I have gotten my car back. And it fits into my inventory. Have I developed an inventory whose parameters are defined by my personal car? Right now we are waiting for the moving company to ship my plants and some family memorabilia to my sister. I dared to check my banking account. The government is still paying my rent. I guess nobody wants to explain why a visitor who wrecked half a building was admitted to a disciplinary hearing.
Lisa is checking her terminal. Is that like listening to the police radio to her or does she have a practical goal? It does not matter to me right now. I am doing the puzzle games my guiding device has been recommending to me on my very own computer.
--
The outdoor dining space of a McDonalds is quite anonymous an area. And we are in the happy state of being able to ignore all dietary guidelines.
L: You want me to tell you about my nefarious plans.
That I do not object to an anarchist amazon witch telling me what I want is a huge part of the reason we are ultimately incompatible, but highly effective temporary allies.
P: Yes. Though you already gave me an overview.
L: I am looking for category 1 intrusions in built up areas. For multiple reasons. Guess which, master tactician?
P: Scattering terrain, so that the benefit in terms of loot versus risk and time speaks for just killing the anchor monsters?
L: Men. Nerds. That, too. I was thinking of the reputational and human component. They cannot risk a failure in such areas, so they are going to send in the most competent people, who are in high demand.
P: We will stick to chess, not poker, at game night.
L: And we’ll have a goal we can easily reach by road or even railway without becoming suspicious.
P: If the revolution comes and you are on the wrong side, you’ll be first up against the wall.
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L: Precisely. That is why I am establishing myself before that.
This woman is scary.
--
We are sitting on a local train to a rich suburb. I’ve boarded it by teleportation.
P: Let’s repeat the briefing for the operation.
L: Again. Very well. We will turn back after a third of the estimated life span of the intrusion space. We do not enter spaces without an assured exit. We will not loiter in spaces without multiple exits. …
--
We’ve found a secondary passage to the intrusion space right in the parking lot behind the railway station we got out at. We are also back in full combat gear. Lisa was unhappy to change in semi-public hidden only behind the parked truck we have been using to shelter from observers. But she does appreciate the additional protection.
P: Bingo. Just like in the old days. 22 hours. We’ll turn back in 7 hours.
L: OK.
We are entering a field of ruins under an overcast sky. The ground under our boots is neither especially wet, nor dry or dusty, only quite full of pebbles for soil in this area. The buildings were old style but basically modern, with bricks showing in many places and broken or smashed windows showing wood long weathered, but not dried out under the sun. Roofs are often collapsed, but from age, not fire or violence.
I have established a pipe for mana to her. Lisa is preceeding me by three meters shifted to the left. We are straining our auras out. Hers produces an effect that feels warm. She is holding a crossbow at the ready and I am dual-wielding, stolen wand in the left hand and assault rifle with a launcher for gas grenades slung under the barrel.
T + 0:07 mission time
Unlike a conventional crossbow, Lisa’s is utterly silent when fired. It takes me a few moments to notice that she has fired and is furiously pumping the lever to get her weapon ready again. She could use mana, but it would, obviously, cost her mana and shorten the time the weapon stays conjured.
I am looking around frantically. Nothing.
She advances and presents a gigantic rat.
P: That is one of the things your allies made me loot.
L: Please loot this one. I want my quarrel back.
We move upwind and I oblige.
T + 0:13 mission time
P: Something has entered this shed.
L: Only entered?
P: Yes.
L: Gas it.
Plonk. Again I oblige.
P: Nothing
L: Can you feel if you hit something?
No need for verbal communication. I fire a few salvos and bolts from my wand through the door.
P: Nothing. I am sending my servant in.