Tamina took a towel down from the racks and dried herself down. The blood of the fallen traitor blood swirling down into the shower drain.
She took her clean clothes from her locker, which was positioned outside the shower room, and got dressed, then headed out into the main lobby.
The main lobby was fairly spacious. It was about the space of four White House buildings. The middle area was lowered down with stairs going in from all sides, and doors along the outside of the top of the stairs heading into other areas, most of them having heavy, sturdy doors to seal them off in case of emergencies. These were called bolt-fire doors. Beside these, there were merchants selling all they had. Food that was raw or stale for the most part, old clothes they most likely found on the deserted above on some poor lost soul, some would illegally sell weapons under the counter, and some sold souvenirs from their bunker. Mostly just small pieces of jewelery held together by thin pieces of string or torn cloths. Coin was still widely used, but practically everyone would trade for what you want, or different fighters would do favours for items. They could deliver messages to loved ones in other bunkers, or help out with a delinquent, or go out on missions above. It always varied.
Word spread through the bunker about `the mutant girl who slayed our otherblood`. As Tamina walked through the lobby, heading to the general, a few heads turned. Pointing at her and mumbling. As she reached the other door, a determined voice spoke up from across the room.
"YOU'RE A FUCKING MURDERER!"
The room became hushed. Tamina turned towards the voice. It was a middle-aged woman, dressed head-to-toe in plastic relics, sporting a torn, black shirt and tan jeans, with no shoes or socks. She looked completely famished, almost as if she would collapse even trying to say a word to you. But no, this girl is the one who dared to speak out.
"Excuse me?" Replied Tamina, almost confused about her remarks. She wasn't used to being talked to like this.
"YOU FUCKING HEARD ME! YOU KILLED TENS OF OUR OTHERBLOOD! YOU FREAK!" Screamed the woman, sounding like she was in sheer agony.
"I killed traitor blood. And way more than just tens. If you'd have rather I let this family die to them, maybe we're lucky you're going to shrivel up any second." Tamina said calmly, sounding completely disgusted with the accusations made against her. The room was tense. A man sitting beside the woman was tugging at her sleeve, trying to tell her to stand down. "Did you even see what happened? Were you a fighter? Have you fought against traitor blood?"
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"N-No. But- But you're still a kil-"
"Then shut the fuck up."
The General came into the room, and the other woman sat back down, defeated. She put her head down into her arms, being comforted by the man beside her.
"What was that?" Asked Tempeshte
"This girl thinks I killed innocent otherblood. I think she learned her lesson." Replied Tamina
"Hmmm." The General glared at Tamina, slightly annoyed with her for fighting with her family. "Shall we head inside?" The General turned back to the door, heading into the room. It wasn't as massive as the main lobby, but it was still spacious, and there was a long, narrow hallway leading in. Bits of technology hung off the walls and there was an island in the middle, with a hologram map of the above land. A control panel, or computers, and chairs were placed on the far side of the room, with a few Sensavorum and Vandal officers sitting at them. Another woman, and a man stood by the island. Sporting the same black and blue uniform that the General wore. Presumably, they were of the same rank.
"Nice to meet you, Tamina. I am General Yikki." Said the woman, with a kind smile and a hand out to shake. Her grasp was fragile, and she was tiny. Tamina wondered how this girl could've even gotten to such a high rank as this. She seemed weak.
"And I am General Xavikan." He had red, swirling marks on his face. He was a mutant. The general held out a hand to shake, only copying what Yikki was doing, but his grasp was much firmer, Tamina felt he could crush her with just his pinkie. "Nice to meet a mutant such as myself." He coughed up quickly, before being interrupted by General Tempeshte. He did not seem very socially adept.
"We paid you for helping us already, but we want to give you another mission."
"What is it?" Replied Tamina.
"We have word of a special place that was preserved above ground. We would like to occupy it ourselves if the word is true. The main problem is it's far north."
"Where the traitor blood came from, right?"
"Correct." Blurted Yikki.
"So, what do you want me to do?" Asked Tamina, even though she knew where this was going.
"We want you to escort our forces and a few of our workers there. You will do it, won't you? We will pay you a very large reward in return." Tempeshte explained.
"A very large reward and a chance to uncover a new land? Why the fuck wouldn't I?" Xavikan seemed uncomfortable at Tamina's pick of a swear word to throw in there. "Wow, he sure is sensitive." She told herself.
Xavikan continued, "Just- please don't get anyone killed. I don't just mean our family."
"What if I have to choose?"
"Well- that- that's different."
"Yeah, yeah. Sure it is. Give me the plans and I'll head out as soon as I'm ready." Tamina just wanted out of there. She didn't like other people. And the Vandal officers sitting on the other side of the room just made her even more uncomfortable.