After Alicia killed the group of Lessers, we continued our travel towards Aurora. Lucky for me, the rest of the way there was mostly uneventful. And at dusk, we saw the remains of skyscrapers and derelict apartment blocks where Aurora was built upon. It feels good to be home again.

Well, as good as coming back to this city can feel at least. “City of conflict” they call it. Aurora is built within spitting distance of an Old-World metropolis that is to this date completely infested with Old Beasts. There have to be Vats in that city somewhere or they would never be able to keep fighting back this long. That's why Aurora has so many extermination and surveillance jobs you know? It is a conflict hotspot after all. That's why it is a perfect place for someone like me.

“Halt, unidentified squad, present your ID within 10 seconds or you will be neutralized.” A familiar young voice resounded through the comms.

“Its me, unit ID XXXXX, I have a civilian in-squad, planning to enlist her into the Commission's Group once inside.” I responded to the security force member, I think his name was William?

“Understood sir.” The voice on the other end quickly replied, nice and professional, good, good. “Welcome back to Aurora, sir.” Oh? Also courteous, one day he might get somewhere in life... Maybe.

As we entered the arcologies hangar, the first thing I did was re-assign Alicia for an adjacent hangar to my own through a terminal.

“First let's turn in the Haul-job. Then we will go sign you in as a member of the Commission Hub, alright?” I asked her as we headed to the elevator.

“Ok.” She simply answered. I swear she gets so much more quiet when we are in a city…

As such after getting out of the elevator into the Commision Hub lobby, I headed over to the terminal.

Well, I was going to. But I was ambushed in the hallway.

“Rasmus!~~~ You are back!” My ambusher yelled as he tried to grab me with a bear hug.

I refuse to be attacked first by my ambushers so I promptly disabled the hugger with a knee-kick.

“Yeah, the job got a bit hairy along the way. But I made it back.” I responded to my ambusher.

“...Can… You not talk so casually after kicking me in the  balls..” the ambusher mumbled something unclear on the floor.

“Hm? did you say something?”

“No!  no not at all!” He scrambled off the floor.

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“Heh.. It's good to see you again Lee.” I responded to the bugger. As I extended my hand for a shake.

“You too rasmus, you too.”

He ignored my hand and came in for a hug with tears in his eyes. (see why I think he is bipolar?)

...He caught me after all dammit…

“Umm… Could you let Rasmus go… He seems uncomfortable…” Alicia’s voice said quietly from behind me.

“Eh? “ He let me go… freedom~… Good job alicia!

“Rasmus, what is that?!” He suddenly asked me whilst agitatedly pointing towards Alicia.

“She is Alicia, she is gonna be my new teammate.” I responded in what I hope to be a calming voice.”

“Why is it a girl!?” ...Why can't she be a girl?! Also… ‘it’?

“Lee, calm down…”

“NO!”

...Loud… *kick*

“Gofu!”

“Umm… Lee? Are you alright?” Alicia asked the twitching mass on the floor.

“Ignore him, he will revive later I am sure.” Sigh, why cant Lee get some meds or something, see how he jumped right from happy to really agitated? Clearly bipolar.

“...My balls….Oh my balls…” Unintelligible moans could be heard from behind us as we moved towards the terminal.

After logging in on my ID I turned in the skirmish, acquiring some much needed Credits.

“Now, let's get you signed up for the Commission Hub eh?”

After she nodded we headed over to the burly scarred man handling the reception desk.

Well, we are in a conflict city (short way to refer to cities that actively commission Extermination jobs), so it is not too strange that the Commission Hub would rather hire some retired Weapon instead of a naive lady.

“Hm? What is it?” He asked, he seems really stiff, sigh, PTSD case or something?

“Add her to the list.” I responded making him seem really uneasy for some reason

“Sir, I cannot take direct part in this practice, there are rules you know?” he answered, what?

“Last I checked there is no minimum age for joining the hub?”

“Eh? Oh! that's what y- I mean, Ofcourse, please have her fill these documents.” he responded. PTSD and trouble keeping up with the conversation, did he get a blow to the head or something?

Well, nevertheless we soon had her signed up for the Commission Hub.

Aside from that, 120 creds should be easily enough to gain access to my room. As such we head to the said room next.

Upsides of being a long-term member of Aurora’s Assignment Hub, if I leave the Arcology they won't empty out my room or charge rent for the first 30 days as an incentive to come back. I suppose I have proved my value eh?

Opening my room’s door I told Alicia “Let me present to you: my room, in all its glory.”

After opening the door to my clean and brightly lit room, I was greeted by the familiar sight of my tables and workbenches all filled with various equipment for augmentation tinkering and repairs, repair-gels and the old can of WD-40 I keep around for joints and such.

It seems I left the light in the bathroom on because it was shining into the room.

“get yourself a pillow and a quilt or something from the drawer over there, you can use them to sleep when you need to. When you get some money from the commission hub we will get you your own room.” I told her.

What? ‘Gentlemen would let her have the bed’? Well I am not gentle. Deal with it.

“...Thank you.”

Heh, see? That meal was definitely worth it. I told you that you will regret questioning me buying it. (referring to first visit to the outpost) After settling down we both took a relaxing bath in turns, I oiled my joints (ahh~...heaven…) ate some canned food, and turned in for the night. Best continue tomorrow when we aren't so tired.

*Pov: Assignment hub Reception man / underworld mob goon number 12*

Phew, for a moment I thought that boss was going to add the poor girl to the next cargo shipment in the open… But he knows better than that after all, he would never show his hand openly in our work. After all, boss is a genius.

*Pov: a Security guard*

Sigh… For christs sake we should have known that asshole would not stay away for long, he might be a member of the Assignment Hub, hell he might even be a pretty gifted member, but he sure as hell is not worth the trouble, while he was away the local smuggling ring acted far more manageable, hell we were nearing agreeable terms for a moment there! Now that he is back we are back to square one again.