that, he had looked intently at Mia, who hadn't forgotten to drop in on their team leader.
While she was still in her sportswear. She separated from the group, passed through two doors, climbed a small staircase and arrived at one of the three doors in front of her. One for the classroom, one for Mr.Yi's equipment and one for his boss. Knocking before entering, a voice inside called out to her. Waiting respectfully, she sat back and waited for her boss, team leader Xiao Cai, to speak to her.
Contrary to what one might think, Cai wasn't a tyrannical boss. He was friendly most of the time, spending time with his team and taking part in training sessions, even organizing meals after difficult missions. He also took responsibility for his men. Something very few people in the industry did.
By a bizarre coincidence, he happened to be related to Mia. A close uncle. While she waited, Xiao had finished what he wanted to do. Turning to her. He had two cups of tea in his hands. Bringing them to a small table with two sofas facing each other. He invited Mia to sit down.
Sitting down opposite him, Mia could only face Xiao, who was more focused on his tea than on her.
Yet almost at his father's age, one might have been surprised at his low position. A man his age would have been better off behind a desk than in an intervention unit, and with his experience should already have been promoted.
The more than likely rumor was that he had been blacklisted by a powerful entity within the company, keeping him forever in a dead-end position. Explaining his position, his attitude and his total lack of manner once his superiors were gone.
Mia took the cup as she had been taught. Calmly, with elegance and refinement. Following her habit and experience, she practiced the same gestures she'd been repeating since childhood. Savoring the tea and showing her deference to her host. In the proper manner.
Lowering her cup. Xiao watched her, rare were the moments they'd spent together. Especially since he was part of his mother's family. He was the equivalent of an uncle to her.
-Do you want to tell me why you were late?
Mia remained silent, staring at her uncle. With graying hair, he looked a bit like her father, even if he had a nice mustache. And he was in better shape.
-Family problem sir.
He remained implacable, even heaving a weary sigh at Mia's reply as if he'd been waiting for it. He spoke with patience and even understanding, if Mia could hear correctly.
-When my half-sister found herself married to your father. You know what I thought?
-No sir.
-Good riddance.
He said before bursting out laughing. Mia, who didn't know what to say, remained silent in the face of her uncle's smile as he reminisced. She nver knew her mother but...
-By the gods, she was horrible, you've no idea. A mixture of arrogance and snake venom. I remember once she hit one of the servants with a lamp until she lost consciousness...
Mia's eyes widened, unsure what to make of her statement. Xiao continued to speak.
-... So when they told me she'd found a husband... I can't tell you how relieved I and the others were. Because yes, in addition to being a terrible person. She had inherited the bad habit of calling me and the other children of our father's second wife bastards. Insulting us and treating us all horribly. The attitude that our father had when he was there ignored the implications leaving my half-sister to act like a monster.
-... To marry her... I must say I had great respect for the pair of balls your father had between his legs. Ah...
Mia watched her uncle deflate. Almost sad.
-Of course, one shouldn't speak ill of the dead, but the day I learned she'd died in childbirth, I didn't feel a thing. I felt nothing. For a bastard like me, it was like being told the neighbor had died. I was sad, yes. But I doubt I could have felt anything more.
Mia felt herself blush with anger, it was her mother he was talking about.
-Yet I'd always heard she was generous, calm and caring.
-Mm? Vain, angry and vindictive? Last time I heard from her. She was complaining about you, and you weren't even born.
-You don't mind talking to me like that?
-Mia, I'm my father's second son, I am alive only because he wanted to have insurance if my older brother had an accident. Worse, I became third in the succession when, miraculously, his first wife, after years without another child, found it in herself to give my father a second legitimate son. Needless to say, I never saw my father and mother in the same room after that. Ahah!
Xiao was all smiles and laughter, so Mia didn't know whether to be angry, disgusted or sad. Be it for him or her. Even if she never truly belived what was said about her mother good or bad that still hurt. Remaining between stupor and confusion. Mia had to take in that Xiao laughed at being ostracized by his own family.
-Are you confused as to why I'm telling you this? I'm taking back to my story... After I found out you were born. I never heard anything from any of them about you. Nothing. So when I saw your name pop up on my recruiting team. I had to stop and take a closer look at your application. I was skeptical, but yes. You were my niece. But my surprise didn't end there. Voluntary participation, no recommendations, no favors as far as I knew. Not even a car provided by your father, you live in a company apartment and apparently no lover to support you...
He looked at Mia, who was holding her cup nervously as he recited her situation by heart.
-Then came your assessment from Yi and the others. "Trained in weapons and hand-to-hand combat. Mia Gong is disciplined, calm and determined. Punctuality, good manners, careful discussions and polite to all, have shown great benefits in the cohesion and efficiency of her training group making her one of the best elements of this promotion. She would be a prime choice for services such as bodyguard, VIP protection and scheduled event security, where her qualities and training could fully flourish." The last sentence explaining that, if you wanted to, you could go into a branch other than intervention and have a good life among well-dressed people. What does all this tell me about you?
Mia opens her mouth before he interrupts.
-You're not your mother. That was the first thing that came to my mind. You showed up at Keng Tao with nothing going for you. And without your father's help, you managed to get into an intervention unit by living as an “ordinary” employee. Your mother would never have given up the comfort of being the daughter of a rich family. But then again, if that's all it was. She would never have lowered herself to the level of a human being by treating others like normal people. I've watched you myself, you have a way of relating to others, fitting in when you have to and judging the people around you. But I think the best part is, when you were posted, you could have gone anywhere, from a place surrounded by wealth, to an air-conditioned office where no one comes in all day. At least, that's what this report... strange, to say the least, would prompt any good manager to assign you.
Mia swallowed.
-Do you remember the interview we had before I accepted you into my unit?
-Yes.
-Do you remember what you said to me: “Why do you want to join an intervention unit?"
-'To prove that I can do it’.
-And you did. Several impeccable missions, meritorious actions, documented procedures organized and even put in order. Whether it's giving your father the heebie-jeebies or challenging yourself to live your own life. I think you've done well. You've been through a lot, I know, but you've done really well.
Mia felt a lump in her throat. She didn't know why he'd said all that. But knowing she'd been recognized was a great compliment to her. Xiao smiled at her too, seeing Mia's complicated face as she tried to remain serious.
-Still. My favorite niece, for some reason. decided to arrive late one morning, without warning. Unusual, even unrealistic for such a serious person. Then I got a message from her father saying that she had some “family business” that had made her late. Ah? That's breaking news. And she didn't tell me, odd. But I think seeing you wearing the skirt was what made me most curious. I could have put you in the plank position and questioned you like in the army, but unlike Yi I‘m not a sadist. I wouldn't inflict torture on my niece. I thought I'd invite her in for tea. Maybe she'll tell what's going on, and if not, so be it...
Xiao calmly resumed his tea, leaving Mia to digest both the tea and the conversation. Offering her the choice of discussing her problems with him. Her uncle was a man with a ready smile. She rarely talked to him, mostly when she was on a mission. He had an air of sadness about him that she didn't understand. After a moment's reflection. She spoke up.
-Thank you. For the compliment.
-You're welcome...
Pondering her words, Mia continued hesitantly and stammeringly.
-If... I had a problem last night... Concerning my family...
-...
-It's rather personal. The problem isn't settled and my father told me...
-No more. I get it.
Stroking his chin, Xiao pondered as Mia fell back into silence, unsure whether she had offended him by refusing to talk to him.
-I totally understand your situation. Tell me... How many days off have you taken in the last few months?
-None.
-Excellent. So, if I were to give you, say, a week off to sort out your family problems, would that help?
Mia kept her mouth open, shocked at Xiao's proposal, who without the slightest information still wanted to help her. He chuckled to himself.
-Get something to eat, finish the day and in a week I want to see you back at work as if nothing had happened. I'll take care of the paperwork.
He got up and walked back to his desk. Mia stood up, still incredulous, awkward and embarrassed.
-I don't want any special treatment.
-I know, but this isn't an act of nepotism on my part. I want you at 100%, that's all. Besides, you can kiss your chances of escaping the slightest astreinte for the next six months good-bye. This will be your punishment for making me receive a message from your father.
Waving her out, Mia bowed deeply to her uncle. She thanked him before turning to leave. Xiao watched her go out before being plunged into thought.
Finally emerging from the office, Mia heaved an extra sigh before seeing several people waiting for her. Smiling, they waited for her.
-We're waiting for you.
*******
After showering and changing into her uniform, she joined her group for the cafeteria. On the way, everyone had their say.
-Mia, we have some questions. How did the employee model find a way to be late?
-Better yet, how did she forget to tell her superior?
-No, me. Since when do you have a skirt and know how to put it on?
Mia had expected her questions. But even prepared for her friends' questions, she could only blush, knowing that she couldn't defend herself, all the questions being legitimate and embarrassing. Exasperated, she could only smile, raising her arms as the group paused to listen to her answer.
-Look, I can't talk about it. Really.
Zhu, a member of her team with tattoos of flowers and brambles all over her body apart from the face, shook his head before giggling.
-She's found herself a man, it's over guys.
-No, I haven't.
Tian, a short man with both eyes enlarged after losing his eyes on a mission, added.
-We all saw you walk past us in a skirt. It has to be a man.
-The ice queen was defeated by a great knight, it would be an honor to buy him a drink. And ask him how he did it.
Julian, the only black man in their group, added this sentence because, since her arrival, there had been an unexpected incident. She had kindly sent a dashing young man from another unit into the pinks, who had nicknamed her the ice witch, saying she was just a frigid woman. To which she replied that she dont sleep with servants before ordering him to get out of her sight, not taking him at all seriously. So Tian and Zhu started calling her an ice queen. More as an inside joke, but the fact that she knew how to remain strictly professional with the company's men had made the nickname stick. Smiling and accepting the jokes, Mia started walking back towards the canteen.
Passing through a double doorway, they arrived in a large hall with numerous tables, where the sound of conversation drowned out the others. Located below the main hall, the cafeteria could accommodate any employee who didn't want to eat outside. This and the fact that employees pay the cafeteria for their meals whether they like it or not.
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Continuing their discussion, they collected their food and went to sit down with the rest of the group, each trying to get some information from her. But Mia's lips were sealed, much to the dismay of her comrades, who took revenge by continuing to imagine the most incredible reasons for her tardiness.
-Oh. I know she fought cyberpsychos and saved an old lady.
-Why an old lady?
-So the old lady could tell Mia that she looked like her when she was young, which gave her such a shock she couldn't sleep.
-Well, this is an amazing story we've got here, Mia.
Mia looked at the people who had joined the conversation. They were one of the other intervention groups. Mia knew the leader well. He was the guy who'd insulted her after she'd turned him down. Blond and blue-eyed, he had a self-confidence that annoyed Mia to no end. And ever since she'd rejected him, he'd always found an opportunity to bother her. The exchanges were often spicy and almost always fun to watch.
-Oh Wow. Nelson, I didn't know it was going to rain, what bad wind brings you to our table.
-Oh nothing special, I was just informed that our next mission was going to be with your team.
-Wonderful... Can we refuse the bonus that you are in the package?
-Laugh all you want Mia, it's not my bosses who won't be joining us on this mission.
-It's ridiculous and why?
-But it's true, you're so bad they've decided to put you with us so you can see how a real team works. Ahahaha.
-Hahahaha. Really, Nelson?
Nelson turned to see Mr.Yi grinning behind his group. Both groups paled immediately as Mr.Yi jovially continued the conversation.
-I didn't know I was coaching such a bad team. We're lucky your training starts this afternoon. I'm sure Mr. Lao will be delighted to let me train a real team. See you all later.
As quickly as he had appeared, Mr.Yi continued on his way with his finished tray, ignoring the panic of Nelson and his clique. Mia and her group looked at each other and once out of the cafeteria returned to their facilities, only to pass several people in expensive suits coming from their destination.
The group continued to joke, but if Mr.Yi and Mr.Cai weren't going to be leading them on their next mission, it meant that interests of great importance were at stake. The kind where having two leaders on the same mission was out of the question. The kind where their lives might be at stake.
The classroom was what it was: a classroom. But it was closed. Having no instructions, the group went to wait either in the corridor or in the gymnasium next door until the classroom opened.
Mia and Julian were chatting when they saw Tian looking out of Mr. Cai's office window. Inside, Mr.Cai's back could be seen standing behind the desk. Tian and Julian started chatting.
-What's going on up there?
-They're telling him that the people in his charge are going to be put in the hands of a moron.
-It's going to be a pain in the ass to be under the command of Sir Wang Zhong the brave. We'll have to be careful: if our positioning is a millimeter off, he'll report you to management.
-Shut up, I'd like to complete my time with intervention and become safety manager of a facility. Preferably far from Night City.
-Don't you like it here? It's where you were born, Julian.
-It's only nice when you're a kid. That you don't realize that the world you're in sucks and that you're more likely to die than anywhere else.
-Wow, you sure like to set the mood, I just wanted to ask you.
-And I'm just telling you what I think. What about you? What are your plans after the intervention group?
-Engineering, with my experience here, I'm going to retrain with the financial support of Keng Tao.
Seeing Mia listening, Julian asked her the same question.
-Me? Nothing, I haven't planned anything this far ahead.
-You should find a man and have children.
-Oh please, you sound like my father.
-At least he can see you're a beautiful party.
Mia shook her head and Zhu moved closer.
-What are you talking about?
-Zhu what are you going to do once the intervention doesn't want your ass anymore?
-Um... I'll prostitute myself, I guess.
pfff.
-And yes, I've been hiding it from you all along, but I'm saving up to become a gigolo for very rich, very old women.
-Are you done with your bullshit?
-Nah, I don't know but I'm thinking about it... admit it, with my charisma and the body I've got...
The group continued to laugh and joke as they were called into the briefing room. The room had tables and chairs for everyone. Even more for the personnel who'd needed them for training or who'd left. In front of them a podium with a projector, Mr. Cai with a stern look asked them to sit down quickly. Not fitting in at all with the character, the group complied in silence.
-I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?
-The bad news. We'll keep the best for last.
-Good choice. I won't be your team leader on your next mission.
Lifting a paper file in his hand, he tapped it on his desk before resuming.
-This, which I've taken the trouble to prepare, was supposed to be your briefing, but you're going to have a new mission assigned to you. Last-minute order. Until the completion of your next mission, you will be under the direction of Team Leader Wang and will work in collaboration with his team for the success of the mission.
The announcement was greeted with boos and other disparaging remarks about the man who not only had a bad reputation. But had the deeds to back it up...
-And what's the good news?
-If you're doing shit I can tell he doesn't know how to do his job. So, I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you of the basics...
Mr. Cai began to give a lecture on following orders, even if you can't stand the person, and a whole speech on safety, rules of engagement, tailing, first aid. Anything to keep his men alive once they're in someone else's hands. But just as he was finishing up, the classroom door opened to reveal two men, one of them dressed too smartly for the field.
-Still here?
-Last tip for working with you.
-Always so soft Xiao
Mr.Cai didn't answer, but the tension between the two was almost palpable. Ignoring Mr.Cai's disdain. The new team leader Mr.Wang went to stand next to him on the podium.
-I hope you've finished. I'd like to finish the briefing quickly to check on details.
-One last thing. Miss Gong with me.
Mia, finding herself the center of attention, could only stand up and follow her uncle, while Wang frowned.
-And where are you taking her?
-Miss Gong has taken a week's leave starting tonight. And no, that was before this mission was launched. It would be in everyone's bad taste to brief her on a mission she's not on. Wouldn't it?
Wang looked at Mia and then at his uncle before waving his hand and then dropping it as if to tell them to leave or he'd give up.
The duo left. and Mia followed her uncle down the corridor to his office. Sitting down in the same armchair as this morning, he didn't bring out any tea but reached for the cupboard in the wall and drew from between the books a bottle of spirits before pouring himself a glass. Looking at Mia, he seemed more tired than ever.
-Go home, Mia. Get out of here before someone ruins your day.
Saying good evening, she went to the changing rooms, changed and headed for the exit. Once in Corpo Plaza, she stopped in the street. Not knowing what to do.
Go home? Where a man had hacked into the room where she was sleeping. She sat down on a bench, surrounded by the relative safety of all the armed people around her. She felt tiny, surrounded by all these buildings. Everything seemed cold in Night City, cold and sanitized on one side and rotting on its feet on the other. Once again, she tried to contact her aunt. Sayako. This was the first person she tried to contact last night. But once again she couldn't reach her. But she left a message anyway.
-Aunty? I just wanted to tell you that I miss you. That it's harder than I expected. I wanted to tell you that I'm fine, I wore a skirt today, shocking I know... The others are going on missions without me. Like you I suppose... I won't be able to contact them. I hope you come home soon. This town is sad enough without you here. I hope to see you soon. Love you.
Cutting her holo. She could only speculate where her aunt was. She'd been her best supporter and proudest when she'd managed to get into an intervention unit without anyone's help. She'd even baked a cake and shared it with Yumi.
Yumi. Why had she run away? She questioned her Uncle Tubiki and her aunt. But even her aunt didn't seem to understand why she'd disappeared. Tonight, though. Tonight she would have her answers. With Wellov, they were going to capture those sons of bitches and make them spill all the info they had. But for that, she would need equipment and rest.
******
Not knowing what to do, Mia went to one of the only places she knew she could rest. Her aunt's apartment. Already having a gun and Wellov inspecting her apartment, she thought she'd go to her aunt's apartment to rest and sleep.
As Tubiki Gong's wife, she had received considerable financial support by marrying him. Even if Mia couldn't understand how their relationship had deteriorated to the point where they hadn't lived together for years.
Arriving in Japantown after crossing the city. She entered a building well above her normal range, climbing the floors to finally arrive at an out-of-the-way apartment. Mia stepped inside and was greeted by a large rectangular living room. Three large windows let light into the immense living room.
The unnatural lights turned on by themselves, as no one seemed to have visited the premises for some time. Mia looked around the room, disconcerted by the lack of personal markings other than an assortment of plants and rare photos. There were several doors in the room. Yumi's parents' bedroom and finally the kitchen opening onto the living room. Finally, a guest room where Mia spent most of her time when she was new to Night City and her aunt wouldn't take no for an answer. A desk overlooked the living room, giving the impression when her aunt was there that she was in the office.
Mia remembered Yumi running and laughing at her tired but present aunt. Now the place was... empty. Mia tried to think of something else. But his thoughts kept bringing him back to darker thoughts. Why was she going to all this trouble?
The day was summed up in her head, the anxious journey to work in streets where she could be followed by last night's psychopathic killer. Her father once again refusing to pay her any real attention. Or only when it involved his career. Uncle Cai, who both showed what he could do and where the world he'd built ended. The others explain what they were going to do in the future. And she...
What did she want to do in the future? Continue a career in a dead-end street like her aunt and uncle? Marry a rich young man like her father wanted? Only to live in doubt that he was constantly cheating on her for reasons such as the fact that I hadn't made her a son fast enough, or that she was too old? To make her a trophy? Or get married on the job, only to disappear one day in silence for not having followed the wrong orders from the right person, or the right orders from the wrong person.
She tried to remember why she'd done what she'd done. Leave China. Come to Night City. Joining Keng Tao. The reasons in her head, once so strong, no longer seemed so important. To prove to herself that she was more than a marriageable girl, to prove herself, to feel useful. To get closer to her aunt and cousin. The only ones who made her feel normal and appreciated. She thought back to her uncle. A glass of alcohol in his hand, watching all the people for whom he was responsible slip through his fingers. There was nothing she could do. "make your choices or someone else will make them for you". She wished her aunt were here. But the room was empty. Gone were the smiles and the laughter. Frustrated, angry, tired... She did the only thing she could do... She screamed.
******
After a shower, clean clothes and several hours of sleep. Mia had to get up. The meet up with Wellov and his team would happen in less than an hour and the freak should contact them in 3. Dressing up in working clothes, pants and suit. She left her gun under her jacket in an armpit holster. But not without leaving a last look behind.
Leaving for her apartment, Wellov gave instructions for her to follow. Going into his building, she went to another floor close to her own. To an apartment. Inside, Mia was shocked to see a lot of equipment, weapons, screens, as well as several people. Wellov was there too.
-Here's what we're going to do. We checked your apartment and didn't find anything. So either they've got something we haven't been able to detect...
-Or they have something ephemeral to create the connection with the TV and leave.
-Which leaves us only a very small window of opportunity to find them... you've got to get them talking so we can trace the signal back to the person. Can you do that?
-He was a talkative guy, so it shouldn't be too difficult. I'm sure he likes monologues.
-I've got two teams, one in the stairwell and one ready to take the elevators. Several men in the parking lot, all connected to our system. As soon as we've located them, we'll grab them by the throat.
he pointed to the screens in the room.
-Your bedroom, the corridor at several points, the living room, the elevators, the stairwell on three levels.
-Didn't we see you do it?
-We're pros. Maxime here did the cleaning and made sure we had as many angles as possible.
Maxime a man plugged into a netrunner chair and raised his arm in greeting.
-Don't worry, girl. I like men, your things are all folded and tidy, the vacuum cleaned and your bed made, but your plant needs more sun.
-Thanks for the helping hand, you and your whole team.
-Don't thank me, I'd ask for help too if someone had the balls to break into my room and threaten me. Last piece of advice, at any time, if you feel things are getting out of hand, don't crack. We're not even a minute away from intervening, so stay cool...
-"Panic has killed more people than danger itself"?
-Exactly. Wellov you didn't tell me she was that savvy.
-I didn't really get a chance.
-Sure... Mia, do you want to stay with us for a while? Drink a coffee before going back to the apartment?
-Oh yes please.
With a sigh, Mia tried to relax as much as possible as the clock ticked away. When it finally came time for her to take the stage. She had regained her professionalism. Returning inside, the place that had been her refuge was now a hostile place for her. She passed through the rooms before going to wait in her room, watching TV as she gave the news. In the meantime.
Then it started.
Wellov and Maxime, who had been chatting with Mia, fell silent as once again, in the dead of night, the screen began to flicker, revealing a red eye watching her. Some might have expected something, a bang, a loud noise. But the fact that it came out of nowhere was as frightening as it could be. She stood up and faced the eye. Mia began the conversation.
-I have some information, but first I want to know what your connection is with my cousin, what you know about my uncle's death and what you're getting out of it.
Mia watched the eye, motionless over her. Mia wanted to continue, but the mechanical voice interrupted her.
-You've been compromised.
Mia heard the front door open, put her hand on her gun and tried to communicate with Wellov, but there was no answer. Her pulse quickened in an instant as the voice on the TV shouted. GET DOWN!
Throwing herself to the ground, the TV shattered as she screamed. Bullets whizzed over her head as the wall was riddled with them. Shards of glass, wood mixed with dust and bullets settled above her. When the shooting stopped. Mia was huddled under one side of the bed as the bedroom door swung open. A flash grenade went off and with a bang Mia found herself almost blind and deaf, but that didn't stop her firing at the door as she tried to reach the bathroom. Her momentum was cut short when a bullet lodged in her shoulder. She fell to the ground, losing her weapon and exposed. Turning to look, she clutched her arm, trying to retrieve her weapon.
Regaining a modicum of her senses, she saw a man in black with combat gear enter the room, assault rifle raised at Mia, who watched her death come at the barrel's end.
Then a bang sounded. She blinked wide-eyed at the sound of the man falling face-down next to her, the shot emerging from a hole in the window of her apartment. Not thinking, Mia grabbed her gun and started shooting a second man who was going inside her room. Crawling quickly along the wall, she approached the door leading to the living room. She'll be dead if she stays holed up here. And Wellov's unit wasn't there. Less than a minute my ass. Crawling she thought to take the assault rifle or one of the men. Getting to the door she did a quick pick inside the salon only to be shot at from the door to the front door. Hiding, she tried again to call for help but no one responded.
She then saw it. A guy on the other side of the window waved at her just above her. Mia had to think who's idiot will attach himself in the void with more than 20 stories in the air. The man wore a face mask with shiny red glasses, long black hair blowing in the wind. He knocked on the glass giving her silents signs to break it. Why silent? Then she realized the peoples outside could her them if he scream through the bullet hole in the windows they will know she got a way out and could launch the assault. Hearing the movements in the living room, she fired a few blind shots before firing the rest of her clip into the glass. Picking up the assault rifle, she continued firing as the guy on the other side of the window aimed his gun into the living room from outside. For Mia, this was sheer madness. Finally, the glass shattered and the man suspended in mid-air rappelled down into the apartment. Mia pointed at him. As he raised his gun to fire at the front door, where several screams rang out, the door to his bedroom closed, locking the door. The voice from the TV was coming from him.
-Come or face them.
Mia still had no answer from Wellov and didn't want to die. Dropping the assault rifle, she moved closer to him.
-Wise choice.
Passing the rope on which he was hanging around her, the man tied knots around her, securing her close to him, before telling her to hang on. The rope tightened and Mia screamed in fear as the man pulled her through the window with him. Fortunately, the cable tightened and she felt herself being lifted into the air. The man hugged her as the cold wind swept through her body. Mia hesitated even to open her eyes during the climb. The voice resurfaced. Followed by another male voice from the same place.
-Well? Are we afraid of heights?
-This is no time to make fun of it, because so am I!
Finally daring to look. Mia was in the void, facing an abyss, clinging to a guy who'd just saved her from a team of killers and was being lifted by a cable over Japantown, dozens of stories above the ground. Finally arriving at what appeared to be a construction site, Mia grabbed a railing to climb over before rolling on the ground with the guy and finally pulling away from the guy and untying the knots, her hands trembling from the sheer pace of events.
-Well, old men. I've never fished, but is this how you catch a corpo?
Looking up, Mia notices several silhouettes pointing their weapons at her.