Chapter I - 8: The Cautious Cat
Alice had awoken but had yet to move an inch.
Instead, she was in her head while the morning sun shined down on her.
Join the HGCO, they said. The pay's worth it, they said. It would be fun, they said. Yeah, sure… But at this rate, I can't even make use of my salary anymore and I can't really hang out with tinies any time soon…
She sighed, What am I to do now?
Such thoughts kept circulating in her mind until she remembered something.
The man I rescued… If I remember right… He mentioned being a member of 'Requiem'… I have to get in contact with them… Somehow… Maybe I can help… I mean, I'm a trained HGCO Operator, top twenty of the local academy rankings, I can handle it. I-
The boisterous stream of thought ceased to be as a glimmer shined in her line of sight. It was from a small crack in the wall a few hundred metres away from her.
Tensed, she thought, Binoculars? HCP Sniper?
A few seconds later, there was no more glimmer and she marginally relaxed. Then, an excited thought came to her.
Wait! It's from a crack in the wall. Tinies!
She went on her feet and, squinted her eyes, she faintly noticed movement inside.
Their action suddenly became frantic as she noticed one tiny shoot out a rope to the ground. The tiny and another one subsequently grappled to the ground.
They must've been startled seeing me observing them.
Closing her eyes, she recollected herself.
Okay, Alice, calm yourself. Remember, this is a colony in which humans are suppressed by this Legion. These guys are probably scared of me. So… Calm subtle movements and gentle speech.
Reopening her eyes, the tinies were no longer in her line of sight.
Gasping, she immediately panicked and ran towards their last direction.
"Wait up!"
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She ran ahead and turned the corner only to encounter a dead-end.
Looking around, she saw a brick wall up ahead, as well as the same to her left, and an abandoned three-story Gigan to her right. Logic dictated she should check out the empty flat.
Sliding open the door, she stopped herself just as she was about to take a step in. At her feet, was a barely visible laser that crossed the entire length of the door's width.
Tilting her head inside, Alice verified the source of the faint beam. It was a mechanical contraption that looked like an improved explosive device.
An IED… A laser tripwire? I got to be in the right place…
Avoiding the trap, Alice silently went in, suit lightly clinking. Inside, her helmet filtered out the mildew smell.
She looked around, Solid four walls and windows… Even an elevator space… But no rooms…
The place was empty save for mother nature slowly regaining its ground.
Budget issues, maybe.
Looking at a wall adjacent to the entryway, she noticed a small hole that led to the alley.
That must be where the two tinies entered from.
The elevator doors were slightly open but the contraption itself seemed inoperable.
Latching it open will cause an unnecessary fuss…
Before moving on, she noticed that right next to the elevator doors was a Human checkpoint. Kneeling down, she got a closer look.
Empty. Probably evacuated once I slid the door open…
Alice glanced at the elevator,They must be using a pulley system of sorts to reach the upper floor. Another reason to use the stairs, I guess.
She cautiously went up the staircase, should there be more traps.
Glancing to the right, she found the access to the upper levels blocked by a fence. A sign wrote, 'under construction.' To the left was the first floor's entrance, it simply was an open doorway.
This ought to be it.
The first floor seemed empty as below except for a few trees growing here and there too. However, on the other side of the room were small lights on a brown uneven carpet-like floor.
Feeling no threat, Alice removed her helmet and hung it by her hip once again.
She then stood aghast from the realisation this actually was.
Houses, lots of small houses… All stacked and cramped side by side.
She gently walked closer to its border.
Looks a lot more like a slum… The buildings don't look really solid and they aren't even reaching my knees… Wait, where's everybody?
"Hello? Anyone here?"
No response… Still… The place doesn't look abandoned. Lots of fire barrels are still burning and lights are on.
Hmmm… If I was a tiny and my kind was abused by the Gigans throughout my life… And one day, a Gigan in power armour suddenly arrived at my door… Yeah… I'd be scared out of my mind.
Alice grew morose following her conclusion.
Then, she noticed a few inhabitants taking a peek at her out of morbid curiosity. She decided to take this as an opportunity to initiate an official first contact.
"Humm… Hello again. I come in peace. I-"
Growl.
It was from her stomach.
The sound was even accentuated by the relatively empty Gigan-seized room. Her embarrassment did not even have time to set in as this made the tinies go back into hiding, even more terrified.
Alice vaguely heard yelps from below too.
Damn it… I haven't eaten anything for the last fifteen hours, more or less. Probably been running on adrenaline early on… Now, I made things harder for myself… And I'm starving…
Well, I'm in the right place…
Briefly, she licked her lips and she eyed the settlement as would a cat look at a cornered mouse.
If I were to guess, there must be around two hundred and fifty in front of me. A few dozen should be enough to-.
She shook her head and closed her eyes, disappointed at herself.
That line of thought shouldn't have even popped up.
Checking her suit's pockets, she felt respite as she discovered she still had the four MRE packs on her. She took one packet out and sat knees up by the wall, right next to the entrance.
In deep thought, she munched on the tablet.
What am I to do now?