15:51:37 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 108 Lotus Flower Pagoda Restaurant, 3044A West King Street, Seattle

Cupping both hands around the tea cup, Ludmila let the heat radiate into her palms. It made her feel eerily at ease.

The Yakuza. She could feel her brain trying to make the connection; trying to find the links that weren’t necessarily there. Mikhail had told her to gauge the man’s reaction. Somehow, she couldn’t help but feel that Mr. Xian knew more than he was letting on. If they knew already, only a few hours after the fact, that the Japanese were behind the bombing... well, in that case, it wasn’t too far of a stretch that maybe they had known about it before it had taken place.

Or maybe the Yakuza had nothing to do with it and Mikhail suspected the Triads.

And that was why Ludmila never wanted to be in charge. Sure, she wasn’t a particularly dumb broad, but she had never dealt well with hints, conjectures and probabilities. She dealt in hard facts. Physics. Mathematics. Cryptography. This power play and scheming wasn’t her ball game. It only made her realize she had no real idea as to what was going on behind all the close doors she usually stood in front, looking mean.

She bowed her head politely.

“Spasiba Mr. Xian. Your feelings are very welcomed.”

Ludi couldn’t help but wonder why the Triads were so keen on helping out the Vory. Did they owe Mikhail? They did somehow share similar interest; personal or business? Ludi quickly reminded herself her job wasn’t to guess. She was here to deliver a message, observer, and bring back word. That was it. She was, all in all, just like one of her bugs.

“I am sure Mr. Rodion will greatly appreciate the gesture and troubles you... are putting yourself into.”

She took another drink of tea. Next to her, Vadim hadn’t touched his drink or his plate. Ludmila had to admit she felt somewhat intimidate by the entire affair. She had done her piece. Her job was done. If they didn’t partake in the meal, would they insult the man? But if they lingered... what were they supposed to talk about.

Rightly or not, she opted to remain silent for a moment.

15:53:03 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 108 Lotus Flower Pagoda Restaurant, 3044A West King Street, Seattle

Mr. Xian nods. "Most kind, most kind. Please thank him as well for sending trusted agents to meet with us concerning this matter. It would have been regrettable for false assumptions to be made and acted upon. I know that you must have pressing matters on your agenda. If you must conclude our meeting, so be it. I invite you to remain, though, if you have the time. Try the bau, they're one of the house specialties."

The old man gestures with his chopsticks at the plate heaped high with steaming buns. Ludi sees a little more, now, into the opacity surrounding the Triads' seeming generosity. It was in their best interest to resolve the issue precisely to avoid a general fight with the Vory, one that would undoubtedly be messy. Once more she sips from her tea to give herself time to formulate an answer, glancing sidelong at Vadim. The heavyset russian has remained motionless during the entire exchange, although she was wiling to bet that the same calculations she'd made earlier were running at speed through his mind.

15:53:41 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 108 Lotus Flower Pagoda Restaurant, 3044A West King Street, Seattle

As delicious as the food looked, and as hungry as she felt, Ludmila couldn’t quite get herself to accept the offer. She had come to do and job, and as far as she was concerned, the job was done. Like a good soldier, she now had to report. If Mr.Xian somehow took her refusal as an insult, well, he and his entire culture could go frag itself sideways. She wasn’t a Vory bigwig. Technically speaking, she wasn’t even Vory. She was a soldier, and soldiers didn’t sit down to eat with officers from other armies. She decided to use what little tact she possessed.

“Your offer is very generous, sir, and the food looks very good, but we should not bother you more than we have already.”

She put down the tea cup she had been holding and gave a quick glance towards Vadim. Why she kept looking at him, she wasn’t quite sure. Maybe she was looking for some sign of agreement. Anything, really.

Ludi rose from her seat, but remained close to the table.

“Mr.Xian.” she stated flatly as she nodded politely.

She was tempted to simply walk away with Vadim in tow... but decided against it. As far as she knew, the old Chinese man was Mikhail equivalent in the Triad, if not a higher ranked man. She withdrew into her army days and brought back what little officer etiquette she knew.

“If you will please excuse us, sir.” she added quickly.

15:54:16 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 108 Lotus Flower Pagoda Restaurant, 3044A West King Street, Seattle

Vadim mirrored Ludi's movement, something she was absurdly grateful for, his stoic presence indicating that her judgment had been correct. Mr. Xian rises as well, and bows.

"I wish you good fortune in your pursuits."

Ludi bowed in return, stepping back before turning and heading downstairs. No one remarks upon her and Vadim's presence this time, although the young Triad soldiers seated at the tables follow them closely with their eyes. Ludi's gaze doesn't waver from the front door, and she strides with her shoulders back and head held erect. Even if she wasn't Vory, she was a soldier, she would not be intimidated by this ragtag criminal gang.

Once safely back in her car she blows out a breath she didn't know she was holding, kneading her forehead viciously. She reaches into her pocket in sudden decision, tapping out a cigarette and lighting up. Inhaling the acrid smoke, she blew a stream towards the roof of the vehicle.

Vadim grunted next to her, an unknown expression until he explained. "Man, I'm hungry. Think we can stop at a non-syndicate affiliated place?"

15:55:03 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 108 Lotus Flower Pagoda Restaurant, 3044A West King Street, Seattle

Ludmila’s car sat in the snow, between the two buildings. Inside, the windows were rapidly fogging up and the cab filling with the smell of smoke and tobacco. She was beginning to enjoy Vadim’s presence. He was most definitely a man of few words, which was quite fine with her. She’d found early in life that the more people babbled, the shorter her temper usually got.

“You got a place in mind?” she asked him, jamming the datacord from the dashboard behind her ear.

15:56:37 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 108 Lotus Flower Pagoda Restaurant, 3044A West King Street, Seattle

Vadim grunts again, rummaging through the pockets of his long coat before he comes out with a battered, faded business card advertising Johnny Chan's Mongolian BBQ and Takeout, 2308 Longmine Blvd, Tacoma. Wordlessly he passes it over to Ludi. After a moment he points to the back of the card.

"It's all you can eat," he clarifies, as if that's the single most important factor to the decision. Ludi glanced at him, then back to the card.

"Right," was all she said, flicking the butt of her cigarette out into the snow before putting the car in gear and pulling out onto the street.

17:01:12 Monday, 15 January 2063 -Johnny Chan's Mongolian BBQ and Takeout, 2308 Longmine Blvd, Tacoma

Some part of Ludi felt like an unfaithful wife. Not because there was a man seated next to her, sharing the car, but because she wasn't reporting to Mikhail right away. The irony of it all was the fact that he was the married one, and she, the mistress. But she needed time. Time to think and time to eat. As sick as she had earlier felt, the aromas of all the dishes that had been presented to her had turned her ravenous.

Hopefully, with a full stomach, she'd have enough energy to get the gears inside her head turning properly. She drove and silently cursed herself for not already being able to put all the puzzle pieces together. Sure, it was a bit early to figure everything out, but she still felt like she should have been able to make an educated guess. After all, it wasn't the first time she found herself part of something like this. And yet, even her instinct remained mute. She felt without means and without purpose. She felt unarmed and naked.

Truth was, and although she didn't want to admit it, she had hopped to impress Miki, to win him back. She'd kept Sascha's dealings from him, and then, had barely been able to take on those that had bombed the bakery. And even then, she'd only wounded one of them. In a nutshell, she had nothing to show for, and it made her feel angry.

Fortunately for her mood, and maybe Vadim's, the chosen place for them to fuel up turned out to be a great deal. In a day and age where some metatype can eat 3 times their bodyweight, and where enhanced metabolisms scream for calories, Ludi was somewhat surprised to find a place like this still opened and going full out. By the time she'd gone through the mountain of food in front of her, Vadim had gone for a third helping. They both ate in silence, exchanging passing glances now and again, with Ludi slightly ticked off she couldn't smoke inside. When Vadim finally showed signs of slowing his food shovelling down, Ludmila couldn't help herself but picture him as a bear ready for hibernation. Odds were, Vadim's custom made organs and cyber would burn off all that meat and fat before the day was over.

When they got back inside the car, Ludi realized she wasn't quite sure where she was supposed to be heading, and so, she called Miki.

17:03:24 Monday, 15 January 2063 - outside Johnny Chan's Mongolian BBQ and Takeout, 2308 Longmine Blvd, Tacoma, Seattle

"Ludi. Report." Mikhail's voice is clipped and serious over the line. For a moment, ice stabs at Ludi's heart, until she remembers that the Vory Tsar is expecting her call as a soldier, not as his mistress. She coughs to cover her hesitation.

"Vadim and I spoke with Mr. Xian. He says that they had nothing to do with the bombing, but that he has information which points to Yakuza involvement."

The line is silent for a moment, although Ludi can hear an airy distance to the transmission which speaks to active noise cancellation in action. She's willing to bet that Mikhail is on the road somewhere.

"Do you believe him?"

Ludi opened her mouth to answer, then paused to think it through. She remembered the hospitality, the expectation of the Triads, the careful show of force meant to convey seriousness without hinting at culpability.

"Yes, but I think he knows more than he said."

Mikhail snorted. "I'd bet my life on it. Canny chinks, never can get a straight answer out of them. I've got other signs pointing to Yakuza involvement, though, which makes me curious as to why it happened after you bugged a Mafia restaurant. Hopefully we'll get some more answers soon. There's a coffee shop on the corner of Prospect St and 142nd called Seven Sisters. It's across the road from Lone Star's CSI downtown labs. Be there at 1745. You'll meet a guy by the name of Garces. Armando Garces. He'll have a copy of their preliminary report on the explosion, as well as some samples they took from the wreckage. Once you have it, call me back and I'll let you know where to take it."

17:03:41 Monday, 15 January 2063 - outside Johnny Chan's Mongolian BBQ and Takeout, 2308 Longmine Blvd, Tacoma, Seattle

When Mikhail mentioned his own suspicions concerning the Yakuza's involvement, Ludmila realized how out of her depth she was. When the Chinese had mentioned them, she'd been surprised. After all, she had never dealt with any members of one of the Japanese families herself... which made her all the more conscious of her own shortcomings. She was completely in the dark and very aware of how much of a small role she had always been playing in the grand schemes of things.

Ludi frowned and eyed Vadim briefly, wondering how much he knew about all this.

“I'm on it.” she stated flatly and cut the line.

Dropping the pocket secretary back in her jacket, she slipped the car's datajack connection behind her right ear, and the car roared to life. The fact that Miki was sending her in Lonestar's backyard made her feel slightly on edge. Last year's event were still fresh in her mind, and body. Fresh enough that Sascha had blackmailed her with it.

And of course, there was always Alec.
She'd briefly entertained the thought of calling him to see what he knew about the bombing, but knowing him, it would have only led to more questions.

“You got anywhere important to be in the next hour?” she asked Vadim.

17:42:41 Monday, 15 January 2063 - Seven Sisters Coffee Shop, 440 Prospect St, Downtown, Seattle

Vadim grunted in reply. "Supposed to stay with you."

Which figured, although Ludi still managed to find some affront to it. As if Mikhail didn't trust her. But that wasn't true, either. It wasn't about trust. It was about care. When she'd first called him with the news, his first instinct was to send someone to protect her. She still felt a little out of her element, though.

Traffic soon leeched away her thoughts on the larger problem, rush hour having taken a solid grip of the city. Ludi cursed and fought, wedging her vehicle through the gridlock, replying to horns and gestures in kind. Vadim watched with stoic silence, unmoved and seemingly uncaring at the near-homicidal way that Ludi threw them into traffic. She hadn't decided yet whether his attitude was one of fatalistic apathy, which would be particularly Russian. Or one of utter disinterest. Which, oddly enough, would also be very Russian.

It was barely five minutes before their appointed meeting time when she finally parked behind the coffee shop, the front bumper of the car crunching into the snowbank left behind by the plow. Ludi ignored it, hurrying through the rising evening wind with Vadim close behind her.

Inside, the shop was unremarkable, with a long counter covered with a motley assortment of baked goods and pre-packaged snacks, behind which hustled the baristas. The air reeked of coffee and steamed milk, with a hint of honey and chocolate. Against the window were a brace of waist high tables, surrounded for the most part by customers anonymous in their winter coats. Vadim made room for he and Ludi using his bulk and his elbows, which didn't draw the attention she was afraid it would.

Together they watched the traffic on the street outside, waiting long enough that Ludi contemplated either getting coffee or going outside to smoke. At last, almost at the appointed time, she saw a short figure exit the building across the street and jog towards the coffee shop. Once inside, it pulls off a downy hat, revealing a boyishly handsome face beneath an unruly mop of brown hair. Ludi catches his eye as he glances around the shop and he makes his way over to their table.

"Hey, I'm Rolo. Mikhail send you?"

17:42:48 Monday, 15 January 2063 - Seven Sisters Coffee Shop, 440 Prospect St, Downtown, Seattle

The cigarette pack was halfway to her lips, which had already began to part in anticipation. The man approached her, and she felt that little wrinkle between her eyebrows come to life. Immediately, she disliked him: the smile, the confidence, the lack of subtlety, the stupid fragging nickname.

When he blurted out Mikhail's name, Ludi felt like reaching over to grab his collar. She could almost feel the texture of his jacket under her finger. She wondered how many Lonestar employees might currently be in the coffee shop. Ludi wanted to glance around the place once more, but decided against it. If the man couldn't be more discreet, at least, she'd do her best.

She stared at him for a moment, sizing him up. Her features remained as if carved out of stone. When she had held the silence long enough for the man to hesitate, she simply nodded once: as if she was going to clearly acknowledge Mikhail's involvement...

17:44:05 Monday, 15 January 2063 - Seven Sisters Coffee Shop, 440 Prospect St, Downtown, Seattle

"Uhh, right." Rolo's face goes quiet at Ludi's barely concealed hostility. He reaches into his jacket and withdraws an opaque gray sealed plastic bag, passing it quickly over to the slim russian woman.

"Everything's there, samples as well as preliminary lab reports. The detailed ones will take another twenty four hours, but it's unlikely that they'll reveal anything new."

He pauses, waiting. Ludi tucks the packet into one of her jacket pockets, picks up her cigarettes, glances at Vadim and heads towards the door. Rolo blinks in surprise, watching as she exits, followed by Vadim.

17:45:01 Monday, 15 January 2063 - Seven Sisters Coffee Shop, 440 Prospect St, Downtown, Seattle

She stuffed the envelope in her jacket. Her best option to avoid too much sneering was just to get the hell out. For some reason, she felt the anger starting to boil up just under her skin. Apparently, the day was starting to take a heavier toll on her nerves and patience than she had first thought. There was all that and the fact she was starting to feel a little tired.

On the short walk back to the car, Ludi took the opportunity to pull a smoke from her almost empty pack a lit it. She swallowed the fire down her throat and into her lungs, letting it burn and sting along the way. When she exhaled, what she had felt crawling around under her skin had quieted down. She kicked the snow off her boots and got in behind the wheel, where she sat in silence for a good minute. She would have never said it, but at this very moment, she was thankful for Vadim's ambiguous quasi constant silent state. It prevented her from having to put up with inane babbling, which meant she could concentrate on the job at hand, and freed up the part of her brain she usually had to rummage around for small talk.

With the cigarette down to a nub and the envelope pressed against her side, Ludmila waited. She waited to make sure no one was following them. She waited for the world to pass by. She waited for an idea or a stroke of genius that never came. Tossing the butt out the cracked window, she tasted salt and acid in her saliva, and it was only then that Ludi realized why she was feeling angry: she was nervous. The entire affair made her feel like she was just along for the ride. She was just a blind passenger and someone else was doing all the driving.

She wired her brain to the car's on board computer and the engine roared to life. The heaters flared up and dry air rushed across her face.

From the looks of things, someone was going after the Vory, which meant that, indirectly, someone was going after her and not only the people she knew and worked with, but some she actually loved. Then, there was the outstanding Sascha situation. If he was indeed dead (which by now, she was almost taking for granted) she was going to be short of nuyens very soon. If he was alive, then the whole Yuri thing was still hanging over her head. She felt a knot tie itself up somewhere just under her hearth. Nuyens. She was already halfway through the month, and she didn't have nearly enough for everything. Lana, her aunt, school, the stuff she had ordered from Zeyda, the trace from Oracle, rent, heating, her workshop, her bolt-hole in the Barrens, fuel for the car, food, maintenance on her cyber... and maybe painkillers for her bruised ribs. Things were not going well.

Pulling out her psec, she dialed Mikhail's number, and brought the device to her ear.

17:46:30 Monday, 15 January 2063 - outside Seven Sisters Coffee Shop, 440 Prospect St, Downtown, Seattle

"Success, sweet Ludi?" inquired Mikhail's voice in her ear. She patted the gray plastic bag in her jacket, even though he couldn't see her do it.

"Affirm, report and samples in hand."

"Good. There's a chemist we've used before, very skilled. I want you to drop off the samples with him. A word of warning, though, he's Georgian, so don't let Vadim ride him too hard. The address is 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma."

Ludi glanced over at the big russian who occupied her passenger seat, wondering exactly how Mikhail thought she could keep him in check.

"Right," was all she said.

"This is the last thing I'll need from you today, Ludi. Go home to your family after this."

"Right." Ludi's voice was softer this time. The Vory Tsar ended the call, and she tucked her commlink away. Plugging the address into her GPS, she checked the street before pulling out into traffic.

17:48:02 Monday, 15 January 2063 - outside Seven Sisters Coffee Shop, 440 Prospect St, Downtown, Seattle

As she sat idleing at a red light, Ludi rubbed her eyes. She hadn’t been to see a cyberdoc for quite some time, and as her eyelids slid over the implants, she wondered why she still felt the urge to rub her eyes when she was tired. Odds were, it was more psychological than physical...

Glancing at the GPS display, she sighed at the distance. Tacoma wasn’t exactly next door. Even if she took the I-5 the entire way, at this time of the day, and with the snow, it was going to take her almost an hour to get there. Then it would be another half hour, at least, to get back home. And then she had to get some sort of dinner going for Zina and Lana, and odds were, she’d have to endure an earful from her aunt. At least, she didn’t know exactly what was going on. She already disliked more than a great deal the sort of company her niece kept; now, if she knew they had been in her home, she’d never hear the end of it.

Quickly, she traded the busy sights of downtown Seattle for the grey concrete of the highway. She considered, for a moment, letting the car’s pilot soft ferry them to their destination, but decided against it. She already felt drained and cranky. If her mind and body weren’t focused on something, she’d most definitely drift off. Even so, after a few minutes, the steady sound of the car and the vibrations were lulling her sense off.

Ludi took her commlink back out from her jacket, and after disconnecting herself from the car’s navigational system, she hooked herself into the small device.
She knew the hour of the day was still somewhat “early” in some people’s books, but she took the chance anyways: she dialed Zeyda’s number.

17:49:28 Monday, 15 January 2063 - southbound I-5 heading out of Downtown, Seattle

The line rings twice before it connects, the fixer's urbane tones filling the silence in Ludi's ear.

"Ah, good evening, Ludi. How are things with you?"

17:49:34 Monday, 15 January 2063 - southbound I-5 heading out of Downtown, Seattle

"Tak sebe..." sighed Ludi over the direct neural interface.

She did her best to keep her face as expressionless as possible. Even if she knew all too well that Vadim couldn't hear her, having his impressive form seated next to her made her feel slightly ill at ease.

"I not bother you long."

Devoid of her usual accent, her synthesized voice sounded strange even to her ears.

"I was wondering if you had job. I am have.... how to say... little problem..."

17:51:04 Monday, 15 January 2063 - southbound I-5 heading out of Downtown, Seattle

A chuckle sounds across the line.

"Don't we all. I'm just between meetings now, let me check my schedule and get back to you. Are there any restrictions to the search? How long are you available for? Can you travel or does it have to be local? How many are you bringing with you to the job?"

Zeyda's voice, though warm and engaging, ticks through the necessary questions with businesslike precision.

17:51:11 Monday, 15 January 2063 - southbound I-5 heading out of Downtown, Seattle

Ludmila couldn't help herself. She frowned at the barrage of question Zeyda had for her. Usually, she wasn't in the habit of calling him up for work. He knew what she was good at, and so, when things came up that fell into her particular skill set, he gave her a heads up. Now, she felt like she was applying for a temp job at some cushy office.

All she was after were the nuyens... and she realized she hadn't actually put that much thought in the affair.

“No. No restrictions.”

She swerved around a particularly slow mini van.

“If you have something local, it is good, but I can travel. And it is just me.”

17:52:08 Monday, 15 January 2063 - southbound I-5 heading out of Downtown, Seattle

"All right, let me look through my schedule and see what I have available. I'll call you back in half an hour."

"Spasiba." Ludi closed the connection. She needed Zeyda to come through for her, she needed this money. But then she also needed a way to get rid of Vadim so she could work whatever job he came up with. She chewed her lip, pondering the best course of action to take, and wished desperately for another cigarette.

18:17:21 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

The address Mikhail provided delivers Ludi and Vadim to a crumbling manufacturing plant backed by an apartment tower. The buildings are cinderblock and steel, with a facade of construction plastic that has flaked off most of the upper stories, giving them an abandoned, haphazard look. The lights burning in the stairwell of the apartment building, though, indicate that the complex still has power and probably at least a few occupants.

It looked forbidding to Ludi, though, a rabbit warren of narrow halls and passages, stairs and walkways just perfect to hide hunters waiting for her and Vadim to stumble in. She cursed bitterly under her breath. Vadim grunted, which she took to mean that he shared her assessment.

Her commlink took that moment to buzz with an incoming call. She glanced at the ID, hoping it was Mikhail's number so she could berate him for his choice of destinations. Instead it was Zeyda. Ludi glanced over at Vadim, making a show of taking out her pack of cigarettes and lighting one up as an excuse to remain in the car.

"Go ahead," she passed silently.

"Well you're in luck, I think I have just the thing for you. It's a last minute request for personnel. The job's tonight at midnight, but they can meet with you as early as twenty one hundred. From what I understand it's going to be a B&E with a high probability of gunplay."

18:17:43 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

Pulling on the cigarette, Ludi came to two conclusions. She was going to need another fresh pack of smokes very soon, and today was going to be a ridiculously long day. The small translucent display in the corner of her field of vision ticked the seconds by. She wouldn’t be back home before 19:00, and by then, Lana would be famished and Zina would be, no doubt, in one of her moods. Then it was dinner, a story for Lana and then off to bed. If she could postpone the argument she was expecting to have with her aunt for tomorrow, it meant she could be back at her workshop by 20:30 to gear up. If the job was indeed at mightnight, it meant she had between 21 and 24 to squeeze in a powernap. It was either that or try to score some Longhaul on the way home...

All in all, it looked like it was going to be a drek day for the records. At least, since whoever was putting up the job was last minute, she could at least us that as leverage to increase the pay. If things panned out decently, she’d have enough to cover the rent before dawn.

“Ok. 21 is good. I will meet them.”

Hopefully, it wasn’t going to turn into a cluster fuck like the last job Zeyda had gotten her... not that it had been any of his fault.

Cigarette still stuck at the corner of her mouth, she exited the car. Over the hood, she threw a glance toward Vadim, Mikhail’s warning still rolling around her head.

“Keep an eye out. I’ll be right back.”

Ludi unzipped her jacket and took the envelope out. Although it seemed like an innocent gesture, she simply wanted to make sure her Predator was rapidly accessible.

She hustled toward 2521.

18:25:07 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

By the time Ludi successfully locates the address she's looking for, her temper has frayed even more. The unused industrial complex is a confusion of stairs and hallways, with no clear entrances nor guides. Too often she finds herself at a dead end or facing a locked door with no one answering her pounding knocks. Eventually, though, she arrives at a narrow portal stenciled with the numbers she's looking for.

Her knock actually causes the panel to swing open, and her nerves tick over with warning signals. Drawing the Predator from its holster, she stepped into the small room behind the weapon. The apartment, if it is that, is small and dingy, every surface seeming covered with a thin layer of grime. The patina darkens on the wall to actual swirls of soot and ash. A heavy chemical reek fills the air, making Ludi's eyes water and her nose itch. She resists the urge to sneeze.

Before she can call out, a thin, wiry man dressed in stained overalls and a jacket bustles into the room. He's carrying a satchel under one arm and muttering to himself. He moves quickly towards a cabinet on the wall before he realizes he's not alone in the room.

"HEY!" His shout is one of surprise, and he hunches away from Ludi, fear writ large on his face.

18:25:08 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

Like she had guessed: a drek day.

Right hand still wrapped around the Predator’s grip, Ludi lowered it slightly, her free hand going up in what she hoped was still known as a “wait” gesture.

“Wait!” she said instinctively in Russian before repeating herself in English.

Her throat was itching. The weapon remained up, albeit, not aimed at the man. She fixed him with deep green eyes.

“You are chemist?” she added after a moment of silence, the words coming out slowly through her thick accent.

18:25:08 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

The young man drops everything in his arms, hugging them across himself as a look of utter panic fills his eyes.

"How did you know? You can't be here! How are you here?"

He rocks back and forth quickly, his eyes darting back and forth. Now that she's had a chance to look at him, Ludi can clearly see the yellow jaundice in his eyes and the sallow hang of his flesh. Her lip curls in disgust at his obvious lengthy drug habit. Her commlink picks that moment to shiver. She curses, although when she checks the ID, curiosity fills her. It's Vadim.

"What?"

"Trouble. Just saw three guys go into the building. They're not delivering pizza, either. Check your six."

18:25:17 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

And just when she thought the day couldn't get any shittier.

Her mind started to race. Maybe these were just three men coming up here on completely unrelated business. Maybe they were friends of... whatever his name was. Maybe it was whomever had blown up the Bakery earlier and they were cleaning up. There were a lot of maybes. Too many maybes.

Closing the door quietly behind her, she holstered her weapon and did something she never did: she tried to look gentle. Both hands in front of her, she gestured the man to calm down.

“Listen to me. I am friend. Mikhail sent me. You know Mikhail da?”

She nodded her head with the words, and took a few steps forward. As far as she was concerned, 3 men wasn’t completely a problem. She wasn’t quite armed to the teeth, but she could use the environment to her advantage. The space was confined, and she knew she was at her best when distances were measured with arms lengths. It had taken her quite a few minutes to find this very place, but she wasn’t quite ready to bet on the fact that the men who had entered the building would be as lost as she was.

“It is ok. I am not to hurt you.” she continued, feeling the seconds tick by painfully.

“Three people are coming here. Are you waiting for people?”

18:26:33 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

"People coming here?" The chemist's voice climbs with each word he says, his eyes going wide and panicky. "Drek! Drekdrekdrekdrekdrek! They know, they know!"

He scratches at his skin, his eyes darting around the room like a terrified rabbit. Then the rest of what Ludi said penetrates the haze of whatever is running through his blood stream.

"Mikhail sent you? You can get me out! Please, take me with you! Anywhere but here!" He reaches out to Ludi as if she were a life preserver cast to a drowning man.

18:26:42 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

Although she could feel the blood in her vein boil up, Ludmila did her best to appear calm. The man in front of her, this... degenerate, was wound up about as tight as someone could be. He looked like an elastic band that had been left in the sun for too long. She didn’t want to protect him. She didn’t feel like protecting him, and come to think of it, she wasn’t particularly good at keeping anyone else alive but herself. But at the very moment Vadim had called her, her job prioritize had shifted. In a flash, she had considered just leaving. She still could. If she was discreet enough, she could simply slip by unnoticed.

But again, it wasn’t something she wanted to do. She had already fragged up today, and more than once. She had gone behind Mikhail’s back. She had gotten herself shot. She had barely injured those who had had attacked the Bakery. Here and now, she wasn’t going to frag up. Mikhail had given her a task: deliver the crime scene report to some guy. He hadn’t voiced it out loud, but that probably meant that “said guy” had to be kept alive.

Plus, if Mikhail used him for information now and again, that meant he was, in fact, Vory V Zakone propriety. And what do you when someone tries to steal or break Vory propriety? You go at them like a rabid dog.

She gestured for the man to take her left hand. As much as she didn’t want to touch him, at all, she had to get him focused on something. She knew that touch usually calmed Lana down, and in that moment, dealing with him like a child was the only course of action she could think of.

“It is ok. Do what I say”

Her left hand holding onto him, she drew her Predator again. Weapon status flared up in her vision. The first 10mm round was chambered and 14 others were waiting behind. In enclosed and bare space like this, if the Ex-Ex didn't kill them, at least, they'd be deaf.

“How serious did they look? Did you see any weapons?”

“Is there other exit?”

18:27:11 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

The chemist grabs a hold of Ludi's hand gratefully, the touch seeming to focus him a bit even as she fought not to recoil from his clammy flesh. He blinks owlishly in the dim light, staring at her before he comprehends her question.

"Another exit? Not from here, but there's another way down, yes, a different stair case."

He scoops up the duffel bag from the floor, clutching it tightly as he draws Ludi towards the door.

"Not openly, but they're packing heat. SMG size or larger. If serious had a look, these guys would be it," said Vadim's voice in her ear.

18:27:14 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

Approaching the door, Ludi ran quickly through her option. She had partial backup in the form of Vadim; she could quickly walk him through to her position, and if bullets started flying, he could just use the sound of gunfire to zero in. But, until he showed up, she had to take for granted it was three on one. As far as she was aware, there were two ways up to this very room, which mean that they could come up on one, the other, or both. The stairs, although they would restrain their movements coming up, wouldn’t provide much cover, and if they split, her back would be exposed.

The only real upper hand she had over the entire situation was surprised, and she was going to have to milk it as much as she could. If she stayed in the room, she would have to deal with three hostiles at one. If she took the stairs, she could meet three, two, one none. If she met one, she could take him out. If she met the three, it meant her back was free and she could retreat. If she met just two... well... she hoped she wouldn’t. She also hoped they were overconfident and sloppy.

“I’m bringing the chemist out with me, through the West side stairs. This place is a damn maze, so I’ll try to avoid them.”

“Be quiet ok? No noise, you understand? We are going to stairs on left.” she told the man, nodding with the words.

Without further thoughts, Ludi pulled on the man’s hand and shoved him slightly in front of her.

18:28:51 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

"Oh yeah, quiet, absolutely, quiet like a mouse, like a whisper!" The chemist drops his voice to a hoarse whisper, following Ludi out into the hall and down to the stairs. She pauses to listen, straining to hear the sound of footsteps on steel. Faintly she can pick up what sounds like movement, but not from this particular staircase. With a finger to her lips she motions the chemist to follow her.

"I'm moving to cover your exit."

She was glad Vadim had waited to speak until after she was satisfied that the party of three wasn't climbing the stairs towards her position. She moved quickly and quietly down the stairs, keeping to the outside wall, clearing the corners as best she could while towing the chemist behind her. They were just a floor up from the exit, she could already see the pale gray light of day filling the stairwell when the unmistakable hammer of automatic gunfire reached her, her ears picking out a staccato pair of bursts from an assault rifle. The booming answer, though, was a weapon of larger caliber.

"Trouble," said Vadim in his usual monotone voice of understatement.

18:28:52 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

Another burst of automatic gunfire rings out, followed once again by the heavy return fire. A strangled cry announces someone is hit. The chemist yanks back from Ludi, panic clear in his wide eyes.

"DREK!" he screams, surprised by the sudden violence.

18:28:53 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

Ludi reaches out and grabs onto one of the chemist's flailing arms, forcefully towing him after her as she moved down the stairs towards the exit. She glances out, almost in time to run into a another figure backing into the stairwell. Time slows to a crawl, her arm moving through molasses in order to bring her Predator to bear. She can see the man turning, aware of her presence, the AK in his arms smoking, its barrel a black yawning mouth about to swallow her whole.

Then, thunder, Vadim's black bulk hove up from his position of cover, the Mossberg automatic shotgun in his arms pounding out a three round burst. The figure in front of Ludi splashes away from her.

Vadim jogs up. "Thanks for distracting him."

18:28:57 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

“No problem.” she answered Vadim, the lack of care in her voice surprising her.

It took a few pull to get her hand free. The man had been squeezing it so hard; she could feel blood rushing back into it, making it tingle. She pushed him against the wall and down towards the floor, making him a smaller target. She didn’t plan on hanging very long, but if the two other men showed up, at least, they would aim for him first.

“Keep watch.” she ordered him as she kicked the rifle away from the man’s hand and took a knee.

Seeing the amount of damage he had sustained, she didn’t bother to check his pulse. Odds were, if he wasn’t dead, he’d be pretty damn soon. Quickly, she patted him down, looking for a commlink, a phone, a wallet. Anything.

18:28:58 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

Ludi knelt next to the body to check for anything of usefulness. The chemist poked his head out of the stairwell.

"Is he dead?"

Vadim glanced at him. "Who's this?"

One of the other figures that entered fires down on them from the sixth floor landing, a pair of bursts.

Vadim grunts in pain.

18:29:00 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

Ludmila was about to part the man’s jacket open and fish inside when she heard the rattle of gunfire. Two slugs flattened against her shoulder blade while a third one struck her side. Her brain registered the impact, but somehow, the pain didn’t quite follow through. Everything that was none essential in her body shut down. Ludi didn’t feel angry or afraid. She didn’t really feel anything: she simply didn’t have the time to.

From her half sprawled position, she grabbed the dead man’s assault rifle. Her smartlink HUD display flared to life, and she thanked her lucky star the weapon wasn’t biolocked or booby trapped. Her boots slipped on the concrete floor as she kicked her way behind cover.

With her back now pressed against the cold brick, the pain registered. Maybe the fact she had slammed herself against the wall with the force of a linebacker wasn’t helping. She tucked the AK against her body and felt somewhat less at a disadvantage.

“GET HIM INTO COVER” she yelled at Vadim in their native tongue.

Whoever was shooting at them, there was going to be hell to pay.

18:29:01 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

To Ludi's enhanced senses, the world seemed to be moving in slow motion. The chemist's cry of alarm and pain was a dull articulation as Vadim used his greater bulk to body-check the man into the corner of the stairwell. The Vory soldier was in motion towards the stairs, the bulky Mossberg at his shoulder and pointed towards the second story landing. Ludi twists to follow when she catches a flicker out of the corner of her eye. She just has time to register the fat, hissing cylinder of the flash-bang grenade, and to turn her head towards her compatriots when the explosive detonates, it's pulse of overpressure washing over the three of them in a punishing concussion.

With the adrenaline pumping through her veins, and the heavy armor of her jacket, she barely notices the impact. Vadim seems unaffected as well, charging up the stairs two at a time. The thunder of his shotgun fills the stairwell.

18:29:02 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

As Vadim vanished up the stairs, pursuing the most direct path towards the assailants who had them under fire, Ludi poked her liberated AK out the stairwell door and fanned the muzzle over the sixth floor landing. She didn't stay out of cover long enough to see if she hit anything, more interested in keeping their heads down and/or attracting their attention. Instead, she shifted back into the shadows of the stairwell, covering the entrance in case anyone else decided to try and join the party.

In the opposite corner, the chemist moaned, trying to sit up. The heavy blow by Vadim followed by the punishing grenade blast has left him woozy and disoriented. Another deafening explosion sounds from above, followed by a pair of loud thumps as a body crashes down the stairs. Ludi glances back over her shoulder in time to see Vadim stagger to his feet and lurch down the first flight of stairs. Smoke curls from his longcoat in a dozen places as a testament to his proximity to the grenade, and blood streams from a nasty crease on the right side of his head.

"Stupid grenades," he grunts.

18:29:03 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

"You get 'em?" threw Ludi over her shoulder, her eyes still scanning the street outside for any targets.

Vadim grunted again. "One. There's two more up there."

He fumbles open his jacket, ejecting the empty magazine from his shotgun before jamming a new one in.

18:29:04 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

Things were quickly going from bad to worst. Or some other word that was worst than worst that Ludi couldn't quite think of. How could this be happening? Who were these people? Had she been followed? Was this completely unconnected to their own affairs? When, and most importantly “if”, the dust settled, there was going to be a lot of thinking and wondering to be done.

But right now, at this very moment in time, all Ludi wanted to was to get Vadim and herself home... and maybe this fragging druggie. She could have very well left him to fend for himself, and odds were, she probably should have. In the heat of the moment, she had felt responsible for him. He was obviously a Vory contact, and Mikhail had need of him.

And so, she decided it was time for them to cut their loses and go.

“Grab him and get to the car.” she told Vadim, handing him her car keys with her free hand.

“I'll cover you.”

18:34:11 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

Vadim presses the keys back into Ludi's hand. "Together, it'll be faster that way. Car's already setup for you to drive."

He stripped a slap patch from the admin pouch on his belt, peeling the back off so he can slap it over the wound on the side of his head. Then, with his shotgun in his right arm and the chemist under his left, he glances at Ludi, who nods. Together the two of them break from cover towards Ludi's car. A flicker of motion from behind follows them, and she fires blindly over her shoulder. Gunshots answer back, bullets snapping overhead like angry hornets. Vadim grunts and stumbles, but doesn't fall. He drops the chemist on the ground next to the car, pivoting to bring his shotgun to bear, the muzzle blast from his burst punching at Ludi. She ducked, yanking open her door and slamming her fist down on the start. The engine turned over and caught, and she heard the rear door slam as Vadim dumped the chemist into the back seat. Automatic gunfire burrs overhead and the heavy Russian's shotgun answers.

"VADIM!" shouts Ludi as she smashes the accelerator to the floor. But he's got a solid grip on the seat, and even though the bolts creak as she peels out of the parking space, they hold, keeping him mostly in the car as he continues to fire on their opponents.

18:34:39 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 2521 Industrial Line Way, Tacoma, Seattle

When she had finally turned enough corners and eaten enough pavements to feel somewhat safe, Ludmila’s lead foot eased off the accelerator. The small compact car eased off to a normal speed. The last thing she needed now was to get pulled over for speeding...

For a moment, she concentrated on her heartbeat. All she could hear was a hum of the engine and the chemist’s panicked breath in the backseat. Vadim was his usual silent self, although he seemed in a very bad shape. She took a deep breath in and held back a wince of pain. Her jacket had caught a few rounds, and the bruises were going to make a nice addition to the ones from this morning.

This day was starting to head towards the “worst day possible” category. She had survived two firefights and one bombing. Sooner or later, her luck was going to run out.

All she wanted to do was stop and think, but at this very moment, being the move brought her a sense of security she wasn’t about to give up. She needed a plan, and she came up with one as quickly as she could. Mikhail had to be informed of what had just happened. Maybe it was totally unconnected to the morning's event, but the coincidence, at least to Ludi, seemed pretty well timed. If it came to that, she could stash the chemist at her Redmond safehouse. She also needed to find a spot to stop and inspect her car for trackers. If they indeed had been followed... she wouldn't forgive herself. It was a newbie's mistake.

The young woman glanced briefly at Vadim, trying to gauge his state. As far as she was concerned, she owed him her life.

“You gonna be ok?” she ask, her voice holding steady under the strain as she reached for her psec and dialed Miki's number.

18:41:24 Monday, 15 January 2063 - northbound Container Way, Tacoma, Seattle

Vadim grunted, magazines clinking against one another in his lap as he took a moment to consolidate his remaining ammunition. His face was smudged with grease and cordite residue as well as soot from the grenade blast. Several patches of hair were black and crinkled where they were singed off. Blood oozed from beneath the edge of the slap patch at his temple, dark splotches staining his shoulder, and Ludi could clearly see the pair of bullet holes in his jacket as he twisted in his seat to check for pursuit and see how the chemist was fairing.

"Could use a drink."

18:41:38 Monday, 15 January 2063 - northbound Container Way, Tacoma, Seattle

Ludmila couldn't help herself but crack a smile, which was a rare enough thing in and of itself. She'd only met Vadim a few hours ago, but she could now positively admit she liked him. He reminded her a lot of half a dozen friends who were now well and dead.

“Yea well, it's gonna be on me.”

As the line kept ringing in the back of her head, she brought up the car's navigational console and searched for the nearest parking garage. At least, they'd be able to catch their breath for a moment.

18:46:01 Monday, 15 January 2063 - Tacoma, Seattle

Ludmila drove for what felt like an eternity, although the nav display gave only 3 miles to her destination. Her eyes spent as much time looking forward as they glanced backward. Mikhail wasn’t picking up, and with the added adrenaline from the running gun battle, Ludi could feel her nerves getting pretty frayed. The itch of nicotine was heavy to scratch. As she pushed the small car down the ramp for the basement lot of the parking structure, she pushed out a sigh. With no one behind them and a ton of concrete all around, she felt a little more at ease.

In the back seat, she could hear the man whose life they had just saved panting. Ludi hoped that whatever he was still riding on, was going to keep him docile. The last thing she needed was for him to freak out.

She looked at him in the rearview mirror, briefly, and then, she caught her own eyes. In the dark of the car, their green was piercing. She remembered, when they had swapped out her real eyes for the cyber ones... they asked her if she wanted a different color... For some reason, after the surgery, she had cried a lot. She turned in her seat.

“Just keep breathing. You ok now.” she said in her heavily accented English. Her voice sounded flat.

“If you want to be sick, vomit outside of car.”

Reaching inside her jacket, she took out the envelope Mikhail'spolice contact had given them.

"This if for you. Look at it now."

She turned her attention back to Vadim.

“I’ve put in a call to the boss. Still no word. I’ll get the medkit from the trunk.”

For a moment, she felt like putting her hand on his shoulder, but she kept the gesture to herself. She had lived most of her life in a world populated by men; she did her best to operate by their standards.

Outside the car, she stood motionless a few seconds, her heart beating in her ears as her eyes scanned the parking lot. Her hand went inside her jacket to the comfort of the holstered Predator. She needed to pack something heavier. Something stronger. In the trunk, amidst rough wool covers, a bag and a few change of clothes, she found the small bright orange box containing the medkit. It was only when she opened it to check its content that she fully realized something: the last time she’d done first aid had been during Basic Training with the Army. Now that... that had been a lifetime ago. Beside putting bandages and rubbing alcohol on a few scratches for Lana, the extend of her medical know how was rather limited, if not to say none existent.

Nevertheless, she went around the car to the passenger’s side and opened the door. Setting the medkit on the ground, she inspected Vadim’s wounds somewhat randomly. After inputting what she could into the medkit’s computer, she waited for a moment; as it began to spit back at her a list of possible treatments. The first thing it did was to tell her she should head to the nearest medical facility and seek proper treatment. She told the medkit to go frag itself. It then informed her she was to make sure the surroundings were safe and clean. The place was dark, dank and smelled of fumes. She did as best as she could, which was not very much.

She parted his longcoat, looking for a wound in the dim light. Ludi felt the need to vent out her anxiety through small talk.

"So, you got a place in mind for that drink?"

18:51:08 Monday, 15 January 2063 - Tacoma, Seattle

Vadim grunted again, glancing aside as Ludi peeled back the impromptu bandage to apply one from the medkit. Unfortunately, it did little better in staunching the slow but steady trickle of blood from the nasty shrapnel wounds to his head. She wished she could do more, but the rounds to the torso he'd taken were only bruises, vast uneven splotches of blue and yellow that were hot to the touch. She sprayed them down with antiseptic but that was about the best she could do. The bulky Russian slipped his armor back on, a frown creasing his stoic features was the only sign of his discomfort.

"Anyplace with ice and vodka," he replied. After a moment he added "and no one shooting at us."

Ludi wholeheartedly agreed with that statement, and would have said as much had her commlink not chosen that moment to buzz. She glanced at the incoming call and immediately felt a small sliver of the tension in her shoulders vanish.

"Mikhail," she answered.

"Ludi, I'm glad to hear that you're all right and that you got the chemist out. I hadn't expected you to run into trouble or I would have sent more than just Vadim along. I think that whoever is doing this is targeting not only Vory personnel but also our businesses. I know today's been pretty rough, so just sit tight for the moment. I'm going to organize some defensive posturing, and then I'll have you bring in the chemist."

18:51:08 Monday, 15 January 2063 - Tacoma, Seattle

Ludmila felt a strange wave of pride wash over her. Praises were a rare thing in her life, both personally and professionally. Even if Mikhail was probably just satisfied with the fact he hadn't lost more people, she took it personally. He was happy. He was glad she was alive; and that... that meant a lot to her.

“I got a picture of one of the guys who jumped us. It's not much, but it's a start. Vadim's in pretty bad shape but...” she leaned in a bit and the big Russian gave her a thumbs up “but he should be alright for now.”

She tapped her knuckles against the backseat window to get the chemist's attention.

"Hey. Start reading."

18:53:13 Monday, 15 January 2063 - Tacoma, Seattle

Mikhail's voice was distant and hard over the phone, but Ludi felt the notes of concern hiding in his tone.

"Good. There's an old dry cleaning facility just outside of Tacoma in Downtown Seattle, 4320 S. Mead Street. Be there in forty five minutes. There will be Vory there waiting for you. Flash your brights three times when you pull into the parking lot."

"Thirty minutes. Three high," repeated Ludi, another small weight lifting from her shoulders as Mikhail outlined the reinforcements. She'd been shot at enough today. She killed the call, poking her head through the door of her car.

"4320 S. Mead Street in thirty minutes."

Vadim grunted, reclined in his seat with his eyes closed. Even now, as he tried to relax, his face showed a hint of tightness at the pain still echoing through his body. Despite that, his shotgun lay in his lap, reloaded and ready if required. She switched her attention back to the chemist, who looked marginally more lucid despite the pale fear showing at his edges.

"Well?" she demanded. He shrugged.

"Reading won't help much, I need to get these to the lab." He waved a stack of sealed evidence samples.

"What lab?" she snapped, tense again.

"That address you just gave, that's another one of the Vory cook houses. It'll have the gear I need."

Ludi exhaled a sharp stream of smoke, willing herself to try and relax. Once again she was reminded that she should trust Mikhail to know what was required in order for her task to be completed successfully.

18:56:13 Monday, 15 January 2063 - Tacoma, Seattle

The crushed cigarette left a long black streak on the concrete. Somewhere, water dripped into a pool. Her lower back resting against the trunk of the car, she fished around her pockets for her pack of cigarette. She found it, empty and tired looking. In her palm, she stared at it as it began to tremble ever so subtly. The tremors picked up, and soon, her entire right arm was shaking visibly. Her nostrils flared and her jaw clenched. She crushed the empty pack into a ball, her nails digging into her palm until they brought pain. The pack flew across the parking space, hitting the wall and bouncing off. Ludmila ran a hand through her hair and cursed quietly. She had almost managed to get herself killed, a second time today.

And now, she had to make a decision: call Zeyda to tell him she couldn't make it tonight, or suck it up and do the job anyways. She needed the cred, bad. But she also wasn't going to do anyone any good half shot up like she was. Every time she turned, her left side hurt. It was going to take weeks to get completely back unto her feet. And she was tired. Dead tired. She'd been up early, had barely slept, and all the adrenaline had drained her of her resources. In a nutshell: she was beat. All she wanted to do was to wash all the mud, dirt and sweat off. She wanted to get rid of the smell of blood, gunpowder and pain. She wanted to curl up with the big green wool cover Zina had made 20 years ago and go to sleep. She wanted to hug Lana and never let go.

Ludi pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. In the echo of the parking lot, her sigh sounded like a thunderstorm.

If she cancelled with Zeyda, her rep would take a hit, and probably a big one. And strangely enough, Zeyda opinion of her counted in her eyes. He'd already made it clear at least once that her temper was a clear cut issue, but that he was ready to overlook it... a bit. If she now proved herself unreliable, she could kiss her shadow career goodbye. Or, she could still take the job, spike herself half full of drugs and stims and hope for the best: which all was, in her experience, how people got themselves killed.

If the day could just be done and over, Ludi would be glad.

19:48:51 Monday, 15 January 2063 - 4320 S. Mead Street, Downtown, Seattle

Driving had always helped settle her nerves. Ludi didn't know if it was the motion of the vehicle, the noise of the road, or the repetitive concentration required but whatever it was, she always came out clearer at the end of a drive. So it was that when she pulled up to the outer fence of the parking lot, flashing her headlights three times, she realized what her plan of action was going to be.

Vory soldiers materialized out of the darkness, bodies tense beneath armored long coats, eyes harsh and calculating. Everyone was packing heavy: assault rifles and shotguns, webgear slung with magazines and grenades. Ludi felt perversely safe amongst them. She killed the lights on the vehicle, easing forward through the now open gate and into the parking lot. A figure gestured from an open garage door, and she headed that way.

Inside, the heavy warehouse was dimly lit by overhead sodium floods, the cement floor and gray industrial walls washed orange by the harsh light. A dozen vehicles sit parked in a rough semi-circle, beyond them are three floors of activity. Not even the current war footing was enough to disturb the Vory cookhouse. The production lines were screened by translucent curtains, figures moving behind them reduced to grotesque shadows by the overhead halogens.

Ludi puts the car in park and steps out, her eyes traversing the vast space twice before coming to rest on a small knot of Vory that breaks up even as she watches. Mikhail appears from between two enforcers, a small smile cracking the bleak lines of his face as he catches sight of her.